darkSpyro

The game, The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning, has been out for over a month now and I've completed work on my walkthrough for it. Also added to the The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning section are a cheats page (with one cheat two cheats) and a page where you can randomly generate Enemy Names.

Players of the Nintendo DS version of the game might like to know that I have also posted solutions to all eighty of the Power Crystal Puzzles, though that was added a little while ago.

And for those of you who don't have the game but are still deciding whether or not to, I've collected a load of reviews together onto one page with links to the full articles if available so that you can judge based on other people's opinions of the game.

In other Spyro content news, I have finally finished adding all of the characters from Spyro 2: Gateway to Glimmer to the Character Guide.

Today marks the day that The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning officially goes on sale in Europe, though it was actually released slightly earlier in the week.

And for those of you wondering when I'd write a walkthrough for the game, wonder no more. Well, keep wondering for the most part but don't wonder about the GBA version no more. That's right, you can now get through the Gameboy Advance version without any trouble by using my walkthrough which covers the entire game.

Have fun.

The official Spyro website, SpyrotheDragon.com has finally been updated to promote the new game, The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning. You can find a few new screenshots, info on some of the new characters, info and videos about some of Spyro's attacks and a new TV Commercial (as well as the video previously seen on Krome Studio's website).



There's also a video for the Mobile version of the game as well as some new screens for it, if you're interested in that.

It's just about as close to the release date as you can get, The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning should be available in North America now if not tomorrow.

The second review from another magazine. This time it's the turn of Nintendo Power who have given the GameCube version of The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning the rather average score of 5.5/10, seemingly not quite as positive as the previous review from Play Magazine.

Quote: Nintendo Power

Unfortunately the end product fails to return the purple hero to his former glory. The game's overly-simplistic combat quikcly grows repetitive - a problem exacerabted by levels that tend to drag on and on without enough variety to keep things interesting (the flying stages are nicely done, but they're too few and far between). And although Spyro has an auspicious arsenal of elemental breaths at his disposal, the game doesn't do enough to take advantage of them.

It's not all doom and gloom though, they did have a few positive things to say...

Quote: Nintendo Power

On the bright side, A New Beginning does boast some impressive production values, particularly in the audio department. The soundtrack is a sweeping orchestal score that wouldn't sound out of place in a Hollywood epic, and most of the voice acting is top notch - Elijah Wood puts in an especially praiseworthy performance as Spyro.

Thanks go to Neal for this scan of the review.

Play Magazine has given the first review of The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning and it's a positive one, awarding it a score of 8.5/10.

Quote: Play Magazine

Graphically the game is as gorgeous as it can be and rich with fine details like little pads of earth that fly up from Spyro's claws, shallow mist, hand-drawn effects on water, sparking snow, reflective surfaces, and real-time lighting you'll want to write home to mom about.

Thanks to GnastyRatchet you can see scans of both Page 1 and Page 2 of the review which includes a couple of screenshots and a large picture of Ignitus.

It's been a strangely silent front with screenshots for the GameboyAdvance version of the game, you'd almost think that it didn't even exist. However the first five screenshots of the side-scrolling GBA version of The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning have appeared on the Australian website of Nintendo.

Also worthy of note are the first screens of the Mobile version of the game which you can find at the Italian mobile games website WirelessGaming.it.



Thanks go to Spyro-Fan and Michael respectively for finding these.

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.

I've finally finished redoing the Spyro: Fusion (Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy) section which for the most part looks better than before. Mostly the walkthrough though, which I've finally brought up-to-date.

In other site related updates, I've added the first Spyro mobile game to the Other Games section and added a Books section to Shadow Legacy. Oh, and of course I added a The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning section too.

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.