Skylanders Swap Force - Video Review by GameSpot

Skylanders Swap Force is now available on the Wii U in addition to just about every other platform, having launched on October 13th. This new entry in the best-selling series lets players swap out the top and bottom halves of the new figures to create characters of their own, changing their powers and moves in the process. All of the previous figures from Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure and Skylanders: Giants can be used in the game as well, which is good news for those of you who already own a good number of them.

The reviews have been coming in, and so far, they are mostly positive. There aren't too many reviews specifically discussing the Wii U version, but what's being said by critics is certainly encouraging. The reviews by Amazon users have also been favorable as well, which you can check out here.

Chris Barylick of GameSpot has uploaded his video review to YouTube, and it's definitely worth checking out, especially if you or your kids are fans of the popular games. Video review after the break.

Skylanders Swap Force - 10 minutes of gameplay footage

Nintendo has released a new video which shows the Wii U version of Skylanders: Swap Force in action. There are almost ten minutes of off-screen footage, played by a couple of the Big N's own employees. They discuss what the game has to offer, including the new characters and their respective abilities. The game allows players to mix and match the top and bottom pieces of the toys to create a multitude of interesting playable characters with various skills. If you love Skylanders, you'll definitely want to check this out. Video after the break.

Skylanders: Swap Force - 13 Minute Demo

Activision recently held a live demo for the upcoming Skylanders: Swap Force, and they showed off some of the new characters along with a good deal of actual gameplay footage. A video of the event has now been posted on YouTube, and if you're a fan of the franchise, it's definitely worth a look. You can watch it after the break.

Skylanders: Swap Force - Gameplay Video

Activision announced Skylanders: Swap Force a few days ago, and gave us a few details about the upcoming title along with a teaser trailer. Here's some actual gameplay footage of the new game, which shows a few characters that can be made by swapping out different pieces of each figure. Video after the break.

Activision Announces Skylanders SWAP Force

Activision has announced that Skylanders SWAP Force is now in development and will be coming to the Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and 3DS. The game will make its public debut at Toy Fair 2013.

In this new entry in the Skylanders series, players will be able to swap out the top and bottom halves of the new figures to create characters of their own. There will be a total of 16 SWAP Force characters, which will allow for 250 possible combinations. By swapping pieces, players will change their powers and moves. All of the previous figures from Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure and Skylanders: Giants can be used in the game as well, and will have the ability to jump.

In addition to the 16 new Swap Force characters, there will be 32 core Skylanders characters, 16 of which will be completely new, while the other 16 will be new versions of fan-favorite characters from the previous games. There will also be an additional eight new LightCore characters for players to collect.

Here's the official storyline from Activision:

“In Skylanders SWAP Force, Portal Masters embark on an all-new adventure in the mysterious Cloudbreak Islands, home to a mystical volcano that erupts every hundred years to replenish the magic in Skylands. During an epic battle, a brave group of Skylanders were caught in the volcano’s eruption, which blasted them apart and sent them to earth. But, the magic of the volcano gave these heroes a remarkable new power — the ability to swap halves – turning them into a special team known as the SWAP Force. Meanwhile, Kaos is back with a new evil plan. And now, Portal Masters everywhere must reassemble the SWAP Force — in their original form or in new combinations — and send them back to Cloudbreak to save Skylands!”

Source: Activision Press Release

Trailer after the break.

Skylanders: Giants Scorpion Striker Battle Pack available at GameStop one month early

The Skylanders: Giants Scorpion Striker Battle Pack is now available at GameStop, one month before it will be on sale at other retailers. The set includes a series 2 Zap, Hot Dog, an in-game catapult, trading cards, and stickers. It is priced at $24.99.

In addition, GameStop says that "customers can also get one of four free Skylanders Giants Sidekick characters when they purchase $29.99 or more of Skylanders Giants characters or packs from GameStop from Jan. 16 through Jan. 31." They emphasize that this offer "is only available at GameStop while supplies last."

If you would like to check out the pack on GameStop's website, you can do so via the following link:

Skylanders: Giants Scorpion Striker Battle Pack - GameStop


Source: GameStop via Joystiq

Skylanders: Giants - Video Review by Rev3

There are giants in this game alright.

Earlier this week, I posted IGN's video review of Skylanders: Giants, and they gave it a score of 8.0 out of 10, which is pretty high praise by their standards. Now, the staff of Rev3 have posted a video review of their own and they also think very highly of it. While the Wii U version has not been reviewed yet, it should be pretty much the same as those for the other platforms. Video after the break.

New Wii bundles available November 4th

The Wii U is almost here, but Nintendo plans on selling the Wii for years to come. If you can't afford the Big N's new console, you should know that there are two new Wii bundles which will be available starting November 4th. Seeing as how the Wii U is backwards compatible with Wii games, you could go with the cheaper console for now and upgrade later.

The first bundle has a suggested price of $149.99 which includes a blue Wii console, blue Wii Remote and Nunchuk, a copy of Skylanders: Giants, one Portal of Power, two Skylanders characters, and one exclusive Giant Skylander. The second bundle has a suggested price of $129.99 which includes a white Wii console, white Wii Remote and Nunchuk, and a copy of Just Dance 4. Full press release after the break.

Skylanders: Giants - Wave 2 characters

Players will have a blast with Jet Vac.

Wave Two of the Skylanders: Giants toy line are scheduled for release on November 29th, but according to Nintendo World Report, Toys R Us has already started receiving shipments. You can find a list of the characters, along with a video showing each figure, after the break.

Skylanders: Giants - Video Review by IGN

Does it live up to the hype?

Skylanders: Giants is expected to be one of the hottest games of the holiday season, and while the Wii U version is still a month away, it will be pretty much the same as the others. The staff of IGN have played through the game from start to finish, and they have plenty to say about the highly anticipated title. While the Wii U version has not been reviewed yet, it should be pretty much the same as those for the other platforms. You can check out IGN's video review after the break.

What's new in Skylanders Giants - Video

They're ready for action.

While players will have to wait a month to get their hands on the Wii U version of Skylanders: Giants, the game was officially launched for every other platform this week, and it was released just today in North America. Here's a video posted on the official Skylanders: Giants YouTube channel to coincide with the launch. It highlights the new features of the highly anticipated title. You can watch it after the break.

Skylanders: Giants videos - Flashwing, Drobot, and Hotdog

Here are the trailers for Skylanders: Giants characters Flashwing, Drobot, and Hot Dog. You can check them out after the break.

List of Skylanders: Giants figures available at launch

The Wii U version of Skylanders: Giants will be coming out on launch day next month, but the Wii version will be released tomorrow. Here's a list of all the figures that will be available at launch.


Wave 1 Figures

Tree Rex Giant (Included in starter pack)
Jet Vac (Included in starter pack)
Cynder - Series 2 (Included in starter pack)
Bouncer (Giant)
Crusher (Giant)
Swarm (Giant)
LightCore Prism Break
LightCore Eruptor
LightCore Drobot
Pop Fizz
Chill
Fright Rider
Zook (Series 2)
Whirlwind (Series 2)
Terrafin (Series 2)
Slam Bam (Series 2)
Trigger Happy (Series 2)
Ignitor (Series 2)

Toys “R” Us Exclusives Available at Launch:

Legendary Bouncer
Legendary Triple Pack - Includes Legendary Jet Vac, Legendary Ignitor, aned Legendary Slam Bam.

GameStop Exclusives Available at Launch:

Battle Pack - Includes Shroom Boom and Chop Chop (Series 2)

Target Exclusives Available at Launch:

Granite Crusher (brand new art deco version)

Wal-Mart Exclusives Available at Launch:

Glow in the dark starter pack.

Source: Game Informer

Target will have exclusive Skylanders: Giants figures

Target has some exclusives as well.

Yet another press release about Skylanders: Giants. It seems Toys "R" Us won't be the only retailer with exclusive figures.

Press Release

Sunday, Oct. 21, marks the day Activision reveals the latest addition to the epic Skylanders series – Skylanders Giants.. In anticipation of the launch, Target has announced the exclusive Granite Crusher character as well as the upcoming holiday limited-time only LightCore Triple Pack (available in store and on Target.com on Nov. 27).

The exclusive Granite Crusher Giant ($14.99), with increased power and level cap, is a deco change character with a unique granite look and feel with blue crystals represented both on the toy and in game.

Guests will also find the limited-edition Target exclusive LightCore Triple Pack ($11.99); the only Light Core Triple Pack on the market with three LightCore characters including Prism Break, Eruptor and Drobot.

Target guests can purchase this holiday must-have at an exceptional value when using Target’s 5 percent off REDCard Rewards Program or by trading in a used electronic or video game to receive credit towards their purchase.

Toys "R" Us will have exclusive Skylanders: Giants figures

Only at Toys "R" Us.

According to a press release, Toys "R" Us will have limited editions of several Skylanders: Giants characters that can't be purchased anywhere else.

Press Release

Just a quick note to let you know that Toys "R" Us stores in the US will open at 8am on Sunday, October 21st to welcome Skylanders fans. When Skylanders Giants hits retail stores on Sunday, Toys "R" Us will be the only place for fans to find the limited edition Legendary Series of toys, including alternative versions of the new Giant character Bouncer and a Triple Pack of Jet Vac, Series 2 Slam Bam and Series 2 Ignitor -- all of which feature enhanced in-game powers.

Skylanders: Giants - 38 minutes of gameplay footage (Wii version)

Pretty good video quality.

Skylanders: Giants is coming to the Wii U, but the system's launch is still a month away. One gamer who picked up the Wii version has recorded 38 minutes of gameplay footage and uploaded it to YouTube. Seeing as how the game is essentially the same as the Wii U version, along with the fact that the Wii U can play Wii games, it's definitely worth checking out. Video after the break.

Skylanders Giants - 16 minute video overview

Plenty of gameplay footage in this video.

The staff of Game Informer have been playing Skylanders: Giants and have put together a video overview of the game which covers a lot of material. There is plenty of gameplay footage, so it's definitely worth checking out if you're a Skylanders fan. Video after the break.

Skylanders: Giants unboxing videos - Bouncer, Swarm, and Crusher

Here's another set of Skylanders: Giants unboxing videos from Family Gamer TV. You can see Bouncer, Swarm, and Crusher taken out of their packaging after the break.

Skylanders: Giants videos - Eruptor, Thumpback, Hex, and Hot Head

Here are the trailers for four more characters in Skylanders: Giants. Included in this set are Eruptor, Thumpback, Hex, and Hot Head. Videos after the break.

Skylanders: Giants Starter Pack Unboxing

Take a look at what's inside.

Adam Robertson of Family Gamer TV has got his hands on the Skylanders: Giants Starter Pack and has posted a video showing what is included in the package. The Starter Kit in the video is for the Xbox 360, but the Wii U version will include all the same equipment and figures. You can check out the video along with a written summary after the break.