My Hubby's Spuds Are Musical When Played With (Playskool Mr Potato Head Taters of the Lost Ark)

Member Name: belfin

Product:	Playskool Mr Potato Head Taters of the Lost Ark
Date:	22/07/08 (139 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots of fun making different Indy versions

Disadvantages: None really - except big kids might not share it

***Background***

I guess this review was inevitable for me really given my past history with the Star Wars spuds and the Spiderman one. Unlike those previous characters though, I have to admit to being a bit of an Indiana Jones fan and can't wait to finally find the time to see the new movie, despite the mixed reviews.

This version of the heroic adventurer is titled, Taters of the Lost Ark, and obviously features from the first film. It's a wee bit different from the others in the series because the play on words goes to the film rather than the character but to be honest with an item like this, the fun is more in the playing so it doesn't really matter that much.

Mr Potato Head has been on the go for many years and I remember having him and his missus when I was just a little 'un. I would sit for hours apparently, putting different eyes on them and changing their hair constantly. I can't say that I have vivid memories but I do remember them. Of course he got a new lease of life when he featured in Toy Story and the Picasso comment always makes me laugh.


***The Age Limit***

Like the other toys in this series the age guide says for ages 2 and upwards and like the other reviews of these toys, I would re-iterate that this is far too young for this type of toy.

There are many attachments and a lot of 2 and even 3 year olds might be tempted to put one of the many attachments in their mouths and could perhaps choke, so this is something that should be remembered if a younger child is playing alongside an older one in this case.

Personally, I would say that this toy is really for the older kids out there, like my husband, who received this the other week for his 30th birthday.

***The Attachments***

As with all these spuds, there is a main spud body with various holes in it for various pieces to be placed in. Now you can either build Indy as is intended or you can try a more Picasso style like the spud in Toy Story did - it's really all about imagination.

The attachments in this package consist of a pair of eyes, 2 ears, a big red nose, a set of normal teeth along with a separate Indy smirk mouth. It also has 2 arms, one of which is holding one of the famous gold idols.

The really special bits are the jacket, the hat and the item that Indy would never be without on an adventure, his bullwhip.

These attachments are great fun and really give the spud that special Indy look, but to top it all off the hat can be pressed to play a little bit of Indy music.

***The Toy***

This spud is made from tough plastic although care does have to be taken when putting the bits in and out of the holes, as they fit in with pegs that could be broken if they were removed at an angle. This is another reason why I wouldn't recommend this toy for a child as young as two.

Like the other recent potato heads, this one comes with a compartment at the back where you can store smaller items that are not being used although my hubby still keeps all the bits in the box they way they came originally.

It's nice to see that they have come up with some new gimmicks for this version of the toy and the musical hat is a real treat for those manic fans like my hubby, who almost wet himself with excitement, when the feature was shown to him. The only difficulty with the music is that you do need batteries to make this work although it does come supplied with 2 x AAA batteries to start you off. If you buy this toy from a store you might find that they don't last very long though as the box has a big 'TRY ME!' sign and a hole in the top to allure kids and adults alike to try this out.

The other item I think is really cool is the jacket, which unlike all the other solid plastic attachments, is made of a soft suede like material, so you can properly dress Indy. This is reminiscent of the Spider Spud outfit although this is easier to put on. The only thing you have to remember to do is to put the arms into the jacket before you attach them to the body because the sleeves won't fit over the big hands.

With having quite a few of these special Potato Heads, it is possible to have an Indy style Darth Tater or a Spider Indy, that's if your big kid will let you share in the fun.

***Price and Availability***

There are stores out there that sell these for up to £20 but the cheapest one I found was in an old trusted favourite of mine - Play.com, who sell it for £13.99. I believe that Amazon now sells it for the same price although Play gives free postage whatever the value of the goods.

***Final Thoughts***

There is always a little slogan on these toys and this one doesn't disappoint.

"World-famous Tater-turned-adventurer Idaho Spuds knows how to dig up plenty of action and excitement, but often finds himself in hot water! With his fedora, jacket and bullwhip, there's no limit to the fun he'll whip up!"


This review also appears on Ciao with photos.

Summary: Great novelty toy