The second Spyro game to appear on the GameBoy Advance. Still made by Digital Eclipse as last time, they've managed to improve upon Season of Ice thankfully. The game now has a memory. Certain things you do stay forever rather then having to do them every time you die or go back into a level. The game also has a much better Atlas as it no longer just lists numbers but also pictures to help you with your collecting. And the introducion of a map is a great thing as it very useful if you're lost in a level. Being back in the Dragon Realms rather then the Fairy ones, this game allows you to control some other characters aside from Spyro and Sparx (Sparx not being a playable character in this game). Overall both the graphics and gameplay have been improved dramatically for this second installment by Digital Eclipse. The Story Here's the official word on the story from the SpyroTheDragon.com website: After a well-deserved vacation following the encounter with Grendor and the Season of Ice, Spyro returns to the Dragon Realms to discover that none of the Dragon Elders are able to breathe fire anymore! In fact, not even Spyro can use his flame breath any longer! It's been turned icy cold! (Naturally, Hunter has been frozen solid by this time.) Someone, mysteriously, has stolen all the fireflies, the source of all fiery Dragon Power. And it's up to Spyro, Hunter, Bianca and Sparx to find out why! And here's a basic acount of what happens as you start a brand new game. Arriving back from their visit to the Fairy Realms, Hunter, Bianca and Spyro land back in the Dragon Realms in their hot-air balloon. Spyro notices that there's no-one there to welcome them back, and Hunter mentions that it's pretty cold in the Dragon Realms. They spot a Dragon Elder and talk to him. The Elder informs them that all of the dragon's fireflies have been stolen by an army of Rhynocs. This means that the dragons can no longer breath fire, Spyro proves this by freezing Hunter. They all decide to investigate... The Controls Spyro the Dragon A Jump. Press again when in the air to glide. Press again whilst in glide to hover and end the glide. B Flame R Charge Start Bring up the start menu Select Change breath type L + Select Open Map Agent 9 A Jump, press again to double jump B Fire L Switch weapon Down Crouch Start Bring up the start menu Sheila the Kangaroo A Jump, press again to double jump B Kick A + A + B Stomp while performing double jump Start Bring up the start menu Gems And as all other Spyro games, Gems are you currency. Slightly different from the previous game, Season of Flame uses a new 25 value gem. Obviosuly not new to the series in value, but they've redesigned it so that is 'less confusing' then before. Gem Colour Gem Value Red 1 Green 2 Purple 5 Yellow 10 Blue 25 And as all other games, gems are found in the usual locations; inside flammable baskets, chargeable vases, locked chests, Rhynocs and just plain lying around on the ground. Sparx There's never really been a major change with Sprax's system. Same as usual. Sparx Colour Hits Left Yellow 4 Blue 3 Green 2 None 1 To regain your health, simply flame one of the small creatures running around the Dragon Realms that give out butterflies. That's all for the intro. On with the main game I think. Off to the Sunny Plains!