“Ben 10 is without a doubt the hottest male brand of the moment.” Ben 10 10cm and 15cm action figures were selected as “Toy of the Year 2009” and the Ben 10 brand also won “Children’s Range of the Year”. So what are Ben 10 toys all about and are they worth buying?

1. What are Ben 10 toys?

Ben 10 is the superhero from the Cartoon Network show of the same name. Young fans all over the world go crazy for merchandise related to his hero and now he has his own range of toys. The watch-like object called the Omnitrix gives Ben his superpowers and is central to the toy range. He allows you to transform into more than 10 different alien superheroes, which make up the available action figure toys.

Ben 10: Alien Force is the sequel to the original show. The trusty Omnitrix has evolved, resulting in new aliens to transform into. The toy range has been updated accordingly with a new Ultimate Omnitrix and new alien action figures.

2. What age group are Ben 10 toys suitable for?

The range is mainly aimed at children aged 4 to 12 years.

3. Are Ben 10 toys any good?

Ben 10 toys are exciting, affordable toys that entertain and inspire creativity. They are realistic for the cartoon, well detailed and well made. In this time of financial crisis, everything revolves around trusted brands and the makers of the Ben 10 range, Bandai, are the third largest producer of toys in the world. If you are looking for high-quality, durable, multi-purpose toys that can be played with in a variety of ways, Ben 10 has it for you.

4. How much do Ben 10 toys cost?

You can get some good action figures starting at around £5.

The best ‘Omnitrix’ watches cost between £15 and £20.

The new Alien Force creature vehicles cost around £15.

Video games cost around £15 depending on the platform.

You can find a good selection of books for around £3.

You can do a massive Ben 10 bedroom makeover for around £60, to include curtains, a duvet cover and pillowcase, wall stickers and a light shade.

5. What is the best Ben 10 toy?

The must-have toys for any Ben 10 fan are an Omnitrix and some action figures.

The Omnitrix comes in many different versions, so beware of cheaper forms that are less playable. The two best Omnitrix watches are the Deluxe Omnitrix and the new Alien Force Ultimate Omnitrix. They are realistic for the cartoon series and are ideal for superhero role-playing games.

The best value for money action figures are the 10cm versions as they are articulated, well detailed and sturdy, but also cheap enough to buy a few. Make sure you buy the “right” alien, as your Ben 10 fan will definitely have their favorites. Take advantage of multi-figure packs to start your Ben 10 fan collection. Creation Chamber figures also offer great creative play that lets kids mix things up and create new Ben 10 aliens.

If you don’t care about shooting games, Ben 10 video games are great. They are quite easy to play, challenging but not too much. There’s a great sound and a story and you have to solve problems. The best parts for young Ben 10 fans are:

• another player can join or drop out and help at any point in the game; Y
• you start from where you ran out of life so you don’t have to go back to the beginning of a level.

6. What is the worst Ben 10 toy?

Games are often expensive, cumbersome, and have too many pieces to lose. They also usually require you to buy the rest of the product range to use them, so they’re often not worth it. The ads and packaging are always very tempting, but once the box is opened and the frenzy of the first game ends, the disappointment begins.

The cheaper versions of the Omnitrix (Omnitrix FX and Alien Viewer) have limited appeal. Check out my other article “Ben 10 Omnitrix Watches: The Differences Every Parent Should Know” for more detailed information.

With action figures, you want to avoid the smaller ones and the larger ones. The transforming alien rocks or figures in the Planetary Powder games are small, monochromatic and poorly detailed. At the other end of the scale, the 12-inch epic alien figures are non-poseable and made of inferior quality plastic.

7. What toys and products does the Ben 10 Toy range include?

As well as the Omnitrix and action figures, the Ben 10 range includes:

• games and puzzles;
• vehicles;
• games;
• DVD;
• video game;
• Dress Shoes;
• school equipment;
• dress suits;
• Arts and Crafts;
• Sports team;
• furniture;
• party supplies;
• bedroom accessories;
• books.

8. What educational value does the Ben 10 Toy range offer?

The toys encourage imaginative play with your child starting out as Ben 10, meeting a villain, and then transforming into one of the alien heroes by simply switching toys. They also help develop moral reasoning by identifying the good guys from the bad guys. When used to interact with other children, they will engage in cooperative and dramatic play.

9. Which toy should I buy for a child who already has most of the Ben 10 Toy range?

Take a look at some of the sports equipment, like the skateboard or the scooter.

10. Where can I buy Ben 10 toys online?

Everywhere! Ben 10 is so popular that you can find the toys for sale at most online toy retailers, including Amazon, The Toy Shop, and Toys R Us.

© 2009 Chloe Alice Wilson