Top 50 PlayStation Portable (PSP) Games of All Time

Metal Gear Solid is a stealth game created by Hideo Kojima which follows the MSX2 video games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake. Despite a transition to 3D, Metal Gear Solid's gameplay remains similar to his predecessors. The game utilizes a traditional top-down view and the player must navigate the protagonist Solid Snake through the game's areas without being detected. Detection will set off an alarm which draws armed enemies to his location. Conversations with Snake's allies and cutscenes are used extensively to advance the plot and gain more insight into it. Metal Gear Solid is regarded as one of the greatest and most important video games of all time, and helped popularize the stealth genre and in-engine cinematic cutscenes.

The Western release of Final Fantasy VII (released as Final Fantasy VII International in Japan) included additional elements and alterations, such as streamlining of the menu and Materia system, reducing the health of enemies, new visual cues to help with navigation across the world map, and additional cutscenes relating to Cloud's past.

Final Fantasy IX is the ninth main installment in the FF series. The title is a return to the series's roots, with gameplay features and references to the past games featuring throughout, as well as a medieval fantasy setting and cartoonish art style as a break from the sci-fi slant style of Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII.

Xenogears Blends Authentic RPG Gameplay with Exquisite Hand-Drawn and Computer-Generated Animation in a Grand Science Fiction Tale. An intricate storyline involving many human and non-human characters will prove to captivate audiences of all ages. Players can rotate the amazingly detailed 3D gameplay maps 360 degrees, and have the ability to navigate around the environment by jumping and climbing. In battle, mega-robots can be controlled, adding great variety to play. A new real-time combat system eliminates restrictive menus, using button commands to provide fast-paced, intuitive action. Players can wield dramatic magical spells or engage in real-time polygonal robot vs. robot battles. Combined with dynamic camera angles and intense lighting effects, Xenogears is an experience that won't be forgotten.

Travel to an alternate universe where dark experiments have permanently altered time. Or have they? Soviet tanks crush city after city while Allied cruisers shell bases. Spies lurk, landmines await, and strange new technologies aid both sides in the struggle for ultimate control. In this parallel reality, the mighty Soviet Empire has begun to “liberate” all of Europe. Cities fall and countries collapse before the overwhelming might of the Red Storm. The Allies are scrambling to meet the onslaught, but they have been caught by surprise. Red Alert puts the fate of the world in your hands!

An updated version of the PlayStation game Final Fantasy Tactics, released on PlayStation Portable and later released on iOS and Android. "The stage is set for what history would one day record as the War of the Lions. Experience new CG cinematics. Meet new Characters. Explore new jobs & missions. Wage new multiplayer battles. Behold a new legend!"

R4: Ridge Racer Type 4 is the fourth game in the Ridge Racer series. It includes eight tracks (with reverse variants, for a total of 16 layouts) and 321 vehicles, all of which are fictional. This iteration was one of the first PlayStation titles to feature Gouraud shading on polygons, giving the game a visual depth that was previously missing. It was also the first Ridge Racer game on the system to feature two-player split-screen mode and offered two different driving models.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is the first installment in the main Trails series, serving as the beginning to the Liberl arc and the series as a whole. The game follows protagonists Estelle Bright and her adopted brother Joshua, who journey through the country of Liberl to train to become senior Bracers, members of a non-government multinational organization that acts to keep the peace and protect civilians. Nihon Falcom comes a series of RPGs telling a legend of adventure, political intrigue, and mystery, with a tale of growing up at the core. With a mix of turn-based and strategy combat, battles will cause unique builds and plans to handle many different situations and allow for different play styles. Wonderfully detailed characters abound, even to the smallest NPC, and the player will find themself taking the world in at every turn. Trails in the Sky sets a new standard for making an enjoyable and immersive RPG.

Silent Hill is the first installment in the Silent Hill series of psychological survival horror video games. Unlike earlier survival horror games that focused on protagonists with combat training, the main character Harry Mason is an average man. The gameplay consists of combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving. The controller vibration is used to indicate Harry's heartbeat and will vibrate on low health. The player must regularly enter an inventory screen to check Harry's health, use items, and equip different weapons.

Crash Bandicoot: Warped is the third game in the Crash Bandicoot series and the first to feature Coco as a playable character. The player takes control of Crash and Coco Bandicoot, who must travel back and forward in time and gather 25 crystals before Uka Uka and Doctor Neo Cortex can do so. Much of the game takes place in the Time Twister which acts as the hub area of the game. The Time-Twister is split up into five chambers, each chamber has five buttons that open portals to different levels. The goal in each level is to find and obtain the crystal hidden in the level. Crash Bandicoot: Warped was lauded by critics in many areas, and the game has been considered one of the best video games of all time.

Crash Team Racing is a kart racing game featuring popular characters from the Crash Bandicoot series. The gameplay is very similar to other kart racing video games like Mario Kart: players have to choose a character and compete against the other racers on various racetracks. The story mode allows you to choose any one of the characters to complete all the main races and beat the ultimate boss Nitrous Oxide. Each of the main races are against 7 other AI competitors with 5 boss races. There are also a few arcade modes up to 4 players.

In Football Manager 2011, managers can negotiate contracts with players, access a training area so that managers can give their team specific areas to focus on before a match, interact with players, staff and the board, enjoy 100 new animations, and much more.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd is the third installment in the main Trails series, serving as a direct sequel to the events of The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC and the ending to the Liberl arc. The game follows Kevin Graham and Ries Argent in their quest to retrieve an ancient artifact for the Septian Church. Featuring the largest cast of playable characters in the Trails series up to that point, new minigames and even more gameplay features. This game teasing many new plot developments across the continent of Zemuria.

The Legend of Dragoon is a Japanese-style RPG, visually reminiscent of Final Fantasy VII (pre-rendered backgrounds, 3D characters and battle scenes, CG animations to advance the story). Battle mechanics follow the traditional turn-based prototype, with a few additions such as critical attacks dependent on precise timing, and "dragoon" transformations, which allow access to powerful techniques. Game progression is largely linear, with the "world map" replaced by locations represented as connected dots.

Natsume's farm simulation series makes its debut on the PlayStation with Harvest Moon: Back to Nature. It is the first Harvest Moon game for a non-Nintendo console. Starting with a few rudimentary implements and very little money, players begin the arduous task of reviving their grandfather's farm and thereby claiming their place as its rightful heir. Players are given three years to achieve this goal. A year consists of four seasons, each of which lasts 30 days. Different crops can be planted each season, but before the seeds can be planted, the land must be cleared and then the soil tilled. Seeds must also be watered until the fruit or vegetable matures. Once the crops are ready for harvest, they can be placed in a shipping bin where they'll be collected and paid for. In addition to farming, players will interact with local villagers and partake in seasonal events such as the Tomato Festival and Fireworks Display. As more money is earned, players can expand their farm and begin to raise livestock such as chickens and cows.

Birth by Sleep is an action roleplaying game that introduces a gameplay aspect called the Command System, which allows players to customize a Command Deck with techniques and abilities that they can perform at will, called Deck Commands. Performing ordinary attacks and Commands fills a gauge displayed above the command deck that, when certain requirements are fulfilled, activates a Command Style that changes the player's basic attack command with the "Surge" command, which racks up powerful combos depending on what Command Style is activated. Filling the gauge with certain requirements a second time causes the character to change into an even higher level Command Style, which replaces the "Surge" command with the more powerful "Storm" command.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC is the second installment in the main Trails series, serving as a direct sequel to the events of the The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky. The game follows Estelle sets out to a new adventure, after completing some training by the Bracer Guild to prepare for that adventure. Comrades both old and new join your team in this story-driven RPG with new combat mechanics and other features that improve the gameplay experience from the first entry.

Japan's most successful PSP title, Monster Hunter Portable 2G, is heading to Europe and US. Renamed Monster Hunter Freedom Unite, this latest installment in the epic Monster Hunter series delivers over 500 hours of gameplay spanning some 400 missions. Added with previously unreleased monsters, weapons and missions and you have the biggest Monster Hunter game to date. Using the Ad-Hoc connection players can adventure with up to three friends for a savaging multiplayer hunting party. From devising the strategy to executing the attack, players will need to work together in order to hunt down the ferocious beasts and progress through the wide range of quests on offer. Players will be rewarded for their use of deep fighting combat systems, encouraging them to seek out the more experienced hunters and team up in order to learn from their experience. Even in single player mode Hunters won't be alone thanks to the introduction of the new AI Felyne feature. Accompanying players on quests your furry ally will helping them battle monsters and gather extra resources.

Mega Man, Roll, and all your favorites are back in this all new 3-D adventure! Far away, in an isolated wasteland, a mysterious girl and an infamous treasure have been discovered. It's the legendary "Sealed Key," rumored to unlock an even greater mystery known as the Great Legacy. What power does the Great Legacy hold? Now, a raced unfolds as Mega Man and his friends embark on a journey which will alter their destinies forever.

Front Mission 3, also known in Japan as Front Mission Third, is a tactical role-playing game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation. It was released in Japan in 1999, and North America by Square Electronic Arts and Europe in 2000. Front Mission 3 is the third main entry and the fifth entry overall in the Front Mission series. Like other Front Mission titles, Front Mission 3 is part of a serialized storyline that follows the stories of various characters and their struggles involving mecha known as wanzers. Front Mission 3 was the first title in the Front Mission series to be released in North America, Europe and Australia.

Roll Away is a 3D platform puzzle video game which places the player in control of a Kula beachball. The main objective of the game is to collect keys which unlock the level exits, as well as coins and jewels along the way. The game makes use of alternative physics, changing the direction of gravity as the ball moves.

Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back is the second game in the Crash Bandicoot series, and the sequel to the original game. The gameplay is largely similar to that of the original, as players make their way through a limited environment whilst breaking crates that contains bonuses. The goal of the game is to gather 25 crystals for Crash's nemesis, Doctor Neo Cortex. The crystals are scattered between 25 different levels accessible via Warp Rooms, which are hub areas of the game. A level is cleared by collecting its respective crystal and reaching the end of its path, which returns Crash to the Warp Room.

Parasite Eve is a survival horror role-playing video game developed and published by SquareSoft (now Square Enix) for the Sony PlayStation console. The game follows the story of Aya Brea, a rookie NYPD officer who becomes embroiled in a series of bizarre and deadly events related to a genetic mutation known as mitochondria. The game combines elements of horror, science fiction, and RPG gameplay, featuring real-time battles, exploration, puzzle-solving, and character development. The game's plot is inspired by the novel of the same name by Hideaki Sena, and its gameplay mechanics were influenced by the Final Fantasy series. Parasite Eve was critically acclaimed upon its release in 1998, and is widely regarded as a classic of the survival horror genre.

Breath of Fire IV is a single-player game that continues the story with these "dragon people," who gave their lives to eradicate the evil goddess and restore peace in their world. This time around, battle has broken out between two powerful continents, and the fair Princess Elena has disappeared during a tour of the war-torn region. The princess's sister, Nina, who reigns o'er the Windia Kingdom, vows to retrieve her missing sibling. She meets Ryu along the way, who joins the epic quest

Football Manager 2010 (abbreviated to Football Manager 10 or FM10) is a football manager simulation video game. It was released on Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and PlayStation Portable on 30 October 2009.[3] It is also available for digital download on Steam and iOS.[4] The game demo was released on 14 October 2009.[5][6] This is the first release in the series to be sold under the Football Manager name throughout the world. Previous North American (i.e., United States/Canada) versions were sold as Worldwide Soccer Manager.

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force, known in Japan as Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX Tag Force is a video game based on the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX anime series. It is the Yu-Gi-Oh! series' debut on the PlayStation Portable system and the first game in the Tag Force series. The game was eventually ported to the PlayStation 2 under the name Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Tag Force Evolution. This game includes connectivity with the original game's sequel.

The main fighting game is best described as a polygonal Marvel vs. Capcom game, with some notable differences. Control wise, the game varies from other Capcom fighting games by only having four buttons (two punches and two kicks, which is closer to the SNK game format) rather than the standard six. A player chooses a team of two characters, and fights against another two character team. The actual fights, however, are one-on-one fights, with the partner only participating by being called in when a player has enough 'vigor' for a Team Up attack, done by pressing a punch and kick button of the same pressure. The Team Ups would be some kind of double team attack by the character and partner, or (for most female characters' Team Ups) would heal the main character or give them more vigor. After the end of a round, a player (win or lose) has a choice to fight the next round with the partner from the previous round, or to keep their main character in play. The 'vigor' meter (essentially a super meter) could go up to 9 levels, with Team Ups costing two levels and super moves from a single person all costing one level of vigor. Much like the Marvel vs. Capcom games, launchers can be done that allow air combos to be performed, with all characters having universal low and high launchers. The game also had a few defensive techniques. Tardy Counters acted much like Alpha Counters from Street Fighter Alpha, allowing a player to immediately counter-attack from a blocking position. However, the restrictions on Tardy Counters are very lax; any hard normal, special or super attack can be used to Tardy counter (Alpha counters are only limited to certain special moves for each character), and Tardy Counters do not cost any extra vigor to perform (Alpha Counters required at least a level of Super Combo gauge to do). Attack Cancels allowed a player to cancel an incoming hit simply by timing their own hit with the attack, which would cancel out both attacks (though it does not nullify the remaining hits of a multi-hit move). Also, one additional level of vigor is awarded.

The peaceful world of the LocoRoco are under attack by the not-so-nice Moja Corps! These evil outer space creatures have come to take the LocoRoco from their land of blowing flowers, lively creatures and pastel scenery. As the planet where the LocoRoco inhabit, you must move them through more than 40 levels of slippery slopes, teetering platforms and maze-like passages. The LocoRoco have the uncanny ability to fluidly morph to their landscape, so all you need is to tilt, roll and bounce the happy blob-like creatures to safety!

Adventure into a world of unparalleled depth and danger with SquareSoft's Vagrant Story. In this sweeping dungeon-crawling epic you play as Ashley Riot, a young assassin and spy for the organization known as Riskbreakers. Your goal is to unravel a deep and twisted plot and come to terms with the recent death of your wife and child. If this sounds a bit too cerebral never fear. Your path to recapturing your sense of humanity hinges on the destruction of countless vicious monsters and the exploration of dark and dangerous dungeons. Vagrant Story is awash in gorgeous scenery and features designs from Yasumi Matsuno and Akihiko Yoshida, the acclaimed artists and creators behind Final Fantasy Tactics.

Klonoa: Door to Phantomile is a side-scrolling platform game viewed from a "2.5D" perspective. The player moves the protagonist, Klonoa, along a path in a two-dimensional fashion, but the game is rendered in three dimensions. This allows the path followed to curve and for the player to interact with objects outside of the path.

The kingdom of Altago is rebuilding their kingdom around a newfound peace after years of war against the merciless armies of Romn. The classic adventuresome duo, Adol and Dogi, arrive in the harbor of Altago City, and quickly find themselves in a scuffle with the Dragon Knights, the kingdom's military police body, when attempting to save a local girl from harassment by one of their commanding officers. Upset by the interruption and subsequent humiliation, the commander arrests Adol and Dogi, charging them with espionage. The king of Altago, having known of the duo's pending arrival from an old trusted friend, quickly releases the pair from prison and summons them to his chambers. He tells the men about an ancient shrine that was uncovered after a recent earthquake, and asks for their help in investigating this mysterious new find. Adol and Dogi oblige, unaware that they are about to take the first steps on a long journey to save all of Altago from long-forgotten ancient forces, and to reunite the estranged five tribes who serve and protect the Five Great Dragons deified beings who may well be the world's last hope. Ys Seven is the latest installment in the long-running Ys series which first debuted on PC in 1987. This is the first iteration to be built specifically for the PSP system, taking full advantage of the widescreen format and hardware. The battle system consists of a three-member battle party with enemies engaged on the field map in real-time for fast-paced combat. Old fans of the series and new players alike will be immersed into the rich vibrant world containing over 30 hours of gameplay.

Wild Arms is a Western-themed role-playing video game developed by Japanese software company Media.Vision. Originally released in Japan in 1996 for the Sony PlayStation video game console, it was later translated and released in North America in 1997 and Europe in 1998 by Sony Computer Entertainment. It is noteworthy for not only being one of the first role-playing video games on the PlayStation, but also one of the few to feature a Western American setting and motif. The game features 2D computer graphics for normal gameplay, while battle sequences are rendered in 3D.

The DarkStalkers have been unleashed! All the creatures from your darkest dreams have materialized to wage an eternal war for domination of the night. The fate of all humanity rests on who wins this epic struggle. You control the power of your favorite supernatural monster to combine their special attacks and unique abilities in a head to head fighting challenge. It's a fierce and brutal conflict for supremacy in the monster hit of the year!

"DISSIDIA 012[duodecim] FINAL FANTASY is the blockbuster follow-up to the smash hit DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY, offering a winning mix of Beat ‘Em Up action and RPG depth, starring the most memorable heroes and villains from the worlds of the FINAL FANTASY series. The title refers to the ‘12th battle’ (duodecim means 12 in Latin), a new war between Cosmos and Chaos, that forms the basis of the story. This war will require new allies both good and evil to join the battle. DISSIDIA 012[duodecim] FINAL FANTASY also adds new game modes, story missions, items, alternate costumes and combat features, expanding upon the action and excitement of DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY in every way. Get ready for the return of the ultimate portable fighting experience."

The console version of Tekken 2, which adds more content to the original arcade game, such as new characters and additional game modes.

Dino Crisis 2 is a third-person action-adventure game and sequel to Dino Crisis. In a change from the survival horror theme of the first game, Dino Crisis 2 is more shoot 'em up oriented. The character always runs, thus removing the need for the run button from the first game, a second gun can be carried and more weapons were added to the game. Besides changes to the gameplay, the game also introduces new species of dinosaurs and lizards.

"Bushido" is the soul of Japan - an ancient honor code deeply followed by samurai warriors for centuries. Plunge into real world battles across vast 3D environments that you can run, slice and tear through. Sword matches become unbelievably real where one critical blow is the mean difference between death and victory.

Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles is an entirely new take at the best Castlevania game to never be released in the US, "Castlevania: Rondo of Blood". The Dracula X Chronicles brings this action/adventure franchise to the PSP system for the first time, complete with 3D graphics, enhanced gameplay and new music. Completing the Dracula X storyline, this game also includes an unlockable version of Symphony of the Night and players will also be able to unlock the original Rondo of Blood from the NEC PC Engine. Includes unlockable versions of the original "Rondo of Blood" and "Symphony of the Night" games, optimized for the PSP. Timeless side scrolling action through more than 10 gothic stages and additional hidden areas. Return to previously completed levels to find additional secrets.

Syphon Filter 2 is a third-person shooter stealth video game developed by Eidetic and published by 989 Studios exclusively for PlayStation. Hours after the events of the first game, Gabriel Logan and Lian Xing are enemies of the state to the Agency after uncovering its connection to Syphon Filter, labelled as terrorists to the general public.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment is a role-playing video game developed by Atlus, and chronologically the third installment in the Persona series. Eternal Punishment takes place in the fictional Japanese city of Sumaru, and is a direct sequel to Persona 2: Innocent Sin. Taking place a year after Innocent Sin, the game follows reporter Maya Amamo as she investigates the Joker Curse, a malign phenomenon where people's wishes and rumors are coming true and causing chaos. During her investigations, she and others who join her gain the ability to summon Personas, personified aspects of their personalities. The gameplay features turn-based battle gameplay, where characters use their Personas in battle against demons, and a separate Rumor system, where rumors spread around the city can influence events in the characters' favor.

ModNation Racers is a Kart Racing game featuring all the track-based driving and comic combat players cherish in the genre, blended with extreme customization and user generated content expected of a modern online multiplayer title. In it, players can expect exceptional kart handling and physics technology, including drifting, jumps and boosting and easy to master customization options covering in-game racers, their karts and the tracks that are raced on.

Spyro: Year of the Dragon is the third installment in the Spyro series and the last Spyro game Insomniac developed. In this 3D adventure, Spyro have to retrieve 150 eggs that the evil Sorceress has stolen from Dragonworld. To survive, he will have to utilize all of his signature moves along with several he's recently picked up, like the ability to control vehicles like tanks, submarines, and speedboats. As an extra bonus, you have the option to choose from a wacky cast of characters: Sheila the kangaroo, Sergeant Byrd the flying penguin, Bentley the Yeti and Agent 9 the space monkey.

Daxter is a platformer developed by Ready at Dawn and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. Released in 2006 for the PlayStation Portable (PSP), it serves as a midquel set between Jak II and Jak 3 from the Jak and Daxter series. The game follows Daxter, a comical ottsel, as he works as a pest exterminator in Haven City while searching for his captured friend, Jak. Gameplay focuses on platforming, combat, and gadget-based puzzles, with Daxter using unique tools like a bug swatter and spray gun to defeat enemies. It features detailed environments, engaging minigames, and the series' signature humor.

Resident Evil: Director's Cut is an arranged version of the original game produced to compensate for the highly publicized delay of the sequel Resident Evil 2. The game contains a new arranged mode with various changes made to the game. The original release of the Director's Cut advertised an uncut version of the opening cinema in full colour and never-before-seen. Notable aspects of this video include shots of a corpse with bites taken out of the face, close-ups of zombie dogs bleeding when shot, and graphic quick-cuts of Joseph being bitten by these dogs.

Parasite Eve II is an action role-playing survival horror video game released exclusively for the PlayStation. The game was developed by Square and published in Japan in 1999 and in both North America and, unlike the previous game, in PAL regions in 2000. It is the sequel to Parasite Eve and the second game in the series of the same name. Parasite Eve II is set several years after the events in the original game. The protagonist from the first game, Aya Brea, also features in this game as the playable character. She becomes involved with another outbreak of Mitochondrial creatures. Gameplay diverges from the previous game: battles take place in real time and the area of action is less restrictive. The approach is more typical of traditional survival horror games, although some role-playing elements are retained.

"Marking Kratos' second foray into portable gaming, God of War: Ghost of Sparta stands as a spin-off nestled between the events of God of War and God of War II. Despite ascending to the title of the god of war, Kratos remains haunted by nightmarish visions. One such vision compels him to embark on a new journey when he witnesses his mother, Callisto, imprisoned in Atlantis under the dominion of the sea god Poseidon. Against Athena's counsel to ignore the vision, Kratos sets forth to unravel his past and, in the process, rescue his long-lost brother, Deimos, from the clutches of the god of death, Thanatos. This second instalment for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) maintains a gameplay style akin to its predecessor, introducing a handful of new mechanics. Kratos wields his trusty Blades of Athena in this quest, now augmented with a new magic known as Thera's Bane, amplifying the potency of his attacks. The game also introduces several new magical items and a fresh secondary weapon. In addition to the captivating story mode, Ghost of Sparta offers the "Temple of Zeus," a location where players can spend orbs acquired in the Battle Arena to acquire various art and other bonuses."

Syphon Filter is a third-person shooter stealth video game developed by Eidetic and published by 989 Studios exclusively for PlayStation. The plot centers on special agents Gabriel "Gabe" Logan and Lian Xing who are tasked by the United States government to apprehend a German international terrorist.

Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! is the second game in the Spyro the Dragon series. In this game, Spyro is placed in the land of Avalar rather than the Dragon Worlds. Gameplay flows like the original game Spyro the Dragon, with few variations in control and Spyro's main abilities intact. The only notable difference is the removal of Spyro's side-rolling ability, previously activated by L1 and R1.

Crash Bandicoot is the first installment in the Crash Bandicoot series that established Naughty Dog's reputation in the video game industry. Its premises chronicle the creation of the titular Crash, a bandicoot who has been uplifted by the mad scientist Doctor Neo Cortex. The goal of Crash Bandicoot is to traverse several levels in sequence in order to progress. The game is played from a third-person perspective in which the camera trails behind Crash, though some levels showcase forward-scrolling and side-scrolling perspectives. Crash is able to defeat enemies by either jumping on them or using a spinning attack that launches them.

Spyro the Dragon is a platform game developed by Insomniac Games for the PlayStation. It stars the title character, a young purple dragon named Spyro and his dragonfly friend, Sparx, and is the first game in the Spyro the Dragon series. The first game was massively popular at its initial release and Spyro would later become one of the most recognizable, popular and respected gaming icons for the PlayStation gaming console. Spyro's best friend, Sparx the dragonfly, acts like the player's health meter and assists in gathering gems. The various dragons Spyro unfreezes along the way are also key characters in Spyro's progression through the game. Gnasty Gnorc is the main antagonist, who froze all the dragons of the land in crystal.