The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning

The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning

Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Predecessor	Spyro franchise
Founded	2006
Products	Action-adventure video game
Parent	Vivendi Games (publisher)

The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning is an action-adventure video game released in 2006, marking the inaugural title in the The Legend of Spyro trilogy and part of the Spyro franchise. It became available on multiple platforms including Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and various mobile devices.

The game’s voice cast features notable actors such as Elijah Wood portraying Spyro, Gary Oldman as Ignitus, David Spade voicing Sparx, and Cree Summer as Cynder.

Reception for A New Beginning was mixed; its narrative and visual design received commendations, while critiques targeted the monotonous combat mechanics and limited variety in attacks. The Game Boy Advance version faced particular criticism due to its graphical quality, brief gameplay duration, and repetitive fighting sequences.

The sequel, The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night, followed in 2007.

Gameplay

Departing from traditional platforming elements, A New Beginning emphasizes combat-oriented gameplay. Spyro is equipped with a diverse set of fighting moves and can utilize four elemental breath attacks—fire, electricity, ice, and earth—effective at both close and distant ranges. Additionally, he can perform devastating elemental fury attacks. The game consists of six straightforward levels that culminate in boss battles, supplemented by two rail shooter-style flying stages, with an average playtime around six hours.

The Nintendo DS edition introduces extra combat abilities and challenges, including an elemental shield that both defends Spyro and harms foes. It also features additional puzzle-based side quests and supports the Nintendo DS Rumble Pak to provide tactile feedback.

Plot

The story begins within a temple where Ignitus, a red dragon guardian, protects a rare purple dragon egg during the prophesied "Year of the Dragon." This purple dragon is foretold to determine the era's destiny. However, dragons are embroiled in conflict with the "Dark Master," who assaults the temple intending to annihilate all eggs. Ignitus manages to flee with one egg that drifts into a swamp, hatching into Spyro, who is nurtured by a dragonfly family alongside Sparx.

Upon discovering his ability to breathe fire and realizing he is not a dragonfly, Spyro departs from the swamp to seek his true origins, accompanied by Sparx. As they evade pursuers, they encounter Ignitus, who expresses concern over their bleak prospects since Cynder—a black female dragon commanding the Dark Master's army—has seized control of the Dragon Temple.

Spyro persuades Ignitus to aid in reclaiming the temple and undergoes training in fire magic. Subsequently, he rescues three dragons—Volteer, Cyril, and Terrador—from Cynder’s forces, thereby acquiring control over electricity, ice, and earth powers respectively. Along his journey, Spyro forms alliances with new companions such as Kane and others representing different regions. It becomes apparent that Cynder is siphoning dragons’ powers into crystals.

During a confrontation where Cynder captures Ignitus, it is revealed that these four dragons had originally imprisoned the Dark Master. By draining their powers, Cynder breaks this ancient seal. Ignitus’s energy is crucial for unsealing the Dark Master’s prison, prompting Spyro to mount a final offensive against Cynder’s stronghold.

In their battle, Cynder extracts Ignitus's fire power before fleeing into the sealed realm. Spyro learns that Cynder was cursed by the Dark Master after being abducted as a hatchling—her malevolent actions were not her own will. In a climactic fight, Spyro frees Cynder from this curse and rescues her as the realm collapses. Although victorious, Spyro is left weakened and suspects that the Dark Master still survives; this ongoing struggle continues in The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night.

Development

Vivendi Games enlisted Krome Studios to create The Legend of Spyro. Following a demonstration of their technology from a previous Crash Bandicoot project, Sierra requested a prototype that evolved into this title. The game features prominent voice actors such as Elijah Wood as Spyro, David Spade as Sparx, Cree Summer as Cynder, and Gary Oldman portraying Ignitus.

Reception

Overall, the game garnered "mixed or average" critiques across most platforms, with the Game Boy Advance edition receiving notably "generally unfavorable" feedback according to Metacritic. IGN commended the series for its marked enhancements in gameplay mechanics, visual presentation, and sound design, emphasizing its suitability for a younger audience. Eurogamer observed that while dedicated fans might find it enjoyable, newcomers could encounter some difficulty.

Despite the varied critical response, The Legend of Spyro earned a nomination for "Children's Game of the Year" at the 10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.

Sequel

Building on its success, the game spawned two sequels: The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night and The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon. Although there were rumors about a CGI film adaptation prior to release, it never came to fruition; however, the script surfaced online in 2022.