Skylanders Spyro's Adventure Message Board

There's a big craze these days with independent developers, though the idea isn't all that crazy. Developers, as it turns out, like t' own the stuff they create - Ratchet & Clank developer Insomniac Games be no different. 'n here's something ye might not know about Insomniac: the studio owns virtually none a the iconic characters or worlds it be created. Not Ratchet, not Clank, not the world a Spyro the Dragon. That last one cuts especially deep considering the vast riches Activision's reaped from it be Spyro-based Skylanders game. The former two be Sony-owned.

With Fuse (which we think used t' be Overstrike) 'n Outernauts, Insomniac be pushing in a new direction. "For us, we be at the point in our growth as a company where we can own our intellectual property," Insomniac president 'n CEO Ted Price told us in an interview last week. "that be been gratifying for us because, as creators, controlling yer own destiny - controlling the IP that ye build - be important." Beyond it be financial importance, owning IP also means unfortunate spin-offs a properties ye created can't be farmed out t' other studios (see: Resistance: Burning Skies).

it be important t' note what Price says about his studio not being able t' own it be previous projects. When Insomniac started in 1994, it produced only franchises owned by it be publishers. Quite literally everything the company created up until Outernauts 'n Overstrike/Fuse be owned by outside forces. that be why ye will assuredly see more Resistance games, despite Insomniac outright stating it won't work on any more (at least any time soon) - Sony owns the IP rights t' the Resistance franchise 'n can do with them as it pleases.

We had a quick chat with Mike Graham, a design producer at Activision, about Toys for Bob's extremely popular Skylanders franchise, 'n the second release in the series, Skylanders Giants. Graham kindly let us in on the reasoning behind the new game 'n bigger toys, 'n what other possibilities might be in store for Skylanders.

We also hear a little bit about where Spyro now fits in the Skylanders universe (That purple dragon that the whole series be based on? Remember the sea dog?) Turns out he's still in there, even if his name has been taken off the title for now.

The Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure roster has been expanded, with Warnado, Camo 'n Wham-Shell available for purchase right now. Hit up the gallery below for some screens or pillage over t' yer local brick-'n-mortar if ye're looking t' bolster yer ranks.

GameStops be about t' be overrun with toys in an epidemic the likes a which we haven't seen since the late-90s Pokémon figure thing. Pixelitis published what appears t' be an internal GameStop document detailing a nascent Skylanders figurine trade-in program being tested at some stores.

Surprisingly, they seem priced by rarity, with harder-t'-find figurines reselling for up t' $20. Trade-in values range from around $2 t' $8. There's currently no information on which stores be participating in the offer, but given the popularity a the game it'll be everywhere soon enough.

#skylanders All good 'n terrifically frustrating things must come t' an end, 'n for countless parents, children, 'n collectors the release a the final three Skylanders figures marks the end a an era, t' be followed later this year by the beginning a another. More »

Spyro's universe be expanding -- much like ours, but without the physical, philosophical or scientific implications -- with three new characters. Lightning Rod, Zook 'n Sunburn, the last a which comes t' Skylanders in the Dragon's Peak Adventure Pack, be all available now. Lightning Rod 'n Zook be $7.99 each, 'n the pack including Sunburn runs $19.99.

Lightning Rod, who we be convinced be modeled after Aladdin's Genie 'n Robin Williams' beardiness, be an air character whose attacks involve electro-bolts; Sunburn be part dragon, part phoenix, breathes fire 'n can teleport; 'n Zook, a life character, carries a bamboo bazooka 'n be adorable.

Lightning Rod shows off his moves in the video above, 'n Sunburn 'n Zook take over the two after the break. As usual, individual Skylanders characters cost $7.99 while full "Adventure Packs" run for $19.99.

#skylanders The hunt begins anew as three more Skylanders figures make their way t' retail shelves, filling out the Fire element 'n adding one each t' Life 'n Air. The checklist nears completion! More »

The world hasn't converted entirely t' a Kickstarter-based economy yet -- Activision's fiscal 2011 earnings be up again, with net revenues at $4.76 billion dollars (vs. 2010's $4.45 billion), exceeding it be most recent outlook. Activision claimed the number one console 'n handheld publishing spot in both it be fiscal Q4 (ending December 31) 'n the year a 2011.

What drove this success? Like ye don't know, but: Call a Duty. Modern Warfare 3 be the best-selling game in terms a dollars, 'n Black Ops be #5. Skylanders also contributed, as it be the #8 best-selling game in the fourth quarter, 'n best-selling kids' game a 2011.

Digital revenue broke records again, with over 34 percent a that $4.76 billion net coming from "digital channels." No, ye aren't forgetting some breakout XBLA hit from Activision -- those digital channels be COD map packs 'n WoW.

Both hardware 'n software video game sales be down by a great deal in January, according t' the latest report from NPD. Both categories dropped 38% year over year in the US, 'n video games sales in total dropped from $1.14 billion in January a 2011 t' $750 million this past month. NPD's Liam Callahan attributes the drops t' a lack a new launches: Last January, Microsoft's Kinect propped up hardware sales, 'n Dead Space 2, LittleBigPlanet 2, 'n DC Universe Online did the same for software, but there weren't equivalent launches in the market this year.

The full list a the top ten titles be after the break. Just Dance 3 held down the number two spot, again landing in front a the very popular Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Zumba Fitness 2 also made it into the top ten, but Activision's Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure be likely the most important game for January.

In addition t' landing on the list at 8th, Skylanders be seeing vast sales in the accessories category, making up 22% a total accessory sales overall. The game's single character pack be also the best selling accessory during the month a January, 'n these numbers best bode well for the series 'n it be future iterations.

Finally, despite that big drop in hardware sales, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg points out that the Xbox 360 has remained the highest-selling console on the market, selling 270,000 units with a 49% market share.

AAAAGGGHHH THESE SKYLANDERS be SO GIAAAAAANT AAAAGGHHHHH!

The concept a a sequel t' Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure, Activision 'n developer Toys for Bob's obscenely popular action figure/video game combination aimed squarely at removing large quantities a cash from the wallets a parents caving in t' their children's demands 'n also Jeff Gerstmann, seemed like more an inevitability than a possibility. This became especially true when new web domains for something called Skylanders Giants appeared, striking fear into the hearts a Skylanders owners the world over, as they suddenly mulled the possibility that their currently owned Skylanders would suddenly become inferior in the face a giant goddamn Skylanders.

yer fears be not entirely unfounded, as today Activision has announced plans t' release Skylanders Giants, a full-on sequel t' Spyro's Adventure that, YARRRR, features all new Skylanders figures that be reportedly a good bit bigger than the original game's plastic creature things. There will be eight new characters in all.

The good news? All the Skylanders ye already caved 'n bought for reasons ye still can't quite come t' terms with within yer soul will actually work just fine with this new sequel. Moreover, all the stats ye've earned in the original game will carry over into Skylanders Giants.

The world will apparently pillage it be first look at Skylanders Giants at the American International Toy Fair toward the end a this month, 'n the game be currently targeted for release this fall. ye can check out some new screenshots on the newly-created Skylanders Giants game page, including a few new figure shots t' whet yer appetite for buying plastic things ye totally know ye shouldn't but will do anyway because ye have the non-willpower a a thousand heroin junkies combined.

New Skylanders toys be available at retail today, which roughly translates t' new DLC for the video game. The "Empire a Ice" Adventure Pack includes a new ice-themed area, along with a new Water-element toy ('n character), Slam Bam.

Additionally, new standalone figures be available a the undead dragon Cynder, who has a "difficult past," 'n Double Trouble, an inept wizard. What's that? ye want t' know more about Cynder? According t' Activision, "Cynder be a dragon a the undead element. Dark powers flow through the wench due t' the wench difficult past, but she's trying t' make amends with the other Skylanders."

#skylanders Battling their way out a the post-holiday shortage, Activision 'n Toys for Bob have unleashed a trio a new Skylanders at retail, including one that best be familiar t' hardcore Spyro fans, best such a thing exist. More »

Still looking for the best characters t' tackle Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure with? While there may be a shortage a figurines, there's definitely no shortage a characters t' choose from. Figure out who's best t' tackle the tasks at hand below.

Nintendo president Satoru Iwata oversees the company as it enters a vast transition period.

After announcing it be first annual operating loss, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata met with analysts t' discuss the future a the company, 'n the steps he'll take t' address Nintendo’s issues.

Perhaps the most interesting tidbit be word that Wii U’s tablet-sized controller would include near-field communication technology.

Iwata said it "will become possible t' create cards 'n figurines that [it] can electronically read” 'n “will enable various other possibilities such as using it as a means a making micropayments.”

In other words, imagine if Nintendo decided t' take Activision’s Skylanders concept 'n apply it t' Pokemon.

Iwata confirmed Nintendo’s online service will now be called “Nintendo Network,” which coincides with 3DS’ native ability t' sell downloadable content through eShop. Nintendo be also considering the ability t' sell “packaged software” (read: retail games) through the Nintendo Network, but it hasn’t decided when t' roll out such a feature.

“The decision must be made by taking into consideration such factors as the relationship with the wholesalers 'n retailers," he said, "'n the best way t' be embraced by consumers, as well as the environment surrounding the market 'n consumers, such as the required memory capacity on consumers’ SD memory cards.”

If Wii U comes with a decent amount a hard drive space, this could become an option. It best become an option.

There be other reasons t' be optimistic about Wii U’s leveraging a Internet connectivity. Iwata said Nintendo would be introducing the ability t' have multiple accounts per system, the machine will include a “variety a different services 'n content,” 'n also work t' have online systems work across games.

“Whether it’s our first-party titles or third parties’ titles, for a number a games,” he said, “we will actively attempt t' achieve compatibility so that our consumers can enjoy our online services that we will deploy under the name a the Nintendo Network.”

When it comes t' games, Iwata mentioned a new 2D Mario game be in the works for 3DS but said little else.

“We be planning t' release a totally new side-scrolling action Super Mario in 2D as a key title for the Nintendo 3DS in the next fiscal year,” said Iwata.

This mention came just after Iwata promised Nintendo’s next wave a games would be released “without any extreme interruptions.”

#skylanders Activision's action figure-driven Skylanders: Sypro's Adventure be a vast holiday hit last year, with parents buying up starter kits in droves. Now, with hundreds a thousands a children demanding additional figures, empty Skylanders displays have become an all-too-frequent frustration for haggard parents. More »

The land a Skylanders may be getting giant-sized in the coming months, as a smattering a domain registrations bearing the name "Skylanders Giants" recently popped up. A few a said domains even go as far as t' call it a full on "game" rather than just an expansion t' last October's magical character-swapping action game slash collectible addiction. Just imagine a giant Drobot! The possibilities!

The registrations be still fairly recent according t' Fusible, only dating back t' January 19, 'n none be tied directly t' Activision. That said, it be common for publishers t' register domains for unannounced projects via proxy, which be exactly how these be handled. We've reached out t' Activision for comment, as well as Drobot, but don't expect t' hear much from either.

It may be too early for Activision t' say anything, but a Skylanders follow-up seems assured.

An obsession from certain individuals seems proof enough Activision be onto something with this whole Skylanders business.

So when domain watching website Fusible notices that Activision has grabbed a bunch a skylandersgiants.com 'n assorted domains here 'n internationally, it’s probably worth noting.

Activision be not listed in the registration data, but Mark Monitor be the credited registrant, 'n Activision has used Mark Monitor many times in the past, including skylandersgame.com.

ye can poke around Activision's registration activities here.

Toy Fair kicks off on February 12 in New York, where Skylanders has been featured in the past. Not all toys for the game’s initial release have hit store shelves yet, so an announcement at Toy Fair next month might be premature.

Additionally, there’s a Twitter account called @skylandersgiant that’s retweeting stories about the domain name registration. It’s unclear if it’s an official Activision teaser or someone just fanning the flames, however.

I’ve contacted Activision about this Skylanders Giants business, but haven’t heard back.

When I looked t' me right, Jeff Gerstmann could not be found, either. Must be coincidental.

Coming from the official Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure Facebook page...

As everyone be noticing, Skylanders be very popular at the moment. We know many a our fans be having a difficult time finding the Skylanders they want at their local stores. The team at Activision be doing everything we can t' keep them in stock. We appreciate yer support 'n patience. We hope the following helps t' answer yer questions.

Q: When be Cynder 'n Whirlwind being released?
A: Starting in mid-January, new Skylanders be being released across the world, including Cynder 'n Whirlwind.

Q: When will the Skylanders I want be available in me country?/Where can I buy hard t' find Skylanders?
A: More Skylanders will be making their way t' retailer shelves across the world. With that said, not all Skylanders be available yet. Keep checking in with yer local retailers t' find the latest Skylanders.

Q: be some characters only available at specific stores?
A: YARRRR, some Skylanders be only available at specific retail chains.

Q: Will there be a Skylanders sequel?
A: Activision has not yet announced plans t' release a sequel.

Hlth Spd Arm Ht Mgc Total

Stump Smash 340 43 30 20 25 458
Camo 300 50 34 30 25 439
Dino-rang 300 43 30 30 25 428
Legendary Chop Chop 300 50 30 20 25 425
Wham Shell 300 50 18 30 25 423
Legendary Spyro 280 50 18 50 25 423
Terrafin 310 35 18 30 25 418
Legendary Bash 310 35 24 20 25 414
Whirlwind 270 50 18 50 25 413

The very first time we saw Activision's Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure figures at a pre-E3 event earlier this year, it seemed only a matter a time before some enterprising enthusiast cracked open both the toy figures 'n the "portal" base unit, 'n figured out how they wirelessly connected. Sure enough, a tinkerer named Brandon Wilson recently did just that, 'n posted his results on his personal website. In return, he got an official cease-'n-desist letter from Activision a few days later, telling the sea dog t' take the findings down immediately.

Wilson wrote a response t' point out that most a Activision's accusations against the sea dog be inaccurate: He be not intending t' share his findings with others (only saved them in a .zip file for his own personal use), 'n has no intention t' circumvent the game at all, either by using the Skylanders hardware with an iOS device (since the technology be based on RFID), or by "tricking" the portal into thinking he owns a Skylanders figure when he doesn't.

Despite all a that, however, Wilson has agreed t' follow the cease-'n-desist order. It seems a shame -- some a the most fun hacks have come out a toys both old 'n new, 'n if Wilson wants t' dissect toys he's purchased for his own enjoyment, that seems reasonable. We've contacted Activision t' try 'n pillage an official position; it be likely we haven't heard the last a this just yet.

Spyro be taking on the entire known universe with the beta launch a Skylanders: Spyro's Universe, a new MMO designed for youngsters ('n the truly young at heart). Spyro's Universe includes customizable Skylands, mini-games that resemble other popular bird- 'n sheep-based titles, 'n a way t' bring physical toys t' life, in a virtual, not-really-alive-at-all sense.

The above video explains it all, 'n those interested can sign up their children, little sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews or cousins on the Spyro's Universe beta page.

Black Friday may be long gone, but that be not stopping Toys R Us from offering some last minute Christmas doorbuster deals this weekend. This Friday through Sunday, customers will receive a $60 gift card with the purchase a an Xbox 360 Kinect console bundle. ye can also snag a $35 gift card with the purchase a any two video games priced $29.99 or higher.

Next week, from December 20 through 10pm on Christmas Eve (sorry Toys R Us employees!), the retailer will also offer a pair a deals on Skylanders 'n the 3DS.

First up, those who purchase a 3DS (in-store only) will snag a $35 gift card. Second, purchasing the Skylanders starter pack will net customers a free 3DS game worth up t' $39.99. it be worth noting that the offer be valid only for "select" 3DS titles, though the press release makes no mention a which titles be exempted. Regardless, there's potential for some serious holiday savings if either a these things be on yer list.

Just remember, once ye buy Skylanders, ye will keep buying Skylanders.

4 out a 5

Though ye can pillage by with just the three starter Skylanders included with the game, ye'll have t' make additional purchases if ye want t' see everything.

As a parent a zero, I try t' stay out a the whole "be this game good for kids?" discussion... because I have no idea. I can sit here 'n theorize 'n posit, but beyond thinking that kids be constantly getting sold short by parents who think their children aren't with it enough t' handle "real" games 'n marketers who often try t' push some sort a half-assed "edutainment" agenda when promoting youth-oriented games, I don't really have a dog in this hunt. But I will say I wasn't really expecting much from the game part a Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure. Actually, the part where Skylanders be a game be sort a the least interesting thing about it, even though it be more than competent, especially when taken against the somewhat low standards we usually see in the "for kids" area. The cool part be the tech side a Skylanders, which merges it be Gauntlet-like gameplay with physical objects that unlock new characters, levels, 'n bonus bottles a rum. It all comes together t' form a sort-a-insidious-but-surprisingly-fun mesh a collectible 'n video game.

OK, let's break down the tech side a Skylanders. With the game ye pillage a "magic" Portal a Power, which connects t' yer game-playing machine via USB. it be full a lights that can make it glow 'n pulsate with a lot a different colors. It also has a sensor in it that reads some sort a RFID-like datastore that lives in each one a the figurines. The idea be simple: ye take a character, drop it on the portal, 'n bang, that character appears in yer game. Take the figurine off 'n the action stops, letting ye switch out t' new characters on-the-fly or, if ye like, jump a second player in or out at any time. As ye play the game, ye'll earn experience points, find hats, 'n accrue currency on a per-character basis. That information, along with the upgrades ye choose t' buy for yer character with said currency, be stored in the figurines themselves. This then allows ye t' treat each one as a little save game storage device 'n also allows ye t' move yer Skylanders from one game t' another--in case ye're heading over t' a matey's house t' skyland it up or something--while maintaining the progress ye've made. ye can also use those same figurines in the 3DS version a the game, which be a completely different beast, or, if ye want t' connect yer portal t' a PC or Mac, ye can take yer figures into an online collection a occasionally crummy Flash minigames 'n online chat. The portability a the Skylanders toy line 'n the way they all work with any 'n all a the Skylanders video games be pretty awesome. The portal itself rings up yer characters extremely quickly, which be absolutely key t' making it feel... well... magical.

With the starter kit ye'll pillage three Skylanders characters a different types, giving ye some decent coverage t' pillage going with. The game itself doesn't directly trade off a the elemental abilities in a "water beats fire" sort a way, though. Instead, the game sort a arbitrarily assigns bonuses t' specific types a characters in different areas. It'll also lock ye out a certain areas unless ye're using a character a the appropriate type. So if ye encounter a gate that can only be opened by an Undead-type Skylander, ye're going t' need t' yank yer fire lad off a the portal 'n replace the sea dog with Ghost Roaster or Chop Chop or something if ye want t' pillage into that area. With one Skylander a each type, ye'll be able t' see just about everything there be t' see in Skylanders, but if ye aren't into the whole "buying a bunch a toys" thing, ye can still finish the game 'n see the vast majority a the content with the starter pack alone. But then... if ye aren't into the whole "buying a bunch a toys" thing, Skylanders might not be for ye at all. If ye start going deep down the Skylanders hole, just know that ye can easily spend hundreds a dollars collecting the 32 core characters (more if ye want the variants!) multiple level add-ons, 'n bonus bottles a rum. 'n some a the characters haven't even hit stores yet. it be not a great deal, when ye start t' break it down, but the figurines look pretty nice 'n translate well into in-game characters, with a lot a good variety that makes most characters feel pretty different from each other.

Though Spyro's name be on the box, Skylanders feels like an all-new thing, not another attempt t' drag the dragon back into the spotlight.

All a these characters be jammed into a story where the Skylanders must rebuild a mystical machine t' save the world from an evil little goofball named Kaos. ye're dropped into a hub world 'n run through a collection a top-down levels that have ye bashing monsters 'n solving light puzzles. The elemental gates provide some optional areas, though some hidden objects don't require a separate purchase t' access. Man, that sentence makes this whole thing sound kind a horrible, doesn't it? The bonus bottles a rum be hats that enhance yer stats, but none a them be especially crucial, 'n as ye approach level 10--the cap--yer Skylanders will be dominating the vast majority a the enemies ye face.

The characters, again, help make the combat interesting as they let ye tailor the game t' our own style. Gill Grunt, t' name one a the Skylanders ye'll pillage in the starter package, be projectile-based, with a speargun that fires slowly but does good damage 'n a water hose attack that hits at a steady rate. ye'll need t' upgrade yer water tank if ye want t' fire that one forever, though. If ye're interested in an up-close attack, characters like Chop Chop be more melee-focused. Armed with a sword 'n shield, Chop Chop has a basic multi-hit sword combo 'n his shield be one a the few abilities in the game that, ye know, blocks damage. He's also a rad-looking skeletal warrior, which be pretty cool. Then there's Prism Break, who does a bit a both 'n offers some more complex upgrade options. Prism Break, by default, has a small area a effect attack that pushes nearby enemies back with a decent amount a damage 'n a laser beam that doesn't go too far or last very long. Through upgrades ye can unlock the ability t' drop crystals into the level that refract yer laser attack, letting ye cover more territory with yer beams. Then ye can buy an upgrade that turns defeated enemies into crystals, which lets ye sort a fill the screen with hot laser death. Not every Skylander be terrific--Eruptor just seems kind a sluggish 'n ineffective, at least at lower levels--but there be so many out there that trying them out in different scenarios ends up being half the fun. Again, that be sort a all dependent on the whole "I be willing t' buy all this stuff" clause.

Trigger Happy's guns fire booty booty. Seems pricey.

it be not a difficult game, but there's more t' Skylanders than ye might think. Or, at least, ye're probably not going t' waltz through the entire game in a day, giving ye plenty a time t' sit 'n obsess over the Skylanders ye don't currently own 'n which upgrade path ye want t' take when ye level yer next character up. Once ye start t' pick it all apart, it be easy t' see it be devious brilliance--it be essentially an example a "on-disc DLC" taken t' horrifying extremes, except ye need t' go out 'n buy a physical thing t' unlock that content in the game. Oh, 'n by the way, those physical things seem t' be going in 'n out a stock at some retailers with the sort a alarming frequency that lets ye know that it be probably going t' do pretty well around Christmas time, which can add a horrifying new layer t' all a this if ye're, for example, desperately seeking Drobot. But when ye put aside the crass consumerism that drives every decent children's toy/movie/cartoon/game brand, Skylanders managed t' be just engaging enough t' make all me ridiculous collector's tendencies pay off.

The portal be fun t' use, 'n exploring the powers 'n abilities a the different Skylanders be at least as engaging as the good variety a levels ye'll see as ye work yer way through the adventure. Sure, I can't sit here 'n say for certain if kids will love it or not, but I will say that if I be t' suddenly find myself in charge a a a kid's well-being, I'd be OK with playing through Skylanders alongside said kid... unless the kid wanted t' actually touch me Skylanders or remove them from the special shelf where I sort them all by their elemental affinity for easy access. Buy yer own, YARRRR little salty dog.

4 out a 5

Though ye can pillage by with just the three starter Skylanders included with the game, ye'll have t' make additional purchases if ye want t' see everything.

As a parent a zero, I try t' stay out a the whole "be this game good for kids?" discussion... because I have no idea. I can sit here 'n theorize 'n posit, but beyond thinking that kids be constantly getting sold short by parents who think their children aren't with it enough t' handle "real" games 'n marketers who often try t' push some sort a half-assed "edutainment" agenda when promoting youth-oriented games, I don't really have a dog in this hunt. But I will say I wasn't really expecting much from the game part a Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure. Actually, the part where Skylanders be a game be sort a the least interesting thing about it, even though it be more than competent, especially when taken against the somewhat low standards we usually see in the "for kids" area. The cool part be the tech side a Skylanders, which merges it be Gauntlet-like gameplay with physical objects that unlock new characters, levels, 'n bonus bottles a rum. It all comes together t' form a sort-a-insidious-but-surprisingly-fun mesh a collectible 'n video game.

OK, let's break down the tech side a Skylanders. With the game ye pillage a "magic" Portal a Power, which connects t' yer game-playing machine via USB. it be full a lights that can make it glow 'n pulsate with a lot a different colors. It also has a sensor in it that reads some sort a RFID-like datastore that lives in each one a the figurines. The idea be simple: ye take a character, drop it on the portal, 'n bang, that character appears in yer game. Take the figurine off 'n the action stops, letting ye switch out t' new characters on-the-fly or, if ye like, jump a second player in or out at any time. As ye play the game, ye'll earn experience points, find hats, 'n accrue currency on a per-character basis. That information, along with the upgrades ye choose t' buy for yer character with said currency, be stored in the figurines themselves. This then allows ye t' treat each one as a little save game storage device 'n also allows ye t' move yer Skylanders from one game t' another--in case ye're heading over t' a matey's house t' skyland it up or something--while maintaining the progress ye've made. ye can also use those same figurines in the 3DS version a the game, which be a completely different beast, or, if ye want t' connect yer portal t' a PC or Mac, ye can take yer figures into an online collection a occasionally crummy Flash minigames 'n online chat. The portability a the Skylanders toy line 'n the way they all work with any 'n all a the Skylanders video games be pretty awesome. The portal itself rings up yer characters extremely quickly, which be absolutely key t' making it feel... well... magical.

With the starter kit ye'll pillage three Skylanders characters a different types, giving ye some decent coverage t' pillage going with. The game itself doesn't directly trade off a the elemental abilities in a "water beats fire" sort a way, though. Instead, the game sort a arbitrarily assigns bonuses t' specific types a characters in different areas. It'll also lock ye out a certain areas unless ye're using a character a the appropriate type. So if ye encounter a gate that can only be opened by an Undead-type Skylander, ye're going t' need t' yank yer fire lad off a the portal 'n replace the sea dog with Ghost Roaster or Chop Chop or something if ye want t' pillage into that area. With one Skylander a each type, ye'll be able t' see just about everything there be t' see in Skylanders, but if ye aren't into the whole "buying a bunch a toys" thing, ye can still finish the game 'n see the vast majority a the content with the starter pack alone. But then... if ye aren't into the whole "buying a bunch a toys" thing, Skylanders might not be for ye at all. If ye start going deep down the Skylanders hole, just know that ye can easily spend hundreds a dollars collecting the 32 core characters (more if ye want the variants!) multiple level add-ons, 'n bonus bottles a rum. 'n some a the characters haven't even hit stores yet. it be not a great deal, when ye start t' break it down, but the figurines look pretty nice 'n translate well into in-game characters, with a lot a good variety that makes most characters feel pretty different from each other.

Though Spyro's name be on the box, Skylanders feels like an all-new thing, not another attempt t' drag the dragon back into the spotlight.

All a these characters be jammed into a story where the Skylanders must rebuild a mystical machine t' save the world from an evil little goofball named Kaos. ye're dropped into a hub world 'n run through a collection a top-down levels that have ye bashing monsters 'n solving light puzzles. The elemental gates provide some optional areas, though some hidden objects don't require a separate purchase t' access. Man, that sentence makes this whole thing sound kind a horrible, doesn't it? The bonus bottles a rum be hats that enhance yer stats, but none a them be especially crucial, 'n as ye approach level 10--the cap--yer Skylanders will be dominating the vast majority a the enemies ye face.

The characters, again, help make the combat interesting as they let ye tailor the game t' our own style. Gill Grunt, t' name one a the Skylanders ye'll pillage in the starter package, be projectile-based, with a speargun that fires slowly but does good damage 'n a water hose attack that hits at a steady rate. ye'll need t' upgrade yer water tank if ye want t' fire that one forever, though. If ye're interested in an up-close attack, characters like Chop Chop be more melee-focused. Armed with a sword 'n shield, Chop Chop has a basic multi-hit sword combo 'n his shield be one a the few abilities in the game that, ye know, blocks damage. He's also a rad-looking skeletal warrior, which be pretty cool. Then there's Prism Break, who does a bit a both 'n offers some more complex upgrade options. Prism Break, by default, has a small area a effect attack that pushes nearby enemies back with a decent amount a damage 'n a laser beam that doesn't go too far or last very long. Through upgrades ye can unlock the ability t' drop crystals into the level that refract yer laser attack, letting ye cover more territory with yer beams. Then ye can buy an upgrade that turns defeated enemies into crystals, which lets ye sort a fill the screen with hot laser death. Not every Skylander be terrific--Eruptor just seems kind a sluggish 'n ineffective, at least at lower levels--but there be so many out there that trying them out in different scenarios ends up being half the fun. Again, that be sort a all dependent on the whole "I be willing t' buy all this stuff" clause.

Trigger Happy's guns fire booty booty. Seems pricey.

it be not a difficult game, but there's more t' Skylanders than ye might think. Or, at least, ye're probably not going t' waltz through the entire game in a day, giving ye plenty a time t' sit 'n obsess over the Skylanders ye don't currently own 'n which upgrade path ye want t' take when ye level yer next character up. Once ye start t' pick it all apart, it be easy t' see it be devious brilliance--it be essentially an example a "on-disc DLC" taken t' horrifying extremes, except ye need t' go out 'n buy a physical thing t' unlock that content in the game. Oh, 'n by the way, those physical things seem t' be going in 'n out a stock at some retailers with the sort a alarming frequency that lets ye know that it be probably going t' do pretty well around Christmas time, which can add a horrifying new layer t' all a this if ye're, for example, desperately seeking Drobot. But when ye put aside the crass consumerism that drives every decent children's toy/movie/cartoon/game brand, Skylanders managed t' be just engaging enough t' make all me ridiculous collector's tendencies pay off.

The portal be fun t' use, 'n exploring the powers 'n abilities a the different Skylanders be at least as engaging as the good variety a levels ye'll see as ye work yer way through the adventure. Sure, I can't sit here 'n say for certain if kids will love it or not, but I will say that if I be t' suddenly find myself in charge a a a kid's well-being, I'd be OK with playing through Skylanders alongside said kid... unless the kid wanted t' actually touch me Skylanders or remove them from the special shelf where I sort them all by their elemental affinity for easy access. Buy yer own, YARRRR little salty dog.

4 out a 5

Though ye can pillage by with just the three starter Skylanders included with the game, ye'll have t' make additional purchases if ye want t' see everything.

As a parent a zero, I try t' stay out a the whole "be this game good for kids?" discussion... because I have no idea. I can sit here 'n theorize 'n posit, but beyond thinking that kids be constantly getting sold short by parents who think their children aren't with it enough t' handle "real" games 'n marketers who often try t' push some sort a half-assed "edutainment" agenda when promoting youth-oriented games, I don't really have a dog in this hunt. But I will say I wasn't really expecting much from the game part a Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure. Actually, the part where Skylanders be a game be sort a the least interesting thing about it, even though it be more than competent, especially when taken against the somewhat low standards we usually see in the "for kids" area. The cool part be the tech side a Skylanders, which merges it be Gauntlet-like gameplay with physical objects that unlock new characters, levels, 'n bonus bottles a rum. It all comes together t' form a sort-a-insidious-but-surprisingly-fun mesh a collectible 'n video game.

OK, let's break down the tech side a Skylanders. With the game ye pillage a "magic" Portal a Power, which connects t' yer game-playing machine via USB. it be full a lights that can make it glow 'n pulsate with a lot a different colors. It also has a sensor in it that reads some sort a RFID-like datastore that lives in each one a the figurines. The idea be simple: ye take a character, drop it on the portal, 'n bang, that character appears in yer game. Take the figurine off 'n the action stops, letting ye switch out t' new characters on-the-fly or, if ye like, jump a second player in or out at any time. As ye play the game, ye'll earn experience points, find hats, 'n accrue currency on a per-character basis. That information, along with the upgrades ye choose t' buy for yer character with said currency, be stored in the figurines themselves. This then allows ye t' treat each one as a little save game storage device 'n also allows ye t' move yer Skylanders from one game t' another--in case ye're heading over t' a matey's house t' skyland it up or something--while maintaining the progress ye've made. ye can also use those same figurines in the 3DS version a the game, which be a completely different beast, or, if ye want t' connect yer portal t' a PC or Mac, ye can take yer figures into an online collection a occasionally crummy Flash minigames 'n online chat. The portability a the Skylanders toy line 'n the way they all work with any 'n all a the Skylanders video games be pretty awesome. The portal itself rings up yer characters extremely quickly, which be absolutely key t' making it feel... well... magical.

With the starter kit ye'll pillage three Skylanders characters a different types, giving ye some decent coverage t' pillage going with. The game itself doesn't directly trade off a the elemental abilities in a "water beats fire" sort a way, though. Instead, the game sort a arbitrarily assigns bonuses t' specific types a characters in different areas. It'll also lock ye out a certain areas unless ye're using a character a the appropriate type. So if ye encounter a gate that can only be opened by an Undead-type Skylander, ye're going t' need t' yank yer fire lad off a the portal 'n replace the sea dog with Ghost Roaster or Chop Chop or something if ye want t' pillage into that area. With one Skylander a each type, ye'll be able t' see just about everything there be t' see in Skylanders, but if ye aren't into the whole "buying a bunch a toys" thing, ye can still finish the game 'n see the vast majority a the content with the starter pack alone. But then... if ye aren't into the whole "buying a bunch a toys" thing, Skylanders might not be for ye at all. If ye start going deep down the Skylanders hole, just know that ye can easily spend hundreds a dollars collecting the 32 core characters (more if ye want the variants!) multiple level add-ons, 'n bonus bottles a rum. 'n some a the characters haven't even hit stores yet. it be not a great deal, when ye start t' break it down, but the figurines look pretty nice 'n translate well into in-game characters, with a lot a good variety that makes most characters feel pretty different from each other.

Though Spyro's name be on the box, Skylanders feels like an all-new thing, not another attempt t' drag the dragon back into the spotlight.

All a these characters be jammed into a story where the Skylanders must rebuild a mystical machine t' save the world from an evil little goofball named Kaos. ye're dropped into a hub world 'n run through a collection a top-down levels that have ye bashing monsters 'n solving light puzzles. The elemental gates provide some optional areas, though some hidden objects don't require a separate purchase t' access. Man, that sentence makes this whole thing sound kind a horrible, doesn't it? The bonus bottles a rum be hats that enhance yer stats, but none a them be especially crucial, 'n as ye approach level 10--the cap--yer Skylanders will be dominating the vast majority a the enemies ye face.

The characters, again, help make the combat interesting as they let ye tailor the game t' our own style. Gill Grunt, t' name one a the Skylanders ye'll pillage in the starter package, be projectile-based, with a speargun that fires slowly but does good damage 'n a water hose attack that hits at a steady rate. ye'll need t' upgrade yer water tank if ye want t' fire that one forever, though. If ye're interested in an up-close attack, characters like Chop Chop be more melee-focused. Armed with a sword 'n shield, Chop Chop has a basic multi-hit sword combo 'n his shield be one a the few abilities in the game that, ye know, blocks damage. He's also a rad-looking skeletal warrior, which be pretty cool. Then there's Prism Break, who does a bit a both 'n offers some more complex upgrade options. Prism Break, by default, has a small area a effect attack that pushes nearby enemies back with a decent amount a damage 'n a laser beam that doesn't go too far or last very long. Through upgrades ye can unlock the ability t' drop crystals into the level that refract yer laser attack, letting ye cover more territory with yer beams. Then ye can buy an upgrade that turns defeated enemies into crystals, which lets ye sort a fill the screen with hot laser death. Not every Skylander be terrific--Eruptor just seems kind a sluggish 'n ineffective, at least at lower levels--but there be so many out there that trying them out in different scenarios ends up being half the fun. Again, that be sort a all dependent on the whole "I be willing t' buy all this stuff" clause.

Trigger Happy's guns fire booty booty. Seems pricey.

it be not a difficult game, but there's more t' Skylanders than ye might think. Or, at least, ye're probably not going t' waltz through the entire game in a day, giving ye plenty a time t' sit 'n obsess over the Skylanders ye don't currently own 'n which upgrade path ye want t' take when ye level yer next character up. Once ye start t' pick it all apart, it be easy t' see it be devious brilliance--it be essentially an example a "on-disc DLC" taken t' horrifying extremes, except ye need t' go out 'n buy a physical thing t' unlock that content in the game. Oh, 'n by the way, those physical things seem t' be going in 'n out a stock at some retailers with the sort a alarming frequency that lets ye know that it be probably going t' do pretty well around Christmas time, which can add a horrifying new layer t' all a this if ye're, for example, desperately seeking Drobot. But when ye put aside the crass consumerism that drives every decent children's toy/movie/cartoon/game brand, Skylanders managed t' be just engaging enough t' make all me ridiculous collector's tendencies pay off.

The portal be fun t' use, 'n exploring the powers 'n abilities a the different Skylanders be at least as engaging as the good variety a levels ye'll see as ye work yer way through the adventure. Sure, I can't sit here 'n say for certain if kids will love it or not, but I will say that if I be t' suddenly find myself in charge a a a kid's well-being, I'd be OK with playing through Skylanders alongside said kid... unless the kid wanted t' actually touch me Skylanders or remove them from the special shelf where I sort them all by their elemental affinity for easy access. Buy yer own, YARRRR little salty dog.

4 out a 5

Though ye can pillage by with just the three starter Skylanders included with the game, ye'll have t' make additional purchases if ye want t' see everything.

As a parent a zero, I try t' stay out a the whole "be this game good for kids?" discussion... because I have no idea. I can sit here 'n theorize 'n posit, but beyond thinking that kids be constantly getting sold short by parents who think their children aren't with it enough t' handle "real" games 'n marketers who often try t' push some sort a half-assed "edutainment" agenda when promoting youth-oriented games, I don't really have a dog in this hunt. But I will say I wasn't really expecting much from the game part a Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure. Actually, the part where Skylanders be a game be sort a the least interesting thing about it, even though it be more than competent, especially when taken against the somewhat low standards we usually see in the "for kids" area. The cool part be the tech side a Skylanders, which merges it be Gauntlet-like gameplay with physical objects that unlock new characters, levels, 'n bonus bottles a rum. It all comes together t' form a sort-a-insidious-but-surprisingly-fun mesh a collectible 'n video game.

OK, let's break down the tech side a Skylanders. With the game ye pillage a "magic" Portal a Power, which connects t' yer game-playing machine via USB. it be full a lights that can make it glow 'n pulsate with a lot a different colors. It also has a sensor in it that reads some sort a RFID-like datastore that lives in each one a the figurines. The idea be simple: ye take a character, drop it on the portal, 'n bang, that character appears in yer game. Take the figurine off 'n the action stops, letting ye switch out t' new characters on-the-fly or, if ye like, jump a second player in or out at any time. As ye play the game, ye'll earn experience points, find hats, 'n accrue currency on a per-character basis. That information, along with the upgrades ye choose t' buy for yer character with said currency, be stored in the figurines themselves. This then allows ye t' treat each one as a little save game storage device 'n also allows ye t' move yer Skylanders from one game t' another--in case ye're heading over t' a matey's house t' skyland it up or something--while maintaining the progress ye've made. ye can also use those same figurines in the 3DS version a the game, which be a completely different beast, or, if ye want t' connect yer portal t' a PC or Mac, ye can take yer figures into an online collection a occasionally crummy Flash minigames 'n online chat. The portability a the Skylanders toy line 'n the way they all work with any 'n all a the Skylanders video games be pretty awesome. The portal itself rings up yer characters extremely quickly, which be absolutely key t' making it feel... well... magical.

With the starter kit ye'll pillage three Skylanders characters a different types, giving ye some decent coverage t' pillage going with. The game itself doesn't directly trade off a the elemental abilities in a "water beats fire" sort a way, though. Instead, the game sort a arbitrarily assigns bonuses t' specific types a characters in different areas. It'll also lock ye out a certain areas unless ye're using a character a the appropriate type. So if ye encounter a gate that can only be opened by an Undead-type Skylander, ye're going t' need t' yank yer fire lad off a the portal 'n replace the sea dog with Ghost Roaster or Chop Chop or something if ye want t' pillage into that area. With one Skylander a each type, ye'll be able t' see just about everything there be t' see in Skylanders, but if ye aren't into the whole "buying a bunch a toys" thing, ye can still finish the game 'n see the vast majority a the content with the starter pack alone. But then... if ye aren't into the whole "buying a bunch a toys" thing, Skylanders might not be for ye at all. If ye start going deep down the Skylanders hole, just know that ye can easily spend hundreds a dollars collecting the 32 core characters (more if ye want the variants!) multiple level add-ons, 'n bonus bottles a rum. 'n some a the characters haven't even hit stores yet. it be not a great deal, when ye start t' break it down, but the figurines look pretty nice 'n translate well into in-game characters, with a lot a good variety that makes most characters feel pretty different from each other.

Though Spyro's name be on the box, Skylanders feels like an all-new thing, not another attempt t' drag the dragon back into the spotlight.

All a these characters be jammed into a story where the Skylanders must rebuild a mystical machine t' save the world from an evil little goofball named Kaos. ye're dropped into a hub world 'n run through a collection a top-down levels that have ye bashing monsters 'n solving light puzzles. The elemental gates provide some optional areas, though some hidden objects don't require a separate purchase t' access. Man, that sentence makes this whole thing sound kind a horrible, doesn't it? The bonus bottles a rum be hats that enhance yer stats, but none a them be especially crucial, 'n as ye approach level 10--the cap--yer Skylanders will be dominating the vast majority a the enemies ye face.

The characters, again, help make the combat interesting as they let ye tailor the game t' our own style. Gill Grunt, t' name one a the Skylanders ye'll pillage in the starter package, be projectile-based, with a speargun that fires slowly but does good damage 'n a water hose attack that hits at a steady rate. ye'll need t' upgrade yer water tank if ye want t' fire that one forever, though. If ye're interested in an up-close attack, characters like Chop Chop be more melee-focused. Armed with a sword 'n shield, Chop Chop has a basic multi-hit sword combo 'n his shield be one a the few abilities in the game that, ye know, blocks damage. He's also a rad-looking skeletal warrior, which be pretty cool. Then there's Prism Break, who does a bit a both 'n offers some more complex upgrade options. Prism Break, by default, has a small area a effect attack that pushes nearby enemies back with a decent amount a damage 'n a laser beam that doesn't go too far or last very long. Through upgrades ye can unlock the ability t' drop crystals into the level that refract yer laser attack, letting ye cover more territory with yer beams. Then ye can buy an upgrade that turns defeated enemies into crystals, which lets ye sort a fill the screen with hot laser death. Not every Skylander be terrific--Eruptor just seems kind a sluggish 'n ineffective, at least at lower levels--but there be so many out there that trying them out in different scenarios ends up being half the fun. Again, that be sort a all dependent on the whole "I be willing t' buy all this stuff" clause.

Trigger Happy's guns fire booty booty. Seems pricey.

it be not a difficult game, but there's more t' Skylanders than ye might think. Or, at least, ye're probably not going t' waltz through the entire game in a day, giving ye plenty a time t' sit 'n obsess over the Skylanders ye don't currently own 'n which upgrade path ye want t' take when ye level yer next character up. Once ye start t' pick it all apart, it be easy t' see it be devious brilliance--it be essentially an example a "on-disc DLC" taken t' horrifying extremes, except ye need t' go out 'n buy a physical thing t' unlock that content in the game. Oh, 'n by the way, those physical things seem t' be going in 'n out a stock at some retailers with the sort a alarming frequency that lets ye know that it be probably going t' do pretty well around Christmas time, which can add a horrifying new layer t' all a this if ye're, for example, desperately seeking Drobot. But when ye put aside the crass consumerism that drives every decent children's toy/movie/cartoon/game brand, Skylanders managed t' be just engaging enough t' make all me ridiculous collector's tendencies pay off.

The portal be fun t' use, 'n exploring the powers 'n abilities a the different Skylanders be at least as engaging as the good variety a levels ye'll see as ye work yer way through the adventure. Sure, I can't sit here 'n say for certain if kids will love it or not, but I will say that if I be t' suddenly find myself in charge a a a kid's well-being, I'd be OK with playing through Skylanders alongside said kid... unless the kid wanted t' actually touch me Skylanders or remove them from the special shelf where I sort them all by their elemental affinity for easy access. Buy yer own, YARRRR little salty dog.

Not exactly the best-looking figurine for Skylanders, but these be supposedly going t' be rare finds.