You remember the 90s, right? Back then, every kid had a notebook filled with scribbled button combinations because developers actually wanted you to mess around with their games. Toys for Bob kept that spirit alive. When they rebuilt the purple dragon's adventures from the ground up, they didn't just polish the scales and call it a day. They ported over the classic inputs. Honestly, seeing a Spyro Reignited Trilogy cheat work exactly like it did on the original PlayStation feels like a warm hug from your childhood.
It's kinda weird how few modern games do this. Usually, you have to buy "time-savers" or DLC skins. In Spyro, you just pause the game, mash some buttons, and suddenly you're a 2D dragon or rocking a pair of shades. It’s glorious.
Why the Classic Inputs Still Rule
Most people think cheats are just for skipping levels. Not here. In this trilogy, they’re basically a "vibe check." You want Spyro to look like he’s made of solid gold? There’s a code for that. Want a giant head that makes his horns look ridiculous? You got it.
The cool thing is that these don't disable your trophies or achievements. Seriously. You can platinum the whole game while looking like a flat piece of paper. Most modern developers would punish you for that, but here, it’s just part of the charm. Just remember that you have to enter these codes while the game is paused. If Spyro is jumping around while you're hitting the D-pad, you're doing it wrong.
The Big Head and Flat Spyro Era
If you’re looking for a laugh, the cosmetic codes are where it’s at. The "Big Head" code is a classic for a reason. It makes Spyro look top-heavy, and honestly, seeing him charge into a Gnorc with a skull three times the size of his body never gets old.
To trigger it, pause the game and hit: Up, Up, Up, Up, Circle, Circle, Circle, Circle, Square (on PlayStation) or Up, Up, Up, Up, B, B, B, B, X (on Xbox).
Then there’s the 2D Spyro. This one is trippy. It turns our hero into a flat sprite, like he’s a paper cutout wandering through a 3D world. It’s a total trip. You’ll need to input: Left, Right, Left, Right, L2, R2, L2, R2, Square (PlayStation) or Left, Right, Left, Right, LT, RT, LT, RT, X (Xbox). It makes the platforming a bit harder because your depth perception goes out the window, but for a screenshot? Perfection.
Changing Your Scales: The Color Swaps
Sometimes the classic purple just isn't hitting the right notes for your mood. Maybe you’re feeling a bit more "hot pink" today. Or maybe you want to look like a shadow lurking in the Artisans home world.
Changing Spyro's color is the most popular Spyro Reignited Trilogy cheat because it actually feels like a skin system that should have been in the base menu. To change colors, you always start with the same sequence: Up, Left, Down, Right, Up, Square, R1, R2, L1, L2, Up, Right, Down, Left, Up.
But wait! Don't just hit that and expect magic. You have to follow it up with a final button to pick the specific shade.
- Hit Circle (or B) for Red.
- Hit Square (or X) for Blue.
- Hit Triangle (or Y) for Pink.
- Hit X (or A) for Yellow.
- Hit Right for Green.
- Hit Up for Yellow. (Wait, did I say yellow twice? Yeah, the inputs vary slightly by platform, but usually, Up gives you a bright sun-yellow).
- Hit Down for Black.
The Black Spyro skin is easily the coolest. It makes him look like a sleek, obsidian dragon. It’s perfect for the darker levels like those in Year of the Dragon.
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The 99 Lives Cheat: A Literal Lifesaver
Let’s be real. Some of the flight levels in these games are absolute nightmares. Looking at you, Wild Flight. If you’re tired of seeing the "Game Over" screen and watching Sparx look sad, there’s a way to cheese the system.
There is a 99 lives code. It works in all three games.
Pause the game and enter: R2, L2, R2, L2, Up, Up, Up, Up, Circle (PlayStation) or RT, LT, RT, LT, Up, Up, Up, Up, B (Xbox).
Suddenly, your life counter jumps to 99. You can fail that jump in Tree Tops as many times as you want now. No judgment here. We've all been there, swearing at the screen while trying to time those supercharge ramps.
The "Retro" Secret
This is the one that really hits the nostalgia button. Toys for Bob added a code that turns Spyro back into his original 1998 low-polygon model. He gets all blocky and pixelated, just like he looked on your old CRT television.
The input is: L1, L1, L1, L1, Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down, Triangle.
(Xbox: LB, LB, LB, LB, Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down, Y).
It’s hilarious to see this chunky, low-res dragon interacting with the beautiful, high-definition grass and lighting of the Reignited world. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come, but also how great the original character design was. Even with ten polygons, Spyro had personality.
Getting Specific: Year of the Dragon Cheats
The third game in the trilogy, Year of the Dragon, has a few unique quirks. Since you play as other characters like Sheila the Kangaroo or Sgt. Byrd, people often ask if there are cheats for them. Sadly, no. The codes mostly affect Spyro himself.
However, there is a specific code to get the credits to roll whenever you want. Why would you want this? Maybe you just like the music. Stewart Copeland’s soundtrack is legendary, after all.
To see the credits, enter: Left, Right, Left, Right, Left, Right, Square, Circle, Square, Circle, Square, Circle. It’s a lot of rhythmic tapping, but it works.
Troubleshooting Your Inputs
If you’re mashing buttons and nothing is happening, don’t panic. Usually, it's one of three things.
First, check your speed. You can't be too slow, but you can't be "pro-gamer" fast either. A steady, rhythmic pace works best. Second, make sure you are using the D-pad, not the analog stick. The sticks are too sensitive and often register an "Up-Left" when you just meant "Up," which breaks the sequence.
Finally, remember that some codes are game-specific. While the 99 lives and color changes work across the whole trilogy, the "Level Warp" codes from the original PS1 games were largely removed or changed because the save system works differently now. You can't just warp to Gnasty Gnorc five seconds after starting a new game anymore.
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Making the Most of Your Playthrough
Cheats shouldn't replace the experience of playing the game, but they definitely enhance it. If you’re doing a completionist run, using the 99 lives cheat is basically a requirement to keep your sanity during the later Speedways.
If you want the "Ultimate" Spyro experience, I recommend the following:
Turn on the Black Color code, put on the Sunglasses (R1, R1, R1, R1, Left, Left, Left, Left, Down, Up, Triangle), and use the Retro Spyro skin. You end up with a low-poly, goth dragon wearing shades. It’s ridiculous. It’s fun. It’s exactly what gaming should be.
Actionable Next Steps
To get started with these secrets, follow these steps:
- Load into any of the three games and wait until you have control of Spyro in a home world.
- Press the Pause button. Do not try to enter codes while moving; it won't work.
- Use the D-pad specifically. Avoid the thumbsticks to ensure every direction press is clean and accurate.
- Start with the 99 Lives code. It’s the easiest way to verify you’re entering the rhythm correctly, as you’ll hear a chime and see the life counter update immediately.
- Stack your codes. You can have the Big Head, Sunglasses, and a Color Change all active at the same time. If you want to reset everything, just entering the code again usually toggles it off, or you can simply quit to the main menu and reload your save.
Go ahead and experiment. These codes are a gift from the developers to the fans. They don't break the game; they just make the dragon's world a little more colorful. Whether you're chasing down thieves in Spyro 1 or collecting orbs in Ripto's Rage, there's no reason not to do it with a giant head and neon pink scales.