Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning on the Nintendo DS translates the classic action‐adventure formula into a top-down experience that expertly balances fast-paced combat with light puzzle elements. Players take direct control of Spyro, utilizing the Y button for swift melee strikes and chaining together satisfying combos through repeated taps. This fluid attack system ensures that even basic hordes of Cynder’s minions feel dynamic and engaging, encouraging you to experiment with timing and positioning.

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As Spyro gains power, you unlock four elemental breath attacks—fire, ice, electricity, and earth—each with a primary and more potent secondary variant. While the primary breath doesn’t drain much energy, the enhanced secondary blasts require careful energy management, adding an extra layer of strategy. You’ll quickly learn which breath type works best against armored foes, flying creatures, or environmental hazards, keeping combat fresh as you progress.

Beyond direct combat, the game introduces ‘Power Crystal Puzzles’ at key story junctures. These touch-screen challenges task you with arranging mirrors and prisms to guide a beam of light around obstacles. Some mirrors split the beam into two, while prisms refract it into different colors—puzzles start simply but grow more intricate, demanding both logic and patience. It’s a welcome respite from battling minions and adds variety to the overall rhythm of the adventure.

Controls feel intuitive overall, though occasionally tapping the touch screen to attack specific enemies can disrupt the flow. The level design complements Spyro’s abilities, offering open areas for exploration alongside narrower corridors that funnel you into action sequences. Checkpoints are reasonably placed, minimizing frustration after tougher skirmishes. For a handheld title, the gameplay strikes a solid balance between accessibility for newcomers and depth for veteran players.

Graphics

On the DS hardware, The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning impresses with vibrant, stylized visuals that capture the spirit of the console original. Character sprites are well‐defined, with smooth animations that bring Spyro’s acrobatics and elemental breath attacks to life. Particle effects for fire bursts, ice shards, and crackling electricity pop off the screen, giving each power a distinct visual identity.

Environments range from lush forest groves to ominous, lava-flooded caverns. Background layers stack neatly to create a sense of depth, while lighting effects—especially in darker areas—underscore the game’s mystical atmosphere. Though the DS’s resolution is limited, clever use of color palettes and shading maintains an immersive world that never feels muddy or unclear.

Enemy designs are varied, from scuttling insectoids to lumbering brutes, each with clear visual cues hinting at their elemental weaknesses. Even in crowded battle scenes, Spyro remains easy to track amid the chaos. Frame rate dips are rare, and transitions between rooms or overhead map screens stay snappy, ensuring the action never loses momentum.

Story

The narrative thrust of A New Beginning anchors the gameplay with a classic tale of destiny and heroism. When the Dark Master’s forces ravage the sacred temple, the Fire Guardian Ignitus can only rescue one dragon egg. That egg hatches into Spyro, who is raised by a family of dragonflies alongside their son, Sparx. The bond between Spyro and Sparx provides heart to the opening chapters, weaving character moments into the broader quest.

As you guide Spyro through his coming‐of‐age journey, you’ll uncover cinematic cutscenes and text exchanges that flesh out the lore. Spyro’s discovery of his draconic heritage and subsequent training under Ignitus’s guidance offer genuine emotional beats, reminding players why these dragons are called Legends. Villains like Cynder and the Dark Master loom with ominous intent, setting stakes that feel grand without overshadowing quieter character interactions.

The pacing of the story segments aligns well with gameplay progression. Training missions, mid-boss encounters, and puzzle sequences mark natural narrative beats, preventing the tale from devolving into filler. While the DS cannot replicate the full voice acting scope of console versions, written dialogue remains engaging, complete with expressive character portraits that convey emotion effectively.

Overall Experience

The Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning for DS offers a compelling mix of action, exploration, and light puzzling, wrapped in a charming fantasy narrative. Combat feels rewarding, with elemental powers that encourage experimentation, while the Power Crystal Puzzles add thoughtful diversions. Fans of the series will appreciate the faithful adaptation of Spyro’s core abilities and storyline, and newcomers will find a polished handheld adventure that never overstays its welcome.

Visually, the game showcases the DS’s strengths, delivering colorful environments and crisp animations. Performance remains stable throughout, and the handheld format makes it perfect for on-the-go play sessions. Although some touch-screen interactions can interrupt combat flow, these moments are infrequent and never significantly detract from the overall momentum.

Whether you’re seeking a bite-sized action-adventure or simply want to rejoin Spyro’s early saga, A New Beginning balances accessibility with depth. Its blend of engaging combat, atmospheric graphics, and heartfelt story makes it a standout title in the DS library—and a must-play for dragon fans everywhere.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10