Skylanders SuperChargers Starter Pack

Editor's Notes

Wii U disc version reviewed. Review time included local co-op, online versus, and time with the Xbox One version. Wii U Starter Pack includes a game disc, wired USB Portal of Power, collection poster, Super Shot Stealth Elf, Turbo Charge Donkey Kong, and Barrel Blaster. Review time was also spent with an extra half dozen new 'Skylanders SuperChargers' figures and vehicles beyond the Starter Pack, as well as the Skylander SuperChargers Sea Racing Action Pack. The extras are noted in the review. Also worth noting is that this game is scored in part with the help of my family. Sections of this review (including screenshots as marked) are shared with the Xbox One version review.

Introduction

Since 2011, one runaway entertainment brand has, year in and year out, crossed over the fun and collectability of action figures with the dynamic world of video games. With toys to life gaming growing to an entire (gaming and toy) genre, 'Skylanders SuperChargers' arrives bearing big expectations.

Series' staples like the support of 300+ figures (from the past, present, and near future), drop in, drop out co-op, and a game that can handle ages 6 and up are a given, but not unlike the heyday of various iconic toy brands (the 1980's), 'Skylanders SuperChargers' seeks to take the sensation to another level, the one with vehicles.

That's right, this year, there are a crazy variety of 20 vehicles, but all of this armada breaks down into three ways, land, sea, and air. Within those categories, the SuperChargers vehicles can be paired with any Skylander, they can be modified for both looks and specs, and they can be raced.

There's even match-making online racing, but the online doesn't end there. This time out, full online co-op is available. Along with these series' bombshells, there's Environmental Challenges, Skystones, Daily Challenges, SuperChargers Challenges, collectibles, leaderboards… it goes on.

With the Wii U version (and the Wii and 3DS versions), Activision and Nintendo partnered up for something exclusive, and by definition, special. The Wii U 'Skylanders SuperChargers' starter pack includes a combination Skylander and amiibo in the form of Turbo Charge Donkey Kong. 

The Game Itself: Our Reviewer's Take

The Franchise

When reviewing an installment from a franchise as big (and as frequent) as 'Skylanders,' it's important to relate my feel for the series up to this point. With toys to life, that is, with collectible figures that kids could, in effect, bring into a big, colorful, video game world, and play with, level, and customize, 'Skylanders' has been a unique concept that, from a purely video game point of view, started off a bit stilted, but by the time of last year's 'Trap Team,' had grown into a surprisingly diverse offering. Diverse in all the different things that players could do beyond just playing through the story, but also, to my tastes, uneven.

'Skylanders SuperChargers' could also be accused of being uneven, and of pushing quantity over quality, but for me, 'SuperChargers' really clicks. No doubt, this is a game aimed at kids, and each part of the main game and main story has been refined in order to fascinate kids while encouraging the use of the new 'SuperChargers' vehicles and figures.

Flynn, Cali, Hugo, Eon, Kaos, (Mags, Glumshanks, etc,) all enact a dramedy that is meant to entertain a young audience, along with the occasional subtle harmless joke worth noting for an adult player.

But while the trappings on the whole suggest business as usual for a 'Skylanders' title, the simple dynamics of putting signature vehicles in the mix speaks to me.

Vehicles Are No Mere Tweak

Not only is Donkey Kong along as a guest star, but as with the other SuperChargers, the vehicle unlocks lots of awesome (there's even a Diddy Kong riding in a side car).

With an established character like Donkey Kong, it's easy to see how special this latest version of 'Skylanders' is. Turbo Charger Donkey Kong is large and in charger, he can equip (via upgrade) giant half barrels on each arm which allow him to pound enemies, and do things like roll around. He can even be shoot around via his own barrel blast.

But yes, when its Land vehicle time, his Barrel Blaster is ready to deploy. We've seen DK in various 'Mario Karts' (and even his own racing game), but it i still a be an ape, will travel sensation when its time to get driving.

For me, this is already way more awesome than the traditional 'Skylanders' set-up. Getting into a vehicle and changing the gameplay up, say mid-level or for a boss fight, is vastly more engaging than the typical elemental change. But it's really just the beginning. The games have been great at letting players customize, level, and upgrade their Skylanders, and 'SuperChargers' is likewise great. Hats, new attacks, and new levels make each Sklyander feel like its own little RPG character. But having said this, it's those vehicles that really make the point.

Vehicular Variety

There is tons of stuff to do is 'Skylanders SuperChargers,' and within the options, there is plenty on offer that is more advanced than just beating up enemies or getting to the end of the level. While some of the cool stuff unlocks later on in the game (like the demolition derby), much of it comes almost right at the beginning.

The point I'm circling around here is that these different vehicles can be set up different ways with different goals. Take Sky Slicer and Stealth Stinger (both are additional buys beyond the starter pack).  Sky Slicer is a jet while Stealth Stinger is a Helicopter (really a gun ship made out of the trees, like something from 'Gilligan's Island'). I had both of these to play with, and both fit into the game's Air category. Not only are they extremely (and obviously) different to operate, but what I might (and the game will) ask for both of them to do, varies wildly.

Vehicles Mods

I raced these Air vehicles against other players online. I raced them against the clock. I used the copter to rescue Twitterbugs (igniting for me fond 'SimCopter' memories). I also engaged in dog fights, evacuation cover fire, and co-op boss sorties against a giant rooster. If I had had the Air Racing Pack (which is due out later on), I would have chased down boss planes, pouring fire on them in while keeping abreast race style.

The point is that with these vehicles, the difference between top speed, handling, armor, acceleration, and weight, can mean success or failure in these events, many of which are easy enough for a toddler, while others can get me shouting at the TV as I retry. In 'SuperChargers,' designating which parts the vehicles uses (the mods) is pretty darn important (well, not the horn so much). The right set-up can mean victory, but even pushing pure speed over toughness for a race can leave the vehicle in the dust, beaten down by the weapons of more balanced rides.

And that's where it is. I've played several 'Skylanders' titles, but this is the first time I've had such an array of choices to place on the portal from the jump. (Nearly 20 new vehicles and figures combined, courtesy of Activision.)

Having this stuff on hand is great, especially with co-op. It really lets me and my family ferret out our favorite designs, but I could see recommending that in contrast to past games, the starter pack plus an Air vehicle and Sea vehicle will make each campaign level feel complete, not gated off.

Air, Sea, & Land Sections

Each campaign level (there are 13 in all) roughly contains an Air, Sea, and Land section. A Land vehicle (like the one included in the starter pack) is enough to get through a level, but the Sea and Air sections really shouldn't be ignored. Sure they yield Stars, and all kinds of loot, and they can affect the levels in very special ways, such as shutting off certain omnipresent hazards, or in one case, making enlarged chickens able to be shrunk. But again, there is a different quality to it.

Being on foot is as good as ever. There's combat, puzzles, platforming, and all kinds of little secrets hidden around. One of my favorite things in gaming this year, is putting Dive-Clops on the portal, firing the water jet that gushes from his eye portal (press Y after upgrading from Mags), and hearing him laugh heartily and maniacally as he attacks. A further upgrade lets me use a special X attack while doing the Y eye jet stream. As my family can relate, if Dive-Clops doesn't do his wonderful laugh, I'll do it for him.

Since I love Dive-Clops and his shenanigans, it's only fitting that I would want to have his signature vehicle, the Dive Bomber submarine, around.

As for playing levels and approaching the vehicle sections… well it's like watching an old-school 'Voltron' episode. You know that the Voltron team will start out as individual lions and will fight. Eventually though, they will come together and form Voltron. They will even probably do Voltron's crazy sword attacks, so that's an inevitable bit of joy as well.

We Need Your Help

There's something about coming upon some sad NPC midlevel, where they say we really need your help and we need it in the car, or in the water, or in the air, that makes me go "Frick Yeah." And to further the Voltron imagery, it's a big deal for co-op. On foot, me and my more casual co-op partners might be running in different directions, falling off of bouncy mushrooms, or even spamming attacks in a furry of color that's hard to see through, but when its vehicle time, we have to come together, however briefly, one piloting, one working the weapons and Gear vacuum.

Co-op also helps the 'SuperChargers' dynamic as well. The game gives you a supercharger bonus for pairing the right (new) Skylander with the right vehicle. (Note: It also still uses the "Skylanders of [this element] are stronger here" system). These bonuses not only feel good, but they make the vehicle look cooler. In turn, mixing and matching is not as satisfying. (Though still completely viable.) But in co-op, with two Skylanders on the pad and one vehicle, it's easy to get the supercharged bonus while having whatever cherished other Skylander in the game.

There's more to the campaign than just vehicle and traditional sections. No-fail Live Wire sections are quick and silly fun.

Skystones, the card-based mini-game, crops up here and there, and most of the levels have some very unique gimmicks. I feel some of the best sections (becoming Giant, being in a fried chicken factory, competing in a fighting tournament) come later on the game, while weaker gimmicks (cloud fog and inverted portalling) are front-loaded. Still, there is a stylized 2D library that includes a separate hub world, and a Scarecrow-like fight/journey to undertake.

Speaking of the hub world, the Academy really sprawls. Throwing down Legendary Treasures is fun, the wishing well, the shop, the emblems… it sprawls, but in a good way.

The main story is like a big-breakout. These rebels stand between Kaos' idiotic machinations and the end of the Skylands, but on the micro, per level sense, it's more episodic. There are plenty of bright spots, however, and the cast helps keep nearly everything charming.

Toys

At multiple points in this review, I've praised the character and vehicle design. I'm talking about the style, which I think is light years beyond where the series has been. Even some of the returning characters that have the SuperChargers treatment are so dramatically different, and for me, better.

With the Wii U version, Donkey Kong is front and center. DK and vehicle are an exclusion inclusion to the set, but more importantly, they only work on the Nintendo platforms.

Because of the exclusivity born of an important history of 'Skylanders' and Nintendo, it can be argued that the Wii U version is the best version of the game. (More on that ins the Video section.)

One thing to point out here is that Turbo Charge Donkey Kong switches from Skylander to amiibo with a turn of the base. Really, it is just the green fringe of Life element base, and it doesn't snap, but lightly stays in place.

On the amiibo side, he shows just like any other Donkey Kong, so while it's a very cool feature, it's more of a plus in terms of amiibo.

The toy figure and vehicle are nice, but not necessarily the best physically (in terms of the touch and feel) of the new line-up. The in-game payoff, however is great as DK's attacks and abilities are a blast.