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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Skylanders: Swap Force''}}
 
{{Game
  
{{Game
−
|name = Skylanders: Swap Force
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|name = ''Skylanders: Swap Force''
 
|image = [[File:Skylanders SF Art.jpg|290px]]
  
|image = [[File:Skylanders SF Art.jpg|290px]]
−
|develop = Vicarious Visions <br /> Toys for Bob <br /> Beenox (Wii) <br /> n-Space (3DS)
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|develop = Vicarious Visions<br>Toys for Bob<br>Beenox (Wii)<br>n-Space (3DS)
 
|publish = Activision
  
|publish = Activision
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|release = October 13, 2013 (US) <br /> October 18, 2013 (EU) <br /> October 16, 2013 (AU) <br /> Fall 2013 (PS4 and Xbox One)
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|release = October 13, 2013 (US)<br>October 18, 2013 (EU)<br>October 16, 2013 (AU)<br>Fall 2013 (PS4 and Xbox One)
 
|genre = Platform
  
|genre = Platform
 
|modes = Single-player, co-op
  
|modes = Single-player, co-op
 
|rating = E+10
  
|rating = E+10
−
|platform = Xbox 360 <br /> PS3 <br /> Wii <br /> Wii U<br /> 3DS <br /> PS4 <br /> Xbox One}}
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|platform = Xbox 360<br>PS3<br>Wii<br>Wii U<br>3DS<br>PS4<br>Xbox One}}
 
{{Quote|Swappable. Unstoppable.|Skylanders: Swap Force tagline}}
  
{{Quote|Swappable. Unstoppable.|Skylanders: Swap Force tagline}}
 
'''''Skylanders: Swap Force''''' is the third installment in the [[Skylanders (series)|''Skylanders'' series]], the sequel to ''[[Skylanders: Giants]]''. In this game, a new group of [[Skylanders]] are introduced: the [[SWAP Force]].
  
'''''Skylanders: Swap Force''''' is the third installment in the [[Skylanders (series)|''Skylanders'' series]], the sequel to ''[[Skylanders: Giants]]''. In this game, a new group of [[Skylanders]] are introduced: the [[SWAP Force]].
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Portal Masters embark on an all-new adventure in the mysterious [[Cloudbreak Islands]], home to a mystical volcano that erupts every hundred years to replenish the magic in [[Skylands]]. During an epic battle, a brave group of Skylanders were caught in the volcano's eruption, which blasted them apart and sent them to earth. But, the magic of the volcano gave these heroes a remarkable new power — the ability to swap halves — turning them into a special team known as the SWAP Force.
  
Portal Masters embark on an all-new adventure in the mysterious [[Cloudbreak Islands]], home to a mystical volcano that erupts every hundred years to replenish the magic in [[Skylands]]. During an epic battle, a brave group of Skylanders were caught in the volcano's eruption, which blasted them apart and sent them to earth. But, the magic of the volcano gave these heroes a remarkable new power — the ability to swap halves — turning them into a special team known as the SWAP Force.
   
−
Meanwhile, [[Kaos]] is back with a new evil plan. And now, [[Portal Masters]] everywhere must reassemble the SWAP Force — in their original form or in new combinations — and send them back to Cloudbreak to save Skylands!<ref>[http://investor.activision.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=737809 Skylanders SWAP Force™ "Mixes It Up" at Toy Fair 2013]</ref>
 +
Meanwhile, [[Kaos]] is back with a new evil plan. And now, [[Portal Masters]] everywhere must reassemble the SWAP Force — in their original form or in new combinations — and send them back to Cloudbreak to save Skylands!<ref>[http://investor.activision.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=737809 ''Skylanders SWAP Force''™ "Mixes It Up" at Toy Fair 2013]</ref>
   
 
==Gameplay==
  
==Gameplay==
−
Due to the game being developed by Vicarious Visions, ''Swap Force'' now possesses a jump ability for all Skylanders, a mechanic that was unavailable in the previous console titles. If the Skylanders fall off a path, they don't get hurt, and are simply reset back on the path, making the game very forgiving with the young target audience.<ref name="Swap Force Q&A">[http://www.thehdroom.com/news/Skylanders-Swap-Force--Adventure-Packs-and-More-Questions-Answered/12047 Skylanders Swap Force Adventure Packs and More Questions Answered]</ref>
 +
Due to the game being developed by Vicarious Visions, ''Swap Force'' now possesses a jump ability for all Skylanders, a mechanic that was unavailable in the previous console titles. If the Skylanders fall off a path, they don't get hurt, and are simply reset back on the path, making the game very forgiving with the young target audience.<ref name="Swap Force Q&A">[http://www.thehdroom.com/news/Skylanders-Swap-Force--Adventure-Packs-and-More-Questions-Answered/12047 ''Skylanders Swap Force'' Adventure Packs and More Questions Answered]</ref>
   
 
===Vast Possibilities for Play===
  
===Vast Possibilities for Play===
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===More Play Options===
  
===More Play Options===
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For the first time, Portal Masters can experience new dimensions of gameplay including the addition of jumping. And, seasoned fans can play Skylanders SWAP Force with their entire collection of characters from ''Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure'' and ''Skylanders Giants''. Skylanders SWAP Force delivers a diverse and dynamic, story-driven gameplay experience, filled with adventure, combat, puzzles, mini-games, and drop-in/drop-out co-op - all set within compelling environments.
 +
For the first time, Portal Masters can experience new dimensions of gameplay including the addition of jumping. And, seasoned fans can play Skylanders SWAP Force with their entire collection of characters from ''Skylanders Spyro's Adventure'' and ''Skylanders Giants''. Skylanders SWAP Force delivers a diverse and dynamic, story-driven gameplay experience, filled with adventure, combat, puzzles, mini-games, and drop-in/drop-out co-op - all set within compelling environments.
   
 
===All New Characters===
  
===All New Characters===
 
More than 50 collectible characters including: 16 new SWAP Force characters,
 
More than 50 collectible characters including: 16 new SWAP Force characters,
−
16 new Skylanders characters, 8 LightCore™ Skylanders characters, 16 new versions of fan-favorite Skylanders from the previous games, each featuring an all new “Wow Pow” upgrade power.
 +
16 new Skylanders characters, 8 LightCore™ Skylanders characters, 16 new versions of fan-favorite Skylanders from the previous games, each featuring an all new "Wow Pow" upgrade power.
   
 
===Exciting Adventure===
  
===Exciting Adventure===
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===Enhanced Graphics Quality===
  
===Enhanced Graphics Quality===
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Swap Force’s high-resolution graphics bring to life amazingly detailed characters and richer environments to deliver a high level of visual fidelity that immerses players in the game like never before.<ref>[http://community.activision.com/community/press/skylanders_swap_force Skylanders Swap Force Fact Sheet]</ref>
 +
Swap Force’s high-resolution graphics bring to life amazingly detailed characters and richer environments to deliver a high level of visual fidelity that immerses players in the game like never before.<ref>[http://community.activision.com/community/press/skylanders_swap_force ''Skylanders Swap Force'' Fact Sheet]</ref>
   
 
==List of Skylanders==
  
==List of Skylanders==
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==Development==
  
==Development==
−
''Skylanders: Swap Force'' started out as an original Vicarious Visions concept about how the developers could build on the greatness of ''Skylanders'' - playing together, building your collection, and the value of the collection itself. Also, what's fun from a toy standpoint: not just what's better on the video game side, but what makes for an interesting play pattern on the toy side? The toy design is actually led by Vicarious but [[I-Wei Huang]], Character Director, and Paul Reiche III, Founder have a close interaction on iterating with the designs and making them home in the Skylands.<ref>[http://www.computerandvideogames.com/394640/features/skylanders-swap-force-say-hello-to-activisions-272-new-stars/?page=3#top_banner Skylanders Swap Force: Say hello to Activision's 272 new stars]</ref>
 +
''Skylanders: Swap Force'' started out as an original Vicarious Visions concept about how the developers could build on the greatness of ''Skylanders'' - playing together, building your collection, and the value of the collection itself. Also, what's fun from a toy standpoint: not just what's better on the video game side, but what makes for an interesting play pattern on the toy side? The toy design is actually led by Vicarious but [[I-Wei Huang]], Character Director, and Paul Reiche III, Founder have a close interaction on iterating with the designs and making them home in the Skylands.<ref>[http://www.computerandvideogames.com/394640/features/skylanders-swap-force-say-hello-to-activisions-272-new-stars/?page=3#top_banner ''Skylanders Swap Force'': Say hello to Activision's 272 new stars]</ref>
   
−
[[File:Aftershock_AirSkylander_Shapeshifters.jpg|thumb|296px|Early concepts of ''Skylanders: ShapeShifters'']]Less than a year after having two major projects cancelled, the team at Vicarious Visions didn’t quite know what they were going to do in the third main entry in the ''Skylanders'' franchise. “We knew that we wanted to do something that built off of that and added new magic to bring toys to life,” Vicarious Visions’ Jeremy Russo explained. "One idea we kept coming back to was mix and match. The idea of taking apart different characters and recombining them to create something unique."
 +
[[File:Aftershock_AirSkylander_Shapeshifters.jpg|thumb|296px|Early concepts of ''Skylanders: ShapeShifters'']]Less than a year after having two major projects cancelled, the team at Vicarious Visions didn't quite know what they were going to do in the third main entry in the ''Skylanders'' franchise. "''We knew that we wanted to do something that built off of that and added new magic to bring toys to life''", Vicarious Visions' Jeremy Russo explained. "''One idea we kept coming back to was mix and match. The idea of taking apart different characters and recombining them to create something unique.''"
   
−
This idea was known as '''Skylanders: ShapeShifters''' with the main gimmick having Skylanders take on different forms, even forms that resemble their allies.<ref>[https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Y82rV Skylanders SwapForce - UI Moodboards]</ref> During the development of the game's gimmick, the part swapping mechanics were also tested on various types of characters, including dragons and quadrupeds.<ref>[https://gdcvault.com/play/1023335/Live-Demonstration-of-Character-and Live Demonstration of Character and Toy Design for 'Skylanders' (video version)]</ref>
 +
This idea was known as '''Skylanders: ShapeShifters''' with the main gimmick having Skylanders take on different forms, even forms that resemble their allies.<ref>[https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Y82rV ''Skylanders SwapForce'' - UI Moodboards]</ref> During the development of the game's gimmick, the part swapping mechanics were also tested on various types of characters, including dragons and quadrupeds.<ref>[https://gdcvault.com/play/1023335/Live-Demonstration-of-Character-and Live Demonstration of Character and Toy Design for 'Skylanders' (video version)]</ref>
   
−
The mix-and-match concept from ''Skylanders: ShapeShifters'', later becoming ''Swap Force''’s main gimmick, was in its infancy at that point. The team hadn’t figured out much of the gameplay or logistics yet. Still, when Activision’s executives visited, the idea was approved. Russo recalled that Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg even called it “magical.” From there, the studio was off to the races to make the magic come to life.
 +
The mix-and-match concept from ''Skylanders: ShapeShifters'', later becoming ''Swap Force'''s main gimmick, was in its infancy at that point. The team hadn’t figured out much of the gameplay or logistics yet. Still, when Activision's executives visited, the idea was approved. Russo recalled that Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg even called it "magical". From there, the studio was off to the races to make the magic come to life.
   
−
“We initially split it into two groups,” Russo detailed. “We had engineers figuring out how it would actually work.” The original engineer-created character was essentially a mound of clay with an audio jack connecting two parts. It was crude, but effective at laying the base for how magnets would later bring it to fruition.
 +
"''We initially split it into two groups''" Russo detailed. "''We had engineers figuring out how it would actually work.''" The original engineer-created character was essentially a mound of clay with an audio jack connecting two parts. It was crude, but effective at laying the base for how magnets would later bring it to fruition.
   
−
“Separately, we had designers and artists focusing on the game concept, like what this would actually mean to the player,” Russo said. “That was a lot of fun, but it was all just theory at that point. We knew we had something magical but we just weren’t making that connection between the hardware and the software at that point.”
 +
"''Separately, we had designers and artists focusing on the game concept, like what this would actually mean to the player''", Russo said. "''That was a lot of fun, but it was all just theory at that point. We knew we had something magical but we just weren't making that connection between the hardware and the software at that point.''"
   
−
Then Engineer Brent Gibson made what later became known as the “Frankenlander.” He went home, took apart a bunch of Skylanders and made a three-piece creation (or maybe abomination) using Spyro’s head, Prism Break’s torso, and Voodood’s legs. A video created by Gibson in the wee hours of the morning circulated around some of the team leads, showing, with no audio, Gibson taking Spyro’s head, and thanks to the magic of magnets, attaching it to the torso and the legs with one hand. It was the eureka moment of the entire project. The proof of concept that the Swap Force concept could actually work. And it happened before the first Skylanders game even hit stores.
 +
Then Engineer Brent Gibson made what later became known as the "Frankenlander". He went home, took apart a bunch of Skylanders and made a three-piece creation (or maybe abomination) using Spyro's head, Prism Break’s torso, and Voodood's legs. A video created by Gibson in the wee hours of the morning circulated around some of the team leads, showing, with no audio, Gibson taking Spyro’s head, and thanks to the magic of magnets, attaching it to the torso and the legs with one hand. It was the eureka moment of the entire project. The proof of concept that the Swap Force concept could actually work. And it happened before the first Skylanders game even hit stores.
   
−
Gibson was then instructed to make a few more of these beasts so they could use them as the basis for the new characters. No longer using his own home as the workshop, he worked in the New York studio’s own facilities. While cutting Skylanders into pieces for the good of the Cloudbreak Islands, Gibson managed to slice his hand open. Blood pooling in his hand, he tried to cover it up, until someone discovered him and then lead him to a garbage to dump his handful of blood and after that, the hospital. Gnarly scar in hand, Gibson was one of the key catalysts driving Swap Force from theory to reality.<ref>[http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/35666 The Origins of Skylanders: Swap Force]</ref>
 +
Gibson was then instructed to make a few more of these beasts so they could use them as the basis for the new characters. No longer using his own home as the workshop, he worked in the New York studio's own facilities. While cutting Skylanders into pieces for the good of the Cloudbreak Islands, Gibson managed to slice his hand open. Blood pooling in his hand, he tried to cover it up, until someone discovered him and then lead him to a garbage to dump his handful of blood and after that, the hospital. Gnarly scar in hand, Gibson was one of the key catalysts driving Swap Force from theory to reality.<ref>[http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/35666 The Origins of ''Skylanders: Swap Force'']</ref>
   
 
==Levels==
  
==Levels==
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# [[Mount Cloudbreak]]
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#[[Mount Cloudbreak]]
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# [[Cascade Glade]]
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#[[Cascade Glade]]
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# [[Mudwater Hollow]]
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#[[Mudwater Hollow]]
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# [[Rampant Ruins]]
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#[[Rampant Ruins]]
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# [[Jungle Rumble]]
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#[[Jungle Rumble]]
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# [[Iron Jaw Gulch]]
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#[[Iron Jaw Gulch]]
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# [[Motleyville]]
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#[[Motleyville]]
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# [[Twisty Tunnels]]
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#[[Twisty Tunnels]]
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# [[Serpent's Peak]]
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#[[Serpent's Peak]]
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# [[Boney Islands]]
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#[[Boney Islands]]
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# [[Winter Keep]]
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#[[Winter Keep]]
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# [[Frostfest Mountains]]
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#[[Frostfest Mountains]]
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# [[Mesmeralda's Show]]
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#[[Mesmeralda's Show]]
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# [[Fantasm Forest]]
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#[[Fantasm Forest]]
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# [[Kaos' Fortress]]
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#[[Kaos' Fortress]]
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# [[Motherly Mayhem]]
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#[[Motherly Mayhem]]
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# [[Cloudbreak Core]]
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#[[Cloudbreak Core]]
   
 
====Adventure Packs====
  
====Adventure Packs====
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* [[Tower of Time]]
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*[[Tower of Time]]
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* [[Sheep Wreck Island]]
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*[[Sheep Wreck Island]]
   
 
==Story Scrolls==
  
==Story Scrolls==
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* Magical Pyrotechnics
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*Magical Pyrotechnics
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* Greeble Lands
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*Greeble Lands
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* Magical Recycling
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*Magical Recycling
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* The Grave Monkey
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*The Grave Monkey
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* The Glass Hat
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*The Glass Hat
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* Motleyville Junk
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*Motleyville Junk
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* The Fire Vipers of Doom
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*The Fire Vipers of Doom
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* Frozen Galleries
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*Frozen Galleries
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* Whirlwind's Gift
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*Whirlwind's Gift
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* Party on the Mountains
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*Party on the Mountains
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* Dangerous Perfession
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*Dangerous Perfession
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* Kaos' Laboratory
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*Kaos' Laboratory
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* The Clocktower
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*The Clocktower
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* The Platinum Sheep
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*The Platinum Sheep
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* Enchanted Pool
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*Enchanted Pool
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* The Great Hollow
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*The Great Hollow
   
 
==Reception==
  
==Reception==
−
''Skylanders: Swap Force'' received mostly positive reviews. Venture Beat holds the game with the score of 90/100 and adds that 'while the inclusion of the jump button certainly makes for more varied gameplay, it also may add more challenge for the younger gamers in your household.'<ref>[http://venturebeat.com/2013/10/13/skylanders-swap-force-review/ Skylanders Swap Force leaps over its predecessors with jumping and platforming elements (review)]</ref> Game Informer gave it a 8.50, saying that the game 'handles the empowerment of playing god convincingly'.<ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/games/skylanders_swap_force/b/xbox360/archive/2013/10/13/interchangeable-fun.aspx Skylanders Swap Force - Interchangeable Fun]</ref> IGN gave ''Swap Force'' an 8.5, stating that the game 'delivers almost everything fans could want. There are fantastic new characters, a funny story, and a complete disregard for the boring rules that say robots and wizards shouldn't be part of the same world.'<ref>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/13/skylanders-swap-force-review Skylanders Swap Force Review - Everything and the Kitchen Sink]</ref>
 +
''Skylanders: Swap Force'' received mostly positive reviews. Venture Beat holds the game with the score of 90/100 and adds that 'while the inclusion of the jump button certainly makes for more varied gameplay, it also may add more challenge for the younger gamers in your household.'<ref>[http://venturebeat.com/2013/10/13/skylanders-swap-force-review/ ''Skylanders Swap Force'' leaps over its predecessors with jumping and platforming elements (review)]</ref> Game Informer gave it a 8.50, saying that the game 'handles the empowerment of playing god convincingly'.<ref>[http://www.gameinformer.com/games/skylanders_swap_force/b/xbox360/archive/2013/10/13/interchangeable-fun.aspx ''Skylanders Swap Force'' - Interchangeable Fun]</ref> IGN gave ''Swap Force'' an 8.5, stating that the game 'delivers almost everything fans could want. There are fantastic new characters, a funny story, and a complete disregard for the boring rules that say robots and wizards shouldn't be part of the same world.'<ref>[http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10/13/skylanders-swap-force-review ''Skylanders Swap Force'' Review - Everything and the Kitchen Sink]</ref>
   
 
==Gallery==
  
==Gallery==
 
<gallery position="center">
  
<gallery position="center">
−
Packaging.jpg|Skylanders: Swap Force 3DS Starter Pack with starters, [[Rattle Shake]], [[Free Ranger]], and [[Volcanic Eruptor]].
 +
Packaging.jpg|''Skylanders: Swap Force 3DS'' Starter Pack with starters, [[Rattle Shake]], [[Free Ranger]], and [[Volcanic Eruptor]].
−
Swap Force title promo.jpg|''Swap Force'' title promo
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Swap Force title promo.jpg|''Swap Force'' title promo.
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Swap Force Wii Starter Pack.jpg|The console Starter Pack of ''Skylanders: Swap Force''
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Swap Force Wii Starter Pack.jpg|The console Starter Pack of ''Skylanders: Swap Force''.
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1612159_Skylanders_SWAP_Force_Logo_HiRes.jpg|''Swap Force'' logo
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1612159 Skylanders SWAP Force Logo HiRes.jpg|''Swap Force'' logo.
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Blast zone.jpg|Blast Zone
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Blast zone.jpg|Blast Zone.
−
Wash Buckler Swap Magna charge.jpg|Magna Buckler
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Wash Buckler Swap Magna charge.jpg|Magna Buckler.
 
</gallery>
  
</gallery>
   
 
===Videos===
  
===Videos===
 
<gallery position="center">
  
<gallery position="center">
−
Skylanders_Swap_Force_-_Teaser_Trailer|Teaser Trailer
 +
Skylanders Swap Force - Teaser Trailer|Teaser Trailer
 
E3 Show Skylanders SWAP Force Trailer l Skylanders SWAP Force l Skylanders
  
E3 Show Skylanders SWAP Force Trailer l Skylanders SWAP Force l Skylanders
 
Skylanders Swap Force - Just like Swap Force Trailer|Just like SWAP Force trailer
  
Skylanders Swap Force - Just like Swap Force Trailer|Just like SWAP Force trailer
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==Trivia==
  
==Trivia==
−
*This is the first Skylanders game that includes the jumping mechanic in the console versions.
 +
*This is the first ''Skylanders'' game that includes the jumping mechanic in the console versions.
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*This marks the first Skylanders game to feature high-definition graphics.
 +
*This marks the first ''Skylanders'' game to feature high-definition graphics.
−
*Rocket, Climb and Dig Swap Zones have both of their levels in [[Mount Cloudbreak]] and [[Boney Islands]].
 +
*Rocket, Climb, and Dig Swap Zones have both of their levels in [[Mount Cloudbreak]] and [[Boney Islands]].
 
*Climb, Speed and Bounce Swap Zones have both of their levels in [[Rampant Ruins]] and [[Kaos' Fortress]].
  
*Climb, Speed and Bounce Swap Zones have both of their levels in [[Rampant Ruins]] and [[Kaos' Fortress]].
 
*Teleport, Rocket, and Sneak have both of their levels in [[Fantasm Forest]] and [[Sheep Wreck Island]].
  
*Teleport, Rocket, and Sneak have both of their levels in [[Fantasm Forest]] and [[Sheep Wreck Island]].
 
**As a result, every character from the previous games was recreated in high-definition for ''SWAP Force''.
  
**As a result, every character from the previous games was recreated in high-definition for ''SWAP Force''.
−
*This is the first Skylanders game whose console versions aren't mainly developed by Toys for Bob, though Toys for Bob worked closely with Vicarious Visions on the game and character design.<ref name="Swap Force Q&A" /> The game was also worked on since before ''Spyro's Adventure'' was released, meaning both teams had to find their own way around toy production.<ref>[https://gdcvault.com/play/1023335/Live-Demonstration-of-Character-and Live Demonstration of Character and Toy Design for 'Skylanders' (video version)] </ref>
 +
*This is the first ''Skylanders'' game whose console versions aren't mainly developed by Toys for Bob, though Toys for Bob worked closely with Vicarious Visions on the game and character design.<ref name="Swap Force Q&A" /> The game was also worked on since before ''Spyro's Adventure'' was released, meaning both teams had to find their own way around toy production.<ref>[https://gdcvault.com/play/1023335/Live-Demonstration-of-Character-and Live Demonstration of Character and Toy Design for 'Skylanders' (video version)] </ref>
 
*This marks the first Skylanders game to be released in North America before other regions. In the previous two games, Australia got the installments first.
  
*This marks the first Skylanders game to be released in North America before other regions. In the previous two games, Australia got the installments first.
 
*The 3DS version of ''SWAP Force'' is the first to include voice acting, something that was absent in the previous 3DS titles.
  
*The 3DS version of ''SWAP Force'' is the first to include voice acting, something that was absent in the previous 3DS titles.
−
*Three concessions had to be made by developer Beenox in order to take a game optimized for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U, and make it work on Wii. The first was lowering the resolution across the board so the game ran at 480p, the maximum resolution Wii supports. This immediately scaled back the game's demands.
 +
*Three concessions had to be made by developer Beenox in order to take a game optimized for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U, and make it work on Wii. The first was lowering the resolution across the board so the game ran at 480p, the maximum resolution Wii supports. This immediately scaled back the game's demands.
−
**Because most of the levels in ''Skylanders: SWAP Force'' are so large, the Wii version breaks select oversized levels into two parts that are loaded separately. Naturally all load times in the Wii version will take longer than on the other console platforms.<ref>[http://www.thehdroom.com/news/Skylanders-Swap-Force-Preview-Inside-the-Halls-of-Vicarious-Visions/13134 Skylanders Swap Force Preview: Inside the Halls of Vicarious Visions]</ref>
 +
**Because most of the levels in ''Skylanders: SWAP Force'' are so large, the Wii version breaks select oversized levels into two parts that are loaded separately. Naturally all load times in the Wii version will take longer than on the other console platforms.<ref>[http://www.thehdroom.com/news/Skylanders-Swap-Force-Preview-Inside-the-Halls-of-Vicarious-Visions/13134 ''Skylanders Swap Force'' Preview: Inside the Halls of Vicarious Visions]</ref>
 
**Because of the Wii's hardware limitations, the graphics had to be scaled down to the point where some graphical effects are of lower quality. Some (like the fog in Frostfest Mountains) are even missing entirely.
  
**Because of the Wii's hardware limitations, the graphics had to be scaled down to the point where some graphical effects are of lower quality. Some (like the fog in Frostfest Mountains) are even missing entirely.
 
*This is the first Skylanders console game to exclude the swimming ability.
  
*This is the first Skylanders console game to exclude the swimming ability.
 
**As a result, [[Zap]], [[Stump Smash]] and [[Double Trouble]]'s Soul Gem upgrades had to be changed.
  
**As a result, [[Zap]], [[Stump Smash]] and [[Double Trouble]]'s Soul Gem upgrades had to be changed.
−
*In the 3DS version, a celebration is being held at the first day of Spring. As of ''Superchargers'', this is the only game with a known date in its events, though it is unknown if [[Skylands]]' calendar is the same as any of [[Earth (World)|Earth]]'s.
 +
*In the 3DS version, a celebration is being held at the first day of Spring. As of ''Superchargers'', this is the only game with a known date in its events, though it is unknown if [[Skylands]]' calendar is the same as any of [[Earth (World)|Earth's]].
 
*The reveal trailer used the hit song from the 2000s, ''Weapon of Choice'' by Fatboy Slim, also popular on internet culture due to its music clip featuring the actor Christopher Walken.
  
*The reveal trailer used the hit song from the 2000s, ''Weapon of Choice'' by Fatboy Slim, also popular on internet culture due to its music clip featuring the actor Christopher Walken.
   

Revision as of 13:28, 15 September 2020

“Swappable. Unstoppable.”
    —Skylanders: Swap Force tagline

Skylanders: Swap Force is the third installment in the Skylanders series, the sequel to Skylanders: Giants. In this game, a new group of Skylanders are introduced: the SWAP Force.

Story Summary

Portal Masters embark on an all-new adventure in the mysterious Cloudbreak Islands, home to a mystical volcano that erupts every hundred years to replenish the magic in Skylands. During an epic battle, a brave group of Skylanders were caught in the volcano's eruption, which blasted them apart and sent them to earth. But, the magic of the volcano gave these heroes a remarkable new power — the ability to swap halves — turning them into a special team known as the SWAP Force.

Meanwhile, Kaos is back with a new evil plan. And now, Portal Masters everywhere must reassemble the SWAP Force — in their original form or in new combinations — and send them back to Cloudbreak to save Skylands![1]

Gameplay

Due to the game being developed by Vicarious Visions, Swap Force now possesses a jump ability for all Skylanders, a mechanic that was unavailable in the previous console titles. If the Skylanders fall off a path, they don't get hurt, and are simply reset back on the path, making the game very forgiving with the young target audience.[2]

Vast Possibilities for Play

Skylanders SWAP Force features 16 new interaction figures with new powers and a fresh play pattern – dynamic swapability – that lets kids create more than 250 unique character combinations, giving them more choice than ever before over how they fight and move in the game. With each new addition to their Skylanders SWAP Force collection, Portal Masters unlock an exciting world of possibilities.

More Play Options

For the first time, Portal Masters can experience new dimensions of gameplay including the addition of jumping. And, seasoned fans can play Skylanders SWAP Force with their entire collection of characters from Skylanders Spyro's Adventure and Skylanders Giants. Skylanders SWAP Force delivers a diverse and dynamic, story-driven gameplay experience, filled with adventure, combat, puzzles, mini-games, and drop-in/drop-out co-op - all set within compelling environments.

All New Characters

More than 50 collectible characters including: 16 new SWAP Force characters, 16 new Skylanders characters, 8 LightCore™ Skylanders characters, 16 new versions of fan-favorite Skylanders from the previous games, each featuring an all new "Wow Pow" upgrade power.

Exciting Adventure

Portal Masters embark on a brand new adventure, encountering never-before-seen enemies and challenges, as well as meeting memorable non-playable characters who can help the Skylanders defeat Kaos and his minions in the Cloudbreak Islands.

Unique Swap Force Zones

Skylanders SWAP Force characters feature traversal abilities – such as flying, climbing, digging, bouncing, or teleporting – each of which can be explored in new areas of Skylands that are centered on these new play mechanics.

Enhanced Graphics Quality

Swap Force’s high-resolution graphics bring to life amazingly detailed characters and richer environments to deliver a high level of visual fidelity that immerses players in the game like never before.[3]

List of Skylanders

SWAP Force

Skylander Element Movement Type
Blast Zone Icon Blast Zone
Dark Blast Zone Icon Dark Blast Zone
Fire Rocket
Boom Jet Icon Boom Jet Air Rocket
Doom Stone Icon Doom Stone Earth Spin
Free Ranger Icon Free Ranger
Legendary Free Ranger Icon Legendary Free Ranger
Air Spin
Freeze Blade Icon Freeze Blade
Nitro Freeze Blade Icon Nitro Freeze Blade
Water Speed
Fire Kraken Icon Fire Kraken
Jade Fire Kraken Icon Jade Fire Kraken
Fire Bounce
Grilla Drilla Icon Grilla Drilla Life Dig
Hoot Loop Icon Hoot Loop
Enchanted Hoot Loop Icon Enchanted Hoot Loop
Magic Teleport
Magna Charge Icon Magna Charge
Nitro Magna Charge Icon Nitro Magna Charge
Tech Speed
Night Shift Icon Night Shift
Legendary Night Shift Icon Legendary Night Shift
Undead Teleport
Rattle Shake Icon Rattle Shake
Quickdraw Rattle Shake Icon Quickdraw Rattle Shake
Undead Bounce
Rubble Rouser Icon Rubble Rouser Earth Dig
Spy Rise Icon Spy Rise Tech Climb
Stink Bomb Icon Stink Bomb Life Sneak
Trap Shadow Icon Trap Shadow Magic Sneak
Wash Buckler Icon Wash Buckler
Dark Wash Buckler Icon Dark Wash Buckler
Water Climb

New Core Skylanders

Skylander Element
Bumble Blast Icon Bumble Blast
Jolly Bumble Blast Icon Jolly Bumble Blast
Life
Countdown Icon Countdown
Kickoff Countdown Icon Kickoff Countdown
Tech
Dune Bug Icon Dune Bug Magic
Fryno Icon Fryno Fire
Grim Creeper Icon Grim Creeper Undead
Pop Thorn Icon Pop Thorn Air
Punk Shock Icon Punk Shock Water
Rip Tide Icon Rip Tide Water
Roller Brawl Icon Roller Brawl Undead
Scorp Icon Scorp Earth
Scratch Icon Scratch Air
Slobber Tooth Icon Slobber Tooth
Dark Slobber Tooth Icon Dark Slobber Tooth
Earth
Smolderdash Icon Smolderdash Fire
Star Strike Icon Star Strike Magic
Wind-Up Icon Wind-Up Tech
Zoo Lou Icon Zoo Lou
Legendary Zoo Lou Icon Legendary Zoo Lou
Life

Returning Skylanders

Skylander Element
Anchors Away Gill Grunt Icon Anchors Away Gill Grunt Water
Big Bang Trigger Happy Icon Big Bang Trigger Happy
Springtime Trigger Happy Icon Springtime Trigger Happy
Tech
Blizzard Chill Icon Blizzard Chill Water
Fire Bone Hot Dog Icon Fire Bone Hot Dog Fire
Heavy Duty Sprocket Icon Heavy Duty Sprocket Tech
Horn Blast Whirlwind Icon Horn Blast Whirlwind Air
Hyper Beam Prism Break Icon Hyper Beam Prism Break Earth
Knockout Terrafin Icon Knockout Terrafin Earth
Lava Barf Eruptor Icon Lava Barf Eruptor
Volcanic Eruptor Icon Volcanic Eruptor
Fire
Mega Ram Spyro Icon Mega Ram Spyro
Dark Mega Ram Spyro Icon Dark Mega Ram Spyro
Magic
Ninja Stealth Elf Icon Ninja Stealth Elf
Dark Stealth Elf Icon Dark Stealth Elf
Life
Phantom Cynder Icon Phantom Cynder Undead
Super Gulp Pop Fizz Icon Super Gulp Pop Fizz Magic
Thorn Horn Camo Icon Thorn Horn Camo Life
Turbo Jet-Vac Icon Turbo Jet-Vac Air
Twin Blade Chop Chop Icon Twin Blade Chop Chop Undead

LightCore Skylanders

Skylander Element
LightCore Bumble Blast Icon LightCore Bumble Blast Life
LightCore Countdown Icon LightCore Countdown Tech
LightCore Flashwing Icon LightCore Flashwing Earth
LightCore Grim Creeper Icon LightCore Grim Creeper
Legendary Grim Creeper Icon Legendary Grim Creeper
Undead
LightCore Smolderdash Icon LightCore Smolderdash Fire
LightCore Star Strike Icon LightCore Star Strike
Enchanted Star Strike Icon Enchanted Star Strike
Magic
LightCore Warnado Icon LightCore Warnado Air
LightCore Wham-Shell Icon LightCore Wham-Shell Water

Plot

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...

The heroes manage to take refuge in Woodburrow, but when they arrive, Rufus informs them that the Chieftess has been kidnapped by Evilized Greebles and held in Cascade Glade with the Gillman and Yeti Councillors. Although the Skylanders were able to rescue them, Kaos managed to know the location of the Ancient Elementals. His plan was to use Petrified Darkness, a malignant crystal that turns anyone into an evil version of themselves, to evilize any one of the elementals. With an evilized elemental performing the ancient ritual, the volcano itself would become evilized and spread darkness throughout Skylands.

3DS Version

As Flynn receives a celebration for his heroic efforts in his home of Boom Town with his friends, it is attacked by Count Moneybone and his clockwork army. Sarcastically claiming the celebration as his, he takes a few "parting gifts", stealing Flynn's golden statue and turning Cali into an undead being before taking her as well. Stopped by the army, Flynn and Hugo are unable to take chase before they escape through a coffin gate, and after the Skylanders' arrival through the Sky Docks, need to study the newfound clockwork robots to discover Moneybone's whereabouts.

Their quest takes them to the Ancient Woods to cut his mana fuel sources before the forest is drained of its magic, to the Crystal Caverns to stop the mining of power crystals by a mechanical worm minion, and the Coral Head Cove to uncover the robot factory assembling the clockwork army. However, Moneybone was still at large, and desperate to find his true hideout, the group seeks out the Water Dragon in Samurai Islands for an answer, agreeing to save nearby villages from lava flows to obtain the Skeleton Key, that opens any door on Skylands.

Opening the coffin gate and being dragged to the Undead Fiesta, they discover Moneybone's villa overlooking a spooky village where they discover his plan to use an Immortalizer Ray and turn all of Skylands into zombies, and take chase after him in his Clockwork Castle. After a climatic battle in his large vault of gold and office, his chest gear, that controlled all of his machines, was destroyed, ruining his plans and removing the spell cast on Cali.

Cast

Crew

  • Keythe Farley - Voice Director
  • Amanda Wyatt - Voice Director

Development

Skylanders: Swap Force started out as an original Vicarious Visions concept about how the developers could build on the greatness of Skylanders - playing together, building your collection, and the value of the collection itself. Also, what's fun from a toy standpoint: not just what's better on the video game side, but what makes for an interesting play pattern on the toy side? The toy design is actually led by Vicarious but I-Wei Huang, Character Director, and Paul Reiche III, Founder have a close interaction on iterating with the designs and making them home in the Skylands.[4]

Aftershock AirSkylander Shapeshifters

Early concepts of Skylanders: ShapeShifters

Less than a year after having two major projects cancelled, the team at Vicarious Visions didn't quite know what they were going to do in the third main entry in the Skylanders franchise. "We knew that we wanted to do something that built off of that and added new magic to bring toys to life", Vicarious Visions' Jeremy Russo explained. "One idea we kept coming back to was mix and match. The idea of taking apart different characters and recombining them to create something unique."

This idea was known as Skylanders: ShapeShifters with the main gimmick having Skylanders take on different forms, even forms that resemble their allies.[5] During the development of the game's gimmick, the part swapping mechanics were also tested on various types of characters, including dragons and quadrupeds.[6]

The mix-and-match concept from Skylanders: ShapeShifters, later becoming Swap Force's main gimmick, was in its infancy at that point. The team hadn’t figured out much of the gameplay or logistics yet. Still, when Activision's executives visited, the idea was approved. Russo recalled that Activision CEO Eric Hirshberg even called it "magical". From there, the studio was off to the races to make the magic come to life.

"We initially split it into two groups" Russo detailed. "We had engineers figuring out how it would actually work." The original engineer-created character was essentially a mound of clay with an audio jack connecting two parts. It was crude, but effective at laying the base for how magnets would later bring it to fruition.

"Separately, we had designers and artists focusing on the game concept, like what this would actually mean to the player", Russo said. "That was a lot of fun, but it was all just theory at that point. We knew we had something magical but we just weren't making that connection between the hardware and the software at that point."

Then Engineer Brent Gibson made what later became known as the "Frankenlander". He went home, took apart a bunch of Skylanders and made a three-piece creation (or maybe abomination) using Spyro's head, Prism Break’s torso, and Voodood's legs. A video created by Gibson in the wee hours of the morning circulated around some of the team leads, showing, with no audio, Gibson taking Spyro’s head, and thanks to the magic of magnets, attaching it to the torso and the legs with one hand. It was the eureka moment of the entire project. The proof of concept that the Swap Force concept could actually work. And it happened before the first Skylanders game even hit stores.

Gibson was then instructed to make a few more of these beasts so they could use them as the basis for the new characters. No longer using his own home as the workshop, he worked in the New York studio's own facilities. While cutting Skylanders into pieces for the good of the Cloudbreak Islands, Gibson managed to slice his hand open. Blood pooling in his hand, he tried to cover it up, until someone discovered him and then lead him to a garbage to dump his handful of blood and after that, the hospital. Gnarly scar in hand, Gibson was one of the key catalysts driving Swap Force from theory to reality.[7]

Levels

  1. Mount Cloudbreak
  2. Cascade Glade
  3. Mudwater Hollow
  4. Rampant Ruins
  5. Jungle Rumble
  6. Iron Jaw Gulch
  7. Motleyville
  8. Twisty Tunnels
  9. Serpent's Peak
  10. Boney Islands
  11. Winter Keep
  12. Frostfest Mountains
  13. Mesmeralda's Show
  14. Fantasm Forest
  15. Kaos' Fortress
  16. Motherly Mayhem
  17. Cloudbreak Core

Adventure Packs

Story Scrolls

  • Magical Pyrotechnics
  • Greeble Lands
  • Magical Recycling
  • The Grave Monkey
  • The Glass Hat
  • Motleyville Junk
  • The Fire Vipers of Doom
  • Frozen Galleries
  • Whirlwind's Gift
  • Party on the Mountains
  • Dangerous Perfession
  • Kaos' Laboratory
  • The Clocktower
  • The Platinum Sheep
  • Enchanted Pool
  • The Great Hollow

Reception

Skylanders: Swap Force received mostly positive reviews. Venture Beat holds the game with the score of 90/100 and adds that 'while the inclusion of the jump button certainly makes for more varied gameplay, it also may add more challenge for the younger gamers in your household.'[8] Game Informer gave it a 8.50, saying that the game 'handles the empowerment of playing god convincingly'.[9] IGN gave Swap Force an 8.5, stating that the game 'delivers almost everything fans could want. There are fantastic new characters, a funny story, and a complete disregard for the boring rules that say robots and wizards shouldn't be part of the same world.'[10]

Gallery

Videos

Trivia

  • This is the first Skylanders game that includes the jumping mechanic in the console versions.
  • This marks the first Skylanders game to feature high-definition graphics.
  • Rocket, Climb, and Dig Swap Zones have both of their levels in Mount Cloudbreak and Boney Islands.
  • Climb, Speed and Bounce Swap Zones have both of their levels in Rampant Ruins and Kaos' Fortress.
  • Teleport, Rocket, and Sneak have both of their levels in Fantasm Forest and Sheep Wreck Island.
    • As a result, every character from the previous games was recreated in high-definition for SWAP Force.
  • This is the first Skylanders game whose console versions aren't mainly developed by Toys for Bob, though Toys for Bob worked closely with Vicarious Visions on the game and character design.[2] The game was also worked on since before Spyro's Adventure was released, meaning both teams had to find their own way around toy production.[11]
  • This marks the first Skylanders game to be released in North America before other regions. In the previous two games, Australia got the installments first.
  • The 3DS version of SWAP Force is the first to include voice acting, something that was absent in the previous 3DS titles.
  • Three concessions had to be made by developer Beenox in order to take a game optimized for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U, and make it work on Wii. The first was lowering the resolution across the board so the game ran at 480p, the maximum resolution Wii supports. This immediately scaled back the game's demands.
    • Because most of the levels in Skylanders: SWAP Force are so large, the Wii version breaks select oversized levels into two parts that are loaded separately. Naturally all load times in the Wii version will take longer than on the other console platforms.[12]
    • Because of the Wii's hardware limitations, the graphics had to be scaled down to the point where some graphical effects are of lower quality. Some (like the fog in Frostfest Mountains) are even missing entirely.
  • This is the first Skylanders console game to exclude the swimming ability.
  • In the 3DS version, a celebration is being held at the first day of Spring. As of Superchargers, this is the only game with a known date in its events, though it is unknown if Skylands' calendar is the same as any of Earth's.
  • The reveal trailer used the hit song from the 2000s, Weapon of Choice by Fatboy Slim, also popular on internet culture due to its music clip featuring the actor Christopher Walken.

References

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