Sparx

Sparx is the small dragonfly companion who accompanies Spyro throughout his adventures. Since his debut in Spyro the Dragon, Sparx has appeared in nearly every Spyro game as Spyro's protector. Without Sparx, Spyro is susceptible to being defeated in one hit, but if Spyro is with Sparx, he can withstand a few more hits. Sparx's role is very similar to Uka Uka of the Crash Bandicoot franchise.

While Spyro and Sparx occasionally converse with each other, Sparx's focus in the Spyro series is more oriented towards gameplay than narrative: Sparx is the player's health meter personified. Whenever the player takes a hit, Sparx's body color changes, from gold, to blue, to green, and ultimately disappearing entirely, leaving Spyro vulnerable to defeat upon the next hit. The player can restore Sparx's (and, hence, Spyro's) health by defeating small creatures called "fodder" throughout each level. Doing so releases a butterfly, which Sparx devours, recovering one hit point in the process.

Aside from his function as a health meter, Sparx also assists by collecting nearby gems and treasure for Spyro. In later games Sparx's own abilities can be upgraded, including the ability to withstand an extra hit (first with a brighter shade of yellow to represent full health, but later with a shade of red to indicate low health), being able to retrieve treasure from a larger distance, or even the ability to retrieve gems directly from boxes without requiring Spyro to destroy them first. Sparx also points out the location of gems that Spyro has not collected yet.

Sparx's voice is a high pitched buzz, but in Spyro: A Hero's Tail he can communicate more fluently.

Sparx also appears as a playable character in several mini-games throughout the later games in the Spyro series, such as several Gauntlet-style levels in Spyro: Year of the Dragon and Spyro: Season of Ice, and a rail shooter-style minigame in Spyro: A Hero's Tail.

In The Legend of Spyro storyline, Sparx is Spyro's foster brother. With Spyro having a separate health bar, Sparx serves primarily as a travelling companion, during gameplay only showing where to go next or give hints. In this continuity, Sparx's role has been larger in the story but mostly serving as the series' comic relief, often giving out humorous dialogue and sarcastic remarks. Spyro often serves as the subject of Sparx's jokes, of which Spyro often retaliates. Despite this, he is still willing to help Spyro no matter what happens.

Trivia

 * On the official Spyro the Dragon website, there is a web page where the Dragon News Network interviews Sparx. One question asks how he and Spyro met. According to Sparx, he used to crawl on Spyro's egg when he was a larvae and when Spyro had not yet hatched. Sparx described the outside world to Spyro, although they had little to relate to because Spyro had not yet experienced the world. One day, Spyro saved Sparx from being eaten by a bird, solidifying their friendship.