Spyro 2: Season of Flame
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Video games |
Spyro 2: Season of Flame is a platform title released in 2002, developed by Digital Eclipse and distributed by Universal Interactive for the Game Boy Advance. It represents the fifth entry in the Spyro franchise and serves as a direct sequel to Spyro: Season of Ice. The narrative centers on Spyro the Dragon's mission to retrieve fireflies that have been stolen by the Rhynocs—these fireflies are vital for dragons to maintain their ability to breathe fire. The game was met with generally positive feedback, often regarded as a step forward from its predecessor, despite some criticism directed at its difficult control scheme.
Gameplay
Players take on the role of Spyro, navigating the Dragon Realms to reclaim the missing fireflies. These fireflies appear throughout various stages, either wandering freely or concealed, and can be captured by freezing them with Spyro’s ice breath. Some fireflies are earned as rewards for helping local inhabitants within each realm. Advancing through the game unlocks new Portals that lead to additional worlds where Spyro assists creatures impacted by Rhynoc invasions. The ability to access certain Portals depends on the quantity of fireflies rescued.
At the start, Spyro possesses ice breath, a chargeable attack used to shatter armor and break containers, along with gliding and hovering capabilities. Collecting a sufficient number of fireflies restores his original fire breath while retaining ice breath, which can be toggled via the select button. Later in the game, Spyro acquires a headbutt move to demolish rock obstacles. Special gates temporarily boost his fire breath's range or enhance ice breath strength, or provide electric breath used to activate generators.
Gems serve as the main collectible item, scattered throughout levels and hidden inside destructible objects. They act as currency for transactions with Moneybags. Sparx, Spyro’s dragonfly companion, functions as a health indicator with four hit points and lives; its color changes as Spyro sustains damage and disappears when health is critically low. Health can be replenished by feeding Sparx butterflies obtained from defeating small creatures; certain butterflies grant extra lives. Sparx also offers optional gameplay hints.
In specific sections, players control Agent 9 the Monkey or Sheila the Kangaroo. Agent 9 is faster and more agile, wielding a laser gun with limited ammo that can be refilled at designated rooms. Sheila specializes in higher jumps and powerful kicks against foes. Collecting every gem and firefly unlocks a minigame featuring Sparx as the main character.
Plot
Following the events of Spyro: Season of Ice, Spyro returns to discover that an army of Rhynocs has stolen all the fireflies during his absence. The dragons’ ability to breathe fire is dependent on these magical creatures; without them, their breath—including Spyro’s—turns icy cold. This results in plummeting temperatures across the Dragon Realms, endangering dragon migration patterns. Alongside Sparx, Bianca, and Hunter, Spyro embarks on a quest to identify those responsible for the theft. A fairy later reveals Ripto as the mastermind behind these events. The group confronts Ripto’s henchmen, Crush and Gulp, before ultimately defeating Ripto inside a volcano. With Ripto’s defeat, the fireflies return and restore warmth to the Dragon Realms.
Development
Robert Baffy composed the soundtrack and sound effects for the game, with additional music contributions by Ed Cosico. The title was officially announced by Universal Interactive on February 19, 2002.
Reception
Season of Flame was met with generally positive feedback, as reflected by the review aggregator Metacritic. Steve Steinberg from GameSpy commended the title for its "diverse and challenging gameplay" alongside its "vibrant visuals." Anise Hollingshead of GameZone described it as "an enjoyable experience suitable for all family members," though she pointed out the game's brief duration and repetitive nature of some minigames. Both Craig Harris of IGN and Frank Provo of GameSpot viewed it as a step forward compared to the previous installment.
The most frequent critique focused on the control scheme: Four-Eyed Dragon from GamePro emphasized difficulties arising from the digital directional pad's constraints, while Ben Kosmina of Nintendo World Report found Spyro's gliding controls to remain "particularly cumbersome." Game Informer appreciated the exploration aspects but noted flaws in the jumping mechanics. Scott Alan Marriott of AllGame praised the game's visual style, humor, and puzzle design but recommended improvements in controls and a broader variety of objectives. Additionally, Nintendo Power highlighted that the game retained the isometric viewpoint established by its predecessor. Martin Taylor from Eurogamer criticized the title for inducing monotony, arguing that the gameplay lacked sufficient incentive to complete the narrative.
From a commercial standpoint, by August 2006, the game had sold 670,000 copies in the United States, generating revenue of $15 million. It was ranked as the 39th best-selling game released for Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, or PlayStation Portable between January 2000 and August 2006 within that market.