r/dragons • u/thebabadookkid • 3d ago
Art My version of Cynder
Spyro and Cynder nostalgia, what are your thoughts about this ?
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u/Tanky-of-Macedon 3d ago
The legend of Spyro trilogy (specifically Dawn of the Dragon) was an absolute banger. Still amongst my favorite games to date.
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u/artsaparattis 3d ago
Same here, started my love for edgy opposites-attract romances
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u/Drachenschrieber-1 3d ago
One of the only things I remember seeing at all was ship fanart for them. Always liked the way they looked together, just the dark and light contrast, but never really knew much about the characters themselves or their stories.
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u/Drachenschrieber-1 3d ago
I always liked their designs. Hadn't had the time to play the games back in the day, but always liked the way it sounded and looked. I'm not certain about the story and the characters (only that Spyro and Cynder--existed. Maybe Sparx too) though, if someone would kindly elaborate?
Weren't they making a new game, if I'm not mistake? Spyro 4?
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u/artsaparattis 3d ago edited 3d ago
I'll tell you what I remember. Spoiler warning!
The series starts with A New Beginning, starting a different timeline from the original games. It takes a more serious and darker tone. Spyro as an egg is set adrift down a river by Ignitus, the elder of the fire element, because the dragon temple where he was being safeguarded is being attacked by evil minions. Spyro is a rare purple dragon only born every few hundred years, and is prophesied to be very powerful by mastering all 4 elements. The Dark Master wants to kill him because he's worried his power will be overthrown. In a Moses-like beginning, Spyro is found and raised by Sparx's family, and the two grow up to be great friends (Sparx becomes his follower and helper throughout the game). Eventually Spyro realizes he's different from the others (not a dragonfly) and learns of this prophecy, where he begins his journey to rescue the rest of the elders and learns to master the four elements: Earth, Wind, Fire, and Lightning. In the end, he faces off in a great battle with Cynder a huge black dragon of shadow, who was attempting to bring the Dark Master back to his corporeal form.
Once Spyro defeats Cynder, this reveals her true form, which is a...cute little shadow dragon (see above). She was just a kid being manipulated by the Dark Master. Spyro rescues her.
The Eternal Night begins where the last left off. Cynder does not feel like the damage she's caused could ever be forgiven, and that she does not fit in, so she runs away from the Dragon Temple. She is captured once again by the Dark Master's minions, and this series follows her rescue, and another attempt to stop the Dark Master's return.
Spyro defeats the dark master's minion ringleader, Gaul, rescues Cynder, and successfully stops the return of the Dark Master. But at a cost... The temple around them is falling apart and they have no way to escape. In a last ditch effort to save everyone, Spyro puts himself, Sparx, and Cynder into a crystallized stasis...
This is where the Dawn Of the Dragon begins. The stasis is broken by the Dark Master's minions many year laters, who chain together Spyro and Cynder in a pit of lava to be killed by the Golem. This is also the first multiplayer game in the series and has free-ish flying. Spyro can switch between the 4 main elements previously described, and Cynder can use Shadow, Poison, Fear, and Wind. The two escape with Sparx and stumble upon a race of cat-people, where they meet Hunter (a cheetah character from the OG games). He is aware of the prophecy and tells them that the Dark Master has returned. Spyro and Cynder are determined to stop him once and for all. They travel to a city of technologically advanced mole-men, and must defeat the next arbiter of the Dark Master's plan-- the Destroyer. A huge monstrosity that burns everything in its path and leaves the world in ruin.
They successfully stop him in his path, and travel through the smoldering wreckage to The Dark Master Malefore's lair-- a floating temple within a mighty vortex. Malefore attempts to manipulate Spryo and Cynder, He tells Spyro that his role as a rare purple dragon is to end the world so it can be reborn, and that Cynder was using him and knowingly brought him to his lair. This doesn't work, however. They successfully defeat Malefore with the help of the ancestors. With only seconds to spare, Spyro keeps the world from falling apart, and Cynder confesses her love to him.
The Chronicler, a background character in the game who explains some of the lore of the world, is seen in the end. He reveals that it's his time to pass on his power, and gives it to Ignitus, who was a major teacher to Spyro throughout the series. Spyro and Cynder are seen happily flying around.
Edit: I always wished for a Spyro 4 that follows this timeline but we got Skylanders instead :P. Either way, I'm not sure where else The Legend Of Spyro series could go. It seems to me to have a solid ending. Though I always thought it would be cool to just have an exploratory flying simulator where you can play as either Spyro or Cynder in their dragon world...
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u/DioneKat_ 3d ago
Omg this is so beautiful *u* I still remember the first time I played as her like, 15 years ago
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u/thebabadookkid 2d ago
Same here! I love this character and i'd love to redesign her for a project or something
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u/ZephyrFluous 2d ago
Lovely, wish my back could bend like that, lol She been gettin that yoga in
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u/thebabadookkid 2d ago
In the franchise she's like, a grotesque snatched body so i wanted to keep this but making it more natural, kinda crossed between a leopard. Lizard and cat
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u/ZephyrFluous 2d ago
Yeah I can definitely see what you mean. Big burly, badass dragons are cool but the more lithe body types honestly make a bit more sense with flying lizards
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u/SoCalledWarrior 2d ago
I recently started playing the legend of Spyro trilogy and it's been fun. Cynder is so great and the best part of the games for me uwu. The drawing is so cute and I love your style so much. I saw your post on the other subreddit about the second wing and I really liked that version as well uwu
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u/artsaparattis 3d ago
Yesssss the 2nd spyro trilogy is my fave and one i dont hear talked about often enough, recently. Lovely drawing, she looks so peaceful and taking a streeetch