Reviews (1)

Great Gear with a few catches.
We had a chance to test these guns in the woods up near Seattle at Bremer BattleIV (see www.1SourceLaserTag.com for more info). These guns are very durable (compared to other brands), and loaded to the hilt with features....warning some adults may have problems with this gear as it is designed for the video gamming crowd...lotsa buttons, bells and whistles. The only drawbacks is that the sensor is on the gun which can be easily blocked - and the aiming is difficult as the sights are on the side of the gun. Only other problem is that it is hard to distinguish between being hit and hitting someone (sounds are too close to being the same) However, the built in games and features out weigh these problems and over all we had a BLAST with this gear....pun intended! ... Read more

Editorial Review

This neon green and grape roller coaster is impressive in both size andscope. When fully built the coaster stretches 6 feet long and stands 3 feethigh. The directions are detailed and clear, and we had no trouble putting ittogether. It did take us a bit over five hours, though, and it's likely that anychild under 12 will need parental assistance. But assembling it is half the fun.When finished, the track careens so hazardously, it's hard to believe the carswill stay on, but they do! The plastic chain hauls the three cars up slowly,just like a real roller coaster, and the sound effects box re-creates the noiseso perfectly you'll squirm with anticipation. After reaching the top and passingthrough the serpent's mouth, the cars begin their dizzying descent past thesound effects box, which has now switched to emitting enthusiastic and terrifiedscreaming. Gravity and centrifugal force whip the little cars along the rest ofthe track until at last it reaches the beginning of the ride, only to be towedup for another round. If you don't have 6 feet of space, there are instructionsfor a smaller version, and you can turn the sound effects off if you prefer toplay quietly. Entirely worth the time and effort, this is ideal as a familyendeavor. --M. Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (112)

This is Awesome!!!
I'm 13 years old and thought this is the best toy ever. I got kind of bored with the set that it tells you to make so I built my own. I built the new boomerang ride at Six Flags Magic Mountain called "Deja Vu". I ran out of pieces, so I love it so much that I'm going to buy another one. I think that it should come with more pieces so you can build your own coaster, but that is the only flaw in it. I think it's the best toy ever especially to roller coaster enthusiasts like me.

Fun, but lots of work
I'd first like to say that I find the claims of other reviewers here that this toy can be assembled in 2-3 hours to be pretty unbelievable. My adult brother and I spent about 7 hours building this model, mostly working in parallel. This was our first KNEX model, but we are hardly novices at building complex toys.

I generally avoid Chinese-made toys due to their notoriously poor quality, and I was concerned about the not-completely-specified Chinese content of this model. Apparently, all of the standard KNEX parts are made in the US, and were of a very high quality plastic that snapped together nicely. It looked like only the electrical components (motor and sound box) and the train were made in China (and were of noticeably poorer quality plastic).

The actual construction process was a lot of fun. My only complaint here was that some parts of the manual dealing with the track support system were difficult to reproduce exactly, and failing to exactly reproduce this left us with a track fit problem. We finally had to fudge and use an unspecified part to make the track support work.

After construction, very little tweaking was required to get the model working as advertised. As other reviewers have noted, the model moves a lot when in use. This was resolved easily by building the model on a piece of pegboard and using a few strategic tie-wraps to hold it in place.

My major complaint: the motor assembly. It has a small, difficult to operate power switch. To make matters worse, it's apparently a generic KNEX motor module, and the power switch also has a "reverse" setting which, when accidentally activated while trying to turn the model on or off, can cause the model to jam (and possibly even cause damage).

Once the construction process is completed, this is not much of a "hands on" toy. There's really nothing you can "do" with it other than watch the train go round and round. The actual "ride" from the top of the lift to the bottom is only 2-3 seconds long.

This toy is awesome!!!
Its definately worth the 90.00 bucks that you spend on it cause it is VERY fun to build and even more fun to play with...The only thing is that you have to know and use your imagination to be able to build this thing cause it can be pretty hard in some spots...but never the less awesome!I'm 13 and built this in a Day in a half(took alot longer than most people)but I had fun doing it.If you do order this item TAKE YOUR TIME on it and don't rush it cause I did that and I had to start all over cause I couldn't figure out where I was at on building it.so I hope this review helped you and if you liked this try building the other knex theme park rides such as other rollercoasters and the ferris wheel.

The Screamin Serpent Rollor coaster rocks !!!
This toy is amazing and very entertaining. It is just a little complicated by with a little help it looks awsome. One of the best parts about it is that if you dont' like the the way the instructions tell you to build it you can build your own. You can have your own mini millenium force if you choose to in your own house. If I was to rate this out of five I would give it a four and a half. The only little flaw is that the instructions are a little hard to understand.

screamin serpant roller coaster
my son has one and it isnt extremly hard but slightly difficult to build. it has been almost a year and he still hasnt fixed all the bugs! some problems were bad design, track shortage and when the car goes through the loop sometimes it doesent go over the small hill or get a head start on the chain lift. I think that after awhile it gets boring and takes up too much room and money. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Pixter is like a personal digital assistant (PDA) for kids. But instead of storing boring appointments and phone numbers, they get to draw, do puzzles, and learn a little, too. The Pixter is about the size of a small book, and has a pretty solid weight to it. It's made out of brightly colored and durable plastic. The main action of this toy is drawing with an attached stylus. The Color Pixter offers much better graphics then the black and white version, which comes in handy with activities like Paint-by-Numbers and Connect-the-Dots. You can draw a picture free form, or you can use one of the starter backgrounds. There are tool buttons, like on a PDA, that give you access to fun stamps, special effects, and the eraser button. You can also save your creation in the Pixter's memory. There are some boppy tunes playing along with all this creative activity, but luckily for parents, there's also a jack for headphones and a volume adjuster. An expansion slot on top of the Pixter accepts ROM-based expansion cards that contain additional software and games. Requires 4 "AA" batteries. (Not included.) --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Kids really love this toy
My daughter was 3 1/2 when she first played with her 10 year old sister's B&W Pixter, and she loved it. So I got her the color Pixter, and she plays with it every day, especially in the car. There are educational games available for it, as well as entertainment games. It also plays all the older black and white games for the older versions of Pixter.

Disappointed
We bought this for our 4 year old because he's not quite old enough for Game Boy. We have already had to return it twice due to it malfunctioning within a short period of time. The first one, the stylus didn't work and the second one the stylus worked on only half the screen after a couple of weeks. For as much money as we spent, I had great expectations. The kids, 4-9 years, enjoyed it while it worked, it just didn't hold up very long. I'd spend my money else where.

Take Care
My kids love this toy!! But do be careful because it is needs to be well taken care of. I would not reccommend this to any child who just throws things down where they may.

worth every penny
My 4 year old is one of those kids who can't play with anything for more than 5 minutes, except the Pixter. It is the best toy I've ever bought for her, and we've tried everything (thanks to used toys and bargains...). I bought her the Pixter recently because I was pregnant and too tired to keep her busy. It is well designed, challenging but not frustrating, is adaptable to her growth and needs, etc.

Pixter Easily Broken
I got my daughter the Pixter Color. Her little sister dropped it on my oak floor a few hours after we opened up the box. Now only half the screen works. I know it was dropped, but kids drop stuff. There must be a way to make these things more breakage-resistant. Spending 80 dollars on a toy that worked just one afternoon is bad enough. Listening to my daughter sob all evening was worse. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

War, anyone?
The Advanced Mission takes this familiar game to a whole new level. Here is the list of the new weapons and tactics now at your disposal: 2 exocet missles fired from your aircraft carrier; 1 tomahawk missle with a massive footprint fired from your battleship; 2 apache missles fired from your destroyer; 2 torpedoes fired from your sub; two recon airplanes for surveillance; and sonar imaging from your sub! While the older version of this game had some strategy, it was still a mostly guessing game, but with the Advanced Mission you really have to plan your attack and keep track of your available assets. One hint: have your recon planes take off from the aircraft carrier ASAP to avoid them being destroyed if the ship gets sunk. If you play this game with some strategy in mind you will find yourself doing very little guessing, which makes this game much more interesting and NEVER boring!

Very cool...But mesy
I got this toy for Christmas from my grandmother. It is pretty complicated, so I do not really agree with the age ranges. My eight year old neighbor who lives across the street from me tried to play it, and in the process she got very confused after many times of explanation. It is extremely fun, but it is also extremely mesy. What can I say. I love this game and it is definalty worth all that money. Accualy, It is worth a lot more.

Could be fun if pegs fit better
I think this game could be lots of fun. I played with my 6 year-old boy, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE PEGS USED TO RECORD HITS AND MISSES EITHER FELL OUT OR WERE SO HARD TO PUT IN, WE HAD TO USE PLIERS TO PULL THEM OUT.

This pretty much ruined the fun. Maybe I got a lemon (bad quality control?). If someone reads this, please tell me if their version did not have this problem. Otherwise I can't see putting my boy (and me) through the agony again.

Fun for the whole family
There is something about hearing the noise that tells you you've score a hit- call it a Pavlovian reponse, but it's lots of fun!! We're getting this for the second generation of recipients this Christmas.

Advanced Mission could be even better..........
I bought this game for my daughter. She has the old version but cheated too much. Of course I cheated too. Believe me, you would never find my patrol boat. I'd just keep moving it around.
Advance Mission puts an end to that. You have to program in your coordinates so it's impossible to cheat. This is a good thing.
Advanced Mission has four different games to be played:
The Classic Mission - each player gets one shot apiece regardless of hit or miss.
The Salvo Mission - each player gets one shot for every ship left unsunk. I really like this one.
The Bonus Mission - each player gets one shot unless they score a hit in which case they can continue on the same turn until they miss.
The Advanced Mission - each ship has special weapons and you have two recon planes, however if you use the recon planes I will defeat you. IMO the recon planes are a bit too much. Deploying them counts as a turn and you don't get to fire a weapon. I never deploy my recon planes. I have never lost, yet.

Another thing that sets this game apart is the ability to play the computer. You don't even need any friends to have a good old fashioned war at sea.
There are also 3 different skill levels to choose from. ...
Of course the game now has sound. You hear the weapons being fired and the explosions from hits.
All that being said I still see room for improvement. On the old battleship you could adjust the top grid for better visibility, much like you would a laptop. On Advanced Mission the top grid is fixed and depending on the lighting can be hard to see.
Unless you are sitting at eye level with direct lighting you will inevitably place a peg in the wrong grid resulting in frustration and possibly a failed mission.
The makers of Advanced Mission should have gone a step further by lighting the grids, at least the top grid. It wouldn't take much to accomplish. It would look really cool and certainly be easier on the eyeballs.
The other thing is the volume, which is relatively low...
Bottomline is it's a fine game but with a few improvements it would really be something. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Today’s video games with all their bells and whistles had to begin somewhere, and that somewhere was your living room, in, say, 1982.Remember Asteroids, Missile Command, and Breakout? How about Centipede, Adventure and Gravitar? This TV Games Video System--just a "smart" joystick and nothing else--delivers 10 classic games in all. The joystick has the typical up-down-left-right movements, and single functions to select, start, and reset games. Front-and-center is a big, red fire button ("fire" being the only way to propel or kill things back then). The unit hooks up to your TV via those yellow and white AV output jacks (which should already be on your TV or VCR), and requires 4 "AA" batteries. --Diane Beall ... Read more

Reviews (56)

Great nostalgia kick
I was a huge Atari fan back in the day, so I was very excited about this product when I saw it in stores. My wife took the hint and picked one up for me. What a great little product! I have had a great time getting into the old classics, and even my kids are enjoying it. ADVENTURE is especially good and is easily the game I play most. There is only one dark spot on this product - some of the games they chose for this joystick product were originally designed for the old paddle controller. Pong and Breakout just aren't the same.

Not worth the money
I thought this would be a fun purchase, but it's not! <br /> <br /> Like the reader before, the games don't even look like they did in the arcade, for example Centepede, when the game is about to boot up, the screen shows the original screen with mushrooms but when the game play starts the mushrooms turn into red blocks! <br /> <br /> None of the games match the originals. Very dissapointing!

COOL gaming system!!!!
im Erik Brillhart and when i was growing up, my parents' freinds had an Atari 2600. when i was playing it, i didnt wanna stop! then i saw this when i used it, it was just like the Atari 2600! i really love this thing and it can take a heck of a beatin'. but u wont learn anything from it exept how to have a fun time!

Review
My grandma got me this game and I love it I also have the controller with 10 games.

NO GOOD!
I am very disappointed with this product. It's not even worth 20 bucks. The graphics/sounds aren't even close to the original games. Plus, it doesn't even work properly. TOO many glitches have started appearing and it's only been used a few times. (and not by abusive children, but by adults) Please don't waste your money on this poorly made product. MS pacman one is bad news too. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Even electronic toys have gone extreme. Kids love the original Bop It, an electronic toy that challenges response time to pull, twist, and bop different parts of the toy. The Extreme 2 version adds two more tasks, more sounds, and a taunting, smart-aleck announcer who directs the game. As you get better, the game moves faster until you miss a beat and lose, accompanied by a fair amount of noise and ridicule from the toy. People who don't think they'd ever want to play Bop It Extreme 2 won't be able to put it down; it instills a compulsive need to bop till you drop. It can be played in a group and makes a good party game--even for serious adults. --Lynne Sampson ... Read more

Reviews (18)

The Best game!
Bop it Extreme 2 is the best! My sister got it for her birthday but, I love playing it! Before I could only get 1 or 2 but, now I have 38.
I play it when I wake up, when I have extra time, & before I go to bed!
I like all the things you can play on it and, that it has a volume control and, that it tells you what the high score is.
This game is really fun! People should purchase this item.

Bop it extreme 2 vs Bop it extreme
Hi, I'm a 19 years old college student attending UCSD. I live in a suit with other students and we use to hang out, but we got nothing to do. I decided to buy this toy to promote some social interactions. To my surprise, everybody just jumps in and have a blast. We played endless Pass it! games. It REALLY trains your reflex skill. I find it so much fun that I had to write a review, which I rarely do.

As for the difference between the Bop It Extreme and the Bop It Extreme 2 versions.(I had this question when I buy this toy)
1) The Bop It Extreme 2 version has 3 levels of volume, while the Bop It Extreme has one LOUD volume.
2) The Bop It Extreme 2 has an earphone jack for personal enjoyment, while the Bop It Extreme doesn't.
3) The Bop It Extreme 2 TELLS you at the end your score(i.e. "You scored forty-eght"), while the Bop It Extreme plays different sounds to denote score(i.e. "whistle, whistle, rachet, rachet, rachet, drum, drum, drum, drum"). Hence requiring you to count and decipher which sound worth more points than other.
4) The Bop It Extreme 2 has more music than the Bop It Extreme as advertised.
5) The Bop It Extreme 2 has rubber grip and better grip-mold for the Spin it! wheel.
6) The Bop It Extreme 2 just looks much cooler, hands down! :D

Playing this game Solo is fun, but get together w/ your friends and you all will have a BLAST!

NOT soooo great,
VERY,VERY noisey. It is hard for me to get a high score. They whant you to do it so fast. (Yes, I know a game should be challinging.) And to tell you it takes a odd number of batterys,3 of 'em. One time the batterys got corroded so it made it hard to get out. I never did play with it again. The sound got scratchy too. (...)I do not recomend any of the Bop It toys to anyone.

So much better then Extreme 1!
Wow! This is a pretty fun game. The original was so loud and annoying, and the speaker was tinny. Bop it Extreme 2, though a little easier, is so much better. It also has a Bop It button that is less prone to getting accidentally hit.

EXTREME fun for all ages!!!
Bought as a gift for my son, the whole family has enjoyed this unique little gizmo. I can't help but think that this must help with thinking skills. Totally portable, it's a favorite at sleep-overs... it's even more popular than Gameboy, and that's saying something. A very healthy family game! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Pixter is like a personal digital assistant (PDA) for kids. But instead of storing boring appointments and phone numbers, they get to draw, do puzzles, and learn a little, too. The Pixter is about the size of a small book, and has a pretty solid weight to it. It's made out of brightly colored and durable plastic. The main action of this toy is drawing with an attached stylus. The Color Pixter offers much better graphics then the black and white version, which comes in handy with activities like Paint-by-Numbers and Connect-the-Dots. You can draw a picture free form, or you can use one of the starter backgrounds. There are tool buttons, like on a PDA, that give you access to fun stamps, special effects, and the eraser button. You can also save your creation in the Pixter's memory. There are some boppy tunes playing along with all this creative activity, but luckily for parents, there's also a jack for headphones and a volume adjuster. An expansion slot on top of the Pixter accepts ROM-based expansion cards that contain additional software and games. Requires 4 "AA" batteries. (Not included.) --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Has entertained my child for 3 years!
We first bought our pixter in 2001 while taking our 4 year old on a three week trip to Europe. It entertained her the ENTIRE time. We even had people coming up to us to take pictures of her playing it because she was so quiet for such a young child! Of course, the next year, we upgraded to the 2.0 version (giving her old one to her cousin). She still plays with it constantly. We have a large variety of software (which I buy on sale every so often) that she keeps attached to the carrying case (I do recommend, it keeps everything in one place and is handy to carry everywhere) in a small mess bag I had. She plays it with or without the sound depending on where we are. I asked her if she wanted a gameboy or a pixter 2.0 in color for Christmas and she immediately said Pixter! It's much more imaginative and allows her to be creative. It also is great for us to play games while trying to pass time like when we are waiting at a doctor's office. We can draw, play tic-tac-toe, bingo, etc... and she doesn't make a fuss. She loves it so much, that she shows every kid she sees how it works and lets them play. It does wear the more she plays, but what doesn't? Her current one has lasted for over two years with almost daily use. All ours have lasted through tons of train, plane and automobile rides, many of them over 10 hours in length. I would definitely buy it for the 3-7 year range. I'm sure the older children may not get as much entertainment out of it as they would other systems. We'll be buying her the color version for Christmas this year!

Pixter-Color
Great toy better that the monochrome version. However, it lacks durability. My 5 year old son got one as a christmas present in 03'. We have had to exchanged it 3 times in 8 months. The primary problem been accuracy of the touch pad. Even after recaliburation the accuracy slightly improves if at all. There is no place for light as in the previous version. My son loves it when it works but gets very frustrated when it doesn't.

Broken on the second day....
We used to own the pixter but it quit working after just a few months (I was disappointed but assumed that it was just my child's overuse/rough handling) so we thought we would upgrade to the color pixter as they had since been released. We should have learned from our mistakes about the durability of this product. My daughter had it out of the box for not even 24 hours, it slipped out of her hands onto the floor, and the screen cracked and the product no longer works. This drop was only 12 inches to the floor. This is quite an expensive toy to not be able to withstand more. My children own gameboys and have dropped them numerous times and even left them in the car on a hot day, and they still work. In fact, my friend's child left his out in the rain and after drying it out, it continued to work! I am truly disappointed with the inability of the Pixter to stand up to a child's environment. I would think twice before buying this toy.

Not a satisfied customer!!!
I purchased a Color Pixter for my neice's 5th Birthday. She already owns and loves her Leapster so I figured she'd really enjoy the Pixter.Before I gave it to her I myself tried it out and honestly thought it was kind of neat but a bit limited. I know the Leapster talks to you and the Pixter doesn't. For over $80 this thing should talk. Anyway, I give it to her and she literally had it out of the box for 5 minutes and I look over and the screen has been scratched beyond belief!! I know for a fact she used nothing but the stylus on the screen. Obviously she pressed too hard which they do warn you about in the owner's manual but lets be reasonable! She did exactly what she usually does to the Leapster and the Pixter can't withstand anything but a very gentle touch which is not what you're going to get from 4 and 5 yr olds. This is not the quality that I expected. She's not a destructive child with her toys. She's had the Leapster since Christmas, has no problems with it and loves it. I had read the reviews that these Pixters don't seem to hold up very well but for heavens sake...I paid well over $100 for this thing along with another software cartridge to use with it and it's in her posession for literally 5 minutes and this is how it holds up?? Fischer Price states that this toy is for ages 4 or 5 and up but take heed!! Unless you're buying this unit for a child who's older, I would not recommend it. In fact, I don't recommend buying it at all. I do highly recomment buying a Leapster and then buying the "Draw and Learn" software cartridge for about $25. It's very nice, and the Leapster is extremely durable. If I'd known they even made such a cartridge for the Leapster, I wouldn't have even bought the Color Pixter in the first place. Anyway, I returned the merchandise and recieved a full refund so no harm done but just a warning to all. When they say the screens will scratch, they're not kidding and it doesn't take much to scratch them. The Leapsters the way to go....hands down.

A nother *GREAT* toy,
Hey ya people. I bought one of these things and I say it is the best toy ever! O.K. here is the detales about this toy: 1:There is tons of other feachers on this than the first one. So don't go out and buy the older one. (It will bored to death!) 2: It is color. (duh,I don't know why I put that.) And the old one is, well, black and white. Witch can sometimes stran your eyes. 3: There is better games included with the color. For instince, pick a seane and draw and put stamps and stuff. create words and put them as stamps. (witch is cool.) color the number. Draw by yourself. And conect the dots. wonce you conect the dots a mini show like-thingie will have to do some thing about the picture. 4: Now this is about the batteries. Well, I played it A LOT and I repeat A LOT and STILL HAVEN'T HAD TO CHANGE THE BATTERIES! And to tell you it takes four of those batteries. 5: Here is a kind of cool feature. It tures off when you don't play with it after a while. 6: It can take both black and white softwere and color softwere. So make sure you have the adapter. And wene you want a color softwere make shure you pick up a color one beacause I picked up a black and white one on accident. That's all about the stuff about it! About the learning,well what I think is educational is if you don't have paper at home you can use it whoa, I was talking about education, It teaches you to be a good artest. Durability, you know you wouldn't want to damage a PDA for kids. I don't know what will happen but DON'T TRY IT! It also makes a prefect gift for Chistmas! So go out and buy it! You will be satisfied and so will your kids. Oh goodie! I got more things about this toy! You can save one, I repeat ONE piture or something you can save in a file. Which is a drag beacause you want to save more than ONE. And I tried to set the volum because it was noisey and it got scrachey. Eventually, it didn't scratch no more. And if you look on the bottom, you can put headphones. Which to me is nice. And once you get your pixter color, just follow the dierections you ain't going to be confusied. There are SIMPLE! Later dudes and evreybody else! P.S. Hope this review helped you! A LOT! ... Read more

Editorial Review

If there's anyone out there who thinks that the Pokemon craze would just be another fad, disappearing from public consciousness in a matter of months, well, think again. The popularity of the Japanese monster collecting game shows no sign of slowing and may in fact be growing thanks to improving technology, evidenced in new products such as this hand held Pokedex. It features electronically stored information on all 200 Pokemon Advanced monsters and features such as personalization and tracking up to six of your favorite Pokemon. You can earn trainer points as you capture the various critters on various different terrains offered. Beyond the traditional capture game, there are other challenges available including a Pokemon quiz and a new game where you help Mudkip run without tiring the poor guy out. The Pokedex may not appeal to someone who isn't already a Pokemon fan but for those who are hooked, it's a lot of fun. Three AAA batteries are required but not included. --Charlie Williams ... Read more

Reviews (7)

VERY COOL TOY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was really excited about this toy. when I got it I decided to test it out.it was great!everything worked VERY WELL!

Calling all spies!!!!!
Calling all spies! The Micro spy kit is really cool! The NIGHTSPYER mini-scope is great for snooping around in the dark. The voice scrambler is excellent for passing top- secret messages. The spy motion alarm is great for keeping secure areas secure, and the spy micro listener is great for listening in on secret conversations and picking up top-secret info. Anyway, on to the REVIEW. My favorite part of this kit is the NIGHTSPYER mini-scope because it's small, yet it's good for taking a closer look in the middle of the night. This toy is really cool! Buy it!!!

P.S. If it's too bright to use your NIGHTSPYER, you can go on a mission on [postopia website] . Look for the game called "Night Spy Mission" and go on a 4-level adventure for late night snacks. And look at the directions!!!

I love this toy!
This toy is really fun. My favorite attachment is the voice scrambler. My ten-year-old sister likes to use the Micro Listener. My eleven-year-old sister likes the Voice Scrambler, too. You should get this toy.

Spy Micro Kit
This toy is great! The NIGHT SPYER really works well. It can see in even the darkest places. The detector is nice and sensetive [and loud....], and it sounds even when there is a little bit of light. The voice changer lowers your voice, but besides that, it works great. The listener is the best thing in the micro kit. You can hear voices from REALLY far away, and through walls. The durability of this toy is ......ok, but it won't last long if stepped on or dropped. The educational value is bad because there is nothing educational. But it is SO MUCH FUN! Buy this toy! You won't be dissapointed!

A spy's best gadgets
Spy Micro kit is awesome!!! The Detector is great and sensitive, The night spyer is good for magnifying and seeing in the dark, the voice changer didn't really work but I still liked it, and the listener really worked! The only bad thing is that the voice changer lowers the volume of your voice and most of what you hear with the listener is backround noises but you can still hear better. I defenitly reccommend this item!! ... Read more

Editorial Review

The Pixter is like a personal digital assistant (PDA) for kids. But instead of storing boring appointments and phone numbers, they get to draw, do puzzles, and learn a little, too. The Pixter is about the size of a small book, and has a pretty solid weight to it. It's made out of brightly colored and durable plastic. The main action of this toy is drawing with an attached stylus. The Color Pixter offers much better graphics then the black and white version, which comes in handy with activities like Paint-by-Numbers and Connect-the-Dots. You can draw a picture free form, or you can use one of the starter backgrounds. There are tool buttons, like on a PDA, that give you access to fun stamps, special effects, and the eraser button. You can also save your creation in the Pixter's memory. There are some boppy tunes playing along with all this creative activity, but luckily for parents, there's also a jack for headphones and a volume adjuster. An expansion slot on top of the Pixter accepts ROM-based expansion cards that contain additional software and games. Requires 4 "AA" batteries. (Not included.) --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (9)

We LOVE It !!!!
My 2 year old was given the Pixter from her aunt right before we moved out of state,We love it!Shes 2 and can find her way around websites better than most 20 year olds but I thought this might be a little harder,well I was wrong,she taught me how to use and shes 2! I recommend this for all toddlers b/c they will want to learn how to use it and when they do its worth it when they come to you with a big smile and show you what they did!!!!

The best everything toy
My son recieved this for christmas and he has not put it down since. He is 3 years old and just loves everything about it. He counts and recognizes numbers and just loves it. I highly recommend this toy for children. We haven't left the house without it since we got it.

Great Toy
I bought the Color Pixter for my 6 year old at Christmas and she loves it. I am glad I paid the extra and got color. My only complaint is the lack of additional software. I talked to Mattel/Fisher Price and was told that they sold so much of these products at Christmas they are behind in getting the stores stocked with the software (I was afraid they had quit making them). We did get one of the black & white software cartridges and it wasn't worth the time or money, I'll hold out for the color. Hard to tell how educational without additional software. As for durability, so far so good. Great entertainment!

Great toy!
I purchased the Pixter Color for my daughter. She just loves it! The color cartidges are hard to find. I was able to purchase the Dinodraw, Barbie & SpongeBob for Christmas. They are typically sold out so you have to keep checking. Fisher Price does make a carrying case for the pixter color and all of your cartidges. It is a MUST HAVE because this is an expensive toy but a wonderful one. The case keeps the pixter and the cartidges safe and clean. (I bought it [online]) My daughter brought her pixter on a long car trip and really enjoyed it. She also brings it to her brother's wrestling tournaments which can be very long and boring for a little girl. It is a great toy. I will purchase additional color cartidges when available! Enjoy!!

The favorite toy under the tree!
I bought this for my 4 year daughter for Christmas this year. She is really into coloring and drawing, so this appeared to be the perfect gift for her.

This is definitely for the 'under 8' crowd. As a matter of fact my FOUR YEAR OLD has mastered this in two days! When I say mastered, I'm referring to the ability to use Pixter unsupervised. She will ask questions here and there, but it surely didn't take long for her to figure out what each of the icons do. So I will even go further and say that I can see the 4-6 age group reaping the most benefits from this without getting bored.

There was mention in a previous review about no "undo" feature....it DOES have this feature, but you may only undo once. Still, it has the feature so you may 'erase' what you just did without erasing the entire picture.

For each of my nieces I purchased the Pixter 2.0 for Christmas, the black and white Pixter. I must say that I'm glad I spent the extra money and purchased the color version for my daughter. The pixels appear to be greater which makes the quality of the pictures so much better. The color choices when coloring is probably the best feature. My daughter likes the built in coloring-by-number feature the best. She also love the ability to use all the built in stamps to add to her pictures. To me it's like a elementary computer Paint program....

Now...educational? Not necessarily, but it has potential depending on the cartridges you buy. For example, I purchased the Barbie Color, the Spongebob Color, and on clearance I bought a b&w "learning fun" cartridge. The Barbie and Spongebob are games, plain and simple. My daughter enjoys them, especially the Barbie one, but aside from a matching game I don't see these as educational. The 'learning fun' cartridge lets your child practice writing upper and lower case letters and numbers. There is more to this cartridge, but we haven't delved into the entire cartridge yet as it IS in black and white and doesn't hold my daughter's interest as well. Based on this cartridge I WILL be buying the new COLOR Smart Start cartridge, which appears to be an updated version of this b&w one.

I realize that since this product is fairly new that the accessories are probably still in the works, but I would love to see a carrying case for the Color Pixter. I am hesitant to allow my daughter to carry this around outside of the house for fear of dropping it. At $80 it's a chance I don't want to take. I also would love to see a bigger selection in software....dinosaurs and Rescue Heroes holds no appeal to my daughter and that leaves a VERY limited selection for girls in my opinion.

All in all, if your child is a budding artist this is a great tool for them and it will hold their attention. I have to be honest in saying that my daughter's number one request for Christmas was "go go my walking pup" and didn't even know what Pixter was......Go-Go is sitting still under the tree all alone and Pixter Color is the favorite. It's the toy she picked to take to her cousin's house...(she gets to pick ONE toy to take)

I'm glad I purchased this and I would do it again...... ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Looks like the boat my dad wants
The boat is fast and fun. My little brother always trys to take the remote control box from me! No Way

weak battery life
nice boat. fast but not very fast, and the battery if gone in no time!!!

Mega Deprasor
I bought this a month a ago then bought a mega -gator. They worked for two days. Then I returned them. Then I bought a T-maxx. I was more thilled with a 40+mph car than 2 corny boats.
I saw Buy a Maxx

Speed Quincher
This thing goes as fast 34 in rc battleship! The coolest thing about it was when I took it to Hawaii. I took it in the tunnels.

great boat
This boat is great! It is fast, durable, and handles like a dream... ... Read more

Editorial Review

This electronic handheld version of Scrabble, the classic word game, will help long train commutes or plane journeys pass more quickly. With four games to choose from (two that accommodate two players) and the ability to determine the computer's intelligence, the same game isn't likely to happen twice. Bad: when you raise the computer's IQ level, it uses words like "padri" and "Varna." Good: it accepts words like "vibrio" and "bize." Sound can be turned off, and, if not in use for more than a minute, the game goes to sleep to conserve the three AA batteries (included). --Pam Lauer ... Read more

Reviews (30)

Scramble
This game is perfect for the summer. if you miss school then you can play this game to learn how to spell. If you just want to have fun this would be good too. ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

addictive but flawed
The Scrabble Express is a lot of fun in a little bit of time but can also eat up a lot of time because it's so addictive.
The main problem I experienced was when the computer played a phony word and I couldn't challenge it off the board. "RU" is no good. Later, I tried playing the same word IN THE SAME GAME and it wasn't allowed. This bothered me. Playing phonies IS part of strategic Scrabble, so there should be a challenge feature built in, or at least as a feature to toggle on and off. Bottom line, the computer shouldn't be playing phonies unless you opt to have that included as part of your decision-making.
Another flaw is that many playable words are not acceptable because the built-in dictionary is the OSPD, which omits many words deemed offensive for school play. So, short words suited for the 9 by 9 grid, such as LEZ, won't fly.

Its Word List Is Valid
I agree with the other reviewers' observations regarding the length of time it takes the computer to take its turn as well as the lack of vowels the human player is given versus the number the computer receives.
But I would like to point out that the words the computer uses are accepted "tournament word list" Scrabble words and not nonsense words as other reviewers have asserted. I've found a couple of Scrabble words the computer will not accept, but most of them are there.
Despite its shortcomings, for the money it's definitely worth it. And it's an excellent way to learn some strategies and words.

Fun, but will frustrate many serious Scrabble players
As other reviewers have indicated, this game has a 9X9 grid which causes the board to get cramped rather quickly. One of the results of this is that the opportunity to play large words, especially when playing all 7 letters for the 50 point bonus, is next to impossible unless you make the play within, say, your first two to three turns. After that it becomes just about hopeless. As a result, serious Scrabble players who utilize their ED, ING, and other such letter combinations will be severely handicapped.

This seems to be a common problem with this game overall. The better you are at Scrabble, the more this game will handicap you - such as when you set the game's IQ at its highest level and then you're repeatedly given no vowels. About the only positive from this, from a serious Scrabble player pov, is that you are forced to use your vocabulary more. Winning a game isn't so much about playing as many tiles as possible in a certain location as it is knowing obscure words to play within the confines of the board.

It should also be noted that the game has no real off button, just on and what appears to be a sleep mode. I guess the idea was to prevent anyone from accidentally shutting down the game in mid-play. But still, it's a rather annoying feature to put the game down and just wait for it to tun itself off.

These reservations aside, it's still a great game and will be fun for most people who enjoy playing Scrabble. But after several years, it's time for an improved redesign with features closer to a real Scrabble board.

Not bad for twenty bucks
WARNING! This is NOT a complete scrabble game. The board is
9x9, and it only goes a few turns. So if you are a serious
enthusiast, then get the pocket PC version.
The interface is fairly user-friendly, although the blocky LED's
get annoying after a while. The BIGGEST weakness is the bad
program that racks you with zero vowels a lot of the time! It
amazes me that the Scrabble Assn has authorized this game, because what's the probability of getting all consonants 3x in
a row?? But the dictionary (not accessible as a dictionary by the way) is replete with over 100,000 words no doubt, and based on
the OSPD 3rd ed. So you can definitely learn new words in a
fun way without just memorizing words. The machine sometimes
takes a long time also, which is surprising, since I've played
chess machines which must calculate much deeper and yet move
much more quickly.
Being also a chess enthusiast, I was surprised to find only one (1) handheld scrabble machine on the market and this was it! So although this portable game has many weaknesses, it still has a
strong dictionary, 9 playing levels, and should appeal to anyone
who remotely enjoys Scrabble on the go. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A discerning laser tagger packs a sidearm built by top-selling LaserChallenge--the best of the best opts for LC's Radar Extreme, a tricked-out IR blaster thatboasts a 350-foot range. The Radar Extreme set outfits two elite gun-fighters with laserpistols and sensor vests, complete with convincing digital sound effects. Improving onthe Team Force 2000 set, Laser Challenge's Next Generation pulls out all the stops. Thegun sports a Max Blast option (one shot counts for three), a silent mode and autoor semi-auto fire. The vest can be strapped on or clipped to your belt, and its electroluminescent display is visible at 350 feet (although you may wish LC had left out this feature whenyour deadeye buddy guns you down). --Paul Hughes ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Thoughts of a LaserTag-Player
I love playing laser-tag myself. I go to lazer-zone where they pump mist into the room, I've played Lazer Storm, but when my Navy uncle bought this for me for my birthday, I was more than pleased. The reason I rated the fun factor at a 4 is probably because the places where you pay $20 to play for an hour are obviously more fun than this, and you may think that this Laser Challenge set lacked on more than a few things, but it's black-forest sophistication from here on in. When I first looked at it, I saw that it came in an eye-catching box that was true to the Laser Challenge roots, and when I finally opened the box and held the gun, I could tell that it lived up to the Laser Challenge name. I was impressed by accuracy, but, of course, no infrared beam is completely accurate. A way to make it more accurate is to polish the lens, since when light refracts off of a double-convex lens it gets distorted, and polishing it and keeping it clean will keep the light from being distorted. When I brought my guns home, I seemed to have no problems with registering hits, though there was a lag in the sound-to-trigger action. I completely covered the gun in camouflague duct-tape so both of my guns are camo, as well as the vests. If your going to do this, make sure not to cover the clear plastic sheild on the vest, or the little LED light on the top of the receiver, or the lens on the gun. I've also found that it does not work well with the Laser Challenge training bot that I got at KB Toys. The only thing that the training bot responds to, is the reset button, but the trigger and blast sheild it ignores, since it shoots back at you. I recently went back out and bought 2 more Laser Challenge Radar Extreme sets, and they have had no problems, and they are covered in camo duct-tape as well. The batteries last long without having to be replaced, and the guns are well-made out of hard plastic. Me and friends play 3 on 3 Laser Challenge matches in my basement, since I bought a bunch of those paintball obstacles and barricades that you bllow up with air. On an average day, we'll go through a 12-pack of coke, and about 2 good albums, while playing Laser Challenge and skateboarding. Thank you for listening, and if you didn't, you should've. Goodbye.

VERY FUN AND DURABLE!
This is currently the best laser challenge gun available. It has really cool features like Max Blast and Shield. These guns are best used when you have larger teams, as with all guns. So I would recommend these as well as a couple cheaper sets to use with friends. I'm sure you will have fun if you buy this. THESE ARE THE BEST!

Laser Challenge Rocks !!! :-)
This Toy really rocks. First of im 12 a little old ya think? No! not at all the vest fits all. Plus you can be 350 feet away from eachother (a football field) and still hit (great for snipers). Okay now for pros and cons.

PROS
1.350 foot range!
2.Different firing options!
3.Great all ages vest fits all
4.Max blast and shield!
CONS
1.Theres not enough hours in a day to play this!
2.No back target.

What A toy!!!!!!!!!
This is the best Laser challenge toy I have Ever, I mean Ever, used!!!! This toy is fun for all ages I play with my brother (and he's only 2!) And we have a blast! the range is aswome 350 feet wow! And the special features are awsome! the max blast is useful for sniping and the blast shield is good to get the hec out of there. It is totally durable too, my bed is abot,oh, 3-4 feet of the ground and I way 105
I rolled of my of my bed (I had a running start, I was shooting at my brother) I went of the bed all 150lbs. of and the gun went first. a drop the gun and crashed into it, and it looked like it was untouched and also worked like nothing happened. I marked it for education because it took us an hour of playing with it (having tons of fun!) to really start to become experts.
Now for some Pros & Cons

Pros

1.350 foot range
2. Max blast and blast shield
3.totally durable
4.fun for all ages!
5.chest back fits anyone

Cons

1.ten AA baterries
2.Only front pack

Well the only front pack is a problem but in all this is the best toy ever and I totally recamend it!

Fun
I went to toys r us to look for a LOTR bow, i was disapointed to not find one, but i was happy again once i found this. i wanted a laser tag set for along time. True, it does only have a front receiver, which is why i like to still go laser tagging at commercial areas, but its fun between trips to the laser tag place. I don't think its harmful to eyes, because i wear glasses anyways so i don't know. My brother and I also play other games where you shoot toy guns, but in those you can loose amunition. you can't in this. Holding down the trigger does fire multiple shots. Shoot one shot and it will have firing noises that sound like alot, atleast, mine does, and i haven't figured out how to fix it to shoot only 1 shot sound, but the light only lights up once to tell you you've shot when you pull the trigger once, so it should work. I reccamend this toy. I bought mine for $25-30 or so, i don't remember exactly, but it seems like its a pretty cheap toy for alot of fun!
(read the other reviews for more information on stats) ... Read more

Editorial Review

This microcosm of Neopets is a portable world for your pocket. Meridell, the land of heroes and legends that was long hidden within Neopia has now been uncovered and is delightfully rendered here in miniature. The pocket Neopet world folds up into a small gold colored pod that you can take anywhere. Open up the case and you can play with your three Neopets: Lupe, Draik, and Lxi. Name them, choose their personalities and preferences, and then proceed to play with, feed, and generally care for them. The sensors in the electronic ports they sit in know which pet you're playing with. There are six games you can play on the small LCD screen with four toggle buttons--they aren't the most engaging games, but winning them scores you points you'll need to buy food and toys for your pet. If you don't give your pet everything it needs, it will run away. Of course, you can always reprogram it to come back to you. There are three little slots to tuck the pets neatly into when you close up the case and hit the road. --Megan Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (28)

This game is OK...
This game is very cute, but the instructions that come with the it are not clear. The game can become frustrating after a while. It is also a low-tech game and can have some problems.

Awsome toy
This toy is so cool,i couldn't find it in stores so i ordered it online,i have a regular pocket neopet,but this one is cooler.I do not no what those other people are thinking,well duh the graphics are bad,what do u expect for 20 dollars,A flatscreen moniter?I think it works just fine the way the graphics are,and the neopoints aren't hard to get ,it a fun challenge,and that's what teaches you responsibility,so if you don't care about it it will leave you,and if yo have skewl,you can just turn it off,thats a good feature for when you are goin somewhere and you don't want to take it with you,It really makes you think about about the responsibiliy of taking care of a real pet,over all this is a worth it toy if your into neopets.

I bet this will be fun...until your pet runs away.
What i have heard is that the pet runs away and has specific times for everything. That is definitly a con. Some people have school ya know!

pros: fun, and teaches responsibility
cons: your pet runs away, has specific times, and neopoints are hard to get.
I recommend the voice activated neopet instead

Only mediocre.
I am an avid Neopets fan and when I heard they were coming out with merchedise, I was quite pleased.
This product, however, disapointed me. The screen is too smal to do anything with. THe games are fun, yet the graphics are someof the worst I've ever seen. In the ned, I endd up taking the Neopets (A Lupe, Ixi, and Draik) and playing with them without the set. I would recomend a voice activated pet, rather then this game.

Fun1
This toy right here was sooo kewl and fun! It teaches you how to take care of pets very good. You can play fun games to earn money and such to buy food,toys,and petpets. I would recommend this to any kid who is 8 and up and is hooked on neopets ... Read more

Teacher Review

This spy pen set will please young secret agent wannabes with its sleeksilver design and multiple functions that transform a working pen into alight-activated motion alarm, a flashlight, or a magnifying glass with bothlong-distance and close-up magnification lenses. The set includes a sturdy, silverplastic case to hold all the different components, including the large pen thatslides into the side of the case. The end of the pen unlocks the storage case,providing another secret function that kids will like. The pen's motion alarm isits best feature, with a nonthreatening beeping sound that won't be too loud forthe parents or younger siblings. A clearly written instruction sheet explainsall the secret spy functions, augmented with diagrams that will help even thenonmechanical parent outfitting a junior spy. Two AAA batteries are required(not included). --Marcie Bovetz, mother and former children's librarian ... Read more

Reviews (41)

FUN(...)!
THIS IS SO(...) FUN!(...) WHEN I AM SO CALLED "SLEEPING" (THATS WHAT PARENTS THINK I AM DOING). I AM ACTUALY STAYING UP ALL NIGHT WRITING OR DOING SOMETHING FUN!(...) WHEN I AM DOING SOMETHING I AM NOT SUPOSE TO DO, I PUT THE MOTION DETECTOR DOWNSTAIRS WHERE THE STAIRS ARE. (F.Y.I. MY ROOM IS UPSTAIRS).SO WHEN I HEAR THE beep,beep,beep. I'LL KNOW THAT SOMEONE IS COMING SO I HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO HIDE WHATEVER I AM DOING AWAY.
(...)

THE BEST SPY TOY EVER
It is a great toy .you can eisley slip it into your pocket and you can eisley replace the battaries. it has a wonderful telescope and comes with extra ink.it has a flashlightthat works wonderful. I think you should buy it because THIS IS THE BEST SPY TOY EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!

great in the begining
i wanted it so badley, so i bought it. it was great, but i got tired of it. now i don't know where it is!!!

spy pen
I love this spy pen because it is so handy! Though there is a flaw or two! the first flaw is thatthe battery instuctions say they should be facing negitive, when they should be positive. and the motion sensor is annoying and goes of for every little movement and is LOUD! the good things are the light, the night light extender that looks like a cane, and the backup refill ink stick! the box is very handy because it has a special compartment for each piece (including the ink). the down side to the box is that it says it locks with the general ending of the pen, but when you think you locked it, it flips open. i really recommend this toy but not to anyone who expects perfection out of everthing

I Love spy pen
I like my spy pen a lot.it is a lot of fun.I like going and puting on the things it had.If there was a contest for the best toy and I was finding the best one I think I would pick the spy pen.All I am saying is I like it a lot! ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Great Game
This is a great game. My 4 year old son loves it!!(so does the rest of the family when he lets us play). It is good for the development of his hand-eye coordination. Good price for hours of fun!!

Excellent value
I bought this game for my daughters 6th birthday and it is a very entertaining toy.It plugs directly in to your tv so its easy to use.It is even fun for adults because there are so many levels to play.Because it is so small its portable for a night at grandmas or a friends and you get an entire game system with 5 games for less than the cost of one game for another game system.My kids enjoyed it so much that we went and bought the Pac Man game and plan to buy more.

Fun for Families
I bought this for my four year old son since he is a big fan of Spongebob. He LOVES it! The entire family has enjoyed playing it together, something that only games like Mario Kart or Mario Party have done in the past. The games are pretty easy to learn and it helps his hand-eye coordination as well. Another really nice thing about it is that it is not violent like so many games out there today. It is also VERY easy to hook up; we brought it with us to to my parents' house for Father's Day and hooked it up there so all of the kids could play together.

My son has invited many of the kids in the neighborhood over to play, and they have all enjoyed the different games. The only downside is that they have to take turns playing since more than one person cannot play at a time.

Like one of the other reviews said, it does drain batteries, making the colors go out. But buying batteries is still cheaper than buying a video game that can easily get scratched. This is easily worth the $20 that I paid for it!

Think alot before you buy
I bought this toy for my daughter on Sunday afternoon. She played with it for awhile and she loved it. I couldn't get my husband away from it. But then after you play it for awhile the color goes off.
Monday morning she turned it on and there is no color at all. I can't decide if I will try another one or just get a refund.
Think before you buy this one. I made an impulse buy that most likely I will regret.

Not user friendly for lefties
I purchased this game for my son. Once he was off to bed I decided to play it myself. Well, I discovered that it was not user friendly for us lefties. What I mean is most lefties would hold the joystick with their left hand but if you do that then you cant use the fire button because its on the upper left corner. I was really dissapointed. Of course the games dont compare to our PS2 or Gamecube but they arent supposed to. The games are similar to Atari games. But back to what I was saying,if you are a lefty you may not want to purchase this game. I tried turning the game around making the fire button easy to reach but that didnt work either.
Like I stated earlier the games seem fun but they obviously did not have left handed people in mind when they made this game because they didnt put the fire button in a easy to reach place for a lefty. ... Read more