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Disney Infinity is the new toy-meets-videogame title that works a bit like Activision’s popular video franchise Skylanders. Many have been quick to compare the two since Disney Infinity was first announced. But while the surface similarities are obvious, the two differ in many ways.
If you’ve not come across the games before, they both use toy figures, purchased separately, to access in-game characters. For Disney Infinity, a Starter Pack provides everything you need to play the game, with new characters, items, upgrades and various Disney worlds able to be unlocked with further toy purchases.
Putting a Disney figure on the included USB peripheral base that is plugged into your console makes them appear instantly in the game. You can then use that character to play the different levels. Progress is stored back on the toy and you can use it on other consoles playing the Disney Infinity game even if they are a different type – Wii, 360, PS3, etc.
This use of toys in the video game via a “Portal” or “Base” peripheral is one of the main similarities that’s drawing comparisons between Disney Infinity and the Skylanders series, the newest of which will come out later this year called Skylanders Swap Force. But scratch beneath that surface and find there are actually quite a few differences between the two games to set them apart.
Disney Infinity base and character figures
Skylanders Swap Force portal and figure
Perhaps the most important difference is that the Disney Infinity game offers a whole range of familiar and favorite Disney characters to play with and as. Characters in Skylanders are largely created for that series, though Spyro and a few others are brought in from previous games. Disney is surely hoping their popular characters, and the unusual ways they will interact together within the game, will make Disney Infinity as big of a success as the Skylanders series.
To begin, Monsters University, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Incredibles are included in the Starter Pack, and there will be a Cars play-set that can be purchased separately, with plans on releasing many more play sets and character figures in the future.
In the game itself, one of the biggest differences is the basis of how you play. When it launches near the end of 2013, Skylanders Swap Force will again stick to local multiplayer with two-players sharing the same screen, like its preceding two games. But Disney Infinity goes a step further by also adding split-screen local play and four player multiplayer online (via services like Xbox Live and PlayStation Network).
Disney Infinity Starter Pack Hands-on
Skylanders Swap Force Starter Pack Hands-on
Disney Infinity also features a unique “Toy Box” mode, another point of difference between the two games. This is where you can bring together all your different Disney franchises and play with them together. It enables you to go into an edit mode and create your own game play with tools, quite similar to those a real game developer would use. The possibilities here are really only limited by time and imagination.
Another difference between Disney Infinity and Skylanders Swap Force is that the Activision game provides its main campaign in one chunk (possible with a few extra Adventure packs), but Disney Infinity is much more modular. By using a Play Set piece on the Infinity Base peripheral you can unlock new adventures and worlds that don’t tie together across one big story, as they do in Skylanders.
Disney Infinity also offers an additional layer of physical product. While Skylanders Swap Force basically sticks to the figures and a few novel items and adventure packs, Infinity has a range of Power Discs. These come in two forms, round discs that can be placed under the figures on the Infinity Base to grant upgrades and hexagonal discs that unlock items in the game creation “Toy Box” mode. I asked Toys R Us Chairman and CEO about these at a recent event, when he compared Skylanders and Infinity:
The final big difference between the two is in the variety of gameplay. While Skylanders’ main game is focused on traditional platforming gameplay, each Disney Infinity Play Set offers a different way to play – strategy, world management, driving, fighting, climbing. Skylanders Swap Force gameplay does introduce some more variety with the Swap Force Zones, and Dual Elemental Zones, but not to the same extent as Disney Infinity. Though thew new Skylanders will also add the ability to “swap” the upper and lower halves of figures to create new combined characters, a first for the series.
Disney Infinity Toy Box mode
Skylanders Swap Force game play
The release of Disney Infinity is not far off, at prices comparable to those of Skylanders. The “Disney Infinity” Starter Pack will be available in June 2013 at a retail price of $74.99, including the game, three figurines, and additional Power Discs. Play Set packs will be $34.99. Individual Disney Infinity figures will be $12.99 or available in Figure 3-Packs for $29.99. Power Discs will be sold in blind packs at $4.99.
Both properties offer a similarity at the surface of integrating real world figures with an on-screen game, but beyond that the differences are nearly infinite.
Andy Robertson runs the Family Gamer TV YouTube channel and is a family gaming expert on the BBC.
Highly detailed review, thanks Andy. I think Disney Infinity, for several reasons, may even be more successful than Skylanders.
Firstly because the concept of how the game works is now well known, thanks to Skylanders, there should be less fear of buying into an unknown/strange new way of gaming. Secondly due to the popularity of the well known characters that Disney has at its disposal, they already have a large fan base with children around the round. Thirdly because of the ability to play with the characters on multiple devices – as the data is stored on the character – this would mean that children could continue the fun whilst travelling or away from home! Something I wasn’t aware of until reading this article and I think may prove to be something that Activision quickly copy. Finally the power up discs add a whole new element to the game and I imagine will inspire outside-of-game discussion and possibly even trading? Promoting the game and potentially allowing it to become a playground craze such as Pogs (back in the day). Thoughts on this Andy?
I think the only substantial difference in approach are the Power Discs here. That said your points are generally well made, and the fact that Disney Infinity can draw on the Disney and Pixar characters is a big bonus for them (and players). Thanks again for the comment.
how could activision copy the save data in the figures if it was made before infinity??
Just because I am young (11 yrs) I just don’t feel good about Disney infinity I love skylanders and their story behind them and how you can upgrade them exc. I don’t mind the share screen even though I wish they can make one
Also they do not have blind packs. It looks like Disney wants to make us bankrupt! I mean come on for $10 I can buy a skylander for $14 I can buy a Disney infinity also it is good that skylanders doesn’t have wifi 4 player cause WHO KNOWS WHO IS A HACKER not that anyone wants your Disney but they can take your Xbox/Playstation account
And also Disney made this after skylanders there is about an 75% chance of stealing ideas so also me just a computer freak under 20 has more information than this box can handle this is just a fragment of what I have to say
“Thirdly because of the ability to play with the characters on multiple devices – as the data is stored on the character – this would mean that children could continue the fun whilst travelling or away from home! Something I wasn’t aware of until reading this article and I think may prove to be something that Activision quickly copy.”
Ahem…If by “quickly copy”, you mean copy it so fast they actually went back in time to make this three years ago, then, yes, they will quickly copy it.
Activision CREATED the platform-agnostic characters, and what’s more, not only can they be played on any game system, but also one’s tablet, phone, or PC. All the Skylander figures have been made like this since the game began. I sincerely hope you do not frequently make such ill-conceived statements after your own misguided reading.
I think it’s important to note the success that Activision’s Skylander series has reached. The idea is what is more important and revolutionary then actual game play. While I too feel Disney’s Infinity is a bit more polished and detailed, I also think a less biased review would be more optimal for the every day reader of Inside the Magic.
I was hoping to get more of a review on game play, functionality, graphic quality, replayability, and favorite Skylander pieces, rather then the concepts that showcase Infinity’s already popular choice amongst the crowd. For someone who is relatively new to the “plug and play” peripheral type experience, and while Infinity due to it’s near like cult following will be the victor, I would have liked to seen more pro’s about Skylander, and what truly made it a smash hit with the kids.
But alas, this is called InsidetheMagic, so it’s really just wishful thinking.
I think the big Pro for Skylanders was getting in first and betting hard on the game — both in development and creativity. They also lucked out with some great character designers on the toys.
The two-way save is a crucial element, where the toys save upgrades back to them. Interesting that Infinity is not doing this in the same way, instead preferring the upgrade discs.
If you ever do an interview for skylanders again a question o would like answered is if any of the series 3 characters will be giants or core characters from the giants game.
the giants are only going to be in there game. they said it was a one time thing. but it would be nice.
I think the infinity disk should be in the character packs like 2 or 3 of them in each. That would be great.
Hey dude disney infinity is a copy of skylanders
there are plenty of differences in Disney Infinity that Skylanders does not have, for example, the Toy Box Mode
This review is completely biased towards Infinity. Whole review feels like it was written as a promo for Infinity.
Really? There was nothing about Infinity that seemed less than optimal compared to Skylanders? Sounds like the perfect game; better go and buy it for the kids!
I think kids are going to get bored with the game fast. Can only play together with characters from different worlds in the sandbox mode sounds very limiting. Basically, the game sounds like a bunch of mini games in which the characters from those games can hang out together in one area. Nothing like spending your allowance on a new character that can only play in 15% of the game.
DISNEY INFINITY???!!! haha SKYLANDERS IS WAY BETTER THAN DISNEY INFINITY CAUSE THEIR ARE THE ORIGINALS