Spyro: A Hero's Tail

 PlayStation 2
Spyro: A Hero's Tail Image
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 81 Ratings

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  • Summary: Spyro must save the Dragon Realms from the Evil Red Dragon who has planted light-sapping Dark Gems all over the Dragon Realms in an attempt to capture and control the world. With the help of his allies, Spyro must seek out and destroy all of the Dark Gems to return the lands back to normalSpyro must save the Dragon Realms from the Evil Red Dragon who has planted light-sapping Dark Gems all over the Dragon Realms in an attempt to capture and control the world. With the help of his allies, Spyro must seek out and destroy all of the Dark Gems to return the lands back to normal and to save the Dragon Realms from the evil dragon's tyrannical control. The fierce purple dragon will travel across dark, mysterious lands in which the environments shift from evil to good in real-time -- affecting enemies, music, lighting, objects, sky and more. Outfitted with mighty new abilities including the Wall Kick, Tail Swing and Ledge Grab, Spyro will fight his enemies with powered-up breath attacks -- burning opponents with Flame Breath, deep-freezing rivals with Freeze Breath, obstructing adversaries with Water Breath and destroying mechanical enemies with Electric Breath. In addition to playing as the heroic leader Spyro, gamers will also have the opportunity to play as weapons master Hunter the Cheetah, dive-bombing penguin Sgt. Byrd, loyal sidekick Sparx the Dragonfly or the all-new weapons-equipped, climbing Blink the Mole. [Vivendi Universal]… Expand
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Spyro: A Hero's Tail Official Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 16
  3. Negative: 4 out of 16
  1. Game Chronicles
    80
    The game is bigger, prettier and generally more fine-tuned than any of its predecessors. It just isn't really all that different from any of them.
  2. PSX Nation
    70
    Older gamers won’t be challenged in the least by Spyro’s new abilities or quests, but the whole game has a pleasant, Disney-like harmless vibe about it.
  3. Worth Playing
    69
    It's not very difficult, it controls great, and the graphics and sound – while not majestic in any way – are fine.
  4. Warcry
    60
    What’s sad is that as nice as the game looks it just fails on gameplay.
  5. Gaming Age
    58
    A Hero’s Tail isn’t a revolutionary game. It’s not bad, either. It’s just very simple. It seems just simple enough, in fact, for children who are at least learning to read and have the motor skills to follow relatively easy control instructions.
  6. Gaming Target
    49
    A poor excuse for a game. Whatever made the Insomniac-developed Spyro titles so great obviously has vanished from the game's inner fray forever.
  7. G4 TV
    40
    Even the bosses are cliché. They’re all pattern-based, take three hits to defeat, and are unlikely to pose a challenge for anyone but the younger set who will find some of the platform action too hard.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 19
  3. Negative: 1 out of 19
  1. Ch33syCh1ck3n
    Jul 24, 2015
    10
    A childhood favourite of mine, Spyro a Hero's Tail is vibrant, colourful and simply amazing. It has beautiful level design, great music, niceA childhood favourite of mine, Spyro a Hero's Tail is vibrant, colourful and simply amazing. It has beautiful level design, great music, nice models and characters. I found the story to be quite good; the game-play was also amazing along with the fun but tough mini-games. There are many collectables in this game, some being harder to find than others, making it fun to achieve 100%. This game is definitely worth playing if you love plat-formers and collect-a-thons, as it is very memorable!!… Expand
  2. Alvid
    Apr 14, 2020
    10
    This is probably the only Non-Insomniac Spyro game worth to play except the new remakes.
    This game has so many good ideas but it falls short    This is probably the only Non-Insomniac Spyro game worth to play except the new remakes.
    This game has so many good ideas but it falls short due to bad story telling but in all honesty it really isn't bad. The gameplay switching from Spyro to hunter and others is amazing keeping you in the action.
    I love the collecting aspect of the game, its so fun going around, exploring and finding secrets getting items.
    The graphics are really good for the time it was released, the water levels aren't even all that bad, there's still exploration in the water.
    The bosses although easy are pretty fun and they are at a difference pacing than the whole game making it more interesting throughout.
    The powers are amazing with awesome puzzle aspects, much better than enter the dragonfly.
    The levels are so interesting and I love how different each world is, The main level being simple and calming, the beach getting more relaxing but still having action making the game fun, the snowy area filled with these nice areas fun to explore around.
    The soundtrack is definitely the best part about the game, it is so nice listening to the soundtrack while enjoying the game.
    All in all a very enjoyable game and I may be biased since it was one of the first games i have ever played but it truly is a game worth playing.    … Expand
  4. KatherineH.
    Jul 6, 2005
    9
    I love the game but I do not like not being able to complete some of the challenges. Having to go to another level to get a skill and then I love the game but I do not like not being able to complete some of the challenges. Having to go to another level to get a skill and then back track is boring.… Expand
  5. Basquilly
    Mar 14, 2016
    8
    Though none of the sequels in the Spyro franchise lived up to the original, this game was one of the best attempts at capturing the magic ofThough none of the sequels in the Spyro franchise lived up to the original, this game was one of the best attempts at capturing the magic of Year of the Dragon. This game introduces many new characters and mechanics, but suffers on occasion from dull gameplay and environments. For the most parts, an excellent game.… Expand
  6. MrTaylor99
    Aug 21, 2019
    8
    Very entertaining Spyro game! Bits of frustration here and there, and not exactly a lot of difficulty (considering this is a more kid orientedVery entertaining Spyro game! Bits of frustration here and there, and not exactly a lot of difficulty (considering this is a more kid oriented game) but still very nostalgic and fun! Also, WAAAY better than Enter the Dragonfly!… Expand
  7. Inesdg
    Nov 27, 2006
    7
    I used to play this game, it was one of my first platformer.... there is a lot to do, and the game is very long(30 hrs) but the storyline is I used to play this game, it was one of my first platformer.... there is a lot to do, and the game is very long(30 hrs) but the storyline is not very funny I wanted to finish the game but was a bit boring, the bosses are so easy the a little kid could fight them and win at the first try, instead the sergent Byrd 's minigames are very diffciult to pass on.... buy it only if you are a fan of spyro!… Expand
  8. KendylKlownfish
    Apr 13, 2011
    4
    Though it's a bit of an improvement upon Enter the Dragonfly, A Hero's Tail suffers the same fate of feeling generic and overly cliched. Pros:Though it's a bit of an improvement upon Enter the Dragonfly, A Hero's Tail suffers the same fate of feeling generic and overly cliched. Pros: Enchanting graphics, visuals, and colorful level design. Cons: Though varied, the characters and gameplay ultimately feel uninspiring, doesn't stray far from its predecessor in depth, and refuses to push any kind of boundaries in platforming.… Expand

See all 19 User Reviews

Trailers

Awards & Rankings

56
#56 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2004
91
#91 Most Shared PS2 Game of 2004