{"id":2005,"date":"2014-11-16T19:36:04","date_gmt":"2014-11-16T18:36:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-skylanders-trap-team\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T21:44:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T19:44:59","slug":"review-skylanders-trap-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-skylanders-trap-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Skylanders Trap Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

This year’s edition of Skylanders presents a refined experience, offering more (purchasable) accessories than ever before, and enters an increasingly competitive game genre.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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It is accurate to state that Activision’s Skylanders<\/em><\/strong> established the toys-to-life concept within the gaming industry. The initial experience of placing a physical figure onto the USB platform connected to your console and seeing that character materialize in the game was a significant moment. The ability to interact with a Skylander within a digital world, after playing with it physically, to defeat enemies, conquer bosses, and gather rewards, creates a compelling experience. Skylanders provides a stylish and engaging creation appealing across age groups. While not particularly challenging, its design caters to children and younger players, while adults can appreciate the platforming mechanics and specialized challenges. However, the toys-to-life market is becoming increasingly saturated. Last year’s edition, Skylanders Swap Force<\/a><\/strong>, introduced an innovative combination system enabling players to combine Skylanders characters to create unique figures with mixed attributes. This year’s concept expands on that further, with a potentially higher cost.<\/p>\n

In Skylanders Trap Team<\/em><\/strong>, designated Skylanders function as trappers. These trappers possess the ability to defeat specific enemies and subsequently capture them within a virtual prison. The captured “enemies” then become playable characters. This prison is integrated into the new portal device, connected to the console, and is represented by a cell within a stone structure, complete with a steel door and integrated speaker. The speaker emits sounds from the captured villain, providing an auditory element to their “digital” imprisonment, differentiating it from a purely physical representation. The requirement to capture different villains utilizing specific “keys” or traps, corresponding to the four classic elements (water, earth, air, and life), presents a strategic element. A limitation exists in that each key can only contain one villain. Consequently, possessing two earth villains necessitates two<\/em> earth keys, unless players are willing to return to the main base between character swaps. The starter pack includes two elemental keys, alongside a water-element Trapper and a “regular” life-element Skylander. The game also incorporates challenges unlockable only with specific Skylander types or, now, specific Trapper types. The addition of a unique key per villain introduces a significant number of potential combinations. Fully unlocking all content could potentially become a considerable expense. Fortunately, previous Skylanders figures are compatible with this game, mitigating costs to some extent, though investment in new Skylander classes and keys\/traps remains necessary.<\/p>\n

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The narrative in Trap Team revolves around the return of Kaos, who this time faces off against intergalactic villains he has released from the Cloudcracker prison. Upon capturing these villains, players can control them and continue the fight against evil. Furthermore, a mission structure allows each villain to redeem themselves for their past transgressions.<\/p>\n

Skylanders: Trap Team<\/em> leverages the capabilities of current-generation consoles, resulting in enhanced visual fidelity. The Skylanders universe has always been visually appealing, and the increased processing power of platforms such as the PS4 and Xbox One enables improved lighting effects in water, refined surface textures and environments, and a more vibrant color palette. Audio and music remain consistent with previous installments, employing a humorous and light-hearted tone with a cartoon-like aesthetic suitable for a younger audience. From a technical standpoint, Trap Team exhibits a high level of polish, minimizing loading interruptions and providing a more expansive set of storylines to follow.<\/p>\n

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Regardless of prior experience with the Skylanders franchise, the game is easily accessible. New additions this year include a rhythm-based game mode and a tower defense mode where players deploy cannons to defend against enemy hordes. Depending on player age, Trap Team is best enjoyed in moderate play sessions, as the core gameplay loop can become somewhat repetitive.<\/p>\n

Skylanders excels in delivering mission-based gameplay and narrative-driven experiences. However, unlike Disney Infinity 2.0<\/a><\/strong>, the focus is not on user-generated content and open-world gameplay. A common query received is regarding the comparative merits of Disney Infinity and Skylanders. The optimal choice depends entirely on individual preferences. For players seeking creative freedom and world-building capabilities, Disney Infinity is the preferred option. Disney’s character roster, featuring iconic figures from classic films, is also a significant draw. Skylanders, conversely, provides a more cohesive and polished game narrative, offering a defined story arc, contrasting with Infinity’s shorter playsets. Therefore, the decision should be based on whether the priority is open-ended creation, akin to Minecraft<\/em>, or engaging with a structured storyline.<\/p>\n

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Skylanders: Trap Team<\/strong> delivers an engaging gaming experience, consistent with previous entries in the series, and demonstrates technical proficiency. However, the game’s monetization model verges on being overly aggressive. The starter kit’s inclusion of only two figures feels somewhat restrictive, particularly compared to the previous year’s offering of three. The game can potentially incur significant costs for the purchasing guardian. However, parental control in limiting the acquisition of every available figure (as advertised in the included poster) will allow for a fun, and accessible game for players of all ages.<\/p>\n