Now Your Child Can Sound Like a Robot (and Look Like One Too)!
Written: Aug 16 '07 (Updated Aug 28 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cool voice changing effects.
Cons: Two different versions (although that probably won't matter to most kids anyway)
The Bottom Line: It's fun. It's durable. It's just too cool. Everyone who has played with it (from little kids to adults) loves it!
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| mizgnomer's Full Review: Transformers Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet |
My little guy has loved Transformer-type toys ever since my husband gave him some of the ones he played with as a child. With the release of the new Transformers movie, the toy store shelves have been inundated with new transforming toys that my son has been dying to get his hands upon. The Transformers Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet topped my son's most-wanted list of toys, so we gave it to him for his 6th birthday.
Product Description:
The Transformers Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet is a helmet/mask that looks like Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots (the good guys). The helmet has built-in sound effects and a "voice changer" that makes your child sound like Optimus Prime when they speak in the helmet.
The helmet itself is mostly blue plastic with silver accents. The eye-lenses are yellow, and the eye openings are fairly large. While the mask does cover the entire head in front and most of the back, there are plenty of vents around the mouth-area. There is a bit of a "nose guard" inside the helmet to help keep it steady and keep the mask's eyes lined up properly with your child's eyes. It should be noted that this "helmet" is merely a glorified mask, and is not safety/protective gear.
The power switch and sound effect buttons are on the right side of the mask. The 3 power settings are "On", "Off", and "Demo" (demo is for in-store demonstration purposes, and has only a sub-set of the full features).
The 3 sound effect buttons are:
• Voice Button - This turns the voice modification microphone off and on. When turned on, anyone who speaks while wearing the helmet sounds like Optimus Prime!
• Phrases Button - Pressing this button plays one of 5 phrases spoken by Optimus Prime:
» "Autobots, roll out!"
» "I am Optimus Prime!"
» "Megatron is in my sights!"
» "We must protect the allspark cube!"
» "The Decepticons must be stopped!"
• Conversion Sounds Button - Press this button to hear the sound made when Optimus Prime converts from truck to battle robot mode and vice versa (the button alternates between the 2 sounds).
Knowing that this helmet will need to accommodate heads of varying shapes and sizes, the manufacturer has tried to make the helmet fairly easy to adjust. The straps go around the head as well as over the top of the head, and can be adjusted on the front, sides, and back. You can also completely remove the straps from the inside of the helmet (making it easier to adjust them on your child's head), then re-attach the straps to the helmet once they've been fitted. You can also adjust the straps while they are attached to the helmet.
The manufacturer recommends this product for children ages 5 and up. 3 "AA" batteries are required (included).
Our Thoughts and Experiences:
The Transformers Optimus Prime Voice Changer Helmet was the hit of my son's 6th birthday party. Everyone from our 2 year old to most of the adults wanted to give it a try (and yes, the helmet is big enough to fit adults too)! The built-in sounds/phrases are nice, but the coolest feature is definitely the voice changer. All of the kids that come to our house absolutely love it, as does our 2 year old (who looks absolutely hysterical wandering around with a giant head atop his little shoulders, talking in baby-robot-speak).
My 6 year old absolutely adores his new Transformers helmet, and when coupled with the Optimus Prime Battle Big Blaster he also received for his 6th birthday, my son feels as though he practically has a complete costume. He's already told us that he'll be dressing up as Optimus Prime for Halloween this year, and is looking forward to saying "Trick or Treat" with his robotic voice.
The "changed" voice is clear and works very well -- I don't have any complaints about it. The battery compartment is on the top of the helmet. I do appreciate the fact that the batteries are centered on top of the helmet, not weighing down one side or on the back where it would tend to unbalance the helmet. My husband did originally have some trouble getting it sized to fit properly on my son's head, but that was before he read the instructions and realized that the straps can be removed from the helmet completely and snapped back into place once you get the fit right. After that we only had minor adjustments with the helmet in-place to make sure my little guy could see through the eye holes. Since getting it positioned properly my son reports a comfortable fit and fairly good vision through the yellow-hued lenses.
It is a bulky, somewhat heavy toy, but I can't hold that against it too much. There is a piece at the back of the helmet that my son sometimes knocks off accidentally (the piece you need to remove to get to the battery compartment), but other than that piece the helmet has proved to be quite durable and able to withstand rough play.
It wasn't until after we had our helmet that I discovered that there are actually 2 versions of the toy available. In one version Optimus Prime's recorded voice is provided by Gary Chalk, who voiced Optimus Prime (and Beast Wars' Optimus Primal) from the late 90's through the 2000's. In the other version the voice is provided by Peter Cullen, who voiced the original Optimus Prime and who also provides the voice in the 2007 movie. You can sometimes tell by looking at the packaging -- if the packaging says "Featuring Real Movie Voice" under the "Try Me" label then that's a Peter Cullen helmet. If it says "Press Buttons for Battle Phrases" under the "Try Me" label it could be either a Gary Chalk or a Peter Cullen helmet. At the present time, the Chalk version is more readily available (but that may be changing as time goes on - the theory is that early releases had Chalk, later releases have Cullen). The one we have is a Chalk helmet, and I'm sure my son doesn't care, but if I'd known there were 2 different ones I would have gotten the Cullen version (the voice is just, well, more dramatic).
Quickie Summary:
Pros:
+) Fun helmet that looks like Optimus Prime!
+) The voice changer works well and sounds really cool!
+) Straps can be removed from the helmet for easier fitting/adjusting
+) Fits a wide variety of heads (from little kids to big adults)
+) Thus far, it has been very durable & sturdy
+) One button plays both "transforming" sounds
+) One button plays a variety of pre-recorded Optimus Prime phrases
Cons:
-) It is a bit bulky and heavy
-) There is a plastic piece in back that comes off on occasion
-) I didn't realize there were 2 different versions...
Final Thoughts:
Everyone at my son's party (including the adults) had to give the helmet a try. The voice-changing aspect of it is really cool. My 6 year old adores it and is looking forward to using it as part of his costume this Halloween. My 2 year old adores it too and keeps stealing it from his big brother. It looks cool, it sounds great, and has been a lot of fun!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 25.99
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Epinions.com ID:
mizgnomer
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Location: Tennessee
Reviews written: 306
Trusted by: 202 members
About Me:
Don't meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you're crunchy and taste good with ketchup
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