The graphics are pleasing and look great for an audience full of kids. Spyro looks cuter than ever and the way he walks just made me laugh! However, they're not nearly as in-depth as they could be, and I feel like a lot was left to be desired. The elements that appear on the screen will be repeated throughout different stages, and the lack of detail shows that this never was a top-grade video game series. There's definitely more visual appeal on this title than there ever was on the GameCube or the PS2, but it wouldn't have hurt to work on the aesthetics a bit more. Reusing enemies, plants, and other environmental elements throughout is not the best way to make a game look good, that's for sure.

One thing I did enjoy in The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night is the outstanding voice acting job. Of course, it couldn't have been possible without the premiere actors that lend their voices to the game. Elijah Wood might be the most significant to most of you, since we all know the guy that once was a hobbit from The Shire in the Lord of the Rings; he casts Spyro's voice. Gary Oldman does Ignitus's voice. Lesser knows voices are also worth mentioning since they all did a great job and make the game feel more like a nice movie kids and parents alike can watch (and play); Billy West (Sparx), Mae Whitman (Cynder), and Kevin Michael Richardson are some of those voice actors you'll hear throughout the numerous cutscenes and parts of the gameplay. On the other hand, the music is very simple and not very inspiring. The sound effects will draw you in more than the actual tunes of the game.

All in all, The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night is not really a big game to remember. It does feel like an eternal night when you're playing it, due to the repetitive gameplay and lack of detail and innovation. Fighting the same enemies gets old and jumping from platform to platform is boring after a while, unless you're a true lover of the platforming genre. On the other hand, the story is good enough that can keep you interested for a while, as long as you enjoy cartoons and you have a real motivation to play, like being a Spyro fan or simply a good dad. The title is rated E10+, which means kids under ten years of age shouldn't be playing it. It does have cartoon violence and comic mischief, like the ESRB describes, but other than that, the title is pretty mild and won't really corrupt your kids in any way, even if they're just six years old. Give the game a rental and judge it on your own!

By Maria Montoro
CCC Site Director

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