Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Mountain Action Command Center: Barbie Townhouse for Boys
Written: Aug 26 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: it's Rescue Heroes
Cons: cheap construction, painful assembly
The Bottom Line: The Bottom Line would like to see this junk at the curb.
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| pippadaisy's Full Review: Fisher Price Rescue Heroes: Mission Select Mountai... |
My sister, the wonderful person that she is, decided to get my two-year-old son into Fisher Price Rescue Heroes for his birthday this year. I gave in and purchased a slew of figures for him, and she purchased this item: the gargantuan Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Mountain Action Command Center. Even as much as it drive me insane, I have been dragging my feet in reviewing it because there's just so much about it I need to mention.
~&~ The Basics ~&~
If you are completely unfamiliar with Fisher Price Rescue Heroes, it is a line of toys, videos, and associated STUFF featuring a team of public servants with porn-star-sounding names out rescuing hapless idiots. I realize that my view of this toy line is very jaded, but at the same time, I challenge anyone to watch the videos starring animated characters with names like Jack Hammer and Gil Gripper and not come away with the same feelings.
The Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Mountain Action Command Center is, as its name suggests, the command center for this team. Built in the mountains (duh!), they all meet up here, go out on their missions, and receive directions from their leader, Warren Waters.
The Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Mountain Action Command Center is a three-section folding playset. The main section features the "command center" as well as a working elevator and rooftop satellite dish and viewing station. The left section is a helicopter landing pad, and the right section is a garage area perfect for parking your Rescue Heroes Mission Select Firetruck or other vehicles. The garage area includes play hoses and gas fill-ups as well as a working crane.
Of course, the center section with its electronic command center is where the action is, and a large display screen features a picture of Warren Waters in the center along with six "out in the field" Rescue Heroes surrounding him. Three yellow electronic backpacks can be placed on the backpack slots on Mission Select Rescue Heroes, and by selecting a mission on the dial, Warren will give instructions and the Rescue Heroes attached to the backpacks will talk about the mission amongst themselves as well as the Rescue Heroes on the display. Six missions are available to choose from (the same six that appear on the backpacks Mission Select Rescue Heroes come with): volcano, earthquake, avalanche, flood, tornado, and fire.
~&~ Parent Perspective ~&~
I'll start out by saying that this is the most over-priced sham of an "award-winning" product ever sold. Assembly took over 45 minutes, with pieces that all look alike and having to "snap" them in, then apply stickers. The instructions weren't much help considering that they relied heavily on pictures, and when the pieces looked so much alike, it was very difficult determining which piece was which.
The Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Mountain Action Command Center requires three "C" batteries, which actually have a surprisingly long battery life in this toy. In six months of use, I haven't yet had to replace the batteries, which is a really good thing, since the battery compartment is next to impossible to get into, being placed behind the command center communication screen and being accessible only by a hinged door in the side of the command center.
The two side areas detach VERY easily, which is ironic considering the claims that this playset can be folded to take up less room. Any folding usually detaches one or both sides, as well as the satellite dish and the crane. While the crane snaps on, the slightest weight on it causes it to pop right off the roof, rendering it useless. The pieces of "brush" that pop into the side of the mountain also pop off very easily, and if you think that a LEGO is painful to step on, try one of these on for size.
Our Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Mountain Action Command Center hasn't had this problem yet, but my nephews also have this toy, and found that the cords to the backpacks break very quickly.
~&~ Kid Value ~&~
As far as my kids are concerned, this toy is fairly popular. My daughter really does view it as a sort of dollhouse for her brother's Rescue Heroes, and my son is quite fond of making the Rescue Heroes talk to each other. Over. And Over. And Over Again. You'll have to pardon me for not including phrases, but I couldn't bear pressing the buttons myself to hear them again.
The easily detaching pieces and sections don't seem to frustrate the kids as much as they frustrate me, and the elevator does seem to work well enough for even the two-year-old to move it up and down.
~&~ Overall ~&~
I have to say that I'm very glad that my sister got this for my son when it was at a discounted price. As a Rescue Heroes play set, it does have quite a bit of play value, especially since it can be used with the Voice Tech figures as well as the Mission Select figures, but don't expect a toy worth its $70.00 suggested retail price.
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My other Fisher Price Rescue Heroes reviews:
Fisher Price Rescue Heroes HydroTeam Billy Blazes
Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Ariel Flyer
Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Billy Blazes
Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Jake Justice
Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Matt Medic
Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Rescue Firetruck
Fisher Price Rescue Heroes Mission Select Wendy Waters
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 50.00
Type of Toy: Playscene
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years
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pippadaisy
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About Me:
Divorce seriously cuts into the amount of time for reviewing.
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