Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!
Introduction
Released in 1999 as a direct sequel to the breakout hit Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! cemented the purple dragon's status as a PlayStation icon. Developed by Insomniac Games, this sequel took everything that worked in the original—vibrant colors, tight controls, and charming characters—and expanded it into a more cinematic and mechanically deep experience. Whether you knew it by its North American title or as Spyro 2: Gateway to Glimmer in Europe and Australia, the game represented a significant leap forward for 3D platforming during the fifth generation of consoles.
Story & Setting
The narrative begins with Spyro and his loyal dragonfly companion, Sparx, looking for a well-deserved vacation. Tired of the constant rain in the Dragon Worlds, they decide to take a portal to Dragon Shores. However, instead of arriving at a sunny beach, they are intercepted and summoned to the land of Avalar. There, they meet a faun named Elora, a cheetah named Hunter, and a brilliant Professor.
Avalar is under the tyrannical thumb of a diminutive, magic-hating sorcerer named Ripto. Having been accidentally summoned to Avalar himself, Ripto decided to conquer it with the help of his two dim-witted henchmen, Crush and Gulp. Because there are no dragons in Avalar, Ripto feels unchallenged until Spyro arrives. To save the realm, Spyro must travel through three distinct hub worlds—Summer Forest, Autumn Plains, and Winter Tundra—to collect Talismans and Orbs to eventually confront Ripto and return home.
Gameplay
At its core, Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! retains the beloved mechanics of its predecessor. Players still charge, flame, and glide through sprawling levels. However, Insomniac Games introduced several key innovations. One of the most notable changes was the removal of the side-roll ability, previously mapped to the L1 and R1 buttons, simplifying the control scheme for tighter platforming.
New abilities were also introduced, though many had to be purchased from a greedy bear named Moneybags. Throughout his journey, Spyro learns how to swim underwater, climb ladders, and perform a powerful headbash. The game also shifted the focus from merely rescuing dragons to completing specific NPC-driven tasks. These mini-games—ranging from herding lava lizards to playing ice hockey—reward Spyro with Orbs, which are essential for progress. Additionally, collecting Talismans from each level's main objective serves as the primary gateway to the boss encounters.
This classic title was originally released for the PlayStation and has since been made available on several other systems through digital distribution and remakes.
Legacy
The impact of Spyro 2 is undeniable. It was praised for its improved graphics, which featured better textures and more expressive character animations compared to the first game. It also featured a stellar soundtrack composed by Stewart Copeland, the drummer for The Police, which gave the game a unique, whimsical atmosphere.
The game was released under various names internationally, including Spyro 2: En Busca de los Talismanes in Spanish markets and Spyro × Sparx: Tondemo Tours in Japan. Its success led to the final entry in the original trilogy, Year of the Dragon, and eventually a full-scale high-definition remake in the Spyro Reignited Trilogy. To this day, fans debate whether Ripto's Rage! is the pinnacle of the series due to its perfect balance of exploration and character interaction.
Fun Facts
- Voice Change: This was the first game where Tom Kenny (the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants) took over the role of Spyro, a role he would continue to play for years.
- Skill Points: The game introduced an internal "Skill Point" system, giving players hidden objectives to complete for extra rewards, a precursor to modern achievements.
- Elora’s Species: While she looks like a faun, she famously tells Spyro she is a "faun," but early design documents occasionally referred to her as a centaur before her design was finalized.
