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Sale Price: $199.00
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Note: The Mega Pack includes the traditional system starter pack (with portal, software, and three figures), an additional 3 character set, and the Pirate Seas Expansion. Beware of pricing, though, as Skylanders have been in great demand. Shop around to find the best deals and/or wait until items return to regular stock levels if you can. For example the original MSRP for the three components of this set would have originally run you about $110.00 had you bought them separately.
As a long time Spyro fan, I was pleased to see his reemergence with the hugely popular Skylander's launch. However this is not a Spyro game, he is just one of many colorful characters that Activision is betting your children will clamor for. It's a diabolical, but genius, strategy that transforms an ordinary video game into a collectible franchise. I LOVE it, but the initial investment is just the beginning for anyone who really gets wrapped up in the game will want more more more!
Hardware: The Skylander's game centers its technology around a wireless Power Portal which can communicate with your game system (obviously), but also with your computer. The Power Portal is super cool and a wildly inventive idea that adds a extra dimension to the gameplay. The character (the game is for one or two persons) that you are within the game is determined by which character that is placed on the Portal. And throughout the gameplay, you may change characters as you see fit. It is NOT difficult to set up the hardware even if you aren't particularly tech savvy.
Age: Skylander's is rated for 10+. I think you could undoubtedly push the age level comfortably down a few notches depending on your child's ability. It's not a difficult game to manage. The top age range will vary. The adventure storyline is not particularly challenging, but it's pleasant. Older kids may be bored, but it does get more difficult the further you progress. But there is a challenge/battle component that is engaging for all ages. And heck, as an adult--I just liked to see what the different characters would do!
Adventure Mode: This is a rather straightforward quest type game that pretty much walks you through where you need to go. There is some exploration, but nothing too complex. There are very achievable goals that are spelled out and the game offers plenty of help. The graphics are lovely and whimsical and it's fun to watch. There is a surprising amount of text and talking to establish the storyline, so you might lose the patience of the younger kids. You can buy character upgrades (cool) and compete in assorted peripheral challenges for extra upgrades as well.
Battle Mode: We had some fun with these three head-to-head competitions. This is where you challenge another character to a contest--collecting gems, defeating in combat, or scoring football goals. Even the adults liked these brief bits of fun. And I liked to see which characters would do what! (Are you sensing a recurrent theme?)
Computer: The Power Portal can also be synced to your computer and your characters can inhabit an online world. This is neat and offers a variety of arcade type games that would appeal to younger users. Activision did a great job making the game system experience symbiotic with the computer world as information can be shared about system experiences via the Power Portal.
Expansion Pack: Pirate Seas has one character (Terrafin), a new portal level accessed by using the pirate ship, a power up accessory (cool ghost swords), and a quick income source (treasure chest).
Figures: Here's the hook. The starter kit includes three characters pieces to play which represent three different elemental groups (Magic, Water, and Tech). These figurines are placed on the Power Portal to launch them into the game. To date, there are over 35 total characters that exist for the game. In fact, there are eight total element groups, so just to get one character in each group requires that you purchase at least two more figures beyond the Mega Kit. And as each character has different skills (and is just cool in its own right), if you love the game--you will need to collect.
Here's who you get characterwise:
From original starter pack: Spyro (Magic), Trigger Happy (Tech), Gill Grunt (Water)
From Pirate Seas: Terrafin (Earth)
From 3 Character Set: Eruptor: (Fire), Chop Chop (Undead), Bash (Earth)
You DON'T have a character from LIFE or AIR.
Love the game! Love the characters! Love the technology! But buyer beware, this may not be a one-time investment! KGHarris, 1/12.
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