Spyro 2: Season of Flame

Spyro 2: Season of Flame is a direct sequel to the handheld spin-off Spyro: Season of Ice, again created for the Game Boy Advance by Digital Eclipse. The story continues from the previous entry and pits Spyro against the sorceress Ripto Rita, who this time tries to steal the dragons' ability to breathe fire, forcing the little dragon to set out once more across several themed worlds and face her henchmen.

The gameplay remains faithful to the first handheld episode - it's a side-scrolling 2D platformer where Spyro collects gems, flies short stretches over obstacles, and fights enemies scattered across each level with fiery breath and a headbutt charge. Compared to its predecessor, the game adds a few new gameplay mechanics and a more varied selection of environments to offer a somewhat richer experience and set itself apart from the first handheld entry, though the overall structure remains very similar, and some levels recycle elements and enemy placement from the previous game. The graphics and music stick to the same lighthearted, colorful style typical of the handheld Spyro entries, easily recognizable even for younger players.

As with the first entry, critical reception was mixed, since the series on the GBA didn't reach the quality and variety of its 3D console counterparts and came across more as a companion product to the main line than a full-fledged new adventure. Even so, Season of Flame found its audience among younger players and loyal fans of the brand, who appreciated the chance to extend their time with Spyro even away from a home console and take his adventures on the road. Today it's seen as a solid, if not essential, addition for those who want to go through the entire handheld spin-off of the Spyro series from the early 2000s and see every incarnation of the little dragon on the platforms of the time.

Why play: For players wanting to go through the entire handheld spin-off of the Spyro series, it's a solid, if not essential, addition that doesn't reach the quality or variety of its 3D console counterparts.