Triceratops (Jurassic World Duel Attack by Mattel)

This review might come across as being a tad redundant because the toy we’re looking at today is basically a re-tool of another toy already reviewed, the Roarivores Triceratops. There are oodles of other Jurassic World toys that still need reviews and this one is admittedly not terribly exciting. But…I got it on clearance, and I haven’t written a dinosaur review in awhile, mostly due to my efforts being focused on the recently launched Animal Toy Blog. Also, I do believe an effort is being made to make this blog as complete as possible so we’re forced to look at every variant of pre-existing toys that Mattel pumps out, at some point or other.

Although I mostly bought this toy for the low price tag that’s not to say it’s a bad toy, it’s a faithful recreation of the Jurassic franchise’s Triceratops, for better or worse. It does lean on the small side when scaled with most of the other toys. Triceratops is among the largest of the ceratopsian dinosaurs but this one is slightly smaller than the Mattel Nasutoceratops and Pachyrhinosaurus (marketed as Sinoceratops). This toy measures a foot in length and stands about 4.5” high at the hips.

The Jurassic Park Triceratops has always been inaccurate and all of the inaccuracies of that original Triceratops have carried over into the rest of the films and expanded media, including this toy. The horns are cracked as though they’re fossilized, the digits on the forelimbs are incorrectly sculpted, and the tail is far too long. This isn’t new information for anyone here but a heads up is mandatory I think. All of that aside, this is a well sculpted recreation of the movie’s Triceratops. Fine details like the various skin folds, creases around the face, and scales on the frill are especially appreciated.

What makes this toy different from its Roarivores counterpart is a complete re-tool of its action features. That Triceratops had a single button that would let out a roar and lift its head when pressed. This Triceratops has the duel attack gimmick. One button lifts the head and the other swings the tail, no sound. This Triceratops also has a different paintjob, being predominantly dark green with some brown splashes around the frill, along the back, and on the legs. Overall it’s not bad but hardly inspired, looking like forest camouflage. The horns and beak are gray, eyes yellow, and nails unpainted. If this paintjob doesn’t do it for you than there is also a gray variant, and give it time, Mattel is bound to release other Triceratops variants.

Overall I’m fairly pleased with this Triceratops, not having a Jurassic Park Triceratops in my collection yet. I would still prefer a larger one down the line, maybe in scale with the Colossal T. rex? Seems unlikely. Aesthetically this Triceratops along with its variants and re-tools is probably the best Triceratops we’ve gotten from Mattel, Hasbro, or even Kenner. It’s not as exciting as the Nasutoceratops or Pachyrhinosaurus but worth picking up.