darkSpyro

Hey guys, NinjaStealthElf here.

What's your favourite Skylanders game and why? My favourite is Trap Team because it has some really interesting villains, the best plot, it allows you to play as Kaos and new elements. I haven't played Giants, but I also loved Spyro's Adventure and Swap Force.

SSA is my favorite.. Hope they remake it with all the new stuff

Unpopular opinion alert:

My favorite Skylanders game is Trap Team.

Trap Team. I love the trapping mechanic! And these Trap Masters are amazing!

1. Skylanders Swap Force-The most content in the whole series and the best gameplay.
2. Skylanders Spyro's Adventure-Greatest story and must fun.
3. Skylanders Giants-Lacks content although has must things to do with Skylanders.
4. Skylanders Trap Team-Lacks enough content and little to do with older Skylanders and new ones.

My son got all the first 3 games for his birthday in October and he plays Giants the most, and Swap Force the least.

Giants oh so much nostalgia and storyline.

Not sure about favorite.... But my least favorite HAS to be Swap Force. The levels were to long, the characters were boring with almost unskipable cut scenes, and it was just to boring to play. I STILL haven't been trying to beat it, because the levels are to **** long. I guess it's great if you're a hardcore gamer, with a couple hours to kill, but for casual play, no way in **** that you can do that. I think TT will be the best, I'll edit after I've played it.

SSA without a doubt. It has more charm than a majority of other games I've played.

Another vote for Giants. It was the pinnacle of compatibility, even though it was more a DLC than a full game. My second would have to be Lost Islands.

I'm torn.
I think challenge and over all fun wise - SSA has been the best to date. I felt like it was a little kids bike, but no safety wheels. On the other hand, I think Giants had the best 'package', like SSA was like someone was making chilli, and as soon as the meat was cooked through, sprinkled some cheese on it and ate it, while Giants was like someone made Chilli, and then let it stew/simmer/sit for a couple/few hours before serving it. Everything just melded together to make a perfect storm for Giants - in game and out of game.

SF is the bottom of the barrel. It's easily had the best GimmickLanders to date, Giants were just large cores, and Trap Masters are core's with shiny weapons, but sticking with the chilli anology, SF was like someone decided to make vegatable chilli, sure the flavor is there, and its not bad...but its just not chilli.

Trap team is in a weird space. It feels "almost like Giants", but it lacks the nostolgia, the figure hunting is nil thus far, and the money grab aspect of it actually takes away from the enjoyment a bit. The levels feel good, but lack the charm of Giants as well. It's like someone tasted a REALLY good chilli and tried to imitate it, but didn't know what the secret ingredient was - leaving you with a good chilli - but not exactly what you were hoping for.
- Unreall

Swap Force all the way, being the only one in the series that is truly co-op friendly (the other three having characters blocking each other and bounce pads are a nightmare). Plus generally good game design, and I love the swap mechanic which I use all the time.

2nd favourite is Giants, then Adventure, then Trap Team which is the greediest and laziest installment of the whole series.

SSA is my all time favorite, then second is SFF.

SPYRO'S ADVENTURE is definitely the best. Good story that makes you want to keep playing . It was a decent length too .

GIANTS was lacking a decent plot but was a decent follow on from SA coz the Giants were well made.

SWAPFORCE was a little odd , changed too many characters and the customisation I felt were kinda pointless because there was already soo many characters, so originality wasn't really an issue. The game felt kinda mini gamey with all the SF abilities , would've much rathered they kept heroic challenges or something. Also the constant scenes you can't skip made everything slow.

TRAP TEAM is a very good game and probably the best overall, but a lot more expensive to complete compared to SA .I felt like they tried to squish in too many new things e.g. Minis, new elements, playing as villains. I feel like they could've stretched these ideas over 2 games. Surely the discovery of the light and dark elements deserves its own game or at least a decent introduction .

SWAPFORCE is my least favourite

Though i really do like Trap Team, I have to say SSA was pretty great. I mean all of the other 3 games talk about the past. SSA was the present.

SPYROS ADVENTURES had some pretty entertaining details . Does anyone else miss using water skylanders the swim to secret areas? Or the level in the crypt where only fire attacks could kill the zombies? And earth skylanders being able to break rocks to get to hidden places.

I feel cool details like this that made each element unique have been slowly lost over the games.

Swap Force. One of the most inexpensive, and the swapping mechanic and the reposes and the new skylanders and the new levels and that graphic increase was udsgfysn <3

Quote: Unreallystic

I'm torn.
I think challenge and over all fun wise - SSA has been the best to date. I felt like it was a little kids bike, but no safety wheels. On the other hand, I think Giants had the best 'package', like SSA was like someone was making chilli, and as soon as the meat was cooked through, sprinkled some cheese on it and ate it, while Giants was like someone made Chilli, and then let it stew/simmer/sit for a couple/few hours before serving it. Everything just melded together to make a perfect storm for Giants - in game and out of game.

SF is the bottom of the barrel. It's easily had the best GimmickLanders to date, Giants were just large cores, and Trap Masters are core's with shiny weapons, but sticking with the chilli anology, SF was like someone decided to make vegatable chilli, sure the flavor is there, and its not bad...but its just not chilli.

Trap team is in a weird space. It feels "almost like Giants", but it lacks the nostolgia, the figure hunting is nil thus far, and the money grab aspect of it actually takes away from the enjoyment a bit. The levels feel good, but lack the charm of Giants as well. It's like someone tasted a REALLY good chilli and tried to imitate it, but didn't know what the secret ingredient was - leaving you with a good chilli - but not exactly what you were hoping for.
- Unreall

Why chili? :3

Well, I'd say Trap Team.

It took the best from all the previous games, and also added some new interesting features.

SA was GREAT, and had some really great touches, but to me, Trap Team was simply an improvement, and thus better.

SWAP Force is my last favorite.

It is still a fantastic game, and gave A LOT to this franchise, but is too far from what a Skylanders game should be.

Quote: ExcitonKnight

Quote: Unreallystic

I'm torn.
I think challenge and over all fun wise - SSA has been the best to date. I felt like it was a little kids bike, but no safety wheels. On the other hand, I think Giants had the best 'package', like SSA was like someone was making chilli, and as soon as the meat was cooked through, sprinkled some cheese on it and ate it, while Giants was like someone made Chilli, and then let it stew/simmer/sit for a couple/few hours before serving it. Everything just melded together to make a perfect storm for Giants - in game and out of game.

SF is the bottom of the barrel. It's easily had the best GimmickLanders to date, Giants were just large cores, and Trap Masters are core's with shiny weapons, but sticking with the chilli anology, SF was like someone decided to make vegatable chilli, sure the flavor is there, and its not bad...but its just not chilli.

Trap team is in a weird space. It feels "almost like Giants", but it lacks the nostolgia, the figure hunting is nil thus far, and the money grab aspect of it actually takes away from the enjoyment a bit. The levels feel good, but lack the charm of Giants as well. It's like someone tasted a REALLY good chilli and tried to imitate it, but didn't know what the secret ingredient was - leaving you with a good chilli - but not exactly what you were hoping for.
- Unreall

Why chili? :3

It just worked man...it comes in so many forms and benefits from 'sitting there'. I could also use steak as an example.

And tinykitty - chilli taste good.
- Unreall

Quote: Unreallystic

Quote: ExcitonKnight

Quote: Unreallystic

I'm torn.
I think challenge and over all fun wise - SSA has been the best to date. I felt like it was a little kids bike, but no safety wheels. On the other hand, I think Giants had the best 'package', like SSA was like someone was making chilli, and as soon as the meat was cooked through, sprinkled some cheese on it and ate it, while Giants was like someone made Chilli, and then let it stew/simmer/sit for a couple/few hours before serving it. Everything just melded together to make a perfect storm for Giants - in game and out of game.

SF is the bottom of the barrel. It's easily had the best GimmickLanders to date, Giants were just large cores, and Trap Masters are core's with shiny weapons, but sticking with the chilli anology, SF was like someone decided to make vegatable chilli, sure the flavor is there, and its not bad...but its just not chilli.

Trap team is in a weird space. It feels "almost like Giants", but it lacks the nostolgia, the figure hunting is nil thus far, and the money grab aspect of it actually takes away from the enjoyment a bit. The levels feel good, but lack the charm of Giants as well. It's like someone tasted a REALLY good chilli and tried to imitate it, but didn't know what the secret ingredient was - leaving you with a good chilli - but not exactly what you were hoping for.
- Unreall

Why chili? :3

It just worked man...it comes in so many forms and benefits from 'sitting there'. I could also use steak as an example.

And tinykitty - chilli taste good.
- Unreall

this got me hungry, could you tell us about the steak example too?

Giants by far!!!

Quote: CountMoneyBone

Quote: Unreallystic

Quote: ExcitonKnight

Why chili? :3

It just worked man...it comes in so many forms and benefits from 'sitting there'. I could also use steak as an example.

And tinykitty - chilli taste good.
- Unreall

this got me hungry, could you tell us about the steak example too?

There are lots of ways to cook steak, some good, some flat out wrong.

Giants felt like they took the steak out the fridge, sprinkled coarse sea salt and fresh cracked pepper on it, maybe some Worcestershire sauce, and let it sit for 30 minutes. Then Threw it on a real hot flame/pan to sear it, then lowered the temp to cook it through. After a few minutes, the steak is then removed, and covered/wrapped in foil to let it finish cooking itself.

Perfect storm. The meat is the right temperature, it is not over cooked, its juicy, it is properly flavored, etc.

SSA is cooked just like above, but when they took it out the fridge, they didn't let it sit for 30 minutes to reach room temperature (or approach it). In teurn, the flavor profile is there, but it is either super rare in the middle, or 'well done' through and through - i.e. you should have ordered chicken. So it taste good, but its rough around the edges/wreaks of being prepared by someone new to steak.

Trap Team is like they followed all the steps from above, only they forgot the pepper and Worcestershire sauce...so its cooked perfectly, and still taste great, but it's "missing that something", oh and for some reason the price per pound of the ribeye went up.

Swap Force? They were like, we need steak on the menu, but want to freak it a little different. So they have a house 'chimchuriky' sauce that they cover the steak in. It changes the flavor profile entirely, but the steak is also cooked differently because of that. It's tasty, a good change of pace, the sauce is a great add, but it's just not as good as straight up steak cooked 'right'.

The 3DS version is like ordering a 'steak' biscuit from Bojangles, once you take a bite and look, you can tell its nothing but a deep fried hamburger labeled as 'steak' because the source is still a cow (we hope).
- Unreall

I do like them all, but I would say it's a tie between Swap Force and Trap Team for my favorite. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses. But Trap Team is the first I've played on the PS4 and the graphics are so crisp and beautiful that it puts it on another level for me. And these new Light and Dark elements are so awesome.

Quote: Unreallystic

...
- Unreall

Lol. Very good analogy and write-up.

I haven't played Trap Team yet, but my favourite game is either Giants or SSA. Both bring back a lot of memories for me. Swap Force was fun but got old kinda quick. I still completed it, but it was just lacking something...

Quote: wreckingballbob

1. Skylanders Swap Force-The most content in the whole series and the best gameplay.
2. Skylanders Spyro's Adventure-Greatest story and must fun.
3. Skylanders Giants-Lacks content although has must things to do with Skylanders.
4. Skylanders Trap Team-Lacks enough content and little to do with older Skylanders and new ones.

This matches my thoughts...I've not yet judged #4 yet but we'll see soon. #2 and #3 are very close in proximity.

Quote: GhostRoaster

Quote: wreckingballbob

1. Skylanders Swap Force-The most content in the whole series and the best gameplay.
2. Skylanders Spyro's Adventure-Greatest story and must fun.
3. Skylanders Giants-Lacks content although has must things to do with Skylanders.
4. Skylanders Trap Team-Lacks enough content and little to do with older Skylanders and new ones.

This matches my thoughts...I've not yet judged #4 yet but we'll see soon. #2 and #3 are very close in proximity.

And #1?

My opinion:

4. Skylanders SWAP FORCE, it has weird graphics, the new Skylanders were weird too, the levels were too long, every Skylanders was nerfed and i overall like it the least.

3. Skylanders Giants, there weren't many new skylanders and there weren't many levels.

2. Skylanders Trap Team, i love the new skylanders and there are many of them, there aren't many reposes, there are two more Elements, the trapping mechanic is awesome and Kaos Mode is the best.

1. Skylanders Spyro's Adventure, it is just perfect, can't say more.

1: Spyro's Adventure. It was just... fun. Not too childish, but still kid friendly enough.
2: Giants. Nostalgia.
3: Swap Force. This game was sort of... boring. The hype was fun while it lasted, but when it was actually released... yeah.

I don't know about Trap Team yet as I haven't played.

Why do so many people hate Giants (not on this forum)? I haven't played it yet so I can't judge, but I really want to know

I actually replayed Giants yesterday, and it was much more fun than SF. Don't know about better than TT, because I don't get to play that until tomorrow...

Definitely Swap Force. It delivered most of the gameplay and improvements I wanted to see in this series. SA comes second, while Giants is last (although all three games are fun). Haven't played Trap Team yet, but I may come tomorrow.

Quote: wreckingballbob

Quote: GhostRoaster

Quote: wreckingballbob

1. Skylanders Swap Force-The most content in the whole series and the best gameplay.
2. Skylanders Spyro's Adventure-Greatest story and must fun.
3. Skylanders Giants-Lacks content although has must things to do with Skylanders.
4. Skylanders Trap Team-Lacks enough content and little to do with older Skylanders and new ones.

This matches my thoughts...I've not yet judged #4 yet but we'll see soon. #2 and #3 are very close in proximity.

And #1?

Swap Force...the ordering above matches mine, pending actually playing Trap Team....which should be tomorrow

haven't really played Trap Team yet, the only thing i can say right now is they seemed to have improved in making the NEW Skylanders actually fun. I don't consider the new skylanders that came with Swap Force to have been all that Fun. Roller Brawl was my favorite of Swap Force, but all the swap force characters were really all kinda Meh to me.

But as of the Three I played

1st Skylanders Spyro Adventure. I'm giving it to this game as the best because it actually has a story going throughout the level with multiple tasks that actually need to be pulled off.

2nd Skylanders Giants, It's a good game but it seems to be missing a lot of what made adventures special. Still I like Giants of course.

3rd Swap Force. I tend to say I hate Swap force honestly. These levels in my opinion are too small I think and they only really get length do to simple and stupid mini games that are really boring. You have a very fixed Path in Swap force and in the previous games you could sometimes swim throughout a level and find hidden areas. This one there is only a simple fixed path and just no meat.


It'd be nice to see them put out an HD version of Spyro's Adventure and Giants for the PS4 compatible with all current Skylanders.

My Favorite:
GIANTS!!!!!! (Then Swap Force)

Best story by far. Very simple but not too simple (I'm looking at you SSA) The story wasn't as polished as SSA but that doesn't make it worse. I liked the smaller roster as it made me feel like I was being introduced to some new friends. It made the new characters feel more personal. And don't get me started on the art style. Very Beautiful, felt really magical, and mystical. And the levels were most creative with NONE (Except for the last two) feeling like carbon copies of others. Only thing holding it back was lack of ability to jump and some enemies were too easy to defeat.

Then Swap Force came out. I'd actually take the new art style. Better than Trap Teams' in my opinion. And the jumping was awesome. Unfortunately, The level creativity was the worst in the series and and the fighting was so clunky, and got repetitive. But I eventually grew to love it and I think it's so much better than Trap Team.

I'd love another game like Giants, but if we get a Swap Force-esque game for Skylanders 5 then as long as it's more polished than Swap Force I'll be fine.

Quote: wild_defender

SPYROS ADVENTURES had some pretty entertaining details . Does anyone else miss using water skylanders the swim to secret areas? Or the level in the crypt where only fire attacks could kill the zombies? And earth skylanders being able to break rocks to get to hidden places.

I feel cool details like this that made each element unique have been slowly lost over the games.

Yes this. I recently got an xBox360 version and replayed the entire game getting 3 stars on each chapter and yes I loved that different elements were actually required in different areas. Still my favourite by a long, long way.

The thing is, it's very hard , because they all have good, and bad,

1. SSA:

Pros:
-Balanced levels
-Doesn't require lot's of money spent
-Very fun with Co-op
-Heroics

Cons:
-Very little replay value

2. SSF

Pros:
-Swapping!
-Co-op is fixed!
-Loads of content in each level ( Can be a Con )
-Lots of Replay Value and new modes ( Can be a Con )
-Doesn't focus entirely on Swap Force
-New Graphics Engine! Graphics are amazing!
-Glitches with old characters have been fixed, and most have been buffed
-All old characters are new-and-improved graphics too!
-New cores are very new and creative!
-Added new features/settings that improved on previous games

Cons:
-Levels are bland and get boring after a while,
-Swap Force don't seem to have personality
-Overall, seems too different from other games, which to me, was bad, but only in some ways
-Levels have too much content, and levels can take hours

3. SG

Pros:
-If you played SSA, you can complete the game 100% right away!
-Heroics back!
-Catchphrases
-Good Storyline

Cons:
-Still little Replay Value
-Very Similar to SSA, got boring to me a bit
-Co-op can be difficult

4.STT

Pros:
-Trapping!
-Villains are all funny and have fun personalities
-Level Designs
-Trappable Kaos!
-Levels aren't long, or short
-Best Storyline
-New Light and Dark Elements
-Sidekicks, er, Mini's, are playable!

Cons:
-All previous characters are nerfed, and not as fun,
-Focuses almost entirely on Trap Masters
-Even new cores aren't important,
-Trap Masters are slow
-Kaos Trap is sold separately,
-Very, Very little replay value...
-All Swap Force ( Vicarious Visions) characters are extremely nerfed
-Swap Force are.. tiny?
-Despite being made by Toys For Bob again, Heroics are gone!
-PVP is gone!!!
-Villain Quests change color of Villains, and most of them don't look that good..

Quote: Badwolfmichael

The thing is, it's very hard , because they all have good, and bad,

1. SSA:

Pros:
-Balanced levels
-Doesn't require lot's of money spent
-Very fun with Co-op
-Heroics

Cons:
-Very little replay value

2. SSF

Pros:
-Swapping!
-Co-op is fixed!
-Loads of content in each level ( Can be a Con )
-Lots of Replay Value and new modes ( Can be a Con )
-Doesn't focus entirely on Swap Force
-New Graphics Engine! Graphics are amazing!
-Glitches with old characters have been fixed, and most have been buffed
-All old characters are new-and-improved graphics too!
-New cores are very new and creative!
-Added new features/settings that improved on previous games

Cons:
-Levels are bland and get boring after a while,
-Swap Force don't seem to have personality
-Overall, seems too different from other games, which to me, was bad, but only in some ways
-Levels have too much content, and levels can take hours

3. SG

Pros:
-If you played SSA, you can complete the game 100% right away!
-Heroics back!
-Catchphrases
-Good Storyline

Cons:
-Still little Replay Value
-Very Similar to SSA, got boring to me a bit
-Co-op can be difficult

4.STT

Pros:
-Trapping!
-Villains are all funny and have fun personalities
-Level Designs
-Trappable Kaos!
-Levels aren't long, or short
-Best Storyline
-New Light and Dark Elements
-Sidekicks, er, Mini's, are playable!

Cons:
-All previous characters are nerfed, and not as fun,
-Focuses almost entirely on Trap Masters
-Even new cores aren't important,
-Trap Masters are slow
-Kaos Trap is sold separately,
-Very, Very little replay value...
-All Swap Force ( Vicarious Visions) characters are extremely nerfed
-Swap Force are.. tiny?
-Despite being made by Toys For Bob again, Heroics are gone!
-PVP is gone!!!
-Villain Quests change color of Villains, and most of them don't look that good..

That'd a pretty awesome list you have there with great points!

Quote: MagicFizz

Swap Force. One of the most inexpensive, and the swapping mechanic and the reposes and the new skylanders and the new levels and that graphic increase was udsgfysn <3

WTF MF we r no lnger freins SF wuz meh leest fav gaym ur soo meeen

1.Skylanders Spyro's Adventure: By FAR the best storyline and the best new characters 10/10CG CG= Characters and Gameplay
2.Skylanders Trap Teamretty good has good characters and good gameplay 8/10

3. Skylanders Giants:Good storyline but lame new core characters. 7/10

4. Skylanders Swap Force:Just okay characters and in my opinion bad storyline. 3/10

Well, I now own and have played Trap Team. I have to say, it is a fun game and the characters and levels are pretty enjoyable, but it still doesn't top Swap Force for me. I still think Swap Force had the best characters and gameplay.

That saying, here's my revised list.
1. Swap Force
2. Trap Team
3. Spyro's Adventure
4. Giants

I Don't Know Why Everyone likes the SSA Storyline...
Sure it's more polished with the cutscenes and everything but it's still overall not really amazing
I still like it almost as much as Giants because.... It had charm. Something Trap Team clearly lacks.

1. Skylanders Spyro's Adventure I really like the cutscenes, music, characters, and level designs. But the story line seemed a little bland at some parts.
2. Skylanders Gaints Even though this one probably has my favorite music of the four playing as giants can get a little hard. That's why I only bought the two giants that interested me the most. Tree Rex and Hot Head.
3. Skylanders Trap Team (I'm not gonna really bother with the Trap Masters. Most of them just seem off to me. Especially Tuff Luck.) ARBO MY BABY IS BACKKKKK! (Sorry...) Also Cali is back! :D
4. Skylanders Swap Force. Even though this one brought jumping and two of my favorite npc's in Skylands the jumping makes it really difficult in the game for two player mode (at least for my family.), plus those two element gates I think where a little uncalled for. Victorious Visions just didn't bring the same charm as Toy's For Bob did. But some of the new Skylanders are really cool, like Scrath and Fire Kraken.

Quote: Blink182Bouncer

I Don't Know Why Everyone likes the SSA Storyline...
Sure it's more polished with the cutscenes and everything but it's still overall not really amazing
I still like it almost as much as Giants because.... It had charm. Something Trap Team clearly lacks.

Yeah, on my list, you can see I didn't add the Story in the Pros, because, to be honest, SSA just had a generic "Search for pieces of ancient powerful thing" story, I like it the most though because it was the original, and has the most "magic" feel to me,

SWAP Force. Giants comes in second. Trap Team is something of a disappointment. Obviously there's good things about it, but still it's not what it should've been.

Quote: Badwolfmichael

Quote: Blink182Bouncer

I Don't Know Why Everyone likes the SSA Storyline...
Sure it's more polished with the cutscenes and everything but it's still overall not really amazing
I still like it almost as much as Giants because.... It had charm. Something Trap Team clearly lacks.

Yeah, on my list, you can see I didn't add the Story in the Pros, because, to be honest, SSA just had a generic "Search for pieces of ancient powerful thing" story, I like it the most though because it was the original, and has the most "magic" feel to me,

That's EXACTLY the thing I loved about SSA. The pieces related to the 8 elements that we are being introduced to for the first time. Before being able to contain some elements you needed to get other parts first, giving a good reason for each chapter.

What exactly was the storyline in Giants? In Swap Force? In Trap Team? The story's have become thinner and thinner in my opinion. But each to their own. I don't play any other games so the "Search for pieces of ancient powerful thing" was very engaging for me.

The search for the Core of Light pieces was a great storyline, in my opinion.

Like kaosmumishot said, it was the perfect and most magical way to introduce you to the 8 different Elements.

Giants was less elemental based, but it's levels were still just as whimsical and charming as the SA's ones. Just... Bigger, and more majestic.

SWAP Force storyline wasn't almost elemental based at all, even if it tried to take the "journey to retrive missing things" feeling back, with the Elementals. At one point, it just felt too modern.

Trap Team brought back the elemental allignment, but just for the Doom Raider's levels (and quite originally), and has overall great settings and environments, with the right style.

Quote: NinjaStealthElf

Why do so many people hate Giants (not on this forum)? I haven't played it yet so I can't judge, but I really want to know

Let's go back to Unreallystic's chili metaphor, but invert it. If the original SSA was the perfect storm (and it started a franchise, so why not), I felt Giants to be the reheated leftovers. Smaller number of levels, with no new expansion packs (relying instead on the player to hunt down the previous year's expansions which may or may not be available) and a toy line dominated by reposes, headlined by 'Giant' figures with an under-utilized gimmick. Giants was fun, but re-hashed too much of the previous year's offerings and showed a developer that was under pressure to crank out a yearly iteration and milk the cash cow.

Which, in hindsight, is why I like Swap Force the best. It blew away all my pre-concieved notions of what yearly instalments to the Skylanders franchise could be like. The graphics bump, longer levels, introduction of a jump mechanic, a more balanced roster of new and returning characters, Swappers that unlocked challenging mini-games, etc. Yes, the game feels different from SSA and Giants. Yes, it favours platforming over block-pushing puzzles. Yes, Cali, Auric and Persephone are replaced by Tessa, Tuk and Gorm. But all of this just works to push an established franchise in new directions and possibilities. It's not quite the Mario Bros. 2 of the original Super Mario games, but it definitely channels that vibe and shakes things up in a good way.