Review and photos by Takama, edited by Suspsy
If I’m going to be truly honest, I kind of regretted buying this figure at first, but it kind of grew on me after a while. What we have here is a repaint of the 2015 Bashers and Biters Spinosaurus, which I reviewed here on the blog last year. And to cut to the chase, nothing about this figure is an improvement over the previous version, except for the colours.
The packaging is everything we come to expect from this toy line. The model is tied onto a display platform without a window, so that shoppers can test (or break) the toy if they so desire before buying it. The back of the box shows a lovely graphic of the dinosaur in question that bears little to no resemblance to the actual product due to the fact that it’s essentially a Photoshop painting.
Once the model is out of the packaging, it becomes apparent that all of the issues that plagued the first version are still present with this one. The head looks like that of a Spinosaurus, complete with a tooth notch, but it is still too wide when viewed from above, just like the JP3 model. The arms are pronated as usual, and still lack the signature fish hook claw that should be present on all spinosaur toys. But perhaps the biggest thing Hasbro failed to correct with this figure are the feet. They did not change the design flaw at all, so when the feet are evenly aligned, the three toes on the left foot are still raised up.
Since this is exactly the same sculpt as the 2015 figure, its gimmick operates the exact same way. You pull down the tail to make the head go up, and pull it to the side to make it open its mouth.
The only difference between this model and the old one is pretty obvious, and that would be the colour scheme. In all honesty, they looks a whole lot better then the awful ensemble of the original. The base colours are bright blue while the bottom parts of the body are a light metallic brown. The back is painted red, with some purple being visible in between the red and the blue, and the the model is also complimented by some black stripes. The claws on this figure are white like the teeth, and the eyes are the same shade of red as the one used for the back. Since this model is painted in brighter colors, it does not look as zombie-like as the original, with its open flesh wound. And while the original had an unpainted tail, this figure’s tail features a pattern that matches those on the torso and neck.
Overall, this is another step closer to completing the Jurassic World page. And I will say that, out of all the Hybrid figures, this one is actually my favourite. The colours, while not realistic, are still very attractive and an improvement over the original version. Despite being poorly made, I find myself playing with this toy a little more each time I am at my desk. If you can find enjoyment like that in them, then this Spinosaurus is worth every penny. Otherwise, it’s best to just save your money on something more detailed and accurate then this.
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