Eragon (Xbox360): A Re-look after 2/3rds complete

Okay, I'm pleased to say the game gets better. There are two types of levels, the defeat-the-enemies levels on foot, and the dragon riding levels. The "Hard" level setting gets really difficult as the game progresses. Also, like the Final Fight-type game it is, divide and conquer is the strategy you must take.

First, there's all the abilities you learn. Eragon can:

1. Shoot the bow. You can take the time to aim and kill the enemies with one shot, and you can add magic power to the shot.
2. Perform Magic. Telekinesis (against enemies), special magic (location specific), repel shield, and fire.
3. Fly aboard Saphira, his dragon partner. Inverted flight controls, unfortunately. Takes a bit of getting used to.  She also has a telepathic link with Eragon and can be called in on emergencies.
4. Fight with the sword. All sorts of combos, and none too difficult. Some attacks are better given the situation.
5. Fury. Both you and your cohort AI become full health, full magic, quicker, deal more damage, and cannot be damaged for a minute. Best saved for the huge mobs.

This leads to all sorts of combination attacks to maximize your power. For example: magically burn your enemy, they run around, cannot attack, cannot defend, and if near water or a cliff, fall in and drown/die instantly. So this maneuver can eliminate one enemy, or at the very least incapacitate them while you attack the other ones. Meanwhile, you may have time to aim a shot for an instant kill, and then shoot several shots into an enemy before attacking them with the sword. There is a lot of strategy in this game that isn't initially apparent.

The first couple of levels suck, but after that, you get into a good plot (straight from the book, not necessarily the movie, I think). You'd think a flying dragon with magic would be practically invincible. They have undead warriors relentlessly charging your dragon, armies of bowmen, catapults (flaming pitch), falling rocks, obstacles, and ballistas. Your energy drops very quickly on hard mode, so you have to figure out how to recharge Saphira and often--there's a way! The flying levels also have multiple branches in them that are not clearly marked.

The settings are appropriate. You have to storm a fortress (that looks fantastic), climb a crumbling tower, and try to defeat Dural. That's halfway, and Dural is very hard to beat! Immediately after, Saphira must destroy his army as much as possible. So far, those two levels combined are the hardest. Luckily, there are checkpoints that allow you to continue without restarting!

All of this and the mysterious path to Varden. I actually want to see the movie, now! Still, this game is not for everyone. Many will be bored playing it. I'm beginning to believe you can like any game if you spend enough time on it. I won't say it's an "easy" 1000 achievement points, but it is possible. You must finish every level on Hard and Normal and collect all Secret Eggs to get it. You can scavange for missing eggs on Easy, at least.