HexBug McDonald's Happy Meal 2014 Collection, Spiders Crabs and Scarabs

HexBugs are at it again at McDonalds this month of September and next. 8 bugs to collect. The Spiders are creepy as always, and the Crab is pretty fun too. The Larva can get honorable mention.

HexBug Aquabots 2.0 Smart Fish Technology

I think HexBug Aquabots 1.0 set off a fish frenzy in toy fishes, and now the new models are out. The 2.0 fish feature light up glow, and tap on tank wake up ness. The new bonus bowl works a little better too as its rounded, but it could be slightly deeper though. A couple coral features also tech up the tank. Totally get one of these for your desk, they are lots of fun!

Hex Bug Warriors Transformers Age of Extinction Optimus Prime vs Galvatron

Looks like a nice crossover with Hex Bug Warriors and Transformers, and it makes perfect sense. I always enjoy a little battle arena with the bugs too. Galvatron's batteries were just a little too strong for a fair fight though. I like the little spike wings off of Galvatron. Fun fun!

HexBug AquaBot Smart Fish Technology

This is a fun toy to play with long term. The mechanics of the aquabot are really fun to watch too. There are several colors to choose, and a pretty good price point compared to many spendy toys in todays market.

Happy Meal HexBugs McDonalds 2013 Review with A Barbie Too

It's HEXBUG happy Meal Time! I have been eagerly waiting for these as I am getting to be a huge HexBug fan. This assortment of six toys is pretty well done. There is actually only three designs, but repeated in color, so if you are looking to save money, just look for each design.

The #4 and #5 toys are Nano Pullback toys (Waaaaay bigger than a normal nano by the way). The pull back works fine, but the reverse motor bumper feature is "Hit" and miss. The blue one worked better than the black one, although I really like how the black one looks. It takes some practice getting them to work, but once they are going its fun times.

The #2 and #3 toys are Speed Beetles. These work the best out of the group. Pullback toys again, but with a surprisingly strong motor, and with really smooth rolling leg motion. These are a hit to play with.

The #1 and #6 toys are wind up beetles. They look really cool, and function pretty good too. With the transparent plastic you can see the inner workings go, the spinning dial up top looks really sharp. The leg motion is also fun to watch.

I am very pleased with this run of Hexbugs, they did their homework well this time.

2012 Christmas Haul-elujah!

I don't want to blab too much on Christmas and the goodness of mankind like Reis did on his blog post at Dork Horde Prime, so I will just get to the loot I got right away...

1. Optimus Maximus - When I first saw this toy, I thought it was ridiculous/absurd. Then I found it at discount, bought it, gave it to my wife to make sure she got it for me. With the purchase of the Masterpiece Optimus Prime earlier this month, I realized it was time to unnecessarily build a larger ridiculous Optimus Prime shrine. A toy like this will really stand out.

2. Which led to this discounted Kre-O Optimus Prime that I also bought, gave to my wife to give to me.

3. Beast Wars Rattrap. I saw this guy at Timezone toys reseller on my last visit, shot a picture, and had my wife go find this one to give to me (I had to make her do something). Finally, I think, I have all the first run Maximals from the first part of season 1.

4. Machine Wars Optimus Prime. Also found at reseller by my wife, I wanted a Prime that was in less than terrific condition for a future project. I remember passing on this toy several times in the late 90's at KB Toys, and now look at it as it is the most prettiest thing ever. 

4. Lego Star Wars Desert Skiff. Such a cool Lego set from my Sister. I have always wanted to build a Sarlacc, and maybe it will even appear in a future minifigures battles stop motion.

5. HexBug Warriors Arena set from my Dad (per my forced suggestion)! Oh this is amazingly cool! You have to get one! It comes with two bugs, but with too more, you get some amazing, hilarious, out of control, weaponized bug battles. It is so fun when two randomly go after one. Or when another just ditches battle entirely, goes over the side, and walks away. I will show more soon...

6. The complete Original Classic Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Series! Thats right, the grand daddy present of them all, from my wife. This is amazing, like totally 19 discs of Ranger adventures. So many memories packed in, I will be watching pretty much all year with all that content.

So yeah, an amazing run of stuff this year. Also got some normal things like a sweater, coffee mug, homemade tasty Hot Coco, and a weed whacker. Great gifts, just not for this blog audience. Oh, I should also show stuff my baby girl got, cause lets face it, I will be playing with it too.

HexBug Habitat Set or a Masterpiece Optimus Prime?

What a strange day. I spent most of the week indoors, so I thought I would take some extra effort and go over to Toys R Us. It was a mad house, and its only the last day of November! I didn't have much in mind, only something worth my time on a rainy day afternoon. The HexBug stuff was on sale, and after I amused guests last weekend with a small set, I thought I should upgrade to something larger.  The Nano Bridge Battle Habitat Set looked like promising fun, and it was ten dollars off!

After an annoying drive home full of heavy traffic, I tore into the set for some fun. Basically you raise and connect the standard white Hex platforms with this long orange bridge. The bugs are to follow the bridge, then fight in the middle, and the looser falls to the lower level. I was looking forward to some sort of silly video capture, but things didn't go that way. The first bummer was the fact that the bugs don't have a path to climb back to the second level. I didn't look at the box that hard at the store, so that was my bad. It wasn't a big deal, you just manually place bugs up on top. Then came the second, BIG, BUMMER. Complete design fail! Its hard to explain, but the white Hex platforms included, would not fit the stands that raise it off the table. My original white HexBug Platform would actually work with the stands, as it has the appropriate side locks. What ever they threw in with this set, were completely useless, and it would be impossible to make a second level. So my afternoon trip was wasted, and I had to make plans for returning it.

UPDATE! - It turns out that there was a mistake in the type of risers that were included in the HexBug set! The white platforms were modified with holes, so that new round risers would fit. The set I purchased had only flat risers, so I was stuck. Stay tuned for a return to the Bridge Battle!

I wasn't planning on going tonight, but now my wife had cabin fever, so it was an excuse to do something. The store was packed again. I went to the desk to return and or exchange. I wanted to see if the other sets had the same flaw, which they did, so I X'ed out that. I almost picked up the HexBug Zip Line, and then I saw two Masterpiece Optimus Primes just sitting in a cart full of store junk in one of the center aisles! Holy Crap!!!

There is another long winded story of me weeks ago, going early Thursday morning to pick one up with a friend, only to have them sold to someone who was an earlier bird. My friend obtained one from Montana or somewhere, but I passed due to its complications. After I 'inspected' my friends Optimus, I started to really want one. I almost went to Ebay, but held off just in case of, well what happened today.

HexBug Warriors Battling Robots with Kinetic Weapons!

HexBug Warriors are really amazing! I was very impressed with their performance. My Previous HexBug experience was with the smaller nanos that just moved around with no major goal, other than exploring habitats. The Warrior Bugs went farther by adding weapons and a spiffy battle mode. Each HexBug features one "Kinetic" weapon that moves (because of the intense vibrating motor). I was pleased to see how well that kinetic weapon works too (usually that stuff fails in toys). When the two bugs hit one another, a shock sensor damages the bug, until one is defeated. My custom arena was a little sloppy, and the actual sold arena makes for a more fluid battle. I will now have to pick that up too. They also look really cool, sharp, and colorful. I totally recommend you pick a few up!