‘Skylanders Imaginators’ Lets Players Create Their Own Characters

Skylanders is returning with a new edition and a new hook for 2016, according to an Activision announcement Wednesday. PlayStation, Xbox, and Wii U console owners can look forward to creating their own characters in the latest release of the toys-to-life game Skylanders Imaginators this fall.

Activision is back with Skylanders Imaginators, and Kaos is back too with another quest to take over Skylands. Players will be able to create their own Skylanders called, appropriately enough, Imaginators using the Creation Crystal toy. There will be 10 of these available for purchase, and each crystal is aligned to the in-game elements. This unlocks elemental powers for the creation process and allows players to move their created Imaginators in between consoles.

Players will be able to choose different heads, chests, arms, legs, and even tails to customize the look of their characters. This includes the ability to change the color and size of each individual part. More parts and customization options can be earned through gameplay and by purchasing the new physical characters.

The game introduces 31 new characters called Skylanders Senseis, with each representing 10 different Battle Classes such as Knight Sorcerer, Bowslinger, Brawler, and more. These senseis unlock weapons and abilities that can be used to create Imaginators. They also unlock special areas in-game and have their own special ability called Sky-Chi, a super move based on the Battle Class of the sensei.

The creators of Skylanders have confirmed that some fan-favorite villains will return. The Golden Queen from Trap Team, for example, has been won over to the good side and will be a playable hero in Imaginators.

The racing elements from Skylanders SuperChargers will return in Imaginators. Senior Executive Producer Jeff Poffenbarger confirmed the news in an Xbox On video interview. Those that purchased the characters and vehicles from last year’s game will be able to use them in Imaginators as well.

Activision is also kicking off a “Skylanders Art-to-Life Contest” to celebrate the announcement of Imaginators. Fans are invited to submit drawings of their own created Skylanders for a chance to have their characters represented in the Skylanders Imaginators game at launch. Those interested should draw their own characters and submit them to contest via Instagram or Twitter using the #SkylandersArtContest hashtag. They can also be sent via email to SkylandersCommunity@Activision.com. Full rules and details can be found at the Skylanders official website.

It will be interesting to see how Skylanders performs this holiday season. 2015 was a down year for the toys-to-life genre in part due to the number of other games competing for the same audience. Disney Interactive officially announced the cancellation of the Disney Infinity series, however, lessening the amount of competition significantly.

“Since we launched the very first Skylanders game, we have received countless letters and drawings from kids all over the world sharing their vision for their own Skylanders. No matter how in touch with our ‘inner kids’ we might think we are as adults, nothing comes close to the endless creativity that springs from the mind of an inspired kid,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc. “We’ve turned this year’s game into the ultimate blank canvas for kids’ imaginations.”

“Skylanders consistently delivers on innovative gameplay experiences. With customization a dominant trend in the consumer market, the fact that Skylanders Imaginators will allow kids to bring their own creations to life is a game changer and one our customers will enjoy,” said Richard Barry, Global Chief Merchandising Officer, Toys R Us, Inc. “We are proud to continue to serve as a marquee Skylanders destination, and look forward to fans’ excitement when the new Skylanders Imaginators game arrives this holiday season.”

What do you think of the hook for Skylanders Imaginators? Is the ability to create your own characters a good upgrade to the game, or should Activision have gone in another direction? Sound off in the comments below.

[Image via Activision]