Vivendi Universal Games today announced the development of Spyro: A Hero's Tail for the PS2, Xbox and Nintendo GameCube, scheduled to arrive at retail in Q4 2004. Developed by UK-based Eurocom Entertainment Software and scripted by Emmy Award-winning writer J. Stewart Burns, this new 3D action platformer will feature five fully-playable characters and brand-new Spyro breath attacks, power-ups and moves.

"Since his debut in 1998, our purple dragon Spyro has been a favorite character among console gamers everywhere," said Michael Pole, EVP of Worldwide Studios, VU Games. "Spyro fans are sure to welcome his greatest adventure to date - an adventure game that immerses players into a deep storyline, more diverse, lush environments and introduces a strong line-up of engaging characters."

Spyro must save the Dragon Realms from the Evil Red Dragon who has planted light-sapping Dark Gems all over the Dragon Realms in an attempt to capture and control the world. With the help of his allies, Spyro must seek out and destroy all of the Dark Gems to return the lands back to normal and to save the Dragon Realms from the evil dragon's tyrannical control.

The fierce purple dragon will travel across dark, mysterious lands in which the environments shift from evil to good in real-time - affecting enemies, music, lighting, objects, sky and more. There will be many new abilities and weapons included in the game. Also, gamers will have the opportunity to play as weapons master Hunter the Cheetah, dive-bombing penguin Sgt. Byrd, loyal sidekick Sparx the Dragonfly or the all-new weapons-equipped, climbing Blink the Mole.

We will bring you more on this title as it breaks! Click the image below to see the first released screens.

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