Santa Brick was good to the kids this year! Castle, Indy, Star Wars, and Bionicle...I was plenty busy on the 25th and 26th, snapping bricks together with my kids. Here we go:
Bionicle
I have seen plenty of ads for Bionicles, but never actually put one together until we received Toa Lewa. And I must say, overall I am impressed with the product line. In particular, I think they stand up well to actual play and handling. My 6- and 4- year-old boys have adventures and battles with them, and except for the random part falling off here and there (usually due to contact - as in the boys whacking the Bionicles together) they hold up nicely.
8698 - Vultraz: This is a neat kit. You get a small warrior mounted on a cool-looking attack speeder. The skyfighter (speeder) has a working cannon hanging off the frame, and it shoots small round plastic cannonballs. If you have kids in the house who put toys and things in their mouth, I'd confiscate the cannonballs. On the upside, the skyfighter has a nifty hinged compartment where you can store all the extra cannonballs. It would have been a bonus to include a melee weapon or two for the warrior so he could fight when dismounted, but that's really the only complaint I have. 7 out of 10.
8945 - Solek: His color scheme is fairly bland (white and grey), but he is armed with dual power blades (nasty-looking swords). 5 out of 10.
8946 - Photok: I call this one the Great Pumpkin (he's orange & dark grey). He's armed with dual power blades, but these suckers look like they could also function as cutters or pincers if they have a secondary use. 6 out of 10.
8686 - Toa Lewa: OK, so this one wasn't a Christmas present, but I'm throwing it in with the rest of the Bionicle kits reviewed here. Same warning as Vultraz - he has a launcher and cannon balls. In addition to the aforementioned cannon, Toa Lewa carries a really big sword into battle, and can jump around thanks to a jet pack on his back. I really like the bright green in his color scheme, as it stands out and adds to the overall appeal of this kit. 8 out of 10.
Castle
7048 - Troll Warship: It's big. It's loaded with features. I like it. There's the 20" warship, two small rowboats, and an armored green dragon with a knight rider (no, not David Hasselhoff...)
The warship has a bow-mounted bolt thrower that rotates and fires three missiles in rapid succession. Prisoners can be held in the brig (jail) or suspended from a cargo net "cage" dangling from the aft mast. The giant troll included has a drum and drumsticks to hammer out the rowing cadence, and just behind him is the removable command deck where the captain stands. There are four oars, with each rowing station protected by a shield. Chains also dangle from the sides, which only add to the flavor. The ramming prow looks like it could slice through any other ship like a hot knife through butter.
The sails stay in place thanks to clever end caps on each spar. The two crow's nests are welcome features, although they fall off way too easily. The two rowboats each have a crossbow mounted on the bow, and can be attached to the warship via two fixed docking points.
How does one attack such a nautical monstrosity? How about on the wings of an armored, fire-breathing dragon? This is an awesome part of the kit, and could easily be packaged in a kit of its very own. All the pieces snap together snugly, the wings and tail can be moved easily, and the knight astride this fearsome beast can jab at his enemies with a long lance. And yes, the dragon rider wears a motorcycle helmet - but that is cleverly concealed by his pointy "beak" visor.
Rounding out the kit are the nine figures - six troll warriors, a giant troll, a dwarf, and the knight. The price is rather steep, but overall you get a great kit just loaded with good stuff. 9 out of 10.
7037 - Tower Raid: If this was just a simple knight's tower and troll siege tower, it would be a really good kit. But once again, the LEGO master builders came up with a kit that packs some very cool features into modest sized and modest priced kits like this one.
The siege tower rolls on four wheels, sports a working battering ram, as well as a foot bridge that extends so the trolls can assault their objective. Pull back the battering ram, let go, and the rubber band causes it to swing forward. Grab the string in the back, give it a pull, and the foot bridge extends forward. I'd like to see the LEGO peeps make a giant-sized version of this :)
Why the working battering ram? So you can free the troll warrior held prisoner in the knight's tower, of course. Position the siege tower in front of the knight's tower, swing the ram, and it knocks down the outer wall. When the outer wall falls, the jail cell floor collapses, and the troll prisoner slides down and lands outside the tower, ready to escape and rejoin his green brothers.
See what I mean? Form and function! Oh, and there are also five minifigs - three troll warriors, and two knights. I'm compelled to award this one a perfect 10 out of 10!
Indiana Jones
7622 - Race for the Stolen Treasure: Let's see, you get a truck, jeep, horse, and four minifigs (Indy and three soldiers). The truck has a faux cloth top, held in place by fold-down sides. And with some cleverly-placed round silver 1x1s, it simulates the truck's shocks or suspension. The jeep is nicely done, down to the machine gun mounted on the roll bar. Both the truck and the jeep stand up pretty well to handling.
The downside? Instead of putting the Ark or a crate for the Ark in this kit, they included a golden treasure chest. Not exactly perfect storyline continuity, but close enough for LEGO Indy I guess. As a side note, the Ark from 7621 fits perfectly in the back of the truck, so I think a crate would have made more sense than a treasure chest for 7622. Let's give it an 8 out of 10.
Star Wars
7673 - MagnaGuard Starfighter: For a new kit (this is from the Clone Wars product line), they did a great job in my opinion. It looks menacing (OK, I'll say it, badass), and we just need one more so we can pair them up with General Grievous' Starfighter (7656) so they can fly cover for him (it?). One of the coolest features is the canopy - it's mounted on a set of rails, so it stays attached to the starfighter when you slide it forward to open up the cockpit. There are also a pair of flick-fire missiles in a pop-up launcher that's right behind the cockpit. The launcher falls apart often with even modest handling, so I secured it with a spare flat 2x4 brick. The flexible tubes mounted on top of each engine are nice details, as are the mounts for MagnaGuards' weapons.
Also included are two minifigures, a pair of IG-100 MagnaGuards, each armed with an Electrostaff (which can be stored as part of the ship, underneath the engine panels that are hinged). Instead of the traditional minifig head, the head and shoulder of the cloak are molded together as one unit, with a stiff "cloth" cloak that fits snugly under the shoulders. Nicely done! It would have been cool to have heads without the cloaks attached as extras, but that's just me asking for the moon :)
I guess my only criticism is that the Starfighter comes apart rather easily when handled. That's the downside of complex LEGO kits, when young hands want to play with their toys - but hey, who can blame them? I'd want to fly them around too, not just build them and stick 'em on a shelf. Ah, childhood :) Worthy of an 8 out of 10.
That's it for now. Stay tuned for my next review, and until then, have fun with your toys!
Friday, January 2, 2009
Friday, December 19, 2008
LEGO review #3 - Castle series
One of the things I enjoy about LEGOs is consistency. Sure, all the cool new bricks and pieces make for fine creations not technologically possible back in my youth, but I think the good folks at LEGO HQ seem content not to mess with certain elements. If you place one of my vintage knight minifigs next to a current issue knight minifig, very little has changed except for perhaps the heraldry and colors. And in my opinion, that's a good thing.
5615 - The Knight: As you might guess, you get one knight minifig. He comes with an assortment of armor and weapons, and a rack to store them on. There's a sword, spear, shield, breastplate, and two helmets. My sole complaint is I don't care for the design of the full-face helmet - it looks too much like a gladiator's helm. Let's give it 6 out of 10 for being solid.
5618 - Troll Warrior: You get one (small) troll warrior - my son calls them orcs - equipped with a sword and helmet. There's also a cart with two spears and a flick-fire missile the troll can wheel around. Finally, there's a rat. Yes, a rat! My son really thinks the rat is cool (he has two, uh, Mega Blok rats that are favorites of his). This one also rates a 6 out of 10.
7090 - Crossbow Attack: This set is what a lot of reviewers on the LEGO.com site rave about. You not only get a knight (two in this case), but you also get an enemy for the knight to fight! There are two knights, two different helmets, and a pole-axe. There are also two crossbows that attach to the front of the large wheeled crossbow (which is kind of a cannon-ballista hybrid in my opinion). The antagonist is a white skeleton warrior mounted on a skeletal horse. He is armed with a wicked-looking sword and small round shield. When you think about it from a bottom-line point of view, the basic small box with one minifig and a couple extras goes for $3.50, and for $6.00, you get three minifigs, a skeletal horse, and the crossbow cannon thingy. That's a good deal for those of you set builders who try to make every purchase count. I'm not crazy about the giant crossbow on wheels for some reason, or the wide-brimmed knight helmet, but those are pretty minor issues overall. This rates a 9 out of 10, and might have achieved a perfect 10 if it had not been for my dislike of the giant crossbow.
7091 - Knights' Catapult Defense: Now we're talking! You get a nicely designed, working catapult and a boulder to fling. There are two knights and two skeletons (one black, one white) and their weapons. The knights have a spear, a sword, two helmets, and two shields. The skeletons have a flail, a crossbow, a helmet, a small round shield, a kite shield, and two spears that are part of their little outpost/wall structure. That's four minifigs, a catapult, and extras for $10. What's not to like about that? I'm going to award this set a perfect 10 out of 10!
7040 - Dwarves' Mine Defender: Another $10 set with a war machine and minifigs. I like the trio of blades on the front of the Defender, although they don't spin too well when rolled across a flat, smooth surface. And the chain-operated catapult looks cool, but the chain falls off when pulled too sharply by young hands. I would have liked two dwarves instead of one, but at least you get two orc (I mean troll) warriors. The trolls have their own helmets, but they have to share one sword - the other one carries a troll battle standard. 7 out of 10 is what I'll rate this fine set.
7038 - Troll Assault Wagon: How do you get a giant troll to pull his wagon? You dangle a leg of mutton in front of him, of course! Well, it looks like a chicken/turkey drumstick, but you know what I mean. The Wagon looks mean, thanks to the flexible spines on the front, the leering skull banner up top, and the off-kilter boards and green horns on the shield. And yes, it launches missiles with the same part that the LEGO soccer players use to "kick" the ball. I really like the giant green troll - it would be nice to package one in a smaller set (got that, LEGO suits?) - as well as his smaller cousin, who holds the meat on a stick, sword, and wears a helmet. The bad guys are chasing two knights pulling a cart. Why a cart, I don't know...but at least the knights have a place to stash their crossbow and sword as they flee the onrushing trolls. They also have a spear and two helmets. Call it 7 out of 10, mostly because I like the giant green troll.
7036 - Dwarves' Mine: Finally, a LEGO Lord of the Rings set! My son calls this one The Mines of Moria ("They have a cave troll!") and sometimes re-enacts movie scenes with this set. For starters, there's a brown giant troll armed with a spiked club, and two small troll warriors wearing helmets and armed with swords and one tower shield. They are opposed by four dwarves, outfitted with a variety of weapons (including double-bladed axes!), helmets, and shields.
The mine complex sports a catapult, working doors, a winch and bucket system to move goods up and down, a sliding bucket that dumps ore and gems down a chute, which is used to load said goods into two mine carts that are on a short stretch of tracks. The lord of the mine has a throne to sit upon, and there's also a kitchen with a fireplace, and an anvil for the master blacksmith to hammer away on. There's so many little features packed into this modestly-sized set, one is hard-pressed to come up with any faults. The catapult look doesn't do it for me, and the bucket that is on the winch doesn't stay up, even with nothing in it. A small fireplace for the blacksmith's station out front would have been a nice touch, but there's not a whole lot of room for one.
Overall, a very nice set. Not the "best set evar!" or anything like that, but still a nice, quality set. 8 out of 10 for all the nifty features and inclusion of a giant troll figure.
I have a feeling that the Troll Warship (7048) is going to end up under our tree this year (thanks, Grampa Mark!), so I'll be sure to review that in the coming weeks. Thanks for reading, and have a Merry Christmas!
5615 - The Knight: As you might guess, you get one knight minifig. He comes with an assortment of armor and weapons, and a rack to store them on. There's a sword, spear, shield, breastplate, and two helmets. My sole complaint is I don't care for the design of the full-face helmet - it looks too much like a gladiator's helm. Let's give it 6 out of 10 for being solid.
5618 - Troll Warrior: You get one (small) troll warrior - my son calls them orcs - equipped with a sword and helmet. There's also a cart with two spears and a flick-fire missile the troll can wheel around. Finally, there's a rat. Yes, a rat! My son really thinks the rat is cool (he has two, uh, Mega Blok rats that are favorites of his). This one also rates a 6 out of 10.
7090 - Crossbow Attack: This set is what a lot of reviewers on the LEGO.com site rave about. You not only get a knight (two in this case), but you also get an enemy for the knight to fight! There are two knights, two different helmets, and a pole-axe. There are also two crossbows that attach to the front of the large wheeled crossbow (which is kind of a cannon-ballista hybrid in my opinion). The antagonist is a white skeleton warrior mounted on a skeletal horse. He is armed with a wicked-looking sword and small round shield. When you think about it from a bottom-line point of view, the basic small box with one minifig and a couple extras goes for $3.50, and for $6.00, you get three minifigs, a skeletal horse, and the crossbow cannon thingy. That's a good deal for those of you set builders who try to make every purchase count. I'm not crazy about the giant crossbow on wheels for some reason, or the wide-brimmed knight helmet, but those are pretty minor issues overall. This rates a 9 out of 10, and might have achieved a perfect 10 if it had not been for my dislike of the giant crossbow.
7091 - Knights' Catapult Defense: Now we're talking! You get a nicely designed, working catapult and a boulder to fling. There are two knights and two skeletons (one black, one white) and their weapons. The knights have a spear, a sword, two helmets, and two shields. The skeletons have a flail, a crossbow, a helmet, a small round shield, a kite shield, and two spears that are part of their little outpost/wall structure. That's four minifigs, a catapult, and extras for $10. What's not to like about that? I'm going to award this set a perfect 10 out of 10!
7040 - Dwarves' Mine Defender: Another $10 set with a war machine and minifigs. I like the trio of blades on the front of the Defender, although they don't spin too well when rolled across a flat, smooth surface. And the chain-operated catapult looks cool, but the chain falls off when pulled too sharply by young hands. I would have liked two dwarves instead of one, but at least you get two orc (I mean troll) warriors. The trolls have their own helmets, but they have to share one sword - the other one carries a troll battle standard. 7 out of 10 is what I'll rate this fine set.
7038 - Troll Assault Wagon: How do you get a giant troll to pull his wagon? You dangle a leg of mutton in front of him, of course! Well, it looks like a chicken/turkey drumstick, but you know what I mean. The Wagon looks mean, thanks to the flexible spines on the front, the leering skull banner up top, and the off-kilter boards and green horns on the shield. And yes, it launches missiles with the same part that the LEGO soccer players use to "kick" the ball. I really like the giant green troll - it would be nice to package one in a smaller set (got that, LEGO suits?) - as well as his smaller cousin, who holds the meat on a stick, sword, and wears a helmet. The bad guys are chasing two knights pulling a cart. Why a cart, I don't know...but at least the knights have a place to stash their crossbow and sword as they flee the onrushing trolls. They also have a spear and two helmets. Call it 7 out of 10, mostly because I like the giant green troll.
7036 - Dwarves' Mine: Finally, a LEGO Lord of the Rings set! My son calls this one The Mines of Moria ("They have a cave troll!") and sometimes re-enacts movie scenes with this set. For starters, there's a brown giant troll armed with a spiked club, and two small troll warriors wearing helmets and armed with swords and one tower shield. They are opposed by four dwarves, outfitted with a variety of weapons (including double-bladed axes!), helmets, and shields.
The mine complex sports a catapult, working doors, a winch and bucket system to move goods up and down, a sliding bucket that dumps ore and gems down a chute, which is used to load said goods into two mine carts that are on a short stretch of tracks. The lord of the mine has a throne to sit upon, and there's also a kitchen with a fireplace, and an anvil for the master blacksmith to hammer away on. There's so many little features packed into this modestly-sized set, one is hard-pressed to come up with any faults. The catapult look doesn't do it for me, and the bucket that is on the winch doesn't stay up, even with nothing in it. A small fireplace for the blacksmith's station out front would have been a nice touch, but there's not a whole lot of room for one.
Overall, a very nice set. Not the "best set evar!" or anything like that, but still a nice, quality set. 8 out of 10 for all the nifty features and inclusion of a giant troll figure.
I have a feeling that the Troll Warship (7048) is going to end up under our tree this year (thanks, Grampa Mark!), so I'll be sure to review that in the coming weeks. Thanks for reading, and have a Merry Christmas!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
LEGO review #2 - Mars Mission LEGOs
OK, so instead of posting reviews we've been busy acquiring more review material! Today we take a look at Mars Mission. At first glance, I wasn't too crazy about these. I mean, hello, orange and white LEGOs? What is this, LEGO Creamsicle Mission? But months later, I'm totally into this product line. Check it out:
7648 – MT-21 Mobile Mining Unit: I love kits like this. First of all, it retails for only $10. Second, the value for your money is excellent. Included are the truck/lab, the detachable drilling unit, a miniature robot helper, one astronaut minifigure, and one alien (with jetpack!) minifigure.
The truck/lab is a neat vehicle. The sides flip up to reveal the portable lab, and the front opens and closes to allow the driver access. The drilling unit has a drill bit on an extending arm, and stabilizers that fold down to keep the unit from tipping over during drilling operations. The small robot helper clips on to the drilling unit, and has a small arm of its own to hold a crystal. The alien has a crystal-powered jetpack that snaps into his back.
The downside? Small pieces that come off easily during regular play. There’s an antenna/radar dish assembly that went straight into the parts bag, a 3-piece missile that clips on to the back, and a portable radio on the truck. The stabilizer feet on the drilling unit come off easily, and the portable saw often gets set aside. The miniature robot helper is a study in small parts in and of itself. And I’m not a huge fan of the alien’s jetpack – it looks cool, but falls off and falls apart too much in my opinion.
If you are looking to give Mars Mission a try, you really can’t go wrong with this kit. As long as you are prepared to deal with a lot of small pieces, it’s some serious fun. I give it a 7 out of 10.
7695 – MX-11 Astro Fighter: Another Mars Mission bargain ($5). You get a nifty little fighter craft, an astronaut, and an alien. The fighter’s wings can adjust up or down, as does the blaster cannon. The canopy opens and shuts, allowing easy access for your astronaut pilot.
The crystal on the cannon tends to fall off, and the cannon itself frequently comes apart right where the round pieces meet the square base. Other than that, I liked this kit so much I bought my boys a second one. 8 out of 10.
7647 – MX-41 Switch Fighter: Can you say dual-purpose? The Switch Fighter is a medium-sized spacecraft that can also turn into a six-wheeled vehicle, piloted by a stalwart astronaut minifigure. They are harried by an alien in his small black and green fighter. Once again I am pleased with what you get for what you pay.
The fighter fits together nicely, and the transition from spacecraft to vehicle is pretty smooth. There are two flick-fire missiles up top, and two missiles that clip on to the sides. Aft you will find a long orange tube with a white sled that can hold three crystals or one alien prisoner. The wingtips fold, and there are four movable fins – two on the nose, and two more on the top of the fuselage. The only downer for me were the small orange wingtip lights that seem to constantly fall off.
The alien fighter has that classic tech-meets-organic look. It is powered by two small engines and armed with four lasers/blasters. The lasers have limited movement on their small pylons. The alien pilot is secured in place nicely by a peg that fits into his back. His cockpit is an open-air affair, with two green curving beams on either side to keep him in place. The beams are tipped with some menacing red claws. This assembly flips up and down, much as a traditional glass canopy (think roller coaster safety bar). On my kit, the little claw that holds the crystal at the very front of the fighter keeps flipping upside down. And there are two green flames that attach to the engines – great for display, but not for hands-on play. Those are my only nitpicks with the alien fighter.
And since we are talking LEGOs instead of reality, you won’t mind that the Switch Fighter’s engines double as wheels when it’s in vehicle mode ;)
I give this distant cousin to Optimus Prime a solid 8 out of 10.
5616 – Mini Robot: This was a stocking…I mean, an Easter Basket stuffer. It’s one astronaut minifigure with his trusty robot pal. My kids call it the “Gonk Droid” in a classic case of cross-property pollination (in this case, Mars Mission meets Star Wars). The robot will topple over if you don’t position his feet to provide maximum stability. But his front opens and shuts, he has a pair of binocular eyes, and he can grasp his tools (a pick and a crystal detector) in his robotic arms. 5 out of 10.
7648 – MT-21 Mobile Mining Unit: I love kits like this. First of all, it retails for only $10. Second, the value for your money is excellent. Included are the truck/lab, the detachable drilling unit, a miniature robot helper, one astronaut minifigure, and one alien (with jetpack!) minifigure.
The truck/lab is a neat vehicle. The sides flip up to reveal the portable lab, and the front opens and closes to allow the driver access. The drilling unit has a drill bit on an extending arm, and stabilizers that fold down to keep the unit from tipping over during drilling operations. The small robot helper clips on to the drilling unit, and has a small arm of its own to hold a crystal. The alien has a crystal-powered jetpack that snaps into his back.
The downside? Small pieces that come off easily during regular play. There’s an antenna/radar dish assembly that went straight into the parts bag, a 3-piece missile that clips on to the back, and a portable radio on the truck. The stabilizer feet on the drilling unit come off easily, and the portable saw often gets set aside. The miniature robot helper is a study in small parts in and of itself. And I’m not a huge fan of the alien’s jetpack – it looks cool, but falls off and falls apart too much in my opinion.
If you are looking to give Mars Mission a try, you really can’t go wrong with this kit. As long as you are prepared to deal with a lot of small pieces, it’s some serious fun. I give it a 7 out of 10.
7695 – MX-11 Astro Fighter: Another Mars Mission bargain ($5). You get a nifty little fighter craft, an astronaut, and an alien. The fighter’s wings can adjust up or down, as does the blaster cannon. The canopy opens and shuts, allowing easy access for your astronaut pilot.
The crystal on the cannon tends to fall off, and the cannon itself frequently comes apart right where the round pieces meet the square base. Other than that, I liked this kit so much I bought my boys a second one. 8 out of 10.
7647 – MX-41 Switch Fighter: Can you say dual-purpose? The Switch Fighter is a medium-sized spacecraft that can also turn into a six-wheeled vehicle, piloted by a stalwart astronaut minifigure. They are harried by an alien in his small black and green fighter. Once again I am pleased with what you get for what you pay.
The fighter fits together nicely, and the transition from spacecraft to vehicle is pretty smooth. There are two flick-fire missiles up top, and two missiles that clip on to the sides. Aft you will find a long orange tube with a white sled that can hold three crystals or one alien prisoner. The wingtips fold, and there are four movable fins – two on the nose, and two more on the top of the fuselage. The only downer for me were the small orange wingtip lights that seem to constantly fall off.
The alien fighter has that classic tech-meets-organic look. It is powered by two small engines and armed with four lasers/blasters. The lasers have limited movement on their small pylons. The alien pilot is secured in place nicely by a peg that fits into his back. His cockpit is an open-air affair, with two green curving beams on either side to keep him in place. The beams are tipped with some menacing red claws. This assembly flips up and down, much as a traditional glass canopy (think roller coaster safety bar). On my kit, the little claw that holds the crystal at the very front of the fighter keeps flipping upside down. And there are two green flames that attach to the engines – great for display, but not for hands-on play. Those are my only nitpicks with the alien fighter.
And since we are talking LEGOs instead of reality, you won’t mind that the Switch Fighter’s engines double as wheels when it’s in vehicle mode ;)
I give this distant cousin to Optimus Prime a solid 8 out of 10.
5616 – Mini Robot: This was a stocking…I mean, an Easter Basket stuffer. It’s one astronaut minifigure with his trusty robot pal. My kids call it the “Gonk Droid” in a classic case of cross-property pollination (in this case, Mars Mission meets Star Wars). The robot will topple over if you don’t position his feet to provide maximum stability. But his front opens and shuts, he has a pair of binocular eyes, and he can grasp his tools (a pick and a crystal detector) in his robotic arms. 5 out of 10.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Playmobil review #1 - Tub toys!
Bath time - for most kids, bath time also doubles as play time. After you get the boring stuff out of the way (like the actual cleaning and scrubbing), the fun commences. Here are some Playmobil toys that have made bath time very enjoyable for all three of my kids:
(Note: the number is the product number, the name in parenthesis is the set theme, and the name is the product name.)
5721 - (Fire) Rescue Raft: This set comes with a red Zodiac-style rescue boat, two firemen, and a swimmer. There's also the requisite accessories - outboard engine, oars, and miscellaneous rescue gear. It even has a length of nylon line that you can string around the perimeter of the raft to make getting in that much easier. I thought for sure this line wouldn't last very long. Imagine my surprise that it has held up for several years now, surviving three kids and twice a week dunkings! Overall, a great toy that has been a bath time favorite. I give it a well-deserved 9 out of 10!
5754 - (Adventure) Croc Boat: G'day, mate! For some reason, I can't help but think of Paul Hogan and his "Crocodile Dundee" movies when I hear the word 'croc.' You get a cool air boat, two croc wranglers, a croc, assorted small animals, and some swamp adventure gear. There's also a piece of swamp terrain that goes with it. The croc boat has also seen a lot of action in the tub, and has consistently been a favorite. The rubber luggage restraint up front comes off a lot, as does the fin assembly that steers the airflow on the aft section of the boat. Still, a solid toy that rates a 7 out of 10.
5749 - (Adventure) Pontoon Helicopter: This set contains a pontoon helicopter, a pilot and co-pilot figures, and a couple pieces of rescue gear. The rotors spin nicely, the bubble canopy folds forward for easy access, and it's pretty stable in the water. The canopy hasn't help up well, as it is very scratched and clouded. Not totally unexpected from clear (smoke-tinted) plastic, but still kind of a bummer. I give this one a 6 out of 10.
3155 - (Vikings) Nessie: Bath dragon! That's what my kids have always called Nessie. The sea serpent was purchased years ago on a business trip to London, and it has resided in one of our bathtubs ever since. A detachable green weight on the underside of Nessie allows her to float upright. The weight falls off from time to time, but not often enough to rate as annoying. My daughter has enjoyed playing with the smiling viking warrior girl included in this set. Nessie deserves an 8 out of 10 in my book.
Of course, all of these toys have a slot on them where you can attach the Underwater Motor (7350) for the added enjoyment of having your boat/dragon/etc. motorized!
I just can't say enough good things about Playmobil. Great toys.
(Note: the number is the product number, the name in parenthesis is the set theme, and the name is the product name.)
5721 - (Fire) Rescue Raft: This set comes with a red Zodiac-style rescue boat, two firemen, and a swimmer. There's also the requisite accessories - outboard engine, oars, and miscellaneous rescue gear. It even has a length of nylon line that you can string around the perimeter of the raft to make getting in that much easier. I thought for sure this line wouldn't last very long. Imagine my surprise that it has held up for several years now, surviving three kids and twice a week dunkings! Overall, a great toy that has been a bath time favorite. I give it a well-deserved 9 out of 10!
5754 - (Adventure) Croc Boat: G'day, mate! For some reason, I can't help but think of Paul Hogan and his "Crocodile Dundee" movies when I hear the word 'croc.' You get a cool air boat, two croc wranglers, a croc, assorted small animals, and some swamp adventure gear. There's also a piece of swamp terrain that goes with it. The croc boat has also seen a lot of action in the tub, and has consistently been a favorite. The rubber luggage restraint up front comes off a lot, as does the fin assembly that steers the airflow on the aft section of the boat. Still, a solid toy that rates a 7 out of 10.
5749 - (Adventure) Pontoon Helicopter: This set contains a pontoon helicopter, a pilot and co-pilot figures, and a couple pieces of rescue gear. The rotors spin nicely, the bubble canopy folds forward for easy access, and it's pretty stable in the water. The canopy hasn't help up well, as it is very scratched and clouded. Not totally unexpected from clear (smoke-tinted) plastic, but still kind of a bummer. I give this one a 6 out of 10.
3155 - (Vikings) Nessie: Bath dragon! That's what my kids have always called Nessie. The sea serpent was purchased years ago on a business trip to London, and it has resided in one of our bathtubs ever since. A detachable green weight on the underside of Nessie allows her to float upright. The weight falls off from time to time, but not often enough to rate as annoying. My daughter has enjoyed playing with the smiling viking warrior girl included in this set. Nessie deserves an 8 out of 10 in my book.
Of course, all of these toys have a slot on them where you can attach the Underwater Motor (7350) for the added enjoyment of having your boat/dragon/etc. motorized!
I just can't say enough good things about Playmobil. Great toys.
Friday, March 28, 2008
LEGO review #1 - Star Wars LEGOs
7654 - Droids Battle Pack: This kit includes a droid transport carrier, a STAP "bike" and 7 droids (4 Battle Droids and 3 Super Battle Droids).
In small hands, the STAP tends to come apart quite easily, especially where the two clear base pieces fit together. Same with the blasters on the droid carrier.
My only complaint is about the Battle Droids - their arms/hands are molded in such a position that they cannot grasp their weapons in the upright position - they must hold them sideways. That, and the blasters are the clunky-looking two-piece jobs. For comparison, look at the Battle Droids included in 7662, the Trade Federation MTT. Those droids have arms/hands molded to grasp their weapons upright, and have the more realistic-looking molded blasters.
Overall, it's a good value when you consider you get seven droid figures and two small vehicles in the kit. I give it a 6 out of 10.
7655 - Clone Troopers Battle Pack: This kit includes a speeder bike, a turret position, and 4 Clone Troopers.
I like the speeder bike, as it looks cool and holds up well to handling. I can take or leave the turret - I would have rather had a second speeder bike to be honest. And I wish there were a couple more Clone Troopers included. But at least they give you three different kinds of clones (one Shock Trooper, one Star Corps Trooper, and two Clone Troopers).
The helmets tend to come off the troopers frequently, so I may just end up gluing them to the black heads to save on frustration.
Another good value for the money, and I give this kit a 7 out of 10.
7656 - General Grievous Starfighter: A very cool kit! Included are the Starfighter and a General Grievous figure (complete with 4 arms, 4 lightsabers, and a blaster).
There's something about the General's Starfighter that reminds me of the air racers of the 1930s and 1940s - sleek and powerful, yet sturdy enough to take a beating.
In smaller hands, the (bleep)ing canopy comes off over and over and over...frustrating for all parties involved. Same goes for the canopy slider mechanism and the two blaster cannons. You'll spend a lot of time putting this one back together many times.
Still, it's a great-looking kit, and makes a nice addition to your collection. I give it a 7 out of 10.
7667 - Imperial Dropship: What a clever little vehicle! This kit includes a dropship and 4 figures (1 Shadow Stormtrooper pilot and 3 Stormtroopers).
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Stormtroopers, so how could I not like this kit? The tail pivots up and forward, allowing you to detach the platform the Stormtroopers are riding on. I wish they had included one more Stormtrooper, just to have an even 4 figures sitting on the platform.
It holds up well to handling, which is always nice. Well, except for the Stormtrooper's helmets, which frequently fall off (just like the Clone Trooper's helmets). I give this kit a 7 out of 10.
7668 - Rebel Scout Speeder: This kit includes a scout speeder and 4 Rebel Troopers.
The speeder looks good and holds up nicely to handling for the most part. The little clips for the Rebel's blasters are a great detail! The blaster cannon detaches easily for quick placement, which is nice, but tends to fall off time and again in smaller hands.
Just don't get me started on the trooper's helmets - they fall off even more frequently than the helmets of the Clone Troopers and Stormtroopers! Grr...
Now if LEGO makes a similar kit with some Hoth troopers, now you're talking! I give this kit a 5 out of 10.
TopKat
In small hands, the STAP tends to come apart quite easily, especially where the two clear base pieces fit together. Same with the blasters on the droid carrier.
My only complaint is about the Battle Droids - their arms/hands are molded in such a position that they cannot grasp their weapons in the upright position - they must hold them sideways. That, and the blasters are the clunky-looking two-piece jobs. For comparison, look at the Battle Droids included in 7662, the Trade Federation MTT. Those droids have arms/hands molded to grasp their weapons upright, and have the more realistic-looking molded blasters.
Overall, it's a good value when you consider you get seven droid figures and two small vehicles in the kit. I give it a 6 out of 10.
7655 - Clone Troopers Battle Pack: This kit includes a speeder bike, a turret position, and 4 Clone Troopers.
I like the speeder bike, as it looks cool and holds up well to handling. I can take or leave the turret - I would have rather had a second speeder bike to be honest. And I wish there were a couple more Clone Troopers included. But at least they give you three different kinds of clones (one Shock Trooper, one Star Corps Trooper, and two Clone Troopers).
The helmets tend to come off the troopers frequently, so I may just end up gluing them to the black heads to save on frustration.
Another good value for the money, and I give this kit a 7 out of 10.
7656 - General Grievous Starfighter: A very cool kit! Included are the Starfighter and a General Grievous figure (complete with 4 arms, 4 lightsabers, and a blaster).
There's something about the General's Starfighter that reminds me of the air racers of the 1930s and 1940s - sleek and powerful, yet sturdy enough to take a beating.
In smaller hands, the (bleep)ing canopy comes off over and over and over...frustrating for all parties involved. Same goes for the canopy slider mechanism and the two blaster cannons. You'll spend a lot of time putting this one back together many times.
Still, it's a great-looking kit, and makes a nice addition to your collection. I give it a 7 out of 10.
7667 - Imperial Dropship: What a clever little vehicle! This kit includes a dropship and 4 figures (1 Shadow Stormtrooper pilot and 3 Stormtroopers).
I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Stormtroopers, so how could I not like this kit? The tail pivots up and forward, allowing you to detach the platform the Stormtroopers are riding on. I wish they had included one more Stormtrooper, just to have an even 4 figures sitting on the platform.
It holds up well to handling, which is always nice. Well, except for the Stormtrooper's helmets, which frequently fall off (just like the Clone Trooper's helmets). I give this kit a 7 out of 10.
7668 - Rebel Scout Speeder: This kit includes a scout speeder and 4 Rebel Troopers.
The speeder looks good and holds up nicely to handling for the most part. The little clips for the Rebel's blasters are a great detail! The blaster cannon detaches easily for quick placement, which is nice, but tends to fall off time and again in smaller hands.
Just don't get me started on the trooper's helmets - they fall off even more frequently than the helmets of the Clone Troopers and Stormtroopers! Grr...
Now if LEGO makes a similar kit with some Hoth troopers, now you're talking! I give this kit a 5 out of 10.
TopKat
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Playmobil Overview
I didn't have any Playmobil toys growing up, but I sure wish I did! My sister introduced me to the ubiquitous smiling figures when she bought them for her girls.
Playmobil figures were first introduced in 1974. The basic Playmobil figure is almost 3 inches tall, and can stand, sit, bend at the waist. You can rotate the head, arms, and hands. The hands are shaped to grasp a huge assortment of accessories.
The recommended age for Playmobil is 4+ due to the many small parts, some that can pose choking hazards to little ones, so use your own judgement - if your child is prone to putting things in his or her mouth, Playmobil may not be the best choice.
I wanted my kids to play with their Playmobil toys starting at 3, so I made sure I was the first one to open all new Playmobil sets. Any and all small parts went straight into ziploc storage bags (along with the instructions), to be saved for later use when the kids were older.
Another potential downside of Playmobil is the frustration factor, especially when dealing with small hands (ages 3 to 5). Some items tend to fall apart during play (not break, mind you) which can lead to some unhappy campers. Case in point:
The Jet Airliner (3185) is a great toy. It was one of my first Playmobil purchases two or three years ago, and it still gets a lot of use today. The problem is that some of the pieces fell off rather easily, such as the wheels and tail assembly. My solution was to take the tail and wheels off, and set them aside. Not perfect, but it worked for my kids. I also ended up using some Zap-A-Gap (super glue) to fasten the four small red connectors located in the wing, because they fell out a lot.
Overall, I would give Playmobil a solid 9 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being "Outstanding." As long as you remove any potential safety concerns (small parts) and are ready to deal with some minor frustration (mostly from your youngest players), Playmobil is a great toy. All three of my kids still love Playmobil, and I see many potential years of creative and fun play in store for both the kids and the toys.
Official Playmobil website:
http://www.playmobil.com/index.html
Playmobil figures were first introduced in 1974. The basic Playmobil figure is almost 3 inches tall, and can stand, sit, bend at the waist. You can rotate the head, arms, and hands. The hands are shaped to grasp a huge assortment of accessories.
The recommended age for Playmobil is 4+ due to the many small parts, some that can pose choking hazards to little ones, so use your own judgement - if your child is prone to putting things in his or her mouth, Playmobil may not be the best choice.
I wanted my kids to play with their Playmobil toys starting at 3, so I made sure I was the first one to open all new Playmobil sets. Any and all small parts went straight into ziploc storage bags (along with the instructions), to be saved for later use when the kids were older.
Another potential downside of Playmobil is the frustration factor, especially when dealing with small hands (ages 3 to 5). Some items tend to fall apart during play (not break, mind you) which can lead to some unhappy campers. Case in point:
The Jet Airliner (3185) is a great toy. It was one of my first Playmobil purchases two or three years ago, and it still gets a lot of use today. The problem is that some of the pieces fell off rather easily, such as the wheels and tail assembly. My solution was to take the tail and wheels off, and set them aside. Not perfect, but it worked for my kids. I also ended up using some Zap-A-Gap (super glue) to fasten the four small red connectors located in the wing, because they fell out a lot.
Overall, I would give Playmobil a solid 9 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being "Outstanding." As long as you remove any potential safety concerns (small parts) and are ready to deal with some minor frustration (mostly from your youngest players), Playmobil is a great toy. All three of my kids still love Playmobil, and I see many potential years of creative and fun play in store for both the kids and the toys.
Official Playmobil website:
http://www.playmobil.com/index.html
Welcome toy fans!
Greetings, toy fans of all ages, and welcome to my toy blog. I've always been a huge fan of toys, and thankfully never got "too old" to play with toys. I'll be posting reviews of a wide variety of toys, divided up into several categories:
* Baby & Toddler Toys
* Kid's Toys (ages 3+)
* Big Kid's Toys (teens on up)
* Video/PC Games
All reviews will come my own personal use of a given product, or from playing experience with my children (3, 5, and 7). I hope my opinions and observations are useful to you!
TopKat
* Baby & Toddler Toys
* Kid's Toys (ages 3+)
* Big Kid's Toys (teens on up)
* Video/PC Games
All reviews will come my own personal use of a given product, or from playing experience with my children (3, 5, and 7). I hope my opinions and observations are useful to you!
TopKat
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
