Metascore
64 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 22
  2. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. 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]
  2. This new Legend is one you'll enjoy immensely while it lasts and crave once it's over.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. The franchise is somewhat redeemed - sadly the levels are repetitive and some bosses just too hard. [Christmas 2006, p.82]
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Charming and polished but devoid of any depth.
  14. 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]
  15. There's nothing wrong with early retirement....you've earned it, Spyro. [Dec. 2006, p.82]
  16. 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.
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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]
  20. An anthology of washed up ideas and concepts seen in almost every non-Nintendo platformer post 2D.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 7 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 3 out of 5
  1. This is a Spyro game that any fan of the fantasy genre will love. This game is not meant to be the old Spyro, so expecting that is kind of like thinking you're going to get vanilla ice cream and get chocolate instead. But it's a good game. The story is far deeper and has a lot of focus. The gameplay, while simple compared to certain other beat 'em ups, is good and useful. The Elemental attacks you have are Fire, Electricity, Ice and Earth. You have a primary breath attack, and a secondary special attack for specific purposes. You also get an extremely powerful Fury attack which will decimate most enemies around you except bosses. They still take heavy damage, though. The musical score is very fitting, albeit few tracks are truly memorable. The voice acting is great and the sound effects are good. The enemy roster is somewhat varied, but the positioning of the enemies is not used to it's full potential. All in all, this is a great game with a few flaws. Despite that, it's a must-buy game for any fan of fantasy games or simply good, unique and memorable games. This is nearly worthy of being called a Classic. Full Review »
  2. A New Beginning falls flat on its face, its ugly face. Pros: Graphics, visuals, and sound effects. Cons: Generic, formulaic, and the new design may repel familiar gamers even more than Enter the Dragonfly did. Full Review »
  3. Ghostreviewer
    7
    I know many people bash Spyro and his games today and quite frankly I can't blame them. As a fan of the PSone era Spyro games, never have I seen a series fall from greatness this hard since the downward spiral of the Sonic series. The bombs that were Enter the Dragonfly and A Heroe's Tale spelt a dim future for this franchise. This is why I was surprised that I genuinely enjoyed A New Beginning.The plot was actually good and the production values made it feel more like a CG movie(especially with Elijah Wood as Spyro's voice, great cast). Although Spyro is not back on top yet, he can get their if Krome studios could polish the gameplay (minor camera issues and repetative fighting controls that make it feel like more of a brawler than a platformer). Thank you Krome studios, for giving me faith in one of my childhood icons again. Full Review »