darkSpyro

Forbidden Swamp

A basic training level. Sparx will inform you of how to control Spyro around. Move to the right until he starts yapping about jumping. Jump onto the floating platform on the right, and keep jumping until he pipes up again. This jump doesn't have a safety net so you have to get over it first time. Well, falling in will just pop you back to where you jumped from with a bit of life lost so if you've nearly dead you'll die. Jump over another gap and then Sparx'll inform you of the dangers of walking over thorny ground. Jump onto and off again the thorny ground to the right.

Jump up and walk into the red gem. Like the other versions of A New Beginning, gems are no longer collectable. Instead this red gem will heal you. At the top you'll be told to glide over the thorns below. To do so you'll want to jump in the right direction and then press the jump button again and you'll start gliding. You can then control your direction. Oddly gliding will deplete your green bar which will slowly go back up when not in use, but it can also be helped back up by collecting green gems like the one you land on/near. The amber gem up ahead will heal both your health and magic fully.

Jump down and then attack the soldier using your charge attack about three times to kill it. Once it's dead the level will end and you'll be allowed to move on to the next level.

Flight to Fire Island

Ice Breath needed

A simple flight level where you can move up, down, left and right. Avoid hitting the walls and getting trapped behind obstacles. Pick up green gems along the way in order to keep flying, your magic level decreases as you go, and red gems to regain health lost to hitting the thorns. You'll find the checkpoints quite useful if you're not very good at this.

All in all the only thing worth mentioning in these levels is the sealed off bit. In this flight level it is an Ice Breath barrier.

Fire Island

	Electric Breath needed
	Ice Breath needed
	Electric Breath needed

Walk down to the right and jump over the lava gap. Either attack the Fire Beetle with your charge attack when it's low down or just run straight past. You don't get anything from killing enemies so it's mostly up to you unless they're blocking the way entirely. If you do decide to kill it it should take about two hits to be squished. Keep on going right and jump over another lava gap. Up the three steps and then jump over the gap with the Fire Beetle patrolling over.

You'll then be introduced to a different mechanism to the one you saw in the flight level. This switch doesn't require a breath but instead for you to charge into it. Once you do so the barrier next to it will vanish. Jump up and through the tunnel to where yet another Fire Beetle is flying. Kill it and jump down the hole to the ledge below. At the bottom go left and to the first checkpoint.

Kill the Fire Beetle and jump over the lava, then repeat for another one right after. And after that you'll find a Fire Beetle flying horizontally, kill it and carry on left. Just after a couple of steps up you'll notice a blue switch like in the flight level. As you don't have Ice Breath you can ignore it, but don't forget it, you'll want to come back later on if you want to get that all mystical 100%. Anyway, kill the Fire Beetle and drop down where you'll meet this level's version of the soldier. It'll take about three hits to kill it. Keep going right and dropping down until you reach a checkpoint.

You'll notice a nice purple switch, oddly enough this is an electric switch and you need electric breath to get past it. Why they didn't go with yellow I don't know, but whatever. Go to the left now and down beneath the platforms you stepped in on. Kill the Fire Beetle, jump the gap and then glide following the gems to avoid the large put of lava below. Kill the Fire Beetle at the end and jump down the hole. Kill the soldier down here and continue walking right. You'll find another soldier at the end to kill, he's guarding an amber gem if you want it, then go to the left down the platforms again.

There's a checkpoint on the left and another purple switch which you'll have to come back later for. In the meantime go down to the right all the way to the bottom. On the right you'll see your first Magmaworm to kill. It should go in three. Continue going right (left is a dead end to do with the purple switch before) and kill a second Magmaworm. Glide over its lava gap and charge into the switch on the wall. An air shaft will appear beneath you which will propel you upwards. Jump to the right, then down the steps towards the turquoise crystal shard which marks the end of the level.

Train Station

Your first boss fight. Awww.

The Deadly Engine is rather a simple boss but then again you don't have much of an arsenal at your fingertips. Simply charge into it as soon as it appears, avoid the one or two fire blasts it sends up into the air and repeat for a total of eight hits and he'll be defeated. Use the amber gems if you feel you're running low on health of course.

Your prize for defeating him is that of Fire Breath.

Flight to Ice Valley

Ice Breath needed

Same as before, the switch in here is that of Ice Breath again.

Ice Valley

	Fire Breath needed
	Earth Breath needed
	Earth Breath needed

Jump up to the right and kill the ogre with a couple of hits, perhaps try using your brand spanking new fire breath. Keep going right and jump the gap. Jump up to the green gem and then flame the Ogre floating up and down. Glide over the spikes below and go right, kill the Ogre, jump the gap and then another Ogre and gap combo. Next you'll find yourself face to face with a Solider, each level has its own colour, this one is also a bit stronger and will take more charges to kill.

Smash into the switch on the right and an air shaft will appear on your left. Go into it and then on top of where the switch is. Jump into the second air shaft in the middle of the spikes and make your way up to the checkpoint. Turn around and head to the left now, jump up the platforms and you'll meet another enemy, a Troll. Go left and jump over a platform with a green switch, this requires Earth Breath to activate so move along.

Kill the Ogre on the left and jump over his gap, and then down to a Troll. Jump up at the left end and kill the Soldier there, then jump down to the left, avoiding the Ogre as you do so. Jump down the gap after it and charge the grey switch, then jump up to the left and over the gap to where an air shaft has suddenly appeared. Activate the checkpoint up here.

Jump over the amber gem (or collect it first if you want) and then underneath an Ogre to reach another one you'll want to kill. Glide over to the right and then down a little to a red switch. Use your fire breath on it and the barrier on the right will turn off and allow you to collect the health powerup. Jump back to the checkpoint and go up to the left now. Keep going upwards, past the green switch and then to the right, kill the Ogre here now if you like and then jump over the gap between you and the next platform.

Kill the Soldier at the far end then jump over the spikes below onto a platform above a Troll. Keep jumping right and you'll reach another Troll standing infront of a grey switch. Kill him and activate the switch. An air shaft will appear on your left, use it to get up a little but avoid the spikes on landing. Kill the patrolling Soldier and glide over the large gap to the crystal shard marking the end of the level.

Ice Throne Room

The second boss, the Ice King. In order to hurt this bozo you'll want to hit the snow covering his lap three times using your fire breath and standing on either side of the level, this will wake him up and ice swords will start to fall from the sky occasionally, headed for wherever you're standing at the time. In the meantime you will need to jump and flame his head. Doing so will cause more snow to fall onto his lap and you start the whole process over again. Keep doing this same thing a total of eight times to kill him.

Cyril (the text mistakenly says Terrador though) gives you Ice Breath as your reward for saving him.

Flight to Gayan Plateau

Earth Breath needed

Another flight level. The switch in this one is green so you'll need Earth Breath before you can get the powerup.

Gayan Plateau

	Fire Breath needed
	Electric Breath needed
	Fire, Ice and Earth Breaths needed

If you've played the console games you'll know that the creature standing infront of you is a Frogweed. You might also like to know that Ice Breath is more effective on the creatures in this level than Fire Breath. Kill it and jump the water. Drop down to the gem and then again and again to the checkpoint. Going right would be a pointless exercise at this point, it leads to a green switch and then loops back around. So instead, jump down to the left. Then down to the right a couple of times. There's an optional bit to the right with some spikes to glide over, all there is at the other end is a Frogweed and an amber gem. So keep going downwards until you reach the Soldier with a new red design.

Kill him and carry on past to the checkpoint. Again there's a pointless path down to the left which you'll eventually end up needing Earth Breath to get to the point of it. Jump up to the right and attack the Frogweed standing in front of the blue switch. Ice that switch and then jump to the right a bit further. You'll then find yourself near another new enemy, the Armourdillo. Killing these can be tricky, you'll want to attack it when its back is turned as you can't damage it when it's rolling at you. Either ignore or kill it, then glide over the spikes and charge into the grey switch at the end.

Go back to below the blue switch and go along that newly opened path. Jump into the air shaft and get up onto the thin platform before dropping down. Avoid the spikes at the bottom as well as the Armourdillo there. Flame the red switch and wait for the air shaft to take you upwards. If you want to get an amber gem then hold left in order to get into the little alcove about halfway up. Once at the top kill the Frogweed and jump down to the left to another Frogweed. Jump below to where a Soldier is patrolling then breathe on the blue switch.

Use the two new air shafts in the middle of the water to glide across to the left, kill the Frogweed and then hit the switch next to it, also get the checkpoint. Jump into the air shaft on the right and then kill the Soldier at the top. Jump over the spikes, then up to a grey switch.

Kill the Frogweed and then jump up to a Soldier on the left. Go down to a checkpoint and then jump up to a red switch. You'll then be able to collect the health token on the left. Go back to where the previous grey switch was and jump down to the left. Keep going right until you reach the point where a long air shaft brought you. Jump up to a brand new air shaft above you and to the exit.

Golem's Lair

The third boss fight, this time you're against the Stone Golem (or Stone Sentinel as the other games call him). Charge into the side of his head when he tries to slam it down onto you and then jump and use Ice Breath so that it hits the blue icon in the middle of his forehead. He'll then rise up and start spitting Armourdillos at you. Just jump over these until he stops. This repeats until you've hit him a total of eight times, at which point he dies.

Terrador (as you'd expect this is swapped with the previous dragon and so the game mistakenly calls him Cyril) now gives you the Earth Breath, the power to open green switches.

Flight to Electro Heights

Fire Breath needed

The switch in here is red so you'll be able to open the extra passageway and upgrade your Earth Breath straight away.

Electro Heights

	Earth Breath needed
	Ice and Electric Breaths needed
	Electric Breath needed

As you might expect, your new Earth Breath is the most effective here, even moreso if you picked up the powerup in the flight level. Go to the right and kill the Electric Leech, then jump over a small gap and kill a Jellyfish that's doing the old up and down patrol. Keep going right and you'll meet a Soldier, again with some dandy new threads. There's another Jellyfish just beyond and then jump up over some spikes to where another Soldier is walking about. Use your Earth Breath on the switch and let the currents take you upwards. Go to the checkpoint.

Going left you may want to kill the Jellyfish and then glide over the large expanse of water. Jump down to the left and go past the blue switch, you'll find it useful if you have the Electric Breath but otherwise not. Kill the Soldier wandering about to the left and then kill a Jellyfish blocking your way. Jump up the platforms following the gems to below a Soldier. Jump up to him and jump to the right. Kill the Jellyfish and make your way to the checkpoint.

Kill the Electric Leech patrolling the spikes on the right and glide over them to a grey switch. You'll also find a purple one too but nothing else (oh, and a Soldier) so turn around and jump into the air shaft between the spikes. Go down to the left along the small platforms. Jump over the spikes at the bottom of a step up and kill the Jellyfish. Jump over some water, mind your head, and then jump and use your Fire Breath on the switch on the wall. Jump into the air shaft and then over the gap between the platforms. Kill the Jellyfish and then charge the grey switch. Now head back to the air shaft inbetween the spikes next to the checkpoint.

Jump up to the left instead of down, and into an air shaft and checkpoint waiting above. Right is a fruitless path with a purple switch as its goal. Instead head left and glide over a large watery gap. Kill another Jellyfish and glide again. Jump up to where you can reach the green switch and activate it. Switch to Ice Breath and jump into the activated air shaft on the right. Hit the switch as you float and then jump to the left into the other shaft. Jump up to the right over some spikes and then down to a checkpoint.

Kill the Jellyfish and then glide over the water to where a Soldier is standing. Kill him and jump over and kill a Jellyfish at the end. Jump down and breathe on the switch in order to release the health powerup for your consumption. Now jump as far up as you can go and then start heading left. Kill the Electric Leech and continue on left above your previous path. Kill one last Jellyfish and glide to the exit.

Jellyfish Nest

One last small boss before the big fight. Like the others prior it has its own weakness. It'll fire its two feelers down at you, all you need to do is hit it with Earth Breath. Once that's done it'll collapse onto the ground allowing you to hit the crystal on its back with your Earth Breath as well. It'll wake up again and start sending smaller Jellyfish which will rise from the ground. Avoid them and then get ready for the usual loop of activity. Once the Giant Jellyfish has been hit on its back a total of four times, you defeat it.

Volteer will now give you your fourth breath, Electric Breath. This will now enable you to finish off the previous levels in their entirety before going against Cynder. Let's get started...

Flight to Fire Island

Ice Breath needed

The switch in here is blue so you could have done this earlier, but still. You'll earn the first fire breath powerup.

Fire Island

	Electric Breath needed
	Ice Breath needed
	Electric Breath needed

Ice Breath is the best breath to use in here by the way. Keep going through the level until you reach the Ice Breath switch not too far in. Hit it to get the magic powerup behind the barrier on your left. Shortly afterwards below you'll find a purple switch next to the checkpoint. Hit it with your Electric Breath to get past.

Kill the Soldier and then jump down on the right to where a couple of Magmaworms are waiting. Inbetween them is a powerup for your Electric Breath. The level is still not yet complete, kill the Fire Beetle on the left and jump down the hole. Jump down onto the wirey platforms and go to the left where you'll find a checkpoint next to another purple switch. Grab the final health powerup and with that make your way to the exit.

Flight to Ice Valley

Ice Breath needed

The switch in here is again blue and will yield an Ice Breath Powerup.

Ice Valley

	Fire Breath needed
	Earth Breath needed
	Earth Breath needed

Continue on through the level as before until you reach the first Troll, behind which is a green switch. Activate it jump up into the air shaft which takes you to the second and last Fire Breath Powerup. To the right you can find a shortcut to the end of the level. It's a shame then that there's still one more thing to do.

Continue on through again until you reach the next green switch which you'll find above a checkpoint after the air shaft with three green gems in. Just a jump to the left and you'll pick up the Magic Powerup. Now with that all done exit the level.

Flight to Gayan Plateau

Earth Breath needed

The switch in here is green. And you earn the second and final Ice Breath Powerup.

Gayan Plateau

	Fire Breath needed
	Electric Breath needed
	Fire, Ice and Earth Breaths needed

At the first checkpoint go to the right. Jump over the Armourdillo and upwards to a barrier. Keep going up to the left and kill the Frogweed, then hit the purple switch. Grab the Magic Powerup and flip the grey switch. This again would be another shortcut through the level and should help you on your way to finishing it quicker, though with the pattern emerging you might just think about doing that. Go back to the first checkpoint and continue on with your normal progression through the level until the next checkpoint.

Drop down to the left of it and flame the switch. Go through the barrier and over the water gaps. Kill a Frogweed and flame a second red switch. Wait for the air shaft to take you up then glide over the spikes. Kill the Frogweed above you and get up to where a blue switch is. You'll be whisked upwards to a Frogweed that's guarding a green switch which will open the final part to get the second Earth Breath Powerup.

That's all from here, time to move on to the final level.

Electro Heights

	Earth Breath needed
	Ice and Electric Breaths needed
	Electric Breath needed

You should already have gotten the Powerup from the flight level. Go through this level until you reach a blue switch. Activate it and then go back to the right and use the air shaft to life you up. Jump to the right and then up some small platforms to where the destination is housed. Jump up and hit the purple switch with your Electric Breath to open the barrier and be able to pick up the final Magic Powerup.

One to go. Go back to the blue switch and again continue as normal up to the next checkpoint. Go to the right and kill the Electric Leech. Jump over the spikes and past the grey switch to a purple one. It's useless at this point as you still need to activate a second purple switch further along through the level. Again carry on as normal up to the next checkpoint. Go to the right here and then jump down to the switch below. Hit it with your Electric Breath and then turn around and go back to where it is to finally collect the last Electric Breath powerup.

With that done you unlock a secret extra level, one which contains the Ultimate Power. Get to the end of this one first though.

Secret Swamp

All Breaths needed

Kill the Frogweed on the right and then glide across the gap. Use your Electric Breath on the purple switch and float upwards. At the top glide to the left and down into a safe spot where you'll be able to hit a red switch. Float upwards and kill the Frogweed sitting on the platform. Switch to Ice Breath and slowly glide down to the left and hit the blue switch as you go. If you miss you'll have to go around the loop until you get it. That will open up the barrier at the top of the first air shaft. Drop down into the new room and glide to the checkpoint.

Now jump down to the right and hit the grey switch at the bottom to the left of a green switch, which you will also want to hit, making sure not to fall into the hole next to it of course. Now go along to the first air shaft through the newly opened passageway and again back to the checkpoint above. Jump down into the opened room above the green switch and glide over the large gap to a blue switch. Hit it and as you ascend move out of the way of the thorns.

Land on the small platforms at the top. Kill the Frogweed and then glide down to the left beneath the barrier, landing on a small platform next to a red switch. Drop down to the left and loop back around to where the barrier was. Kill the Frogweed as you glide down to the left, then glide to the left over a load of thorns, landing on a tiny platform next to a green switch just ahead. Hit it and stand in the air shaft to take you upwards, avoiding the thorns that stick out of course. Glide over the thorns at the top and hit the purple switch which'll let you get to the checkpoint above.

Jump and glide over the thorns on the right and land down on yet another small platform. Jump down to the next and flame the red switch. Now work your way back around to the slightly higher platform again and jump to where the barrier used to be. Walk to the far right end and jump and glide over the thorns and then up to collect the Ultimate Power and finish the level.

This power combines all four of your breaths into one Ultimate Power. You no longer need to (or can) switch between breaths to get each of their effects plus it's nicely stronger too. Now to head for the final fight of the game...

Final Showdown

With your new four way breath you don't need to much attention here. Cynder will attack using a beam of light. As she prepares to do so she will lower her head briefly. It is at this point that you can jump and attack with your breath. She'll then do the light beam attack, which you avoid by running to either edge of the area (not through the beam though). After the fifth of your attacks she will change her pattern.

Now she'll lower her head to the ground where you'll want to charge into it a few times before she raises it again. She'll then start firing short bursts of light at you which you can avoid by moving away from them. Hit her ten times to finally finish her off and earn 100%. You'll also unlock Hard mode. Quite what it actually does I don't know as it seems identical in every way to me.