Sphero Force Band And Special Edition BB-8 Review.
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Sphero Force Band And Special Edition BB-8 Review.
There is one undeniable fact that you learn as a Father when your kids are Toddlers-no toys have any real staying power. I don’t care how much the kids love the sounds it makes, or how it lights up. The super cool way the ladder swings from the fire truck or Kion’s roar from the main character in Disney’s The Lion Guard. Sooner or later, the kids will toss into the Sarlacc pit that is their toy chest. Very few toys make it past a day or so, and it’s much rarer for those to pass the one week mark.
Then again, once in a while, a real gem comes along that can grab a kids attention and stay with them for a long time. In most cases, it’s a favorite stuffed animal or action figure. Heck, my two-year-old son small comfy blanket or “Blanky” is his daily toy of choice. That soft 2×3 weave of fun isn’t a toy but more fun and personal than even a puppy. It’s those playthings that hit that secret sweet spot for a child because they become something more than a piece of plastic. They become real.
When Sphero was kind to send us the first review sample of their BB-8 smart toy last year, I wanted to do a review centered on the whether this toy was appropriate for toddlers and if it had staying power. So while all the other sites deep dived into mechanics and operation of this new hot toy, I wanted a review for Parents and whether the moderate cost of the toy was worth it. It was of course and after a year later, my kids are just as enamored and involved with BB-8 as they day they first got to play with it. No kidding folks, Sphero’s BB-8 has essentially become the family pet and something that is near and dear to my four-year-old daughter’s heart. It charges on her nightstand every night and the kids play with it multiple times a week. The biggest factor of that constraint is the use of my smartphone. A restriction that has just been lifted with Sphero’s new Force Band wearable.
The fantastically awesome folks at Sphero, who do a fantastic job interfacing with reviewers and customers, delivered us a review copy of their new Force Band and limited edition BB-8. Sphero’s is a small shop brimming with talent and smart, efficient marketing. It was a pleasure receiving this hot item for the holiday season and we are happy to put it through its paces for our readers. Especially those parents out there looking to make the leap for this new wearable. There is no better place to showcase this awesome bit of engineering than at the Smithsonian Air and Space Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, here by our home in Northern Virginia. So with my daughter Gabby in tow, we set out to have a fun afternoon admiring aircraft and having fun showing off BB-8 and the Force Band to museum goers. We are at the Udvar-Hazy center often and this was just another reason to get us out to see these marvelous aircraft.
First and foremost, the direction to put this motion control wearable to control BB-8 is a godsend. For over a year, my smartphone will be able to break its chains of bondage and be liberated. My kids can now play with BB-8 when they want, how they want and a whole lot more. The ability to control BB-8 while at the same time keeping the kids in the Star Wars Galaxy by mimicking the use of the Force was brilliant. They could have easily come out with a simple controller to use with BB-8 but instead, come out with a multifunction wearable that engages the kids more than ever with the toy they love.
The Force Band has just enough complexity to give the kids a challenge and achieve competent use of it quickly. Another win for kids learning something on their own. The movements sync’s with BB-8 well and is a blast to perform. From the Force Push to have BB-8 dart off and the gradual lowering of the arm to slow it down, it syncs and responds beautifully. Rotating BB-8 headed direction by rotating your wrist is simple enough as is bringing your hands back toward your face to have it return. The arm movements to turn BB-8 take a little practice but still is very intuitive and fun.
For my four-year-old daughter Gabby, the new Force Band and BB-8 were a cinch to use.
The Force Band does more than control BB-8 with its four modes of operation. The second mode is Battle Training which allows Gabby to use the Force Band as Blaster and Lightsaber. By mimicking the motions of a recoiling Blaster or the swipe of a Lightsaber, the sounds effects are loud and clear and bring another level of fun for my Negosonic Toddler Warhead. If she isn’t controlling BB-8, she’s running around the house with a Nerf gun and Force Band with blaster sound effects echoing through the room.
There is also the Force Awareness mode that has Gabb’s running around the house looking for holocron to enjoy. The Force Awareness is the only mode that doesn’t grab her attention as much as the others because she would rather play Pokemon instead.
The new BB-8 for the special edition is weathered and does look different compared to the existing release of the original BB-8. I do prefer the original shiny gloss look over the matte finish of the new special edition BB-8 but both models look great. Both the Force Band and BB-8 are sturdy and well made and can take a beating with the kids. Just like our review from last year, I wanted to give this new toy time with my children to gauge its staying power and boy did this one come out with flying colors. Which is truly impressive considering it is to be used with a toy that they have had in their possession for over a year.
Sphero’s Forceband and BB-8 are intuitive, challenging toys for your kids that will have them engaged for months on end. These toys have real staying power and are as endearing to a child as their favorite teddy bear or blanky.
Special thanks to Sphero for once again providing us with a review sample and another great toy for the kids. Sphero’s BB-8 truly is our family pet. The special edition BB-8 and Force Band can be found on Amazon for $199.99. Please enjoy the images of some of the aircraft at the Smithsonian Air and Space Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center as well.