With the Ben 10 cartoon series having gone from strength to strength since 2005, the accompanying toy range has also exploded across toy shop shelves. The continuing success of the brand means that more and more Ben 10 toys and accessories are finding their way into view of our children and subsequently into the path of our wallets. If you are just starting out buying toys in the Ben 10 world, here is a quick check list to guide you in the right direction.
Omnitrix
- An Omnitrix is a must have role play toy for any Ben 10 fan. These watch like devices are central to the whole Ben 10 theme. They are what allows Ben to transform into his various alien life forms.
- The only two Omnitrix worth buying are the Deluxe Omnitrix from the original cartoon series or the Ultimate Omnitrix from the Alien Force sequel. There are various other older versions around, such as the Omnitrix F/X or Alien Viewer, but they are not worth the money.
- For an Omnitrix with a built in computer type mini game on a small black and white LCD screen, choose the Deluxe Omnitrix. However, this version is not suitable for children who cannot yet read.
- For a two-in-one toy for children who prefer the aliens from the latest series, such as Spidermonkey and Humungousaur, choose the Ultimate Omnitrix. The watch comes with a mini translucent alien figure that can be played with separately or attached to the watch.
Action Figures
- For children who do not have favourite alien characters, choose figures from the latest Alien Force sequel as they are more readily available so you should be able to pick them up for under £5. The previous series figures are hard to find so come with a hefty price tag.
- For value for money, a larger selection of the smaller 10cm figures will offer more fun to a Ben 10 fan, than the larger, more expensive figures.
- Buy multi figure packs where available to keep costs down.
- Have a look at the creation chamber figures. They are a two-in-one toy as you get two aliens in the one box for around £6. The figures are pretty small but you can swap parts between them to create your own hybrid aliens.
Games
- Stay away from some of the board games as they tend to be boring and repetitive.
- Choose a video game as they offer a lot more fun and lasting play for not much more money.
- Buy one of the many puzzles for a quiet time game.
- Buy the Top Trumps card game for an easy to carry along game, with attractive, detailed cards of each of your child’s favourite characters.
Use the above checklist to give you a heads up when trawling through all the Ben 10 toys available.