Skylanders Giants

My boys are 7, 9, and 10, and are very into video games. It makes their Dad happy because he has always loved video games as well, and it gives them a chance to bond. It makes me happy, because it teaches them to share and take turns, how to be a good sport and not a sore loser or obnoxious winner, hand – eye co-ordination, and for Aaron helps him build muscle tone. One of his therapies for PT and OT is playing certain games for the purpose of his co-ordination and poor muscle tone, and he needs the social skills as well. It’s a win-win situation. One of their cousins, my niece, LOVES Skylanders, and after being fortunate to spend some time with her at their grandparents house this summer, they came home raving about the game and begging for a copy of their own. I am cautious about new games, and like to test and preview them before I allow them to play, to ensure the content is appropriate for their level.

I was thrilled when I found out that Best Buy was offering In-Store Demos of the new Skylanders Giants game, and I could go into the store to test it out for myself and ask the employees questions about the game.

Game Synopsis:

Thousands of years ago, the Skylanders Giants fought epic battles in Skylands, but have long since been banished to Earth. Now, Kaos is back and with a new threat rising, it’s time to bring the Giants back to join forces with the Skylanders. It’s up to you to put them on the Portal of Power and unleash their strength. Are you ready for the ultimate battle to save Skylands?

Return to Skylands with this Skylanders: Giants Portal Owner’s Pack. Expand your Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure gameplay with this expansion pack that lets you return to Skylands with the Skylanders Giants and engage in the ultimate battle. Are you ready to face Kaos?

The game is available in Giants Portal Owner’s Pack and Giants Starter Pack for Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Nintendo 3DS. We happen to own all of these consoles (did I mention their Dad LOVES video games?!), so my first question was what is the difference between the two packs. It turns out that this is an expansion pack for the Giants series of games. If you already have this system, you only need the Portal Owner’s Pack, but if you are new to the game, you’ll need the Starter Pack to get started.

What I liked: The game is family friendly, and appropriate for my kids. There are different levels, so for my kids who need easier play, they can still feel challenged and a sense of accomplishment as they progress through the game. For my son who needs more of a challenge, he can breeze through the easier content and play nightmare mode, which is the more difficult level. I also loved the kind and helpful associates who explained things to me in a way that was easy for me to understand. They asked leading questions about my children and their skill levels with video games, and explained which levels, etc would be most appropriate for each child.

While I highly recommend you make the trip to your local Best Buy store to have a look at the Demo yourself, I understand it’s not available in all stores. You can check HERE (Click In-Store Demo) for availability. If it’s not available close to you, or you need a bit of a glimpse before making the trip, I’ve included a YouTube clip I found on the Skylanders YouTube page:

Disclosure: The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.