I was starting to think we wouldn't see another Spyro game ever again. The whole wisecrackin' animal mascot thing seems like such a relic of the 16-into-32-bit era, but hey I guess we still have Ratchet & Clank kickin' around, right?

Today Activision announced Skylanders Spyro's Adventure, a "breakthrough new play experience that merges the world of toys and video games." Using "toys with brains," players will be able to transport IRL figures into the virtual world using the "Portal of Power." Each toy has special abilities that will be useful in the game for fighting enemies and teaming up with your friends for co-op play. The toys' "brains" retain achievements and level-up info wherever they go across multiple platforms, handheld consoles, mobile devices and the internet.

"These are more than action figures. They are inter-action figures," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. "By pairing world class character design, world class video game design and world class story telling into one entertainment experience, we've given players a whole new genre that bridges the gap between the real and virtual worlds. From the first time a kid picked up a stick and pretended it was a sword, toys have unlocked kids' imaginations. And how often have you wanted to bring those toys to life, to see them become animated and take them on an adventure? Skylanders Spyro's Adventure does just that."

The game and toys will premier at the American International Toy Fair (Booth #3055) February 13 - 16 in the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Expect a full launch this fall with exclusive figures and events featured at Toys R Us locations across the country.

Hit the jump for some screenshots and photos of the upcoming toys.

With Pokemon: Black and White on the way, I guess Activision had to find SOME way to cash in on the whole collectable craze. Fads never change, huh? Activision seems to really hammer-in the idea that this is a super innovative thing, but I remember seeing products like this when I was a kid. Granted that wasn't too long ago, but remember Skannerz?

Sure, that was with barcodes, but I'm sure someone's tried it with action figures. The video game/toy market-cross-synergy-platform-ization-ing has to have been mined a few times over. I seem to remember a similar game that used X-Men figures but I can't find anything about it online. I'll keep you posted.