Spyro 1 Hints & Tips
Spyro the Dragon – Hints, Tips & Secrets
Looking for hidden areas, extra gems or useful tricks in Spyro the Dragon? This collection of hints and secrets covers some of the game’s less obvious areas, useful shortcuts and tricks that can help when working towards 100% completion.
Quick Navigation
- Secret Area in Dark Passage
- Reach Peace Keepers Early
- Gnasty’s Loot – How to Unlock It
- Avoid Losing a Life When Falling
- Double Supercharge in Wizard Peak
- Secret Area in Haunted Towers
- Finding the Secret Flight Levels
- Hidden Areas in Tree Tops
- Run Faster
Secret Area in Dark Passage
There is a hidden section in Dark Passage containing two dragons and a large collection of gems. It is easy to miss because the route takes Spyro away from the main path.
- Continue through the level until you reach the area with the two dogs and the archer.
- Look across the gap and you will see a ledge on the other side.
- Glide across to the ledge and enter the area beyond it.
- Continue to the end of this section and look down over the edge.
- You will see another area below. Glide down to it.
- This leads to the hidden section on the opposite side of the level.
Explore the area carefully to collect the hidden dragons and gems before continuing with the level.
Reach Peace Keepers Early
Normally, Marco the Balloonist will take Spyro to Peace Keepers once 10 dragons have been rescued.
There is also a trick that can sometimes be used to reach the balloon without meeting the normal requirement:
- Return to the beginning of the runway near Marco.
- Run towards Marco and jump onto his head.
- Use the bounce to reach the balloon.
- If you manage to land correctly, Spyro can enter the balloon and travel to Peace Keepers early.
Note: This is an exploit rather than the intended way to progress through the game, and it may not work consistently on every version.
Gnasty’s Loot – How to Unlock It
Gnasty’s Loot is a special bonus level that becomes available after completing the main game to 100%.
To unlock it in the original PlayStation version, you need to have defeated Gnasty Gnorc, rescued all 80 dragons, collected all 12 dragon eggs and gathered all 12,000 gems from the main game.
Once these requirements have been met, return to Gnorc Gnexus and approach the large green dragon head. The head will open, revealing the entrance to Gnasty’s Loot.
Gnasty’s Loot contains a further 2,000 gems. Collecting everything in this bonus level raises the game’s completion percentage to 120%.
Tip: If the portal isn’t opening, check your overall Inventory totals rather than relying on the percentage shown for individual levels.
Avoid Losing a Life When Falling
If Spyro is about to fall from a high platform or ledge, there is a useful trick that can sometimes save a life.
As Spyro is falling, quickly:
Press START → Select Exit Level
If you exit the level before the game registers the death, Spyro will return to the level’s entrance in the Homeworld instead of losing a life.
This trick can be useful when attempting difficult jumps, although it does not work in the Homeworlds.
Double Supercharge in Wizard Peak
The Supercharge sections in Wizard Peak can be used to build up enough speed to reach some difficult areas.
- Find the Supercharge ramp near the beginning of the route.
- Line Spyro up with the arrows and charge down the ramp.
- Keep your speed and turn onto the next Supercharge ramp.
- Continue charging down the second ramp.
- Spyro will gain the extra speed needed to reach areas that cannot be accessed with a normal Supercharge.
These sections require good timing, so it may take a few attempts to get the jump right.
Tip: Make sure Spyro is still charging when he reaches the end of the ramp. Jumping too early can cause him to lose the speed needed to reach the platform.
Secret Area in Haunted Towers
Haunted Towers contains a hidden section with additional treasure and a dragon. Reaching it requires careful use of the level’s Supercharge route.
- Find the main Supercharge ramp and begin charging.
- Continue through the doorway on the right when you reach the room containing several doors.
- Keep charging and turn left towards the entrance of the castle.
- Go back up the first ramp you used.
- Stay on the Supercharge route and jump from the ramp towards the hidden entrance.
- Continue through the secret area until you reach the staircase guarded by armoured enemies.
- Quickly reach the wizard at the top of the stairs and defeat him.
- A Fairy will give Spyro a special kiss, giving him a powerful flame ability.
- Use the enhanced flame to defeat the armoured enemies and open the treasure chest.
The Fairy’s enhanced flame lasts for the remainder of the level, allowing Spyro to defeat the armoured enemies that cannot normally be harmed by his regular flame.
Finding the Secret Flight Levels
The five main Homeworlds each contain a hidden portal leading to a Flight level. These portals are opened by completing a small task within the Homeworld.
Artisans – Sunny Flight
Head towards the waterfall and pond near the beginning of the Artisans Homeworld.
Jump on all five stepping stones without falling into the water. Once all five have been activated, the entrance to Sunny Flight will open.
Peace Keepers – Night Flight
Find the cannon near the entrance to Doctor Shemp.
Use the cannon to fire at the target on the large rock. Hitting the target opens the route to Night Flight.
The cannon can also be used to reach the nearby strong chest.
Magic Crafters – Crystal Flight
The entrance to Crystal Flight is located in an upper area near one of the dragons.
Reach the area through the cave near the Supercharge section and look around the upper platforms for the hidden Flight portal.
Beast Makers – Wild Flight
In the Beast Makers Homeworld, look for the tree stump near the area containing the warthogs and the large building filled with treasure.
Jump into the tree stump to reveal the entrance to Wild Flight.
Dream Weavers – Icy Flight
Head towards the centre of the Dream Weavers Homeworld.
Two enemies are guarding a staircase that was previously inaccessible. Defeat them and climb the stairs, then cross the platforms to reach the Icy Flight portal.
Remember: Gnasty’s World does not have a normal Flight level. The five Flight levels are found in the five main Homeworlds.
Hidden Areas in Tree Tops
Tree Tops is one of the trickier levels in Spyro the Dragon. Several of its dragons and gems require careful use of the Supercharge ramps, making it one of the easiest levels to leave unfinished.
Follow the Green Thief
At the beginning of the level, follow the Green Thief through the window on the left.
He will lead Spyro through a series of Supercharge sections. Follow the route carefully and use the ramps to build enough speed to reach the higher platforms.
This route eventually leads to a difficult area containing additional treasure and a dragon.
Chase the Red Thief
For another group of hidden gems, take the route towards the Red Thief instead of following the Green Thief’s path.
Use the Supercharge ramps to build up enough speed to follow the thief through the upper sections of the level.
The Red Thief carries a valuable purple 25-gem, so make sure you catch him before finishing the level.
Tip: Tree Tops is much easier once you learn where to turn during the Supercharge sections. If you miss a jump, try the route again rather than attempting to improvise halfway through the charge.
Run Faster
Spyro can move faster by combining his Charge and Jump actions.
Hold Square + X at the same time.
This produces Spyro’s faster galloping movement and can be useful when travelling around levels or building momentum for certain jumps.
