darkSpyro

Yep.
I wouldn't say I ran out of ideas, or I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel
Okay maybe I am
I would like to know what everyone thinks.~

How do you like the portals from all five games? Ranked best to worst, design-wise~


1. SSA Portal of Power ~ Looks just like a portal should look, looks magical, and the portal master-y symbols light up. Other than being really small, it's perfect
2. STT Traptanium Portal ~ Very cool looking, cracked Traptanium effect is good, love the jail speaker/trap slot, the lights on the edges look great, just wish it lit up in the middle lol
3. SSF Portal of Power ~ Sleek design, I like how it's easy to hold and can easily be placed anywhere, not very bulky. I also like the fact that it has no border or edges, or anything on the top to take away room for your figures.
4. SSC Overdrive Portal ~ It's the largest, but it's just very cheap looking. That and it has no lights
5. SG Portal of Power ~ Disappointing. Basically a larger version of SSA's portal, just without any lights. The Portal Master symbols look way less cool when they're colored in gray >.>

Usefulness?
1. Traptanium Portal ~ Trap Slot, Speaker, Instant Skylanders, Lots of Space
2. SSF Portal of Power ~ Flat top, Moderate Space, Long cord, Lightweight
3. Overdrive Portal ~ Lots of Space, Trap Slot
4. SSA Portal of Power ~ Wireless
5. SG Portal of Power
Hate to have the Overdrive portal so high up on that list^

I didn't count the 3DS, Android, or iOS portals~

1) STT
2) SSA and SG
3) SSC
4) SSF

-Traptanium Portal
-Spyro's Adventure Portal
-Swap Force Portal
-Giants Portal
-Overdrive Portal

(they're all called Portal of Power according to interviews, it's just a shortened name)

1. STT Traptanium Portal: I simply love the design, looks much more magical than any other portal, and the light effects are the best. Plus, the speaker for the Villains.

2. SSF Enhanced Portal: While not as cool as the Traptanium one, this is second place. The sleek design, the lack of edges, and the fact that it was lighter and not as tall, made it perfect. Practically the predecessor of the Traptanium Portal.

3. SG and SSA Portal of Power: I put them in the same category as they are practically the same, except the SG portal lacks the green ring on the bottom and glowing runes. I find that a better design choice anyway. But regardless, this feels magical, but its bulky, the lights aren't as great as the SSF or STT portal, and also, it got tiring to constantly have to figure out how to fit it in my shoeboxes. I use those as my main mode of transport for my Skylanders, and having it on top with the taller design made it hard!

4. SSC Overdrive Portal: Easily the worst. Sure, the modern design makes it alike to the Superchargers themselves, and the engine's cool, but honestly, no lights, no speaker, and it looks like it should come with a Hot Wheels set. Plus, the numerous problems with it and Superchargers. No good. But, I'll still use it due to my opinion of how portals should be with their games.

TT- Love the cracked crystal effects and light up ring.

SSF- Used to be my favorite, but comparing the 2? TT wins. Niceand sleek though.
G/SSA- A bit in different. Nice but the other 2 beat it.

SC- like the design, but as a portal? Nope. I don't buy that.

1. STT Portal. I love the design. It looks just how a portal should. Lights, Magical and Incredible (I can say the same for SSA Portals and Swap force portals)

2. SSA/Giants: Same as above

3. Swap Force Portal: Same as above

4. SSC Portal; Design is cool but just doesn't fit for a portal. Doesn't really look like a portal either.

-Trap Team (Consol portal)
-Original
-Swap Force
-Trap Team (Mobile)
-Giants & Super Chargers

• 1º-Trap Team
  
• 2º-Spyro's Adventure/Giants
  
• 3º-Swap Force
  
• 4º-SuperChargers
  

One thing: I like the SC Portal. It's just not have the "magic" feeling of the others.

SSA: It just felt magical and exactly like a portal should look with the glowing runes. Also, none of those stupid cables you could trip over, and it being wireless just made it seem more magical.

TT: I love the speaker, and how you can see through it. Easily would be the best portal, if it didn't have a cable you could trip over.

SC: I just like it for some reason. I just wish the flames lit up.

SF: It just seems...odd... that the portal looks like a coliseum.

SG: It felt nowhere near as magical as the SSA one, and the sides didn't light up, plus it had a darn cable.

1.SSA
2.STT
3.SG
4.SSF
5.SC

1. Trap tanium Portal- my current portal, used it since trap team.I missed being able to hear the trapped bad guys making some wise comments on depending where I'm at. but at least I can power up my vehicle's weapons with this
2- spyro's adventure/Giants Portal of power gotta love the old classics plus we needed a new wireless portal of power!

3- swap force's portal of power: nice looking design.

4- 3DS verions- even tho, they are smaller and work differently then the console verions, they are just as handy to play with.

5. Super charger's overdrive; I just couldn't get this portal to work for me. but luckly I still have my trusty Trap tanium Portal to use. never went back to the overdrive portal.

TT.

I've been tempted to get another one just to opt not up and see how it works.

Well considering the Traptanium portal is literally the ONLY portal that will work with all other like console versions of Skylanders games, it still has my vote, even if it didn't look cool (which it did).

^Yeah, that's a good point. And not only does the Trap Team portal work on all other games on the same console, it can also trigger the instant versions of Spitfire and Hot Streak in SuperChargers (removing the need to have a vehicle on the portal at all times), whereas the normal Superchargers portal will not. As far as utility is concerned, the Trap Team portal wins hands down.

SSF - Looks like SSA portal got a complete revamp and is so sleek and polished

SSA - just what a portal should look like. Rune on the sides create an overall magical look.

STT - I love the straight up aesthetics but crystal seems take away from portal-ness if that makes sense. I don't know

SG - no originality but it's uglier than the original as well

SSC - doesn't even look like a portal to me. It's too mechanical and looks like a landing pad or something. The only magical looking thing about it is some basic almost unnoticeable runes on the side

the old style SA and Giants portal are definately the best. they suited the magical portal idea thing. and the glowing symbols were great.

sf was fine, but i prefer the old ones coz the SF portal didnt have an edge so you had to be careful where you put stuff on it and not knock it off. Also i prefer the random skylands symbols to the element symbols. If the element symbols glowed there colours i could change my mind though.

I wouldve loved the trap team portal if they had a SA portal style built around the cracked traptanium instead of that weird white ring. it just doesnt look like a portal without the stone edging. It just looks like pure energy. but the size was good .


the superchargers one isnt good. Its not even a portal? it doesnt light up and its a weird shape. I understand that apparently kaos found a way to hinder the old portals useless, but I just dont see the point of it.

I'm hoping they revitalise the old portal designs in the future. maybe with trap spaces in the stone surrounding the glowing portal

Am I the only one who likes SSC Portal? It's not the best but it still looks very cool.

it does look cool, but what is supposed to be besides an engine with a platform on the back? it just doesn't seem relevent to the game.

I think it wouldve made more sense for the portal too look more like the the Lego dimension one this time. A vertical rift portal, like the ones you travel through on your vehicle to get to each level.

1. Trap team - it works, it looks beautiful...no problems on SCC. I have the option of using Instants
2. Swap Force - I love the design 2nd to Trap Tea,, works great
3. Giants and SSA - both comparable, but space limitations makes these "legacy only".
4. SuperChargers - cheapest looking, and frankly is buggy on my XBO in being recognized. Loathe it.

I actually wanted a topic like this to see if anyone feels like me. Looks like I'm part of the majority. They bombed BIG TIME on this year's portal, and simple "does it work" kills it for me. Being ugly in addition to it being problematic makes it just plain silly.

I an the only one who not like the Wireless Portal? It consumes batteries too fast.

Im not a fan of Wireless. I never have the batteries.

Quote: Crash10

I an the only one who not like the Wireless Portal? It consumes batteries too fast.

Quote: Luminous35

Im not a fan of Wireless. I never have the batteries.

That's why I invested $60 in rechargable batteries and a charger.

I really wish the SuperChargers portal did not have a darn wire to make up for the stupid lack of light... i don't get why people are always complaining about batteries, they are not that expensive (there are cheap ones) if you can afford Skylanders then you can afford batteries too y'know.

You still have the situation where you won't find out when it'll run out,then one day you happened to forget to buy more batteries,you try to play and find out it's done. Rechargeable is fine,but 100% batteries,nah.

1. STT - Instants in SC, best design, has trap slot and speaker, works with all 5 games, though it has a really short cord. ;~;
2/3. SSA - Wireless and 2nd best design. Though the batteries do get eaten pretty fast.
2/3. SG - Wired of the first one, so no battery eating. But it doesn't reach the couch... Eh I have too many by this point anyway to play from the couch.
4. SSF - Shorter cord than SG, worse design aesthetically, characters fall of really easy with little to no rim...
5. SC - HORRIBLE design.

Quote: weebbby

1. STT - Instants in SC, best design, has trap slot and speaker, works with all 5 games, though it has a really short cord. ;~;
2/3. SSA - Wireless and 2nd best design. Though the batteries do get eaten pretty fast.
2/3. SG - Wired of the first one, so no battery eating. But it doesn't reach the couch... Eh I have too many by this point anyway to play from the couch.
4. SSF - Shorter cord than SG, worse design aesthetically, characters fall of really easy with little to no rim...
5. SC - HORRIBLE design.

I know I sold my SG portal, but the SSF has the longest cord of them all right?!

When, and more importantly WHERE, did we get official clarification that the Superchargers portal is called the Overdrive Portal?
In game, it just asks for a Portal of Power, since any Portal of Power works...
My favorite is the Traptanium Portal, more portals like that should be made... So sleek, so sparkly, so LED, it perfectly captures the essence of its game!
Second favorite is the Overdrive Portal, sure, it's not LED, and it doesn't feel "magical", but neither do Vicarious Vision's Skylander games, so it ALSO perfectly captures the game its from...
Third favorite is the Giant's MKI Portal of Power, sure, it's not as colorful as the Spyro's Adventure, but it DOES have the advantage of not eating through batteries faster than Stealth Elf goes through pies at a pie eating contest...
Fourth Favorite is Spyro's Adventure's MKI Portal of Power, because it may be bulkier, but at LEAST it's more colorful, and it's not from SWAP Force...
Least favorite is SWAP Force, since unlike the Overdrive portal, it looks TOO magical for a Skylanders game made by Vicarious Visions... October 13, 2013, is "the day the magic died", so the portal should match that feel... The game itself feels even less magical-feeling than Superchargers, so why is the portal the 3rd most magical design, and the gimmick the 2nd most?

Quote: Badwolfmichael

Quote: weebbby

1. STT - Instants in SC, best design, has trap slot and speaker, works with all 5 games, though it has a really short cord. ;~;
2/3. SSA - Wireless and 2nd best design. Though the batteries do get eaten pretty fast.
2/3. SG - Wired of the first one, so no battery eating. But it doesn't reach the couch... Eh I have too many by this point anyway to play from the couch.
4. SSF - Shorter cord than SG, worse design aesthetically, characters fall of really easy with little to no rim...
5. SC - HORRIBLE design.

I know I sold my SG portal, but the SSF has the longest cord of them all right?!

Between my SG Wii portal and SSF 360 portal the SG one is longer.

Quote: weebbby

Quote: Badwolfmichael

Quote: weebbby

1. STT - Instants in SC, best design, has trap slot and speaker, works with all 5 games, though it has a really short cord. ;~;
2/3. SSA - Wireless and 2nd best design. Though the batteries do get eaten pretty fast.
2/3. SG - Wired of the first one, so no battery eating. But it doesn't reach the couch... Eh I have too many by this point anyway to play from the couch.
4. SSF - Shorter cord than SG, worse design aesthetically, characters fall of really easy with little to no rim...
5. SC - HORRIBLE design.

I know I sold my SG portal, but the SSF has the longest cord of them all right?!

Between my SG Wii portal and SSF 360 portal the SG one is longer.

The wii version must be different.. Because my SSF portal is WAY longer than any of my other portals

I'd go like dis
Top 3 in no order
Spyros adventure
+WIRELESS HOLY NUGGETS ITS AMAZING
+Swag lights
-battery's can sort of be a pain in the backside

TT
+amazing design
+speakers
Lights are cool
-only good for trap team and literally no other game, it's built to fit tts gimmick
-would have been amazing if wireless but whatcha gonna do

Superchargers
+Best design so far
+wide
-no lights
-sufferers from wired syndrome
-

The others
Swap force
+design is acceptable
+lights
-wired *sigh*

Giants
Half and half-its basicly a wired version of ssa execpt with less lights

3DS
+get the USB plug and put in wii, you now have a tiny portal its amazing, but not for coop

- Traptanium Portal: awesome design, the ring prevent characters from falling off of it, has amazing light-up effects, the trap slot, the speaker (which might be used in future games as well) and is big enough to fit a vehicle and a Giant comfortably.
Oh and I think it is also the only one to unlock Instant variants which is still a plus, I guess.

- SA Portal: great design which really captures what a proper magical portal should be, good light-up effects but unfortunately requires tons of batteries.
It wasn't funny when it died out during a level; not funny at all.

- SWAP Force Portal: nice design which still looks somehow magical, really easy to store and carry around but apparently it was basically required only for a specific moment during Kaos' Mum's boss battle... They could have avoided saying it was "required" to play as Swappers...
Didn't tried SA Portal with SuperChargers so I don't know if Swappers can't be played on it though.

- SuperChargers Portal:... Did they even tried...?
The fact you can still use your old Portals and that the Traptanium one seems to be the the most performing one makes me think they didn't.
Horrible design which absolutely doesn't fit this series at all (but I have to agree with juarmo it kinda fits the theme of the game and V.V.'s general less-whimsical and more techy approach), frankly looks like something straight out of a Hot Wheels playset and doesn't even light-up.
And no... Adding almost invisibile runes one the base doesn't make it any more magical.
At least it has the trap slot and is definitely big enough to fit two Giants and a vehicle but still... They could have done much much better.
I like this Portal soooo much it immediately got stuffed inside the Forget-Box along with Super Shot Slealth Elf.

Regarding 3DS Portals they are the same as for the console ones.
SA immediately followed by SWAP Force/Trap Team/SuperChargers.

Quote: Dark Snap Shot

-only good for trap team and literally no other game, it's built to fit tts gimmick

I think you have it backwards...the Trap Team portal is actually the only portal that does work with every game.

Quote: Muffin Man

Quote: Dark Snap Shot

-only good for trap team and literally no other game, it's built to fit tts gimmick

I think you have it backwards...the Trap Team portal is actually the only portal that does work with every game.

I meant its purpose, the trap slot and speakers

SSA Portal of Power is my favorite~

The PC version is corded and compatible with PS and Nintendo consoles.

Light/Dark characters make the portal just cycle its colors

I think Trap Team's portal is the best all around. Lots of space, and those wonderful walls on the side prevent figures from slipping off when i move on my bed. Swap Force is on the opposite side because it's completely flat.
SSA and Giant's portals are both ok, Giants probably lower because like you mentioned it's simply a larger version of SSA's with no lights.

Haven't really seen Supercharger's but it looks decent, although I hope figures will stay on it ok.
I actually like the little baby 3DS ones too. They're kind of funny to look at, but they definitely work very well for the games and pushing them to turn on the lights at any time is nice too.