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Skylanders SWAP Force

SCORE: 83

I am so glad that Activision listened to Family Friendly Gaming. We pointed out that the hand held version of Skylanders needed to be different from the home console version. Last year they did that. We then said Skylanders needed completely separate starter pack characters from the Nintendo 3DS version to the home console version. Skylanders SWAP Force does that.

If your family likes to play Skylanders SWAP Force on the home console and Nintendo 3DS then you will be playing with six different Skylanders. Two of them are SWAP Force, and one is a new version of an older Skylanders character. But six different characters.

Like the 3DS version of Skylanders Giants, Skylanders SWAP Force has a completely different storyline. A completely different villain with a completely different story. Skylanders SWAP Force on the 3DS is not as funny as the home console version, but it still has its moments. Especially at the beginning of this hand held game.

The 3D in Skylanders SWAP Force looks good. We complete hack and slash attacks on the enemies, solve puzzles, and work on mini games. Bottom and top types are selectable in the Nintendo 3DS. In fact I could swap around versions of characters that I did not currently have on me. I did need to go to the portal in town to save it to the Skylanders characters.

Players get to upload two characters at a time in Skylanders SWAP Force. What is really cool is how this game remembers past uploads. Swapping characters is simple in Skylanders SWAP Force. Use the touch screen to select the character. It is not possible to switch between your uploaded characters in a level though. Players have to go back to town to bring in anyone new.

The music in Skylanders SWAP Force is pleasant, and the mainline graphics are okay. I like the look of things on the bottom screen way more than the top screen personally. The story in Skylanders SWAP Force on the 3DS is shorter than the home console version. But it has been that way for years. There are reasons to replay levels if you want to complete all the side quests.

All in all Skylanders SWAP Force is a solid hack and slash game that gives families the Skylanders experience on the go. In some ways I like the hand held version of Skylanders SWAP Force better than the home console version. Maybe that is just me though.
- Paul

Graphics: 76%
Sound: 84%
Replay/Extras: 90%
Gameplay: 90%
Family Friendly Factor: 74%

System: Nintendo 3DS
Publisher: Activision
Rating: ‘E10+’ - Everyone 10+
{Cartoon Violence}
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