History Franchise / SpyroTheDragon

* AbsentMindedProfessor: The Professor

* OurDragonsAreDifferent: To the point where the dragons in the original series (Artisan, Peace Keeper, Magic Crafter, Beast Maker, Dream Weaver) are a lot different to the dragons in the ''Legend'' trilogy, where more emphasis is placed on color and element rather than realm and occupation. There are also the enemy "fire dragons" of The Sorceress's Fireworks Factory in ''YOTD'', which are nothing like anything else in the Spyro games.

* KangaroosRepresentAustralia: Sheila.
* EverythingsBetterWithPenguins: Flying, ex-RAF penguins, would you believe?

* TheNapoleon: Ripto, obviously. Kaos also qualifies.
** The UK instruction manual actually ''mentions'' Napoleon in Ripto's character bio. He fits the trope that well.

* OneUp: Trophies in the first game, glittering butterflies afterwards

* OurFairiesAreDifferent: Act as checkpoints, for one thing.

* TownGirls : Sheila (butch), Bianca (femme), Elora (neither).

* GottaCollectThemAll: Frozen dragons and dragon eggs in the first game, talismans and orbs in the second game, dragon eggs ''again'' in the third game, and of course the gems through the entire trilogy.

* BigBad: Each original game really had a stand alone BigBad, but Ripto was a recurring villain. He was ironically the big bad with the least effect on the plot in his original appearance. ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro'' trilogy had [[UltimateEvil Malefor]] as the main antagonist, though each game had a villain he was the ManBehindTheMan of, Cynder in the first and Gaul in the second, Skabb was also an arc BigBad in the second. ''Skylanders'' has the Portal Master Kaos as the primary enemy, though depending on the game and platform several other villains have taken the lead from time to time, and the Darkness is eventually introduced; the IDW comics also brought a ''Skylanders'' continuity Malefor in as a major villain.

** Handel and Greta. In the second game, they're surrounded by mooks, setting up a BolivianArmyEnding and then... RedEyesTakeWarning is [[OhCrap the sign they're gonna]] beat the everloving crap out of everyone. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI37QR_MgBY&feature=player_embedded No, really.]] [[UpToEleven And let's not talk about Greta in the sequel.]]

* AsLongAsThereIsEvil

A platforming video game franchise (with a focus on combat in later games) starring the eponymous purple dragon, Spyro. It was started in 1998 when Creator/{{Universal}} Interactive Studios commissioned Creator/InsomniacGames to make a child-oriented game on the original UsefulNotes/PlayStation. It was decided that it'd star a dragon because, well, dragons are cool!

Although the series was a hit, Insomniac left after the third game, partly because they felt it was difficult to create varied gameplay when the main playable character is a quadruped (their next series, ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'', made heavy use of gadgets and weapons). The following Spyro games tried to rectify this issue by adding in various gimmicks, such as multiple elemental breaths, combat, and eventually even unlimited free flight.

The Spyro franchise has a long history of crossing over with the ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot'' games. Their initial developers, Insomniac and Creator/NaughtyDog have been close allies for years. They worked on Spyro and Crash literally right next to each other, in the same room. ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' and ''Franchise/RatchetAndClank'' have a similar relationship for the same reason.

On April 5, 2018, a ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootNSaneTrilogy''-style remaster of the original three games, ''Spyro: Reignited Trilogy'', was revealed. It was released on November 13, 2018 for the UsefulNotes/PlayStation4 and UsefulNotes/XboxOne, and on UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} and UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch on September 3rd, 2019.

* OneHundredPercentCompletion: Several ''Spyro'' games go beyond 100%.

** ''The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning'' (2006, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube[=/=]UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}, Creator/KromeStudios)
** ''The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night'' (2007, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, Krome Studios)
** ''The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon'' (2008, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/Xbox360[=/=]UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, Étranges Libellules[[note]]"Strange Dragonflies" in French.[[/note]])[[index]]

* EverythingsBetterWithMonkeys: Agent 9. Also an affectionate parody of... [[Film/JamesBond a certain spy genre icon.]]

** ''The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning'' (2006, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube[=/=]UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}}, Krome Studios)

* ''VideoGame/SpyroSeasonOfIce'' (2001, UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance Digital Eclipse Software)
* ''VideoGame/Spyro2SeasonOfFlame'' (2002, UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, Digital Eclipse Software)
* ''VideoGame/SpyroEnterTheDragonfly'' (2002, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube[=/=]UsefulNotes/XBox, Equinoxe Digital Entertainment)
* ''VideoGame/SpyroAttackOfTheRhynocs'' (2003, UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, Digital Eclipse Software)
* ''VideoGame/SpyroOrangeTheCortexConspiracy'' (2004, UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, Vicarious Visions) -- a crossover with ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot''; the companion game is called ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootPurpleRiptosRampage''.
* ''VideoGame/SpyroAHerosTail'' (2004, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube[=/=]UsefulNotes/XBox, Eurocom)
* ''VideoGame/SpyroShadowLegacy'' (2005, UsefulNotes/NintendoDS) (developed by Amaze Entertainment)
* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro'' -- [[Creator/{{Activision}} Sierra's]] DarkerAndEdgier ContinuityReboot trilogy.[[/index]]
** ''The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning'' (2006, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube[=/=]UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance[=/=]UsefulNotes/XBox, Krome Studios)

** ''The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon'' (2008, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/XBox360[=/=]UsefulNotes/PlayStation3, Etranges Libellules[[note]]"Strange Dragonflies" in French.[[/note]])[[index]]

Additionally, a redesigned Spyro taking traits from both the classic and ''Legend'' versions serves as the leader of the Skylanders in Activisions's ''VideoGame/{{Skylanders}}'' series. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen Originally, the series was going to be called]] ''Spyro's Kingdom'' and star an adult Spyro (though whether this would be classic, ''Legend of Spyro'', or a fresh continuity is unclear) but eventually his role was replaced with Portal Master Eon and Spyro was given another redesign closer in age to his other-continuity counterparts. The focus on Spyro was reduced, with only a couple characters, the iconic sheep, and some references [[AllThereInTheManual in the games' lore]] staying in the final game, with Spyro's name being reduced to only the subtitle of the first game: ''Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure.'' In the games themselves, Spyro only ever has brief cameos in the cutscenes and is treated as no more or less important than the other Skylanders.

However, the Skylanders spinoff material treats Spyro as the main protagonist and leader of the Skylanders, which means, thanks to the series' popularity, Spyro is beginning to have a starring role outside of video games. He makes prominent appearances in the Skylanders prequel novels and {{Interquel}} comics from Creator/IDWPublishing, and, most notably, is a main character in the new ''WesternAnimation/SkylandersAcademy'' TV series voiced by [[Creator/JustinLong Justin Long]] ([[TheOtherDarrin as opposed to Josh Keaton in the actual games]]).

Skylanders media that stars Spyro:

* ArmorMeter / ArmorPoints: [[PlatformingPocketPal Sparx the dragonfly]] works as your "shield". Spyro is actually a OneHitPointWonder, but you wouldn't know that because Sparx will take the damage for you when you get hit. Sparx himself is the meter, while the coloring represents the amount of points left: he's normally yellow, but by taking damage he'll turn blue, then green, before disappearing after one more hit.

* ArmorMeter/ArmorPoints:[[PlatformingPocketPal Sparx the dragonfly]] works as your "shield". Spyro is actually a OneHitPointWonder, but you wouldn't know that because Sparx will take the damage for you when you get hit. Sparx himself is the meter, while the coloring represents the amount of points left: he's normally yellow, but by taking damage he'll turn blue, then green, before disappearing after one more hit.

* ArmorMeter: Mixed with ArmorPoints: [[PlatformingPocketPal Sparx the dragonfly]] works as your "shield". Spyro is actually a OneHitPointWonder, but you wouldn't know that because Sparx will take the damage for you when you get hit. Sparx himself is the meter, while the coloring represents the amount of points left: he's normally yellow, but by taking damage he'll turn blue, then green, before disappearing after one more hit.
* ArmorPoints: Mixed with ArmorMeter: [[PlatformingPocketPal Sparx the dragonfly]] works as your "shield". Spyro is actually a OneHitPointWonder, but you wouldn't know that because Sparx will take the damage for you when you get hit. Sparx himself is the meter, while the coloring represents the amount of points left: he's normally yellow, but by taking damage he'll turn blue, then green, before disappearing after one more hit.

A platforming video game franchise (with a focus on combat in later games) starring the eponymous purple dragon, Spyro. It was started in 1998 when Creator/{{Universal}} Interactive Studios commissioned Creator/InsomniacGames to make a child-oriented game on the original UsefulNotes/PlayStation. It was decided that it'd star a dragon because, well, [[InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons you know]].

* InstantAwesomeJustAddDragons: In [[MetaConcepts meta concept]] in regards to the originals on the [=PlayStation=], considering all the other games that were released on it at the time.
** Also in some circles with the first three games, considering that there were several other characters you could play as, it was almost if as Spyro was just there to get you to buy the game. A gripe that has become [[HilariousInHindsight absolutely hilarious]] thanks to ''Skylanders'' infamously using the exact same tactic with the first game.

* ''VideoGame/SpyroOrangeTheCortexConspiracy'' (2004, UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, Vicarious Visions) - A crossover with ''VideoGame/CrashBandicoot''; the companion game is called ''VideoGame/CrashBandicootPurpleRiptosRampage''.

* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfSpyro'' - [[Creator/{{Activision}} Sierra's]] DarkerAndEdgier ContinuityReboot trilogy.[[/index]]

* ''VideoGame/SpyroReignitedTrilogy'' (2018, UsefulNotes/PlayStation4[=/=]UsefulNotes/XboxOne[=/=]UsefulNotes/{{Steam}}[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoSwitch, Toys for Bob[[note]]the developers behind ''Skylanders''[[/note]]) - A [[VideoGameRemake remake]] of the original trilogy.

** ''Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure'' - Despite being the title character, he has no especially prominent role in the story compared to the other Skylanders. The Spyro toy comes with the game's starter pack ([[SuperpoweredEvilSide Dark Spyro]] in the 3DS pack).
** ''Skylanders: Imaginators'' - Spyro is one of the notable fan-favorite Skylanders that appeared in the actual storyline of the game (which also includes an appearance by Crash Bandicoot).

** ''Skyanders: The Machine of Doom'' - Spyro is the main protagonist of this story.
** ''Skylanders: Mask of Power'' series - Each book in this series features a different Skylander as the main protagonist. Spyro is the main protagonist of the first book, ''Spyro versus the Mega Monsters'', and a supporting protagonist in most of the other books. Cynder, who debuted in the ''Legend'' continuity, stars in the fifth book, ''Cynder Confronts the Weather Wizard''.

** ''Skylanders'' - The first twelve-issue comic series, set before ''Trap Team'', fleshes out Spyro's role as leader of the Skylanders. He gives an inspirational speech to a downtrodden Skylander in issue #4, and he and Cynder are given the spotlight in the ''Return of the Dragon King'' story arc, which introduces the Skylanders version of Malefor, who was previously the BigBad of the ''Legend'' trilogy.
** ''Skylanders: Superchargers'' - This series, set after the ''Superchargers'' video game, focuses once again on Spyro's role as leader of the Skylanders and his trouble cooperating with a temporarily reformed enemy.

** ''The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning'' (2006, UsefulNotes/PlayStation2[=/=]UsefulNotes/NintendoGameCube[=/=]UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, Krome Studios)

* LullDestruction: The Japanese version of the first two games had added voice acting for whenever Spyro jumped or dashed.

* RecurringRiff: Each game's title theme usually shows up in several tracks throughout the game.

* SuddenlyVoiced: Crush and Gulp in ''Enter the Dragonfly'', Sparx in ''Year of the Dragon''.