Reviewed: November 13, 2008
Reviewed by: Mark Smith

Publisher
Activision

Developer
Etranges Libellules

Released: October 21, 2008
Genre: Action
Players: 1-2

7
6
9
7
7.7

Supported Features:

Anyway, now that Spyro has made the jump to the next-gen I figured it was time to take him for a spin, and while I am moderately impressed I’ve also heard from reliable sources that his latest adventure is unlike anything that has come before it, so any comparisons to past games would be totally unfounded.

Dawn of the Dragon is a clever title that might just usher in a dawn of a new age of platforming; at least as far as flying, fire-breathing dragons go. This latest installment adds co-op play, much like how the latest Crash game did, only in this title it actually works a bit better. Not only do you get to play as Spyro, you will also take control of Cynder, a villain from past games and now bound to Spyro with a magical chain creating an unlikely “buddy” system.

Playing two characters at once, or even having a second player take control over Cynder is still a bit gimmicky and even forced into the gameplay at times. The game rarely forces you to choose one character over another so you can easily stick with your favorite. Not that there is that much difference between the two characters. Spyro has elemental breath weapons like Fire, Ice, Lightning, and Earth, while Cynder relies on a more mystical set of abilities such as Fear, Poison, Wind, and Shadow.

Magical attacks aside, both dragons also have physical attacks of the strong, light, and grab variety that can be combo’d into something more impressive but sadly, far less effective than using your magical attacks. You’ll likely forego the physical stuff except to smash open countless objects to collect colored orbs to replenish you magical abilities.

Dawn of the Dragon has a bit of RPG-lite flavor in that you are able to upgrade your magical attacks and even outfit your characters with dragon armor. Neither facet of the game is terribly involved, but it is nonetheless satisfying and easily comprehended by younger kids who are likely to be playing in the first place.

While flying is nothing new to the Spyro franchise, the ability to fly anywhere and anytime you want is one of the biggest new features and greatest gameplay selling points for Dawn of the Dragon. The levels are suitable in size and complexity to account for this new mode of travel, and I can’t imagine playing any of the previous titles that didn’t have this ability.

I was also impressed with the overall game length that clocks in around 10-12 hours. With a great mix of levels, environments, monsters, and mission objectives, it’s pretty hard to get into a rut. There is always something exciting and new waiting around the corner.

For his first next-gen outing, Spyro doesn’t look as good as he could or as he should. The resolution seems a bit low with overly simple models and the gameplay gets cluttered and even hampered by extreme colors and blinding special effects. Don’t get me wrong; there are some gorgeous moments in the game but on the whole this doesn’t seem like a title we should be seeing this far into the life of the 360.

On the flipside of the presentation coin is the best audio experience I’ve enjoyed in quite some time. We start with an impressive Hollywood cast including Elijah Wood (Spyro), Christina Ricci (Cynder), Gary Oldman (Ignitus), and Mark Hamill (Malefor, the Dark Master) that all turn in outstanding performances. Combine that with some beautiful music and excellent sound effects all mixed in Dolby Digital, and you have a real treat for the ears.

There are 50 Achievements ranging from finishing the levels to stringing together massive combos or simply defeating a requisite number of monsters. Casual gamers will score most of these while some objectives will require some true skill and dedication.

Spyro has definitely bridge the gap between old-school platformer and modern day adventure with a hint of role-playing. While the co-op gameplay still feels a bit tacked on it is functional and parents will enjoy the fact that at least two of their kids won’t be fighting to play the game at once.

Spyro fans and gamers in the target age group are going to love Dawn of the Dragon and don’t be surprised if the older siblings in the house and even the parents get caught up in the magic that is Spyro. It really is fun from start to finish.