Spyro of the Elements

Spyro... is a broken series, unfortunately. The first game was what inspired me to start drawing dragons, and Insomniac did a good job of raising the purple mascot on the PSX. Can't say the same thing about Vivendi Universal though; Spyro's latest game, a Hero's Tail, is the multiplatform launch the dragon should have had. It's a good game, but are there enough Spyro fans left who really care?

Anyway. I think it must've been the absence of the Superfly and Superbreath powerups in Hero's Tail that inspired this. Sure, Spyro had limited-ammunition secondary breath for each element, but that just isn't the same. So I did some thinking... a LOT of thinking. What if Spyro had powerups so extreme that they not only granted him new abilities, but also changed his appearance and form while he used them?

Enter my Spyro dragons of the elements, a sort of cross between Spyro and my own series of elemental dragons.

On the left of the picture is the Spyro of Flame, this powerup's key characteristic being Strength. Spyro would have complete immunity to fire-based attacks and hazards, and would be able to swim through hot lava as if it were shallow water, even dive underneath the surface to evade attacks or find hidden items. He'd also be able to ram fire-based enemies that are normally hazardous to the touch, and his magnified fire breath could be used to evaporate ice-based enemies, whether in a short-range spray or a long-range blast (like his classic Superflame). However, he'd be restricted to fire-type breath while using this powerup, receive extreme damage from ice attacks (one hit = powerup and Sparx vanish, all but an instant KO), and the powerup would vanish instantly if he falls into water.

Next comes the Spyro of Ice, the first sketch in this drawing (and my personal favorite of the three). Key characteristic for this form is Stealth. Spyro's magnified ice breath would enable Spyro to freeze and shatter virtually any type of enemy. Fired long-range (like the Superice breath in Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage), Spyro would also be able to create platforms of ice across water, or platforms of hardened rock over hot lava. His reflective body would also enable him to turn (nearly) invisible on ground (Wing Shield ability) or underwater, to evade detection by enemies. He'd also be completely immune to ice and snow attacks, and be able to swim in normally hazardous water. He'd be restricted to his ice breath in this form, though, fire attacks would be particularly nasty (again, one hit = powerup and Sparx vanish), and falling into hot lava is still instant death.

Lastly in this trio is the Spyro of Air. This feathered form is so different, (un-Spyro like?) that other avian characters (fodder and enemies alike) would fail to recognize Spyro as a dragon, a threat. Spyro's key characteristic would be speed however, including a triple-jump, a wall-jump (from any wall, not just specific surfaces like in Hero's Tail) faster gliding and limited Superfly abilities per jump, a superdash both on ground and mid-air, and long-range, highly accurate lightning breath. Plus complete immunity to electrical attacks, ability to create gusts of wind (Wing Shield ability) to disorient opponents. And aside from being restricted to lightning-type breath, this form of Spyro wouldn't really have many weaknesses.

Due to various conflicts in my schedule for the week, it took too long to find enough time to complete the drawing with. I also worry slightly about the quality of exposure I used when scanning it, it doesn't quite feel up to par with my other scans. But that's not to say the "scanner killed it" -- I never allow my scanner to "kill" a drawing.

Media: Colored pencil
Time: For some reason, seven hours
Scale (full view): 60px/in
Other: a 3rd place premium at the 2005 Tillamook County Fair (Lot 22 - Fantasy)