The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning

Did You Know?

• Krome Studios were asked by Vivendi Games to develop the game after showing their Crash Bandicoot technology.
• A CGI movie adaptation was rumored but never made; a script was leaked in 2022.
• The game's success spawned two sequels: The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night and The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon.

Gameplay

The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning shifts the series toward a more action-based focus, emphasizing combat over platforming. Spyro has a variety of combat moves and four breath attacks: fire, electricity, ice, and earth, usable at both long and short range. He can also unleash furies, powerful blasts of elemental energy. The game contains six linear levels and two rail shooter flying levels, taking about six hours to complete. The DS version adds an elemental shield, extra puzzles, and Rumble Pak support.

Plot

The game opens in a temple where the red dragon Ignitus guards an egg during the Year of the Dragon. A prophecy foretells that a rare purple dragon, born every ten generations, will shape the era's fate. The Dark Master, aware of the prophecy, attacks the temple. Ignitus escapes with the egg and sets it adrift downriver into a swamp. A dragonfly family finds the egg, and when it hatches, they name the dragon Spyro and raise him alongside their own dragonfly, Sparx. Years later, Spyro discovers he can breathe fire and learns he is not a dragonfly. He leaves the swamp to find his true home, with Sparx reluctantly joining. After encountering hostile forces, Spyro meets Ignitus, who reveals the Dragon Temple is occupied by the enemy led by the black female dragon Cynder. Spyro drives Cynder's forces from the Temple, then trains in fire magic. He rescues three other dragons—Volteer, Cyril, and Terrador—gaining powers over electricity, ice, and earth. Along the way, he meets allies such as Kane, the Atlawas, Mole-Yair, Exhumor, and the Manweersmalls. Cynder has been draining the dragons' power into crystals. After Spyro rescues Terrador, Cynder fights him, and Ignitus intervenes but is captured. The four dragons had originally sealed the Dark Master, and Cynder uses their drained powers to open the seal. Ignitus's power is the final key, so Spyro launches a direct assault on Cynder's fortress.

Reception

The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning received mixed or average reviews on most platforms, with the Game Boy Advance version receiving generally unfavorable reviews according to Metacritic. IGN praised the game's solid gameplay and complex presentation, while Eurogamer noted that fans of the original games might enjoy it but newcomers might find it a slog. Despite mixed reception, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated the game for Children's Game of the Year at the 10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.