Play As a Villain? Yep, Skylanders Trap Team {Review}

Disclosure:  I received the product below to review in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.

My boys didn’t start playing video games until Skylanders Giants came out and ever since they have been hooked.  Well Skylanders is back with a new game that takes Skylanders a step further.  Skylanders Trap Team is the typical game you’d expect from the Skylanders franchise but it now features two ways to play: Bring Skylanders to Life or Trap & Play as villains!  Yes your child (and you) can play as villains now!

Skylanders continues the story line of Kaos as the bad guy in Skylands, but now he has freed the most notorious villains in Skylands.  While the last Skylanders game, Swap Force, had swappable figures, this game has Traps.  The Skylanders use Traptanium, a magic material that can harness the power of the elements, to capture the villains.  You get two Traps with this game, which you’ll definitely want to buy more Traps.  Yes that means you need to buy not only the figures but also the Traps.  You do have a new portal with this game as well which holds the traps.

Like I said with this game you two Traps, which means you can only unlock two of the Elements gates.  My boys haven’t minded it as they are still playing their characters through those areas.  I know though for Christmas they are going to want more Traps and characters.  We haven’t been able to play as a villain yet and as I read you have to have a crystal from each element to do so, we only have the two starter ones so far.

Here is our basket of all of our Skylanders so far:

Lots of traps you can buy:

Each area gives off unique items, health, points to shop with and challenges.  I admit I haven’t even had a chance to play as my kids are always playing it and when their not I am working!  The graphics though are amazing and I could watch my boys play for hours.  It makes a difference too for us because this is the first Skylanders game we have for Xbox 360, whereas the other versions we had for Nintendo Wii.  Another feature is that this new portal has a speaker on it so sounds come out of it.

So basically in the game, your character has to defeat the villain and capture them.  So thats where it gets fun because you can then later play as that bad guy.  It kinda reminds me of how the Ghostbusters trapped the ghosts.  If you don’t have the element crystal needed you can still claim them, you just can’t trap them. Basically they wait in a villain vault until you can unlock them later when you get the element.  The villains are the coolest part of the game and while he is not out yet, we can’t wait to play as Kaos.

What I like about Skylanders is there is no blood or crazy fighting.  The game has silly parts and the weapons are weapons, but they are not crazy killing weapons.  I don’t mind my kids playing it, whereas I wouldn’t let them play “R” rated fighting games.

Do I recommend this game? Yes we love it.  There is the drawback of the additional costs since your kids will want additional traps and characters but that is to be expected with the Skylanders franchise.  You will be happy to know too that all your other Skylanders will work on this portal.  They won’t be able to trap any villains but they can still play in the game.  My sons love leveling up their guys with new upgrades, and they do that with each figure.  They get so excited and I look at it too like they are learning when to spend points.  Whether you have a Skylanders addict like mine or a new player to the franchise, Trap Team is fun overall.

BUY IT:  Skylanders Trap Team Starter Pack is available for Playstation 4, XBox One, Nintendo Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo 3DS and Tablets.