Review: Skeleflex: Dino Vs. Alien: Velociraptor and Fang-o-flex
By my count, this is the sixth Skeleflex set I've reviewed. If you're new here, you can catch up by reading this, this, this, and this. Or you just skim the following recap:
Skeleflex is a brand of playsets produced by Wild Planet that let you build dinosaur and alien skeletons out of a bag of plastic bone pieces. In addition, they're also making some fantasy creatures now, but these are still going for full price. With the exception of Octoattack, I've been really happy with these sets so far, in part because I've been able to find them cheap.
It seems to me like the earlier releases never sold well, since I managed to get some of them for a buck or two. Well, it looks like they're trying some new marketing gimmicks, because there are some new options on the shelves.
Skeleflex is a brand of playsets produced by Wild Planet that let you build dinosaur and alien skeletons out of a bag of plastic bone pieces. In addition, they're also making some fantasy creatures now, but these are still going for full price. With the exception of Octoattack, I've been really happy with these sets so far, in part because I've been able to find them cheap.
It seems to me like the earlier releases never sold well, since I managed to get some of them for a buck or two. Well, it looks like they're trying some new marketing gimmicks, because there are some new options on the shelves.
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In addition to the single packed figures, there are now 2-packs available. There are boxed sets which go for around twenty-five bucks, then there are these guys, which are Toys R Us exclusives going for a mere $7.48. They're not quite as big as the ones in the boxes, but they're close. And, frankly, they might be a little better. These are marketed as Dinos Vs. Aliens, though considering you're getting a couple of skeletons, I don't think the fight went all that well for either. Now, to be fair, I really don't know whether that price tag is the suggested retail price, a markdown, or some kind of error. But I can tell you they've been that cheap for a while now, at least at the Toys R Us by me. As always, use those price checkers before standing in line. |
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Appearance and Construction: 5/10
If you've read any of these reviews before, you know that a five, while normally not a great score, is better than any other Skeleflex figures have managed (though I think I might have been a little harsh when I reviewed Skullkor, to tell the truth). The reason for the upward nudge comes from the colors of plastic selected. While they're still unpainted, these just work better for me.
The bright green of Fang-o-flex, which certainly not natural, is eye-catching and interesting. And the Velociraptor's red is probably the best choice I've seen yet.
Of the two, I like the Velociraptor better, but they're both fantastic. The proportions here are excellent. This is an area the line has run into problems with in the past, but everything here looks fine. Also, while I wasn't sure at first, I have to admit that the bizarre angler fish-like head on Fang-o-flex is growing on me.
Because I'm reviewing these like action figures, I have to score them like action figures, which means considering the lack of paint. I've admitted before that this is entirely unfair to a toy that was produced to be a building set, but I'm sticking to those rules. The sculpts here are great, though, and I don't have any major issues with how these snapped together (a few minor issues, but I'll talk about that under Play and Display).
At any rate, the overall improvement in design, proportions, and plastic color, while minor, are enough to move this from a four to a five.
The bright green of Fang-o-flex, which certainly not natural, is eye-catching and interesting. And the Velociraptor's red is probably the best choice I've seen yet.
Of the two, I like the Velociraptor better, but they're both fantastic. The proportions here are excellent. This is an area the line has run into problems with in the past, but everything here looks fine. Also, while I wasn't sure at first, I have to admit that the bizarre angler fish-like head on Fang-o-flex is growing on me.
Because I'm reviewing these like action figures, I have to score them like action figures, which means considering the lack of paint. I've admitted before that this is entirely unfair to a toy that was produced to be a building set, but I'm sticking to those rules. The sculpts here are great, though, and I don't have any major issues with how these snapped together (a few minor issues, but I'll talk about that under Play and Display).
At any rate, the overall improvement in design, proportions, and plastic color, while minor, are enough to move this from a four to a five.
Packaging and Extras: +2
Just like the others, the bonus here is actually for the packaging, which is largely an extra itself. Actually, this time it's two extras, as you can see below. This seems like as good a time as any to make snarky comment about the name "Fang-o-flex." I guess they'd already used Octoattack, and were running out of good ideas...
In my opinion, the bone cases aren't quite up to par with earlier releases. As you can see, they're somewhat translucent and they feel a little cheaper. Then again, there are two of them. In addition to these, you get a pair of directions/posters, just like what we got with the previous releases. In the past, I've thrown these out, but this time... I don't know. I'm kind of coming around to them, and might actually keep them around. Maybe even hang them up. Let's see, where did I put them... OH GOD, NO!!!!
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Moving on.... Other than the posters, you get a small bag with "flex" pieces. I don't even open these anymore. Maybe they serve some useful purpose if you buy the T-Rex set with control panel, but for now they're useless to me. So, even though the packs aren't quite as nice as the previous ones, I'm doubling the bonus point value, since there are two. If these cost twice as much as a normal pack, I wouldn't bother, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. From a value perspective, it's like they threw in an extra case, free of charge. Why'd they do that again? Oh, yeah, it's to hold the extra figure. |
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Here's where things get a little tricky, because - honestly - I might be shortchanging these big time. The problem is that I'm really unclear as to what the retail price was "supposed to be" for these guys. If these were actually released with a MSRP of $7.48 for two sets and two cases, this should be between a +4 and +6. But, frankly, I don't believe these were really supposed to be that cheap. My guess is that these were meant to be around eighteen bucks, and either they got marked down immediately, the Toys R Us near me didn't get them when they were released, or something else is going on. At eighteen, I'd only have gone with +1. Any higher, and cases become expected.
Of course, I'll have some more to say on this in the conclusion, but for now I'm going to give them a +2 as a compromise and move on.
Of course, I'll have some more to say on this in the conclusion, but for now I'm going to give them a +2 as a compromise and move on.
Play and Display: +4
The upside of being a playset that's treated like an action figure is that your articulation and customizing potential becomes a bonus. Almost every time two pieces connect, you get another joint. That's a lot of articulation.
In the past, I've given these three bonus points, but I'm going to go just a little higher this time. I've still got a few notes, but overall these are excellent.
Both figures have some minor knee issues: some of the joints pop out from time to time. In addition, the Velociraptor's neck could use some joints, and I'd have loved to have a joint on his big toe.
These are really small problems, though, and they're more than countered by the positives. Like I said before, these are loaded with ball joints, most of which work exceptionally well.
The balance here also goes above and beyond. Both figures can stand on two legs or four, and you've more or less got an infinite number of posing and fine-tuning options. The Velociraptor's tail can function like the real thing, holding him upright while he's leaning forward.
In the past, I've given these three bonus points, but I'm going to go just a little higher this time. I've still got a few notes, but overall these are excellent.
Both figures have some minor knee issues: some of the joints pop out from time to time. In addition, the Velociraptor's neck could use some joints, and I'd have loved to have a joint on his big toe.
These are really small problems, though, and they're more than countered by the positives. Like I said before, these are loaded with ball joints, most of which work exceptionally well.
The balance here also goes above and beyond. Both figures can stand on two legs or four, and you've more or less got an infinite number of posing and fine-tuning options. The Velociraptor's tail can function like the real thing, holding him upright while he's leaning forward.
Price Tag and Final Analysis: 10+/10
On their own, neither of these unseats Skullkor as my favorite figure from this line (yeah, I know I originally said otherwise at the end of that review, but I was wrong). But he was one figure, and these are two. And I paid about the same amount for both of these as I did for Skullkor.
That's... that's just weird. It would be one thing if these had been languishing on the shelves for months, but the first time I ever saw these was when I bought them (that was a month or two ago, by the way, but I've seen them going for the same price since). Maybe I'd just missed them or something.
Whatever the reason, I'd say these are worth around eight or nine bucks EACH. I got them both for less than that. That's not just a good deal, that's an incredible bargain. Let's put this in perspective for a minute: these are only moderately more expensive than the miniature packs, which will build you a single baby dinosaur that would probably fit in Fang-o-flex's mouth. Or, for more than three times as much, you could but a "Battle Pack," which comes with two similar figures and no cases.
I really can't recommend these enough, at least at this price point. Assuming they are still at this price point: I assume Toys R Us will catch this eventually and mark them up. If that's the case: sorry for the delay.
That's... that's just weird. It would be one thing if these had been languishing on the shelves for months, but the first time I ever saw these was when I bought them (that was a month or two ago, by the way, but I've seen them going for the same price since). Maybe I'd just missed them or something.
Whatever the reason, I'd say these are worth around eight or nine bucks EACH. I got them both for less than that. That's not just a good deal, that's an incredible bargain. Let's put this in perspective for a minute: these are only moderately more expensive than the miniature packs, which will build you a single baby dinosaur that would probably fit in Fang-o-flex's mouth. Or, for more than three times as much, you could but a "Battle Pack," which comes with two similar figures and no cases.
I really can't recommend these enough, at least at this price point. Assuming they are still at this price point: I assume Toys R Us will catch this eventually and mark them up. If that's the case: sorry for the delay.
So... I've used that gag before. It works, okay? Anyway, you can find more of my rambling over at The Middle Room. Or, why not take a look at some of my short fiction? And, if you like that, you could always buy that novel I wrote!
