Skylanders SWAP Force Battle Mode Treacherous Beach

As promised in the Arkeyan Crossbow Unboxing and Introductory videos, my Nephew (thewalkthruking) and I recorded some PvP for everyone.  We used an assortment of characters, most hailing from Wave 3...Check it out for yourself!

Here is a list of the battles:

SWAP Force Arkeyan Crossbow Battle Pack

-Treacherous Beach

1: Thorn Horn Camo vs Grim Creeper – Thron Horn Camo (Wiisdom)

2: LC Wham-Shell vs LC Countdown – LC Wham-Shell  (Wiisdom)

3: LC Wham-Shell vs LC Countdown – LC Countdown (thewalkthruking)

4: LC Wham-Shell vs LC Countdown – LC Countdown (thewalkthruking)

5: Wind-Up vs Dune Bug – Wind-Up (Wiisdom)

6: Rattle Shake vs Quick Draw Rattle Shake – Rattle Shake (Wiisdom)

7: Spy Rise vs Qiuck Draw Rattle Shake – Spy Rise (Wiisdom)

8: Spy Rise vs Blast Zone – Blast Zone (thewalkthruking)

9: LC Countdown vs Blast Zone – Blast Zone (thewalkthruking)

10: Stink Bomb vs Rubble Rouser – Stink Bomb (Wiisdom)

11: Stink Bomb vs Spy Rise – Spy Rise (thewalkthruking)

12: Thorn Horn Camo vs Grim Creeper – Grim Creeper (thewalkthruking)

13: LC Countdown vs Grim Creeper – LC Countdown (Wiisdom)

14: LC Countdown vs Spy Rise – Spy Rise (thewalkthruking)

15: Stink Bomb vs Spy Rise – Spy Rise (thewalkthruking)

16: Blast Zone vs Spy Rise – Blast Zone (Wiisdom)

17: Blast Zone vs Dark Blast Zone – Blast Zone (Wiisdom)

Wiisdom = 9 Wins, thewalkthruking = 8 Wins

Special thanks to thewalkthruking for helping out for this video!

Skylanders SWAP Force Quick Draw Rattle Shake

What?  Quick Draw Rattle Shake, Undead Element, SWAP Force, Bounce, Alt-Deco
Where Did You Get It?  Frito-Lay Promotion
What Did It Cost?  Variety Pack with Code and a lot of Time

Checking Out Quick Draw Rattle Shake

Well, for the 2nd day of 2014 it turned out to be a pretty good one.  Factoring into that was the arrival of Quick Draw Rattle Shake.  I was fortunate/lucky enough to win two of them and they both arrived safe-and-sound.

This promotion was very poorly run.  That is sad for the simple fact this isn't their first rode and they seemed to be making strides toward truly perfecting the setup.  That said, let's try to be positive and look at the pros.  The biggest one was just having the chips readily available...that has been a BIG ISSUE for myself and many of you...not being able to even find the specially marked bags (this is why I do not have Flocked Stump Smash...I never once saw a promo bag).  That said, having tons of the bags available is a bit of a downer when the codes to win are on the outside and seemed to stretch at least 10+ bags.  The first few days of the promo people had error messages that the code had been used etc.  Frito-Lay did address this quickly, but people were irate.  I got royally screwed in that I actually won on Day 1 or 2 of the promo and it never let me submit my info.  All that aside, I did actually win two and since they arrived (well packed in a fitting box) I can't complain too much.  I will end on the note that I hope they take what they have learned and go back to the Giants Sidekicks setup, or even Halloween Fright Rider...I'd also take something better.

Now, before we go into the details...Quick Draw Rattle Shake is an actual in-game variant.  That means he registers in the collection and appears in the game just as he looks in the packaging (think along the lines of a Legendary or Dark Skylander).  This has angered a lot of fans and led to the majority of the backlash.  If this was just a chase variant I don't think the uproar would have been quite of the magnitude it was.

All of that aside, Quick Draw Rattle Shake looks really good in person!  He is basically a superbly well done GITD with blue diamonds and blue accents.  I tried to showcase the GITD aspect in the video and it didn't turn out too great, but if you have the chance check one out with the lights out...it looks very good!

This character is important for completionists and collectors alike.  My fear, and the biggest reason I despised the exposed game code, is that scalpers had instant access without so much as being forced to buy a $6 bag of chips.  Several reported seeing people rummaging thru the inventory and taking pics with their phone to enter the codes.  You were capped to 4 per house, but given the "in game variant" status of this figure I am afraid in-the-know scalpers will have cashed in and unleash these figures to a fan base desperate to attain a figure needed for the collection.

There is a chance we could see Quick Draw released late on like the Sidekicks and Gnary Tree Rex, but that is far from guaranteed and simply speculation at this point.

Personally, I would rather send in (x) UPCs from the chips and payment than jump thru the contest hoops etc.  I mentioned this in the videos, but if you say land some Wave 3 figures, you might have a window you could trade with fellow Portal Masters for their extra Quick Draws...this is mutually beneficial and starves the scalpers.

Still discounting the downside of the promotion...Quick Draw is a very well done alternate of Rattle Shake.  He looks great, the name is fitting, and he will look great in any collection.

If I do wind up opening one of the QDRS I will update this post.

Skylander Hunting Surprise: Purple Metallic Wrecking Ball and QuickDraw Rattle Shake Frito-Lay Bags

Wow...

November is off to a GREAT start!

Skylander Hunting: Purple Metallic Wrecking Ball, Topps Collector Card Album, & Quick Draw Rattle Shake Frito-Lay Promo Bags!

First off, I was making my usual rounds while running errands tonight and wanted to stop by Toys'R'Us for two reasons: First, I wanted to see if Legendary Zoo Lou (11/3 Street Date) was out, and if so, if I could purchase him.  Second, I was hoping to find some of the Frito-Lay promotional Variety Packs for Quick Draw Rattle Shake!

Well, neither of those panned out at Toys'R'Us.

However, I did find one (and then several more) of the Skylanders Giants Legendary Triple Packs that I kno a lot of you are after...It has L-Jet Vac, L-Ignitor, and L-Slam Bam.  The first one I found, had something else unique...sitting on the peg to the left was none other than Purple Metallic Wrecking Ball!

Yep...PURPLE METALLIC WRECKING BALL!  I was shocked to say the least!  This is the first time I've found a "chase" variant since Gold Flameslinger back in the day...

I didn't risk taking a pic in the event someone else spotted him...So I plucked him up and began looking for a 2nd Skylander (BOGO40%).  I nearly went with a 2nd Scorp or Rip Tide, but held off in order to pick up the Topps Collector Card Starter Pack (TRU Exclusive) for $9.99.  This turned out to NOT quality for the BOGO40%, but who knew?!  I didn't, but now you do...Should have gone for that Scorp or Rip Tide...oh well.

This Purple Metallic Wrecking Ball kind of makes up for all of that!  I'm not sure how he "broke" thru the system, but he was right there front-and-center staring at me...Especially since his interior packaging is broken and it casts him at a 45 degree angle.  He was literally about to fall of the peg as well.  Before you ask, YES I did scan everywhere for the other Purple Metallics, lol.

You can check out the Topps Collector Card Starter Pack Opening and Review in the next blog post...

Now, on to the grocery store...Shockingly, my local store had the Quick Draw Rattle Shake Promo bags!  I saw the Classic Mix over in produce (don't ask) and grabbed it.  On the chip aisle they just had a few...I checked and the codes seemed to be the same for roughly 8-10 bags and then change...

I found a Classic Mix with a different code and grabbed it too...if you were unaware, the codes are on the FRONT of the bag, right with the "Use By" date.

I will get a video up outlining that contest here shortly...

Also of note...Target had Wave 2 Skylanders!  I, oddly enough, saw quite a few Fire Kraken, several Grilla Drilla, and 1 Night Shift...No Boom Jet anywhere.

That said, this was a killer night in terms of Skylander hunting!  Next stop is, of course, TRU on Sunday for Legendary Zoo Lou.