After that we purchased a one use lockpick (why then it isn't just called a key is beyond us) and set off through the first locked gate that symbolized the beginning of our adventure. Our first task was to arbitrarily collect 500 gems for greed-bear. We had a chance to play through a bit of A Hero's Tail and so far we've learned that Spyro is subject to the whims of a greedy bear who looks like Fozzie in a fez. This involves collecting gems and flaming things. Spyro has to navigate the Dragon Realms and shatter all the dark gems so that Red Dragon loses his stranglehold on the planet. Turns out the Dragon Realms are under siege by the evil Red Dragon, who took it upon himself to seed the world with a bunch of dark gems that absorb the light of the land.