Despite being a next-gen game on a next-gen system, this sequel brings almost nothing new from the last-gen predecessor.
Gameplay, 5. The gameplay is exactly the same as in the first game. You go through the hoards of enemies by mashing the attack button to use melee and use your different kinds of breath. There are four differen't elements: Fire, Ice, Lightning, and Earth. Each has a sligthly different effect from the others. Naturally as a platformer there will be times when you have to jump around and stuff. Don't worry about having to get used to a lot of gameplay changes if you played the last game, becuase the game is almost exactly the same as the last one. There is actually one new addition. You get the ability to temperariily slow down time. What exactly the point of adding this was I don't know. It doesn't really spice up the gameplay at all. In the Gamespot review there was a complaint about the way the combat was so unforgivingly hard and cheap that slowing down time was a requirement in order to not die but I almost never had to do that.
The problem with the gameplay is that it is exactly the same as it was in A New Beginning. Now the problem with that, besides that when you make a sequel even if the last game's gameplay was good you need to add some form of meaningful addition to it, is that the exact same gameplay in A New Beginning wasn't exactly that steller. As I have already said in the top of the review the game was repetitive and boring. Mostly because you fight the same enemies most of the time and the only time they change is usually when they change constumes, that's about it. The original was cheap, and this one is even cheaper actually.
The gameplay isn't horrible, sometimes the combat can be satisfying, but the gameplay hasn't improved one damn bit from the last one, and that game was in need of improvments, especially for a sequel that was made last generation.
Graphics, 3. Just like the gameplay, the graphics, as far as I can see, haven't been improved much. Last-gen these graphics would have been passable, but not on the Wii and especially not for a sequel.
Sound, 6. The music is still decent, it has a nice Lord of the Rings vibe to it. The problems here is that the music eventually starts to sound all the same. The voice acting is good, and the sound effects are passable.
Value, 4. This game is way too short. It's about 8-10 hours, only maybe a little longer than A New Beginning, this is also inexcusable for a next-gen sequel. After you beat the game you can go through it again with all the breaths and the level you had each breath on, but why would you want to play through this game again as short as it is? The only incentive are some feathers that unlock some images for a gallery.
Difficulty, Hard. Although the game isn't as cheap as some people thought, it it still a hard game that is often pretty cheap. Remember, there is a fine line between cheap and challenging, and this game crossed it and went over to the cheap side.
Tilt, 6. It's not that I totally hate this game. I generally liked this game and thought the story was pretty good. My problem with this game it as a next-gen sequel there should have been some changes and improvments, but there isn't any at all. Did Sierra even look at the criticism A New Beghinning got before starting development of this one? It sure as hell doesn't look like it. Unless you really liked the story of this reboot trilogy of the Spyro series, then by all means buy this game, but please don't expect there to be any improvements or to feel like you're gonna experience something new, because Sierra has once again failed to bring the Spyro series back on its feet.