You know that feeling when you first stepped into the Artisans world back in 1998? Everything was green, the music by Stewart Copeland was basically a vibe before "vibes" were a thing, and the enemies were literally just nervous dudes in capes. It felt safe. Then you find those five stones in the water, jump on them in a specific order—or just stumble onto the secret—and suddenly you’re in Sunny Flight.
Everything changes.
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The relaxation ends. The clock starts ticking. For a lot of us, Sunny Flight was the first time a video game gave us a genuine "fight or flight" response, and mostly we just crashed into the water. It’s infamous for a reason. Even in the Reignited Trilogy, where the graphics are gorgeous, the core tension of hitting every barrel and plane before the timer hits zero is still there, haunting our nostalgia.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Sunny Flight Secret
There is a massive misconception that you’re supposed to find Sunny Flight the second you start the game. Technically, you can. But if you talk to Lucas the Dragon later in the game—specifically at the end of Wizard Peak—he’s the one who actually tips you off about the secret.
In the original PS1 version, those platforms in the water didn't even light up until you jumped on all of them. It was a true "schoolyard rumor" kind of secret. In the Reignited Trilogy, Toys for Bob made them light up as soon as you touch them. This basically lured new players into a high-difficulty flight level way before they were ready for it.
If you struggled with this level as a kid, don't feel bad. You were essentially playing a "hidden" challenge meant for players who had already mastered the basic controls.
The "Perfect" Path: How to Stop Crashing
Honestly, the biggest mistake is trying to follow the objects in the order the game "shows" them to you. If you just fly straight, you’ll probably fail. You’ve gotta have a plan.
Most experts and speedrunners suggest a very specific flow. It’s like a dance. If you mess up the rhythm, the whole thing falls apart. Here is how you actually beat it without throwing your controller:
- Hit the Barrels first. As soon as you spawn, turn left. Don't look at the arches. Don't look at the planes. Head for the train tracks and start flaming those barrels. Pro tip: fly in the opposite direction of the trains. It makes the timing way more forgiving.
- Dive for the Chests. After the barrels, head toward the cave area. There are eight chests in total. If you’re playing the Reignited version, be careful—the camera can be a bit jerkier here than in the 90s original.
- The Arches and Planes. This is where people usually run out of time. The arches lead you in a natural circle, and while you’re flying through them, you’ll see the planes. Don't chase individual planes. Position yourself to fly head-on into their flight path.
Tiny Mechanics That Actually Matter
Did you know Spyro flies faster when he’s close to the water? It sounds fake, but it’s a real mechanic. Staying low to the surface gives you a slight speed boost that can be the difference between finishing with five seconds left or failing at the last arch.
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Also, stop holding the directional buttons so hard. Tapping the D-pad or the thumbstick gives you much finer control. If you hold "Up" (which usually means down in flight controls) for too long, you’ll overcompensate and end up staring at the seafloor.
The Barnstormer Trophy
If you're playing the modern version on PS4, Xbox, or Steam, there’s an achievement called "Barnstormer." To get it, you have to do a loop-de-loop under one of the bridges.
- Fly toward the railroad bridges.
- Pass underneath one.
- Immediately hit the roll button (R1/RB) to flip.
- Do it successfully, and the trophy pops.
It’s a fun little nod to the fact that most of us spent hours just messing around in these levels once we finally cleared the 300-gem requirement.
Why Does It Feel Harder in Reignited?
You aren't imagining things. A lot of long-time fans feel like the flying levels in the Reignited Trilogy are slightly more difficult. This usually comes down to the "deadzone" on modern analog sticks and the way the camera tracks Spyro's head.
In the original, the movement was a bit more "floaty" but predictable. In the remake, Spyro feels heavier. He reacts faster to your inputs, which is great for platforming but can make precision flight feel twitchy. If you’re struggling, try switching to the D-pad. It sounds old-school, but it forces the game to register 8-way directional input rather than the 360-degree chaos of an analog stick.
Actionable Next Steps for Mastery
If you're still stuck or just want to 100% the Artisans world, here is exactly what to do next:
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- Switch your flight controls in the settings if "inverted" is messing with your brain. There's no shame in it.
- Ignore the gems for the first three runs. Just practice the route. Once you know where the last plane is going to be, the gems will come naturally when you finally nail the full run.
- Watch the "All-in-One" counter. You get 60 gems for each set (Barrels, Chests, Arches, Planes) and a final 60-gem bonus for doing them all in one go. That’s how you get the 300 total.
- Use the "Quit" option in the pause menu if you miss a barrel early. It’s faster than waiting for the timer to run out and watching Spyro look sad in the water.
Sunny Flight is a rite of passage. Once you clear it, the rest of the Artisans world feels like a cakewalk. Just remember: stay low, fly against the traffic, and don't let the ticking clock get in your head.
To finish your 100% run of the Artisans world, head back to the main hub and look for any remaining Gnorcs hiding behind the towers—you'll need those gems to pay the Balloonist for the trip to Peace Keepers.