Skylanders, Minecraft, Amiibo, and More! I'm that guy that unboxes stuff on a pool table and provides intelligent reviews to best serve you!
Showing posts with label Swap Force. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Swap Force. Show all posts
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Monday, May 19, 2014
Blast Zone & Dark Blast Zone Upgrade Paths Skylanders SWAP Force
Blast Zone Base Upgrades (Top and Bottom)
Blast Zone Attack Damage Numbers
Blast Zone Ignition Upgrade Path (Top)
Blast Zone Reaction Satisfaction Upgrade Path (Top)
Blast Zone Fuel Injected Upgrade Path (Bottom)
Blast Zone Temperatures Rising Upgrade Path (Bottom)
Dark Blast Zone Fully Upgraded
Blast Zone is an absolute beast in box stock form. My Nephew loved being him in our Battle Tournaments because he could almost always win with just Bomb Throw, unless of course he was facing Dark Blast Zone!
I never understood why I didn't hear more chatter about him...I figured the Upgrade Paths must have been lackluster for him to be that ignored in chatter amongst Portal Masters.
However, after upgrading him I know that can not be the case. Blast Zone has some great Upgrade Paths.
Up top, I think the obvious choice for most people is the Ignition Path. This takes the already potent Bomb Throw and further enhances it. Only catch is you have to have a fire wall to throw through. This is the best choice for most people.
I prefer Reaction Satisfaction. It might actually be easier for rookie players to master as well. Flame Breath, his tertiary attack, was left untouched in the base upgrades. Reaction Satisfaction allows you to complete a circle and be rewarded with an explosion. Phase 2 of the path increases both damage and area. This to me is the best option not only because it does great damage, but because I felt it balanced him given how potent Bomb Throw was with just Power Bombs factored in...
On the bottom end I prefer Temperatures Rising. It is a path that generates a fiery aura after dashing that allows you to drift towards enemies you want to target and do additional damage past your other attacks. In other words, I feel it is a bit more precise than Fuel Injected.
Fuel Injected, however, hits much harder on the face value than Temperatures Rising. At the end of a dash you shoot off a fireball that does big damage to enemies. The only issue is the lack of control. You may want it to cascade towards a geargolem, but if a Greeble sneaks up from the side, it can auto-lock on the less than formidable enemy and fail to deliver like you had hoped. That said, it is a minor issue and I think most will prefer Fuel Injected.
That said, any upgrade path for Blast Zone is well done and easy to follow, I just personally prefer Reaction Satisfaction for the balance and Temperatures Rising for the control.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Rubble Rouser Upgrade Paths and Damage Numbers
Rubble Rouser Base Upgrades
Rubble Rouser Damage Numbers
Rubble Rouser Drill Pitcher Path
Rubble Rouser Excavator Path
Rubble Rouser Bolder Boulders Path
Rubble Rouser Miner Foreman Path
Alright, so this one is fairly easy for me to offer up suggestions...
I would NEVER recommend Drill Pitcher. The game's upgrade screen and strategy guide for Nailed It! both state "Press Attack 1, Attack 1, and then hold and release Attack 1" to throw a charged hammer attack!" The problem there is that it does not work, at least for me and at least on the Wii U version. Sledgehammer makes the hammer do increased damage, but what good is that if you can never get it thrown?
The only way I got it to throw is by charging ahead of time (holding primary attack), quickly releasing, holding again (if you lose the charged state it won't work), quickly releasing, holding once more (again, if the hammer isn't bigger and glowing you have to start over), and then releasing to throw. Not only is this insanely slow, but it might not work...The damage 36-54 and then 54-81 would be nice...It would be a great path if it actually threw the hammer with any consistency.
My original logic was "Bolder Boulders" looks the best to me because it is the most unique...It would be best complimented by a long range projectile which I had hoped Drill Pitcher would provide. As is, I can not suggest that path. I will try it on Xbox One to see if it works better, but I doubt it. The real slap in the face is that I discovered (while trying to figure out how to throw the hammer) that charged hammer hits do increased damage. I assumed this was probably tied in with Drill Pitcher and the combo aspect...I was wrong! Using my 2nd Rubble Rouser, I discovered that you could charge the hammer with the base attacks. That, to me, makes Drill Pitcher one of the few paths I have ever seen that I can consider broken. By the time I got a hammer to throw I would have either A-Taken serious damage, or B-just used other attacks to defeat the enemies. Thus the 54-81 and ranged nature of a hammer throw means nothing.
I was also disturbed by Happy Hammering claiming "All Hammer Attacks do Increased Damage." At the time you have your Primary and Tertiary attacks, both being hammer attacks. Happy Hammering only addressed the damage output of "Hammer Swing" and left "Tools of the Trade" as is.
The great news though is that Excavator (misspelled in the Strategy Guide's picture box), works quite well. You shoot off 6 rock shards that wind up doing 28-42 Damage and seem to have the range of the hammer throw (when it would work). Plus, the 6 shards kind of fan out and actually cover a much broader range than just a single straight forward hammer throw (did I mention it was hard to aim that?...Again, that discourages use in long range situations).
Up top, I would DEFINITIVELY suggest you take Excavator...no questions asked. I will try Drill Pitcher in XB1 and maybe other can get it to work as intended, but I sure can't and as such I would never use it...Excavator offers a nice, broad attack radius with some nice damage numbers...and it WORKS!
Down low, I initially thought Bolder Boulders would fit my play style the best and that Miner Foreman, despite not "liking" those upgrade paths, would probably be pretty good as well (Sonic Boom and Double Trouble come to mind). I was basically right!
Bolder Boulders is not what I had hoped...but it is still very unique and offers up some distinct advantages for Rubble Rouser. I had pictured a drilling ability that let me go underground and stay there a long time while offering up a way to move from A to B underground AND having a crosshair (kind of like Zook) to aim the boulders. I must say, that would have made Rubble Rouser a true beast. That said, you get basically 7 seconds of dig time and the boulder's wind up doing 14-21 damage, although you can't really control where they go. That said, it ties in perfectly with the Pop Rock Soul Gem.
Miner Foreman offers up exactly what I thought it would...4 Minor Miners that do increased damage. You do have to use Deep Dig 4 times to summon all 4, but they wind up bashing out 7-11 Damage on each hit and they each hit a lot of times.
On the bottom end I would have to suggest Miner Formean for most people as it would likely be the most beneficial for a straight forward play style. Plus, you still have Tunnel Expedition and the Soul Gem to pick up some aspects of Bolder Boulders. For veteran players, or those who are a fan of the 7 second damage free time I would suggest Bolder Boulders.
Pairing Bolder Boulders or Miner Foreman with Excavator up top makes for a pretty solid and unique character. I am still disappointed in "Happy Hammering" doing half of what it advertises and Drill Pitcher being virtually useless due to it's inherently complex launching system, but the fact remains that Excavator and either bottom path will add up to make a very nice Swap Force Skylander!
Labels:
1ofWiisdom,
Bolder Boulders,
Damage Numbers,
Drill Pitcher,
Earth Day,
Excavator,
Miner Foreman,
Path Guide,
Pick a Path,
Rubble Rouser,
Skylanders,
Soul Gem,
Swap Force,
upgrade paths
Monday, March 3, 2014
Skylanders SWAP Force Upgrade Options
Well, first let me say that my original plan was to upgrade the SWAP Force Skylanders first...I've started in with Boom Jet and Free Ranger, but there are so many options I wanted to get some feedback on what you would like to see...
So, I have basically come up with 3 Options:
Option #1
Record each upgrade in thorough detail and repeat for the 2nd figure.
Pros: Most detailed and complete
Cons: 2nd Video would be redundant up until the paths and it is the most time consuming
Option #2
Record each upgrade in thorough detail the first time...Record only the other Upgrade Paths for the 2nd figure.
Pros: Thorough and a quicker look at the other Path options
Cons: Inconsistency: One set of Paths would be tied in with a full video, the other would just showcase the other Upgrade Paths and Soul Gems
Option #3:
Record 5 videos. 1-Base Upgrades 2-First Top Path 3-Second Top Path 4-First Bottom Path 5-Second Bottom Path
Pros: Short videos, makes looking for a specific path the easiest
Cons: Not as thorough and it would require watching all the videos to get a feel for the paths
With that said, what do you think? I can see advantages to all the options. Ordinarily I would just go with Option #1, but with SWAP Force Skylanders you have 2 Paths for the Top and the Bottom. That makes a repeat a bit repetitive, but also the most thorough. Cutting out the base upgrades in Option #2 for the 2nd figure saves time, but makes the videos a tad different. Option #3 would be super useful for quick research, but on the flip side would require more time to watch all the videos and evaluate what path combos you like the best.
I have currently knocked out just a few of of the SWAP Force Upgrades and I'll try to apply what viewers want to see in the future upgrade videos!
So, I have basically come up with 3 Options:
Option #1
Record each upgrade in thorough detail and repeat for the 2nd figure.
Pros: Most detailed and complete
Cons: 2nd Video would be redundant up until the paths and it is the most time consuming
Option #2
Record each upgrade in thorough detail the first time...Record only the other Upgrade Paths for the 2nd figure.
Pros: Thorough and a quicker look at the other Path options
Cons: Inconsistency: One set of Paths would be tied in with a full video, the other would just showcase the other Upgrade Paths and Soul Gems
Option #3:
Record 5 videos. 1-Base Upgrades 2-First Top Path 3-Second Top Path 4-First Bottom Path 5-Second Bottom Path
Pros: Short videos, makes looking for a specific path the easiest
Cons: Not as thorough and it would require watching all the videos to get a feel for the paths
With that said, what do you think? I can see advantages to all the options. Ordinarily I would just go with Option #1, but with SWAP Force Skylanders you have 2 Paths for the Top and the Bottom. That makes a repeat a bit repetitive, but also the most thorough. Cutting out the base upgrades in Option #2 for the 2nd figure saves time, but makes the videos a tad different. Option #3 would be super useful for quick research, but on the flip side would require more time to watch all the videos and evaluate what path combos you like the best.
I have currently knocked out just a few of of the SWAP Force Upgrades and I'll try to apply what viewers want to see in the future upgrade videos!
Friday, January 3, 2014
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
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Legendary Zoo Lou
What? Legendary Zoo Lou, Life Element, SWAP Force Newlander, TRU Exclusive
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $10.99 plus tax (BOGO40% Still going this week, just fyi)
What Was Stock Like? Decent, likely had more in the back
What Is Included? Legendary Zoo Lou, Stat Card, Sticker Sheet with Web Code
Legendary Zoo Lou
Life Element, SWAP Force Newlander
Slogan: "Nature Calls!"
Card Stats:
Power: 70/200 (+5 vs Zoo Lou)
Armor: 105/200 (+10 vs Zoo Lou)
Agility: 30/200 (+/- 0 vs Zoo Lou)
Luck: 120/200 (+/- 0 vs Zoo Lou)
Totals: 325/800 (+15 vs Zoo Lou)
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $10.99 plus tax (BOGO40% Still going this week, just fyi)
What Was Stock Like? Decent, likely had more in the back
What Is Included? Legendary Zoo Lou, Stat Card, Sticker Sheet with Web Code
Unboxing Toys'R'Us Exclusive Legendary Zoo Lou
Legendary Zoo Lou
Life Element, SWAP Force Newlander
Slogan: "Nature Calls!"
Card Stats:
Power: 70/200 (+5 vs Zoo Lou)
Armor: 105/200 (+10 vs Zoo Lou)
Agility: 30/200 (+/- 0 vs Zoo Lou)
Luck: 120/200 (+/- 0 vs Zoo Lou)
Totals: 325/800 (+15 vs Zoo Lou)
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing LightCore Warnado
What: LightCore Warnado
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $13.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Well Stocked!
What is Included: Warnado, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet
Warnado
Air Element, SSA Original, Absent in Giants, LC in SF
Slogan: "For the Wind"
Card Stats
Power: 60/200
Armor: 130/200
Agility: 100/200
Luck: 45/200
Totals: 335/800
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $13.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Well Stocked!
What is Included: Warnado, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet
Unboxing LightCore Warnado
Warnado
Air Element, SSA Original, Absent in Giants, LC in SF
Slogan: "For the Wind"
Card Stats
Power: 60/200
Armor: 130/200
Agility: 100/200
Luck: 45/200
Totals: 335/800
Skylanders Giants Unboxing LightCore Hex
What: LightCore Hex,Undead Element, Skylanders Giants LC
Where Did You Get It? GameStop Pre-Order on Dark Edition Wii U and 3DS
What Did It Cost? Free with Pre-Order
What Was Stock Like? I've seen her around, but in limited quantities. Target has the most.
What is Included: LC Hex, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet
Hex
Undead Element, SSA Original, SG Repose with S2 and LC
Slogan: "Fear the Dark!"
Card Stats
Power: 100/200
Armor: 90/200
Agility: 50/200
Luck: 70/200
Totals: 310/800
Where Did You Get It? GameStop Pre-Order on Dark Edition Wii U and 3DS
What Did It Cost? Free with Pre-Order
What Was Stock Like? I've seen her around, but in limited quantities. Target has the most.
What is Included: LC Hex, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet
Unboxing LightCore Hex...At Long Last
Hex
Undead Element, SSA Original, SG Repose with S2 and LC
Slogan: "Fear the Dark!"
Card Stats
Power: 100/200
Armor: 90/200
Agility: 50/200
Luck: 70/200
Totals: 310/800
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Fire Kraken
What: Fire Kraken, Fire Element, SWAP Force, Bounce
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $16.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Very Limited. I've only seen this one.
What is Included: Fire Kraken, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $16.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Very Limited. I've only seen this one.
What is Included: Fire Kraken, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet
Unboxing Fire Kraken
Fire Kraken
Fire Element, SWAP Force, Bounce
Slogan: "Burn to be Wild!"
Card Stats:
Power: 170/200
Armor: 70/200
Agility: 170/200
Luck: 60/200
Totals: 470/800
Fire Kraken, Front
Fire Kraken, Rear
Fire Element SWAPPERS as of Wave 2 Release
Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Grilla Drilla
What: Grilla Drilla, Life Element, SWAP Force, Dig
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $16.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Very Limited. I saw 4 on the shelf on the Wed. Release Day.
What is Included: Grilla Drilla, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $16.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Very Limited. I saw 4 on the shelf on the Wed. Release Day.
What is Included: Grilla Drilla, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet
Unboxing Grilla Drilla
Grilla Drilla
Life Element, SWAP Force, Dig
Slogan: "If There's a Drill, There's a Way!"
Card Stats:
Power: 200/200
Armor: 130/200
Agility: 120/200
Luck: 70/200
Totals: 470/800
Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Night Shift
What: Night Shift, Undead Element, SWAP Force, Teleport
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $16.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Very Limited. I've seen 1 on the shelf.
What is Included: Night Shift, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $16.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Very Limited. I've seen 1 on the shelf.
What is Included: Night Shift, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet
Unboxing Night Shift
Night Shift
Undead Element, SWAP Force, Teleport
Slogan: "Roll with the Punches!"
Card Stats:
Power: 180/200
Armor: 100/200
Agility: 145/200
Luck: 45/200
Totals: 470/800
Night Shift, Front
Night Shift, Rear
Teleport SWAPPERS as of Wave 2
Undead SWAPPERS os of Wave 2
Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Boom Jet
What: Boom Jet, Air Element, SWAP Force, Rocket
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $16.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Very Limited. I've seen 1 on the shelf.
What is Included: Boom Jet, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet
Where Did You Get It? Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost? $16.99 plus tax (BOGO40%)
What Was Stock Like? Very Limited. I've seen 1 on the shelf.
What is Included: Boom Jet, Stat Card, and Sticker Sheet
Unboxing Boom Jet
Boom Jet
Air Element, SWAP Force, Rocket
Slogan: "Bombs Away!"
Card Stats:
Power: 180/200
Armor: 80/200
Agility: 120/200
Luck: 90/200
Totals: 470/800
Boom Jet's Packaging
Boom Jet, Front
Boom Jet, Rear
Rocket SWAP Force as of Wave 2 (October 2013)
Air Element SWAP Force as of Wave 2 (October 2013)
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Skylanders SWAP Force Wave 2 Early Release at Toys'R'Us
Hopefully you read the blog daily...If so, you already knew about Toys'R'Us getting Wave 2 Skylanders in before other retailers, although some Sam's Clubs had a few of them out as well.
If you missed the news, now you know. Here is a video highlighting that news and showcasing the Skylanders I was able to track down:
Here is a complete list for what we can tentatively refer to as "Wave 2," although I personally like 1.1, but that is a bit technical.
Skylanders SWAP Force
-Boom Jet
-Fire Kracken
-Grilla Drilla
-Night Shift
Skylanders SWAP Force Series 3
-Anchors Away Gill Grunt
-Big Blast Trigger Happy
-Knockout Terrafin (Single Pack, not tied to Fiery Forge Battle Pack)
-Twin Blade Chop Chop
Skylanders SWAP Force Triple Packs
-Triple Pack #3: Heavy Duty Sprocket, Twin Blade Chop Chop, Scorp
-Triple Pack #4: Big Bang Trigger Happy, Star Strike, Anchors Away Gill Grunt


Stock Notes
Obviously, since I don't have Fire Kracken or Night Shift we can assume they were either more popular, arrived in lesser quantities, or some combo of the two. I got the last Boom Jet in the house, and after I snagged Grilla Drilla there were only three left.
Star Strike was really hard to find...I am lucky I located her.
If I had to pick out two more that were "harder to find" it would be Knockout Terrafin and Twin Blade Chop Chop. Seemed to be plenty of Trigger Happy, Gill Grunt, Sprocket, Riptide, and Scorp.
Regarding launch day stock there were still plenty of Legendary Free Ranger and Legendary LightCore Grim Creeper...LightCore Smolderdash was fittingly still very hard to locate.
Other Notes
Couple of glaring issues here...
First, with the release of standard, non-LightCore Star Strike the "Walmart Exclusive" Magic Triple Pack is pretty much dead in its tracks to anyone that gets the game near or around launch. It would be far more cost effective to pick up TP 1 and TP 2, then snag a Single of Star Strike than it would to buy the Magic Triple Pack and then have to snag 4 other singles...
I think it is still neat and will appeal to many, particularly those at Walmart and who are perhaps new to the series, or just really big fans of Spyro and Pop Fizz. For hard core collectors and even casual collectors, you are probably going to find more cost effective ways around that pack. Naturally, it will still sell to "completionists," but that is another story.
Knockout Terrafin really surprised me in Single Pack form. Had this been a LightCore Bumble Blast I would have been surprised but not nearly as much. With Giants, the Battle Pack Characters remained tied to that pack to encourage sales as opposed to offering folks with an option to forego that BP right off the bat, in particularly this early.
Scorp is also a big surprise. Given Slober Tooth's appearance in Single, Triple, and Dark Edition Packs it is hard to have envisioned Scorp launching this side of January. His release makes me wonder if we might wind up having to wait awhile for the Earth SWAP Force Characters...Of similar interest, Air, Fire, and Undead already have all their SWAPPERS on shelves. It also seems we will see them in groups of 4, unless they scale back with smaller waves.
Your Thoughts
Did you see this coming? Are you glad they were released early, or would you have preferred a bit down the road? Which characters from this grouping are you most excited about? Are you enjoying SWAP Force thus far?
Good luck and happy hunting!
If you missed the news, now you know. Here is a video highlighting that news and showcasing the Skylanders I was able to track down:
Part 2: Night Shift and Knockout Terrafin
Part 3: Finally--Fire Kracken
Here is a complete list for what we can tentatively refer to as "Wave 2," although I personally like 1.1, but that is a bit technical.
Skylanders SWAP Force
-Boom Jet
-Fire Kracken
-Grilla Drilla
-Night Shift
Skylanders SWAP Force Series 3
-Anchors Away Gill Grunt
-Big Blast Trigger Happy
-Knockout Terrafin (Single Pack, not tied to Fiery Forge Battle Pack)
-Twin Blade Chop Chop
Skylanders SWAP Force Triple Packs
-Triple Pack #3: Heavy Duty Sprocket, Twin Blade Chop Chop, Scorp
-Triple Pack #4: Big Bang Trigger Happy, Star Strike, Anchors Away Gill Grunt
Stock Notes
Obviously, since I don't have Fire Kracken or Night Shift we can assume they were either more popular, arrived in lesser quantities, or some combo of the two. I got the last Boom Jet in the house, and after I snagged Grilla Drilla there were only three left.
Star Strike was really hard to find...I am lucky I located her.
If I had to pick out two more that were "harder to find" it would be Knockout Terrafin and Twin Blade Chop Chop. Seemed to be plenty of Trigger Happy, Gill Grunt, Sprocket, Riptide, and Scorp.
Regarding launch day stock there were still plenty of Legendary Free Ranger and Legendary LightCore Grim Creeper...LightCore Smolderdash was fittingly still very hard to locate.
Other Notes
Couple of glaring issues here...
First, with the release of standard, non-LightCore Star Strike the "Walmart Exclusive" Magic Triple Pack is pretty much dead in its tracks to anyone that gets the game near or around launch. It would be far more cost effective to pick up TP 1 and TP 2, then snag a Single of Star Strike than it would to buy the Magic Triple Pack and then have to snag 4 other singles...
I think it is still neat and will appeal to many, particularly those at Walmart and who are perhaps new to the series, or just really big fans of Spyro and Pop Fizz. For hard core collectors and even casual collectors, you are probably going to find more cost effective ways around that pack. Naturally, it will still sell to "completionists," but that is another story.
Knockout Terrafin really surprised me in Single Pack form. Had this been a LightCore Bumble Blast I would have been surprised but not nearly as much. With Giants, the Battle Pack Characters remained tied to that pack to encourage sales as opposed to offering folks with an option to forego that BP right off the bat, in particularly this early.
Scorp is also a big surprise. Given Slober Tooth's appearance in Single, Triple, and Dark Edition Packs it is hard to have envisioned Scorp launching this side of January. His release makes me wonder if we might wind up having to wait awhile for the Earth SWAP Force Characters...Of similar interest, Air, Fire, and Undead already have all their SWAPPERS on shelves. It also seems we will see them in groups of 4, unless they scale back with smaller waves.
Your Thoughts
Did you see this coming? Are you glad they were released early, or would you have preferred a bit down the road? Which characters from this grouping are you most excited about? Are you enjoying SWAP Force thus far?
Good luck and happy hunting!
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Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Legendary Free Ranger
What: Toys'R'Us Exclusive Legendary Free Ranger, Air Element, SWAP Force, Spin
Where Did You Get It: Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost: $16.99 plus tax
What Was Stock Like: Very well stocked!
Legendary Free Ranger
Air Element, SWAP Force, Spin
Slogan: "Whip Up a Storm!"
Card Stats:
Power: 115/200
Armor:150/200
Agility: 110/200
Luck: 100/200
Totals: 475/800
Card Stats vs Free Ranger
Where Did You Get It: Toys'R'Us
What Did It Cost: $16.99 plus tax
What Was Stock Like: Very well stocked!
Unboxing TRU Exclusive Legendary Free Ranger
Legendary Free Ranger
Air Element, SWAP Force, Spin
Slogan: "Whip Up a Storm!"
Card Stats:
Power: 115/200
Armor:150/200
Agility: 110/200
Luck: 100/200
Totals: 475/800
Card Stats vs Free Ranger
Agility: 105:110, +5 Legendary
Luck: 90:100, +10 Legendary
Overall: 460:475, +15 Legendary
Luck: 90:100, +10 Legendary
Overall: 460:475, +15 Legendary
Monday, October 14, 2013
Skylanders SWAP Force Unboxing Enchanted Hoot Loop, Walmart Exclusive
What: Enchanted Hoot Loop, Walmart Exclusive Magic Element, SWAP Force, Teleport
Where Did You Get It: Walmart...somehow
What Did It Cost: EHL was only $14.96 plus tax, the time investment was greater
What Was Stock Like: The employees sure didn't know
Where Did You Get It: Walmart...somehow
What Did It Cost: EHL was only $14.96 plus tax, the time investment was greater
What Was Stock Like: The employees sure didn't know
The least enchanting thing about Hoot Loop was was the experience getting him. I cover it in pretty good detail in the video, but it was bad. The first Walmart I went in (remember, most of you were out at midnight picking stuff off pegs and going through boxes), had nothing. Well, I say nothing, they did have a little shelf top display, and I mean a literal sign...No signs of anything SWAP Force, it was all Giants.
So did they sell out, or screw up? I called this a few days prior in a video that I figured my local Walmarts would utterly botch this and I was 100% correct. In fact, I think I underestimated how bad they would be...
This is nothing new in my area...it actually continues a trend of horrible experiences with the store. Again, I have no personal qualms with their lower prices, but if you want to run a giant retail store you need to hire competent employees, or at least have someone to train them to get headed that direction. Now this has nothing to do with someone not know who Enchanted Hoot Loop is, or not knowing when Trap Shadow will release, this is basic stuff.
If this was a game I could say Walmart didn't show up to play...However, I don't think they were in the stadium. In fact, they weren't even trying to get tickets to attend the game they were to play in...They were at home, asleep, oblivious to their commitments. And I fully expected that.
After a long time, and three stores, I found one that had one center aisle display out and an employee who told me anything not there would be in a box behind the counter. Luckily, that was the case and I grabbed 2 EHLs to come home.
Despite the ordeal to acquire EHL, I remain just as excited for him as I do regular Hoot Loop. He looks like a great character with Double Trouble like beam powers, hypnotic abilities, and some really neat teleportation abilities!
Enchanted Hoot Loop
Magic Element, SWAP Force, SWAP Power: Teleport
Slogan: "Let's Ruffle Some Feathers!"
Card Stats:
-Power: 100/200
-Armor: 100/200
-Agility: 60/200
-Luck: 200/200
-Totals: 460/800
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
All Skylanders SWAP Force Characters Revealed! Artwork, Figures, Screenshots, and Videos
Information overload on epic reveal of content!
Today, @SkylandersGame revealed they had updated the website with ALL the SWAP Force Characters...I don't just mean your 16 SWAP Force, I'm talking EVERYONE.
Not only are they all listed, but they are sorted by several factors: Game, Series 2, Series 3, Giants, Element, LightCore, SWAP Force, etc. It is very convenient and super slick!
Furthermore, we get really nice artwork for each character, their background story, screenshots, and even their preview videos! It truly answers almost any character related question...Note that savy users have also noticed you'll see "Alt Deco" listed out on a few individual characters...these are for the "variants" if you will.
I can't even begin to explain it well at 4:36 AM, but it is guaranteed to keep you busy for a few hours if you try to take it all in...
If you are up for it, here is the link:
http://www.skylanders.com/characters#fire/all
Please note that you can use the top navigational bar to sort the characters however you would like...I have this link routing you to "ALL" of the "FIRE" Element Skylanders. If you just go across and select another element, it will remain as "ALL" and show you everything from the earliest of SSA on up thru the latest and greatest of SWAP Force.
The following showcases a few Screen Caps I took...Note that some characters are not named, and a few are still in the wrong places (ie Super Gulp Pop Fizz classified as a Series 3). Nonetheless, take the link above and you have a treasure trove of information!
Here is a tentative list of Day 1 Releases (I will update this as time allows, I know some are missing, including the Starter Pack Characters etc.):
SWAP Force Single Pack:
-Free Ranger
-Hoot Loop
-Magna Charge
-Rattle Shake
SWAP Force Newlanders (Series 1, New Characters)
-Countdown
-Roller Brawl
-Slobber Tooth
-Zoo Lou
SWAP Force LightCore Skylanders:
-Flashwing
-Grim Creeper
Smolderdash
-Star Strike
-Warnado
SWAP Force, Series 2:
-Blizzard Chill
-Super Gulp Pop Fizz
SWAP Force, Series 3:
-Mega Ram Spyro
-Lava Barf Eruptor
SWAP Force Triple Packs:
Triple Pack 1: Lava Barf Eruptor, Slobber Tooth, Super Gulp Pop Fizz
Triple Pack 2: Mega Ram Spyro, Blizzard Chill, Zoo Lou
Today, @SkylandersGame revealed they had updated the website with ALL the SWAP Force Characters...I don't just mean your 16 SWAP Force, I'm talking EVERYONE.
Not only are they all listed, but they are sorted by several factors: Game, Series 2, Series 3, Giants, Element, LightCore, SWAP Force, etc. It is very convenient and super slick!
Furthermore, we get really nice artwork for each character, their background story, screenshots, and even their preview videos! It truly answers almost any character related question...Note that savy users have also noticed you'll see "Alt Deco" listed out on a few individual characters...these are for the "variants" if you will.
I can't even begin to explain it well at 4:36 AM, but it is guaranteed to keep you busy for a few hours if you try to take it all in...
If you are up for it, here is the link:
http://www.skylanders.com/characters#fire/all
Please note that you can use the top navigational bar to sort the characters however you would like...I have this link routing you to "ALL" of the "FIRE" Element Skylanders. If you just go across and select another element, it will remain as "ALL" and show you everything from the earliest of SSA on up thru the latest and greatest of SWAP Force.
The following showcases a few Screen Caps I took...Note that some characters are not named, and a few are still in the wrong places (ie Super Gulp Pop Fizz classified as a Series 3). Nonetheless, take the link above and you have a treasure trove of information!
SWAP Force
LightCore
Series 2
Series 3
Air Element
Earth Element
Fire Element
Life Element
Magic Element
Tech Element
Undead Element
Water Element
Here is a tentative list of Day 1 Releases (I will update this as time allows, I know some are missing, including the Starter Pack Characters etc.):
SWAP Force Single Pack:
-Free Ranger
-Hoot Loop
-Magna Charge
-Rattle Shake
SWAP Force Newlanders (Series 1, New Characters)
-Countdown
-Roller Brawl
-Slobber Tooth
-Zoo Lou
SWAP Force LightCore Skylanders:
-Flashwing
-Grim Creeper
Smolderdash
-Star Strike
-Warnado
SWAP Force, Series 2:
-Blizzard Chill
-Super Gulp Pop Fizz
SWAP Force, Series 3:
-Mega Ram Spyro
-Lava Barf Eruptor
SWAP Force Triple Packs:
Triple Pack 1: Lava Barf Eruptor, Slobber Tooth, Super Gulp Pop Fizz
Triple Pack 2: Mega Ram Spyro, Blizzard Chill, Zoo Lou
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