Product Description

Bakugan Starter Pack (styles and colors vary)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #194 in Toys & Games
• Brand: Bakugan
• Model: 61321
• Dimensions: 2.00" h x 7.90" w x 10.50" l, .2 pounds

Features

• Magnetic marbles pop open when on metal card
• Use strategy to place you cards and set up for battle
• Master you battle skills by shooting your Bakugan and landing on card to score
• Colors and styles may vary
• Styles selected at random when shipped

Amazon.com Review
The popular and fun anime TV series "Bakugan Battle Brawlers" has spawned this strategic game that pits a variety of "Bakugan warriors" -- such as "Juggernoids," "Fear rippers," and "Robatallians" -- against each other for points. With this Bakugan Starter Pack, kids 4 and above will enjoy the challenge of earning points by rolling their Bakugan (or shooting them from a launcher) onto magnetic cards where the plastic spheres burst open to reveal the fearsome warrior apparatus inside. Kids will also love the way the Bakugan transform suddenly into warrior mode, and fans of the show will have an especially good time with the game.

Inside each plastic sphere is a fearsome warrior apparatus. View larger.

There are many colors and varieties of Bakugan to collect. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Wide variety of Bakugan make them fun for kids to trade and collect The Bad: No instructions with some toys In a Nutshell: Clever and exciting interactive game that kids will enjoy even if they're not familiar with the TV show At a Glance Ages: 4 and up

NOTE: This Bakugan Starter Pack includes a random selection of three Bakugan warriors. It also includes three metal cards and instructions. It does not include the optional Bakugan Launcher.

Ready, Set, Play!
The mission of Bakugan game play is to battle against other Bakugan to win the points awarded on the cards by getting your Bakugan to land on card. Players will love pretending to be one of the various characters in the show, such as the fiery 12-year-old leader "Dan" or the wise "Marucho," and they gain a deeper understanding of the cards and warriors as they play.

The Starter Pack includes instructions, making it an ideal way for newbies to get started with this fun and exciting game. The game itself is fairly straightforward, but if your child has never played before, you might have to help him or her to understand the rules -- after reading and understanding them yourself. While some of the plastic Bakugan pieces are small and could easily get lost, others, like the Bakugan Deka, are as big as a softball.

The Starter Pack comes with three Bakugan and three cards -- perfect for kids who are new to the game and who want to try it out. The illustrated instructions are easy to follow.

Exciting Magnetic Action
The Bakugan come in lots of colors and varieties that make them fun to collect and trade. Most of them are pocket-sized and easy for your child to carry around and bring over to their friend's houses. Having a magnet that activates the warriors is a clever idea that adds excitement to the game. The Bakugan Launcher (sold separately) is a great accessory, with three shooting modes ("curve," "angle, and "distance"), but it doesn't come with any instructions.

Room for the Imagination
We like that this that this game combines skill (aiming your Bakugan) with strategy (placement of the cards). We also enjoyed the way the warriors pop open on the magnetic cards -- although sometimes they do it even when they don't land on the cards. Being unfamiliar with the TV show, we felt a little lost at first in the world of Bakugan. But with the help of the colorful, animated Bakugan Web site, we got the gist of what the game is about and how to play. Our attempts to fire the launcher proved somewhat difficult and instructions would have helped. But the launcher isn't necessary. Kids can simply roll the Bakugan like marbles for a fun and action-packed game with their friends.

What's in the Box
Three Bakugan, three metal cards, and instructions.

From the Manufacturer
Bakugan battle brawlers are here! Answer the call to brawl and decide the fate of the galaxy! Magnetic marbles POP open into power Bakugan warrior action figures when they roll onto the real metal Gate Cards! Use strategy to place your metal Gate Cards as each card affects the battle differently. Master your shooting skills to roll your Bakugan into battle. Styles are selected at random when shipped.

Customer Reviews

Bakugan-Mania
MODERN DAY GAME OF MARBLES

The Bakugan-Mania is here. I had no idea what my daughter was talking about since she spoke a mile-a-minute about what the latest craze in children's toys. These items are in extremely high demand and are similar in genre to Pokemon cards, Yu-Gi-Yo, and Digimon. The characters appear to be a spin off from Japanese anime, in my perception.

What are Bakugan?

They are action figures that are morphed from small plastic marbles, based upon a television show on the Cartoon Network. Each figure comes with a metallic card that has a point value. A point value is also imprinted on the figure.

A magnetic lock in the toy is triggered to open when the figure is placed onto a metallic game card.

How do you play the game?

Each player starts out with 3 Bakugan and 3 cards. Only one care can be a special ability card. The youngest player starts. Depending upon how many players are participating (2-4), determines where the cards are placed in the arena. When a Bakugan is rolled and lands on a card, it opens.

If the Bakugan does not open, the player loses a turn.

If 2 figures land on the same card, a point total is taken to count up the power value of the Bakugan + the value of the card. The higher sum wins the card and the figure. At the end of the round, the highest total of points wins the game.

My daughter's after-school care has an Bakugan Class where children play in the afternoon. She is 7 years old but her friends who have it range from 6 to 10 years old.

This game represents a unique and revolutionary spin on the game of playing marbles. It is quite creative and superficially complex to play. However, many children are compelled to play it all over the country.

Educational value

Strangely, enough, this toy has an ACTUAL educational value by requiring the players to add up or subtract the values of each figure/card.


Safety and Caveats

Since these are essentially small marbles, caution should be exercised if you child has small siblings who may try to swallow this toy. It is too big to fit into someone's ear or nose; however the danger is accidentally swallowing it or aspiration (going into the child's airway). You should also be aware if you have pets since it may lead to a dangerous bowel obstruction if ingested/eaten by your pet.

Durability

These are relatively fragile items that require users to be careful with the moving parts. Sometimes, the mechanisms are defected or through wear and tear may not allow the action figure to open or close.

Conclusion
This toy system is, for now, one of the hottest items in the toy world. If you are actually lucky enough to find it, or willing to pay the premium, then you should strongly consider getting it. Your child will be extremely happy.

Not really a variety
The toys themselves are great, the only issue I've had is the "selection". It says styles and colors vary, but I've ordered 6 of these sets and every single one of them has been red, no other colors. So if your child is just starting out, this would be ok, but if they are trying to expand their collection, I'd be wary of ordering this.

If you want Bakugan get the Series 1 or 2. . .
I ordered these thinking I was getting the original starter packs but then B2s showed up in the mail. I was excited because I hadn't seen them before & I knew my son didn't have any of them. Then we opened the package & they are sooooooo cheaply made it's ridiculous. It's as with any toy from China that is in demand, they knew it was a hot item & went cheap on us making it so we'd have to get more. If your child is into Bakugan go on ebay & look up the Series 1 or 2 regular small marbles. They aren't that expensive at the time of writing this because the majority of people want the high number Gs which the B2s do have. But my son is 5 1/2 & could care less about the Gs. Yes, he knows what they are & we play the game but he cares more about the character marble he has & which one goes according to the cartoon at the time. I have gotten every character off of ebay. .. Christmas is coming. . .and I have not been disappointed in ONE of the series 1 or 2 marbles. They are awesome. So, just find out which ones your child wants look them up & order from there. My son has been playing non-stop with the series 1 & 2 marbles since September(learned about this on the school bus) & they still open & shut awesomely. Got the B2s about a month and a half ago & they don't open all the way or their legs are loose. Skyress is an absolute pain in the tush to close. CRAP! So, good luck I know we get what we can for our kids & this is a good price right now compared to ebay ($18 at time of writing this). Just had to send this out so you'd know what I learned!