“Ben 10 is without a doubt the hottest men’s brand right now.” The 10cm and 15cm Ben 10 action figures were selected as ‘2009 Toy of the Year’ and the Ben 10 brand also won the ‘Kids Range of the Year’. So what are Ben 10 toys all about and are they worth buying?
1. What are Ben 10 toys?
Ben 10 is the superhero from the Cartoon Network show of the same name. Young fans around the world go crazy for hero-related merchandise from him and now he has his own range of toys. The watch-like object called the Omnitrix gives Ben his superpowers and is central to the toy range. He allows you to transform into more than 10 different alien superheroes, which make up the action figure toys available.
Ben 10: Alien Force is the sequel to the original show. The trusty Omnitrix has evolved, resulting in new aliens to transform into. The toy range has been updated accordingly with a new Ultimate Omnitrix and new alien action figures.
2. What age group are Ben 10 toys suitable for?
The range is mainly aimed at children from 4 to 12 years old.
3. Are Ben 10 toys good?
Ben 10 toys are exciting, inexpensive toys that entertain and inspire creativity. They are realistic to the cartoon, well detailed and well made. In this time of financial crisis, it’s all about trusted brands and the makers of the Ben 10 range, Bandai, are the third largest toy producer in the world. If you’re looking for high-quality, durable, multi-purpose toys that can be played with in a variety of ways, Ben 10 has it for you.
4. How much are Ben 10 toys?
You can get some good action figures starting at around £5.
The best ‘Omnitrix’ watches cost between £15 and £20.
The new Alien Force creature vehicles are around £15.
Video games cost around £15 depending on the platform.
You can find a good selection of books for around £3.
You can get a great Ben 10 bedroom makeover for around £60, to include curtains, a duvet cover and pillowcase, wall stickers and a light shade.
5. What is the best Ben 10 toy?
Must-have toys for any Ben 10 fan are an Omnitrix and some action figures.
The Omnitrix comes in many different versions, so beware of the cheaper forms that are less playable. The two best Omnitrix watches are the Deluxe Omnitrix and the new Alien Force Ultimate Omnitrix. They are realistic for the cartoon series and are ideal for superhero role-playing games.
The best value for money in action figures are the 10cm versions, as they are articulated, well detailed and sturdy, but also cheap enough to buy some. Make sure you buy the “right” alien, as your Ben 10 fan will no doubt have a favorite of him. Take advantage of multi-figure packs to start your Ben 10 fan collection. Creation Chamber figures also offer great creative play allowing kids to mix things up and create new Ben 10 aliens.
If you don’t mind shooting games, Ben 10 video games are great. They are quite easy to play, challenging but not too much. There’s great sound and a story and you have to solve problems. The best parts for young Ben 10 fans are:
- another player can join in or drop out and help out at any point in the game; Y
- you start from where you run out of life so you don’t have to go back to the beginning of a level.
6. What is the worst Ben 10 toy?
Games are often expensive, cumbersome, and have too many missing pieces. They also usually require you to buy the rest of the product range to use them, so they’re often not worth the money. The ads and packaging are always very tempting, but once the box is opened and the frenzy of the first game ends, the disappointment begins.
The cheaper versions of the Omnitrix (Omnitrix FX and Alien Viewer) have limited appeal. Please see my other article “Ben 10 Omnitrix Watches – The Differences Every Parent Should Know” for more detailed information.
With action figures, you should avoid the smaller ones and the bigger ones. The transforming alien rocks or planetary powder game figures are small, monochrome, and poorly detailed. At the other end of the scale, the 12″ Epic Alien figures are un-poseable and made of substandard plastic.
7. What toys and products does the Ben 10 Toy range include?
In addition to the Omnitrix and action figures, the Ben 10 range includes:
- games and puzzles;
- vehicles;
- games;
- DVD;
- video game;
- Dress Shoes;
- school equipment;
- dress suits;
- Arts and Crafts;
- Sports team;
- piece of furniture;
- party supplies;
- bedroom accessories;
- books.
8. What educational value does the Ben 10 Toy range offer?
The toys encourage imaginative play with your child starting out as Ben 10, meeting a villain, and then transforming into one of the alien heroes simply by switching toys. They also help develop moral reasoning by identifying the good from the bad characters. When used to interact with other children, they will engage in cooperative and dramatic play.
9. What toy should I buy for a child who already owns most of the Ben 10 Toy range?
Take a look at some of the sports equipment, such as the skateboard or the scooter.
10. Where can I buy Ben 10 toys online?
Everywhere! Ben 10 is so popular that you can find the toys for sale at most online toy retailers, including Amazon, The Toy Shop, and Toys R Us.
© 2009 Chloe Alice Wilson