Rescue Heroes Mission Select Billy Blazes: The Ambiguously Porn Fireman
Written: Mar 08 '04 (Updated Mar 10 '04)
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Pros: it's Billy!
Cons: non-stop Fisher Price advertising... must. have. them. all.
The Bottom Line: While the incessant marketing drives me insane, my son loves this toy and the whole line.
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| pippadaisy's Full Review: Fisher-Price Rescue Heroes: Mission Select Billy A... |
We've reached that point in my son's life where action figures come into play. My sister decided that I should be punished with... I mean, he should get to share in the joy that her sons experience with... Fisher Price Rescue Heroes, so for his birthday and Valentine's Day, we started him on the path to destruction that is Rescue Heroes. One of his favorites is the Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Billy Blazes.
~&~ The Basics ~&~
Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Billy Blazes is about six inches tall, with a "new" uniform consisting of painted black pants, huge yellow, black, and charcoal grey boots, a charcoal grey and yellow top with what looks like a bullet-less silver ammo belt over one should with a Mission Select shiny emblem, red arm bands, and red gloves. Billy is articulated at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hips.
Also included are a red, silvery and charcoal grey helmet with a grey antenna (for communications). The mask is a clear smoky grey plastic and Billy's face is easily visible.
In addition, you get the huge Mission Select backpack which is mostly red. The water cannon apparatus is silver with black accents, and there is a large silver antenna on a black base, what appears to be some sort of silver radar equipment, and a clear grey plastic "water cannon" that fits into Billy's hand. On the back of the backpack is a neon orange triangle, and a neon orange dial. Spin the dial until the "mission" picture you want is in the viewing area (the rest is covered with the same clear plastic as Billy's face mask), press the red button in the center and Billy will talk about the mission selected. There are six missions: a tornado, a fire, an erupting volcano, an earthquake, an avalanche, and a flood. Selecting the earthquake mission several times, Billy says the following:
"Billy Blazes here. The Earth! Is Cracking! 10-4"
"Earthquake! Take cover!"
"We're in! The rumble! Of the Earthquake! Is Fierce! Standing by..."
"The ground! Is cracking! Earthquake alert!"
"The earth! Is shifting! They're trapped!"
"Earthquake alert! Do you copy? Over."
"I'm in! The rumble! Of the Earthquake! Is Fierce! 10-4"
"They're trapped! In the earth!"
"No one gets left behind!"
Billy requires two AAA batteries that install into his backpack via a Phillips-head screwed battery door. Batteries are included, but may be worn down from use on store shelves.
Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Billy Blazes also comes with video containing "Edge of Disaster" and "Flood of Fear." "Edge of Disaster" introduces us to Rescue Hero Rocky Canyon in an episode where the Rescue Heroes attempt to rescue climbers from an avalanche. "Flood of Fear" features Gil Gripper, Jake Justice, Sandy Beach, and Jack Hammer in an attempt to repair a dam about to burst during a rain storm.
~&~ Parents Perspective ~&~
First off, I have to get it out of the way; yes, the Rescue Heroes all have porn star names. I don't know if Fisher Price really thought it through, but I have a hard time not getting a fit of the giggles when I'm writing about "Gil Gripper," "Sandy Beach," and "Jack Hammer." The fact that the Rescue Heroes all have overly developed bodies, and several have Smoky and the Bandit-era Burt Reynolds mustaches doesn't help the correlation either.
Aside from that, however, my son LOVES them. Recommended for ages three and up because of some small pieces, the majority of this line is just fine for a two-year-old, especially the figures, which usually have larger pieces. Their chunky build (a very similar body mold as the Disney Buzz Chunky Action Figure) makes them easy for little ones to carry around, even if the backpacks do make them unwieldy.
My only real gripe with the Rescue Heroes line in general is that it is SUCH a marketing ploy... a brochure included in the packaging of one of his toys showed no fewer than SIX lines of Rescue Heroes, all with the same characters wearing different outfits. At least with Barbie, you just change her clothes, but with Rescue Heroes, you have to buy yet ANOTHER Billy!
The video itself contains what are essentially two 11-minute commercials for the toys (remember when children's shows had toys associated rather than videos associated with toys?), but in addition, Fisher Price adds commercials for even MORE of the Rescue Heroes line of toys. Both my son and daughter clamor for the video, but it's like nails on a chalkboard for me to voluntarily play commercials for them.
My little problem that my kids don't mind is the stilted speech. Fisher Price designed these figures to be able to say many different things by combining phrases, but his speech sounds very staccato, which probably isn't a big deal, but one that bothers me, especially since my son has a speech delay and is just learning how to vocalize.
~&~ Play Value ~&~
Needless to say, my son LOVES his Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Billy Blazes. Like his older cousin, Billy is his favorite Rescue Hero, and he totes his Billy around as much as I let him. He is especially excited that Billy can interact with the Mission Select Rescue Firetruck and the Mountain Action Command Center.
I hate to say it, but I think that what he really loves is that (manspeak to the contrary), he has "boy dolls" of his own to rival his sister's Polly Pockets and Barbies. He loves to make Billy "talk" using his own gibberish, and Billy has climbed the couch and Buster's baby brother more times than I can think of.
These toys are VERY durable, as they stand up to a two-year-old's mission to destroy very well. Over time, I've noticed that my nephew's Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Billy Blazes shows some wear on his paint, especially his hair, but so far my son has not been able to destroy him.
Both my son and my daughter enjoy playing with Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Billy Blazes, and he is the most fought over of the Rescue Heroes.
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Check out my other Rescue Heroes reviews:
Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Ariel Flyer
Fisher Price Rescue Heroes HydroTeam Billy Blazes with VHS Video
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 10.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
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pippadaisy
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Divorce seriously cuts into the amount of time for reviewing.
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