Friday, October 11, 2013

Matchbox Dino Breakout Playset


Interesting complex toy (Note: needs one additional car)
Packaging is medium frustration level. You'll need a small blade for cutting the tape and removing some packaging. There are a number of grey plastic parts used to hold the toy in the packaging, including a large spring-loaded tube which can all be discarded. There are two plastic pieces (one grey, one red) that are loose in the bottom of the package with the instructions and which have to be attached to complete the toy.

Unless you've seen a video it's hard to figure out how this things works.

You start with everything folded up, and the included car on top with its wheels in the little wells. You press the red button and (if you're lucky) the platform the car is on will tip forward, the car will enter the dino's mouth, and the dino's head will pop up.

Next you pull up on the handle to expand the set completely (this can be a bit difficult for a child to get the hang of). The cage opens, and the racetrack deploys around it. You will need to manually...
Too Funny
So, cars. Dinasaurs. Cars and Dinasaurs? A hit. The dino eats the car and it shoots out his butt. What kid, especially boys, would not go nuts over this? Mine sure did. They love it. I love that, once it is put together, it works like a pop up book without the loose pieces. Also, no batteries required. Hurray! In saying that, this was a mess to put together. I suggest watching the video tutorals, because the instructions were no help. Also, it's not compatable with Hot Wheels cars, etc. You need to use the ones specifically for the set, and it only comes with one. So far, it's pretty durable, but I can see where this will break down over time with the design.
Great concept, mediocre execution
You know how pop-up books magically spring to life? Well, the Dino Breakout is like a pop-up toy. It starts as a nice self-contained box which is easy to store and carry around. With a simple pull of the handle, it transforms into a dinosaur racetrack. Except for the car, there are no loose parts. The concept of an all-in-one toy with no loose parts is fantastic for parents who are tired of picking up random toy parts all over the house.

The execution of this toy leaves a bit to be desired however:
-The playing instructions are poorly presented in small, monochromatic diagrams.
-The car is supposed to be able to pass through the dinosaur mouth and body but it gets stuck half the time.
-In order to play as intended, you will need buy a 2nd car. You will want a 2nd car that is small enough to easily fit through the dinosaur body which might be hard to find.
-There are limited ways to play with this toy. There isn't much variety in paths for the car and...
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