Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!
Encyclopedia
Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage! is a video game for the PlayStation video game console
. It was released in North America
under this title on October 31, 1999, in Europe
as Spyro 2: Gateway to Glimmer on November 5, 1999, and in Japan
on March 16, 2000 as: Spyro X Sparx Tondemo Tours.
Ripto's Rage is the second game in the Spyro the Dragon series, which started with Spyro the Dragon in 1998. The protagonist of the series, Spyro, is placed in the land of Avalar, rather than the Dragon Worlds, where the previous installment was set. A dinosaur-riding sorcerer, known as Ripto, has invaded the world of Avalar, and is wreaking havoc on its citizens with his magic. The player, as Spyro, must travel through the world of Avalar and undo the damage done by Ripto.
The game became available for download on the PlayStation Network on July 26, 2007, even before its predecessor was released to the same market. Less than a week later, however, it was removed because Colossus and Idol Springs levels failed to load. On April 17, 2008, It was released on the Japanese PlayStation Store. On May 7, 2009, a corrected version of the game became available for download from the North American PlayStation Store. It is yet to be re-released to the European stores.
flows in a similar manner to the original Spyro, with few variations in control and Spyro's main abilities intact. Spyro can attack enemies with his typical dragon-breath, or charge through them in a charge attack, though different varieties of enemies may require a specific attack to defeat; metal-armored enemies are impervious to Spyro's flame, and enemies much larger than Spyro himself are immune to his charge attack. By using his wings to glide, Spyro can extend his jumping distance to a considerable reach, depending on the elevation the player begins gliding from. Levels are designed to take advantage of this, featuring large gaps that Spyro is required to glide across. As the game progresses, the player can buy new abilities for Spyro: the ability to swim, climb ladders and headbash. In addition to Spyro's new abilities, many levels in the game feature powerup "gates" which temporarily give Spyro enhanced abilities that allow him to defeat certain enemies, reach new areas, or complete certain missions. Powerup gates are at first inactive, but become available once the player has defeated a certain number of enemies within the level. Unlike in the first game enemies no-longer release gems but spirits to power these gates. All enemies must be killed again if you leave the level.
The world of Avalar is divided into three realms: the Summer Forest, the Autumn Plains, and the Winter Tundra. In every realm, there is a castle that, during the course of the storyline, is captured by Ripto. Each realm features a number of different worlds, a speedway world, and a dungeon in which Ripto or his minions are hiding.
Meanwhile, the Artisans have been under rainy weather for some time; Spyro, declaring he needs a vacation, locates a portal to the realm of Dragon Shores. However, after traveling through the portal, he finds himself instead landing in the realm of Avalar by means of a smaller portal, built by Avalar's Professor. Ripto enters the scene and destroys the portal, objecting to how the Professor succeeded in bringing a dragon to the world of Avalar. Ripto is, however, forced to retreat when Gulp accidentally swallows Ripto's magical scepter, and Spyro is asked to help save the realm of Avalar by defeating Ripto.
The journey leads Spyro across Avalar's three main territories holding portal-worlds: Summer Forest, Autumn Plains, and Winter Tundra, all of which have a palace that Ripto takes over. After defeating Crush and Gulp and liberating all the people in the territories, the story leads to a final showdown between Spyro and Ripto. The two battle it out using many forms of magic, and just when it seems as if the fight is destined to end in a stalemate, Ripto converts the arena into a pool of lava and attempts to escape on a giant cyborg bird. Spyro gives chase and a dogfight
ensues, in which Spyro destroys the bird and sends Ripto plummeting into the lava to his "death". The inhabitants of Avalar are grateful for Spyro's help, and as a reward, show him the portal to Dragon Shores. If the player collects all of the gems and orbs in the game, they will have access to a small room in Dragon Shores which contains a Super Firebreath Powerup, allowing Spyro to launch Fireballs instead of normal firebreath, this is a permanent version of the normal fireball power-up gate and will kill any enemy in the game, with the exception of bosses.
.
The background music from the Summer Forest level has been used in the song "Free Spirit" by ambient artist Medwyn Goodall
from his album Mediation and Visualisations (2001). Copeland had also composed music for all three games in the original series.
gave the game a 8.6/10, saying that it "injected a dose of soul and variety into a game that was already pretty fun to play". IGN
gave it a 8.8/10, stating that it is a fun, and excellent platformer.
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
. It was released in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
under this title on October 31, 1999, in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as Spyro 2: Gateway to Glimmer on November 5, 1999, and in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
on March 16, 2000 as: Spyro X Sparx Tondemo Tours.
Ripto's Rage is the second game in the Spyro the Dragon series, which started with Spyro the Dragon in 1998. The protagonist of the series, Spyro, is placed in the land of Avalar, rather than the Dragon Worlds, where the previous installment was set. A dinosaur-riding sorcerer, known as Ripto, has invaded the world of Avalar, and is wreaking havoc on its citizens with his magic. The player, as Spyro, must travel through the world of Avalar and undo the damage done by Ripto.
The game became available for download on the PlayStation Network on July 26, 2007, even before its predecessor was released to the same market. Less than a week later, however, it was removed because Colossus and Idol Springs levels failed to load. On April 17, 2008, It was released on the Japanese PlayStation Store. On May 7, 2009, a corrected version of the game became available for download from the North American PlayStation Store. It is yet to be re-released to the European stores.
Gameplay
GameplayGameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
flows in a similar manner to the original Spyro, with few variations in control and Spyro's main abilities intact. Spyro can attack enemies with his typical dragon-breath, or charge through them in a charge attack, though different varieties of enemies may require a specific attack to defeat; metal-armored enemies are impervious to Spyro's flame, and enemies much larger than Spyro himself are immune to his charge attack. By using his wings to glide, Spyro can extend his jumping distance to a considerable reach, depending on the elevation the player begins gliding from. Levels are designed to take advantage of this, featuring large gaps that Spyro is required to glide across. As the game progresses, the player can buy new abilities for Spyro: the ability to swim, climb ladders and headbash. In addition to Spyro's new abilities, many levels in the game feature powerup "gates" which temporarily give Spyro enhanced abilities that allow him to defeat certain enemies, reach new areas, or complete certain missions. Powerup gates are at first inactive, but become available once the player has defeated a certain number of enemies within the level. Unlike in the first game enemies no-longer release gems but spirits to power these gates. All enemies must be killed again if you leave the level.
Characters and setting
The only characters from the original game to return as main characters in this game are Spyro, the game's protagonist, and Sparx, his dragonfly sidekick. Sparx functions as the player's health meter, and assists the player in gathering gems. This game introduces new characters into the Spyro series, many of whom would appear in later games. Both Hunter and Moneybags make recurring appearances in the series, while Ripto would make more series appearances than any other antagonist, making him the key villain of the original series. The dragons of the previous installment have been replaced with an entirely new cast of characters, including fauns, satyrs, anthropomorphic animals, and robotic businessmen, among others.The world of Avalar is divided into three realms: the Summer Forest, the Autumn Plains, and the Winter Tundra. In every realm, there is a castle that, during the course of the storyline, is captured by Ripto. Each realm features a number of different worlds, a speedway world, and a dungeon in which Ripto or his minions are hiding.
Plot
The story begins a year after the events of the first game. In the distant, fantasy realm of Avalar, local residents Elora, Hunter, and The Professor have been working on their latest and largest portal. During a test of it, Hunter enters his birth date (22475) as the portal's target coordinates, inadvertently activating it and allowing a small wizard named Ripto into the realm along with two large and dimwitted monsters, Crush and Gulp. Identifying that the land has no dragons, Ripto declares that he is going to "move in" and take it over; however, Elora is able to de-activate the portal by instructing fairies to remove the orbs powering the portal. As Ripto begins to terrorize Avalar, Elora and the Professor plan to 'catch' a dragon in order to drive Ripto off.Meanwhile, the Artisans have been under rainy weather for some time; Spyro, declaring he needs a vacation, locates a portal to the realm of Dragon Shores. However, after traveling through the portal, he finds himself instead landing in the realm of Avalar by means of a smaller portal, built by Avalar's Professor. Ripto enters the scene and destroys the portal, objecting to how the Professor succeeded in bringing a dragon to the world of Avalar. Ripto is, however, forced to retreat when Gulp accidentally swallows Ripto's magical scepter, and Spyro is asked to help save the realm of Avalar by defeating Ripto.
The journey leads Spyro across Avalar's three main territories holding portal-worlds: Summer Forest, Autumn Plains, and Winter Tundra, all of which have a palace that Ripto takes over. After defeating Crush and Gulp and liberating all the people in the territories, the story leads to a final showdown between Spyro and Ripto. The two battle it out using many forms of magic, and just when it seems as if the fight is destined to end in a stalemate, Ripto converts the arena into a pool of lava and attempts to escape on a giant cyborg bird. Spyro gives chase and a dogfight
Dogfight
A dogfight, or dog fight, is a form of aerial combat between fighter aircraft; in particular, combat of maneuver at short range, where each side is aware of the other's presence. Dogfighting first appeared during World War I, shortly after the invention of the airplane...
ensues, in which Spyro destroys the bird and sends Ripto plummeting into the lava to his "death". The inhabitants of Avalar are grateful for Spyro's help, and as a reward, show him the portal to Dragon Shores. If the player collects all of the gems and orbs in the game, they will have access to a small room in Dragon Shores which contains a Super Firebreath Powerup, allowing Spyro to launch Fireballs instead of normal firebreath, this is a permanent version of the normal fireball power-up gate and will kill any enemy in the game, with the exception of bosses.
Soundtrack
The music for Ripto's Rage was composed by Stewart CopelandStewart Copeland
Stewart Armstrong Copeland is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the band The Police. During the group's extended hiatus from the mid-1980s to 2007, he played in other bands and composed soundtracks...
.
The background music from the Summer Forest level has been used in the song "Free Spirit" by ambient artist Medwyn Goodall
Medwyn Goodall
Medwyn Goodall is a composer and musician mostly associated with the New Age genre. He was born in Yorkshire, England. He lives with his wife Wendy in Cornwall, England...
from his album Mediation and Visualisations (2001). Copeland had also composed music for all three games in the original series.
Reception
GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
gave the game a 8.6/10, saying that it "injected a dose of soul and variety into a game that was already pretty fun to play". IGN
IGN
IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...
gave it a 8.8/10, stating that it is a fun, and excellent platformer.