The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning

 PlayStation 2
Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 22
  3. Negative: 1 out of 22
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  1. Play Magazine
    85
    With any luck Krome's overhaul will prove lucrative enough to warrant them continuing the brand, flying Spyro into next-gen skies and who knows, perhaps a veritable rebirth. [Oct. 2006, p.54]
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  2. AceGamez
    80
    This new Legend is one you'll enjoy immensely while it lasts and crave once it's over.
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  3. IGN
    77
    The franchise has gotten a serious lift in nearly every area. The overall gameplay was extremely solid for a children’s title, the overall presentation was baffling complex – with everything from scripted story events and innovative enemy entrances – and the overall audio/graphical design is definitely stronger than we expected.
  5. Worth Playing
    75
    A game worth playing if you're a dracophile, if you like the character or like animated movies, and if you're not averse to starting over with a fresh slate.
  6. PSX Extreme
    73
    A lot of the game's potential falls flat in the face of occasional mediocrity and blandness, which is in turn offset by bright spots that sometimes pop up during the course of your adventure.
  7. Game Informer
    70
    Unfortunately, the entire affair is filled with repeated waves of what amount to the exact same enemies, and it doesn’t take long for boredom to set in.
  8. GamesRadar+
    70
    A series of well-done flying sequences bridge the game's various stages, and the shifting of gears is very much welcome after an extended series of brawls.
  9. PALGN
    65
    While it isn’t the perfect Spyro game, it still manages to be a decent and enjoyable action title. Sadly, repetitive gameplay and a short lifespan hurt a lot of its overall quality.
  10. Gamers' Temple
    64
    Older gamers will find the gameplay simply too repetitive and simplistic. A new beginning for Spyro was a good idea, but this game is more of a false start.
  11. PSM3 Magazine UK
    63
    The franchise is somewhat redeemed - sadly the levels are repetitive and some bosses just too hard. [Christmas 2006, p.82]
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  12. GameZone
    62
    A fair rental for any kid who doesn’t mind excessive button-mashing with their adventure. That means the game excludes anyone who played the original at the time it was released.
  13. PSM Magazine
    60
    There's nothing wrong with early retirement....you've earned it, Spyro. [Dec. 2006, p.82]
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  14. Eurogamer
    60
    If you loved the original games then that might carry you through to completion but for those who are new, prepare for a long slog.
  15. The Sydney Morning Herald
    60
    Aussie expertise has produced the best Spyro game in many years, but the action gets repetitive and some old fans might be dismayed by the emphasis on combat.
  16. Gamestyle
    60
    Charming and polished but devoid of any depth.
  17. Official Playstation 2 Magazine UK
    60
    A reasonable update, but even with the changes there's nothing here you won't have seen somewhere before. This is a rather lazy prequel. [Christmas 2006, p.76]
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  18. GameSpot
    58
    The title may say that this is a new beginning, but Spyro's latest adventure isn't much more than a collection of tired, overused platforming clichés.
  19. GameSpy
    50
    Despite some smart moves on the part of the developers (voice talent, good graphics engine, franchise overhaul) none of them really pan out and bring much to the experience, leaving the game to flounder with its new but repetitive focus on combat.
  20. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    50
    An anthology of washed up ideas and concepts seen in almost every non-Nintendo platformer post 2D.
  21. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    50
    A new beginning is a step in the right direction, but Spyro still has a long way to go before being "good" again. [Jan. 2007, p.89]
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  22. Boomtown
    50
    Legend of Spyro is a game that you just want to love for its admirably lovable story line, but as a gamer, you feel compiled to surrender to the obvious – it’s strictly average as an overall package.
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  23. Gamers Europe
    35
    It has a fantastic score, an excellent cast and some genuinely good ideas, but its inability to find balance between narration and game, along with poor execution, means that this is one purple headed monster you won’t want to be playing with.

Awards & Rankings

46
#46 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2006
46
#46 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2006

User Reviews

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User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 84 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 84
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 84
  3. Negative: 15 out of 84
  1. TheSpoiler18
    Dec 5, 2017
    10
    Definitely one of the best games in the entire Spyro franchise. I remember, back in December of 2003, on Christmas Day, I got Spyro 2: Ripto'sDefinitely one of the best games in the entire Spyro franchise. I remember, back in December of 2003, on Christmas Day, I got Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage for Christmas (along with my PS1). Three years later, I was still really into Spyro, and I saw the trailer for this game, and I shouted, "I WANT THAT GAME!" Well, fast-forward to Christmas Day, 2006, and I was gifted with a PS2, and—you guessed it—this game. I love all the Spyro games, and in my opinion, this one is in the top three, along with the other two Legend games (the originals are right behind). The game has a great voice cast, with Elijah Wood and Gary Oldman certainly stealing the show, while David Spade, Kevin Michael Richardson, and Cree Summer give a great amount of life to their respective characters, the score is perfection, and the graphics are very good for its time. This game is very nostalgic for me, and I will forever cherish it.… Full Review »
  2. fijiboy
    Apr 11, 2015
    5
    for some reason, someone decided it would be a good idea to go even farther away from spyro's original roots and make this game. there arefor some reason, someone decided it would be a good idea to go even farther away from spyro's original roots and make this game. there are some good things about this game, its functional, the dialogue is done pretty well and is well voice acted, the story is pretty good, but the gameplay is very repetitive and boring. it turned what use to be a platformer into a sort of beat em up kind of game, well it doesn't really fit with a genre and that's the biggest problem, the game dosnt know what it is at all… Full Review »
  3. YoutubeTGW
    Feb 21, 2014
    8
    I love spyro, this is a refreshing game with the origin of my favorite purple dragon. Its not AS good as the original playstation games butI love spyro, this is a refreshing game with the origin of my favorite purple dragon. Its not AS good as the original playstation games but its still a cute game.… Full Review »
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