When designing a figure, it is a chance for a designer to be creative, come up with new ideas of what they could have looked like, using the fossil evidence and their imagination. Or you could simply plagiarise, which seems to often be Geoworld’s choice.
Review: Compstegnathus (Jurassic Park: Chaos Effect by Kenner)
Review and photographs by Sketchy, edited by Suspsy
Although the Jurassic Park: Chaos Effect was far from successful upon its release, it has since generated a cult following from some hardcore collectors. One of the most well known and easiest to find of the hybrids is the Compstegnathus.
Review: Velociraptor mongoliensis (Beasts of the Mesozoic: Raptor Series by Creative Beast Studio)
Review and photos by Faelrin, edited by Suspsy
In 2016, a Kickstarter campaign was launched that would help to revolutionize the world of dinosaur toys and collectibles by bringing forth figures that were not only highly detailed and highly articulated, but also scientifically accurate for the most part.
Review: Liopleurodon (Dinotales Series 1, Versions A and B by Kaiyodo)
Although these figures might fall short of Dinotales’ best, they are still delightful and unique representations of the famous Jurassic pliosaur.
Dinotales (in Chocolosaurs) were something of a hidden gem for me; despite an extensive production series, the Japanese capsule toys haven’t ever been marketed much at all overseas, at least that I know of.
Review: Mononykus (Jurassic World: Dino Rivals Attack Pack By Mattel)
If there’s one group of dinosaurs that have never before graced a child’s toy box then it would almost certainly be the alvarezsaurids. Alvarezsaurids are small, maniraptoran dinosaurs whose fossils were found in North and South America, as well as Asia. These dinosaurs had long legs and necks, and were probably feathered, but the main characteristic that sets most of these particular dinosaurs apart, is their insanely tiny arms, which end in a single clawed digit.
Review: Eryon (Dinotales series 4 by Kaiyodo)
Review: Pteranodon Escape (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom by LEGO Juniors)
Review: Kentrosaurus (DinoWaurs Survival)
Once more, we head to the DinoWaurs Survival line, this time investigating a member of the Stegosaurs added to the line, and the first figure of this line I bought: Kentrosaurus. From the Kimmeridgian of Tanzania, this Stegosaur is often thought of as primitive, but recent studies suggest it is more derived and closer related to Stegosaurus itself.
Review: Alpha Velociraptor (Jurassic Park: Chaos Effect by Kenner)
Review and Photographs By Sketchy, edited by Suspsy
While Jurassic World popularized the idea of genetically modified dinosaur hybrids, Kenner beat them to the idea over 17 years prior with the Jurassic Park: Chaos Effect line, a mix of crazy hybrids and similarly crazy repaints of old figures.
Review: Diabloceratops (Schleich)
Review: Polacanthus (Definitely Dinosaurs by Playskool)
Review and photos by Art Rex, edited by Suspsy
Before the release of Jurassic Park in 1993, Playskool’s Definitely Dinosaurs was one of the best brands of prehistoric playtime, rivaled only by Tyco’s Dino-Riders. Most of the Definitely Dinosaurs were relatively simple in design, almost cartoonish to play to a younger demographic.
Review: Dilophosaurus (Savage Strike)(Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom by Mattel)
Review and photos by Faelrin, edited by Suspsy
The Legacy Collection line is one of the most controversial assortments of the Mattel Jurassic World toy line, what with having very poor distribution worldwide except for the most part in the US, and only at Target stores due to it being a retailer exclusive (exceptions being the Spinosaurus, etc).