Spyro: A Hero's Tail

Spyro: A Hero's Tail
Developer(s)	Eurocom
Publisher(s)	Vivendi Games
Series	Spyro
Platform(s)	GameCube
Release date(s)	NA November 3, 2004 EU November 26, 2004
Genre(s)	Platform
Mode(s)	Single-player
Input methods	GameCube Controller
Compatibility	4 Playable
GameIDs	G5SP7D, G5SE7D
See also...	Dolphin Forum thread Open Issues Search Google Search Wikipedia

In Spyro: A Hero's Tail 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 control the world. With the help of his allies, Spyro must seek out and destroy all of the Dark Gems to return the land back to normal and to save the Dragon Realms from the evil dragon's tyrannical control. Guide Spyro as he uses his new dragon powers, abilities, and gadgets in lush environments rife with new villains.

Problems

Light Glow

Since 5.0-4703, light glow will not render correctly when EFB to texture only is enabled. Disabling it fixes the problem.

Underwater Rendering

When diving underwater an effect should blur the distance. On Dolphin everything is rendered completely fuzzy. Refer issue 9277. Only the software back-end renders correctly. Since 5.0-15294 additional issues occur including a black bar obscuring the screen. refer issue 12735.

OpenGL

DirectX

Lighting and Shimmering Object Smears

Beams of light and shimmering objects, like faerie wings, can smear or be duplicated or otherwise corrupt graphics. Slightly different versions of the corruption are seen between OpenGL and DirectX. Refer issue 6899 and issue 8317. Fixed by 5.0-4703.

Smearing

Duplication

dolphin-emu issue #8317 (Spyro - A Hero's Tail)

Enhancements

Blotchy Textures

Some textures are intended to be in an 18b rather than 24b format, which can cause banding across gradients or otherwise blotchy colors. Disabling Force 24-bit colour fixes the issue.

Ignore format changes disabled

Ignore format changes enabled

Remove Bloom AR Code

The game has a bloom effect that causes issues with shimmering objects and an AR Code is needed to remove the bloom. This AR Code will remove bloom entirely.

NTSC

04352F00 4E800020

16:9 Aspect Ratio Fix

The built-in Widescreen Hack causes various clipping issues. The following Gecko codes work as a replacement. Make sure disable the Widescreen Hack before using these.

NTSC-U

$16:9
043D6790 3FE38E39
043D6780 3F100000
043D67A4 44555555
80010000 00306534
C2306534 00000015
9421FFA0 7C0802A6
90010064 BFC10040
C0230014 8BC30075
2C1E0000 41820074
88630074 2C030000
40820068 3C603FE3
60638E39 90610034
3C60803D C043679C
EC220072 3C008025
90010030 600089A8
7C0803A6 4E800021
3C60803D C0436790
C0610034 FC021800
4080000C EC421824
EC211024 80010030
60008430 7C0803A6
4E800021 3C60803D
C043679C EC211024
80010064 BBC10040
38210060 7C0803A6
4E800020 00000000
86010000 00000001
82210000 00306534
86000000 FFFFFD64
84210000 003067D0
C2306200 0000000C
88180074 2C000000
41820020 C388677C
3D080001 C3C8870C
C3288710 EF3EC824
EF9CC824 48000028
3C003FE3 60008E39
90010210 C3C10210
FC19F000 40800010
EFD9F024 EF7B07B2
EF9C07B2 3C008030
6000624C 7C0803A6
4E800020 00000000

Configuration

Only configuration options for the best compatibility where they deviate from defaults are listed.

Graphics

Config	Setting	Notes
Force 24-Bit Color	Off	Fix blotchy textures
Store EFB Copies to Texture Only	Off	Fix light glow

Version Compatibility

The graph below charts the compatibility with Spyro: A Hero's Tail since Dolphin's 2.0 release, listing revisions only where a compatibility change occurred.

Δ

5.0-21606 (current)

Δ

Δ

Δ

Δ

Δ

2.0 (r5384)

Compatibility can be assumed to align with the indicated revisions. However, compatibility may extend to prior revisions or compatibility gaps may exist within ranges indicated as compatible due to limited testing. Please update as appropriate.

Testing

This title has been tested on the environments listed below:

Test Entries
Revision	OS	CPU	GPU	Result	Tester
3.5	Windows 7	AMD Althon II x2 270 @ 3.4 GHz	NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650ti	100% Full speed perfect	Mirocroatia
4.0-1569	Windows 8.1	Intel Celeron G1610 @ 2.6 GHz	NVIDIA GeForce GT 330	Really bad framerates with OpenGL, fixed by changing to Direct3D. Other than that, 96% speed with no graphical glitches.	Masamune3210
5.0-11384	Windows 10	Intel Core i5-5300 @ 2.3 GHz	Intel HD 5500	Superb performance, solid 60FPS at 1x. 40-50FPS at 2x. Very slight stuttering on logo FMVs if using OpenGL, not present with DX11. Bug with extreme blur underwater remains present in OpenGL -- and DX11, contrary to game notes above	Kroc

Gameplay Videos

(60FPS) Dolphin Emulator 4.0-4057 - Spyro: A Hero's Tail [1080p HD - Nintendo GameCube