The toys to life genre was a massive hit when it gained traction. Skylanders, with their cute character designs, enthralled audiences. Disney Infinity pulled on all their popular franchises to boost their game; Star Wars, Marvel and Disney's original I.P's formed their line-up. Lego Dimensions gave fans what they wanted - Lego mini-figures and a mash-up of awesome characters in a single video game. Though the toys to life genre didn't last very long, developer Ubisoft Toronto is aiming to revive it with their upcoming game, Starlink: Battle for Atlas. Here are four reasons I am excited about the game!

It won't be a shameless cash-grab

The only thing you need to start playing Starlink is the starter pack. The starter packs come with the game, controller mount, a starship, a pilot and three weapon add-ons. The Switch version comes with the same goodies but also includes an additional pilot and a digital starship. That's all you need to play the game from start to finish. No content will be locked behind a toy-wall (trademarking this word right here). This is not to say that you shouldn't expand your collection, though. The game doesn't penalize you for not buying all the components, but there are minor advantageous for doing so. For instance, if you die during a battle and you can't swap out your damaged ship, you will need to load from your most recent checkpoint. Certain enemies are weak to certain types of damage. You can still kill them with any weapon, but it might just take a tad bit longer. Developer Ubisoft Toronto made the game in such a way that it will never force you to buy all the toys just to enjoy the experience to its fullest.



Ubisoft Toronto isn't against more console exclusive characters

The Nintendo Switch version of Starlink will feature Starfox and his legendary Arwing spaceship. Ubisoft Toronto worked closely with Nintendo to get the content just right for their game. The collaboration between the two companies proved to be beneficial as the Starfox content isn't just shoehorned in, it's actual content that ties into the story of Starlink. When asked by IGN if we would ever see a Master Chief pilot with an UNCS ship (Xbox exclusive) or Ratchet and Clank (PS4 exclusive) in Starlink, the developer made it clear that they are not against the ideas. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.



There will be seven planets to explore

Starlink: Battle for Atlas will launch with seven planets for you to explore. The great thing is, you can take off of one planet, fly to the next and continue your exploration - seamlessly. These plants are also handcrafted, meaning they are not procedurally generated. This will make each world feel distinct and give them their own characteristics. Some biomes have been procedurally generated but not the planets themselves. Other than this, each planet's fauna and flora will be distinct and unique.



The space between planets is alive

As I mentioned in my previous paragraph, you'll be able to travel between planets seamlessly. Luckily, traveling between planets will not be a boring affair. Space pirates occupy the space between and they will pick a fight with you or lay traps when you enter their space. Above this, you will also be able to plunder abandoned spaceships for loot and discover traces of an ancient civilization. Given how much attention Ubisoft Toronto has given to the flight mechanics, the dogfights could turn out to be an enjoyable mechanic in Starlink.



The toys are going to be great

Ubisoft Toronto pulled out all the stops when designing the toys - they even hired a professional toymaker to help them with the process. The development team also worked closely with the artists. This ensured a unified vision for their creations. Each ship they designed has its own unique look. Not only did Ubisoft Toronto manage to create these impressive spaceships, but they also made each one distinct while also retaining their vision and art style.



Starlink: Battle for Atlas is set to release on October 16 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. If you are excited or just want to try the game, be sure to grab your copy here. Also, be sure to keep an eye out for our review on Starlink: Battle for Atlas too. Check out the official Nintendo Switch story trailer below and have a look at all the physical packages the game will offer once it releases.