Game Details
- Publisher: Activision
- Developer: Toys For Bob
- ESRB Rating: “E" for Everyone
- Genre: Adventure
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First off, why not write a review instead of just an overview? Frankly, I don't really "get" Skylanders. It isn't that I'm too old to collect stuff (I've got a wall of Optimus Prime figures that says I'm definitely still a collector even in my old age ...) it is more that the game underneath the toys doesn't particularly impress me and the toys themselves seem more like an evil world domination plot than anything especially appealing. It is basically a shady DLC scheme where you have to buy more figures to get the full experience in the game, but unlike normal DLC where gamers whine about similar practices in other games, Skylanders gets a free pass for some reason. But I do recognize that there are a lot of people, particularly kids, that enjoy Skylanders, so for them I'll lay out the basics of Skylanders Giants without having to assign it a score.
Skylanders Basics
Skylanders launched in 2011 with Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure - an action / platformer / loot game where you placed specially made toys onto a portal device, and the characters those toys represented instantly appeared on-screen in the videogame. The toys also saved your progress for that character, which made taking the figures to other peoples' houses to play with your character extremely easy. The toys themselves are also remarkably high quality with great detail and fine paint work. The hook with Skylanders was that you didn't get the full experience from just the three toys that came with the starter pack - you had to buy more figures to see the whole game - and while you were at it you might as well collect all 30+ of the darn things, which a lot of people did.
2012's Skylanders Giants follows the same formula but adds a huge roster of new figures as well as the titular "Giants" Characters that are bigger than the others and have special abilities.
What Is New In Skylanders Giants?
The core gameplay is exactly the same here. It is still a basic, kid-friendly platformer where you find new hats for your chosen character that give them stat boosts. The giants are the main new feature, and the giants have the ability to smash walls that used to require bombs, break holes into the ground, throw boulders, or push over tall objects to make bridges, among other skills. They play just like normal Skylanders, just bigger and more powerful.
Do the Series 1 Toys Work In Skylanders Giants?
One nice thing about Skylanders Giants is that all of the Series 1 toys released for Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure work here as well. Even better, their level cap is raised from 10 to 15, so there is definitely some incentive to play with your older toys in the new game.
Do the Series 2 Toys Work In Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure?
Yes they do. However, the Giant sized figures do not work with the first game. Everything else does, though.
Should You Buy Skylanders Giants?
If you like Skylanders already, of course you should. It is basically the same game, just with a whole new set of figures to collect. It also gives you something to do with all of the figures you already own, since they all work in Giants seamlessly. If you don't already have Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure, Giants is a great place to start and your kids will probably really enjoy it - though, since the figures are cross compatible between the games, it doesn't really matter which game you start with. Figure packs are great Stocking Stuffer gift ideas as well.
Disclosure: Product was provided by publisher.
