Skylanders Giants
Skylanders Giants is a Xbox 360 role-playing game released in 2012 developed by Toys for Bob. It centers on area exploration, combat and party setup, and character progression, with controls and information arranged around the Xbox 360 wired or wireless controller's twin sticks, analog triggers, directional pad, and face buttons.
- AI score · out of 10
- 7.8 / 10
About this game
Skylanders Giants is a Xbox 360 role-playing game centered on area exploration, combat and party setup, and character progression. Story beats, exploration, and progression resources support a longer campaign, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on length, sales, or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Characters, world building, environments, and music carry most of the atmosphere, while HD video, DVD streaming, surround audio, HDD installs, and television-distance interfaces need to keep action, state, and text readable. The genre-specific limitation is that dense text, menu layers, repeated battles, loading, or language dependence can slow progress. Platform conditions also include disc and HDD installation, storage devices, controller batteries, video connections, resolution and frame rate, Kinect space and calibration, and retired online services affect the current release. This description covers only this platform release and does not import features or conveniences from remasters, emulators, or other console editions.
Collected in series
Skylanders is a fantasy action-adventure series known for bringing physical character figures into the game through the Portal of Power. Switch heroes, battle enemies and explore Skylands using different abilities. Its main adventures combine collecting and upgrading characters with puzzles and treasure hunting.
Recommended games
Related game recommendations on this platform
Xbox 360
AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
An engaging toy-powered family adventure, with the real cost and accessory dependence worth checking first.
On Xbox 360, Skylanders Giants makes collecting figures part of the interaction rather than mere decoration. Put a toy on the USB Portal of Power and its character enters the colourful adventure; upgrades, currency and experience travel with the figure. Giants shift specific obstacles, elemental heroes access different side routes, and the simple combat works well when family members swap characters or play together. Arenas, challenges and the Skystones mini-game add worthwhile diversions beyond the story. Humorous voices and buoyant music suit the audience, even if the plot is slight and some musical phrases repeat. Its biggest qualification is cost, but the distinction matters: the starter figures can take players through the main campaign, whereas seeing every optional elemental area invites more purchases. The sequel retains much of its predecessor's structure, and a cross-version contemporary review notes occasional slowdown and clipping. Xbox 360 does not have the Wii U edition's GamePad conveniences, so those do not raise this release's score. A used disc alone is not enough: a compatible Xbox 360 portal and usable figures are needed. For households already equipped for it, this remains approachable, cheerful co-op action.
Strengths
- Physical figures carry satisfying progression
- Good family co-op and extra activities
- Bright cast and voice presentation
Weaknesses
- Full exploration asks for more figures
- Portal and toys are required to play
- Familiar sequel design and minor visual blemishes
Who it is for: Families with compatible accessories who enjoy light action and collecting.
Play notes: Xbox 360 edition only; confirm a compatible portal and figures when buying second-hand.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension A generous side loop supports replay, but full completion is tied to additional figure purchases. | Reviewed | 7.6 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Toy swapping and figure-carried progression elevate simple combat, though Giants are an extension rather than a revolution. | Reviewed | 8.0 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Voice work and buoyant cartoon personality fit the audience, despite a simple tale and recurring musical cues. | Reviewed | 8.0 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension A USB portal and figures are mandatory, and occasional slowdown and clipping temper otherwise accessible play. | Reviewed | 7.3 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- Toys for Bob
- Publisher
- ActivisionVicarious Visions
- Release date
- 2012
- Platforms
- Xbox 360
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Action · Primary genre
- Tags
- FantasyThird PersonMain Story 20–50 HoursExplorationSolo-friendlyLevel ProgressionLong-term ProgressionTurn-based CombatStory-driven3D Graphics
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- MultiplayerSingle playerCo-op
- Perspectives
- Top-down
Release editions
Game gallery
Sources
Not provided