Mattel "Jurassic World" Big Bite Tyrannosaurus/Monolophosaurus (Walmart exclusive version) Review:
Mattel's first releases in their "Jurassic World" line far outshine Hasbro's half hearted attempt from a few years back.
The Big Bite Tyrannosaurus Rex has a fantastic sculpt with tons of great textures all over. There are 8 points of articulation- swivel hips, ball hinge shoulders, ball hinge tail, double hinge neck and a hinged jaw activated by a disguised button on the top of the head.
As this is the Walmart exclusive "Battle Damaged" version, there are additional paint apps that the standard release does not possess. The additional paint apps are red "slashes" across various points on the dinosaur's hide. These slashes do not always correspond with the wounds sculpted into the toy and come off more like red stripes so you can actually display this version with the regular release and they will look like different individuals of the same species.
This particular Tyrannosaurs Rex toy appears a few times in the new "Jurassic World" line: basic release, "Legacy Series" release (Target exclusive- appears identical to the regular release except for the packaging) and packaged with the Monolophosaurus in the Wlamart exclusive "Battle Damaged" release. There may be a fourth version as Toys R Us was supposed to carry an exclusive line called "Destructisaurus" but details on that now-canceled line were never released before they filed for liquidation (hopefully another retailer picks this line up as an exclusive).
The Monolophosaurus appears to be exclusive to this release, so far anyway as full details on the basic carded dinosaurs have not been revealed as of yet. I am not overly familiar with this species, but it is a great little theropod dinosaur. There are 6 points of articulation- swivel hips, ball hinge shoulders, hinge neck and hinged jaw. There is also a "battle damage wound" action feature on the dinosaur's right flank that works like the old "Battle Armor" Heman and Skeletor figures' chest armor- if you push it in slightly, a spring powered cylinder rotates downward changing the area from dinosaur hide to a ragged red wound. The paint apps are clean and neat.
This set retails for $29.84 and is worth is as you get a really nice sized Tyrannosaurus Rex and a (possibly exclusive) Monolophosaurus in one package. The Tyrannosaurus is larger than the $19.99 "Attack" assortment containing the Carnotaurus and Stegosaurus so it will most likely be more expensive that they are so it is very possible that you are getting the Monlophosaurus "free" so grab this set if you see it at your local Wal-Mart!
