The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon

1. fanfic154

   Feb 25, 2018

   10

   This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon is tied for the best Spyro game of all time with the originals, in my opinion. As I jumped into this game, I had a fairly good grasp of what the plot was from the previous two installments, seeing as I didn't play them before this game. What I didn't expect was how high the graphics quality came out to be (playing on the Xbox 360), how decently written the story was, and how the co-op allowed you to work together with another player, allowing trust building where you had to lead at times and then pass on the baton of leadership to your teammate from time to time to progress on in the game (if you were playing with a friend). You had to work together, and seeing as the two main characters, Spyro and Cynder, were originally rivals, that brought the game out even more into reality, sharing what the characters feel being restricted by the snake charms that bound the two together. If you were playing single player, you had that kind of balance between the characters as well, whether it be through the combat or elemental challenges. The "take flight at any time" part of the game was a little skeptical. How can you have a game where you could go anywhere without obstacles? That would be a broken game. The developers found clever ways around it with the young age of the dragons and their physical strength. They used adamantite orbs to hinder your flight along with strong currents of wind that the two protagonists aren't strong enough to fly through yet (because of age). I only found the invisible walls a little annoying from time to time. Next, the beauty of the game had my jaw drop every time. From Twilight Forest to The Valley of Avalar to even the floating islands before Malefor. I was awestruck every time. The fact that everyone complains about it's "button mashing combat" is a bunch of ridiculous talk. As the game progresses, you are almost constantly fighting an enemy of Malefor. From grublins to golems to orcs, they are always around you. When players complain about this, I want to throw a tic-tac box at them. REALLY?! Every combat-related game can consider itself with tedious combat. Minecraft, Terraria, God of War, Gears of War, Halo, etc. The complaints from this function of the game mainly come from the hitpoint count of the enemy being relatively high and how many of each enemy you have to fight. In reality, this is supposed to be like that. Think that you are in the middle of a war, fighting inanimate objects against someone who has destroyed your side's armies for 3 years. Plus, your armies are living, breathing creatures. Every life counts. I don't think Malefor wanted each warrior to be unique from the rest if it meant he'd waste his time. He would rather spend his time plotting attacks and conquering the world. Well, actually ending the world. Each enemy is kind of like a zombie. It doesn't live with organs, or blood, or brains. It was built with magic, so the only hit points it has is how strong the magic used to create its being was. I felt immersed in a war playing this game. The stress also hits you in some levels, and not very many games can do that. Next, it isn't very violent allowing even more players. The age range is E10+. I think it could easily be E8+, but we don't have that. Its E. Finally, the romance between Spyro and Cynder, in opinion, was a great addition to the story. It fit in nicely with what went on, and when players say that it was just her way of thanking her savior. I think otherwise. Spyro gave her a chance, saved a killer's life, and constantly went after her, literally crossing the sky for her. He saved Cynder at the well of souls and disregarded the Chronicler's advice to leave her to fall again. Heck, Spyro seemed to be the one loving Cynder the moment he realized that she was forced to do the evil things, hoping she could be given a chance. To conclude, this was the best game I've played in the longest time. A ton better than skylanders, and it is up there with the originals. I highly recommend this game, and I hope many of those critics can see the better sides of the game.… Expand

   • 5 of 5 users found this helpful
2. JmanTheHitman

   Nov 16, 2019

   10

   A great ending to a very underrated series. Great improvements to combat have helped to make this the best in the trilogy. Music is just asA great ending to a very underrated series. Great improvements to combat have helped to make this the best in the trilogy. Music is just as amazing as always that adds to this wonderful experience. Newer console versions look better but the older ones still look great for their console. Make sure you play the previous titles or you will not get the plot at all.… Expand

   • 1 of 3 users found this helpful
4. GrazieGraziano

   Jan 7, 2020

   9

   The Legend Of Spyro: Dawn Of The Dragon is a very underrated game. The Legend series in general is quite underappreciated, as it is oftenThe Legend Of Spyro: Dawn Of The Dragon is a very underrated game. The Legend series in general is quite underappreciated, as it is often outshined by the original trilogy. This last installment to the legend series is special though. I get that the controls aren't perfect, the gameplay gets repetitive and some plotholes are present. But what this game does right is creating atmosphere. The levels range from beautiful (Valley of Avalar & Twilight Falls) to terrifying (Ruins of Warfang & Burned Lands) to downright sad (Floating Islands). Every level has music that perfectly fits the setting. The soundtrack of this game is absolutely phenomenal and it contains some of the best music I have ever heard, period. It is a shame that Dawn Of The Dragon gets so much hate, because it is totally unjustified. Parts of this game feel like a movie. Gameplay wise, it may not be up there with the original Spyro. But in every other aspect, it is far superior. Dawn Of The Dragon remains one of the best games I have ever played, and I hope someday it will be recognized for its quality.… Expand

   • 3 of 3 users found this helpful
5. MarkTonna12994

   Jul 26, 2017

   8

   Highly underrated game! PROS INCLUDE; fun game-play mechanics for both combat and flying, good graphics for the time, nice soundtrack, scenicHighly underrated game! PROS INCLUDE; fun game-play mechanics for both combat and flying, good graphics for the time, nice soundtrack, scenic and open ended level designs and entertaining boss fights. FLAWS INCLUDE: poor voice acting, some levels a bit too long, combat can get a bit repetitive, having Spyro and Cynder chained together was a completing pointless game-play mechanic, no replay value. Whether you love the original Spyro Trilogy or never even heard of Spyro, this game definitely has its own merits and is well worth your time.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
6. LPGRPG

   Sep 18, 2013

   7

   Folks may think this game is intended for kids with beautiful, nice purple dragons, but it's a bit too complex; more for teens & adults in myFolks may think this game is intended for kids with beautiful, nice purple dragons, but it's a bit too complex; more for teens & adults in my opinion. In this episode, an apocalypse is close at hand. Spyro & Cynder must escape from captivity & save the world.
   
   THINGS I LIKED ABOUT THE GAME:
   1 The story is entertaining & intriguing. The music serves the story, drawing you in.
   2 Graphics are decent for a PS2 remake released in 2008. The art design & landscapes will impress.
   3 Fly anytime, as opposed to previous Spyro adventures, feels good & different.
   4 A variety of interesting spells are made-use-of in order to advance at various stages.
   5 Armour found throughout the levels provide added protection or increase skills.
   6 Power upgrades are straightforwardly purchased, reminiscent of God of war "GOW".
   7 Health and magic are upgraded by finding special crystals, some of which are hidden or within a puzzle.
   8 Opening doors & chests are executed by repetitive button taps, adding to the challenge, again like GOW.
   9 The levels provide opportunities for exploration; looking for gems and chests as well as quest objectives.
   10 One more gameplay element that reminds me of GOW is fighting a giant boss, the same principles apply.
   11 Bosses though impressive at first, are not that hard to defeat, think a bit & discover the tricks & secrets.
   12 The easy drop-in drop-out co-op 2 player option is very handy.
   13 In 2 player mode, the often-tedious dragon-switching is not required.
   14 Another good thing is the teamwork. A team, Spyro and Cynder definitely are.
   15 Skipping cinematic or dialogue is possible if desired.
   16 The final battle could have been a bit longer but will not disappoint; it is very well done, as is the ending.
   
   WHAT COULD BE IMPROVED:
   1 As opposed to nice game graphics, cinematic scenes are sometimes a bit cheesy with weird colours.
   2 At times, the camera goes a little strange & is restricted, which can be bothersome & not very useful.
   3 First impression is that it's gonna be a long journey, by the end, you realize it's a bit too short.
   4 In single player mode, climbing requires switching from Spyro to Cynder & gets annoying.
   5 Climbing controls could have been better explained, you may spend a long time figuring them out.
   6 The fact this PS3 game is discontinued & hard to find is unfortunate.
   7 Despite being able to fly anytime, you don't have the freedom to fly where you want.
   8 A map would have helped as it's not always clear where to go.
   9 Flying can be frustrating, the wind is often difficult to work with.
   10 Finally, the game has bugs as characters can get stuck.
   
   Everything taken into account, I really enjoyed this game despite its flaws & I recommend to everyone as it's worth playing. The fact that this adventure is a bit too short is a little sad & feels like we'll miss the cute little Dragons, at least it's not disappointing. The RPG elements, storyline, combat system & art design will help you get into it quickly & will satisfy most people, especially fans of the genre.
   
   Some people note this game has no replay value, I somewhat disagree. Single or 2 player modes can change the dynamic. Choosing Spyro or Cynder gives a different experience. However I can't deny the story will remain the same & might not be the one you replay the most. That being said, I truly believe this Legend of Spyro is underrated & well deserves at least 7 on 10.… Expand

   • 3 of 4 users found this helpful
7. Dreadsmite

   Jun 13, 2016

   5

   The fate of a game when placed under the wing of Activision. They turned the game into a joke, just a mindless massive action sequence. TheThe fate of a game when placed under the wing of Activision. They turned the game into a joke, just a mindless massive action sequence. The only thing it had going for it was the attention to map design and detail, as well as the idea of armor that amplifies Spyro and Cinder. I'd also have to commend the idea of having Spyro go from a single player only to two player for the first time in the series.… Expand

   • 1 of 5 users found this helpful
8. Inuit_Dude

   Apr 27, 2011

   1

   hated it. this is a terrible game and is nothing like the original spyro on the original playstation which i think was an amazing. right fromhated it. this is a terrible game and is nothing like the original spyro on the original playstation which i think was an amazing. right from the begining cut scene i was confused with nothing to explain what has happened in the long years since the last game and he is a dragon for gods sake not a ninja so why is he punching and kicking when he should be breathing fire and scratching with claws. the flying was a nightmare with terrible controls and the use of the sixaxis was not great. the graphics were terrible with rough edges bad shaping and all round lack of effort. do not get this game and pass this by… Expand

   • 2 of 11 users found this helpful

See all 19 User Reviews