Disclaimer: We were sent this Gigabots Energy Core Hazbot toy to review free of charge, but words and pictures are mine. This post contains affiliate links, see more information here.
Christmas toys are always a hot topic, so we’ve been taking a look at some of this year’s contenders to see whether they’ll be hits or misses come the big day. This week we’ve been sent a Gigabots Energy Cores transforming robot from Blip Toys to review; they’re buildable action figures aimed at kids age 5+ and cost around £15.
What are Gigabots?
Gigabots transform from an Energy Core (a large plastic ball) into an amazing 13-inch robot action figure. Each Gigabot Energy Core ball contains 33 pieces, body pieces made of plastic, rigid plastic connectors, and stretchy energy bands made of rubber, all of which snap together to build your action figure.
Gigabots figures can be taken apart and put back together as many times as you like, with the pieces all fitting inside the Energy Core for storage.
The Gigabot action figure is fully poseable so can be used for imaginative play.
There are six different Gigabots figures to collect. On the back of each one’s packaging is a QR code, when scanned it will take you to a site where you can check out your Gigabots character’s stats and videos showing you how to build them if you get stuck. There are also instructions to download in case you misplace the ones you get in with your Gigabot. There are six different figures to collect; Blaze, Hazbot, Hyrobot, Scrapbot, Fragbot and Gripbot.
We received Hazbot, the neon yellow Demolition Specialist who wields an energy hammer and plasma sword.
How easy are Gigabots to build?
I have to admit, it isn’t particularly easy to get the black plastic ball joints inside the sockets and you have to press quite hard so that they click in. My seven year old struggled to do this by himself so I had to step in and help. He really wanted to be able to do it, and could follow the instructions provided in the packet well enough, it’s just the physical part of clicking it together he couldn’t quite manage.
Taking them back apart is also quite tricky, and putting the energy core back together is a bit of a challenge too.
For this reason I would suggest that building Gigabots will require adult supervision for children younger than eight or nine, which may not be what you’re looking for. It’s a shame it’s not a bit easier to be honest, as it would put me off of buying another one for my son who gets easily frustrated by this kind of thing.
What did we think of our Gigabots transforming robot?
A toy you can build, take apart and rebuild is always up there in terms of good buys, because it’s something that can be used again and again.
My seven year old liked his Hazbot Gigabot, despite needing some help putting it together. He also reckons you need at least two Gigabots so you can battle with them, which is something he’s particularly into at the moment.
The figures are poseable and can stand up without help, which we liked. They’re really big and colourful too. It’s also useful that they pack away for easy storage, so you won’t lose the bits which is an eternal struggle.
However, I would probably be reluctant to purchase another one for as child as young as seven who may struggle to build it and take it apart on their own.
How much and where to buy
The full RRP of the Gigabots Energy Cores which transform into 13 inch figures is £14.99. They are available in store and from online retailers including Amazon.
There are also two Gigabots Beasts which are larger figures – Torbot and Araknix – and these cost £24.99.