Skylanders: Swap Force is a platformer video game developed by Vicarious Visions and published by Activision. It is the third main game in the Skylanders video game and toy franchise, following 2012's Skylanders: Giants, which was a direct sequel to 2011's Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure (the spin-off of The Legend of Spyro series). It is the game before Skylanders: Trap Team and features the voices of John DiMaggio, Jess Harnell, Audrey Wasilewski, Richard Tatum, David Sobolov, Josh Keaton, Keythe Farley, Dave Wittenberg, Joey Camen, Gregg Berger, Troy Baker and Robin Atkin Downes. It is the first Skylanders game to be released in North America before other regions, unlike the previous two games where Australia got the installments first. It is also the first Skylanders game not to be owned by Vivendi.
About the story
The story begins with Master Eon introducing the player to the world of Skylands as well as its protectors, the Skylanders. The veteran Portal Master then reveals the backstory of a special group of Skylanders known as the SWAP Force, who protected the Cloudbreak Islands and its magical volcano that regenerates the magic in all of Skylands every one hundred years. During an epic battle against a swarm of Fire Vipers summoned by a dark figure, the SWAP Force were caught in the eruption of the magic volcano, which granted them the ability to swap halves, but in the process banished them to Earth. In the present, Flynn is on vacation at the Cloudbreak Islands to see its next one hundredth eruption. He is encountered by Tessa, a fox girl riding on a large bird named Whiskers, and thrust into another adventure when Kaos ordered a group of Greebles to attack Tessa's village before the volcano celebration...
Platforms
PS3 PS4 Wii WiiU X360 XONEGenres
Adventure Hack and slash/Beat 'em up Platform Role-playing (RPG)Themes
Action Fantasy
Languages: English
| Interface | Audio | Subtitles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English |
Media
Critic Reviews
GamingTrend
By Justin PaulsIf 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.
Gaming Nexus
By John YanThe 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.
gameranx
By Ian Miles CheongSkylanders 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.
Push Square
By Nathan MichalikSkylanders: 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.
We Got This Covered
By Chad GoodmurphyAlthough 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.
