Spyro | |
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Genres | Platform |
Developers |
Insomniac Games (1998–2000) Digital Eclipse (2001–03) Equinoxe Digital Entertainment (2002) Check Six (2002) Vicarious Visions (2004) Eurocom (2004) Amaze Entertainment (2005)(2005–07) Krome Studios (2006–07) Étranges Libellules (2008) |
Publishers |
Sony Computer Entertainment (1998–2000) Universal Interactive Studios (1998–2003) Konami (2002–04) (Japan) Vivendi Universal Games Vivendi Games (2004–07) Sierra Entertainment (2005–08) Activision (2008–present) |
Creators |
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Platforms | |
Platform of origin | PlayStation |
Spin-offs | Skylanders |
Spyro is a series of platform video games which primarily features the protagonist Spyro the Dragon and his friend, Sparx the Dragonfly. Since the series' introduction in 1998, there has been a complete reboot to the series called The Legend of Spyro trilogy, making it a total of ten Spyro games and three Legend of Spyro games. The Spyro series has sold more than 20 million units worldwide.
Spyro the Dragon was first released in North America on 11 September 1998 for the PlayStation. It was released in Europe on 23 October 1998, in Australia on 15 November 1998 and in Japan on 1 April 1999. It is a platform game that placed the player as Spyro, a small, purple dragon set with the task of freeing his fellow dragons from crystal prisons, which are scattered around their world. Each level is accessed through 'portals' from a main world. The game concludes with a fight between Spyro and the primary antagonist, Gnasty Gnorc. The game sold well, most critics giving it favorable reviews. It also received acclaim for its musical score by Stewart Copeland.
Ripto's Rage! (also known Gateway to Glimmer in Europe and Australia) followed on from the success of the first title, making its release on 2 November 1999 in North America. It was released three days later in Europe and Australia and in Japan on 16 March 2000. The game introduced many new characters including Hunter, a cheetah; Elora, a faun; The Professor, a mole and Zoe, a fairy. The structure of the game is similar to the first, with levels being accessed from the three main home worlds: Summer Forest, Autumn Plains, and Winter Tundra. The game concludes with a fight between Spyro and the primary antagonist, Ripto. The game introduces some new abilities for Spyro, including hovering after a glide, swimming underwater, climbing ladders, head-bashing, and the ability to use power-ups. Like its predecessor, it was critically acclaimed.
Year of the Dragon was released in Autumn 2000 for North America, Europe and Australia, and it was the last Spyro game to be created by Insomniac Games. In this game, the dragons are celebrating the Year of the Dragon, an event every twelve years in which new dragon eggs arrive in the dragon worlds. Bianca, an anthropomorphic rabbit, steals the eggs, and Spyro follows her down a rabbit hole. The rabbit hole leads to the Forgotten Realms, which are under the rule of the game's primary antagonist, The Sorceress, to whom Bianca is apprenticed. As in the previous games, levels are accessed from a central home world, of which there are four: Sunrise Spring, Midday Gardens, Evening Lake, and Midnight Mountain. The game also features levels in which the player controls Sparx in a bird's eye view shooting game as well as four new playable characters: Sheila the Kangaroo, Sgt. Byrd, Bentley the Yeti, and Agent 9.