. Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon (Sierra: most formats: rated PG) is the final chapter of the Legend of Spyro trilogy.
Sypro teams up with his former enemy, Cynder to stop the evil Dark Master. The latter is voice acted by Mark Hamill and Elijah Wood is the voice of Spyro.
A new feature is that Spyro or Cynder can fly any time you want, but this gets frustrating as flying is inconsistent. Sometimes you drop height or don't have much say where you can go, its like the physics aren't quite right for flapping wings.
The two characters have to stay close but you can switch between characters and get out of tricky situations like flying off a ledge. Gliding is the most fun in ages.
Graphically it looks impressive in my 360 version, the puzzles are easy but will keep kids busy, platformer fans will be kept occupied and while there's fun to be had, combat becomes slightly repetitious when you know the moves already, and there are frame rate issues. The camera doesn't always allow a wide degree of view and it becomes a mission to want to carry on and finish it.
While the gameplay could do with some tweaking, the graphics and particularly the audio are impressive with the embrace of high-definition content in this title. Its great to complete the Spyro legend even if its a drag getting there.
MadGamer rating: 7 / 10
Need for Speed Undercover
(EA; all formats; rated G ) disappoints. After turning a few wrong corners since the advent of next-gen consoles, it gives the impression its got its mojo back again especially with classic police chases however it's just not challenging enough.
There are frame rate issues, the scenery is too "beautiful" (loud sunsets create too much glare in an effort to demonstrate high-dynamic range lighting), AI can best be described as adequate, the story (Feds are trying to bust up a smuggling ring) is ho-hum and in a fiercely competitive gaming genre, it doesn't shine the way Need for Speed used to.
Part of the problem is the open-world approach - three cities linked by highways. While you can tune up your car and add some performance bonuses with dominator rounds, the focus is on the racing so as you roam around, there aren't goodies like hidden jumps for the additional variety we have come to expect.
It feels like it would make a reasonable PSP game to pick up every now and then but on the big consoles, it's not enough and the graphics suffer with over-blurring and big frame rate problems with some jerky rides as a result.
MadGamer rating: 6.5 / 10
After those sequels, it's exciting to play a game that is unique with a definitely fresh perspective.
(For screen shots,
click here
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click here
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Mirror's Edge (EA: PS3, Xbox 360, PC) is a whole new twist on the FPS genre as it's not really about guns - you can run away from enemies rather than confront them in a thuggish shoot-out.
You play as Faith who lives in a clean futuristic city (the whiteness of the environment is almost Antarctic-type dazzling) in all its HDR glory and high definition detail. But all is not as clean as it appears with corrupt bureaucrats and brutal cops.
Those who oppose the politicians are jailed and gave rise to the underground with couriers on foot having to avoid detection when passing on information. Faith is a runner but to add to her stress, her sister (a cop) has been wrongly accused of murder.
Cut scenes and the twisting plot are intriguing with the use of cell-shading and slower action than in-game demands.
To move around the city, you have to ride the subway train roof or run fast, leaping off walls, in the style of parkour, up rails and over building superstructure Matrix-style.
The game is short but replayable as the enemy AI is challenging. You can carry a machine gun and sniper rifle as well as use some well-timed disarm moves and some tasteful bullet-time jujitsu.
Visually stylish, this game is innovative, refreshing and enjoyable. I was instantly hooked.
There will be new downloadable content next month.
MadGamer rating: 8.5 / 10
(video below)
What franchises do you think have had their time in the sun?
