I remember playing Bayou Billy and how much of a pain it was. I was finally able to beat it using an emulator many years after playing it on the NES.

The vehicle combat/levels look to be a part of the game and not the whole game, the gameplay videos above show traditional non vehicle parts.

Although this is a ridiculous money sink, I have to say that I can see how this is designed for and will appeal to kids (which is almost the exact opposite of Amiibos, come to think of it). I like that they let you use the traps from the last game instead of just discarding them. I'm surprised they didn't use the swap force concept to allow you to attach the top part of a skylander to the vehicle to make it look like he's driving it (maybe you have to save something for next time... )

Well... it *does* look kind of cool. I'm sure my grandson will want it - he mentioned it yesterday and I basically brushed him off with "Yeah... but there's been no real information on it yet." Guess I'll be showing him this stuff assuming he's not already seen it by the time I get home...

At least it *appears* that it'll be a bit less expensive than was Trap Team (if you get everything). Of course we don't yet know what type of "unknown element" this one might have...

While it says a new portal is not required it looks to have a larger base. I can see the current one being very crowded with two vehicles sitting on it.

**EDIT**
I really liked this comment from the article:
I'd expected this to be the first version of the game to exclude the oldest figures but that's not going to happen... yet...

I also like that the returning characters look to be more than just reposes. They say a "completely different upgrade path and abilities" for Stealth Elf which should be indicative of all the reposes.

But someone needs to do their homework (significant part bolded by me):
You could do that with Giants - use the original portal and not purchase a full Starter Pack but the "Portal Owners Pack" to save a few $$ (it's $49.99). Based on this:
It sounds like the same thing will happen as did with Giants. Few people will purchase the non-portal version as it doesn't have have the toys included with the full starter. You get digital versions of the toys with the download. I don't know about you guys but my kids won't stand for that and neither will I for only a $25 savings. It's worth the $25 to get the physical toys.

Nope... there are still a few to be released:

Gnarly Barkley (supposedly at TRU with a 6/3/15 release - other vendors typically get theirs a week later)

King Cobra Cadabra:

The "Yawn" traps (Life, Fire, and Light)


I *think* that's all that's left but I don't have my list with me.

I found a good article with lots more information about the new game:

http://skylanderscharacterlist.com/a...ers-knowledge/

Here are some "key" bits of information:
So... larger portal to allow a pair of figures, a vehicle, and a magical item - but in two player mode if one player is "driving" and the other controls weapons/etc. how do you use two figures *and* a vehicle on the portal? Maybe you don't have to do as much swapping? (i.e. 2nd player is Bash but the vehicle starts its run so Bash drops out automatically while that player takes over weapons?)

there's a pretty good write-up on Giant Bomb about how vehicles integrate with the game.

http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/sk...ets/1100-5209/

Gnarly Barkley *is* available for order from TRU but is *not* part of the current "Buy a Trap Master and get a Single Trap Team figure or Trap 50% off" sale. They also call him "Mini Barkley" instead of putting Gnarly at the front.

I thought I was finally going to change systems for this game series from the wiiU to something else, but then they announce the skylanders/amiibo hybrids... which I'll never freaking see on the shelf anyway. Argh.

Gamestop is having another "Skylanders Day" this Saturday, 6/27/15. Lots of deals but the biggest is:

King Cobra Cadbra *and* a Flying Helmet Tech Trap with "Steampunk Shreadnaught" captured inside will be available at the event. These are Gamestop Exclusives.

They are having several B1G1 free offers: Trap Masters, Core figures, and Eon's Elite (yep - buy 1 @ $25 get another free). Plus other 50% off offers and a pre order special for Superchargers.

Here are the flyers:

I'll be there to get a King Cobra Cadabra and possibly the Tech Trap. Not sure about anything else - maybe a couple of Eon's Elite figures at that price but...

I took my grandson in to take advantage of the B1G1 deal on Trap Team figures. We picked up a couple of King Cobra Cadbra (yes, they work as qualifiers and the free one). While the ad shows the "Gamestop Exclusive" circle on these and the pre-loaded Tech Trap *neither* has that on the actual package. That makes me think they're "exclusive" only for the first week or so.

I also got him one of the Tech Traps with the free Water Trap (that neither of us needs).

His great grandfather gave him $20 so he picked up a couple of the Eon's Elite figures (I made up the difference for him) since they are B1G1 free. I must admit that these are pretty neat looking and have rather cool packaging. Since that part of the sale is all week I *may* pick up a couple of favorites myself since ~$14 (including tax) is about what I think they're really worth. But then they were *well* stocked with these (at least a half dozen of each character) so I may just wait for the inevitable better price.

They couldn't get the cereal box $1 off coupons to work and finally decided the fine print that says "Not valid with any other offer" was the issue. As the effective 50% off was good enough for me I didn't argue.

The pre-captured villain got me wondering about those. Are they more powerful than the non-pre-trapped version? As best as I can tell they seem to just have a different paint job in the game. I *might* be interested in one of those traps if they're more powerful, but not if it's just a paint job variance.

I've never heard of these eon elite characters before this but that seems to be like the exact opposite of the direction I want them to go with physical dlc.

Of all the oddball things to happen... While we were at Gamestop this morning my grandson pointed out they had a Royal Double Trouble hanging on the Used Figures rack. The price was ~$40! I told him if you could still find one they sold the Battlegrounds game set for less than that. Later this afternoon I happened to think back on that conversation and on a whim checked their site to see if any stores around here might have one in stock. Of all the coincidences, the store we'd been at, and saw the used copy, had "low" stock (I've found that typically means *one* in stock) - for $9.97! I immediately reserved it and went to pick it up as soon as I got the "ready for pickup" email (the store is about 3 miles from the house). The total for the game was $10.82 with tax. That includes Jet-Vac, Cynder, the limited edition Royal Double Trouble, the Exclusive platinum treasure chest, bluetooth portal, and code for the game (which may not work but for the price, who cares?). That was the last one within 60 miles. He doesn't know yet so it'll be a surprise when he comes over Monday.

I keep trying to talk my fiancé into letting me sell/trade off our vast collection of skylanders but she's convinced our 7 year old is going to be into them again someday. Not going to happen.

^Based on my grandson's (age 11) friends who were once into Skylanders I'd agree. While *he* still likes them and is excited about the upcoming new game, all of his friends who've lost interest have stayed away even when a new game is introduced. Most have gotten rid of their collection or never had much of one to start. That could be why they lost interest - it's too expensive and difficult to find characters for most kids unless there's a adult helping them get what they want. Most of those kids parents seemed to be too involved in their own social life and in keeping their kid(s) entertained with lots of activities to worry about/help their kids collect a toy/video game accessory. Basically non-gamer type parents.

Has anyone found a Gnarly Barkley anywhere other than TRU? My grandson would like one and I'm a bit hesitant to order due to the high shipping for something so small. With the curreny B1G40% off I'm considering it by getting him something else to help offset shipping, but if it may show up at other retailers I'd just as soon wait.

One of the main reasons I chose Infinity over Skylanders is stock. Those jokers are not stocked well around where I live. Infinity is much more available around here. I just don't want to have to drive all over the place looking for them. I know that is part of the fun for most folks but I am getting old and lazy

Went to Five Below store and they had Skylander Giants Starter Packs for Wii-U for $5. I know that is an old game but $5 is cheap. They also had quite a few of the Giants figures for $5. If I had a wii-u I would have got that starter pack

Picked up Skylanders Trap Team starter set for the nephew at Target today.

My local Target had it normally $65 marked down to $50 plus additional 75% off this week in the Cartwheel app (consoles & tablet), so out the door for $13 and change after tax.

The code in the Gamestop Exclusive Battlegrounds game set still worked so I got it downloaded and installed on my work iPad (only used for games for the grandkids these days). My grandson proclaimed it "pretty good" so the ~$10 price was a very good value. He's still drooling over the Royal Double Trouble figure...

He's also announced he wants Superchargers for his birthday (in a couple of weeks). I'd pretty much decided that since I have only a Wii at our house I'm not going to bother as it's just another racing game on the Wii system. I don't know if I'll cave and get him the game for his house (XBox 360). I must say the vehicles and new figures are very cool looking! It's also nice all the old stuff still (mostly - because of the dumbed down traps) works and the amount of new product looks to be far less than Trap Team.

After sitting out on Trap Team, I'm considering getting back into the game for Superchargers (I'm a sucker for vehicle games).

... and with the addition of DK and Bowser to the WiiU version, I'm very tempted,

But the jury is still out. I'm not sure I want to invest the $400 it's gonna take to get everything.

^I feel your pain. The vehicles and figures really look cool - but, having only a Wii at my house, the game play is what has me holding out... at least for now. There are all kinds of videos and information for other platforms but the few I've seen for the Wii all make the game look like just another racing game. Something I *don't* need or want in spite of the cool toys.

so did any of you guys get Superchargers yesterday? how do you like it?


i would love to jump into the skylanders universe, but my wife would die of laughter. Infinity kills our bank account.

They were setting up the display at Target when we were in on Sunday. My son gave it a once-over and went back to playing the Mario Maker demo, so thankfully not too interested.

The vehicles were much smaller than I expected.

We got the dark set and a handful of vehicles and characters. However, we also got a copy of Lego Dimensions and spent the evening setting that up and playing it. I plan on getting the Skylanders stuff out in the next day or two and giving it a spin.

I'm a couple of games behind with Skylanders, and my kids are young enough that they don't care. It's much cheaper that way.

Also, as much as I love the Disney licenses, I have to say that for me, Skylanders is just a much, much better game.