TLoS Elemental Class Ice

Ice; the bitter heart of Winter's chill, but there is beauty here... Dressed in a strong blue colour key, the ice elemental class abilities offered a cooler solution when powers of fire would not suffice. Being a solid element, ice brought contrast and served as an impressive utility weapon in Spyro's arsenal. Largely offensive but also defensive, this elemental ability could dispatch foes at long range on attack, or freeze them solid to make the quick getaway, adding the option to encapsulate enemies in snow and use them as projectile weapons against their own ranks. In this regard elemental ice was unique... certainly it was one of the more interactive breath weapons among the primary elements and this made for some memorable game moments. Its Winter theme underpins the very nature of Cyril himself and suggested creative ways in which we could have Spyro use this class of ability to interesting effect.

The concept art seen here is an indication of the final outcome, and not entirely consistent with the finished ice effect in the games. Images like this one served as a quick datum point to reflect stated design specifications and get a gauge on how to balance all the elemental breaths against eachother in terms of both colour and form before investing heavily in effects development. We went back and forth getting these abilities right, and many tweaks were made long after the concept art had been delivered -  for the breath weapons were the key gameplay mechanics of the game and needed to be well conceived, contrasting and beautiful.

In TLoS lore Ice is a weapon of great contrasts and a tool of many uses. For the mightiest of Ice dragons it can slow the advance of an approaching army, or provide drinking water to a thirsty village. To harness it's abilities a dragon must first learn to understand the nature of water and embrace a steely resolve deep within themselves... for only then can a frozen solid be produced. Moisture is drawn in from the air and (in dire emergencies) from the dragon's own body. In combat it is plausible that a master of Ice could suppliment his or her defences by magically sheathing parts of their body in magically projected pack ice, or when on the offensive adorn themselves with impressive protrusions of needle sharp ice. It is the tool of the true survivalist.