The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon

The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon

Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Predecessor	The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night
Founded	2008 (2008)
Successor	Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Elijah Wood (voice actor), Gary Oldman (voice actor), Wayne Brady (voice actor), Christina Ricci (voice actor), Blair Underwood (voice actor), Mark Hamill (voice actor)
Products	Action-adventure video game
Owner	Activision Blizzard
Parent	Activision Blizzard

The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon () is a 2008 action-adventure video game within the Spyro franchise. Serving as the trilogy’s concluding chapter, it follows The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night (2007) and commemorates the tenth year of the series. The title was launched on multiple platforms including PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and mobile devices.

Prominent voice actors featured in the game are Elijah Wood as Spyro, Gary Oldman portraying Ignitus, Wayne Brady stepping in for Billy West as Sparx, and Christina Ricci replacing Mae Whitman as Cynder. Supporting roles include Blair Underwood voicing Hunter the Cheetah and Mark Hamill as Malefor, the Dark Master.

This installment brings The Legend of Spyro saga to a close. After the July 2008 merger of Vivendi Games and Activision forming Activision Blizzard, the franchise was rebooted with Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure in 2011.

Gameplay

This entry introduces free-fly gameplay, allowing players unrestricted flight at any moment—an innovation for Spyro titles. It also debuts cooperative play featuring Cynder, enabling users to either complete the story as one character or switch between both. Unlike earlier games with linear paths, this version offers expansive environments to explore and requires item collection for progression.

At the outset, Spyro commands elemental powers of fire, electricity, ice, and earth, while Cynder wields poison, fear, wind, and shadow abilities obtained under Malefor’s influence. Spyro boasts greater strength but reduced speed; conversely, Cynder is quicker though less powerful.

Throughout their journey, players can find and equip Dragon Armor and utilize melee combo attacks that increase gem acquisition. Blue Gems enhance abilities, red Gems replenish health, and green Gems power elemental attacks. Dark crystals replace Fury Gems and drain magic unless destroyed. The Fury Meter fills as players land successful hits.

Elite foes wear masks that grant immunity to standard attacks; removing these requires matching their elemental vulnerabilities before damage can be inflicted.

Plot

Set three years after preceding events, Spyro and Cynder are liberated from crystalline prisons by Grublins but remain bound by green energy chains forged by the Dark Master. Sparx is saved by Hunter from Avalar. After escaping a volcanic catacomb with Hunter’s aid, they discover Malefor has returned and cloaked the world in darkness.

During an assault on Warfang by Malefor’s forces, Spyro and Cynder defeat a Golem by shattering a Dark Crystal embedded in its head, reuniting with the Dragon Guardians. Malefor subsequently resurrects the Destroyer—an ancient entity intent on renewing existence through destruction. The Guardians plan to intercept it underground; Spyro and Cynder open gates leading to a canyon where they destroy the Destroyer’s Dark Crystal heart but cannot prevent its rampage.

Ignitus sacrifices himself escorting them through the Belt of Fire en route to Malefor’s lair. Mourning his loss, Spyro briefly succumbs to darkness but finds solace in Cynder’s support. After navigating perilous lands and islands, they confront Malefor who reveals a prophecy that purple dragons signal ruin. He corrupts Cynder, but she breaks free when Spyro refuses to fight her.

Malefor restrains them again for a final confrontation as the Destroyer completes its circuit. They plunge into a volcano’s core where ancestral spirits imprison Malefor. Though victorious, instability lingers until Ignitus’ spirit inspires hope. Spyro unleashes a potent Fury wave; Cynder professes her love before his magic restores balance to the world. Survivors emerge as stars align forming a dragon constellation overhead.

In the epilogue, the Chronicler transfers his role to Ignitus and remarks there is no record of Spyro’s death. Ignitus contemplates Spyro’s fate as the scene closes with Spyro and Cynder soaring together above Avalar.

Reception

According to the review compilation site Metacritic, the game garnered mixed reactions across all available platforms. Ratings varied from a low of 57/100 on the DS to a high of 64/100 on the Wii, while the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 editions received scores within the 59 to 62 range. Critics pointed out irregularities in both gameplay mechanics and overall design, resulting in diverse evaluations from prominent sources such as IGN, GameSpot, and Game Informer. Although certain versions were commended for specific attributes, the general consensus remained moderate, which influenced its commercial standing.