Skylanders Swap Force Reviews
If you're looking for family friendly fun that'll last hours and hours even after the campaign is complete, then rest assured that Skylanders: Swap Force is well worth the investment — of course, just how much you're willing to invest depends on how badly you want to collect all of those eye-catching figures.
Vicarious Visions delivers a well-evolved set of ideas for its latest return trip to the Skylanders universe, Skylanders: Swap Force.
After playing this game alone, and with my children, as a parent I can easily recommend it, as it is a title that the whole family can play over and over again while having lots of fun.
Skylanders: Swap Force is clearly geared towards a younger audience, but that doesn't mean that fans of hack-and-slash platformers should ignore the title entirely. The idea of physical figures that you can control in the game is brilliant – if expensive – and it results in a solid experience that thrives with friends. Sadly, the slow pacing, repetitive combat, and awkward jump mechanics let the gameplay down in places, and prevent it from reaching its full potential.
The swappable characters add a nice new mechanic and jumping is finally in. The PlayStation 4 version looks solid with better textures and resolution. It's fun for the whole family, but can be an expensive investment if your kid wants to unlock every level in the game.
The Skylanders Swap Force Starter Pack is the perfect jumping-off point for the super-popular game and collectible toy craze.
Although it's arguably the definitive version of the game, the next-generation iteration of Skylanders: Swap Force is nearly identical to its console-based predecessors. Those who enjoy family friendly action-platformers, and have been waiting for this release, will surely find a lot to enjoy. However, there's no reason to upgrade if you've already purchased and played through the title on another device.
If you're looking to invest in the game and have a choice, leave your older generation system behind – this is the right way to enjoy the entire line of Skylanders Toys you or your kids have amassed. The added improvements in graphics and audio will certainly outweigh any minor annoyances the Xbox One version brings. Be warned: if you already own it on any other console besides the Nintendo 3DS, it might not be worth the duplicate toys that come along with the minor bump in audio and video fidelity. This is where Activision should be looking at releasing a next-gen version with previously unreleased characters to bolster their brand in the next-gen world.
As with many of the next-generation launch titles that released on last-generation platforms simultaneously, the content in the game remains virtually untouched. The most notable difference is the sharper looking visuals, running at a smooth 60fps at 1080p, compared to the PS3 version of game that was limited to 720p.
With better visuals and gameplay that both young and old gamers can enjoy, Skylanders SWAP Force is an addictive adventure through the Skylands that I'll be playing for the foreseeable future.
The best Skylanders game to date and a must for all fans of the franchise, young and maybe old
It's very easy to dismiss the whimsical art style, collecting and platforming as a game for kids, but dig a little deeper and you'll find a lot to like about Swap Force. Skylanders will be an influential series in years to come and successfully combines real world collectables with a fantastic platformer to deliver a rich and engaging experience.
Skylanders Swap Force – like all of the games in this series – can be without a doubt an expensive hobby, but it's a fun one if you're either a kid or like collecting toys or both, and if you don't mind playing through the game with only three characters, it's also a rewarding way to pass the time with just the basic starter set.
Skylanders SWAP Force may seem like a cash grab in some ways, but the game their figures belong to is just so charming and, well, fun, that this doesn't really seem like an issue. The gameplay's addictive, the figures are well-built– screw the haters. I'm a Skylanders fan.
Even when it's safe, Swap Force is still a wildly entertaining game and another satisfying entry in a genre that rarely gets this much love and care. It might lack the innovative magic of Spyro's Adventure or the daring ingenuity of Giants, but it's still a formula that works, even if the routine is starting to show.
As a father and dedicated gamer, 'Skylanders: Swap Force' is that rare game that satisfies on a variety of levels. It makes me proud to see my daughters handling a PlayStation 3 controller with near pin-point accuracy, and puts a smile on my face as we mutually enjoy the same game when played together. As I have already come to realize, these gaming opportunities with my children will not last forever and I appreciate the effort Vicarious Visions put into the development of Swap Force. It was a pleasure to play solo and should not be missed if you are a parent of younger gamers.
Skylanders: Swap Force is the best kid-friendly game available on the PS4. It's incredibly accessible, easy to play, and full of content. It is a solid and well-crafted game from start to finish. The only potential downside is that it could become a serious drain on a parent's wallet as their kids run into roadblocks that require specific toys to continue. If you don't mind dishing out a few extra dollars, or if your kids already have a healthy collection of Skylander toys, there's no better choice for a new PS4 owner looking for something for the younger crowd.