After the enormous success of Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure last year, it's no surprise Activision is preparing more outings. The publisher just revealed Skylanders Giants today, and while it's compatible with all the toys from its predecessor it has a few tricks up its sleeve.
For starters, the toys aren't just giant in name only: Activision states the toys are twice the size of Spyro's figures, with their in-game models sized appropriately too. The toys light up as well, so that's cool too.
The announcement mentions a PS3 version but also says it's coming to "handheld and mobile devices" — could a Vita version be in the works?
BIG SHOES FILLED — SKYLANDERS GIANTS™ REVEALED AT THE 2012 AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL TOY FAIR
New Game to Build on the Landmark Success of its Predecessor, Skylanders Spyro's Adventure™
Next Chapter in the Franchise Introduces More Than 20 New Figures Including Super-Sized Giants and Characters Featuring Light Technology
Global Marketing Partnership With Toys"R"Us Grows Alongside The Game
Santa Monica, CA - February 7, 2012 - Bring Your Toys To Life™. This novel premise takes a monster step forward with the worldwide unveiling of Skylanders Giants, the follow-up to the most successful kids' IP launch of the year.¹ Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), will debut the sequel at the North American International Toy Fair in booths 3151 and 3251 at the Javits Center in New York City from February 12-15.
Skylanders Spyro's Adventure uniquely combined collectible real-world toys with an epic virtual game world, creating a new platform for communal play that was embraced by parents and kids everywhere. Skylanders Spyro's Adventure was the #1 best-selling kids' franchise worldwide in 2011, as well as the #1 overall new IP launched in North America, according to The NPD Group, Charttrack and GfK.
¹According to The NPD Group, Charttrack and Gfk
According to The NPD Group, Skylanders Spyro's Adventure went on to become a Top-10 seller in North America and generated the greatest overall single-year sales, inclusive of software and accessories, of any new children's IP in North America, since NPD has been tracking the category.
Skylanders Giants builds upon the breakthrough fundamentals of the first game-merging the physical and virtual realms with an innovative line of cross-platform toy figures that have "brains," which players everywhere can magically bring to life in the world of Skylands. This next installment of the franchise features a variety of new characters, new challenges, a thrilling new story-driven adventure, and advanced integration across console, handheld, mobile and online:
Going Big: Skylanders Giants introduces eight new highly collectible figures that are more than twice the size of the main skylanders cast in both physical and virtual form. Their in-game powers and abilities reflect their colossal scale.
Bright Lights: Helping to further the real world magic of bringing toys to life, Skylanders Giants includes a set of characters that feature spectacular new light technology integrated into the toys, allowing the figure to light up when near or on the Portal of Power™. These characters have additional in-game benefits as well. Batteries are not required.
Brand New Skylanders: Eight new regular sized skylanders, each with their own unique powers, abilities, and personality, join the adventure alongside the Giants.
Forward Compatibility: Every beloved character from Skylanders Spyro's Adventure is 100% compatible with Skylanders Giants, leveled-up stats and customizations intact.
Wider Worlds: Portal Masters will see all new arenas and more gameplay options in Battle Mode for exciting head-to-head play, as well as enhanced Elemental Zones, new Hero Challenges, and other features that encourage players to collect and level up every character.
Skylanders Giants also features closer integration with Skylanders Spyro's Universe, the large online world that allows Portal Masters around the world to greatly expand their Skylanders experience.
"Skylanders Spyro's Adventure's success in 2011 validated an exciting idea-that with the right technology, and the creative minds to support it with engaging characters and story, we could define a new model for children's play," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. "Skylanders Giants marks the evolution of this core concept. We've got super-sized figures, remarkably cool new characters that light up, as if by magic, and more ways to play and explore Skylands than ever before. We're delighted to announce the title at Toy Fair 2012 and can't wait for fans to go hands-on this fall."
Comments 3
If that means the figures each need batteries, I'm gonna be pissed. The portal already eats up batteries fairly quickly.
@Objection: The PR says batteries for the giants are not required. Probably just some weeble LEDs lighting up with an internal battery.
I just bought Skylanders (PS3) at Target about 6 hours ago. Rather than working on a sequel they should be working on getting the characters in the stores. Went looking for them last week - 4 stores in a row - and they are very hard to find. Nobody is going to start to buy these if they can't find the first bunch.
And double the size of the current ones? Will they even fit on the 3DS version? Will you be able to put 2 on at a time? The game seems made for multiplayer.
This blurb has me worried: "Forward Compatibility: Every beloved character from Skylanders Spyro's Adventure is 100% compatible with Skylanders Giants, leveled-up stats and customizations intact."
So you won't be able to use the new characters in the current game, you will have to buy the new game as well? And maybe a new portal also?
As far as batteries go, McDonalds has been giving away free toys for years which glow or talk or waddle or whatever, so these may have batteries, just not replaceable ones. I put 3 rechargeables in the "portal" out of the box. I'll save the 3 Duracells for flashlights. I have 4 wiimotes, my house is littered w/ rechargeable AAs.
As for the game itself. My 7 and 9 year old had fun for an hour, I have no use for it. Heck, I couldn't even play the last round of Spyro games they were so not Spyro.
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