re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

I had submitted my first order on June 30 and haven't received anything yet. Hope it comes soon.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

I'm waiting on our order to come. I also thought about Infinity then I thought how much I would rather spend that money on a PS4 so the decision became easy. The Infinity sets are too pricey in my opinion. Also, the news that you can't use certain characters in other areas, if true, is a huge letdown.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

I agree. Even though you can do "free play" with any character the fact that they are otherwise locked to their movie makes it look like a cash grab. Add to that those mystery power up packages (if I wanted to waste money on blind-buy collectibles I'd purchase Hero-Clixx) and it's a "no deal" for me.

I'm looking at Swap Force but haven't decided yet. We've already spent *way* too much money on the first two games.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Earlier today there was a "loose" figure listing on Amazon that showed the retail box. The box image went away after a couple of hours and now it's a loose figure shown. Several MP vendors on that listing indicate they have the character *in retail package* and not "loose" so maybe there's hope for a true Amazon listing soon.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

I read something to that effect : that you can't play local co-op with the included three figures. That's beyond stupid (even if there are all sorts of free extra figure pre-order deals available).
You know all those people who got Skylanders Giants starter kits dirt cheap after sitting out the launch for several months? That might be me with this game.
Besides, I don't want to have to buy two more portals this year for my "dead man walking" 360. (I'm definitely getting Swap Force at launch in October and that requires a new portal, even though old characters will be brought forward to the new game -- and with the ability to jump FINALLY)

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

I might go ahead and pick up the portal set for Swap Force with the 10 dollar off chip coupon and to get the lightcore Hex. Then I will wait it out awhile and only grab the few exclusives and wait for sales to pick up figures months after release.

As far as Infinity goes I just think that the worlds look rather bland and the gameplay doesn't excite me much. I really like most of the Disney properties but this seems to be a cash grab at best.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

What's cool about Skylanders isn't just the collecting of figures; it's the totally original characters and mythology around them. With the sole exception of Spyro, all the Skylanders are unique creations for that gaming series.
Disney totally misses the point of that. What's the point in collecting a Lightning McQueen figure when everyone with a boy already has seven Lightning McQueen figures in their house? In any case, it's not the same thing.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Skylanders...ersal/26464746

Saw this while trying to figure out where the hell to get drobot.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

^I'm still kicking myself for not picking up a Drobot or two when one of the WM here had them several weeks back... :(

**EDIT**
Wow! Gnarly Tree Rex ordered for store pickup! Thanks! :)

They didn't charge sales tax. Our state has a "Back to School Tax Free Weekend" this weekend. While this doesn't qualify it looks as if they did it anyway. Cool! :)

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

I ordered one but at first it said that it would be available to pickup on Thursday the 8th and then after the order was placed it said Friday the 9th. They better not screw around and sell them the day before and leave me out in the cold. I'm still looking for one of those damn Scarlet Ninjinis.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Got one of the two I ordered yesterday - the mini thumpback. So it looks like these are being shipped now.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

It is not the same thing, but I think you answered your own question.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

^Mine says "Monday the 12th". I'll still go to WM for a look/see this Sunday just in case... Who knows - I might stumble across a S2 Drobot. The last couple of times there was a new figure offered the stores here got a cardboard display populated with *lots* of "hard to find" S2 figures.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

I ordered my Gnarly Tree Rex this morning, says it'll be ready to pick up on the 9th... but I don't get back from vacation until the 11th so I'll go get it on the 12th. ;)

Thanks for the tip.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Thanks for the link. Was thinking of stopping by TRU over the weekend, but this is supposedly in stock at a Walmart by me, so I guess I'll put in an order and see.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

^I checked the online stock status for the stores here after seeing your post. Both showed to have them in stock so I swung by the closest for a look-see. Yep... they had 6 on the shelves so I went ahead and snagged one. Cost an extra $1.26 over the ordered one but I can always take it back later (I go right by that store on a regular basis so it's not out of the way) should I decide 3 of these is just too many.

What gets me on the whole "order now and get as soon as today with pickup in store" has *never* worked for me. They can show an item as "in stock" and it still comes via that slow boat.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Got one at Wal-Mart at lunch. They had four on the shelves. The CSR told me when I checked out "This is a new one, okay?". I subtly let her know I knew a fair share about Skylanders and was aware of this particular figure. It's pretty nice - with a metallic blue armor. I'm not sure I really need it, but what the hell, the boy's been pretty good lately, time for a new figure.
Wish I could have used the Frito coupon, but not worth going back home for a single dollar in savings.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Guess it was a Skylanders day for me today. Picked up Gnarly Tree Rex from Wal-Mart after work, and also got Thumpling and Eye-Small in the mail when I got home!

Too bad it took me another couple of weeks to place the order for the other two figures. Guess it will be a bit before I receive those.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Me too!
I don't think it was your timing. We all got Eye Small and Thumpling in the mail at the same time and none of us got Barkley or Mini Jini so I think it's safe to assume they're making and sending the first two figures before the second two.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Looking back, I think you're right. I didn't quite remember which one's I had ordered first. After double-checking my Paypal transactions, Mini Jini was one of the first two that I had ordered.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

That or the manufacturer sent those two to the fulfillment center first for some reason. I ordered all 4 within 10 minutes so the timeliness of placing the request/order does not appear to be a factor here.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

I found Gnarly Tree Rex today at Walmart, and used my $1 off coupon from the chips. They had probably ~10 of them on the shelf along with the other giants (except Ninjini).

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Our Mini Jini and Barkley arrived today. That's less than 2 weeks from filling out the online request until product arrival. Mini Jini has a *very* tiny body - almost like a stick figure. The head is large enough she somewhat resembles a bobble head. IMHO the best looking one is Eye Small.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

I also got the final 2 sidekicks today.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Gnarly Tree Rex is listed in today's Toys'R'Us ad if you haven't picked on up at Walmart. Giants are 2 for $22 at TRU, although it states limit of one Gnarly Tree Rex figure per person.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Did anyone actually beat the game on Nightmare difficulty? I platinum'd the game and I have to say, the Nightmare levels are pretty hard! I used up all 10 Skylanders I have (five giants, two series 2, three original from series 1). AND I leveled up all of them to the max with 28 Heroic challenges... It's definitely more challenging that the first game.

One of the stupidest thing about the Skylander games is that you can't always SKIP the dialogues. I hate games you can't skip cutscenes...

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

No, but I don't think I would have any issues since I have at least 80 figures lol

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

^Same here. In a way it takes away from the challenge as you can keep throwing figures on the portal...

^^And yeah... I, too, hate you can't skip some of those cutscenes! *Especially* on those "trainer" type levels. My grandson laughs at me as I'll be telling the game "I *know* already... get on with it!!" :lol:

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

LOL at your grandson, yes I know exactly how he feels :-P Man, 80?!?! Holy cow! Yes, I don't think you have to worry about the nightmare difficulty. Of course, provided that you level them up... Trust me, even the Chompies are to to feared on nightmare levels.

I don't know what happened to me, those Skylander thingy grows on me... I pre-ordered Swapforce for Xbox 360, PS3 and PS4...

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Why do you want swapforce on 3 systems?

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

I've not yet ordered Swapforce but he asks about it *constantly* and Lightcore Hex is very high on his "must have" list. I'm not sure I want to go for round 3 of the pocketbook drain/figure chase in spite of how cool the game looks.

I know what you mean about the figures. When we started this journey I'd planned to purchase *one* figure for each element so we could unlock all the game areas. We've purchased *at least* one of each figure for the original game (with the exception of the "changed in color only" chase figures but still have a few of those) with about a 50% duplicate rate for some of the "better" figures (or if they were on sale real cheap). I got him the DS version for Christmas so many of those duplicates went home for him for that.

I vowed *not* to do that with Giants and so far have mainly purchased new-to-Giants figures. In spite of that we still have many of the S2 reposed figures. Most have been purchased by him with his allowance but I've picked up a few of the "cooler" looking S2 ones and have purchased a few duplicates so both he and his sister can have one that's "theirs" and so he can take some home with him to play on his DS. At this point I'm still kicking myself for *not* picking up a couple of the S2 Drobot when one of the WM here had them a month or so back. That's a really cool repose!

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

There are 2 Skylanders SwapForce battlepacks with new figures up on Amazon for pre-order. Pop Thorn look pretty cool as well as the redesigned Terrafin.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Gnarly Tree Rex is also up on Amazon (screw the B&M hunt, even though I can use that frito lay coupon).

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

I'm at a TRUS and they have Giants for 2 for 22 and they have a handful of Ninjinis and Gnarly Tree Rexes. The question is whether they will let me stack the dollar off coupons on top.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Is Gnarly Tree Rex just a repaint? any new bells and whistles?

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

The coupons did stack at TRUS so I was able to grab a Gnarly and Ninjini for 20 plus tax.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

I swore I was going to skip this game... but Battle Packs and Adventure Packs?! Oh dear... fighting... the urge... to... preorder!

AAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!

Futile.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

lol! That Pop Thorn looks like a cool dude.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

In-game stats are slightly different - much like the Legendaries.

Health:
Tree Rex=430 (max. 860)
Gnarly=430 (max. 860)

Speed:
Tree Rex=20 (max. 68)
Gnarly=20 (max. 68)

Armor:
Tree Rex=24 (max. 54)
Gnarly=30 (max. 60)

Critical Hit:
Tree Rex=40 (max. 90)
Gnarly=50 (max. 100)

Elemental Power:
Tree Rex=25 (max. 100)
Gnarly=25 (max. 100)

Gnarly also shows up in the game with the new colors and is considered a separate character in the lists - like Scarlet Ninjini, Polar Whirlwind, Molten Hot Dog, Granite Crusher, Royal Double Trouble, Dark Spyro, Jade Flashwing, Punch Pop Fizz, and the Legendaries.

re: Skylanders, Anyone?
 

Pics of the new Swap Force packs: