Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure

Activision has high hopes for Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. The company has shifted away from peripheral-based games – RIP Tony Hawk Ride, DJ Hero, and Guitar Hero – but this new title features interaction with physical objects on a smaller scale. The game utilizes little plastic figurines and incorporates them into games with a portal peripheral. Read on for what you need to know about the game.

•    There will be more than 30 figurines available. Each is about two inches tall, brightly colored and brimming with detail. They aren’t poseable or articulated, but kids will probably think they’re neat. Expect to pay about $10 or less for each one.
•    Each figurine has a translucent green base, which contains an RFID chip. When it’s placed on the portal, the character is “transported” into the game, whether it’s on the 3DS, Wii, Xbox 360, or PS3. Then that character is available as a playable hero. Characters can be swapped out on the fly, and the process is pretty quick, taking around three or so seconds.
•    Characters retain their XP and items between all of the different versions of the games. You can play with a friend on their console, and then continue your adventure at home.
•    The game isn’t the same across all platforms. For example, the 3DS version is more action/platforming oriented, with an emphasis on speed. The console counterparts are more focused on exploration, action, and puzzle solving.
•    The console version has a decent variety of gameplay, and it’s what you might expect from a game geared toward younger players. It’s colorful, and the puzzles I saw centered around finding keys. Activision says other puzzles include block puzzles, puzzles with moving tumblers, and light-refraction puzzles.
•    The game encourages players to swap characters out often, with areas that are otherwise gated. Each of the critters has one of six elemental traits, so you have to have the correct one to proceed in these optional areas. Players can beat the game using the three figures that are contained in the starter pack, though they’ll have to buy at least three more to see the rest that the game offers.
•    The console versions support co-op, as well as competitive multiplayer. I saw an arena battle filled with player-activated spike traps and teleporters. Players earn XP in these modes, too.
•    The characters are diverse, which extends beyond their appearance. Each one has their own unique fighting abilities. Bash, a rock dragon, can use a 360-degree tailspin attack. Flameslinger is an elven archer who excels at ranged combat. Stump Smash is a tree who’s angry that he was partially logged and releases his frustration with hands that are like giant wooden mallets. Prism Break is a rock crystal golem who shoots lasers and can also position light-bending crystals on the ground. Trigger Happy is a crazy little critter who dual wields pistols, chucks buckets of coins at enemies, and fires gold at bad guys with a mounted turret. I didn’t see anything close to a simple palette swap in the game, which would be tremendously disappointing in a game where you’re essentially buying characters.