Seasonal Vacation – Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage – Part 3

Despite the serenity of the home world we now reside in, not all is well within the world of Avalar. Even discounting Ripto’s machinations, there’s plenty of trouble brewing between the local residents of each world. And we’re just the right shade of purple dragon to deal with their problems.

Or at least play them off each other enough to make a profit.

Something I mentioned in my first Spyro 2 stream, but didn’t mention in the post for it is that many of the levels have links between them. Some of them are less obvious, like the people of Colossus and Idol Springs being the same. Others are more overt, like the war between the residents of Breeze Harbor and Zephyr.

Before I say anything more, I want to point out that I was not involved in designing Spyro 2. Nor do I know anyone who has. I am speaking purely as a fan when I say that it feels like it seems like they were trying to do something my linking different worlds together. That said, I can’t be sure what that is.

These links do create a more coherent vision of the world in question here. The fact that people from one level will talk about and reference other areas goes a way towards strengthening the sense of cohesion.

Next time, we can get into some of the more interesting lore and design details of Ripto’s Rage, with an upcoming boss fight and journey into the cold Winter Tundra.

Seasonal Vacation – Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage – Part 1

The plan after finishing Crash was to run the new Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3 content with Chris, but I foolishly forgot that I had uninstalled the game some time ago.

So instead I decided to start playing Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage. Welcome to the magical world of Avalar, where we’ve been summoned to toast a new threat. And naturally, with new challenges comes and expanded arsenal.

First off, apologies once more for the audio balancing. It will be fixed in the next recording.

In the original version of Spyro 2, when a player achieves 100%, they unlock a version of the superflame power up that already exists in the game, except that it is a permanent upgrade. This benefit extends to all future runs as long as the 100% save game data exists. Naturally, this was carried over into the remake. I was hesitant to keep going with it for the sake of showing off the game better, but I ultimately think it’s okay play with superflame, since I can talk about what is made easier with that ability.

The glitch I was talking about in this episode was the Double Jump Glitch, which I was able to find references to on the Spyro wiki. I never knew its name growing up, just that it helped me complete challenges and find secrets that I clearly wasn’t supposed to be able to find without abilities I didn’t have. I’ll miss it, but I understand why they didn’t bother trying to bring it over in the Reignited Trilogy.

Aside from that, I want to call attention to the scene with Elora after beating Glimmer. Comparing the scene in the original version below to the reignited version(timestamp), there’s no change in lines. The key difference is in the delivery. There’s a slight bite to the original that conveys that both Spyro and Elora are still not quite friends since they only just met. This edge is softened in the new performances, which give off an impression that they immediately hit it off. Neither interpretation is bad, but one of those extremely slight details that I can’t help but pick up on since I’ve played this game so many times.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn’t also point out how much better the intro cutscene looks in the new remake when compared to the original below, since the animators, modelers,  and actors have much more to work with. But it’s not just in higher quality models, either. The use of cinematography and camera work adds so much more to the reignited version of the scene than there was in the original.

All criticisms aside, Toys for Bob did excellent work in re-imagining both the Spyro and Crash trilogies, and they should be commended for that.