Spyro, Crash tag-teaming consoles, handhelds again

By Tom Magrino, GameSpotPosted Apr 28, 2008 1:01 pm PT

Sierra's airborne-reptile trilogy wraps this fall with Dawn of the Dragon on 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, DS; marsupial practicing Mind Over Mutant on 360, PS2, PSP, Wii, DS.

In March, the writing appeared to be on the wall for Sierra Entertainment. According to a report on Variety's gaming blog, the long-standing publisher was in store for significant shake-up as a result of the impending $18.9 billion merger between its parent company, Vivendi Games, and Santa Monica-based megapublisher Activision. Two Sierra stalwarts evidently not to be affected by any reevaluation are Spyro and Crash Bandicoot, given that the publisher announced today a new game in each of the series.

Crash is quite literally out of his mind.

With Radical Entertainment looking to finish off the violent Prototype this fall, the developer is targeting the same release window for its family-friendly Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant. As is evident from the title, franchise antagonist Neo Cortex has devised a mind-control device, and is using it to dominate the will of monster and marsupial alike in a bid to take over the world.

Mind Over Mutant will introduce a number of new elements to the long-running platforming series. In addition to an open-world design, Crash can now climb and dig, and the bandicoot's sister, Coco, can be played in co-op mode. Mind Over Mutant will be released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii, and Nintendo DS.

Spyro, looking triumphant.

Etranges Libellules will be wrapping up its Legend of Spyro trilogy with Dawn of the Dragon on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PS2, and Wii, with a DS version also in development at Tantalus Interactive. In this final installment in the Legend of Spyro story arc, the titular purple dragon will face off against the nefarious Dark Master in a final showdown, allying with former adversary Cynder in the process. The series adds two new play mechanics: Spyro can now take to the sky at will, and players can now take advantage of two-player co-op as either Spyro or Cynder in the game's single-player mode.

As with previous installments in the series, Sierra has spared no expense landing celebrity voice talent for the series, and Elijah Wood (Lord of the Rings, Flipper) and Gary Oldman (The Professional, Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night) will reprise their roles in the game. Wood and Oldman will be joined by a number of other Hollywood stars, including Christina Ricci (Monster, That Darn Cat), Blair Underwood (L.A. Law, Malibu's Most Wanted), Mark Hamill (Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Guyver), and Wayne Brady (Whose Line Is It Anyway?, Don't Forget the Lyrics).

77 Comments

  • NYrockinlegend

    Posted Jul 26, 2008 8:36 am PT

    So is the Dawn of the Dragon the LAST Spyro game to be ever created?! As for Crash, his ending seems like it'll happen soon, but if Spyro doesn't go out with a BANG, it will probably be forgotten due to the next-gen games that now surpass it. As for these two games, Crash- not likely to succeed, and Spyro- well, third time may be the charm here, and hopefully, this time, they get it right. It had promising gameplay and storyline for the past two games, but alas, it just didn't work, or it was executed poorly. As for Crash Bandicoot, WHY is it STILL not for PS3?! IMO, they should remake the Crash Bandicoot series just like they did with Spyro, but I guess that's not going to happen, and Crash will probably die out soon.

  • DarkProwl

    Posted May 2, 2008 5:55 pm PT

    Okay, a few things. First: a reviewer's opinion is not your own, unless of course you are that reviewer. Second, if Crash went in the same direction it went all those years ago, it'd be stale as a one year old loaf of bread. You should give them props because they're trying to do something new. Third, your childhood is most likely long gone, so stop looking back on the old days (as good as they were) and look forward to the future. Fourth, A NEW CHARACTER DESIGN DOES NOT MAKE A GAME BAD. And lastly, have any of you already doubting this game played the last game? Or were you too close-minded and kept whining for Naughty Dog to come back? Guess what? THEY'RE NOT. GET OVER IT. Things can change in the blink of an eye, so just learn to adapt to them.

  • rannaru

    Posted May 2, 2008 8:10 am PT

    i think that the new spyro models gave him a braver face in the first games he seemed a bit cocky. and crash looks like a live roadkill. I don't care about their looks actually cuz ive been a spyro and crash fan for like my whole life

    ROCK ON SPYRO AND CRASH!!!

  • DJayMac7

    Posted May 1, 2008 1:44 pm PT

    wo

  • spider-manfan45

    Posted Apr 30, 2008 3:02 pm PT

    crash still has a chance to com clean. but syro's last three games really sucked. and the last bad crash game th@ sucked was boom bang.

  • s7aTyC

    Posted Apr 30, 2008 5:15 am PT

    you're just a bunch of haters ! We all know that Crash bandicoot isn't the same game anymore, but hey, Crash of the Titans was pretty solid game. Of course it' wasn't better than any PS1 crash game but it was atleast a FUN game. I didn't played any Spyro game on the PS2, but i also think they're quite good. Stop the hating, please !

  • is0lati0n

    Posted Apr 30, 2008 3:02 am PT

    Lol. A Crash Bandicoot re-make NOT with Naughty Dog? Count me out.

  • Gamer-XZ

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 10:05 pm PT

    It's really hard to see two great mascots slowly die out ever since the separation from their original creators, hopefully Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon will end up okay, as for Crash...I just dont know.

  • Artemios

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 7:28 pm PT

    spyro looks great, but crash bandicoot lost its touch. at least that's what i think. the character design isn't as funny as the first bandicoot games. it's too childish. spyro though, looks pretty good!

  • Kekira

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 7:12 pm PT

    Hopefully Spyro can go out with a bang...that design for hisl ast few games sucked compared with his original design.

  • Rhen_Var

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 3:06 pm PT

    Screw it, the good days are gone. The good Spyro and Crash games are a thing of the past! DAMN IT ALL!!!

  • Franzkill

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 2:49 pm PT

    @GANGSTASAN - Err sorry to say it but they kinda were lol.

    @mjc - You don't really have to state the obvious do you?

    @ctg867 - Well you sure as hell cared enough to come to this news report and post a comment didn't you?

  • Dualmask

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 1:40 pm PT

    I guess Spyro and Crash games are more profitable than I thought.

  • ctg867

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 12:41 pm PT

    Anybody care anymore? I sure as hell don't.

  • LordGavo

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 7:28 am PT

    what happened to naughty dog?!?!?

  • mjc0961

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 6:46 am PT

    Crash and Spyro both started sucking when Naughty Dog and Insomniac stopped making the games.

  • daxternator64

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 6:42 am PT

    The new spyro with the hobbit guy sucks but crash is a little better. Naughty Dog and Insomniac 4ever!!

  • Gameboy2k

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 6:35 am PT

    Oh Yeah, Mark Hamil... he did the Joker on Batman: The Animated Series on Fox. I cant believe it was him until I read the credits. Oh, and Wayne Brady.... The funniest thing he ever did was on the Chappelle show where he made Dave C. cry like a beeeoch when taking him out on a nite on the town.

  • Gameboy2k

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 6:32 am PT

    Hopefully I have as much fun as I did with Ratchet and Clank.

  • Yo-gan

    Posted Apr 29, 2008 6:22 am PT

    @ sun_spirit, i really enjoy the Jak Trilogy, but other that them ive never even heard of a new game Naughty dog relased since they sold the rights to Crash

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