Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure (Wii)
One of the video games our son received for Christmas was Skylander’s: Spyro’s Adventure Starter Pack for the Nintendo Wii. This little game is probably going to be the starting point for a new fad of games. A starter pack – which is available for all console systems (Wii, DS, 3DS, Xbox 360, PS3) comes with three figures, the game and a Portal of Power. The figures are just 3 out of a large assortment that is available for the game, and the biggest catch is that you can use any figure on any of the console versions. Say, for example, you have the Wii version of Skylander’s, you can still take your Spyro figure and go to a friend’s house that has the PS3 version and play with them. An even bigger catch is that your character will still have their own level and equipment that you earned on your Wii version! Tell me this isn’t the start of something bigger and I’ll call you a fool, sir-and-or-madam!
The game is straight-forward with what you have to do and where you have to go. The main story arc puts you on a closed path and you would really, really have to try to stray off of it. Point A to Point B, shoot the bad guys in the middle and you complete the course. Where the game gets challenging and switches things up is in the figures available for the game. You can, without issue, play the game from beginning to end with only the three figures in the starter pack. But the catch is that there are side areas and powers in the game that can only be opened by using figures with a certain power set. At the moment, there are 8 power classes of figures and a total of over 30 figures in all that the player has the option of buying to add to their collection. Excuse me while I make a few “KA-CHING!” noises for the geniuses behind this marketing wonder.
So, you have a game that is playable out of the box with what is provided. 30+ additional figures with different powers and animations you (or your child if they are into this whole game thing) can buy to open up other areas of the game. AND … are you ready for this? AND each level, beautiful and well designed in their own rights, has goals. Not just one goal, but numerous goals that you can discover, unlock, achieve that all go toward the 100% of the game’s end. Yea, if you are a completist, you are also going to have to buy those other figures to unlock those areas that need exploring to complete each zone 100%. Darn you Activision!!
But wait, that’s not all! If you wonder why the PC doesn’t have its own version of the game … wait for it … IT DOES! With each figure comes a small card with an online activation code. Go to the games website, sign-up and in and enter the code, and you have a mini-game area where you can meet other Skylander players, show off your figure collection in what is called Skylanders: Spyro’s Universe! You get to choose your own island, claim your own cave and decorate it with your items. ZOMGBBQ, it just doesn’t seem to end!
Maybe I just haven’t played many games lately, but I love this as much as my son does. It’s fun, actually challenging as you go further into the story, yet simple enough for kids to pick up and play. The catch for collector’s is in the figures (which, depending on where you shop, range from $7.99 to $12.99). And for the completists, there are plenty of challenges. It’s available on all game consoles, so you don’t have to wish you had the PS3 or 360 to play. And if you place the Portal of Power far enough away, you could even get some exercise in there by having to get up and go change the figures around depending on what you are doing. I would definitely recommend this game no matter your skill level or even if you do or do not have children in the house. Plus, I can’t wait to see what other games spring from this idea of interactivity.
