Disney Infinity

$75, Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360

Teaches: logic, creativity, collaborative play

CTR Rating: 92%

CTR Review

Note: the series will be discontinued in the early summer of 2016. On first glance, Disney Infinity looks a lot like Activision's Skylanders. When you take a closer look, however, you realize that comparing the two isn't accurate, despite the fact that both employ a light-up stage that you physically plug into a game console or computer, and both use plastic figurines that double as collectible items. Yes, these toys each follow a script, but they have some interesting additional features, especially the open-ended feature called the "toy box" mode, where characters from different theme packs can mix. So, for example, you might have Davy Jones from the Pirates of the Caribbean playing next to Syndrome from the Incredibles. Currently there are 17 collectible items, including figures, 3 play set pieces and 20 power discs from five movies: Pirates of the Caribbean, The Incedibles, Cars, Monsters University and the Lone Ranger Play Set. The starter kit is $75 which includes a game disk, three figurines and a one or two player base that you plug into a game console by USB. No batteries are required -- the power comes from game console's USB port.You are now ready to "jump into" a richly animated 3D environment that incorporates a variety of play patterns to keep things interesting. This includes both single and co-op play, plus plenty of old fashioned fighting, coin collecting, flying, climbing and exploring. In the Sandbox mode, you can also build and share worlds, and program elements, say, to trick another player into stepping onto a spring-loaded stand. All things considered, this is a very fun, and potentially very expensive game.The video game component was created by respected Avalanche Studios, who is no stranger to video game creation, having made such classics as Dragon Ball Z, Mortal Kombat and Tak. If you pay $13 for an individual figure, you can unlock other parts of the virtual world. The more figures you have, the more access you have, and the more money you'll spend. You get the idea. See the demo at http://youtu.be/NEZNS7LACU8