Opening and Review of Skylanders Giants Topps Collector Card Starter Kit
What? Topps Skylanders Giants Collector Card Starter Kit, TRU Exclusive
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $9.99 plus tax
What is Included? Collector Album, 2 Packs of Cards, and a Bonus Pack
What Was Stock Like? My local store did not have these out last week...the spot they resided was Pokemon stuff last week. That said, the peg was full, I'd say maybe 8-10 of them and I'd imagine more were in the back.
Break it Down Some More: I have to say, this is a pretty sweet set-up. If you are going to go for a complete set, I would suggest you pick this up (and the other TRU Exclusive that will have Bouncer or L-Bouncer in the "Bonus Pack").
If you are just going to go about things casually, this is still a good deal because you get some great cards and a nice album to display them in...
Personally, what I like best is simply the checklist. I was dreading having to go online and hope someone had strung a complete set together and conveyed all the info accurately...Now I don't have to worry about it. I'm at a loss for why the binder would't house the complete set, but I suppose you need both Starter Kits so I guess the 2nd Album will take care of that.
Essentially, here is what you really get:
-Album with front and rear covers that include the checklist.
--The Album looks to be 14 Sheets with 4 Cards Per Sheet
-2 Single Packs (6 Cards Per Pack)
-Bonus Pack
--This one includes your 4 Legendary Skylanders and 3 Glow-in-the-Dark Cards
---And since you are reading this, here is what was in my pack: (L-Jet-Vac, L-Ignitor, L-Spyro, and L-Stealth Elf plus GITD Spyro, GITD Stump Smash, and GITD Trigger Happy).
Conclusion
All-in-all, this is a nice set-up for both the hard-core completionist and the casual collector. This would be a great gift (along with a few packs) for your kids, or any Skylander fan as it will either get them started on their collection, or provide a nice set-up for trading for their favorites and having a place to display them.
I'm still not sure if I'll go all out on this one or not, but I do think I'll pick up the other Collector Card Starter Kit and maybe a few more packs...The cards are nice and it is solid gear for any true Skylander fan.
Stay tuned as I'll try to get the checklist up in some form or fashion.
What Is It? Toys'R'Us Exclusive Legendary Triple Pack
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us In-store
How Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us Hot Toy List Reservation
What Did It Cost? $24.99 plus tax
Did It Cost Extra? Nope, same as any triple pack.
What Is Included? L-Ignitor, L-Slam Bam, and L-Jet-Vac. You also get their Stat Cards, Stickers, and Web Codes for Spyro's Universe.
What Was The Stock Like? Plentiful. This isn't on the level of L-Trigger Happy, but they had a lot of stock out, and probably a similar number in the back.
Will This Be Rare? I would just think of it along the lines of the original Legendary Triple Pack. Not super rare, but there could be times they might be hard to come by.
Conclusion
You probably recall me posting on the blog about how you could reserve the L-Triple Pack via the Hot Toy List. Well, I did just that...it is kind of an ordeal as the employees learn how to process it, but it will work and now that most stores have done it, you can act quick and do the same.
That said, my local TRU had a TON of these. That may all change by Black Friday, but as of now, pre-ordering was totally not necssary, something I did not know and if you did SSA, you likely err on the safe side of the equation and pre-order whenever possible!
That aside, this is an awesome Triple Pack! Some don't like the colors as well, and I agree it is tough to beat the originals, but look at what you get: Jet-Vac, Slam Bam, and Ignitor!
Those are three very impressive characters. If I had gotten the portal owner's pack and was on a budget, I'd pick this up and call it good. Fire, Water, Air...and three very cool characters.
I was very pleased to see Ignitor and Slam Bam both make Legendary status this time around. All-in-all this is great for collectors and those on budgets given what you get for the money. I highly recommend this one!
What Is It? Legendary Bouncer, or L-Bouncer for short.
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us in store.
How Did You Get It? In person, in store.
What Did It Cost? $14.99 plus tax.
Did It Cost Extra? Nope, same price as any other Giant.
What Is Included? L-Bouncer, Stat Card, Sticker, Web Code
What Was The Stock Like? Plentiful. TRU had a ton of both L-Bouncer and the L-Triple Pack.
Will This Be Rare? I wouldn't say rare, but not near as common place...primarily due to being a TRU Exclusive and the fact that will drive demand. Right now I would just look at this as the Legendary stuff we saw from SSA.
Conclusion
Legendary Bouncer is a Toys'R'Us Exclusive and gives folks the option to bypass regular Bouncer for his Legendary form. The price is the same, so it comes down to preference. For everyone else, L-Bouncer will be slightly upgraded from the get-go and will be needed to fully complete your base collection.
Well, I have just wrapped up filming the first round of unboxings (ie I ran out-of-stuff), and have them editing and/or uploading. Once again, please note that I am pretty tired when I do these...basically running off excitement.
Anyway, here is a run down on how things panned out for me today:
Nah, let's just get started with a picture:
Ok, now on to the details...
I left the house around 5 after watching the early football games. I went straight to Target. It looked like they had been picked over pretty well...there was actually a case of Skylanders on the shelf, sadly no variants just some singles.
Much to my surprise there was a Granite Crusher left! I don't know if they had another 40 in the back, if this was 1 of 6 they had all day, or if it was really the last one in the store, but it was definitely the last one on the rack! Needless to say, I deemed it fate and took off.
My next stop was Toys'R'Us. I walked in and we began the "how does the Hot Toy Pick-up" thing go. I was so intent on landing the Legendary Triple Pack I didn't even pay attention to the MASSIVE display of all things Skylanders right as you walk in...
The associate and myself were actually worried they were all sold and she couldn't figure out why it wasn't held in the back like it should be.
Well, as fate would have it there were plenty of L-Triple Packs on the main wall. We grabbed my 2 pre-orders and I also picked up 2 Legendary Bouncers (really didn't think it would be available either). In addition to the massive selection and the best promotion, the people at Toys'R'Us are far more likely to want to help you out and be nice. A smile and pleasant disposition goes a long way, even if it is is a little fabricated, lol. I have to say though, the folks at my TRU have always been super nice and helpful.
So, starting late and avoiding morning hassles was 2-for-2.
The next stop was the Walmart that had my 3DS Starter Pack. Apparently they are the hardest to come by, likely due to (GITD Cynder+Punch Pop Fizz=Epic). I found out where the "site-to-store" pick-up was and there it was waiting for me...pretty cool.
I then ran by GameStop and pulled in right at 6 PM. The sign said open, but the bars in the windows said closed. I went ahead and called and the guy was nice enough to unlock and give me the Golden Dragonfire Cannon Battle Pack. Lucky for me I had pre-paid or that might not have happened.
Ecstatic about that and referencing that GameStop closes early Sundays (don't know why I never thought of that), I went out for the Wii Starter Pack. Tracked down their "site-to-store" location and I was in and out in no time.
All-in-all I spent about 1.25 hours running around town and landing virtually everything I wanted with little to no difficulty...it was strange.
In retrospect, I would not have pre-ordered anything had I known TRU would have that much stock AND BOGO 40% off. I also kind of regretted ordering the rest of the line-up "online" (LightCore and Giants), but the fact is I didn't know and played it safe. I think I could have gotten everything at TRU with no issue.
Now with all that said and done Wave 2 hits tomorrow. I know TRU is doing it and I have seen the stock on GameStop, Walmart, and even Target's website. I will try my hand there and see what I can't turn up..some folks reported their stores having W2 out (Sprocket, Flashwing etc).
Real quick stuff here with basically three highlights for you...
1. When I made my rounds Thursday night, I found this at TRU:
It pretty much confirms what I've said all along about Legendary Bouncer and I really think we will be seeing Stealth Elf sooner than later. The Triple Pack of course will be there Day 1 and if you followed the blog you have hopefully already pre-ordered it!
If you skim back to my Giant Hunting post from last week you can find the tabs at my TRU for not only L-Bouncer, but also L-Stealth Elf. Like I've said, you don't have labelled tabs/hangers if something isn't going to come out until December etc.
The only thing up in the air is L-Chill. She hasn't been listed yet and thus far all Legendaries have been exclusive to TRU. I'll keep my eyes and ears open for any developments.
I have a ton of stuff I want to post, but it is 4:15 AM and I've got to be up at 9 AM, which isn't a big deal, BUT factor in I need to be alert and functional at midnight for Skylanders at Walmart and possibly 8 AM at TRU and it becomes an issue.
That said, I will leave you with the other two bullet points on the night...
2. TRU is supposedly getting a Blue Wii Bundle with Skylanders Giants and Gnarly Tree Rex! This counters the other PS3 stuff we have seen across the pond. Retail was hinted at $149.99 and in all honestly that isn't a bad deal considering the game is basically half that price. If you don't have a Wii, your Wii is down, or you'd like Gnarly Tree Rex this is worth exploring...I'll keep you posted as best I can.
3. Walmart is having a midnight release and select stores will have the Skylander Scavenger Hunt I previously mentioned. Something I learned of Thursday night is that all TRUs will be opening up Sunday morning at 8 AM.
And with that, I am off to bed...with visions of Giants in my head.
Well, hopefully you aren't here to see the triple pack...not out yet! (And since I am still getting asked this a lot...Yes, I will be doing the unboxing/review of all things Skylanders).
The Skylanders Giants Legendary Triple Pack will be a Toys'R'Us exclusive and feature Legendary Slam Bam, Legendary Ignitor, and Legendary Jet-Vac. It is listed at $24.99 and you can reserve 2 of them through the TRU Hot Toy List.
That said, this post is going up for a reason...several of you have asked me how I pre-ordered (cough, reserved, cough) the triple pack at Toys'R'Us.
They have started a new deal for Christmas 2012 that is aimed at helping people avoid hassle and hopefully be able to afford the hottest toys for the holiday season...or in most of our cases, just ensure we actually get a triple pack of Legendary Skylanders without having to spend an extra 4 weeks and $150 in gas...
At this point no one really knows if this Triple Pack will come in and be like last year's Legendary Triple Pack where it comes in and is on the shelf through Black Friday and then disappeared for several months (prompting many to buy them at crazy prices online (again DO NOT DO THAT!)), or if it will be like Legendary Trigger Happy and flood the store spilling into the bike section, Babies'R'Us, and out the back to the alley.
That said, as most of you veteran Skylander fans should now know, it is best to act in advance. It provides peace of mind and honestly saves a ton of time and money. For you parents that follow along, I'd suggest you cash in on this set-up to avoid having to resort to the shady waters of ebay.
This Legendary Triple Pack will again be exclusive to Toys'R'Us and if you are a fan of Slam Bam, Ignitor, or Jet-Vac this is a hot ticket item. Honestly, those are 2 of my current favorites and despite most people leaning elsewhere, I think Jet-Vac is on pace to be among my top Skylander Giant figures!
But now that you have read all that, I guess I should provide the link and helpful insights...
That link SHOULD take you to the HOT TOY LIST on the TRU website. Print it off and take it to your local store and present it to Guest Services. You must put down 5% to reserve it, but you can also pay in full...take your pic. There isn't really any benefit to shopping around since this is an exclusive and if you want a bargain on this pack you won't be getting it any time soon (try August 2013 perhaps, lol).
I was the first person at my local store not just to pre-order/reserve this Triple Pack, but to actually do anything with the Hot Toy List...I kind of had to explain it to the people...the asst. manager was clueless and so was the manager. They were nice and took the time to figure it out...Apparently they will call me when the merchandise arrives. For what it is worth, they did not take the 2 sheets I took in stapled...they just kept the stuff the register printed out...
Anyway, that is a lot to digest, but hopefully it helps you out and more importantly lands you, your kids, or a friend what is in my mind a pretty cool triple pack! Good luck and I hope this helped you out!
Here are some screen grabs of the new Legendary Skylanders for Skylanders Giants.
We will see a Toys'R'Us Exclusive Triple Pack featuring: Legendary Ignitor, Legendary Slam Bam, and Legendary Jet-Vac. (I actually just reserved this pack today! Thursday, September 20th, 2012).
Legendary Bouncer seems to be the only Giant coming in Legendary forum and he is believed to be the "TBD Giant" you earn the right to purchase with a TRU Giants pre-order.
I also believe that Chill and Stealth Elf will come along later on, much like we saw with Legendary Trigger Happy. I could be wrong, but it makes sense. I'd expect them to come at the midway point and then after that respectively. As of right now it looks like Toys'R'Us will remain the Legendary headquarters here in the USA, but with Chill and Stealth Elf in the mix there remains the possibility that they "could" go elsewhere....my money would still be on this remaining exclusive to TRU and other retailers getting special variants etc.
Legendary Chill
Legendary Ignitor
Legendary Jet-Vac
Legendary Slam Bam
Legendary Stealth Elf
Legendary Bouncer
Note that I could not find a good picture of Legendary Ignitor, so I just have a place filler.
Well, here it is...the long awaited, final installment of the Skylanders Collection Videos. With the recent acquisition of Wham-Shell, I was finally able to set everything out for a comprehensive video of the complete collection. In true 1ofWiisdom fashion we erred on the side of providing too much information. This is something I do to HELP PEOPLE OUT. I don't often have the time to hit every e-mail, comment, or message. To help counter that I feel it is best to provide as much information as possible.
That said, not only is this a complete look at the complete collection for Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure, it also contains a lot of information to some very frequently asked questions.
Here it is:
Please note that the video was recorded Monday, May 21st, 2012. Everything I said was accurate, to the best of my knowledge, at that time. Things change...as I mentioned a green or pink translucent variant could show up tomorrow. The video, and this post, are just designed to recap the collection, highlight some basic Skylanders: 101 Information, and hopefully help folks out.
And since I know it is inevitable questions will arise about the current blind playthrough, or even Giants (coming this fall), I felt obligated to touch on that briefly. I hit these topics:
-Thoughts on the Game
-Battle Mode
-Plan for Skylanders: Giants
That said, I feel this is set up to help you out as best as possible. Some people, like myself, will find it much easier to skim through a short blog post as opposed to filter through a 20 minute video. Still other people will prefer watching a video over skimming a blog post. For the people that don't watch the video and don't read the blog, I really don't know what to tell you...The answers are likely there if you just watch or read! That said, I've got some fantastic viewers who are more than willing to share their knowledge and might help you out before I get to the comment.
As always, short of me quitting my day job and giving up all my free time, I kind of can't manage the influx of YouTube comments. That is why I try to always stress that I check the blog pretty much every night. If you have something to ask that isn't covered, or you can't seem to find I'll be glad to try and help you...the quickest way is right here on the blog...I prefer it over Facebook. It is just a cleaner interface and much easier to keep track of....
Never pay more than retail. For local options (US), Walmart seems to stock most often. Toys'R'Us has the largest selection, but the highest prices. GameStop is a decent option, but you might have better luck landing what you want from them online. Amazon is a great resource for your online hunt. Again, never give more than retail and DO NOT BUY FROM SCALPERS!!!
Thoughts on Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure
This was a great game. The Weapon Master Glitch was quite the oversight and I don't feel like they are doing much to warn players of this issue, but aside from that the game was a lot of fun. It is unique, enjoyable, and blends elements of collecting in with game play.
I was not a fan of the "hype" behind new releases and the lackluster production we dealt with for many months. I got in on Skylanders in October and shelves went from fully stocked at Thanksgiving, to desolate around Christmas. It really took until mid-February for new stuff to show up with any significant quantity.
Scalpers have really taken away a lot of the enjoyment. If a store employee or ebay pirate raids stock and buys everything, it is hard for the true fans to enjoy it...
I think all figures should be available at the time of purchase and if not there really needs to be a pre-order system to allow hardcore fans the chance to buy direct, or through select distributors, and save the hassle and disappointment that came with Waves 3-5.
Battle Mode is a lot of fun and adds TONS of gameplay...However, not having an option for One Player is really baffling to me...
I would also like to have the option of resetting just to the point of picking a path...nothing major, but it would beat the current set-up.
I am still a bit miffed with the "Exclusive" label given to Whirlwind and Drill Sergeant in the U.S. You can say what you want, but there certainly was NO MARKETING to go along with WW or DS that they'd no longer be an exclusive after "x" days...That is deceptive and misrepresenting the product. Dragon's Peak was a well known "timed" exclusive, no news or announcements came with WW and DS. The Legendary Packs at TRU had the same "exclusive" designation and they have remained thus...Get it right, be consistent, and don't misrepresent a product.
Despite the weapon master glitch, a few minor and livable quirks, and the lack of a Single Player Battle Mode this is a great game and tons of fun. I whole heartedly recommend it and have done so since October.
Current Blind Playthrough
As of typing this, I have recorded and edited all of the Mass Upgrade videos I promised. I recorded them by Element. The plan is to upload one, then upload game play of that same Element showcasing the full upgrades. The only hold up here is that I have to record the gameplay.
After that I am really done with Skylanders. I might take some "extras" down their other path and compare/contrast, but past that there isn't a whole lot to do.
I will likely play the game throughout the summer to wrap up a full 32/32 on the Heroic Challenges for all Skylanders.
That reminds me that I will probably upgrade and do the same with the Legendaries, none of which has been recorded.
Plans for Skylanders: Giants
This is a very frequently asked question, "Do you plan to play Giants?" The answer is...Yes! I will likely do Giants the same way I did this game...It will be a blind playthrough that I will begin recording and uploading as soon as I get it. Should I buy any new figures, I will do the same style of unboxing. I am looking forward to the game and hope that the issue with production and scalpers will have a workaround by this fall.
Conclusion
I have had a lot of fun playing Skylanders, uploading the videos, interacting with viewers, and talking strategies for levels, battles, and upgrade paths. As mentioned, I'll still keep playing through the summer working on the Heroic Challenges for each character.
I do have a few more things planned for Skylanders, which I think a lot of you will enjoy. I will post more about that AFTER I get the upgrade vids uploaded and the gameplay videos live on YouTube.
Good luck with your collection!
1ofWiisdom
PS, if you are looking for more in-depth info, check out this comprehensive blog post:
That's right, welcome to the non-unboxing of Legendary Trigger Happy.
I had planned to wait it out to see if I could land another and then unbox one, but with so many questions, and the odds of finding another LTH so high, I figured I'd just do a comparison, spend a little extra time on the console stats, and call it good:
It is the "collector" side of me that won't allow myself to open the one mint-condition LTH I have. Mind you, if the store wouldn't have started the "one per customer" I would have 2 LTHs...one to keep boxed (and play via the portal for Upgrade Path A) and then one to have loose for convenience and of course the other upgrade path.
Legendary Trigger Happy is a Toys'R'Us exclusive...and Activision is holding true to this one, just like the Legendary Triple Pack.
You can find LTH for $9.99 at your local TRU and sometimes you might get lucky and find him on TRU.com, but I wouldn't bank on it.
Your other option is to buy from a scalper, I don't advise it, but if you feel like you've got to have him try to find the best deal possible.
As with L-Spyro, L-Chop Chop, and L-Bash, L-Trigger Happy will appear "blue and gold" in the game, just like you see him in the packaging. He also comes with a padded stat of +12 Armor (TH=30/60 vs LTH=42/72).
Trigger Happy is a great all around character and in my opinion very worthy of earning "Legendary" status, plus if you are a 3DS Owner, you now have a nice "in" to adding TH to your arsenal.
Let's check out the stats:
Trigger Happy vs Legendary Trigger Happy
Card:
Strength: 40 vs 40
Agility: 60 vs 70 (+10)
Defense: 20 vs 20
Luck: 100 vs 100
Console Initial-Maximum:
Health: 200-400 vs 200-400
Speed: 50-98 vs 50-98
Armor: 30-60 vs 42-72 (+12)
Critical Hit: 50-100 vs 50-100
Elemental Power: 25-100 vs 25-100
Once again, who knows what the cards are good for, but at least we've got the console stats. The increase for Trigger Happy comes in his weakest area, Armor. The +12 Boost will be very nice.
Well, tonight was a good night! I made the rounds once more with my 3DS looking for Street Pass Tags and got....
Nothing! Can't say I'm shocked, apparently there aren't a lot of super cool people roaming the streets with their 3DS just yet...
But, nonetheless it was still a great night.
First up was Target:
Nothing but the starter packs...again! I asked an employee who had previously checked the back for me and their response was they haven't had anything come in for weeks. Given the fact not long ago they actually went in the back to look for Empire of Ice I have no reason to doubt their testimony.
Up next, Toys'R'Us:
Can you see that? Wrecking Ball, Hex, Chop Chop, Eruptor, Boomer, Legendary Trigger Happy, Zap. A nice selection.
WAIT! WHAT? LEGENDARY TRIGGER HAPPY??!!
You better believe it! I must have caught them just after an afternoon stock or something...Last week they didn't have any. I was stoked, they had quite a few too. I wanted one for a friend, but with the "one per customer" deal I had to take one and call it good. As much as that is annoying, I have to say...if the policy wasn't enforced I would probably have seen a shelf with Wrecking Ball and Boomer.
I didn't expect LTH to show up here this soon...I knew of a few Canadians and 2-3 in the northeast that had him, but that was it. Ebay, as of 2 days ago, was listing him for $200+. I paid $9.99 and encourage you to do the same.
I was going to pick up another Pirate Seas (to have Terrafin to go with his other upgrade path), but they didn't have any.
My logic behind paying the extra $5...TRU has a not very well advertised sale that was going on where if you buy an Adventure Pack you get 2 Triple Packs...for FREE! That is a heck of a deal and well worth the $24.99. Sadly, in addition to not having any Adventure Packs there were also no Triple Packs...go figure.
Nonetheless I can not complain. Legendary Trigger Happy is now in my collection and ready to play!
I don't think I'll unbox him until I have been able to land another one or see that there will be a huge number on the market. It is that collector side of me coming out again. Plus, I can play him via the Portal from the confines of the mint-condition package...win-win!
I did check GameStop, but they had like 3 Starter Packs. I was about to head into the Walmart that gets hit with petty vandals stealing Prism Break and Drobot, but opted against it. It was windy here, but also hot....like mid 70s. I didn't want my groceries to thaw out, lol.
But hey, all in all a great night. Legendary Trigger Happy doesn't look like the same bold paint that the Legendary 3 Pack had, but maybe it is the packaging. Regardless I am happy and relieved that I was able to snag him locally and will sleep easy anxiously awaiting the next round of releases!
Blog Poll #16 tackles the tough question of "Which Version of Spyro is Your Favorite?" I can see this one being really tight or a blowout...
This one was on the agenda, but also goes out as a special request poll to SkylanderGirl87...I guess brilliant minds think alike :-)
Spyro, in regular form, is of course the famed dragon that had a host of games where he was the primary character, not just 1 of 32. He came with virtually all Starter Packs (Wii, PS3, XBOX, PC/MAC) so he is widely available and owned by most.
Dark Spyro is possibly less owned than Legendary Spyro (thanks to the recent re-release of the TRU Exclusive Triple Pack) and is only available (outside the second hand market) in the 3DS Starter Pack.
Legendary Spyro is highly sought after and boasts increased stats.
This should make for a pretty interesting race...will people vote on what they've got, what they want, aesthetics, value, or simply personal preference? We'll have to wait and see. I'm looking forward to knowing how this one pans out!
The poll will close March 6th, 2012 at 11:59 PM CST!
Blog Poll #12, "Who is Your Favorite Legendary Skylander?" had a very impressive 114 votes, garnering a bit more attention than the respective "Gold" and "Silver" polls. The results were not quite like I had foreseen, let's take a look:
Once again, a character who is unreleased/released in very few locations took first place with a pretty decisive margin (14 votes). I only know of a 2 readers who have LTH at the moment. Apparently a few Canadian stores have released him, as did a few in the northeastern US. I did read today that a few people who ordered him on ebay (presumably from an insider who promised to ship upon obtaining) have come up with him. I figured he would make things close, but not run away with it like this.
Chop Chop fans showed up in force bringing him to what I will call an upset victory over Spyro. I honestly figured Spyro would be first or second. Chop Chop came in 6 votes ahead of the title's namesake...not bad! Chop Chop is clearly one of the favorite characters amongst readers...who can forget his dominating performance in the Undead Element Poll?!
Spyro was a surprise 3rd Place finisher. I saw him as #1 or #2, depending on if folks went Chop Chop or Trigger Happy. I have ot wonder if part of the lower than expected finish has to do with his stand alone Dark version? Nonetheless, numbers don't like.
Bash, the lovable rock and roller, got off to a rocky start and never recovered. He garnered only 10 votes, but that is somewhat expected given he finished 3rd in the Earth Element Poll. He is a great character, but clearly outclassed by his peers in this grouping.
Thanks again to everyone who voted. I sure hope we can all manage to track down Legendary Trigger Happy! Remember, these are all Toys'R'US Exclusives (which Activision abides by), so you have to get them there or will likely pay a premium on the black market. Most TRU stores have started a "1 per customer" rule, so hopefully that will prevent a few, foul spirits from clearing the shelf of this soon to be sought after character.
Legendaries, unlike Gold and Silver Skylanders, actually appear "blue and gold" in the game AND have slightly bumped up stats.
I have yet to see or hear of him locally. Most believed he would be released with great fan fare around the time of Dragon's Peak (Easter)...clearly, a few select locations either can't read directions, or there is a very funky shipping patter, or the rest of us all live in an area where the local TRU Manager will likely be rolling to wok in a fancy new car in the not to distant future.
Thanks to everyone who voted...this will open up the next poll, "What is Your Favorite Version of Spyro?"
Well, this is a few days later than I intended to post, but oh well.
My local stores have been desolate. The Drobots and Prism Breaks adorning the racks were even getting picked up. When I ran to town, Target had....NOTHING.
Walmart had this sign:
Which just really ticks me off given the fact Whrilwind is on it...Sadly, Target didn't have a sign promoting Drill Sergeant. I still call BS on activision for this "exclusive" status. They seem to comprehend what that means when they release "exclusives" like this metallic Cynder to those attending the big toy conventions:
Note the "exclusive" sticker...just like Whirlwind and Drill Sergeant Single Packs used to wear. They really need to be reprimanded for this shady tactic.
Not vesting too much time in that, Toys'R'Us finally had some new stuff. And I see why. You can't read it well in the picture, but all those "handmade" signs that look like an employee was tasked with printing from Microsoft Paint read, "All Skylanders, Limit 1 per Customer." I guess they FINALLY got the clue that the ladies who come in the store and buy up all the Skylanders probably don't have 250 nieces and nephews. I'm sure if not for that policy change the racks would have been desolate.
But alas, a welcome sight...one which newcomers often doubted me on:
Not only are there racks of Dark Light Crypt and Pirate Seas (which have been out since Day 1 btw), there are FOUR ROWS STOCKED DEEP OF THE LEGENDARY TRIPLE PACKS.
I didn't even bother to buy one (I got 3 back on the first release, again primarly based on their "exclusive" status...and realax, one was for me to use, one was for a gift, and the other was just to keep boxed in case they were ever worth something). This game is going to be so expensive to "complete" I didn't feel like shelling out another $25...especially when I got the same triple pack for $19.99 back in October.
But, nonetheless the stock returned...
The real kicker though is this...
My local Toys'R'Us has still not gotten ANY Wave 3 Skylanders or Empire of Ice. I have a few employees I trust and 2 that I trust and know are familiar with the game etc. It blows my mind how activision is handling this...I assure you they are simply structuring shipments and what not to do their best to keep they hype going all the way until Wham-Shell precedes Skylanders Giants.
The entire process is actually starting to take away from the game. I don't mind having a hard time tracking down Silver/Gold/Blue Skylanders...but when casual players feel like they need to shell out $50 to some scalper nested in the coves of ebay I start to get a sour taste in my mouth.
Playing the game helps a bit, and I am hoping more stores adopt the "1 per customer" rule to prevent these pirates from influencing so many of us to resort to buying their plundered loot.
I really enjoy the game, and am looking forward to wrapping it up, but the prospect of chasing tail and burning hours of time and cash on gas to put around town for the next wave of releases doesn't really interest me as much as it once did. It was fun for awhile, but the same antics grow old quick when you begin to view them as more of a patter of choice than chance.
I still plan to pick up all 37 Skylanders, but I sure as heck won't give more than retail for any of them. I don't have that kind of money or time. Maybe by the time Giants comes out I will have regained the enthusiasm behind it all, but that remains to be seen...a large part of it will have to do with the "frenzy" and how it pans out.
Nonetheless, I've been busy...I just got 3 New Polls opened up on the blog and I hope to play Pirate Seas and Dark Light Crypt on my "new" Save File to see how the progress looks...I'll then record Chapter 22 and call it good until new Skylanders or Dragon's Peak is available. I might progress with getting some favorites up on their Heroic Challenges, or simply start recording a new game.
I was finally able to score Cynder and Double Trouble, both in Single Pack form, today on GameStop.com.
I know I could have saved a buck or two at Target or Walmart, but the fact of the matter is with both of these being Wave 3 the scalpers will keep raiding stores every morning while normal people are at work, at school, or sleeping to head to a PM shift.
I have spent so much time and gas money putting around town once or twice a week it is ridiculous. I do that because a lot of times employees will just say, "We are sold out" and then you can walk in and find a full shelf of Drobot, Prism Break, and Flameslinger. It is kind of sad really.
GameStop upped single packs to $9.99 a while back (and I was told it is just to match Toys'R'Us), but despite paying the extra $1-2 the fact I don't have to worry about it, track it down, or spend more fuel trying to make it happen some random night is well worth the time and money.
There is no real rule of thumb to catching stock on GameStop.com. If you recall, Empire of Ice had been "unavailable" all day and then at 3 AM it was magically "in stock." I clicked "buy" and it headed my way...within 10 minutes it was "unavailable" again.
Today it was my lunch break when Cynder was available, something I'd only seen once 2 weeks ago. I figured I should just cash in and pay freight (which is cheaper than gas, lol). I also got Double Trouble in single pack form because I'm still irate that they deceptively labelled Drill Sergeant and Whirlwind "exclusives." (The Heroic Challenge I did was recorded "thru the pack" lol...I"ll just keep that one boxed for "evidence").
Cynder was available about till 1:20 my time...I ordered around 12:30 or so...Double Trouble stayed up until my afternoon break, which was 3:30ish. I checked all last week and never saw either available in Single Pack form.
I still think Toys'R'Us should be releasing Wave 3 soon...my local store has not had ANYTHING Wave 3. I know some of you on the east coast have told me you found Empire of Ice at your local TRU...not the case here. I will keep checking stock at a few places just to update everyone, and I do want another Empire of Ice for a friend's birthday...I was bummed I couldn't just order it online today with Cynder and Double Trouble, but you guessed it...it wasn't available!
Anyway, the good news is I ordered them and they have already shipped since it happened early. I *think I will wind up with them Wednesday or Thursday. I will try and get the unboxings and Heroic Challenges up ASAP (well Cynder's HC anyway...already did DT's!).
Oh, and I have not forgotten the 3DS unboxing...I'll work on that this week.
As of right now I am going go introduce Slam Bam, play the Heroic Challenge, and maybe take on Empire of Ice!!!
I will try to get to comments later this week...I didn't get notice on the blog ones, which I try to hit before YouTube, so I might shoot for those tomorrow.
Awesome...that best describes this set of characters. This Toys'R'Us exclusive Legendary Pack features 3 Skylanders that feature special coloring (blue and gold) and enhanced attributes, check it out:
In the video I promised to list the Legendary Attributes, so here you go:
Format:
Attribute: Legendary Rating (Regular Rating) Change from Normal
