Consolelike

The "Trap Team" starter kit comes with the game software, two Skylanders creatures, two traps and a redesigned "Portal of Power," which plugs into your game console. (There's also a version for tablets that has all those features, as well as a nifty consolelike controller.) When you place a Skylander on the portal, it appears onscreen and you can take control of it.

The added portability — and the consolelike experience the Backbone provides when paired with a good game — have turned gaming on my iPhone into a first-class experience that can follow me nearly anywhere.