darkSpyro

Krome Studios have redesigned their website and along with it they have five new screenshots and a brand new trailer (apparently shown at E3) (which has since been removed) for The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning which shows Ignitus, Spyro, Sparx and what might be Cynder along with a lot of new footage of Spyro fighting things.

Quote: Krome Studios

The Legend Of Spyro: A New Begining takes the world famous Spyro The Dragon back to the beginning, in his first ever adventure! Find out what makes him such a special creature as he masters powerful elemental breath attacks, battles enemies with devestating melee combat moves and levels up his abilities to become the most powerful dragon the world has ever seen! Forget everything you thought you knew about Spyro, this really is A New Beginning.

They've also got some stuff for their other new game, Hellboy, if you're interested in that. Also removed for some reason.

Thanks go to fearthehorns for spotting it.

IGN have posted a couple of previews for the console and DS versions of The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning.

Quote: IGN

The long range ice attack, for instance, will blast out frozen shards that ricochet around the room. Earth attacks can unleash tornadoes, and some of the fire attacks can set enemies on fire. Should the foes engulfed in flame bump into their kin, they'll set the unlucky gent aflame as well.

They also have several new screenshots for both versions along with four new videos of the game. Also with screenshots are Amazon who have a few more DS screens.

Thanks go yet again to GnastyRatchet for finding the new console screens on IGN and for pointing out the videos.

In celebration of one of the most pointless things to know about the site, for the 800th day of darkSpyro I have updated the forums and the site in general.

The news section of the site has had a slight revamp, with 'categories' for finding news posts about each game (all colour coded of course) and a very slightly altered comments system which makes use of some of the forum changes. You might also notice a load of URL changes elsewhere on the site but they're not really that important to users.

The forum itself has got what it's had before, lost, then had again before being snatched away quickly. Yep, avatars. Amazing huh? Several fixes are also included including a change from html code to the equally similar BBCode which itself includes a quoting feature. And registered users can now also see exactly what they have previously rated all of the games from within their profile.

Oh, and here's another preview of The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning from Computer and Videogames with some new screens. Thanks go to GnastyRatchet for finding it, of course.

The The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning's boxart has now appeared on several video-game shop websites such as GameStop and GAME (it was previously seen wonky here) replacing the crudely constructed placeholders. It features the same picture as the poster at Comic-Con and the game is rated as E10+ and 3+ in Europe.

Another Developer Interview, this time by Sliced Gaming with Scott Laing of Amaze Entertainment. The five page interview is mainly about the DS version of The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning and talks about the features that they are implementing in it.

As well as that Scott confirms the status of the game's continuity within the series.
Quote:

NS: So, this is a prequel of sorts, right?

SL: Well, "prequel" implies that this story somehow leads up to the story presented in earlier games, but it doesn't - this story completely replaces any story that has come before. It's kind of like what Frank Miller's Dark Knight was for Batman.

I'd say this game is certainly a set-up for future titles that will come later. Unlike the early Spyro games (which are near and dear to my heart), there will be continuity and multi-title story arcs from game to game.

Also take a minute to view the first DS screenshots of the title. The screenshots have been removed, you're too slow.

And yet again, all thanks go to GnastyRatchet for finding the interview.

Spyro put in an appearance at this year's Comic-Con at the San Diego Convention Center. You can see the poster for the game at GoNintendo (or the at the original place ComingSoon.net) and in the background of this IGN photo from the event without the flash of the first.

He obviously also made an appearance in video form, whether that was playable or not isn't so clear though at this point. Either way, The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning finally appears to have a logo.

Thanks go to GnastyRatchet again for finding the GoNintendo article.

Vooks.net have an interview with John Welsh of Krome Studios. The interview clears up a few things and rules out multiplayer from The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning.
Quote:

Will the game feature any multiplayer elements, if so what are they?

No, the core of the game has always been delivering an exceptionally fun single player experience so it definitely felt to stick to and enhance upon that experience. The focus has and will always be on Spyro and his own experience as he learns who he is, what he can do and what he has to do.

Also included with the interview are a few new screenshots. Thanks go to GnastyRatchet for finding the interview.

GameSpot provide the first The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning video. With a length of 1m35s the gameplay video shows Spyro fighting various different enemies using his melee and breath attacks.

Seen throughout the video is a light following Spyro from a short distance away, so although Sparx isn't the health meter in the game he still appears to be following Spyro around nevertheless. And near the end you also see Spyro flying, apparently being chased as he dodges missiles flying past him. The chaser is unseen but it's likely to be Cynder as mentioned in the pre-show previews.

GameSpot has a press release from Sierra Entertainment detailing the hollywood voice-over cast, previously it was unknown who they each played.

Quote:

This epic story of Spyro's quest to discover his roots and realize his destiny is amazingly brought to life by leading Hollywood voice-over cast members Elijah Wood (Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings trilogy) as the new voice of Spyro; David Spade (The Benchwarmers) as Spyro's sidekick Sparx the dragonfly; and Gary Oldman (Sirius Black from the Harry Potter films) as Ignitus, the Fire Dragon Elder and Spyro's mentor.

Again, the game is confirmed as set for release in October.

TeamXbox bring the first eight images of the new game The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning to the public.

It seems like Krome Studios are the developers this time around and that they will probably be ignoring the Japanese Spyro origins by having Spyro raised by a family of dragonflies for some reason. It does seem however that Spyro will be back in the flying seat instead of Sgt Byrd who took over for A Hero's Tail.

Thanks go to Mozepy for finding the article.

The game is also mentioned in a GameSpot news article and also a GameSpot E3 pre-show first look. And the same press release as on TeamXbox. No images on GameSpot just yet though. They also confirm Krome Studios as the developers for all but a DS version, that one they say is by Amaze Entertainment again.

Also, Vivendi now have a proper page with a rather bland looking logo as well as five screens of the game, four of them not on TeamXbox.

And IGN now also have an article about the game, but there's nothing new there.

Apparently it's a prequel of sorts...

VUGames now have a page for the new game, The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning, which has some info about the game but unfortunately no pictures or screenshots yet.

Quote:

Level Up to Feel the True Power of the Purple Dragon! The Legend of Spyro shifts in game design and now focuses on action/combat and character growth/customization. Unleash devastating fury attacks, new melee and aerial combo attacks or use one of Spyro's many new breath abilities to defeat foes. Feel the power of the purple dragon as players have the control to upgrade Spyro's breath attacks and moves to their liking. It's a new beginning with a storyline that will serve as a prequel to all of the existing Spyro titles, the narrative will explore Spyro's origin for the 1st time and the game includes AAA voice talent from Elijah Wood, David Spade and Gary Oldman.

Whilst the VUGames website only has a page for a PlayStation 2 version, according to the game's ESRB entry the game will appear on GameCube, PlayStation 2 and the Xbox. Incidently the game is rated 'Everyone 10+ (Cartoon Violence)'.

It seems like the new Spyro game may have a name at last. Due for release on GBA, PS2, DS, GC and Xbox on the 13th of October 2006, Spyro: Legend is apparently the next game in the Spyro series. And again the game appears to be being developed by yet another new company to the series, this time it's Havas Interactive. This information was found at Gamesarefun.com and emailed to me by Jon.

Also on the find list is a new Crash Bandicoot game, Crash: Boom Bang on the DS due for release at the same time.

I'd say that whether the game will actually get released on all the consoles mentioned is questionable; it's a lot of different versions to manage.

Aside from what may or may not be a vague prediction on IGN, there's still been no news of a new Spyro game. There's a similarly vague thing about it here (which gives a 3rd quarter release for Spyro 6 on the PS2, GameCube, GBA and DS) too.

In site news, I've put the Ripto Quest section back in action and have added a brand new Spyro the Dragon section for the Mobile game bearing that name. You'll find them in the 'Other Games' link on the right. There's also a new alternative link to the proper games sections just above it.

I've altered the news archives for individual years so that they show a calendar of the year rather then producing a long page of news items, though that option is still there. I might as well mention the forum changes too.

UPDATE: I've also just added a rather pointless poll on the right.

A new mobile Spyro game has been released, again made by Kaolink, it features Spyro going around rescuing a few dragon elders from the Shadow Realm.



With only seven levels, it's not a long game, but it at least looks a little bit nicer then Ripto Quest did despite being a side-scroller. Quite why they couldn't think of an original name for the game though...

Welcome to the brand new home for the site, www.darkspyro.net. Finally moved from the free hosts that have been vanishing as soon as we're established on them, but we're going to be staying at this .net location for quite a while now.

Since we went offline on the 28th of last month, I've finally managed to complete my Season of Flame guide along with a map showing the locations of the chests and keys as well as all of the eight items to flame/freeze/electricute in each level. I've also gone over a few of the older guides and spruced 'em up a little, there's not much new in them, but still. The Character Guide additions were put on hold just before the site went offline, but I'm going to start doing that again from Wednesday onwards. Oh, and a new small website has been setup to host all of my guides, see that at darkFAQs.

Some Spyro reviews are in, and it's not looking too good for Shadow Legacy if you're to believe them. IGN give it a 4/10, Eurogamer also gave it the same, Nintendo Power have apparently given it a 6.5/10 and Planet Gamecube gave it a 5.5/10. Check out some user reviews at GameFAQs and GameSpot as well to see their views.