"Is it just me, or is she kinda cute when she's angry?"

—Hunter the Cheetah

Hunter (ハンター Hantā in Japanese) the Cheetah is native to Avalar who first appeared in Ripto's Rage!. He was born on the 22nd of April 1975.

Personality

Hunter is a laid-back, physically talented, and somewhat gullible character. While he's a loyal friend of Spyro and is knowledgeable about basic tasks (e.g. jumping), he seems to have trouble grasping the gravity of Spyro's missions. Hunter is at times naïve and cowardly, and he can be tricked relatively easily.

Like his name implies, he is an exceptional archer, and is strong and agile enough to hold his own in a fight, if need be. He is also a phenomenal skateboarder, and expresses jealousy when Spyro breaks his skateboarding records and pride when he doesn't. He also seems to be a bit of a conspiracy buff, with an interest in space and extra-terrestrials (especially sheep in Flying Sheep Saucers).

Like most cats, Hunter hates to get wet. In Aquaria Towers, Desert Ruins, and Luau Island, he is seen underwater wearing a purple SCUBA suit and goggles. However, doing so protects his fur from getting wet, something which he despises, as stated in Year of the Dragon.

Hobbies

Hunter is a very skilled adventurer and is very good at hunting, as his name reveals. Hunter seems to enjoy heading to far off places as he appears happy in every game depending on his location. He doesn't do much but slack off, skateboard and etc. He also likes to compete and test his limits.

Story

Ripto's Rage!

It was Hunter's fault that Ripto entered Avalar in the first place, as Hunter's suggestions for Super Portal coordinated 22475 - his birthday (22/4/75 which is 22nd April 1975 in Europe, whilst 2/24/75 which is February 24th 1975 in North America, meaning Hunter was 24 years old at the time) happened to bring Ripto, Crush, and Gulp to the realm. He made amends by helping Elora and the Professor bring Spyro to Avalar. Though Hunter had doubts about Spyro, and was concerned that it was a bad idea to bring a dragon to the realm after reading the Professor's book about Dragons, knowing that they sounded much more dangerous than Ripto himself.

Despite these doubts, he continued to help Spyro throughout his quest, and developed a close friendship with the dragon after the Ripto's defeat, changing his opinions on all Dragons.

In the epilogue, it is revealed that Hunter's scuba diving career got cut a little short after being attacked by a black shark.

Spyro: Year of the Dragon

After Ripto's defeat, Hunter had moved to the Dragon Realms, and followed Spyro to the Forgotten Worlds in order to return the Dragon Eggs stolen by the Sorceress. At this time, he fell in love with Bianca, whom he eventually managed to win over, and who helped them defeat her former mistress. After the Sorceress' defeat, Hunter told Elora, the Professor, and Sheila to not tell Spyro where he went. It was later revealed and found out by Spyro that Hunter and Bianca were dating, watching the fireworks in the Fireworks Factory world.

In the epilogue, Hunter ended up babysitting several of the baby dragons, and discovered that it was harder than it looked.

Spyro: Season of Ice

When Grendor froze the realms' fairies into ice crystals, Hunter gave Spyro helpful hints on the world's Fodder.

Spyro: Season of Flame

Much like last time, Hunter mostly stuck around to help Spyro out with hints on how to glide and jump, use platforms, break rocks, and finds a couple lost fireflies for Spyro.

Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs

During the accidental opening of a portal to Ripto's home, Hunter can be found hanging out at the Cheetah Spot Spa. Being the 'cool cat' that he was, he promised Spyro the Heart of the Spa if he can find some 'cool' items.

Spyro: A Hero's Tail

At the time of Red's attack on the Dragon Realms, Hunter came into his own by helping Spyro with tasks he could not perform by himself such as flying, jumping, and shooting things from a distance using his trusty bow and arrow. He was seen with a green leather strap with a quiver on his back and his bow. Hunter even came to Spyro's rescue when the young dragon was captured and imprisoned within the Ice Citadel by Red's forces.

Spyro: Shadow Legacy

At the end of the summer, Hunter left the Dragon Realms and returned back home to Avalar to visit his cheetah village in the Savannah. While there, he and the other cheetahs were trapped in the Shadow Realm but were soon rescued by Spyro. Kasi and the other cheetahs blamed Spyro for causing the Calamity, and soon blamed Hunter for siding with him, throwing them both in prison. Spyro escaped and brought a letter to Hunter's father, Akello, who then cleared their names.

Gallery

Hunter, as he appeares in Ripto's Rage and Year of the Dragon.

Hunter's diving outfit, as it appears in Ripto's Rage and Year of the Dragon.

Hunter, as he appears in Enter the Dragonfly

Hunter in Spyro: A Hero's Tail.

Hunter's Archery Gear in A Hero's Tail

Hunter's dialog screen image in Shadow Legacy

Hunter as seen in the artwork of the Japanese version of Season of Ice

Hunter's talk screen icon as seen in Season of Flame and Attack of the Rhynocs

Hunter's trading card from Spyro Orange:A Cortex Conspiracy

Hunter as seen in Season of Flame

Hunter from Ripto's Rage!

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Trivia

• In Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!, Hunter entered in the code 2-2-4-7-5 on the Superportal keypad, claiming that it was his birthday as he entered it. Making his birthday 2/24/75. However, Insomniac Games, the original developer, has indicated it was meant as Apr 22, 1975, making him 24 years old in Ripto's Rage!.
• Hunter seems to have an odd attraction to Flying Sheep Saucers, or at least, they have an odd attraction to him; in every Speedway level in Year of the Dragon, if you find him, you can play as Hunter in a series of mini-games, all dealing with his attempt at thwarting an alien sheep invasion.
• Unlike many anthropomorphic animal characters, Hunter does not wear any clothing in most of his appearances, though he does wear pads and helmets, a wetsuit for the manta ray minigames in Ripto's Rage and Year of the Dragon as well as a pair of shorts, for the skateboarding minigames in Year of the Dragon.
• In Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!/Spyro 2: Gateway To Glimmer and in other games such as Spyro: A Hero's Tail, Hunter's eyes are blue but in Spyro: Year of the Dragon, his eyes are green or dark green.
• Hunter's Japanese voice actor is Hiroaki Hirata, the official Japanese dub-over artist of Johnny Depp. He also voiced Balthier in Final Fantasy XII.
• In the GBA version of The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night, the silhouette of Hunter's classic model was used instead of one by his Legend counterpart's.