Bryce 2 has a different material-lab and no animation and no volumes etc, but you'll find that you can still make some nice images with it. One option I really miss in Bryce5 is the ability to set a textures ambience or diffusion etc to higher than 100. That was possible in Bryce2, but it's impossible since the new matlab in Bryce3D. Bryce3D is free, and it adds volume textures and animation. Plus it renders a bit faster. It's worth searching for a download or buying a magazine with Bryce3D on the cover. The only thing I'd personally really miss in Bryce 2 or 3D would be the skylab, trees, metaballs and the premiumrender. But there's still really nice things that can be made with bryce 2 or 3D.

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