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Spyro (series) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Spyro the Dragon is a super fun series of video games! It all started with a game for Sony's PlayStation console. The Spyro games quickly became very popular, and many new games and spin-offs (games that come from the main series) were made. More than 20 million Spyro games have been sold all over the world!

The original Spyro story was restarted in 2006 with "The Legend of Spyro" games. Then, in 2011, the series changed again when the Skylanders games came out. If you love the first three games, you're in luck! They were remade in 2018 as the Spyro Reignited Trilogy, with awesome new graphics.

The Original Spyro Games

These are the first games that introduced us to Spyro and his amazing world.

Spyro's Console Adventures

Spyro the Dragon came out on the PlayStation in 1998. In this game, you play as Spyro, a brave little purple dragon. His best friend, Sparx the dragonfly, is always by his side. You'll meet lots of other dragons too!

The game takes place in the Dragon Realms, a magical fantasy world. This world has six different areas: Artisans, Peace Keepers, Magic Crafters, Beast Makers, Dream Weavers, and Gnasty's World. The main bad guy, Gnasty Gnorc (who is half gnome and half orc), gets mad at the dragons and turns them all into stone statues! Luckily, Spyro was out playing and missed being turned to stone. Your job is to charge, fly, and breathe fire to explore each world, beat enemies, save the dragons, and finally defeat Gnasty Gnorc.

Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! is the next game, released in 1999 on the PlayStation. Spyro and Sparx accidentally end up in a new place called Avalar. A tiny, mean dinosaur named Ripto, who has a magic staff, is taking over the peaceful lands. Spyro was hoping for a break, but instead, he's pulled into a new adventure!

In this game, Spyro meets new friends like the Professor, Hunter the cheetah, Elora the fawn, and Zoe the fairy. He has to face Ripto and his not-so-smart helpers, Crush and Gulp. Spyro also learns new moves like swimming, climbing, and head-butting to help him on his quest.

Spyro 3: Year of the Dragon (2000) was the last game made by Insomniac Games for the series. In this story, dragons are celebrating the arrival of new dragon eggs, which happens every twelve years. But then, a mysterious girl steals all the eggs! Spyro, Sparx, and Hunter follow her to the Forgotten Realms.

There, they meet many new friends who you can also play as! These include Sheila the kangaroo, Sgt. Byrd the flying penguin, Bentley the yeti, and Agent 9 the monkey. This game also has special levels where you control Sparx in a shooting game from above. Spyro and his new friends must figure out why the Sorceress stole the eggs and stop her.

Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly (2002) came out for both the PlayStation 2 and GameCube. In this game, Ripto is back and he steals all the dragonflies! Spyro has to find them and defeat Ripto once more.

Spyro: A Hero's Tail (2004) was released for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube. Here, a dragon named Red uses evil Dark Gems to poison the Dragon Worlds. Spyro must stop him!

Spyro's GameBoy Advance Adventures

You can also play these Spyro games on the portable GameBoy Advance:

  • Spyro: Season of Ice (2001) is the first Spyro game for the GameBoy Advance. Spyro uses his fire breath to save fairies frozen by a monster named Grendor.
  • Spyro 2: Season of Flame (2002) is the next game. Spyro needs to get back stolen fireflies.
  • Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs (2003) challenges Spyro to collect the "Heart" from each land to stop Ripto's newest evil plan.
  • Crash Bandicoot Purple: Ripto's Rampage and Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy (2004) are two crossover games released at the same time. Spyro Orange features Spyro in Crash Bandicoot's world, and Crash Bandicoot Purple has Crash in Spyro's world.

Spyro's Nintendo DS Adventure

Spyro: Shadow Legacy (2005) is the only Spyro game for the Nintendo DS. It was also the last game in the original series before the "Legend of Spyro" reboot. Spyro must save everyone in the Dragon Realms, Avalar, and the Forgotten Worlds from a scary place called the Shadow Realm.

Main Characters in the Original Series

  • Spyro: He's the main hero! A brave little purple dragon.
  • Sparx: Spyro's best friend and companion. In the games, Sparx shows how much health Spyro has. If Spyro defeats small animals (like sheep), Sparx can get more health!
  • Hunter: He first appeared in Ripto's Rage. Hunter helps Spyro learn new skills and sometimes challenges him to races.
  • Moneybags: A rich bear who sells Spyro new abilities like climbing and swimming. He also opens up bridges and paths for a fee.
  • The Professor: He created the Super-portal in Avalar.
  • Elora: A friendly fawn and one of Spyro's good friends.

The Legend of Spyro Games

This series tells a new story about Spyro, starting fresh!

The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning (2006) is the first game in this series. Spyro grew up thinking he was a dragonfly, just like Sparx. But one day, he realizes he's actually a dragon! He meets a dragon Guardian named Ignitus, who tells Spyro that because he's purple, he's a very special dragon. He can breathe all four elements: fire, electricity, ice, and earth! This begins his journey to save the other Guardian dragons: Volteer (electricity), Cyril (ice), and Terrador (earth). They teach Spyro to control their elements after he rescues them. Spyro also has to defeat Cynder, a mysterious evil dragon working for the main bad guy, the Dark Master.

The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night (2007) is the next game. Cynder leaves the Dragon Temple because she feels bad about what she did when she was evil. Spyro goes after her. Then, the Temple is attacked by apes, and Spyro has to fight them off. Spyro and Cynder both get captured by pirates, and they have to escape!

The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon (2008) is the last game in this series. The characters and graphics look very different in this one! It's also the first Spyro game where you can fly freely whenever you want (called "free-fly mode"). Plus, you can play with a friend in "co-op mode" with Cynder. The story starts three years after "The Eternal Night." Spyro and Cynder escape from crystals that trapped them. They become linked by mysterious green energy chains created by the Dark Master. They must work together to finally defeat the Dark Master, Malefor!

Skylanders Games

Skylanders is a different series of games that came after Spyro. These games are special because you use real toys that come to life in the game!

Skylanders Game Titles

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Spyro el dragón (franquicia) para niños

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