Browsing in Toys We'd Forgotten We Loved

Jan

Mortal Kombat Returns

Toy Geek in Toys We'd Forgotten We Loved

I don’t know about you, but during the 90s I played a lot of Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat 2, and Mortal Kombat 3; even more than the Street Fighter games. Ever the last decade, however, the series has seriously lost its way and become a real joke. In fact, aside from Mortal Kombat vs. DC (which is considered MK8) not many people can name off Mortal Kombats 5-7. Well, now with Warner Brothers Games owning the franchise, and the Chicago-based development team re-branded Netherrealm Studios; things may be looking up for the fighting series.

This April a rebooted Mortal Kombat is due out for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 (with a PC version a remote possibility). The game is going to focus on the classic characters from MK, MK2, and MK3 and is promised to be a return to traditional 2D gameplay, although with current three-dimensional graphics. The HP, LP, HK, LK controls are being replaced with a Tekken-style system where each button corresponds to an arm or leg. And the online system is planned to be extremely robust with a lot of attention paid to recreating the competitive nature of the old arcades.

The game is coming out in a standard edition, and there will be two different special editions. There’s a Kollector’s Edition that includes a Scorpion statue and art book, and a Tournament Edition that comes with a pretty nice arcade stick that almost looks like it was ripped out of an old Mortal Kombat arcade cabinet. The Kollector’s will go for $100 while the Tournament will set you back a whopping $150, but some people feel that’s worth it for an arcade stick.

Jan

Bowser Is Successful Video Game Character

Toy Geek in Toys We'd Forgotten We Loved

The Mario cast changes less than the law of gravity. They’re the most popular video game characters of all time and remain the reason 99 percent of all defeated video game enemies have footprints instead of haircuts. In Mario, Nintendo has the sort of brand identity Steve Jobs could only dream of, because you sure as hell wouldn’t buy iGolf.

As a consequence, Bowser and Mario have been going at it for 25 years, longer than most real wars last. Figuring it was probably time somebody honored their eternal antagonism by checking the scoreboard, we dug in for the long, pedantic process of picking a winner in a fictional conflict. What we got instead was the story of the most depressingly one-sided rivalry in the history of not just video games, but possibly the world.

#5.

Job Satisfaction

The plot of Super Mario Bros. is essentially the tale of one long real estate struggle, as Bowser attempts to take over the Mushroom Kingdom and Mario shows up way too late to prevent him from doing so. Despite forming the kingdom’s entire defense force, Mario rarely hears about an invasion until after Bowser has had enough time to build a series of castles. Archaeologists have responded to invasions faster. At a certain point, Mario has to feel less like a hero than a Rascal Scooter — prolonging the lives of thousands of terminally mushy creatures who would have been no match for evolution if left to their own devices.

“At least Bowser makes the trains run on time.”

While Mario is always in crisis mode, Bowser’s motives seem to oscillate between good old-fashioned land lust and not having anything better to do on a Sunday. One of the few times Mario arrives early enough to see Bowser make off with the Princess (Super Mario Galaxy 2) was when it was such an incredibly minor part of the plan, Bowser was clearly doing it just to piss Mario off. And when you can mount a planetary assault just to shout “Screw You!,” you’re winning so hard the scoreboard turns into a diamond.

The instant Bowser wants the kingdom, he has it — his life is what the God of the Old Testament would wish for if he was given a magic lantern from the spirit of Alexander the Great. He just sits back on his throne of fire and watches Mario scamper through the obstacle course that he designed. Hell, some of the time, he probably stages an invasion just because there’s nothing good on TV.

“It’s this or No Ordinary Family.“

#4.

Personal Life

Mario’s the most recognizable family-friendly hero this side of Mickey Mouse, yet he’s fighting to defend his home against a villain who is better at that as well. Bowser has a bigger family than Catholic sumo wrestlers, while the most famous hero in gaming is a 40-something bachelor, presumably still living knee-deep in mushroom pizza boxes, since we know he doesn’t own more than one set of clothes. There are college students more mature than him — at least they don’t have to gather coins on their way to meet their girlfriends.

And all those gold stars take up an obnoxious amount of shelf space.

We know Bowser’s home life has to be good, because even in the most annoying embodiments of the “rebellious teenager phase” possible, Bowser Jr. and the Koopalings still hang out with their father, learning the family trade. We never see his wife, probably for the same reason that Tony never brought Carmela along when he was staging a gangland takeover. Bowser keeps the woman he loves safe from harm and out of the games.

The closest thing that Mario has to a stable relationship is the perpetually kidnapped Peach. While the game presents her prolonged disappearances as something between a shell game and a hostage situation, she’s never as thankful as you’d hope when you rescue her.

Really?

Meanwhile, she’s perfectly happy to race Go-Karts against Bowser. Their continual kidnapping/getting rescued game of cat-and-mouse seems more flirtatious than anything. In the real world, after the third time a woman disappears with the same man, either common sense or the police usually tell you to stop filing missing-person reports, let alone smash up his place trying to get her back.

So Bowser’s got Mario’s girl and a Mrs. Bowser somewhere tending a beautiful three-bedroom castle. Mario has the worst job in the world, and in his downtime, he’s a lonely plumber.

#3.

Learning From Mistakes

You can’t blame Mario for having less natural talent than Bowser. He’s just a tiny plumber in a magical world where both flora and fauna are deadly to the touch. Bowser, on the other hand, is made of spikes and flame in a world where those are the most unavoidable causes of death. He’s also apparently the master of industrial-level technology, while Mario relies on druid-level flowers and mushrooms for weaponry.

When your enemies have giant airships, you may want slightly more power than a fox tail provides.

When you’ve got that much going against you, the only way to even the odds is to adapt on the fly and innovate new strategies in the face of defeat. The good guys in the Mario Bros. universe are more like a man called “Lefty” having another try at unblocking that garbage disposal. They’re so bad at learning important lessons from their mistakes that they make the bad guys from G.I. Joe look like the good guys from G.I. Joe. Defending the Mushroom Kingdom should not be hard: It’s a magical kingdom of unlimited fantasy where stars are cute, flowers grant magical abilities and everything with a shell is trying to kill you.

All they would have to do is station guards at every entrance and give them very simple instructions: If someone trying to enter the mushroom kingdom has a shell, he’s not allowed in. Just stop him, turn him around and get ready to do it again in 30 seconds when he bounces off something else and comes back. That’s not racial profiling; that’s common sense. This is a land so easy to defend that even TSA agents could manage it.

For the 40,058th time, TURN AROUND, SIR!

Bowser, meanwhile, has learned every lesson the games have to give him — and those lessons are all “Have a party, buddy!”

Dec

Top 10 Nerf Guns

Toy Geek in Grown-Up Toys, Toys We'd Forgotten We Loved

In many ways, the Nerf gun is the go-to toy shooter. While BB guns will shoot your eye out, and water guns require a warm day and open space, Nerf’s foam ammo is safe for limbs and fragile furnishings. Nerf has been around for 40 years (the first product was a small foam ball), and foam ballistics have come a long way in that time. They now sport advanced features like lighted scopes and battery-assisted automatic fire

1. First Nerf Gun: Nerf Bow and Arrow (1991)

Nerf Bow and Arrow

Though Nerf balls had been around for years, this was the first Nerf weapon that the company produced. Its ammo was three Nerf arrows with an average shooting distance of 60 feet, so it’s also one of the farthest-shooting toy weapons the company has made. It’s a classic addition to any Nerf arsenal.

2. Nerf Ballzooka (1994)

Nerf Ballzooka

Nerf combines its original ball with a powerful gun, creating this Nerf-fan favorite. It can unload 15 balls in less than 6 seconds.

3. Nerf Crossbow (1995)

Nerf Crossbow

Nerf-ball guns can only take one type of ammo. This puts users at a tactical disadvantage, rendering them helpless in the event of an empty magazine. The Nerf Crossbow was the first Nerf gun that could fire two different types of Nerf weapons (arrows and darts). It’s capable of shooting both about 40 feet.

4. Nerf SuperMAXX 3000 (1997)

Nerf SuperMAXX 3000

When speedy shooting is paramount, this blaster’s automatic rotating chamber fires eight darts 50 feet at a rate of about 0.81 seconds per shot. Nerf nerds hail it as one of the most accurate and powerful foam-shooting pistols ever.

5. Nerf Lock ‘n’ Load (1998)

Nerf Lock n Load

Many assume that heavy artillery is needed to get serious power out of a Nerf gun, but this little, single-shot gun proves them wrong. The pistol’s 50-foot range equals that of its bigger cousins, making it a great backup blaster for ninja missions or for when your primary gun runs out of ammo.

6. Nerf PowerClip DX 1000 (1999)

Nerf PowerClip DX 1000

The PowerClip took cues from Hasbro’s SuperSoaker division. Pump the gun a couple of times and it builds up enough pressure to send Nerf darts soaring 78 feet, at the rate of 9 darts per second.

7. Nerf N-Strike Unity Power System (2004)

Nerf N-Strike Unity Power System

While early Nerf guns were cartoonish and unrealistic, the N-Strike series was heavily influenced by real weaponry. This was the first N-Strike series, and is notable for its versatility—it can shoot three different types of ammo from three discrete barrels: small darts for precise hits and rapid-fire shooting and a massive missile dart for long-range mortarlike assaults. Its best feature: The gun can be disassembled and used as three individual guns.

8. Nerf N-Strike Maverick (2006)

Nerf N-Strike Maverick

This revolver-style Nerf gun is the company’s best-selling blaster of all time. Reloading is easy: The six-dart chamber flips open for easy access to the auto-advancing barrel, and it can shoot the darts as fast as you can pump the handle and pull the trigger.

9. Nerf N-Strike Vulcan EBF-25 (2008)

Nerf N-Strike Vulcan EBF-25

The biggest, best, most powerful Nerf gun ever. The battery-powered Vulcan is basically a fully-automatic foam-spewing machine gun, complete with a 25-dart clip that it can unload in less than 10 seconds. And if the batteries die, you can still pump and shoot the old-fashioned way. Some drawbacks: Chasing down all those darts for reloading is far from fun, and some of our commenters have noted that the belt jams easily.

10. Nerf N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS 35 Blaster (2009)

Nerf N-Strike Raider Rapid Fire CS 35 Blaster

When it comes out this Fall, this blaster’s 35-dart cache will give it the highest dart capacity of any Nerf gun. The gun instantly transitions between single fire and slam fire when you pump it while holding the trigger. And unlike the Vulcan, the Raider’s rapid-fire setting doesn’t require batteries.

Dec

New Nerf Super Soaker for 2011

Toy Geek in Grown-Up Toys, Toy Spotlight, Toys We'd Forgotten We Loved

We love water guns, and from their origins as an accidental lab discovery by rocket scientist Lonnie Johnson, Super Soakers have come to define the market. So when we got a sneak peak at the upcoming 2011 line of Nerf Super Soaker blasters

Thunderstorm Blaster

Hydro Cannon

Tornado Strike

Scatter Blaster

Point Break Water Gun

Dec

StarWars Xmas Gifts for Geeks

Toy Geek in Gift Ideas, Holiday Shopping, Toys We'd Forgotten We Loved

The time of celebration is here. With Christmas just round the corner, everyone is definitely busy with decorating their houses and buying gifts for their loved ones.

Buying gifts is one of the most tedious tasks for all of us. There are many factors that people take into consideration while buying Christmas gifts and the most important one is definitely the favorite movie character of the person. If star wars is any of your loved ones favorite movie character, then we have brought to you some of the best gifts that you can gift to your loved ones. Just scroll through the exquisite list of star war gifts.

Darth Vader Robotic Arm

Toys are definitely different from what they used to be before. Uncle Milton created this little gem called Darth Vader Robotic Arm under the Star Wars collection. Star Wars saga has inspired a generation and more. Each robotic arm of this toy has 45 parts which can be easily assembled and which can grip and hold lightweight objects using interactive controls. This Darth Vader Robotic Arm can be a perfect gift for any Star Wars fan.

Star Wars Backpack

Present these cool and unique backpacks to your buddies on this Christmas. These cool looking Star Wars backpacks come in three different shapes – Boba Fett, C-3PO Bespin and the Storm Tropper. This amazing Star Wars backpacks is a great thing to have even if you’re not a Star Wars fan.

Boda Fett Jet Pack
Droid Backpack
Stormtrooper Backpack

Lego Minifig Sith Alarm Clock

If you’re a Star Wars fan, then needless to say, you must be having many Star Wars collectibles which you love the most. Well, here is another collectible for you to add up in your collection – Lego Minifig Sith Alarm Clocks. This clock comes in shape of two Star Wars characters – white as the Strom Trooper and black as Darth Vader. Its arms and legs can be altered and you can make this clocks sit or stand on your bed side or on your desk. This clock can be a perfect Christmas gift for any Lego or Star Wars fan.

Star Wars Wampa Rug

For this Christmas get some cool and nice decorative items for your kid’s room with which they can have fun. Here is something just perfect for you and your kids, the Star Wars Wampa Rug. The Wampa from Star Wars movie is a fictional polar bear like predator, with snow- white fur and sharp black claws. This Wampa rug is so adorable that you may just want to cuddle up and never let it go.

Star Wars Tauntaun Sleeping Bag

Are you thinking of some innovative and funky gift for your kids and your loved ones on this Christmas? Not to worry, here is the solution for your problem, the Star Wars Tauntaun Sleeping Bag. This sleeping bag has a mini lightsaber which is attached to a zipper and a Tauntaun head that acts as a pillow.

Scanimation Star Wars Book

Most often when you ask your kids to read a book they detest it. But when you ask them to read Scanimation Star Wars book, they would simply read it with fun. Author Rufus Butler Seder has attempted to make Star Wars. If your kid doesn’t like reading and you want him to put him in the habit of reading then you should gift your kid this Star Wars Book on this Christmas.

Star Wars Character Monster Bobble Heads

Now flaunt your Star Wars love with these unique fusions of Star Wars characters, mashed up with some classic monsters and bobble head. You can have this on your desk and will be amazed with the reaction you get from your family and friends. These Star Wars Character Monster Bobble Heads will look cool and spooky on your desk and can be a good option as a gift for any geek.

Star Wars Darth Vader Talking Keychain

For all you Star Wars fan here is a special key chain for you, the Star Wars Darth Vader Talking Keychain. This keychain has got six famous phrase of Darth Vader from Star Wars movies. This is one of the coolest keychains which you can be gifted to your kids or used by yourself.

R2-D2 Interactive Astromech Droid

There has never been a more technologically advance toy than this R2-D2 Interactive Astromech Droid. It has got amazing sensory program, and the plastic R2D2 reacts according to the sounds and movements made around it. This R2D2 has also got an illuminating light beam, rotating dome, soda holder and much more. This is a perfect gift for your kids this Christmas.

Star Wars AT-AT Model Toy

Thinking of a gift to give your kids on this Christmas, which they will not only make them enjoy but also help them to learn to construct things and put effort into things they do, then this Star Wars AT-AT Model Toy is perfect gift for them. This AT-AT model is being completely painted and crafted to look exactly as if it’s come straight out from the movie. This toy is easy to construct and safe to be used by kids.

Star Wars AT-AT Vehicle Toy

The Battle of Hoth in Stars Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back is one of the most memorable battles sequences in the cinema history. Inspired by their size in the movie, Hasbro has created one of the biggest AT-AT toys ever made. This is one of the best toy you can gift your kid and if you’re a Star Wars fan, then it is a must to be added to your collectibles.

Star Wars Millennium Falcon Model

This Christmas, instead of buying a new Star Wars toy for your kids, get them the Star Wars Millennium Falcon Model. With this model kids can recreate and assemble their own Star Wars Millennium Falcon with easy to assemble pieces which don’t require any glue.

Star Wars Golf Club Covers

Doesn’t matter if you’re a golfer or not; if you’re a Star Wars movie buff and aim to have each and every collectibles from Star Wars collection then this Star Wars golf club head cover is must to have! These cute little cuddly Golf Covers come in the shape of Yoda, Chewbacca and Darth Vader.

Star Wars Slippers

Are you bored of your old boring slippers and are thinking of replacing them with nice and comfortable ones? Then here are the Star Wars slippers, which are cool, comfortable and the best thing – they come in the shape of your favorite Star Wars character – Yoda and Darth Vader. These slippers will surely keep your feet warm and will make you smile whenever you look at them.

Star Wars Chewbacca Slippers

You all know about Star Wars and definitely love the series. You also like a pair of comfortable and warm slippers, especially in winters, when all you want to do is relax by the fire place. If you like your slippers to be creative, cool, unique, and talk of the town then this Star Wars Chewbacca slippers is the right thing for you.

Star Wars R2-D2 Pepper Grinder

Star Wars fans are never enough with the collectibles they collect, so much so that they would search for more and more. If you are one of them, then grab the R2-D2 pepper grinder to add some spice to your Star Wars collection. This R2-D2 Pepper Grinder will certainly enhance your dining experience and will look beautiful on table.

Star Wars Darth Vader USB Hub

The Star Wars Darth Vader USB Hub is for all you Star Wars fan or computer geeks. This Darth Vader USB Hub will look cool on your computer desk and will be your desktop companion. This USB hub has got four USB ports and is shaped like a Darth Vader with black helmet, red flashing eyes, swiveling neck and all sonic powers. Just press the button under his neck and he will be ready for action.

The Darth Vader USB Hub

Star Wars Headphones

For most people music is the way to relax their mind after a hectic day. But sometimes loud music can seem noisy. If so, why not get a comfortable headphone with which you can hear music with volume you like, without disturbing others. And if you’re a Star Wars fan, then it’s a double bonus for you because here are the most perfect Star Wars headphones. Lightweight, fully adjustable and fold up, and also compact. These Star Wars Headphones from Funko Tronics comes in three different design that is, Boba Fett, Darth Vader and the Rebel Alliance.

Star Wars Character Computer Figures

For every one of you who loves watching Star Wars series, here are wobble head Star Wars character computer figures for you. These Computer figures or toppers come in three different characters shape – Boba Fett, Yoda, and Darth Vader. These toppers are made from plastic and are made to sit on your computer screen, overlooking you and your work.

Star Wars Keychain

You all must be using keychains to keep your keys – be it your house keys, car keys, closet keys or any kind of keys which are important to you. The Star Wars keychain comes in the shape of two Star Wars characters – Boba Fett and Darth Vader. This keychain looks cool and is made with lots of detail work to make it look quite real.

Boba Fett Keychain
Darth Vader Keychain

Star Wars Lightsaber Desk Lamp

Now this one is the best table lamp when you want to light up the place; whether it’s your desk or room or just to destroy your enemies, not literally of course. This Star Wars Lightsaber desk lamp is cool and different than your old boring desk lamps. It is shaped like a lightsaber from Star Wars movies and can be connected to your PC through USB.

Star Wars Miniature Lightsabers

Kids love Star Wars movies and like to fancy themselves as Star Wars characters. Now you can teach them the easy way to make a mini lightsaber and let them enjoy playing their favorite characters. Kids would love to owe this lightsaber. So now you know what to gift them for this Christmas.

Star Wars Wall Mural

Are you bored of the mundane looks of your room or your old interiors and want to make a certain change in the same. Then this is the time. The Star Wars wall mural will not only give your room a different look, but every time you return to your room after a long tiring day, you will have the feeling that you are in your favorite Star Wars world.

Star Wars R2D2 Mr. Potato Head

Is it Mr. Potato Head or is it R2-D2? Confused? So am I. Actually, Playskool’s new Star Wars Artoo-Patatoo Mr. Potato Head is a mix and match of both the characters part. This Star Wars R2D2 Mr.Potato can be your child’s all time best companions because he can create so many funny and wacky faces with this one toy.

Star Wars Boba Fett Push Toy

If your kid is a Star Wars movie fan and love to collect all type of Star Wars merchandise, then this Christmas gift them with this Star Wars Boba Fett plush toy. This toy looks cute and resembles the Star Wars character Boba Fett. It is made up of soft material so that your kid will love to cuddle with it.

Star Wars Talking Push Dolls

Star Wars certainly don’t need any introduction; this classic series was and is ruling the hearts of millions of fans all over the world and its outcome can be seen in the form various games, videos, merchandises, toys and so on. And this time it has come up with this R2-D2 and Yoda talking plush dolls. These toys resemble to the characters from the series and are made from soft material. These R2-D2 and Yoda Talking plush dolls will entertain you by saying few phrases from the Star Wars movies.

The Stormtrooper Super Shogun

If you or your kid is a Super Star Wars fan, and you want to gift him something special this Christmas then here is the Stormtrooper Super Shogun. Brian Flynn has come up with the Stormtrooper Super Shogun – a 24-inch tall toy based on the fictional soldiers of Emperor Palpatine and of his commanders in George Lucas’ Star Wars series.

Dec

Nintendo Gaming System Guitar

Toy Geek in Grown-Up Toys, Humor, Toys We'd Forgotten We Loved

The people behind GetLoFi have forged this mighty implement of oak and steel and one secret ingredient. You may already have guessed what hallowed object, dripping with the sweet ichor of gaming history, was chosen to be crafted into a machine of completely other purpose.

This NES-bodied, fully functional electric guitar went for $150, and we feel certain that if it had been placed in an auction environment it would have fetched somewhat more. This is far from the first time we’ve seen the NES become something else due to some Do-It-Yourself aptitude, and not even the first musical instrument, but electric guitars are inherently Sweeet, so… yeah. Here’s how it sounds:

Dec

New Nintendo Wii 2 Console Release for 2011

Toy Geek in Holiday Shopping, Toy News, Toys We'd Forgotten We Loved

The Wii has now entered its fifth full year on the market. It first launched in America back in November of 2006, which means four years are behind it and the fifth is now beginning. You know what that means. A new system. Nintendo consoles have traditionally only lasted for about five years before the Big N has introduced a successor.

Dec

Nerf Attack is Back