Disclaimer: We were sent these SCOOB! action figures and Mystery Machine Playset to review free of charge, but words and pictures are mine. This post contains affiliate links, see more information here.
It is fifty whole years since the first Scooby Doo episode, and this year the team are back with a brand new film, SCOOB!
Currently being launched in America, the film will be coming to the UK soon – in the meantime we were sent some of the new toy line from Character Options to play with; the Scoob Action Figure Multi Pack and Mystery Machine Playset.
SCOOB! The Mystery Machine playset
Every Scooby Doo fan will recognise The Mystery Machine.
Getting the Mystery Machine out of the box requires a screwdriver. This is one of my absolute pet hates, particularly when I don’t happen to have one handy! So make sure that, if it is a gift, you have one close to hand.
The compact van can be wheeled along, but it also opens up to create a playset.
It is worth noting that the Mystery Machine must be opened up and closed in the right order (the sides go up, then the back and finally the top) which could be frustrating for smaller kids although the playset is suitable for children as young as three.
Inside the Mystery Machine it is big enough to hold all the action figures – it’s actually bigger than I was expecting it to be.
The cab is big enough for two of the Mystery Crew to sit side by side, but it doesn’t completely open up so you must slide these in the top or through the windows, and posing them in a seated position can be a little tricky.
The Mystery Machine playset comes with one Shaggy figure; and it’s an identical Shaggy to the one you get in the set of action figures. It would (in my humble opinion) have been better to include a plain Scooby Doo figure; perhaps a different one to the Super Scoob available in the set of action figures who doesn’t sit very well behind the wheel.
Finally, although you might assume there would be lights and/or sounds incorporated as most toys seem to have these days, there aren’t. The items on the top can’t be removed; it is also worth noting that apart from the green decal on the lower part of the van which is painted on, the rest of the decoration including the flowers is done with stickers.
However, all of this aside, for the price (£20) I really don’t think it’s a bad toy for the newest generation of Scooby Doo fans.
SCOOB! Action figures
The SCOOB! action figure pack contains six figures from the new film.
These are Shaggy, Super Scooby Doo, goodie Blue Falcon, well known baddie Dick Dastardly and two of his Rotten robots; Dusty Rotten and Black Rotten.
The bigger figures are five inches tall, and they’re all to scale with the Mystery Machine and other SCOOB! toys.
They are highly detailed, particularly the smaller Rotten robot figures which really look old and dirty!
The SCOOB! action figures are made entirely from plastic, even the joints, although they have enough flex in them to withstand play.
The figures are all articulated in several places including arms, elbows, legs, knees and heads, and are poseable.
I imagine that the paint will scratch off of the figures fairly easily, but at £10 for all six, I think that these figures are a great buy for any little Scooby Doo fan.
Where to buy
The SCOOB! Mystery Machine playset has an RRP of £20, and the set of six action figures has an RRP of £10. Both are suitable for children aged three years and older.
They can be bought from Argos here, or Amazon using the links below.
There are also further SCOOB! toys in the range, including the Mystery Mansion which is compatible with the figures, and plush SCOOB! figures.