Impressions so far:
• So far this feels like a better version of Giants (my least favorite in the series) with a nice twist with the villains (which I thought was a stupid gimmick, but am ending up LOVING).
• Villains- Again, the real highlight of the game...I do like that you really don't need traps for EVERY villain...just for each element. One thing that I found out is that the evolution of the villains is tied to a specific trap, which may be a benefit of having a single trap for a specific villain.
• Villain redemption Missions- All over the map...from really fun little challenge levels, to redemptions that just involve talking to someone. Nice idea though.
• Character design- I really think these are some of the nicest character designs so far in the series...and like that there will be more female characters this time around.
• Minis- I prefer this over another repose...though they aren't really "essential" and play similarly to their larger versions.
• Elemental Gates- HATE that they made it so that only Trapmasters can open these gates. Almost feels like last minute Activision told them they had to make sure trap masters would sell and told them to make the gates only openable by trap masters.
• New Skystones- Not bad...essentially a combo of old sky stones and Magic: The Gathering...
• Rhythm Mini Game- meh. it's fine a couple times, but get's old extremely quickly.
• Kaos- Wave-based tower challenge mini-game. Nice way to level up characters. Mix of old arenas with tower protection. Like it just fine so far.
• Arenas- Haven't played a ton, but they play very similarly to previous games.
• Trapmasters- they may as well be slightly faster giants without lights, and instead transparent plastic weapons. Most of them are pretty slow, and ridiculously overpowered.
• Old Skylanders- I am of two thoughts on this. It's nice that they clearly made this game with the new skylanders very much in mind. However, the subtle paywalls in the game with elemental gates only opening for Trapmasters is very annoying (and costly). The old figures work just fine in this game, but there is no "reward" really for using them. Still, it's nice to have a toy game where you can continue use ANY toy in the game, and not just in a specific level or world (looking at you, Infinity).
• Graphics- I have it on the PS4 and it's gorgeous...
• Controls- Not as tight as Swapforce...just overall doesn't feel quite as finessed as Swap force was.
• Cost- Continues to be a costly game. If you are the fence, I say wait for inevitable sales, or craigslist deals. Patience can make this game MUCH cheaper. All that being said, you don't actually have to have many characters to complete the main game.
Overall, Trap Team is fantastic so far...but, I think Swapforce is a better game. I think I just like Vicarious Visions better as a developer. Still, Trap Team is a great, beautifully colorful, fun game...and one of the few out there that a whole family could play and enjoy. I've said it before, but unless you REALLLLLLLY love the toy box mode in DI, Skylanders is far and away the better game. I'd love to see them next year focus on an bigger/better story mode and/or a secondary game to use your figs in (imagine a Skylanders Kart- where you could use any and all figures)...and less on a gimmick (as much fun as the villain one turned out to be).
