It’s been a while since I touched the Spyro series. Okay, more than a while…it’s been a decade, but I have finally returned to the series on DS. Has it changed after all these years?

Find out after the break.

It really has changed. Spyro’s design is much more mature, and in this version he has a sidekick called Cynder. Dawn of the Dragon is a 2D platformer with 3D flight levels. While playing, you can change between Spyro and Cynder at will, and each have their own unique elements that come into play when beating up enemies. Some of them are immune to certain attacks like fire or shadow and others are weak, which gives you 2x the attack power when attacking them with that certain element. Sometimes, your special element will be used to solve certain puzzles, like burning down a tree that’s blocking your way.

The flight levels are controlled with the dpad and the stylus, moving with the dpad and shooting with the stylus. Every flying level ends with a boss, and these are probably the hardest parts of the game. The platforming sequences are pretty easy, but the bosses most certainly are not! On the first one alone, I died four times before I could beat him.

I’ve been playing this game on the bus to work and back for most of the week. On Friday, when I arrived at work I was telling my friend how I was liking the game, but that the story was kind of hinting that I might be close to the end…even though I was just 2.5 hours in. I didn’t want to believe it. But on my way back home that night, the game ended. Clock time: 3 hours 15 minutes.

So like the game, my review is short. I really enjoyed my experience with it, but I can’t recommend a buy due to its shortness. This title is recommended as a rental.

6/10