Spyro: Season of Ice

Digital Eclipse

Industry	Video game development
Headquarters	United States
Products	Spyro: Season of Ice

Spyro: Season of Ice is a platform title released in 2001, developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Universal Interactive Studios exclusively for the Game Boy Advance. This game acts as an alternate continuation to the original trilogy, alongside Spyro 2: Season of Flame and Spyro: Attack of the Rhynocs.

Gameplay

In this installment, players control Spyro as he explores four distinct seasonal fairy worlds, beginning with the Autumn Fairy Home. The objective is to free fairies trapped within ice blocks and ultimately confront Grendor. Each realm involves gathering gems, healing butterflies harmed by various creatures, and interacting with characters such as Bianca and Hunter who offer guidance. Within these fairy realms, Spyro is immune to damage, and access between them is granted through portals that require rescuing a certain number of fairies.

The portals transport players to stages populated by foes, environmental dangers, and unique challenges. Completing these tasks or capturing thieves awards additional fairies. Once enemies are defeated, portals reopen to return players to the seasonal realms. Some portals unlock flying stages where Spyro must maneuver through hoops, eliminate enemies against a timer, and face boss battles. To collect every fairy, both Normal and Hard difficulty levels must be cleared.

Certain portals are guarded by Money Bags, who demand a single payment for Sparx’s entry. In these segments, players take control of Sparx to destroy insect nests and defeat bosses to free fairies. Sparx utilizes keys and weapons to navigate obstacles and combat adversaries.

Grendor appears as a boss twice during the game: first after completing the initial two realms, and again following the final two realms to conclude the story. Achieving 100% completion of gems and fairies unlocks a bonus mini-game titled "Dragonfly X."

Plot

During a holiday with Bianca and Hunter, Spyro’s companion Hunter mistakes a balloon for an unidentified flying object. Spyro discovers a message attached to this balloon from Zoe, who requests assistance in stopping Grendor’s abduction of fairies. Bianca had accidentally left her spellbook in the library; Grendor found it and misused its magic, transforming into a two-headed Rhynoc suffering from headaches. His plan involves capturing fairies to harvest their wings as a remedy. Spyro and his allies embark on a mission to thwart Grendor’s scheme.

After navigating numerous levels and rescuing all but Zoe, Spyro confronts Grendor once more, defeats him decisively, and frees Zoe. Zoe then cures Grendor’s condition; he expresses remorse for his actions, allowing Spyro and friends to peacefully resume their vacation.

Reception

According to Metacritic, Season of Ice garnered "mixed or average" critical reviews.

By August 2006 in the United States alone, the game had sold one million copies generating $29 million in revenue. From January 2000 through August 2006, it ranked as the 13th best-selling title released for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, or PlayStation Portable within that market.