Skylanders Spyro's Adventure Starter Pack - Nintendo 3DS

Skylanders is definitely a game that has caused a stir among gamers. Some are completely put off by Spyro's new look and the fact that he isn't the main star anymore, while others think that purchasing characters for real money is disgraceful and a crime against humanity. Prior to playing the game, I could sort of see how those arguments could be valid (key word, sort of). However, after playing the game I will admit that I am completely in love with it. First off, no, Spyro is not the primary protagonist, though his presence in the game is justified and more prevalent than you would have thought. The main website has a bio on Spyro that explains exactly how the Skylanders were blessed and lucky to have the legendary purple dragon on their side. This is a completely acceptable and satisfying reason for why he makes an appearance in the game, in my opinion. Now, you probably want to know what you're going to be getting yourself into before you drop $69.99 on this game (which for some reason is the same price as the console counterparts). The 3DS version of Skylanders is a platforming game that plays not all too different from some of the earlier Spyro games, and unlike the console version, you can perform jumps to leap from platform to platform. There are 5 levels each with 5 sub-levels, three of which are traditional platforming segments, with the other two as a three-round brawl fest. Each main level has a different theme with levels that are vibrant and detailed, and is fun to play from start to finish. As the Portal Master, you control the Skylanders that you received in the starter pack or from a character pack you bought in a retail store. Surprisingly, each Skylander is diverse and comes with his/her own unique playstyle and abilities. I was honestly expecting them to be nothing more than reskins. Also, despite what others may lead you to believe you do not need every single Skylander, nor do you need each element. You can still play and finish the game just fine with your starter characters. Some people are complaining that the 3DS version is too short, but every game doesn't have to have an engrossing 35+ hour story mode with dozens of side quests. I would say I have completed about 50% of the objectives in the game so far (after I beat the final boss), and my 3DS's activity log clocked my total playtime at just under 6 hours. That's pretty impressive for a *platforming* game with a relatively simple story. Of course, additional Skylanders and level packs will no doubt keep me occupied for at least triple my current playtime. It's that fun. I feel as though I've only scratched the surface of the game, but in an effort to keep this somewhat brief, I'll leave the review off here. I hope I've convinced you guys that Skylanders isn't the money-sucking game naysayers claim it to be. Enjoy!

Everybody in the family is enjoying this game. My husband and I both love playing. My six-year-old, whom we purchased it for, plays some every day. My four-year-old can even play around a bit. It is a less precise game compared to some I've played, so you can often hit the target without having a dead-on aim. It would be a perfect beginning video game for ages 6-8, but can also provide hours of fun for older kids and adults alike. There are plenty of levels to unlock with several goals for each level. There is a lot of replay potential for this game. The exclusive Dark Spyro is the best of all Skylanders.

The game is excellent for anyone. This game remind me a lot of Spyro adventures type game with challenges but also a storyline. I thought Skylanders were boring because its just figurines but I've seen that its been around for a while and it seem to stay. The game gets expanded as you get more characters and new challenges which is interesting. Highly suggested for anyone. A+

Game arrived in stated condition,new. The Game box, being larger than a standard game case, had some denting. I suspect that this was not from the seller but the U.S. postal service. Nothing inside was broken and it all worked fine. The game is a nice little platformer, it's rather easy, but fun. I won't get into the figurene collection / gimmick, there are plenty of articles on it via google. The starter set comes with the portal of power, three figurenes, and the game. Very child friendly game, easy platforming, and monster fighting. Good 3d effect on the 3ds, first party nintendo games do it better but this game has alot better 3d effect than some of the other third party tittles I've played.

So off the bat it must be said that the 3DS versions of the Skylanders games are completely different than their console counterparts in terms of story and gameplay. Where the console incarnations typically feature expansive levels for you to roam about and explore, their little brothers offer a more focused action-platformer approach which is pretty enjoyable in its own way. The levels in 3DS Skylanders are typically pretty short and tend to boil down to following a (minimally) branching path to the end of the level, or sticking around in a pre-defined arena taking on waves of enemies for a set time. As much as I'd like to want for more out of this title, I find myself appreciating the change of pace. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like a very lengthy game unless you're driven to 100% all the available challenges, though the gameplay is solid enough that you may just want to. Some things to note about the 3DS version is how they handle Skylanders and add-on content. Rather than opting for the ability to swap out characters at will you will be able to select two at a time via an NPC at the game's main hub area. You are then able to swap between these two on the fly with a tap of the touch screen. Additionally, you can use this NPC to register your Spyro's Adventure add-on packs (Dragon's Nest, Darklight Crypt, etc). Doing so will permanently unlock a new set of missions within the game. As with the core content, these will be different than the console version. What about your items? This is probably my favorite change over the console version of the game. You are able to "equip" any one item along with your two Skylanders and use it at any time you wish while playing, rather than it just being used once when placed on the portal. You'll just have to sacrifice some of your "Radiance" to do so (an in-game pickup, usually tied to score in missions). Ultimately the only real complaint I'd level at this title is how fickle the 3DS portal of power is so it's probably for the best that the game is designed to minimize how much you need to use it. Other than that the gameplay is fun, if brief and the handling of all the game's myriad additional junk is not only appreciable but quite well suited to the task, especially in regards to the consumable items.

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