Spyro 2 Hints & Tips
Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage!/Gateway to Glimmer Hints, Tips & Secrets
Looking for a hidden Orb, struggling with one of the challenges or trying to uncover some of Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage!‘s secrets? Below you’ll find a selection of useful hints, shortcuts, hidden areas and tricks for the original PlayStation game.
Finish Sunny Beach Without the Baby Turtles
It’s possible to reach the end of Sunny Beach without completing the baby turtle section in the usual way.
When you reach the second large turtle that normally needs to be pushed onto the circular switch, don’t move him. Instead, head towards the ladder just ahead and slightly to the left.
If Spyro hasn’t learned to climb yet, you’ll need to activate the all-abilities cheat before continuing.
Climb the ladder and glide across to the opposite ledge. From there, glide again towards the ledge containing the character and turtle box.
Walk about halfway across the bridge and drop down to the left. Turn to the right and you should be able to see the baby turtles on the opposite side of the gate. From here, you can continue and finish Sunny Beach without using them in the usual manner.
Permanent Fireballs
Spyro can unlock a permanent version of the fireball attack by reaching 100% completion.
You’ll need to collect all 64 Orbs and 10,000 gems, then travel to Dragon Shores. One of the attractions there provides the permanent Superflame power-up.
Unlike the temporary Superflame power-ups found within levels, this version remains available once it has been activated.
Find Missing Gems With Sparx
Missing one or two gems in a level? Sparx can help point you towards them.
On the original PlayStation version, hold:
L1 + L2 + R1 + R2
Sparx will turn and point in the direction of the nearest gem.
Spyro Reignited Trilogy
In Spyro Reignited Trilogy, press the left analogue stick (L3) and Sparx will point towards nearby missing gems.
This is particularly useful when you’re aiming for 100% completion and can’t work out where those final few gems are hiding.
Start a New Game With Superflame
There is a trick that allows you to carry the permanent Superflame ability into a new game.
First, load a completed save and visit Dragon Shores. Activate the permanent Superflame power-up and make sure Spyro currently has the ability.
Quit the completed game and begin a new one.
Spyro should now have Superflame instead of his normal flame attack. This can make some of the more troublesome challenges much easier, including Turtle Soup and the Alchemist escort.
Find the Hidden Speedway in Winter Tundra
The Winter Tundra Speedway is well hidden and isn’t immediately obvious when first exploring the hub.
Head through the narrow passage just beyond the portals leading back to Summer Forest and Autumn Plains, then turn left.
Use the whirlwind to reach the tower. Once inside, turn around so you’re facing back towards the whirlwind you just used.
Glide towards the narrow wall surrounding the area. Spyro can land on top of it, although there isn’t much room.
Follow the wall and look for the waterfall. Jump through the waterfall to discover a hidden cave.
You’ll find gems and an Orb inside. Continue following the water through the cave and you’ll eventually reach the hidden Speedway portal.
Untimed Hockey in Colossus
There is a useful glitch that can remove the timer from the hockey challenge in Colossus.
Enter the hockey arena, leave it and then go back inside. The challenge should now be untimed, although you’ll initially only have one attempt before the puck disappears.
After beating the goalie and reaching the two-player hockey challenge, leave the arena once more and return.
The puck should now remain available without the usual timer, allowing you to play the challenge at your own pace.
Hidden Treasure Box in Fracture Hills
There’s a hidden treasure box in Fracture Hills, but you’ll need to meet several requirements before you can reach it.
Before attempting this, make sure that:
- Spyro has learned Headbash.
- You’ve dealt with all of the Earthshapers in the area.
- You’ve completed Hunter’s Alchemist Escort challenge.
- You’ve completed Hunter’s Earthshaper Bash challenge.
- You’ve defeated at least 14 enemies.
Follow the same Supercharge route used to Rescue the Faun.
After smashing through the fourth door, continue through the tunnel until you emerge onto the narrow raised pathway.
Follow the path towards the left. As it begins to curve right, jump down to the left instead.
You should land close to the entrance of the hidden treasure cave. Jump over the edge into the cave and break open the treasure box to collect its contents.
Rescue the Faun in Fracture Hills
Before attempting this Orb challenge, you’ll need Headbash, and you should have completed Hunter’s Alchemist and Earthshaper challenges. You’ll also need enough defeated enemies to activate the required Supercharge power-up.
Speak to Spinner the Faun, who tells Spyro about her friend trapped behind a locked door.
Drop into the small gulley beside Spinner and follow the path until you reach the Supercharge power-up.
Run through the power-up and keep charging.
Smash through the first door and follow the path. When it makes a sharp left turn, jump while continuing to charge. This should send Spyro into the tunnel.
Follow the tunnel around to the right and then left. Jump near the end to clear the edge and smash through the second door.
Keep charging along the path, jump over the lava and continue through the third door.
Follow the next tunnel and, when you emerge, move left and charge up the ramp to smash through the fourth door.
Continue along the narrow raised path until you are heading directly towards the final locked door.
Jump at the end of the path while maintaining your Supercharge. Spyro should smash straight through the door.
The rescued faun will reward you with an Orb.
Hidden Orbs in Autumn Plains
Orb Behind the Wall
Speak to Elora and collect enough Orbs to activate the nearby whirlwind.
Use the whirlwind and glide across to the upper ledge. Continue all the way towards the wall at the end.
Charge into the wall to reveal the hidden area containing the Orb.
Orb on the Distant Ledge
Find the ladder near Moneybags and climb it, then continue up the two additional ladders leading towards the area near the Scorch portal.
Go through the tunnel and charge into the cracked wall.
Use the whirlwind beyond it and collect the treasure as you climb higher. Take the next whirlwind and then make a long glide towards the distant ledge.
The Orb is waiting on the other side.
Secret Orb in Summer Forest
There’s an easy-to-miss Orb hidden near Glimmer.
Return to the Glimmer portal and dive into the nearby pond.
Follow the underwater passage, collecting any treasure along the way. Continue until you reach the steps at the end of the route.
Climb them to find the hidden Orb.
Find Unfinished Challenges
If you know there’s still an Orb challenge somewhere in a level but can’t find it, turn on the map.
Pause the game, open Options and enable the map.
The map can help identify important locations, including unfinished tasks, making it much easier to work out which part of a level you haven’t completed.
Easier Hockey Challenge in Colossus
Having trouble scoring five goals during the hockey challenge? There’s a useful way to get around the goalie.
Once Spyro has the puck, look for the small strip of dry ground to the right of the goal.
Move onto the dry area and turn so you’re facing back towards the ice.
Head onto the rink alongside the goal while watching the goalie. Once Spyro has moved past him, quickly turn towards the goal and fire the puck.
Spyro can move quickly enough to get beyond the goalie before he has time to reposition, giving you a much clearer shot at the net.
Repeat the technique until you’ve scored the required five goals.
You can also use the same approach during the second hockey challenge. The additional opponent makes things more difficult, but getting around the goalie from the side can still provide an easier opportunity to score.
Play the Crash Team Racing Demo
The original PlayStation version of Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage! contains a hidden playable demo of Crash Team Racing.
At the Spyro 2 title screen, where you’re prompted to press Start:
Hold L1 + R2 and press Square.
The Crash Team Racing demo should then load.
You’ll need to restart the PlayStation when you’re ready to return to Spyro 2.
