Eragon (video game)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
This article is about the video game. For other media, see Eragon (novel) and Eragon (film). For the title character, see Eragon (character).
Eragon
Game cover
Developer(s) Stormfront Studios / Amaze Entertainment
Publisher(s) Vivendi Universal Games
Release date(s) United States of America November 14, 2006
Australia November 23, 2006
European Union November 24, 2006
Genre(s) Action, Adventure
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB Teen
PEGI 12+
Platform(s) Xbox 360, PS2, Xbox. Windows, Nintendo DS, PSP, GBA
Media DVD, CD (PC), UMD Cartridge
System requirements 1.4 GHz processor, 512 MB RAM, 128 MB graphics card, DirectX 9.0c[1]

Eragon is a third-person video game released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Microsoft Windows, developed by Stormfront Studios. Also released are unique versions of Eragon for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PSP, and mobile phone handheld gaming systems, primarily developed by Amaze Entertainment.[2]

The game is based upon the recent Eragon film, which is in turn based on the book Eragon, by Christopher Paolini. The games were released on November 14th 2006 in the United States of America, on November 24th 2006 in the European Union[3] and on November 23rd 2006 in Australia[4] in order to coincide with the release of the aforementioned film. In the game the player takes on the role of the main protagonist from the book and film, Eragon, and occasionally takes control of his dragon Saphira.

The game was received poorly by critics, usually receiving press and user rating averages around the 4-6 out of 10 region (or the equivalent).[5][6]

Contents

[edit] Gameplay

The majority of the game is taken up by third-person combat, usually on foot. At the start of the game the player can use four "combo" attacks. Additionally, they can use four basic magic attacks: magic push/pull (Thrysta Vindr), magic shield (Skölir), and magic fire (Brisingr). These four magic attacks can be utilised in different ways (for example, brisingr arrows, or throwing spears in baskets magically.)

On the PC and console versions (excluding the Xbox 360 version) there are sixteen levels. According to IGN the game can be completed within six hours.[7]

Some missions permit the player to use Saphira in combat. The gameplay mechanics within these levels are largely similar to those in ground-based levels, with the exception of some different attack moves (such as tail attacks). Eragon sits on Saphira's back during these sections, and can be made to fire magic arrows. The player has no choice as to whether or not they use Saphira. Similarly, the player cannot use Saphira in ground-based levels: they can call for her and she will swoop past, but it is not possible to use this feature to ride Saphira.

There is a multiplayer co-op mode which allows two people to play through the main storyline. This can only be done on one computer or console: there are no Internet multiplayer options. It is possible to switch from playing a one-player game to a two-player game at any time.[8]

[edit] Plot

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Whilst hunting in The Spine, fifteen-year-old Eragon finds a mysterious blue stone. He keeps it, thinking that it can be sold or bartered. However, the egg turns out to be that of a dragon. After the egg has hatched as Saphira, Eragon's discovery attracts the attention of the cruel king Galbatorix. The king's servants kill Eragon's uncle and burn his home. Brom, whom Eragon considers as nothing more than an old storyteller, helps him fight his way out of the village. He then gives Eragon an old sword.

Eragon, Brom and Saphira make their way to Daret, where they are attacked in the docks. They find the rest of the town on fire and hold off a swarm of the king's servants as the villagers try to put out these fires. After leaving Daret the threesome are pursued by a group of Ra'zac. Saphira becomes trapped under debris and Eragon must both try to free her and hold off the Ra'zac. After defeating the nearby enemies, the group make their way to Gil'ead, where Eragon and Brom sneak through the city and keep to try and free Arya. After a lengthy battle through Durza's fortress (resulting in the death of Brom), Eragon meets Arya and Murtagh, who now join the group in the absence of Brom.

The group escape from Gil'ead on Saphira's back, but face some Kull in the ruins of Orthiad. After defeating many Kull and Urgals they make their way to the Beor Mountains, where more Urgals lie in wait. They then sneak through an Urgal encampment, and make their way through a misty gorge. The group get to the Varden's hideout and defend it against hoardes of Urgals. Eragon and Saphira then face Durza a second time, eventually killing him.[9]

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Development and previews

On April 18th 2006 Vivendi Universal Games announced that they were to publish a video game adaptation of the Eragon film to be released in December of the same year. It was slated to appear on most of the major game platforms (PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Game Boy Advance, DS, PSP and PC). The console versions were set to be developed by Stormfront Studios, who had previously worked on the game adaptation of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.[10] Amaze Entertainment, who had previously worked on the game versions of Pirates of the Caribbean and Over the Hedge, were to develop the handheld versions.[11] A Gamecube version was planned but it was later cancelled.[12] On the same day Vivendi announced that the first possible chance to see the game would be at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in May 2006.[13]

On May 11th 2006 it was confirmed by Yahoo that the game had been in development since pre-production of the film.[14]

The Game was previewed at Comic-Con 2006, where the public was allowed to play only one level named the Daret Bridge. The enemies consisted entirely of Urgals, and the player had to overcome several obstacles using magic and Saphira. Christopher Paolini played other levels at Comic-Con, such as Spine Mountains. The game was also shown at the 2006 Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany.[15] Actress Sienna Guillory, who plays the elf Arya in the film, made personal appearances at the Vivendi stand to promote the game.[16]

In October 2006 it was announced that the actors from the Eragon film would lend their voices to the game adaptation.[17] Specifically, Edward Speleers (playing the title character), Sienna Guillory (Arya), Garrett Hedlund (Murtagh) and Robert Carlyle (Durza) were slated to lend their voices.[18] The main theme music for the Eragon game was released on Shur'tugal.com on November 2nd, 2006 and can be downloaded from the news story on Shurtugal.[19]

[edit] Releases

An in-game screenshot from the PC version.
An in-game screenshot from the PC version.

The console and PC versions of the game are very similar, focusing on the same style of gameplay. However, the Xbox 360 edition features two exclusive levels. One is on foot as Eragon, and Saphira is controlled in the second mission. It also features the Kull: an enemy from the novels. However, there are differences between their description in the novels and their appearance in the games. In the books they are eight feet tall and wield the same weapons as other Urgals, but the game portrays them as twelve-foot brutes wielding flaming clubs.

The handheld games are significantly different from the PC and console versions. The Gameboy Advance game centers on role-playing rather than combat, whilst the PSP game focuses on multiplayer action and aerial dragon levels. The DS edition uses its touch screen in the battle system.

A version was released for the mobile phone. It allows alternate control of Eragon and Saphira, but unlike the console versions it allows multiple paths to be taken whilst still following the main storyline and allows customisation of the playable character (in terms of skills which can be selected). The mobile game also provides a cheat code which, when entered into the console versions, will make the "fury mode" become available.[20]

The Official Strategy Guide was published by Primagames and authored by Eric Mylonas. On December 6th 2006 a preview of the guide was made available from the Sierra webpage.[14]

[edit] Critical reception

The game has received generally negative reviews. (5.0-5.5 out of 10) according to review aggregator sites Metacritic[6] and Game Rankings[21].

GameSpot rated the game 4.2 out of 10, and GameSpy gave it a similar score of 2 out of 5. PC Gamer UK slated the PC version of the game, describing the plot as "thinner than hospital undies", complaining about the tedious and repetitive side-scrolling action. They ended up summarising it as "a profoundly uninspiring tie-in" and gave it 53%.[1] IGN came to a similar conclusion, primarily criticising the poor camera, unsophisticated combat and shortness. They rated the game 4.7 out of a possible 10 [7]. Gamestyle describe the title as "One half high-return investment bond, one half tedious waste of time, its place as part of the film's marketing campaign [...] more important than it actually being playable" with a cast whose faces "appear to have been variously grafted onto misshapen potatoes and blind robots carved from meat."[22] Something Awful's "one sentence review" is scathing: "This is what happens when everyone at the office works on a game for 2 months then decides to have pizza parties every day until the budget runs out. 1/10" [23]

However, the handheld versions of the game generally received slightly more positive reviews. The Gameboy Advance version received a positive review from IGN, who praised it for its "solid gameplay, enjoyable quests, being long for a movie license, and having thorough menu and tutorial system". It received 7.5 out of a possible 10.[24]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b PC Gamer UK January 2007 (Issue 170), page 80.
  2. ^ Game section. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
  3. ^ GameFAQ page. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
  4. ^ IGN news story (News). Retrieved on February 26, 2007.
  5. ^ IGN page on Eragon. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
  6. ^ a b Metacritic page. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
  7. ^ a b IGN Eragon review (Review). Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
  8. ^ Coverage of Xbox version at E3 (Preview). Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
  9. ^ IGN Xbox walkthrough. Retrieved on March 28, 2007.
  10. ^ Stormfront's official website (News). Retrieved on February 26, 2007.
  11. ^ Amaze's official website (News). Retrieved on February 26, 2007.
  12. ^ GameStats Eragon Gamecube page (News). Retrieved on February 26, 2007.
  13. ^ Official announcement of game (News). Retrieved on February 25, 2007.[ Official VUG news page]
  14. ^ a b Official sites' news section (News). Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
  15. ^ http://www.xbox.com/en-IE/community/news/leipzig/eragon.htm
  16. ^ German news article (News (Google translation into English)). Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
  17. ^ 2006-10-26 news story (News). Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
  18. ^ IGN news page. Retrieved on March 4, 2007.
  19. ^ "Eragon Game Theme Song article" (News article). Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
  20. ^ Mobile section. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
  21. ^ Gankrankings Eragon page. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
  22. ^ Gamestyle review of Eragon (Review). Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
  23. ^ One-sentence review section. Retrieved on February 25, 2007.
  24. ^ IGN review. Retrieved on March 13, 2007.

[edit] External links

 v • d • e Christopher Paolini’s Inheritance Trilogy
Books Eragon | Eldest | Book 3
Films Eragon
Games Eragon
Main Characters Eragon | Brom | Arya | Galbatorix | Murtagh | Roran | Durza | Ajihad | Nasuada | Angela | Saphira | Oromis | more...
Places Alagaësia | Beor Mountains | Ellesméra | Farthen Dûr | Teirm | Inheritance Trilogy locations | more...
Events Blood-Oath Celebration | Battle of the Burning Plains | Battle for Carvahall | Battle under Farthen Dûr | Dagshelgr Invocation | The Fall
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../e/r/a/Eragon_%28video_game%29.html"
In other languages