Dragons: Dawn of New Riders Review
Thank you to Outright Games for giving us an advanced copy of Dragons: Dawn of New Riders to review.
DreamWorks favorite dragon series How to Train Your Dragon returns with a new video game for families with Dragons: Dawn of New Riders.
This family video game is available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
This single player video game focuses on exploring a new island with both a new character and a new dragon. The new adventure allows players to battle and solve puzzles while enjoying the How to Train Your Dragon series of adventures. Exploring Havenholme, Valka’s Mountain, and Blood Briar Island provide quite a bit of adventure in the game with a view from up above, like a dragon is watching you from the sky.
The ESRB rating is E10+ likely due to the amount of reading required to understand the storyline and game play. Characters do not speak to each other verbally but their words are written on the screen.
Dragons: Dawn of New Riders
The video game begins when Hiccup and Toothless arrive at Havenholme and find it ablaze. He discovers a scholar who has no idea who he is or where he is and names him Scribbler. They begin to discover the truth when a dragon’s egg is stolen by Nicardo, a Dragon Trapper, and Scribbler goes after him to rescue the egg. Scribbler rescues the egg, which grows into a dragon they name Patch, short for Patchwork, since he appears to be a Chimera, a new dragon made up of parts of many other creatures.
A Terrible Terrors delivers a Terror Mail from Hiccup indicating they need help rebuilding the island. Hiccup and Toothless are needed on Berk so they go off while Scribbler is left to search the island with Patch to discover the source of the roaring sound and what might have caused the destruction.
You are given a map of the island and can begin exploring. Once this begins you play as either Scribbler or Patch, as you need both characters in order to unlock puzzles and open areas that are blocked. Look out for chests as they contain useful items like weapons or shields. Your first weapons are an Old Axe and a Wooden Buckler as a starter shield to block damage. Patch can freeze water to help Scribbler walk on water.
Along the way there are Dragon Trappers to fight but Baby Patch is ignored in combat since he is too weak to matter. Patch does occasionally try to freeze the enemy so that does help Scribbler in the battles. Walking along the paths are bushes and other items to tear down that give you ore and herbs filling your inventory to use or trade with someone else.
Astrid and Stormfly are awesome to encounter as Astrid has tonics you can trade your herbs for to increase your health. Together you happen upon a Viking ruin where Astrid and Stormfly guard the entrance, giving you time to explore. Inside the ruin you encounter more Dragon Trappers to fight and face a Hotburple.
After exploring the ruins Patch grows, unlocking the electrical ability and wings. You can then fly on Patch and soar through the air as you continue on the journey. You receive a sky map to help you navigate the sky.
The player has five hearts for health, which can be lost during battle or by pressure plates that launch weapons at you if they are not blocked. One of the best chests to find in the game is inside the Viking ruin where one special chest gives you an extra heart for health.
Gobber is like a second father to Hiccup and he is their blacksmith. Trade your ore with him to craft armor and upgrade weapons.
The game play continues but we do not want to spoil the game play for you. This is a fun adventure for tweens and teens.
Xbox One Game Controls:
- X: Press to swing axe and attack or hold to charge and attack, which cannot be blocked
- B: Activate a potion
- A: Press to dodge and hold to sprint; trade with Astrid; open chests
- Y: Press and hold inside the ruin to go back to the entrance
- Left trigger: Raise your shield to block
- Right trigger: Swap weapons
- Left bumper: Switch between characters
Dragon game play controls:
- X: Press to freeze water and hold to charge attack
- Y: Press and hold to fly
- A: Press to dodge and hold to sprint
- Left bumper: Roll
- Right bumper: Roll
- Right trigger: Flap wings or swap elemental powers
- Left trigger: Stop in the air; block incoming attacks
- Left stick: Fly around
Dragons: Dawn of New Riders Game Play
Check out our game play video below showing highlights from Dragons: Dawn of New Riders game play.
Dragons: Dawn of New Riders Details:
- Available: February 15, 2019
- Platform: Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4
- Multi-player: One player
- Online Play: No
- ESRB Rating: E10+ for Everyone 10 years of age and older
- Publisher: Outright Games
- Developer: Climax Studios
- Genre: Action Adventure
- MSRP: $39.99
[quote]”A new heroic dragon and rider are taking to the skies and only you can help them defeat the evil villains who destroyed a dragon sanctuary created by Hiccup and Toothless. When the island of Havenholme is found in ruins, mysterious survivors emerge as unlikely future heroes. Scribbler is a scholar who cannot remember his past while Patch is a unique breed of dragon, a “chimeragon,” who harnesses new, unexpected powers they both discover along the way. Together they must explore new islands, battle fierce enemies, and piece together lost memories that will reveal the strange truth about Patch’s origin and why the villain, Eir, will stop at nothing to recapture him.
Prepare for a story of fire and friendship that you won’t forget. Meet your favorite DreamWorks Dragons characters like Hiccup, Astrid, Gobber and more. Complete quests in locations like Valka’s Mountain, alongside a host of newly discovered islands, such as Blood Briar Island. Go up against fearsome boss dragons and defeat the Dragon Trappers who will stop at nothing to capture Patch. Unlock more of Patch’s incredible hidden abilities to free captured dragons and stop Eir from carrying out her evil plans. Throughout your adventure, you’ll discover there’s one thing even stronger than the ultimate chimeragon: the bond between a dragon and its rider.”[/quote]
Outright Games | Twitter | Facebook | Trailer
MORE FAMILY GAMES TO PLAY:
If you are looking for a new family friendly game with some of your favorite dragon characters, then your family will enjoy Dragons: Dawn of New Riders.
