The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon is the final chapter of The Legend of Spyro trilogy for the PS3, PS2, Wii and Xbox 360. It was originally called The Legend of Spyro: The Darkest Hour when Krome Studios initially started working on it. While Krome Studios developed the last two The Legend. The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon review. Ever since Spyro the Dragon first glided onto the PlayStation 10 years ago, he’s been struggling to find solid footing in the platform gaming world. His games have been criticized in the past for being overly complicated for younger gamers yet too childish for older ones.
System: X360, PS3, Wii, PS2, DS | Review Rating Legend | |
Dev: Etranges Libellules | 1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid | 4.0 - 4.4 = Great |
Pub: Vivendi | 2.0 - 2.4 = Poor | 4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy |
Release: Oct. 21, 2008 | 2.5 - 2.9 = Average | 5.0 = The Best |
Players: 1-2 | 3.0 - 3.4 = Fair | |
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+ | 3.5 - 3.9 = Good |
When the title throws jumping puzzles your way, the best you'll usually be able to do is double-jump, glide, and, if necessary, thrust yourself forward to grab hold of a climbable surface. (You'll master these techniques early, in perhaps the most annoying jumping puzzle every to appear in a game's first stage. There are multiple jumps that require exacting precision, at least for someone who's just getting used to the controls, and if you miss a single one, you end up back at the bottom and have to start all over again.) At other times, you can fly effortlessly over long stretches of terrain. It doesn't help that once in the air, your dragon is hard to control.
Fourth, the game constrains players' movements in a number of ways. Sometimes the right stick will rotate the camera a full 360 degrees, but at other times only a few degrees in either direction is possible. This makes it tough to get a feel for your surroundings. Also, you'll run into invisible walls a lot; they cordon off everything from the edge of the game's universe to shortcuts between trees.
When you're not exploring, you're fighting. You have two dragons, Spyro and Cynder, which you can switch between with the push of a button. (Your partner won't die when you're not controlling him or her, but won't help out much either, and once in awhile will get stuck while traveling.) As already mentioned, the dragons can perform melee attacks in addition to casting magic spells. The fighting, unfortunately, rarely requires the player to use these moves in a nuanced manner, and, as such, it's no more fun than the exploring.
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For the most part, you'll face off against waves and waves of relatively easy enemies. Button-mashing is the typical tactic here, as there are often so many enemies coming from so many directions that no real strategy is possible. When it comes to the forgettable boss battles, you'll die a few times getting to know the patterns and weak spots.
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Easily, though, the worst fights are against 'Elite' enemies. Technically, you can simply walk away from these battles (something the game doesn't bother to inform you; you can either discover it by accident or read about it online). Even as bonus missions, however, these face-offs are brutal. A few hits will kill you, and typically, only one of your many available magic spells will do any damage. The fact that your other moves don't hurt the enemy is far from obvious, unless you keep a close eye on the various stats that pop up on the screen. Add in the fact that there's no way to tell which spell will work (it's rarely something obvious like using fire on an ice enemy), and it's a mountain of trial-and-error frustration.
As you explore and fight your way through the game, the story unfolds. This game begins with Spyro and Cynder becoming unfrozen after three years (they were put in crystal following their fight with Gaul). Enemies break them out and bond them together with snakes that look like electric bolts, a conceit that explains why they're never apart during this game. They start with a boss battle against Golem (a bit demanding for newcomers, but manageable), and go off in search their archenemy, the Dark Master.
When it comes right down to it, it's hard to imagine who would enjoy this game. Certainly, the five people who've beaten both the previous Legend of Spyro titles might want to know how it ends. But for kids, an obvious target audience given the childish-looking dragons and bright color palette, this title is too boring, too hard, and possibly too long (10 or so hours). Adults can find better games in which to mash buttons and break random items, and even they might find the Elite enemies too much to handle.
It's also hard to be so dismissive of this game, because the developers put together about 90 percent of a first-class title. The graphics are there, the story is there, and the mechanics are just a few tweaks shy of perfect. Yet when it comes to gameplay, that final and most important 10 percent, most folks will find themselves getting bored, lost, annoyed, or all three.
By Robert VerBruggen
CCC Freelance Writer
CCC Freelance Writer
Graphics
It's not quite Gears of War, but it truly takes advantage of the new generation's hardware.
It's not quite Gears of War, but it truly takes advantage of the new generation's hardware.
Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Excellent orchestral music and evocative sound effects.
Excellent orchestral music and evocative sound effects.
Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.
Game Features:
- Take flight anywhere in the Spyro Universe for the first time.
- Drop-in/drop-out two-player co-op with Cynder as a playable character.
- Epic challenge of huge bosses and multiple enemies.
- Live the Spyro saga through the talented voices of Elijah Wood, Gary Oldman, Christina Ricci and more.
- Theatrical, powerful, and explosive action.
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The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon Developer(s) Étranges Libellules
Tantalus Media(DS)Publisher(s) Activision (North America)
Vivendi Games[a] (PAL)Director(s) Jean-Marie Nazaret Producer(s) Aaron Drayer
Michael Graham
Kevin Sodini
Chris A. WilsonDesigner(s) Travis Stephenson Writer(s) Michael Graham
Thomas BoissierComposer(s) Rebecca Kneubuhl
Gabriel MannSeries The Legend of Spyro Platform(s) Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360 Release - NA: 21 October 2008
- AU: 5 November 2008
- EU: 21 November 2008
Genre(s) Action-adventure Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon is an action-adventure apocalyptic video game which is the third and final installment in The Legend of Spyro trilogy, as well as the tenth anniversary game of the series. It was developed by Étranges Libellules and published by Activision in North America and Vivendi Games in the PAL Regions for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360.Tantalus Media developed the Nintendo DS version. It is the end of the second Spyro continuity, with Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure serving as the second reboot of the franchise after Vivendi Games merged with video game publisher Activision to form the Activision Blizzard holding company on July 9, 2008.Gameplay[edit]
A screenshot from the game.The gameplay is more advanced than previous titles in the series. This is the first Spyro game that allows a player to fly at any time they want (free-fly mode). The game also features a co-op mode with Cynder. The co-op feature allows players to have the option of completing the game as either Spyro or Cynder, along with giving them the power to switch between Spyro and Cynder, giving them more freedom to explore the world in completely new ways.The environments are much larger than in previous games, and a majority of them have a bit more exploration to them. In previous titles of the Legend of Spyro series, Spyro must travel through the level and defeat enemies in a linear fashion. This time, however, the game has more freedom by exploring larger areas and collecting items in order to progress through the game.Spyro retains his command of fire, electricity, ice, and earth (all of which he now has access to from the start), while Cynder controls poison, fear, wind, and shadow, powers that were given to her when she was controlled by the Dark Master. Cynder is faster but weaker than Spyro. Along with the standard power ups that gems will bring, Spyro and Cynder can both equip pieces of Dragon Armor that they find. They also have another feature called melee combos. The more times the player hits the enemy the more Blue Gems the players will earn. Blue Gems power up Spyro and Cynder, allowing them to upgrade moves. Along with Blue Gems, there are also Red gems, which restore lost health. The green gems give the dragons magic, allowing element attacks. The Fury Gems from previous titles have been removed (replaced by dark crystals that can drain magic if they're not destroyed), and the Fury Meter now goes up depending on the number of times Spyro or Cynder scores attacks on enemies. In addition to normal enemies, there are elite enemies, which are enemies that are stronger than normal enemies. Their masks make them invincible to normal attacks. The player must use an element of a designated color that matches that of the mask in order to knock the mask off. Once off, normal attacks and other elemental powers will be allowed.Plot[edit]
The game begins three years later, after The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night with Spyro and Cynder, who are now teenagers, being broken free of their crystalline prison by mysterious enemies known as Grublins. Spyro and Cynder are tethered together with mysterious green energy chains created by the Dark Master before being carried away while Sparx is found by Hunter of Avalar, who was watching them from the shadows. Meanwhile, Spyro and Cynder find themselves in a dark, volcano like area. When they try to leave, they find out that they cannot as they are chained to the platform they awoke on. After defeating several waves of Grublins and avoiding an earth Golem that attacks them soon after, Spyro and Cynder manage to escape the Catacombs with the help of Hunter, who is with Sparx. After reaching safety in Twilight Falls, Hunter reveals to Spyro, Cynder and Sparx that the Dark Master, Malefor, had returned to the realm shortly after the events of The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night and has covered the land in darkness ever since.Malefor, the game's antagonistOnce they reach the Dragon City of Warfang, Spyro, Cynder, and Hunter are separated as the city is under siege by Malefor's forces. After a long and fierce battle that ends in the siege driven back, the Golem returns and uses parts of the city to create an arm to replace the one it lost in the Catacombs. Spyro and Cynder defeat the Golem by destroying the Dark Crystal in its head, allowing Spyro, Cynder, and the Dragon Guardians to finally reunite. The victory is short lived, a later that night, Malefor sends the citizens of Warfang a message: he has revived the Destroyer, an ancient creature whose purpose is to renew the world by bringing about its destruction. As they will be unable to catch up with the creature if they fly after it, the Fire Guardian Ignitus hatches the plan that waiting for it to circle back, underground is the only way to intercept it in time. Cynder and Spyro are able to open the gates to the underground Ruins of Warfang, which leads the attack forces to the canyon where the Destroyer will complete the Ring of Annihilation. By destroying a nearby dam, they stall the Destroyer long enough to destroy its Dark Crystal heart, but it was an effort spent in vain. The Destroyer manages to complete the Belt of Fire, and Ignitus orders everyone underground as he escorts Spyro and Cynder to the Belt of Fire. In order to get them to the Burned Lands, which will lead them to Malefor's Lair, Ignitus sacrifices himself in the crossing and Spyro, overcome with grief, turns into his dark form and tries to go back and save him (which also threatened to harm Cynder with levitating rocks), but is stopped and comforted by Cynder.After getting through the Burned Lands and the Floating Islands, Spyro and Cynder arrive at Malefor's Lair and confront him. Malefor taunts Spyro by telling him that the destiny of all purple dragons is to bring about the world's destruction, to which Spyro denies. During the confrontation, the evil dragon releases the green chain that tethered Spyro and Cynder together throughout their trials, then corrupts Cynder back to his cause. Cynder attacks Spyro, only to break free from Malefor's control when Spyro refused to fight and stated that he has left Cynder nothing to fight for. Angered by this turn of events, Malefor binds Spyro and Cynder together once again to kill them both before beginning their battle airborne. As Spyro and Cynder fly after Malefor, the Destroyer completes its circle, marking the end of the world. The three dragons fall into the volcano the Destroyer had entered, and after fighting with Malefor, Spyro and Cynder plummet into the center of the earth as they continue their battle. Malefor proclaimed that he is eternal, unable to be defeated, but is then sealed away in the world's core by the spirits of the Ancestors. Despite Malefor's defeat, the world is still falling apart. As Spyro and Cynder wonder if this is indeed the end, Ignitus' spirit returns and gives Spyro hope. With the chain that bound them together broken with Malefor's defeat, Spyro tells Cynder to flee while he stops the catastrophe, but she refuses to leave him. As Spyro prepares to unleash a powerful Fury wave, Cynder verbally reveals that she loves him. The world is rebuilt by Spyro's magic, and we last see the remaining Guardians, Hunter, Sparx, and the survivors emerging from underground into the setting sun as stars in the sky formed into the figure of a dragon.After the credits, the Chronicler speaks to someone that a new age is beginning, and with each new age, a worthy dragon is chosen to record the triumphs and failures of that era. His time is over, but the time of the new Chronicler, Ignitus, has just begun. Before passing his mantle, the Chronicler informs Ignitus that though he has tried his best, he cannot find 'any trace of Spyro' in the book that details dragons who have died. As Ignitus becomes the new Chronicler, he wonders where Spyro could be. Meanwhile, a glimpse of Spyro and Cynder can be seen flying together over the Valley of Avalar.Reception[edit]
Reception Aggregate scores Aggregator Score GameRankings (Wii) 65.09%[1]
(X360) 63.78%[2]
(DS) 60.60%[3]
(PS2) 59.00%[4]
(PS3) 58.10%[5]Metacritic (Wii) 64/100[6]
(X360) 62/100[7]
(PS3) 59/100[8]
(DS) 57/100[9]The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon received mixed to positive reviews. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the Wii version 65.09% and 64/100,[1][6] the Xbox 360 version 63.78% and 62/100,[2][7] the Nintendo DS version 60.60% and 57/100,[3][9] the PlayStation 2 version 59.00%[4] and the PlayStation 3 version 58.10% and 59/100.[5][8]References[edit]
- ^Released under the Sierra Entertainment brand name
- ^ ab'The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon for Wii'. GameRankings. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- ^ ab'The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon for Xbox 360'. GameRankings. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- ^ ab'The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon for DS'. GameRankings. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- ^ ab'The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon for PlayStation 2'. GameRankings. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- ^ ab'The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon for PlayStation 3'. GameRankings. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- ^ ab'The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon for Wii Reviews'. Metacritic. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- ^ ab'The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon for Xbox 360 Reviews'. Metacritic. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- ^ ab'The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon for PlayStation 3 Reviews'. Metacritic. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
- ^ ab'The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon for DS Reviews'. Metacritic. Retrieved 2 October 2013.
External links[edit]
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