Skylanders: SuperChargers | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Vicarious Visions Beenox [lower-alpha 1] |
Publisher(s) | Activision |
Director(s) | Brent Gibson |
Producer(s) | Dawn Pinkney |
Designer(s) | Jeremy Russo |
Programmer(s) | Thomas Gawrys |
Artist(s) | Barclay Chantel Lee Harker |
Composer(s) | Lorne Balfe |
Series | Skylanders |
Engine | Vicarious Visions Alchemy |
Platform(s) | iOS PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 Wii U Wii Xbox 360 Xbox One Nintendo 3DS |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Toys-to-life, role-playing, platform, racing |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Skylanders: SuperChargers is a role-playing platform video game and the fifth installment of the Skylanders series. It was developed by Vicarious Visions and Beenox and published by Activision. It was released on September 20, 2015, for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and was released on October 25, 2015, for iOS. Skylanders: SuperChargers Racing was released as a standalone title for Wii and the Nintendo 3DS on the same date, and focuses on racing. A sequel, Skylanders: Imaginators , was released in October 2016.
Like its predecessors, Skylanders: SuperChargers is a "toy-to-life" video game in which players place toy figurines on the "Portal of Power", allowing them to play as the represented character in-game. The game introduces a redesigned "Portal of Power" with a larger and wider surface to accommodate vehicles, which are larger than typical characters. [1] SuperChargers introduces vehicles, which are divided into three classes; land, sea, and sky. Ground vehicles and water vehicles allow players to race on land or underwater on several different tracks, while the sky vehicles can be accelerated and decelerated and feature an "autopilot system" that can automatically guide players to their destination.
Each track is filled with obstacles, which players must evade, and have alternate routes which can help them reach the finish line faster. Players must defeat a boss before they reach the finish line and must solve a puzzle before they proceed. [4] Players can also collect parts for vehicles to upgrade them through a customization screen that automatically opens up after collecting a part. The player can also purchase mods to upgrade the vehicle using "Gearbits", which can be earned through completing missions and stages. Each character has their own matching vehicles, and using the correct combination causes the character to enter a "Supercharged" state, which grants the vehicle additional abilities. [4] The 117 characters introduced in the series since Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure are still playable in SuperChargers, but the game only includes 20 new figurines, due to the inclusion of vehicles. Returning characters, such as Stealth Elf and Trigger Happy, are reimagined with new abilities and upgrade trees. [5] Additionally, the Nintendo versions feature guest appearances from Donkey Kong and Bowser of the Mario franchise, with their figures doubling as Amiibo figures for other games.
The game can also be played cooperatively with another player. Only one vehicle can be used, with one player driving while the other one defends against threats. [6]
The Skystones minigame returns, with traps collected in Skylanders: Trap Team adding a unique Skystone to play. As per previous iterations, a Starter Pack including a portal is available in shops, but consumers can download the title at a cheaper price and use their existing portal from Skylanders: Trap Team. [7]
Skylanders: SuperChargers introduces twenty matching pairs of vehicles and SuperChargers, as well as variant figures of Skylanders and vehicles. There are also trophies that allow the players to race as villains, which come in racing action packs. A Kaos trophy is included in the dark edition of the game's starter pack. The Wii, Wii U, and 3DS versions feature Bowser and Donkey Kong as playable characters, who are playable in the Wii U and Switch versions of Skylanders: Imaginators .
Kaos tells the player, the "Portal Master", that he has captured Master Eon, Flynn, Cali, and Hugo and gained control of the portals, allowing him to sever their connection to the Skylands. However, Hugo manages to get through to the Portal Master and restore their portal connection. The Skylanders infiltrate Count Moneybone's transport ship and free Cali, Flynn, and Hugo, who tell them that there are other prisoners who must be freed. After escaping, Flynn, Cali, and Hugo see a contraption that is "eating the sky" and receive a message from Eon, informing them that he has been captured and Kaos has used the Darkness to construct the Sky Eater. To combat it, a special team of Skylanders called the SuperChargers are assembled, who ride special rift engines utilizing the portal technology.
At Motley Meadows, the Skylanders find that the Sky Eater is attacking and must rescue the inhabitants. After gaining control of the lead ship and rescuing the prisoners, they return to Skylanders Academy. The Skylanders then head to the Cloudscraper Mountains to seek out the Cloudbreather Dragon, who can track anything or anyone's location, but Kaos' forces have taken over and attempt to kidnap the Dragon. However, the Superchargers stop them. and the Cloudbreather Dragon tells them that Eon is currently trapped in the Land of the Undead. To get there, they must upgrade the Rift Engines using the Thunderous Bolt from Cloud Kingdom. Upon arrival, Lord Stratosfear has taken over, but the Skylanders take down his transport ships and defeat him, allowing them to obtain the Bolts.
As they fight their way through the prison and free prisoners, Count Moneybone is defeated and Eon is freed. Kaos learns of this, but before he can act, the Darkness becomes sentient and begins guiding him. Eon tells the Superchargers they must defeat the Darkness by learning how the Ancients previously defeated it; however, the only record of this is in the Spell Punk Library, which only a Spell Punk can navigate. The Superchargers then head to the Spell Punk Library, where they learn that a super-powerful Rift Engine called "The Dark Rift Engine" let The Darkness into Skylands, and that the Core of Light was previously developed as a weapon against it but was never completed. They decide to seek out author Pomfrey Le Fuzzbottom to learn how to complete the Core of Light.
At the Sky Eater, the Darkness convinces Kaos to rule over the universe, not just Skylands. Although Glumshanks tries to talk Kaos out of it, the Darkness convinces him to fire Glumshanks, and he flees to Skylanders Academy. The Superchargers head to Gladfly Glades and meet Fuzzbottom, who tells them that the last part of the Core of Light is the Eye of the Ancients, which is currently being held by a Lobster Titan, and the only way to match its power is to use the Kolossal Kernel, which is in the possession of Cap'n Cluck. The Superchargers defeat Cluck and use the Kolossal Kernel to defeat the Lobster Titan, gaining the Eye of the Ancients.
Mags then completes the Core of Light, but the Darkness warns Kaos of this and he attacks Skylanders Academy; in the process, the Core of Light is destroyed and Glumshanks seemingly sacrifices himself so the Superchargers can escape, but is later revealed to be alive. Eon proposes that the Superchargers use the Dark Rift Engine to stop the Darkness, and Glumshanks tells them that it is likely located at the Vault of the Ancients.
When they return, Sky Pirates attack and kidnap Mags, intending to use her to escape the collapsing Skylands. Meanwhile, Kaos realizes that he no longer wants to destroy the Skylands, as this would ruin his dream of ruling it. He confronts the Darkness about this, but after it threatens to take away his powers, he opens a Mega Rift to destroy all of Skylands.
The Superchargers, Flynn, Cali, and Glumshanks attack the Sky Eater and reach Kaos' throne room, where he attacks them with the full power of the Darkness but is defeated. Afterwards, he gets fed up with the Darkness telling him what to do and escapes with the Superchargers and their allies. The Darkness then re-opens the Rift and dons the Sky Eater's remains as armor, but is ultimately defeated. Kaos then joins the Academy as a consultant until he can regain his powers.
A new Skylanders video game was confirmed by publisher Activision on February 5, 2015. [8] The inclusion of vehicles and the game's title was leaked on May 26, 2015, [9] ahead of its official reveal on June 3, 2015. [10]
The racing elements of the full game were developed by Beenox. [11] The Nintendo 3DS and Wii versions only feature this racing portion, [12] because porting the full current-generation game was considered "a big challenge" and game director Maxime Montcalm said that "nobody could do it". The adventure mode shows all of Skylands compete in a Grand Prix sponsored by Pandergast for the Snow Globe of Destiny which will grant the winner one wish. [13] SuperChargers Racing is the final Skylanders installment to be released on the Wii and Nintendo 3DS.
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | WIIU: 87/100 [14] PS4: 81/100 [15] XONE: 76/100 [16] iOS: 88/100 [17] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
Destructoid | 8.5/10 [18] |
Game Informer | 6.5/10 [19] |
GameRevolution | 8/10 [20] |
GameSpot | 8/10 [21] |
GamesRadar+ | [22] |
Hardcore Gamer | 4/5 [23] |
IGN | 8/10 [24] |
Nintendo Life | [25] |
Nintendo World Report | 9/10 [26] |
Pocket Gamer | iOS: [27] |
Polygon | 8.5/10 [28] |
Shacknews | 7/10 [29] |
The Guardian | [30] |
TouchArcade | iOS: [31] |
USgamer | 4/5 [32] |
VentureBeat | 80/100 [33] |
VideoGamer.com | 7/10 [34] |
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2022) |
Skylanders: SuperChargers received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic. [14] [15] [16] [17] Despite its positive reception, Activision reported in February 2016 that the game did not meet sales expectations. [35]
List of awards and nominations | |||
---|---|---|---|
Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
The Game Awards 2015 | Best Family Game | Nominated | [36] |
2016 Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Video Game | Nominated | [37] |
Super Smash Bros. is a crossover platform fighting game series published by Nintendo. The series was created by Masahiro Sakurai, who has directed every game in the series. The series is known for its unique gameplay objective which differs from that of traditional fighters, in that the aim is to increase damage counters and knock opponents off the stage instead of depleting life bars.
The Virtual Console is a defunct line of downloadable video games for Nintendo's Wii and Wii U home video game consoles and the Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
Crash Bandicoot is a video game franchise originally developed by Naughty Dog as an exclusive for Sony's PlayStation console. It has seen numerous installments created by various developers and published on multiple platforms. The series consists predominantly of platform games, but also includes spin-offs in the kart racing and party game genres. The series was originally produced by Universal Interactive, which later became known as Vivendi Games; in 2008, Vivendi merged with Activision, which currently owns and publishes the franchise.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon is a video game series spin-off from the main Pokémon series developed by Spike Chunsoft. The games feature the fictional creatures called Pokémon who have the ability to speak human language navigating through a randomly generated dungeon using turn-based moves, common to Mystery Dungeon games. As of March 2020, there have been eleven games across five platforms, as well as several manga adaptations and animated specials.
Pilotwings Resort is a flight simulation video game for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console, developed by Monster Games and published by Nintendo. It is a sequel to the 1990 Super NES video game Pilotwings and the 1996 Nintendo 64 game Pilotwings 64 as well as a spinoff of the 2009 Wii game Wii Sports Resort. Similarly to its predecessors, it was confirmed as a launch title in North America and Europe for the 3DS. In Japan, Australia and New Zealand, it was released on April 14, 2011.
Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure is a 3D action-adventure platform game and the first video game in the Skylanders series. It is played using with toy figures that interact with it through a "Portal of Power" that reads their tag through NFC.
The Nintendo eShop is a digital distribution service for the Nintendo Switch, and formerly available via the Nintendo Network for the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS. The Nintendo eShop was first launched in June 2011 on the Nintendo 3DS via a system update that added the functionality to the HOME Menu. It is the successor to both the Wii Shop Channel and DSi Shop. Unlike on the Nintendo 3DS, the eShop was made available on the launch date of the Wii U, although a system update is required in order to access it. It is also a multitasking application, which means it is easily accessible even when a game is already running in the background through the system software, though this feature is exclusive to the Wii U and the Nintendo Switch. The Nintendo eShop features downloadable games, demos, applications, streaming videos, consumer rating feedback, and other information on upcoming game releases.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, both commonly referred to together as Super Smash Bros. 4, are 2014 crossover platform fighter video games developed by Bandai Namco Studios and Sora Ltd. and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U video game consoles. It is the fourth installment in the Super Smash Bros. series, succeeding Super Smash Bros. Brawl. The Nintendo 3DS version was released in Japan on September 13, 2014, and in North America, Europe, and Australia the following month. The Wii U version was released in North America, Europe, and Australia in November 2014 and in Japan the following month.
Skylanders is a toys-to-life action-adventure video game franchise published by Activision. Skylanders games are played by placing a character's figure on the "Portal of Power", a device that reads its tag using NFC and "imports" them into the game as a playable character, leveling them up and saving its progress on the figure to potentially be used on a different game with its saved stats. Skylander figures are sold separately from the game itself unless you buy the starter pack. Typically, the starter pack for each game contains two or more Skylanders, a Portal of Power, the game disc and sometimes something else to show off the game's newest feature.
Pushmo is a downloadable puzzle game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for its Nintendo 3DS handheld system, available on the Nintendo eShop. In the game, players must shift around puzzle blocks in order to create steps and platforms, ultimately to reach children who have been trapped within the giant structures. A sequel, Crashmo, was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2012. A third game, Pushmo World, was released for Wii U on June 19, 2014. A fourth game, Stretchmo, was released for Nintendo 3DS in May 2015.
Skylanders: Giants is a 2012 video game in the Skylanders series and a direct sequel to the 2011 game Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure. It features the voices of Kevin Michael Richardson, Greg Ellis, Peter Lurie, Steve Blum, Dave Wittenberg, Carlos Alazraqui, Kevin Sorbo, Bobcat Goldthwait, Patrick Seitz and Julie Nathanson. As the title suggests, it features larger Skylanders known as "Giants", along with other new gameplay mechanics. 16 new Skylanders were introduced, including 8 "Giants": Bouncer, Crusher, Eye-Brawl, Hot Head, Ninjini, Swarm, Thumpback, and Tree Rex.
The Amazing Spider-Man is an open world video game based on the Marvel Comics character Spider-Man and the 2012 film of the same name. It was developed by Beenox and published by Activision. It was released on June 26 in North America and on June 29, 2012 in Europe for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Android, iOS, and Microsoft Windows. A version for the Wii U was released in March 2013 in North America and Europe known as The Amazing Spider-Man: Ultimate Edition in both regions. A PlayStation Vita version was released in November 2013. A sequel, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, was released in April 2014, itself based on the film.
Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is a platform game developed by WayForward Technologies for the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U. It is the third game in the Shantae series, following Shantae: Risky's Revenge, and the first to be developed for a home console. It was released in North America on the 3DS eShop on October 23, 2014 and on the Wii U eShop on December 25, 2014, and in PAL regions on both platforms on February 5, 2015. The game was later ported to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Amazon Fire TV, Nintendo Switch, and Amazon Luna. The game follows the adventures of the eponymous half-genie Shantae as she once again has to save Sequin Land from a new foe, the Pirate Master, with help from her nemesis Risky Boots.
Skylanders: Swap Force is a 2013 platform game developed by Vicarious Visions and Beenox and published by Activision. It is the third main game in the Skylanders video game and toy franchise, following 2012's Skylanders: Giants, which was a direct sequel to 2011's Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure.
Skylanders: Trap Team is a 2014 3D platform game developed by Toys for Bob and Beenox and published by Activision. It is the fourth installment in the Skylanders video game franchise and was released on October 2, 2014, in Australasia, October 5, 2014 in North America, and October 10, 2014, in Europe, for release on Android and iOS mobile platforms, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Nintendo 3DS. It is the sequel to Skylanders: Swap Force, and features the voices of Fred Tatasciore, Billy West, John DiMaggio, Matthew Moy, Laura Bailey, Alex Ness, John Paul Karliak, Matthew Yang King, and Richard Horvitz.
Super Mario Maker is a 2015 platform game and game creation system developed and published by Nintendo for the Wii U, released worldwide in September 2015. Players could create, play, and share courses online, free of charge, based on the styles of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U. The game was revealed as the final challenge of Nintendo World Championships 2015.
Amiibo is a toys-to-life platform by Nintendo, which was launched in November 2014. It consists of a wireless communications and storage protocol for connecting figurines to the Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch video game consoles. These figurines are similar in form and functionality to that of the Skylanders, Disney Infinity and Lego Dimensions series of toys-to-life platforms. The Amiibo platform was preannounced to potentially accommodate any form of toy, specifically including general plans for future card games. Amiibo use near field communication (NFC) to interact with supported video game software, potentially allowing data to be transferred in and out of games and across multiple platforms.
Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon is a roguelike video game in the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series developed by Spike Chunsoft and published by The Pokémon Company and Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS handheld game console. Like its predecessors, players control a human who has awoken as a Pokémon in a world filled entirely by Pokémon and must travel through dungeons, completing missions and battling enemies. The game was released in Japan on September 17, 2015; in North America on November 20, 2015; in Europe on February 19, 2016; and in Australia on February 20, 2016;
Skylanders: Imaginators is a 2016 toys-to-life 3D platform game developed by Toys for Bob and published by Activision. It is the sixth installment of the Skylanders series, a successor to Skylanders: SuperChargers, and was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. It allows players to create their own characters, known as Imaginators. The game received generally positive reviews, but its sales were below Activision's expectations. It is the sixth and most recent Skylanders game released on consoles, as the franchise went into hiatus after its release.
Fast Racing League is a racing game developed and published by German video game developer Shin'en Multimedia and released for Wii as a WiiWare title in May 2011. It is the first installment in the Fast series. Fast Racing League has received two sequels, Fast Racing Neo and Fast RMX.