Eragon

An epic fantasy adventure awaits gamers with the release of Eragon, the first in a trilogy of movies and games based on the best selling books by Christopher Paolini. Game developers face a tough challenge these days to create games that compliment their movie counterpart without being another lame game based on a movie. Eragon doesn't stretch a two-hour movie plot into a 12-hour game, and instead adds content to the game by using elements from the book to fill out the details and bring this world to life. The storyline follows young Eragon, a poor farm boy whose life changes forever after finding a dragon's egg in the forrest near his home. Suddenly, Eragon is plunged into a world of magic and power, and must face his destiny to become a legendary Dragon Rider who has the power to save the Empire or ultimately destroy it.

The beginning levels of the game help build up skills and magical powers and let gamers go to it with some good combat action. These lower levels allow gamers to trounce their enemies with some fierce button mashing, but as the game progresses, the use of strategy, magic, and combo moves is what's needed to defeat enemies and move-on. There is a nice balance of gameplay throughout the different levels as some levels are more open to allow free roaming and exploration, while others are more linear with a defined set of goals to accomplish.

Not all combat is ground combat, and Eragon can take to the air on Saphira or call Saphira into heavy battle to help by taking out larger objects or blast hordes of enemies with fire. For some extra companionship, have a friend jump in to the game for some co-op action and rack up extra bonuses with team attack and use Saphira for some cool fight/flight combos. Eragon is a well-crafted game that looks gorgeous and takes gamers on an adventurous ride.