Unboxing Scorpion Striker Battle Pack with Zap and Hot Dog
What? Scorpion Striker Battle Pack
Where Did You Get It? GameStop
What Did It Cost? $24.99 plus tax
What Is Included? Series 2 Zap, Hot Dog, Scorpion Striker Catapult, Sticker Sheet, and Web Codes
What Lights Up? The Ball end of the catapult...it has an amber glow that radiates from it
What Was Stock Like? Very limited! If you did not pre-order, I would not bank on getting this right away. Before you panic, I imagine the next shipment will come pretty soon and if you really want it, you shouldn't have much trouble landing it. That said, it might pay off to try and order it from GameStop.com or check with your local store to hold one etc.
Quick Character Info
Zap, Series 2, Water Element
Slogan: "Ride the Lightning!"
Card Stats:
Power/Strength: 55/150
Defense/Armor: 80/150
Speed/Agility: 80/150
Luck: 70/150
Totals: 285/600
Zap's Introduction and Heroic Challenge
Hot Dog, Fire Element, New Skylander
Slogan: "See Spot Burn!"
Card Stats:
Power/Strength: 85/150
Defense/Armor: 50/150
Speed/Agility: 70/150
Luck: 80/150
Totals: 285/600
Hot Dog's Introduction and Heroic Challenge
Scorpion Striker Catapult, Magic Item
The catapult's ball-like projectile lights up from within and radiates an amber glow...much like the Golden Dragonfire Cannon.
The catapult will work as a magic item in the game and will also unlock new battle arenas. After recording the Intro and Heroic Challenge of Zap, I checked out the Scorpion Striker. It unlocks:
-Cliff Dive Crags Battle Arena
-Metal Hive Battle Arena
If I get a chance when someone is over I'll try to record some PvP at the new arenas. As is, it is hard for 1 person to do much worth watching there...I still say Giants should have had Single Player options in Battle Mode.
Conclusion
Wow! This feels like an accomplishment since with Hot Dog, we finally have all of the new Skylanders available in their standard pose. I am excited to see him in action as his story was pretty good. I was very excited for Zap, but the voice on Skylanders.com is far from what I would have expected him to sound like...I am hoping that won't sway me in the game. Zap is someone I have really looked forward to as I will finally be able to try the other path as he was one of a small handful of Skylanders that had what looked like 2 great paths.
If you did not pre-order I would monitor GameStop.com and check with your local store on the next delivery. For all we know it could come Monday of next week. That said, based on what I saw tonight I would not bank on picking the Scorpion Striker Battle Pack up this weekend if you did not pre-order.
That said, this will only be a timed exclusive to GameStop so worse come to worse other outlets (Toys'R'Us, Walmart, and Target, etc) should have this Battle Pack in a few weeks.
Good luck fellow Portal Masters!
I can tell you that at my Gamestop, they had only 18 pre-orders (got my first, yo!), but that they didn't know if they were going to be getting in any new triple packs or skylanders. However, the rep said that they do get out their skylanders pretty quickly, so I'll likely go next weekend to see if they have anything new (besides the lightcores, as I'll pick those up last for that one orange base accolade. That being said, if they don't, I'll likely see if I can't sniff out Hex and Flameslinger at my local Hastings or Target.
Reply DeleteNice, my store had 10-15, but told me another store in town had 40 preorders. I think your store must be like mine in that when the morning shipment arrives it pretty much gets stocked and ready to be sold.
DeleteI saw several Flameslinger's at Hastings and I think 1-2 Hex figures tucked away...There are about 30 Drill Sergeants and Swarms, lol.
Just for the record my Target still has nothing...it is almost like the exact same set up as last week when I was in...I have pics, just need to get them up on the blog.
If you're wondering about if Giants have problems with Zap's HC, I took my go-to Giant (that being Hot Head) through it, and aside from breaking a few vases with his attack (they can't destroy 'em by walking on 'em, thankfully... That worried me), he did really well. :)
Reply DeleteCool...That is something I hadn't thought of in terms of them breaking the vases...we'd be screwed if that were the case, lol. Almost all the cats are surrounded by them.
DeleteI know this is from a different site, but I read this comic series every few days, GU Comics, and they had a funny one with Woody (the comic artist) and his son name "TheKid" concerning Skylanders and how TheKid reset LC Prism Break because he "Didn't like how his powers changed him from Green to Yellow." :P
Reply DeleteIncluded is the link below: http://www.gucomics.com/comic/?cdate=20130102
Haha, I could actually see that happening...I remember griping about the yellow myself, lol. Nice find!
Reply DeleteI have a couple questions:
Reply DeleteI don't have Zap or Hot Dog, and I am really excited that they have a triple pack for the two. When should I go to my local GameStop to buy it?
I own Series 1 Slam Bam, and I am close to the stage in upgrading where I choose a path. What one should I choose?
I own Swarm, and upgraded him down the Bee-Form Swarm path. It seems like he doesn't do as much damage as I thought he would, so do you think I should reset him and do the other upgrade path?
Some skylanders did not become Series Two skylanders, like Voodood, Dino-Rang, and Wham Shell. I do not own those three. Is it worth searching for them?
Thanks! :)
I would go as soon as you want it and if you really want it I would monitor their sight. They barely had enough SSBPs to cover pre-orders (some stores didn't have enough). That said, the next few shipments will prob get picked up fast so you may want to vouch for one. If you are not in a hurry to get it, I would simply wait till their exclusive window is up and you should have a much easier time finding it shortly there after.
DeleteI took Slam Bam down Blizzard Brawler since the final upgrade their is the Armor (you see it on S2 Slam Bam), it gives +40 Armor and it is HARD to argue with that...Plus he is a beast down that path!
In all honesty, I have done ZERO upgrades to any of the new Skylanders and Giants...therefore, I am not really much help in that regard. I thought you could just buy the other upgrade path in Giants, but maybe that is just for S2?! Might double check. If you are unhappy you can reset it, but you'll have to earn all the cash and XP back etc.
If you want a complete set I would say to go for it. The good news is the older SSA Skylanders have dropped in price. Wham-Shell is still a royal pain to find as he is single pack only. Honestly, of those three...I like Wham-Shell the least. Most people will say they love him, but I wasn't too impressed.
I have finally started seeing a few Voodood singles again...he is mid range imo...but again, if you can get him for $6 and want the accolades and complete set, it is worth it.
Dino-Rang is one of my favorite Skylanders and I would fully recommend you pick him up...He is a bit tougher to find now, particularly the single pack. I wouldn't pay over retail for any of the 3, but you should enjoy them if you have liked everything else SSA and SG wise...Good luck!
Thanks for all your help! :)
DeleteNo problem...glad to offer up input and advice!
DeleteI am sure this is a stupid question, but how do you use the magic items to unlock the new battle arenas? I just bought the dragonfire cannon for my 6 year old and he can't figure it out - when he puts in on the portal in battle mode, it tells him to take the magic item off the portal and it does not appear that there are new arenas. Are we doing something wrong? I know this post isn't about the cannon, I googled for help and found this site so hoping you can help me! Thanks!
Reply Deletenever mind! we finally realized that after using it in the story mode, the new battle arenas became available.
DeleteHey Crystal,
DeleteGlad y'all got it figured out...That is correct, all you need to do is use the item in Story Mode and in the upper RH corner you will see everything it has unlocked...head back to Battle Mode and you should have the new arenas.
The SSBP will be the same way with the catapult and just so you know the Adventure Packs (Empire of Ice, Pirate Seas, etc) will all unlock new arenas as well (at least in Spyro's Adventure...I assume they do in Giants as well, but I have not tried it yet).
If anything else pops up just let me know...I'll be glad to help!
I have a question. The items in the Battle Packs, are they already in battle mode, prior to their usage. Like, i saw the dragonfire cannon in my friend's game in battle mode, but he doesn't have the battle pack. Also, if the DC and the Scorpion Striker are already in the game, if i use my Golden Dragonfire Cannon, will the old DC be replaced in battle mode?
Reply DeleteDue to their not being a single player battle mode that is hard for me to answer as I rarely get to play it...If the items are usable as power ups they are there, BUT the actual physical items unlock new arenas AND you can use them in the game to deal damage etc.
DeleteHope that helps a little.