Toyology

Toyology's Top Toy of 2007

Well folk what a year it has been, we've been finger blistered playing with all the goodies that have hit the shelves this year and 2008 looks even better (which we'll tell you about after Toy Fair at the end of Jan). But from the hundreds of toys we have had the pleasure of reviewing these past 12 months have selected our two favourites. Its been tough, we've loved loads of LEGO, many movie licensed playthings, TV toys and classic handmade kit like Automoblox but there can only be two to make the final cut. For the boys it is the Flytech Dragonfly for its sheer unputdownability when placed in the hand and the girls have the remote control My Scene Barbie for having such longevity, attributes important to adults and kids alike. A Happy new Year to one and all... we look forward to a fun packed 2008.

Red Hot Review – Not One For the Faint Hearted

Hype

Paladone’s 4 multiplayer choice Shocking Quiz is designed to test your general knowledge. Answer correctly in the time given and you’re laughing, get it wrong however and you’re in for quite a shock - high or low voltage at the quiz master’s discretion.

Red Hot Review – Tyco Rapid Assault

Hype

Tyco’s Rapid Assault looks like the ultimate fighting machine, decked out in army colours with a menacing truck style bonnet and a tank style design. Mattel tells us the Rapid Assault is the ultimate in remote control firepower featuring a rapid-fire 12 shot cannon that fires foam darts with a long range attack capability up to 20 feet and full functioning steering.

Red Hot Review – Unleash the Storm

Hype

The Air Hogs Mini Storm Launcher, like the name suggests is a smaller version of the full sized earlier model. At just under a foot long Spinmaster tells us this hydroplane boat look-a-like - much like the original - can drive around on the ground like a car and then take off like a plane or fly by using the hand launch method.

Red Hot Review – Choose It, Load it, Play It and Change It With Bop It Download

Hype 

Remember Bop It? Yes the highly addictive and frustrating 21st century Simon Says designed to bamboozle your brain and whip you into a ‘flick it’, ‘twist it’ frenzy each time you try to challenge a friend or beat your high score. Well the evil gaming genius is back and it’s new and improved...Introducing Bop It Download. The clue is in the name as the Bop It Download allows you to download new music, sounds and voices from www.playbopit.com and even record your own commands. It features the same game-play as before, but now allows you to customise your Bop It whenever you fancy.

Red Hot Review - The Real Macaw

Hype

Remember when we told you about the Furreal Friends family a while back? This week the latest edition flew in through the window – it’s the all talking all dancing parrot. Hasbro tells us Squawkers Macaw can repeat words, be “taught” to speak, respond to touch, make cheeky sounds and even dance, just like a real parrot.

Toyologist Test – 2 hour Trial

Well shiver me timbers, it actually does sound and act like a real parrot – that is apart from the breaking wind, demented laughter and of course the fact you can control it with a remote. Once you have removed the Mensa challenge that is the sellotape and wire fastenings from the box and assembled its perch (which doesn’t take very long), you are free to dabble with your new furry friend at will. Involves anything from making it dance to music or its own version of Arrow’s “Hot, Hot, Hot”, training it to obey your command and say certain words phrases and sound effects to making your plush friend coo kiss and flutter his wings and not forgetting to feed Polly his plastic cracker.

Verdict

The Squawkers Macaw Parrot is great for all ages. It is however your year that will determine your tolerance to this product. The range of features will be too much for kids to grasp, so adult supervision is definitely recommended, although we’re certain children would be entertained for hours with just the 45 words phrases and sound effects already installed. It’s the kind of toy you buy for your kids which you then sneak to the office to show your colleagues to get a few laughs, only to give it back when the novelty has worn off or you were close to shoving that cracker down Polly’s throat to shut it up!

Overall the Squawkers Macaw Parrot earns a silver badge from us at the Toyolgy Towers. It’s got a high entertainment level and has enough features to prevent boredom, however it misses out on making it to gold due to the complexity of its features and the tendency to annoy if left on for too long.

Property Pages

                        

Over 200,000,000 copies of Monopoly have been sold since 1935, and this book celebrates its status as the cultural icon it now is. This book written by Monopoly expert Philip Orbanes looks at the history of the game, all the secrets, twists, turns, tragedies and triumphs. I had no idea the game played a role in building and preserving morale during the Depression and World War II and that it was banned in Communist countries. Did they ever imagine the number of variations that are on offer today or indeed the amount of board rage "flipping" and family feuds it would create. Yours at Amazon

Party Parcel

Could there be a more traditional party game than "Pass the Parcel"? We think not, the competitive spirit of this classic game can only be compared with the mayhem that musical chairs invokes. An electronic version doing away with the wrapping invoked our interest. Fill the box with goodies and, using the supplied remote gain total control of who opens the "wrapping" to collect the booty on board. If parental control is in question the box can be set to stop randomly on its own. Save the earth, lose the paper and use this box of tricks over and over. £14.99 from Upstarts