darkSpyro

is it like a 3D platformer like the original trilogy?

No, far from it. Think Diablo for kids, throw in the occasional shoot-em-up/bullet hell, then apply the current gimmick. The 3DS versions of the games(except Superchargers Racing) are 3D plataformers but very simple and linear ones.

^ For someone who has never played Diablo and doesn't know what it is at all, is there another game you'd say fits in that to describe Skylanders? Or game genre?

Well, the specific wording is probably top-down camera hack-and-slash. I'm not sure if it's the right one(reading a bit it also seems to be called isometric?), but the description of 'top down camera, the objective is more to beat up bad guys than the adventure' fits well.

You can also call it a hat simulator now that we have over 250 to collect and wear.

Well it becomes a platformer sometimes...mostly thanks to the option to manually jump.

You can't even jump.

Quote: Ice Dragoness

You can't even jump.

Yes you can,from Swap Force onward.

It's still very minimal; the challenges are usually specific to a level or Elemental Gate; usually the jumping just allows for more vertical level design.

Quote: Ice Dragoness

You can't even jump.

Someone hasn't been keeping up with the times~

Humph, this doesn't sound like my type of game... Not that it is bad or anything- just not the game I would find very fun. I appreciate all your answers, though. Thanks so very much!

It is 100% a kid friendly beat-em-up/hack 'n slash... and apparently now a racing game/kid friendly Jak X: Combat Racing if the latest iteration is anything to go by. ;>.>

It's more platformy in the games made by Vicarious Visions (Swap Force and SuperChargers). It also stopped being top-down/isometric ever since Swap Force, at which point the series started to have a more dynamic camera.


Overall I would call it a "hack and slash" series with various other elements mixed in.

Hmmm, sounds like the series may have improved in that regard, yet I don't really get into hack-and-slash games. I just like exploring levels, not really getting into combat. But that's just my opinion. Maybe this game probably lets you explore levels at your own pace, or is hack-and-slash mandatory?

Well, the only rush is when you want to do time challenges on levels. Yes,you'll need to beat up the baddies eventually,but you can take your time(though in some games and levels the NPCs will remind you how to progress a lot)

You actually sound a lot like me - I'm a huge, huge fan of games that let you explore freely, and really enjoy platforming. But I don't like combat quite as much.

I'd recommend Swap Force - sure, a lot of the game is the same Skylanders hack-and-slash gameplay, but the elemental zones and the Swap Zones contain much more variety. Nothing has nearly as much exploration as the old Spyro games, but the zones are somewhat reminiscent of the minigames of Spyro 2 and 3 (nothing exact, but hey, platforming and maneuvering challenges - some of which are somewhat challenging). There's also some collectables spread around the worlds, and those are in all Skylanders games. But they're hidden a bit differently than in the Spyro games (it's pretty much go down a path the camera doesn't point you towards, and maybe interacting with clearly-marked objects).

Superchargers might be fun, too, but I haven't played it yet. Since I enjoy Skylanders less than games I can get for $40-45, I don't bother until the price goes down. It's pricy enough with all the toys.

Waiting for Black Friday is usually a good choice since Skylanders sales are guaranteed,especially starter packs.

The thing about Skylanders is it's way expensive at first, but wait a year and you can get a starter pack for like 35 bucks. Wait two years and you can get it for under 20 (which means you can get Swap Force for that cheap right now). Meanwhile Nintendo games stay 60 bucks for almost a decade. So Skylanders is only expensive if you really dive into the figure collecting and need to get it soon. If you just want the core story and don't mind waiting a year or two...like I said, Swap Force is less than 20 bucks on Amazon (and it's got the closest gameplay to the classic Spyro games out of all the Skylanders games...just make sure you pick up a Spyro figure, preferably Series 2).

I'll take your advice under consideration Muffin Man, and see how I like it, it wouldn't hurt to try the game out for myself.

Keep in mind 100% or not is entirely up to you - every story mode only requires what's in the starter pack,which until Superchargers, could be even less and just be one Skylander of your choice. This last game also needs a land vehicle,though.

Quote: Bifrost

Keep in mind 100% or not is entirely up to you - every story mode only requires what's in the starter pack,which until Superchargers, could be even less and just be one Skylander of your choice. This last game also needs a land vehicle,though.

Though there is Instant Hot Streak if you use an older portal to play SuperChargers, so if you use an old portal you can still use just one Skylander.

ok, thanks! so buying all the toys isn't even required? wow. i'm starting to see this game in a whole other light.

It's only for 100%.
Any game can be completed with a single skylander,though of course adjust the difficulty accordingly so you don't have to restart the levels nonstop - especially true for Spyro since he's pretty risky - since every Skylander but Astroblast and Night Shift only have one life. The things more Skylanders unlock,aside from different gameplay,are extra challenges in the paywall Gates, or additional damage if you have more than one from that element.

Well it doesn't sound to bad, as I could start off with the starter pack, and then buy more toys as I see fit.