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Sea Racing Action Pack Review

I cannot count the number of times I’ve been let down by the miscellaneous adventure packs. Until now, the ultimate adventure pack was Swap Force’s Tower of Time. Meanwhile Sheep Wreck Island and last year’s Midnight Museum were also highlights. The Sea Racing Action Pack is a new standard on which all Action/Adventure Packs should be judged

The Figurines

Before we get to the additional content the game adds, let’s talk about Deep Dive Gill Grunt and Reef Ripper. This is the fourth iteration of Gill Grunt, and seeing him again, I wasn’t particularly excited. Between the metallic variation and the sidekick Gill Runt, who needs a seventh Gill Grunt?

He’s just so excited this time around

Well I’m happy to report that Deep Dive Gill Grunt is wildly different from his previous incarnations. Deep Dive Gill Grunt emphasizes trident attacks and his ability to levitate off the grand via a wave. Both of these are viable attacks. The trident attack is one of the fastest attacks in the game.. Meanwhile, his wave levitation not only deals a lot of damage, but it gives Gill Grunt excellent maneuverability. It’s nice to see a Skylander who can close the gap between himself and enemies with both speed and sufficiency.

His wave levitation is awesome

As for his talent skill trees, Deep Dive Gill Grunt is another huge win. I actually had a hard time making a decision about which path to follow. In one instance, Storm Summoner making his trident more powerful by fusing it with lightning. That said, Torrent Tamer gives his wave more range and damage. Both skill trees are amazing, but no matter which skill tree you choose, the subsequent damage and viability is a massive boon that’s hard to compare. This is the best Gill Grunt has ever been, and he is now one of the top tier water Skylanders in the game.

I went with Storm Summoner. Just look at all the lightning!

As for Reef Ripper, it’s a viable water craft with excellent mods. Its singular attack is decent, but nothing to write home about; however, the area of effect damage attack is pretty spectacular. In 360 degree water sections, Reef Ripper is devastating. It fends of enemies with ease, while in racing mode, it shines when enemies cluster around you.

From a design standpoint, Reef Ripper is a crowning achievement

Supercharger Mission

As for his Supercharger Mission, you’ll enjoy this tough mission of trying to catch fish. As players race around the Golden Temple, they have to acquire fish of different values. While it’s easy to score the 1 and 2 star victories, most players will have a tough time getting that elusive third star (100k points). It’s one of the best missions from what players have seen so far.

The Quality

With all that in mind, I cannot emphasize enough how amazing these two figurines look. Gill Grunt is the first Skylander, in series history, to make his base a part of the figurine. It’s one of the smartest and coolest designs ever conceived. But that’s nothing when compared to Reef Ripper.

You need to see these figurines in person to appreciate their beauty

Reef Ripper is a 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Captain Nemo inspired vehicle. You need to hold his figurine to appreciate its quality. Aesthetically, it’s gorgeous. But the swivel in the tale, the colors and the drill embellishments all stand out. This is Skylanders crowning achievement in design. Both Gill Grunt and Reef Ripper are a benchmark on which all subsequent Skylander figurines shall be judged. It’s an extraordinary achievement.

The Additional Content

Unlike previous Skylander Adventure Packs which added in more content with levels, this time the Sea Racing Action Pack adds additional racing levels. The two additional levels are Tropic Plunder and The Golden Temple.

Tropic Plunder aerial view.

They might be the two best racing levels in Superchargers thus far. The air and land levels are fun diversions, but the water levels remind me of Diddy Kong Racing. Traversing the water while watching for speed boosts and items underwater is a unique experience. The grandeur of both additional levels is unparallel.

The Golden Temple looks epic

Tropic Plunder has players flying over volcanoes and diving under pirate ships, while the Golden Tower has players getting significant air time with frequent jumps and boosts. I love the additional levels, and while they’re not worth the price alone, they’re another excellent reason why the Sea Racing Action Pack is a worthy addition.

Verdict

If you own Superchargers, buy the Sea Racing Action Pack. It might be the best additional content released to date. From a collector’s standpoint, Skylanders never looked better.