Spyro Orange: The Cortex Conspiracy
| Developer: Vicarious Visions | Publisher: Vivendi Universal |
| Release Date: June 1, 2004 | Also On: None |
Spyro Orange is a cross over game with the newly released Crash Purple. The games have storylines that intersect, but branch off at varying points. The story pairs up Cortex and Ripto in a plot to over-take the world and to take down Spyro and Crash with it. Together, after encountering one another, you will have to guide our purple hero to defeating the nemeses.
Spyro Orange features Spyro, some of his pals, and Crash characters. The game takes place in different platforming worlds. From here, you will encounter enemies, bonus games, and mini-games. The game’s side-scrolling roots aren’t well established. In fact, the last GBA Spyro game, Attack of the Rhynocs, was based in 3D isometric design.
The side-scrolling design isn’t the only thing new to the franchise. The gameplay focus, like in Crash Purple, is on mini-games. Since our mascot is a flying dragon, many levels involve flying through levels, either vertically or horizontally. These are simple blasting levels where you destroy mines, electric fencing, etc. In total, there is “over 25 mini-games� by VU’s count, but this includes recycled levels.
The mini-games are probably weaker than that of Crash Purple, but the platforming is executed in a better way, though it is untraditional to the franchise. You run, jump, glide, and flame, it’s what Spyro’s good for. The game, like Crash Purple, is short, but it will last you a little longer in single player mode than Crash did. This is mainly due to slightly more difficult gameplay and more broad level design, in which you might not always know where to go.
Like Crash Purple, there’s a trading card element to this, which allows you to connect with a secondary GBA. Probably not worth the time consumption, but added for good measure. The thing that should garner the most replay attention is the mini-games, which can be replayed.
Multi-player is allowed with either a single game cartridge or a single cart per system. The multi-player games aren’t worth playing if you own Crash Purple, since they’re all but identical. If you want my impressions on this, and other crossover features, I suggest that you read my Crash Purple review.
The platforming elements, while getting the job done, don’t do much else. I can’t necessarily say that you should rush out to the store and buy it for what is nothing more than a connecting path from one mini-game to the other. I’m still undecided as to which is better, but I can say that purchasing both Crash Purple and Spyro Orange is a waste of hard-earned money. Pick one up for the mini-games and multi-player, but don’t expect too much excitement from the platforming.
| Graphics: | 7.5 |
| Sound: | 6 |
| Gameplay: | 7.5 |
| Creativity: | 6 |
| Replay Value/Game Length: | 5.5 |
| Final: | 6.5 |
| Written by Kyle | Review Guide |
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