Metascore
59 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 22 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 22
  2. Negative: 1 out of 22
  1. 73
    Cooperative multiplayer mode aside, there's no "new generation" style hook and the resulting play mechanics therefore don't feel fresh (especially after two prequels), but the fundamentals are sound and the presentation better than you expect.
  2. Some of the voiceovers are weak, the camera is a pain and the adventure ends way too soon. However, Legend of Spyro still has enough good qualities that make it fun.
  3. The graphics are there, the story is there, and the mechanics are just a few tweaks shy of perfect. Yet when it comes to gameplay, that final and most important 10 percent, most folks will find themselves getting bored, lost, annoyed, or all three.
  4. A very average title. Good-looking graphics are plagued with frame rate problems and questionable camera angles.
  5. There isn't much to say about Spyro, it's not a game with a lot of depth, nonetheless it is still mildly entertaining.
  6. The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon is one of those games you really want to love to play, but it is impossible to ignore all the flaws in the programming and design.
  7. This newest iteration of Spyro could've been a much better game had it been left an extra month in the oven for a much needed polish. There is a really solid game underneath a plethora of framerate issues that really prevented me from enjoying the game more.
  8. Spyro grows up, flies in company, goes farther, glides over wider scenarios, but he doesn't better himself. The trilogy ends in a videogame which keeps alive the prestige of the franchise, although the power of the dragon should be improved in the future.
  9. The camera for one makes clearing certain jumps next to impossible, while the heavy emphasis on combat makes for overly repetitive gameplay. The biggest disappointment though is the graphics, as this was set to be the best looking Spyro game ever but the technical flaws outweigh the positives, something that can be said for the game as a whole, as well as its visuals.
  10. Open world Spyro though? Maybe next time. [Jan 2009, p.97]
  11. Better than most kids games, but has issues. [Summer 2009, p.80]
  12. Long story short, this is a flawed game through and through. Even the most devout Spyro fans should avoid it. [Jan 2009, p.69]
  13. The worlds have a vibrancy that recalls the original PlayStation games, special effects are suitably dazzling and the whole affair is efficiently produced whilst making the most of the host hardware. It's close to being the sort of Spyro game that, judging by their PS3 Ratchet & Clank adventures, series creators Insomniac would have made had they still an active interest in all things purple dragon, and an appropriate way to mark Spyro's 10th anniversary.
  14. The game's problems are much too loud to ignore. [Issue#174, p.83]
  15. Combat can be fun, but ultimately poor controls prevent it from being a decent end to the doe-eyed dragon's last game in the trilogy.
  16. The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon may be a kid's game but there isn't much here for kids to enjoy. They'll be amused by the story, visuals and music but will be turned off by the gameplay's many frustrations.
  17. 54
    Spyro's shortcomings have been evident for a few years now and this game will do little to change that. The visuals at least look the part on the PS3, but the disengaging action will only find forgiveness with die-hard fans.
  18. Lackluster gameplay makes this a disappointing conclusion to the Legend of Spyro series.
  19. The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragons is an average game but there is just too much that could have been better in the main gameplay for a better score.
  20. The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon is a decent platforming title for the PS3, but it's definitely not the cream of the crop.
  21. The good news is that the developers of the respective franchises are trying to regain the glory they once held. The bad news is there's still a long way to go, especially for our purple dragon friend.
  22. 33
    But decent two-player co-op's just ketchup on a crap sandwich. The game's buggy as hell, with severe slowdown, characters getting hung up in the level geometry, and stuttering audio. Those problems are amplified in the PS3 version, whose only other major differences are unneeded Sixaxis flight control and a noticeable lack of Trophy support versus the Xbox 360's Achievements.
User Score

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 4
  2. Negative: 2 out of 4
  1. 5
    My young kids picked this out because it has purple dragons on the cover. While they've attempted a few times to play it, they are just too young (5 & 4) to keep up with a difficult game like this. Of course it says on the box that it's for 10+, so I should have known better. Anyway, it has no appeal to me nor my wife either. Maybe in about five years my kids will revisit it and enjoy it. Full Review »
  2. 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 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 Full Review »
  3. JustinG.
    9
    The game had a nice continuing story line with fair graphics. That made the game more appealing. The downfall was how short the game seemed to be. I beat the game in 16 hours which isn't very good for my standards. The voice actors could have done better also. I was a bit disappointing, but overall if your a true Spyro fan the game is good no matter what. Full Review »