The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon Review

A Great Game Held Back by Things You Can't See

In a market flooded with action-adventure games inspired by God of War, it's refreshing to see an original take on this tired genre. Unfortunately for The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon, some fundamental design choices hold back what could have been one truly unforgettable gaming experience.

Developed by Eidos and published by Activision, Dawn of the Dragon is a 3D platformer that blends elements from classic platformers like Super Mario Bros. with the fast-paced action found in games like God of War's own Kratos' blood-soaked adventures.

Players take on the role of Spyro, a purple dragon tasked with saving his home world from an evil sorcerer named Malefor (pronounced 'mal-ee-for'). Alongside trusty companions Sparx and Bowser Jr., you'll embark on a perilous journey across multiple worlds to defeat this powerful foe before it's too late.

Gameplay-wise, Dawn of the Dragon doesn't stray far from what we've seen in other games within its genre. Players control Spyro as he navigates through lush environments filled with deadly traps and enemies waiting to ambush him at every turn. Combat is straightforward yet satisfying – simply press 'A' or 'X' (depending on your controller preference) repeatedly until your opponents crumble beneath your fiery talons.

However, things take a darker tone when you enter one of the game's many boss battles against behemoth-sized bosses like even bigger versions of those found in God of War III. These epic encounters are truly awe-inspiring and showcase just how much potential lies within this otherwise formulaic gameplay structure if only more attention had been paid to fine-tuning certain aspects.

The graphics themselves aren't bad for a console release from 2008 either; they're crisp enough without ever looking particularly impressive compared to modern standards. But what really holds back Dawn of the Dragon is its poor framerate issues, especially during intense boss battles or when too many enemies are on screen at once – it's like playing through an old PS2 game again!

Overall, while The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon has all the ingredients for a great action-adventure experience, certain technical hiccups prevent it from reaching its full potential. Still worth checking out if you're looking for some classic platforming fun with a dash of hack-and-slash combat thrown in – just don't expect anything too groundbreaking here.

Rating: 6/10

Platforms: Wii U, DS, PS2, PS3, X360, Wii

Spyro the dragon dawn of the dragon