SKYLANDERS IMAGINATORS
Admit it. Whether you’re four, 24 or 94, everyone’s a big kid at heart. The success of toys-to-life titles such as Lego Dimensions and the late Disney Infinity (RIP) exemplifies this, but none more so than the one that started it all: Skylanders. The series’ sixth instalment introduces custom character creation… but let’s get real. There’s only one character we PlayStation fans’ inner child really cares about here, and his name is Crash Bandicoot. Grab the Crash Edition Starter Pack, pop the figure on the Portal Of Power, and you’ll play as the orange icon himself (science nerd baddie Dr Neo Cortex is also included). Sadly, his voice is cringey babytalk, like he’s been stung on the tongue by a bee and then dropped on his head. Combat featuring the marsupial’s classic moves – spin attacks, body slams and TNT crate-chucking – in the 3D platforming adventure more than makes up for it. There’s even an exclusive Crashthemed level. Thumpin’ Wumpa Island drops you into a dead ringer for the original Crash Bandicoot’s first level, N. Sanity Beach. If that isn’t enough nostalgia to melt your (metaphorical) jorts off, the next hour’s a near-perfect homage to classic ’coot.
BOULDER DASH
Wumpa fruit sound effects, rolling boulders and bounce crates galore pepper the funky jungle. Creative musical puzzles and a “bullet hell” arcade level for Cortex are some highlights leading up to a stand-out boss fight: a dancefloor duel versus long-time, buck-toothed nemesis Fake Crash. He’s one of the only phoney things in a genuinely great game.
Elsewhere the custom Skylander creator proves to be a surprisingly deep tool, offering a robust smorgasbord of options that’ll keep kids busy for hours. You can tinker with names, voices, body parts (and their colours) plus catchphrases, although your chosen Battle class is a permanent fixture. Your own Frankenstein’s monster is brought to life by the Creation Crystal toy, and further jazzed up by the fun creation pieces or stat-improving gear in Imaginite chests. They’re found at the end of levels, in secret areas… and in a prominent microtransactions store. *sigh*
Yes, Imaginators is still toying with wallets. Figureshaped paywalls lock off many areas, and the new Portal’s lack of Traptanium Shard hole is a bit of a snub to Trap Team fans. Yet slick brawling, charming visual design, vibrant set-pieces and that glittering guest star mean it’s still well worth crashing this kids’ party.
VERDICT
“WUMPA FRUIT SOUND EFFECTS, ROLLING ROCKS AND BOUNCE CRATES GALORE.”
Creative additions to the series’ solid adventure formula mean it’s a must-have for kids. Adults: nick the controller, play that Crash level and dream about the upcoming game… Jen Simpkins