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it's not that time again already, is it? Oh, yes, Skylanders is back with another Starter Pack, another new portal and another set of figures to absorb all your money.
Something wicked this way comes
Trying to distinguish itself from the previous games, Trap Team has an interesting concept to add to the toy-meets-game series. In addition to the new toys, which I’ll come to in a minute, it features traps (two of which are included in the Starter Set). These help you trap the bad Skylanders who have broken out of the infamous Cloudcracker prison, mainly due to one of those evil plans of Kaos, the main bad guy from the previous games. It opens up a far bigger feeling game world with enemies turned in to heroes via their own missions to redeem their previous crimes.
Cage Fight
You’ll need to trap them first, though, and you’ll need the Trap Masters to do it. Yes, here come the new toys! Trap Masters all have a large weapon that glows in the game when they need to trap an enemy. You can trap with normal Skylanders too, but it’s a lot harder. Using these characters you trap the bad guys in special cages, again using a plastic toy of each element to trap them. With only 2 of these in the box, it’s another thing to collect. The new portal lets you store the trap tool in a sort of cage and even makes a cool noise when there are captures Skylanders inside.
Money for Nothing
There are new tiny characters to play as, too, building up yet more collectable toys for the game, and all previous Skylanders will work. The new smaller characters do feel like they are there just to bolster the collection, though, and don’t feel like they add anything new to the game. The issue with using your old Skylanders is that they can’t be upgraded beyond their previous abilities. It would have been nice to have extra abilities in the new game, but it would mean less chance for those playing to buy new toys and keep the money rolling in, too.
The Touch
The Wii U version’s use of the touchscreen still makes it the best version for younger children and has the benefit of Trap Team off-TV play, too. Aside from that it seems to be graphically in between the older generation and current generation consoles, which is fine for me. These are the only things marking it out from the other console versions, though.
Caught in a Trap
A return to solid platform gaming, an additional card game and the use of Villains as playable characters with their own missions certainly makes Trap Team worth buying in addition to any previous Skylanders game you already might own and the portal is the nicest looking one yet. It might not be quite as unique as I was hoping for, but it’s certainly recommended if you enjoyed the previous games.
8/10
Something wicked this way comes
Trying to distinguish itself from the previous games, Trap Team has an interesting concept to add to the toy-meets-game series. In addition to the new toys, which I’ll come to in a minute, it features traps (two of which are included in the Starter Set). These help you trap the bad Skylanders who have broken out of the infamous Cloudcracker prison, mainly due to one of those evil plans of Kaos, the main bad guy from the previous games. It opens up a far bigger feeling game world with enemies turned in to heroes via their own missions to redeem their previous crimes.
Cage Fight
You’ll need to trap them first, though, and you’ll need the Trap Masters to do it. Yes, here come the new toys! Trap Masters all have a large weapon that glows in the game when they need to trap an enemy. You can trap with normal Skylanders too, but it’s a lot harder. Using these characters you trap the bad guys in special cages, again using a plastic toy of each element to trap them. With only 2 of these in the box, it’s another thing to collect. The new portal lets you store the trap tool in a sort of cage and even makes a cool noise when there are captures Skylanders inside.
Money for Nothing
There are new tiny characters to play as, too, building up yet more collectable toys for the game, and all previous Skylanders will work. The new smaller characters do feel like they are there just to bolster the collection, though, and don’t feel like they add anything new to the game. The issue with using your old Skylanders is that they can’t be upgraded beyond their previous abilities. It would have been nice to have extra abilities in the new game, but it would mean less chance for those playing to buy new toys and keep the money rolling in, too.
The Touch
The Wii U version’s use of the touchscreen still makes it the best version for younger children and has the benefit of Trap Team off-TV play, too. Aside from that it seems to be graphically in between the older generation and current generation consoles, which is fine for me. These are the only things marking it out from the other console versions, though.
Caught in a Trap
A return to solid platform gaming, an additional card game and the use of Villains as playable characters with their own missions certainly makes Trap Team worth buying in addition to any previous Skylanders game you already might own and the portal is the nicest looking one yet. It might not be quite as unique as I was hoping for, but it’s certainly recommended if you enjoyed the previous games.
8/10
There are quite a few Skylander figures in my house but there has never been a game. My daughter likes the figures but has no interest in gaming and the game doesn't appeal enough to me to shell out for it.
pb wrote:
The game is actually well put together and worth playing on its own but, of course, they've made it so that you need more figures to unlock certain areas and this time it's the trap team big figures that are needed, which are the most expensive ones.
That sucks even more. The cheaper ones aren't exactly cheap. The larger ones, as far as I can recall, were £15-£20 a pop last time round.
It's a bit rude, in my opinion, for Activision to release a game you cannot complete without spending an extra £100 (or whatever) on the basic game. It's not even like it's DLC. What you are essentially getting for £50 is a full game to which you can only access certain parts. If you want to access the full game then you need to spend EVEN MORE!!
As a parent it's a terrible situation to be in. Kids will obviously feel they NEEEEEEEEED those Skylanders and will pester you every time you walk past a display of them. And they are ubiquitous too these days: GAME, Argos, Tesco, Sainsburys, HMV... they've all got them. You feel like a right git saying "No... that game I bought you which you cannot fully play... well that's just the way it goes". Christmas and birthday lists are often full of these figurines too. Only for them to lose interest 6 months or so down the line.
Like you say it is a well put together game and worth playing on its own, but it is a massive con as well and not one I am willing to become a part of again.
The game is actually well put together and worth playing on its own but, of course, they've made it so that you need more figures to unlock certain areas and this time it's the trap team big figures that are needed, which are the most expensive ones.
That sucks even more. The cheaper ones aren't exactly cheap. The larger ones, as far as I can recall, were £15-£20 a pop last time round.
It's a bit rude, in my opinion, for Activision to release a game you cannot complete without spending an extra £100 (or whatever) on the basic game. It's not even like it's DLC. What you are essentially getting for £50 is a full game to which you can only access certain parts. If you want to access the full game then you need to spend EVEN MORE!!
As a parent it's a terrible situation to be in. Kids will obviously feel they NEEEEEEEEED those Skylanders and will pester you every time you walk past a display of them. And they are ubiquitous too these days: GAME, Argos, Tesco, Sainsburys, HMV... they've all got them. You feel like a right git saying "No... that game I bought you which you cannot fully play... well that's just the way it goes". Christmas and birthday lists are often full of these figurines too. Only for them to lose interest 6 months or so down the line.
Like you say it is a well put together game and worth playing on its own, but it is a massive con as well and not one I am willing to become a part of again.
I know what you mean. I had the original set but sold that to get the Giants set and luckily got sent some more figures from Activision.
Skipped the last set with the swap force and ended up being sent Trap Team.
The problem I have is that the kids play the game with me and then get bored so I end up finishing it and they just play with the figures every few months. The game is actually well put together and worth playing on its own but, of course, they've made it so that you need more figures to unlock certain areas and this time it's the trap team big figures that are needed, which are the most expensive ones.
Skipped the last set with the swap force and ended up being sent Trap Team.
The problem I have is that the kids play the game with me and then get bored so I end up finishing it and they just play with the figures every few months. The game is actually well put together and worth playing on its own but, of course, they've made it so that you need more figures to unlock certain areas and this time it's the trap team big figures that are needed, which are the most expensive ones.
An interesting read.
I played the original Skylanders with my kids and thoroughly enjoyed the game itself, although what I did not like it how much the characters cost. There's no doubt that Activision struck gold with the idea, with kids pestering their parents for different characters because a) they needed the different elements, b) they looked cool and then c) they wanted to whole set.
Realising they had created a very lucrative cash cow they have been milking it ever since. I'm sure this Skylanders is just as good as the original, however I refuse to be suckered into having to buy more of those damn figurines. Nice review. Nice score. But it's a No from me.
I played the original Skylanders with my kids and thoroughly enjoyed the game itself, although what I did not like it how much the characters cost. There's no doubt that Activision struck gold with the idea, with kids pestering their parents for different characters because a) they needed the different elements, b) they looked cool and then c) they wanted to whole set.
Realising they had created a very lucrative cash cow they have been milking it ever since. I'm sure this Skylanders is just as good as the original, however I refuse to be suckered into having to buy more of those damn figurines. Nice review. Nice score. But it's a No from me.
it's not that time again already, is it? Oh, yes, Skylanders is back with another Starter Pack, another new portal and another set of figures to absorb all your money.
Something wicked this way comes
Trying to distinguish itself from the previous games, Trap Team has an interesting concept to add to the toy-meets-game series. In addition to the new toys, which I’ll come to in a minute, it features traps (two of which are included in the Starter Set). These help you trap the bad Skylanders who have broken out of the infamous Cloudcracker prison, mainly due to one of those evil plans of Kaos, the main bad guy from the previous games. It opens up a far bigger feeling game world with enemies turned in to heroes via their own missions to redeem their previous crimes.
Cage Fight
You’ll need to trap them first, though, and you’ll need the Trap Masters to do it. Yes, here come the new toys! Trap Masters all have a large weapon that glows in the game when they need to trap an enemy. You can trap with normal Skylanders too, but it’s a lot harder. Using these characters you trap the bad guys in special cages, again using a plastic toy of each element to trap them. With only 2 of these in the box, it’s another thing to collect. The new portal lets you store the trap tool in a sort of cage and even makes a cool noise when there are captures Skylanders inside.
Money for Nothing
There are new tiny characters to play as, too, building up yet more collectable toys for the game, and all previous Skylanders will work. The new smaller characters do feel like they are there just to bolster the collection, though, and don’t feel like they add anything new to the game. The issue with using your old Skylanders is that they can’t be upgraded beyond their previous abilities. It would have been nice to have extra abilities in the new game, but it would mean less chance for those playing to buy new toys and keep the money rolling in, too.
The Touch
The Wii U version’s use of the touchscreen still makes it the best version for younger children and has the benefit of Trap Team off-TV play, too. Aside from that it seems to be graphically in between the older generation and current generation consoles, which is fine for me. These are the only things marking it out from the other console versions, though.
Caught in a Trap
A return to solid platform gaming, an additional card game and the use of Villains as playable characters with their own missions certainly makes Trap Team worth buying in addition to any previous Skylanders game you already might own and the portal is the nicest looking one yet. It might not be quite as unique as I was hoping for, but it’s certainly recommended if you enjoyed the previous games.
8/10
Something wicked this way comes
Trying to distinguish itself from the previous games, Trap Team has an interesting concept to add to the toy-meets-game series. In addition to the new toys, which I’ll come to in a minute, it features traps (two of which are included in the Starter Set). These help you trap the bad Skylanders who have broken out of the infamous Cloudcracker prison, mainly due to one of those evil plans of Kaos, the main bad guy from the previous games. It opens up a far bigger feeling game world with enemies turned in to heroes via their own missions to redeem their previous crimes.
Cage Fight
You’ll need to trap them first, though, and you’ll need the Trap Masters to do it. Yes, here come the new toys! Trap Masters all have a large weapon that glows in the game when they need to trap an enemy. You can trap with normal Skylanders too, but it’s a lot harder. Using these characters you trap the bad guys in special cages, again using a plastic toy of each element to trap them. With only 2 of these in the box, it’s another thing to collect. The new portal lets you store the trap tool in a sort of cage and even makes a cool noise when there are captures Skylanders inside.
Money for Nothing
There are new tiny characters to play as, too, building up yet more collectable toys for the game, and all previous Skylanders will work. The new smaller characters do feel like they are there just to bolster the collection, though, and don’t feel like they add anything new to the game. The issue with using your old Skylanders is that they can’t be upgraded beyond their previous abilities. It would have been nice to have extra abilities in the new game, but it would mean less chance for those playing to buy new toys and keep the money rolling in, too.
The Touch
The Wii U version’s use of the touchscreen still makes it the best version for younger children and has the benefit of Trap Team off-TV play, too. Aside from that it seems to be graphically in between the older generation and current generation consoles, which is fine for me. These are the only things marking it out from the other console versions, though.
Caught in a Trap
A return to solid platform gaming, an additional card game and the use of Villains as playable characters with their own missions certainly makes Trap Team worth buying in addition to any previous Skylanders game you already might own and the portal is the nicest looking one yet. It might not be quite as unique as I was hoping for, but it’s certainly recommended if you enjoyed the previous games.
8/10