Mattel Triclops Radio Control Vehicle

The Tri-Clops can shoot plastic discs with a red laser-like beam for help aiming. View larger.

What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good: Speedy vehicle with omni-directional moves and shooting accuracy The Bad: Disc velocity could hurt small children or animals at close range In a Nutshell: Radio-controlled vehicle transforms with push of a button At a Glance Ages: 8 and older Requires: 9.6-volt battery pack and 9-volt battery (included); flat, solid surface

Fun, Fast Vehicle Transforms, Shoot Discs with Accuracy
The Tri-Clops quickly transforms between its two modes with the press of a button. In mutant speed mode, the vehicle is at its fastest and most protected. With the defense visor down, the Tri-Clops holds up to lots of bumps as it speeds across hard, solid surfaces. This mode also allows you to load up to eight discs in both of the two disc magazines. Armed with laser-like red beam that lines up with your target from a distance of eight feet, this Radio Control Mutant lets you shoot discs in mutant attack mode.

With the visor up, this creature reveals a vicious face with crab-like pinchers, teeth, and two slots for fast and furious disc shooting. In this mode the Tri-Clops has more impressive moves to show off. Thanks to the speed and directional control on the transmitter, the vehicle not only moves in any direction, but also features a sideways slide, a 180-degree reverse attack, and a 360-degree wild slide. The latter two features have their own buttons on the remote control, along with a trigger for each disc magazine.

The Ultimate Test Drive
We loved the speed, shooting accuracy, and killer controls and movement, the Tri-Clops Radio Control Mutant displays. If you've got plenty of solid and flat driving space -- in your house or driveway -- you'll have hours of fun playing with creature too.

Made with durable plastic, this toy holds up to a ton of collisions. The only drawback is that the 16 hard discs shoot so well that it'd be easy to lose half of them. Once out of the box, the Tri-Clops is ready to roll simply by inserting the Tyco 9.6-volt battery pack into the vehicle and the 9-volt battery into the remote. The battery pack comes with a charger that plugs into any outlet for full and easy recharging in four hours, and the vehicle features an LED that blinks in a steady pattern when the battery is running low. And a word of warning: please, don't shoot at people or animals from a close range; this toy is more powerful than you'd think.

The remote controls all functions. View larger.

The Triclops can transform into armored form. View larger.