History YMMV / Skylanders

* GrowingTheBeard: Some people believe that in-between ''Giants'' and ''Swap Force'', the series started to take itself a little more seriously. Giants started adding a lot of well-known voice actors to the cast. (Just take a look at the Trivia page!) The toy designs became more detailed, and the games started gradually adding more to the gameplay, such as the ability to jump. Not to mention, the levels of ''Swap Force'' are not only [[SceneryPorn better looking]] than in Giants, they are much more full of secret areas, some of which are relatively well hidden.

** ''Trap Team'' furthers the growth artistically, featuring a slightly upgraded version of the graphics engine from ''Swap Force'', the return of several fan-favorite characters from ''Giants'', and the figurines continue to become even more beautiful and intricate. While ''Swap Force'' was certainly no slouch in the figurine department, the Trap Masters are gorgeously painted and modeled, with craftsmanship rivaling that of several hundred dollar collector's figures.

** Sprocket for example has some people hating her just because she looks "too human", while others think she's a refreshing change of pace in adding some diversity to the teams. Some merely dislike her because they already have her and they have to wade through dozens of Sprockets to find what Skylanders are available in the stores next.

** Drill X from ''Giants'', one of the few bosses who have a health gauge... and announces every stance change [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROhZJ_AIFTY with a sing-a-long.]]

* CriticalDissonance: Fans were really not looking forward to it, and many are making a big deal about how little respect they have for the game or hope in its ability to sell. Critics, meanwhile, are often very warm to the new game, taking it for the toyetic kids' game that it is, and quite like it. Some have even admitted that they went into the first game expecting the worst ''because'' of the negative fan reaction, only to be pleasantly surprised by what they played.

** If the series makes a comeback, should the Toys-to-Life gimmick remain? Those who are against it argue that it was the reason for the series' downfall due to it being oversaturated by Activision and other companies alike and that the series would have greater staying-power without it, plus the fact that it negates how much money you have to spend on just one game. Those who are for it argue that it was the reason why the series took off and became memorable to begin with, so removing it would take away a big part the identity the series has and would be a pretty big insult to people with large collections, since those same collections would now mean nothing.

** ''Pirate Seas'' Level Pack & ''Giants'': Captain Dreadbeard is the leader of a gang of pirates that specialize in card games. Arriving to the island, he and his crew beats every civilian at Pirate Cards and are imprisoned as a result, leaving Dreadbeard to pillage the village of its treasure. Having his men challenge anyone who opposes him, he pretends to be the Skylanders final challenger, only to reveal that he was distracting them while he captures the mayor's daughter, escaping with both her and the riches. When the Skylanders corner and challenge him again, he takes his loss well and releases Jess while promising to return. Returning in ''Giants'', it's revealed he took over a carnival and is willing to give out an engine to anyone that beats him, a promise he lives up to when beaten at Skystones. He then joins Flynn's crew, offering the Skylanders a rematch anytime they want.

** The eight Skylanders in ''Spyro's Adventure'' who didn't get reposes in ''Giants'', titled "The Forgotten Eight". They actually became somewhat of a case of [[AscendedMeme Ascended Memetic Loser]] as, in the comics, there was a storyline where three of these Skylanders, Ghost Roaster, Boomer and Voodood, [[FaceHeelTurn briefly joined the villains]] all because they felt [[DudeWhereIsMyRespect they got no respect among the heroes]]. Luckily, some of these did come back in games following ''Giants''. ''Except'' for Sunburn, who ''never'' got another figure in any game following ''Spyro's Adventure'', making him the easiest target for the mockery.

** Dreamcatcher in ''Trap Team''. She doesn't have so much health and only three attacks that are all easily avoidable. She shoots tornados across the arena one at a time that can be hit to shoot them back at her, she can summon small claws that disappear with one attack and sheep that don't hurt you, but jumps on the floor to make parts of it fall down, but they are also defeated with just one attack. The floor falling a short while after you step on it sound scary, but gives you time to get off (not to mention the lack of fall damage in this game except on higher difficulties). Finally, her forcefield is easily deactivated by destroying the beds behind that, you guessed it, are destroyed with one hit. Combine that with her always being open for attack without any other defenses and compared to the [[BulletHell other Doom Raider boss battles]], you might be able to beat her without taking damage.

* CompleteMonster: [[BigBad Malefor]] is the self-crowned [[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Undead Dragon King]] in the Underworld of Skylands and is one of the Skylanders' more sinister foes. [[TheCorrupter Corrupting]] many inhabitants of Skylands to do his bidding, Malefor would have his minions kidnap Cynder before she was hatched so he can corrupt her into one of his servants and have her spread fear, terror, and destruction throughout Skylands. When Spyro manages to free Cynder from his control, Malefor would then attempt to capture and torture Hex in an attempt to learn about the secrets of her powers and use them for his own ends, leading to Hex seemingly destroying him, though not before she is transformed into one of the undead. Seeking revenge for his defeat, Malefor forces Calliope to assist him in reviving him with the powers of Spyro, Cynder, and Hex, [[PowerParasite rendering them weak and helpless]], falsely promising her to help her find her family if she does while threatening to kill her if she dares to disobey him. Upon his revival, he traps Spyro, Cynder, Hex, and Wallop in the Cadaverous Crypts, [[CruelMercy only sparing them]] so they can watch as Malefor destroys everything and everyone they ever knew and love in revenge for his defeat, starting with the Skylanders Academy, which is full of [[WouldHurtAChild young students]], all the while absorbing the powers from the other Skylanders as well. An arrogant, malevolent dragon with no comedic aspects whatsoever, Malefor is easily one of the Skylands' most dangerous villains.

!!Video game series

** If the series makes a comeback, should the Toys-to-Life gimmick remain? Those who are against it argue that it was the reason for the series' downfall due to it being oversaturated by Activision and other companies alike and that the series would have greater staying-power without it, plus the fact that it negates how much money you have to spend on just one game. Those who are for it argue that it was the reason why the series took off and became memorable to begin with, so removing it would take away a big part the identity the series has.