Minus the gear, this is the same toy as the original and hugely popular 2006 Mega T-Rex . Wth the gear, it's quite a different toy, and if our testers are an indication, probably better suited to older kids. The gear makes it somewhat warlike and more ferocious than a plain dino. It also complicates play with some motor skill challenges. But for our older testers, it opened up new possibilities for play scenarios. NOTE: Use the small grooves on the dinosaur to securely attach the accessories.
Overall Play Value Cost Value Design "My kids were a bit confused with the toy - a dinosaur with repair tools, a shooting grappling hook/target, a guy strapped to the back, and the box seems to indicate they are in space. It seemed a bit of a stretch for them, when usually they can just use plain dinosaurs and create some story line. Seemed like this scary looking dinosaur is geared for fighting and I think that's probably not appropriate for a three year old audience. The toy seems more like it should be a smaller size and geared to an older age group. The power of the shooting grappling hooks etc make me think this toy should be redesigned for an older audience. Not happy with this toy for 3-5 year olds." Jennifer Fraser
"At first we struggled in keeping the accessories on the dinosaur, but I realized after inspecting the dinosaur that there are small grooves on the dinosaur which is the exact spot where the accessories attach. If you're not on the right spot, the gear will never latch, but when you attach it properly, it is secure and won't move unless you purposely remove it. It doesn't look overly mean, but doesn't look soft and cuddly either. The accessories are well crafted and give the dinosaur a warrior look. I found part of the fun for my son was to dress up the dinosaur. The other very fun factor was the projectile launching. My son invented a large variety of dinosaur adventures, everything from the man getting eaten by the dinosaur to the 2 of them tag-teaming to battle other toys. I would consider raising the recommended age for this one simply because the dinosaur makes some scary sounds," Mireille Sabourin
Quality "The window capsule doesn't stay on at all. The various attachments can't be put on or taken off by the 3-5 year olds we've had playing with it." Jennifer Fraser
"Some pieces fall off, like the top of the capsule. Wish there was a mute or volume control" Marie-Lise Hache
Parent Appeal & Satisfaction Safety "The grappling hook and other shooting device come out very fast. I'd be very cautious having children playing with this toy. I don't feel comfortable recommending a toy that shoots a small hard piece of plastic to young children." Jennifer Fraser
Imaginext® Mega T-Rex (2011) - Review 
