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Transformers Optimus Prime Voice Changing Helmet

Manufacturer: Hasbro
Ages: 4 and up
Suggested Retail Price: $29.99
Available: June 2, 2007, at most toy and retail locations.

Date of Review: June 2007

What It Is

If it feels like you may have seen these before, you have. Transformers were a major hit in the 1980s—subject of comic books, TV shows and, of course, one of the most successful toy lines of the decade.

Under the rubric “Robots in Disguise,” it was a whole line of characters who transformed from ordinary looking cars, trucks, motor cycles and other vehicles into super-powered robots bent on saving the world from any and every threat. And since it was a cartoon show, there were lethal threats every week to keep kids entertained.

Led by Optimus Prime, the good guy Autobots battled the bad Decepticons in a never-ending struggle.

Now, Transformers have become a major motion picture, with a toy line attached. The best of these is the Voice Changing Helmet. It’s about the size of a professional football helmet and looks like the head of Optimus Prime. When kids slip it on and press a button, they can change their own voices or play various sayings from the movie.

Why It’s Fun

One of the biggest trends in movie toys in the past several years has been the change in how kids play. Whereas once they would play with figures from the movie, now role-play has become the best-selling category, and kids want to become the characters rather than just play with them.

The helmet allows kids to feel like they’re the ultimate good guy Transformer, and they think it’s hilarious to become this guy.

Of course the real pleasure of playing Transformers is that it activates kids’—boys especially—desire to play “power and conflict,” which is a formal way to say “good guys versus bad guys.”

From an imaginative standpoint, kids love pretending to be all-powerful.

Who’s Going To Love It

Transformers toys appeal to boys 4-7 primarily, though all kinds of kids (even grown men) are completely taken with the characters and the story.

One of the cool things about this property is that kids really do you use it as a springboard for imaginative and story-based play.

What To Be Aware Of

The helmet is large, and while the eyeholes are large, small kids should be supervised when they play with this and should be encouraged not to run with the helmet on, though the temptation may be hard to resist.

The helmet comes with batteries included.