The key gameplay element of How to Train Your Dragon is fighting.  This really isn’t made completely clear on the box, so you may buy this game thinking you’ll be replaying many different parts of the movie, only to find out that it’s a fairly brutal fighting game that’s too complex for young kids.

When you play the multiplayer portion of How To Train Your Dragon, it’s all about two dragons fighting against each other.  In the single-player mode, the story mode introduces other types of gameplay, including exploring the village and countryside, training your dragon, dragon fights, as well as various dragon mini-games.

The game utilizes nearly all the buttons on the Xbox controller throughout the various game modes.  You’ll be using the trigger and bumper buttons to scroll through the many different items you can gather in the game.  It all can start to seem rather complex, with four different categories of items to collect, and nine types of item in each category.  And although the game reminds you, you’ll need to keep track of which of the four types of the dragons likes and dislikes each kind of item.  This level of detail will definitely be too much for younger kids, and may even be overwhelming for some parents.

Although we really enjoyed the game’s graphics and movie-like setting, we just can’t really imagine all families being able to play How to Train Your Dragon together.  The single-player mode is sometimes tedious, and doesn’t really lend itself to over-the-shoulder gameplay.  The multi-player fighting mode, which is also the key way you progress through the single-player game, is surprisingly brutal. 

Families with tweens and teens who have some experience with these types of fighting games and love the competitive aspect will enjoy the dragon fighting, but those with younger kids or who are looking to recreate the movie magic may be disappointed to find out that this game is really all about fighting.

INFORMATION FROM COMPANY FACT SHEET

Battle your friends in this all-new adventure, based on the world of DreamWorks Animation’s latest movie, How to Train Your Dragon. With countless ways to customize, design the coolest dragons to ever live on the Island of Berk. Explore the epic world as Hiccup or Astrid in Adventure Mode, or experience fierce battle action in Arena Mode as you fight, fly, and fire your way to victory in How to Train Your Dragon The Game!
 

Create your own dragon: Choose from six types of dragon species and thousands of ways to customize their appearance and abilities.
Train your dragon: “Level up” your dragon’s speed, power, fire, and more through challenges and training.
Endless multiplayer battles: Use your arsenal of dragons to battle your friends in a variety of unique environments.