Ideas for future installments

IceFlame1019 · Apr 02, 2009 7:00 PM

I apologize if I'm repeating something given already, but my ISP won't let me access many threads here 0o

Anyway...
After having played the first two Spyro games and the Legend of Spyro trilogy, I couldn't help but think of how the new Spyro could go even further; it's a habit of mine to look at games and play back through them while thinking of how this ledge could be used for a sniping point or how a ladder behind this building could be a good hiding place for a gem or item. The trilogy games were awful short, but DotD was just simply awesome even though it didn't really have much beyond combat and collecting armor pieces with some rudimentary puzzle-solving. It was a very emotionally charged game and the ending was one of very few game moments that almost brought me to tears (almost ties with the shock of Aeris's death in FF7, that hurt >_< )

That being said, I think a merger sort of idea would give future installments more depth and replay value. I really missed the "worlds" concept of the early games, as well as the exploration ability and the gem-search theme. At the same time, though, the combat and various abilities of the trilogy gave Spyro more depth and character.

--Bigger worlds with a wide range of collectables and high exploration potential
--more variety to breath attacks, maybe even custom sets of attacks able to be taught by the elders for certain prices or challenges (ability to choose which short and long range attacks you can use)
--More intense puzzle-solving levels, many with less focus on combat than others
--Team with Cynder again (obviously) for puzzle-solving but also for combined breath/combat attacks (like a fire whirlwind or a poisonous ice trap)
--Evolving levels that change as the game progresses (I.E. Warfang, ruinous after DotD or something but after unlocking something in another level, the city is transformed/rebuilt)
--Non-linear level play, but keeping a storyline (different storyline outcomes based on level progressions; a different story every time it's played through)

I've been an amateur game designer for a few years now (currently in college for a Game Art & Design degree) and I can see how merging the aspects of the two could be very challenging. However, for an example, DotD could be taken and add in the gem-collection of the early games as currency for unlocking new levels. Some bosses in these levels could be immune to attacks, requiring a methodology like the Gulp fight in Ripto's Rage where you use given items to cut down the enemy's health.

The non-linear levels maintaining a coherent story would be very difficult to work out from a design aspect, since the levels would affect each other and thus the story, but if successfully pulled off the game(s) would most likely have a very high replay value, especially if it can be made such that most levels don't appear the same twice (unless you follow the exact same playthrough pattern every time you play).

If I had time I'd write up a GCD (Game Concept Document) and script for such a game, but with college and work... @_@
I'd love to someday be on the design team for Spyro, or maybe a voice talent, but for now all I can do is dream and theorize XD

As for the actual story set up already, it'd be great to have Spyro and Cynder continue together. It would be interesting to see if their parents pop up, but somehow it doesn't seem fitting for the theme that's been laid out (btw, whatever happened to Flash and Nina, Sparx's parents and Spyro's foster parents? they just completely disappeared after the first fifteen minutes of ANB gameplay with a mere illustration appearance in Spyro's book in TEN). It might be cool to have Sparx have more of a role than comic relief; even though he's lost his functionality as Spyro's health meter, he could maybe do some scouting if a crack in a wall is encountered, or provide a distraction so Spyro and Cynder can slip through a certain area.

Thoughts and comments?

Spyro.Lover.Forever · Apr 02, 2009 10:53 PM

I couldn't actually be bothered to read most of that tongue I did read the idea's though.

Yes, I think the future Spyro games should be much harder, very challenging and i also think it should have more hard puzzles.

Akon · Apr 03, 2009 6:51 AM

I really like your ideas for a new spyro game; they kind of follow the action rpg genre in a way. If you achieve your dream of being on the Spyro design team, I believe your influence would greatly benefit the series.

IceFlame1019 · Apr 03, 2009 3:13 PM

@Spyro.Lover:
Yeah, sorry about that, I tend to get really wordy ^^; bit of a habit from my hobby as a writer.
Puzzles would really help lengthen the game; less focus on combat, since combat keeps the player in one spot more or less while puzzle-solving uses large parts of the map.

@Akon:
Thanks! Yeah it does seem a bit RPGish...hmmm
And thanks, I hope someday I can make my way onto the team @@
Spyro was the first game I ever played and has been fairly influential for me.

Spyro.Lover.Forever · Apr 09, 2009 3:04 PM

Don't worry, Wordy people have many great idea's and I liked yours alot ^_^

IceFlame1019 · Apr 09, 2009 4:57 PM

lol thanks xD

I have about 15 or so different game ideas for original games, still gotta write up GCD's for them all @@

Spyro.Lover.Forever · Apr 09, 2009 5:10 PM

I have loads of Idea's too.

1. Never stop making Spyro games tongue

ratchet · Apr 10, 2009 2:21 PM

WEll The first stop would not to go back a step. All the things improved on in DOTD should be kept, apart from free flight (one game was more than enough). And not disbanding the TLOS method altogether (and You know that otherwise i'd say just go back to original formula), some improvements could be more platforming, a non linear game choosing levels) and more creative ideas (Challenges such as Getting rafts and putting out fires are boring). I dunno what could improve TLOS, I dont care. But The way it is i will never like. I just dont like those kind of games, fullstop, Whether its TLOS or not.

Spyro.Lover.Forever · Apr 10, 2009 3:00 PM

I think everyone knows you don't like TLOS...? I agree though, they should do the next game like what they did with DOTD.

Jackson117 · Apr 11, 2009 12:19 AM

Lets bring back Comedy and emotion for the dragons

IceFlame1019 · Apr 11, 2009 12:24 AM

Comedy and emotion are probably Sierra's next step now that Spyro's overcome a major crisis and now has a verified love interest XD
There were some attempts at humor in DotD, like Sparx referring to the fact that his voice has changed significantly in each game, but the next games should work harder on something more directly funny. DotD's mood was too serious to really allow for much humor without ruining the end-of-the-world sense it conveyed.

I can kinda foresee some awkward moments and a lot of jokes aimed at Spyro & Cynder's relationship in coming games xD

xXenoSpyrox · Apr 11, 2009 5:18 PM

my idea is they should make another movie after when this upcoming one comes out this christman

it should include a handful of Fan-dragons and they fight along side with Spyro and Cynder

Spyro.Lover.Forever · Apr 11, 2009 6:38 PM

I think they should just do a movie to do with the relationship between Spyro and Cynder and by that I do NOT mean mating xD

IceFlame1019 · Apr 12, 2009 6:50 PM

I'm not keen on game-based movies, there's too much chance for error and messing something up. It'd be good publicity if done right, but if it presents something that players need to know for future games, there are some people who can't see the movie but can get the games, so they'd be in the dark (kinda like how the BIONICLE comics almost mandate that readers see the movies in order to understand the new storylines)

A relationship movie would be great but they would have to reiterate the movie in games that come after that, for people unable to see/buy the movie for whatever reasons (parents, location, discontinued production of the movie after several years, etc)
problem with a canonical movie that introduces events between the games is that in five or so years people will still be playing the games, but the movie might not be in production/distribution anymore, and even die-hard fans might not want to bother hunting copies of the movie just to fill in a few "'tween-game" pieces.

a fan-character movie? XD interesting idea but I can't see that happening, too much fighting among fans xD

Trasher258 · Apr 12, 2009 7:09 PM

It would help to have some sort of background history from the movie in the game somewhere so everyone is on the same page. Maybe in a prologue or a written biography form.

As for a fan-character movie/game... I don't know if that would work out. One's character personality might cause a conflict with another so some things would have to be tweaked and it might cause some unsettling arguments to erupt. I just have difficulty seeing it working...then again it's more like a shot in the dark since I haven't the slightest idea who these characters are.

Hm... has anyone came up with a dragonfly or male fairy character yet? I'm just curious.

Spinner the Faun · Apr 12, 2009 9:52 PM

I would like to see the return of Alora, as far as I know she was only in the second Spyro game. More classic characters should come back.

IceFlame1019 · Apr 13, 2009 12:21 AM

Seeing how the Legend series is a rehaul and they've continually said it has no relation to the original Spyro storyline, I don't think Elora or many of the others will return. On the other hand, they just might come back, but like with Hunter, different personalities and very different from what they originally were. SpyroxElora fans or SpyroxEmber fans are most likely shot down now that Spyro pretty much has a real girlfriend without speculation xD
They might bring Ember back to give some comedic clashing over who gets Spyro, but I doubt they'll deviate from the current SpyroxCynder relationship.
It would be interesting to see Ripto return as a possible catalyst for Malefor's return or something xD

As for dragonfly or fairy characters...pretty sure they're out there, with such a large fanbase it's very likely. Just not common, since the main focus is dragons xD

Spinner the Faun · Apr 13, 2009 12:43 AM

IceFlame1019 wrote:

Seeing how the Legend series is a rehaul and they've continually said it has no relation to the original Spyro storyline, I don't think Elora or many of the others will return. On the other hand, they just might come back, but like with Hunter, different personalities and very different from what they originally were. SpyroxElora fans or SpyroxEmber fans are most likely shot down now that Spyro pretty much has a real girlfriend without speculation xD
They might bring Ember back to give some comedic clashing over who gets Spyro, but I doubt they'll deviate from the current SpyroxCynder relationship.
It would be interesting to see Ripto return as a possible catalyst for Malefor's return or something xD
As for dragonfly or fairy characters...pretty sure they're out there, with such a large fanbase it's very likely. Just not common, since the main focus is dragons xD

This is true, sadly-
It is a shame though, because I think Elora would look so awesome with modern console graphics and if she suddenly just appeared in a game again it would bring back some of the classic magic of the first games. I was suprised to see Hunter in DOTD, and how different he was- but it did give me hope that maybe Elora would be in this or later games also. I guess I can only hope.

Also, where did Zoey go? lol... would like to see her come back to. And Gnasty Gnorc! He is legendary.

#1 Apr 02, 2009 7:00 PM

Ideas for future installments

#2 Apr 02, 2009 10:53 PM

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#3 Apr 03, 2009 6:51 AM

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#4 Apr 03, 2009 3:13 PM

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#5 Apr 09, 2009 3:04 PM

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#6 Apr 09, 2009 4:57 PM

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#7 Apr 09, 2009 5:10 PM

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#8 Apr 10, 2009 2:21 PM

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#9 Apr 10, 2009 3:00 PM

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#10 Apr 11, 2009 12:19 AM

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#11 Apr 11, 2009 12:24 AM

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#13 Apr 11, 2009 6:38 PM

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#14 Apr 12, 2009 6:50 PM

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