[quote name='JaylisJayP']
I have not played the game, but I have researched youtube videos for reviews and gameplay to see if it's something I'd want to play, and the game looks pretty but also looks like it plays very simplistically. Which is cool, obviously targeted to a younger demographic. Kung Fu Panda, etc..., all targeted to a younger demographic.
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For a hardcore gamer to play solo, this won't be the game for them*. The magic is really in playing co-op with your child(ren). I have a 5 and 7 year old, both girls. They can't get enough of this game. Up until now they've enjoyed the Marios, Kirby's, Cooking Mama, and LEGO games of the world, but this is the first one where they are "going deeper" into it. By that I mean, they are looking at the stat cards, comparing Skylanders to see who is best for which section, looking at the hats to beef up the characters, etc. They're even getting into the leveling up and buying new abilities. It's really the first time they've gotten into a game that has more than a surface-level enjoyment.
What's also cool is you can take those figures and plug the portal into your PC and play online games as well. I haven't messed with that beyond importing Spyro yet. It also stores these stats in the figure itself just like the main game. Pretty cool, IMO.
Yes it's a craze, but there is quite a bit of content you get for your $8 figure, especially compared to other toys in the same price range(the aforementioned Barbies and SW figs). Hell, you can't even get a decent LEGO set for that price. The problem is, as some are reporting, will your child keep playing AFTER they have finished the game? My kids love hitting up the first 2-3 levels just to play with the different characters, so I don't have that problem.
*although I admit, I've played a tiny bit after the kiddos are in bed because I was close to leveling up a character, or to make a speed run on a level. There's enough there for a core gamer to fill in the gaps of their child's game(like speed runs), but I doubt there is enough there to enjoy the whole game solo.