Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage! introduced unlockable abilities like climbing, swimming, and headbashing, expanding Spyro’s moveset. While these additions sound exciting, they also introduce some frustrating backtracking. Let’s explore how Spyro learns to climb and the implications of this new skill.
Climbing in Spyro 2: A Backtracking Conundrum
Spyro acquires the climbing ability partway through the game, opening up new areas and challenges. However, the implementation of this skill often forces players into unnecessary backtracking. For example, Sunny Beach features a turtle soup minigame near the level’s end, inaccessible until Spyro learns to climb. Ironically, the minigame itself doesn’t utilize the climbing ability, making the prerequisite feel arbitrary.
Similarly, Shady Oasis demands the headbash move for a brief 20-second minigame. Worse, accessing this minigame practically necessitates replaying the entire level to obtain the invincibility powerup, which requires defeating most enemies. These instances feel less like gameplay enhancements and more like artificial barriers to progression.
Comparing Spyro 2’s Backtracking to Spyro 3
While Spyro 3 also features backtracking, it handles the mechanic more effectively. Levels in Spyro 3 include shortcuts that lead directly to the end upon initial completion, eliminating the need to replay entire levels unless something was missed. Locked areas in Spyro 3 logically require different characters with unique abilities for access, ensuring a substantially different experience on revisits. This contrasts sharply with Spyro 2, where backtracking often feels forced and repetitive.
Swimming: A Positive Example of Unlockable Abilities
Swimming, acquired early in Spyro 2, stands out as a well-implemented unlockable ability. It significantly enhances gameplay by opening up underwater exploration and new challenges, seamlessly integrating into the core experience without the drawbacks of forced backtracking. This demonstrates the potential of unlockable abilities when implemented thoughtfully.
Conclusion: Climbing’s Impact on Spyro 2’s Gameplay
While the climbing ability in Spyro 2 adds to Spyro’s repertoire, its implementation often leads to frustrating backtracking. Compared to the more streamlined approach in Spyro 3 and the successful integration of swimming, climbing exemplifies the potential pitfalls of poorly implemented unlockable abilities. The forced repetition detracts from the overall enjoyment and pacing of the game, highlighting the importance of carefully considering how new skills impact the player’s experience.
