Product Description

Three long years have passed since Spyro and Cynder were trapped in the crystal, since then Malefor has unleashed his evil onto the world. In this third chapter of the epic Legend of Spyro trilogy, Spyro must fulfill his destiny and face the Dark Master. As evil spreads over the world, Spyro and Cynder must discover new abilities and unlock their true powers to defeat Malefor and stop him from destroying the world.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7707 in Video Games
• Brand: ACTIVISION
• Model: 72781
• Published on: 2008-10
• Released on: 2008-10-21
• ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+
• Platform: PlayStation2
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .59" h x 5.43" w x 7.51" l, .38 pounds

Features

• Fly at anytime - Players can now fly at any time with Spyro and Cynder
• Co-op Play - Players have the option of completing the game as either Spyro or Cynder, giving them more freedom to explore Spyro¿s world in completely new ways

Customer Reviews

Exciting, epic, and overall very satisfying
I was a little nervous when I read that a new company would be taking over the Legend of Spyro trilogy to produce this final installment, Dawn of the Dragon. Unlike many reviewers, I prefer this remake over the original Spyro games, because, being a fan of epic fantasy, I enjoy that the game is more mature and mirrors many great fantasy sagas before it, even if this means that the plot is rather predictable.
Dawn of the Dragon begins where The Eternal Night left off, with Spyro, his dragonfly companion Sparx, and former nemesis Cynder trapped in the crystal where Spyro froze them after his battle with Gaul. They are soon freed, and the final quest in the Legend of Spyro trilogy begins. Spyro and Cynder must team up with a host friends and allies, from cheetah warriors to dragon guardians, to defeat Malefor, the Dark Master, who plans to end the world and recreate it as his kingdom of evil.
This game is visually fascinating, with beautiful scenery that illustrates the mood of the game, from the lush meadows of Twilight Falls to the ominous Burned Lands where Malefor resides. This, coupled with an engaging and epic score, sets a sweeping mood of the game and creates a rich fantasy world that I found very exciting to interact with.
The gameplay of Dawn of the Dragon is similar to that of the previous two Legend of Spyro titles, with Spyro controlling the four elements of Fire, Ice, Earth, and Electricity, each of which can be upgraded so that the player can perform a variety of interesting elemental attacks. The game also introduces co-op play with Cynder, who is also given four upgradeable elements: Poison, Wind, Shadow, and Fear. Besides these attacks, the two heroes can also engage in numerous melee combo attacks to battle foes.
Like many reviewers, I agree that, despite the variety of attacks, combat can sometimes become repetitive, with multiple hordes of enemies that seem to have the miraclous ability to continually regenerate. The Burned Lands level particularly irked me, because it seemed I could walk no more than a few feet before I was suddenly enclosed by towering walls and trapped in a swath of enemies with few health and energy crystals to aid me in battle.
That being said, some sections of combat were very exciting and enjoyable. Once you get into the rhythm of the battle, it can often be satisfying to rotate between the four elements at Spyro and Cynder's disposal and watch as you dispose of one foe after another. The boss battle in Dragon City, where Spyro and Cynder are pitted against a towering servant of the Dark Master known as a Golem, is one of my favorites, because the precise timing in combat makes it very challenging and exciting.
Certain parts of the game became irritating after a while, especially the level where Spyro and Cynder are given the task to slay a colossal monster known as the Destroyer by flying around and destroying the dark crystals which power it. Because of limited camera movement, these crystals were difficult to locate, and it soon became more of an annoying chore than a puzzle. The end of that sequence, however, where the two dragons must fly into the monster to destroy the last of the crystals, is both visually fascinating and thrilling.
This brings me to the flying, a new addition to the Spyro franchise. Both dragons are given the ability to take to the air whenever they please, which is very useful when attempting to cross chasms or battling airborne foes. Many reviewers have complained about how the game will often keep you from flying as high as you wish, which limits the game's freedom. Well, what did you expect? That the game would simply let you dash all around wherever you wanted without any limits? Ha! This is a video game, which means that there have to be limits to everything to keep gameplay controlled. Personally, I found flight very enjoyable and airborne combat also extremely engaging and exciting. Overall, it was a great addition to the series.
In summary, Dawn of the Dragon has some faults, but I think that it is a solid conclusion to the Legend of Spyro trilogy. With an epic score and visuals, decent combat, and many enhancing abilities, this game is a very good addition to the platforming genre and the entire Spyro franchise.

A completely new direction, but awesome fun
The first thing to note is that this game is completely different than any other Spyro game. If I had to pick something to compare it to, I would go with Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance, or maybe God of War (if it was 2 player, and this game isn't quite as good).

That said, this is one of the best 2 player games I've ever played. The controls are a little strange, but once you get used to them they come naturally. The attack system is varied and cool to experiment with. The landscapes are gorgeous and the interaction of the characters is amusing. The voice cast is mostly hilarious, I wouldn't take it too seriously.

I would not recommend this game for anyone who wants to experience the original PS1 Spyros, or even A Hero's Tail etc. in 2 player format, so it's probably not great as a cutesy game for kids, but for serious kid players or teens it's great.

Best game in the Legend of Spyro saga
Don't let the other reviews throw you off; It is not as war-based as it looks and sounds. It is a very exciting, thrilling game, the best in the Legend of Spyro game series. The Playstation2 version is the best, don't get it for any other system.
I have played this game twelve times, completing it 100% each time. It is NOT hard, and don't NOT listen to this review, because everyone I know, too, have told me they LOVE this game.
There is NO blood in the game- That is only a rumor. And if you are having a difficult time, you can enter some cheats. Cheats are "codes", you might call them- You press some of the controller buttons in the exact order as written and boom, your character will have infinite life, infinite mana (Mana is breath) and more. This is the first Spyro game that includes Armor. Some armor can unlock new moves or breaths, and even make a more powerful attack then before. This game has 12 levels, pretty big but not overwhelming and confusing like the other Spyro games. You cannot return to the levels- The LEGEND of Spyro series doesn't do that. The plain old Spyro the Dragon series can, though.

The games go in order-
Spyro the Dragon (Playstation1)
Spyro the Dragon: Riptos Rage (Playstation1)
Spyro the Dragon: Year of the Dragon (Playstation1)
**You can play Playstation1 games on a Playstation2 system**
Into the Playstation2 games-
Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly (Not recommended. Extremely glitchy aswell)
Spyro: A Heros Tail (Better then the last)
If you do NOT play the Legend of Spyro series in order as below, you ruin the whole thing, get confused, and get annoyed.
1,The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning (Short, but worth the while and money)
The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night (Very long)

And then, this one, Dawn of the Dragon. If this is your first Spyro game, get A New Beginning. It helps because you learn Spyros story. Dawn of the Dragon continues the Eternal Night game, where Spyro, Cynder, and Sparx are trapped in the Well of Souls (AKA, the Mountain of Malefor)
Spyro generates a Life Crystal around Cynder, Sparx and himself, as the Well of Souls falls upon them, saving their lives.
Dawn of the Dragon opens up around the Well of Souls, where grown Spyro and Cynder are still in the crystal.
Malefor's minions break the crystal and free the three characters, then "Shackle" them, so Spyro and Cynder are chained together by collars. If either of the dragons draw too far apart, a green, electrical chain appears and makes it unable for them to go any farther.

From both A New Beginning and Eternal Night games, the Dark Master, now more commonly known as Malefor, is awakened once more, and ressurects old enemies. "The Destroyer", "the Golem", and even "Shadow" apes appear, along with new opponents like the Grublin, the Wryvern, and many others. I won't spoil it for you by telling about the rest of the game. Its worth the money; Save up for it.
Happy Gaming!
((TIP: Watch some "gameplay", "Playthru", or "walthru"'s on www.Youtube.com - It shows some Spyro fans playing the game, and shows you more so you don't get a game you think is hard or glitchy))