10 Genius Ways Video Games Fought Pirates
5. Miscellaneous Silliness - Spyro: Year of the Dragon
The Spyro games are among the most imaginative 3D platformers on the PSOne, and in contrast to many final chapters in beloved trilogies, 2000’s Spyro: Year of the Dragon is often hailed as the best of the bunch.
In addition to enhancing the superb look, sound, and feel of its predecessors, it pulled gamers in with its charming narrative and expanded gameplay (including new and returning minigames). For instance, you can skateboard as Spyro, participate in races, and box a yeti, as well as take control of secondary characters such as Sparx, Bentley, Agent 9 and Sheila.
Appropriately, Spyro: Year of the Dragon’s anti-piracy tactics are similarly off-the-wall. In particular – and after nearly an hour of playtime – fairy Zoe will stop Spyro and say, “I’m sorry, Spyro, but you seem to be playing a hacked version of this game. This may be an illegal copy. Since this copy has been modified, you may experience problems that would not occur on a legal copy.”
Indeed, movement and saving may be prevented, NPCs’ language may change, secret characters can’t be unlocked, and all collected eggs and gems may be removed (pressing you to start all over).
Very clever, Insomniac Games. Very clever.