Tag Archives: hot wheels

Hot Wheels Wall Track Power Tower Review

Posted on by Abi

My boys have been fans of the Hot Wheels Wall Track range for quite sometime now, so when we were offered the opportunity of reviewing the latest addition we were more than happy to agree. The new track is called the Power Tower and promises new thrills to add to an existing wall track or if you’re just starting your collection.

Previously we had found the wall track easy to assemble and this time was no different. The only issue we had was trying to keep the boys away as my husband stuck the pieces to the wall! The Power Tower does require batteries which we didn’t have in the house (worth noting if you’re thinking of this as a Christmas gift) so a quick trip to the shops and we were good to go.

To say the boys (and my daughter too) love this track would be an understatement, it can keep them occupied (and blissfully quiet) for a long time. Cars whirl around in the lift(elevator) style toy before zooming down the track, hoping not to get caught in the chomping head further down.

Would I recommend this product?

Definitely, it’s as much as the previous versions of wall track and can of course be connected up to other packs, making it a versatile and fun filled toy.

Could it be improved in anyway?

I always prefer toys that come with batteries included in case I don’t have any in stock. I’m also not a huge fan of the background posters if you are planning on connecting up several tracks.

Details

The Power Tower RRP is £39.99

Available at all good toy retails online and instore.

Further details available at Hot Wheels website

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Mattel Hot Wheels Apptivity Review

Posted on by Abi

Apptivity is a brand new idea from Mattel that allows kids to play with their favourite toys on the iPad.

When I was asked if I would like to review the Hot Wheels version of  Apptivity I jumped at the chance. My boys love both playing on the iPad and with Hot Wheels so this seemed like a great idea.

The idea is simple, first purchase a compatible Apptivity toy (in our case a small blue car) then download the free app. When the car is placed onto the iPad screen it interacts with the app using patented conductive technology. Simply put, you swivel the car on the screen to drive along the track.

I was rather apprehensive about allowing a toy to be placed onto the iPad screen, I was concerned about scratches. So far though I’m happy to report that none have appeared, although I did keep an eye that the boys didn’t press too hard.

The actual app looks very impressive, it’s graphics and content are excellent for a free game. However I suspect this was also it’s initial downfall, on an original iPad it crashes on a regular basis before you can actual do an awful lot. The iPad 2 seems capable of handling the game, but this isn’t made entirely obvious on the toy or app.

I also fear that my boys were a little too young for the game, even with my game savvy brother sitting with us we all got a little confused as to what we were actually supposed to be doing. It would have been much more fun if they had simplified the games to just basic races as far as we were concerned.

This all sounds rather negative and I must admit that I wasn’t overly impressed with the game. However my sons would tell a vastly different story. Despite some crashes, confusion and general head tapping they absolutely adore this game and ask to play with it often. They are much more forgiving of the little niggles which would stop me from playing. They don’t care because at the end of the day they get to play with a car on the iPad with cool music and great visual effects, it’s a boys dream.

As a parent you may find yourself slightly disappointed for the points I mentioned, but Mattel know their market and the child you buy it for is quite likely to be thrilled. I obviously can’t comment on the other incarnations of Apptivity.

Details

The range brings to life some of the UK’s hottest toy brands including Hot Wheels, Batman and WWE as well as extending the play value of top-selling apps such as Angry Birds, Cut The Rope and Fruit Ninja. And it’s great for all the family – there’s even an Apptivity toy for toddlers.

Single Apptivity packs start at RRP £11.99. There are also larger starter packs priced at RRP £24.99, which come with exclusive figures, amplifiers and accessories.

For more information, please go to: http://www.mattelapptivity.com

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Hot Wheels Mid-Air Madness Review

Posted on by Abi

Back in October I reviewed the wonderful Hot Wheels Wall Track toy. My children abdolutely loved it so I was thrilled when asked to review the brand new Mid-Air Madness track!

Just like last time we found the track very easy to assemble and attach to the wall. It’s also a little more compact in width making it perfect for smaller bedrooms. The instuctions also doubled as a background poster which definitely enhanced the fun as far as my kids were concerned.

Having kept the kids at bay during construction we let them loose on their new toy. They absolutely adored it! Cars wizz around the track at speed, flying through the air before landing with ease and carrying on their whirlwind journey round and round.

The track did require large D batteries which unfortunately were not included, this caused a slight delay while we popped to the shops. We also found that they drained the batteries rather quickly, so make sure you have plenty on standby if you don’t want unhappy faces all around.

On day two of the wall track one piece did keep disconnecting from the wall due to the sheer force as the cars landed. This was rather annoying to me but the kids seemed unfazed and just kept reconnecting it and carrying on.

Another day on and a piece fell off the wall, I rather think this was down to us perhaps not attaching the wall strips firmly enough. Unfortunately two patches of wall paint disappeared along with the track pieces, this did not happen with our first Wall Track set, so I am unsure if it was my walls that caused the problem or the track.

Once we had reattached the track it stayed put, with no further falls or disconnections. The best advice would be, make sure it’s really well stuck the first time!

Would I recommend this product?

Considering how happy all my children are (not just the boys) I would definitely recommend it.It seems to provide hours of fascination and fun.

Could it be improved in anyway?

I would like to see the batteries last a little longer. It’s also a fairly audible toy, akin to a typical fan noise so don’t attach it in the TV room.

Details

Mid-air Madness Track RRP £29.99

Available at all good toy retailers online and instore.

Further details available at the Hot Wheels website.

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