It was fun, it was colourful, but it missed a touch of that joy we had way back when.

Then, in 2000, he returned in Spyro 3: Year Of The Dragon - which failed to reignite my passions - and two years later along came Spyro: Enter The Dragonfly which pretty much put the final nail in the coffin.

2004's Spyro: A Hero's Tail came out. I played it, I wondered why I played it and I forgot it.

But In 2006 The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning was released and, for a brief moment, my love of Spyro was re-ignited and - when it was revealed this would be the first of a trilogy - there was hope.

The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night pretty much sent Spyro and me to divorce court citing a stupid control system and run-of-the-mill storyline and gameplay.

Here we are on the verge of Christmas 2008, almost 20 years since our first date, and ready to begin anew.

This time around Spyro teams up with his once arch-nemesis and naughty dragon Cynder to thwart the dark master.

Spyro and Cynder have specific abilities that you'll need to master to complete the game.

The title also introduces co-operative mode, where a friend can drop in and out and help you on your quest.

You can also flick between the dragons as you go, with the other dragon under system control.

The game is voiced by actors Elijah Wood, Gary Oldman, Wayne Brady, Christina Ricci, Blair Underwood and Mark Hamill.

Developer Sierra has really embraced the graphic capabilities of the next-gen consoles for this release.

The graphics are a visual feast but good looks do not a good game make.

Combat is little more than a button-mashing festival, the puzzle elements are simplicity re-defined and the storyline is confusing and littered with gaping holes.

The honeymoon is over, once again.

LEGO BATMAN: THE VIDEOGAME

PRICE: Up to $89.95

SYSTEM: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, PS2

RATING: PG

*****

LEGO is just too much fun when it's in the form of a computer game.

Like the Lego Star Wars series before it, Lego Batman is more fun than getting lost in a Lego factory.

Instead of basing the game on the recent Batman film, developer Travellers Tales has taken the best elements of all the Batman movies and turned them into a fun time for gameplayers of any age or skill.

Overflowing with off-the-wall humour, kick-arse puzzles and crazy stunts, this Lego outing is the best yet and a must-have for any gamer's library.

As in the Star Wars games, you get to play myriad characters, although the mainstays are Batman and Robin.

The caped crusaders will help you defeat all the best

Gotham City villains - the Joker, the Riddler, the Penguin, Poison Ivy, Catwoman and Mr Freeze - as you smash, build, fly, drive and climb your way through a series of killer levels.

As Batman or Robin you can punch and throw enemies or throw your Batarangs at enemies and objects to destroy them.

Along the way you'll have to wear different Batman and Robin costumes that give you extra abilities needed to complete each level.

A vehicle level in most acts keeps this from the button-

mashing doldrums.

There are three hero chapters which, on completion of each, lead to villain chapters.

Each chapter has six acts and bucket-loads of collectables to discover and bonus characters to unlock.

As with previous Lego titles, smashing environment elements releases Lego studs to trade for power-ups and extras.

The major comedown for Lego Batman is the omission online co-operative play but off-line play with a pal, who can drop in and out, is available.