With the weather being so amazing over the recent Easter half term holidays, I was wondering if I was going to manage to get the boys to carry out a toy review for me, as we spent the majority of our days out and about enjoying the marvellous sunshine! However, on Good Friday eve, ie. on the Thursday, I decided to make it a stay at home day to allow the boys a chance to have a rest from our hectic days we had already had and before we embarked on a busy long weekend.
First thing Thursday, while they watched some CBeebies, I set up the Imaginext Samurai Playset Castle in the playroom as a little surprise for them and to allow them some imaginative role playing with this new playset and figures from Fisher Price. As usual with most toys, it did take me a while to get into the packs and release the toy parts from the ties and vac forms, but once I gave up trying to use just my fingers and opted for scissors instead, the task did speed up considerably! The back of the pack clearly shows the contents contained inside the pack so you know what you are getting. It also depicts what features the playset has, and what learning skills the toy encourages for children during play.
Although the playsets are aimed at children aged 3-8 years of age, I did feel that some of the smaller pieces were too small for my two. It is not that I think they would try to eat them, but because I just think they would go missing too easily! So I have to be honest and admit that some of the weapons have been kept in a safe place for when they are both older and, hopefully, more careful. Also, to be fair, the boys would not know what the weapons do anyway as they do not watch films or programmes which show ‘fighting’ other than Tree Fu Tom style or Kung Fu Panda! However, I know that as they grow older they will be more familiar with swords, daggers and other such paraphernalia and may then want to use them in their role paying.
That aside, the sets are very visually striking, bright colours and well built and appealing to young children and as soon as the boys saw them, despite having no idea what Samurai or ninja’s are (I said it was like the charcaters from Kung Fu Panda), they were very excited and lots of ‘wows!’ were exclaimed!
The Imaginext Samurai Playset has a lot of fun features for little hands to use and which makes the toy exciting to explore and inviting to play with (see the photos below).
The Imaginext Ninja Dragon is a great figure and I like the fact that it has been well made from durable and strong material, as it will be robust enough to handle my boys playing with it, as to be fair they are both quite heavy handed when it comes to playing! (No idea where they get that from *ahem*!). Burton especially made a bee-line for the dragon and loved the fact that he could flap its wings and make its jaw open (cue lots of roaring from both boys!) by the pressing down of some levers. Greaty for making the dragon swoop down at the castle to attack the guards while the swords are fired at it from the castle canons! It also has a space on its back to allow one of the figurines to sit astride it too.
The other part of the playset we were sent was the Imaginext Ninja Glider which allows a Ninja to hold on to the bar and fly down to the ground. It also has some handy features – wings which open out at a touch of a button and which can be easily pushed back in again. It also has a winch attached to the end which allows another figurine to attach himself (or herself – the ninja’s could be female!) off the end of it. Weapons can also be fired from it but we have not tested this yet, as they were part of the items that I have hidden for now.
The boys really enjoyed discovering these Imaginext playsets and accessories – since it appeared in the playroom it has been played with a lot. They have enjoyed playing with it together and I have heard them putting on voices for the figures and making the dragon roar at the castle!! I think it does encourage imaginative play and allows for play for one child, aswell as more than one child, as there are plenty of things to allow interactive play too.
I have to be honest, this is not a toy I would choose to buy my boys because I feel they are a bit young to fully understand what it actually is for one thing! Plus all the little pieces are easy to misplace (or maybe that’s just my two!?) at the ages they are currently. However, the Imaginext playset has been well made and is very interactive and appealing visually to children, and I do think it is a toy that Burton and Jenson will grow into as they both grow older. I know for a fact that if their 7 year old cousin came over to play with it, he would be all over it and would understand the concept better. Mind you, my 3 and 4 year old boys will not neccessarily be typical of all children their age, and there may well be children from 3 years old who have an understanding of what ninjas and samurais are!
The Imaginext Samurai Playset would make a great gift but in my opinion I think it is more suitable for children a bit older than my two. I like the fact it has been well made and has lots of features to allow imaginations to run wild and has switches and buttons to press – all kids love that! If you bought the entire set as per my review then it would cost £80 approx – I think this is quite good value although I do question the castle as at almost £50 that does seem a lot. But then it does come with lots of extras and allows for hours of play so I guess £50 is reasonable actually. I am out of the loop with such things as we have not bought anything other than the pre school Fisher Price sets before!!
The entire Imaginext Samurai Playset and accessories are being sold exclusively at Toys ‘r’ Us and I am sure will prove to be very popular as birthday and Chirstmas gifts. I am already toying with the idea of getting the dragon vehicle at a later date to add to the set!!
I was lucky enough to have been sent the above products for the purpose of a review by myself and my children. All comments and opinions stated here about the toys are my own and are honest.
