Air Hogs Batmobile Review
VasTheStampede
Thanks to Spin Master for the sample of this product, as always my opinions remain my own.
Batman Vs Superman: Dawn of Justice opened this weekend! And with that, comes the merchandise. This review isn't of a blaster, but another type of action toy, the R/C car. Air Hogs, a brand under Spin Master toys, did the honors for this version of the Batmobile.
First, let's talk stats:
- MSRP: $59.99
- Includes:
Batmobile x 1
USB Charging cable x 1
- Range: 2.4 GHz signal = 200' of control radius
- Features: Front LED lights, rear thruster lights
- Needs 2 x AA batteries
- The Batmobile itself has an integrated battery (the Batmobile uses the USB charge cord), and the drive time may vary, it depends on the batteries used and the driving style implemented (going full blast with the car the whole time driving vs. a few times at full speed or using the lower speeds).
The Batmobile itself drives way better than I thought it would. The handling is tight, making pretty decent tight turns than I thought to expect. The LED lights on the front and the rear thruster are nice accents in low light, and add to the feel of the Batmobile. The car is super light too though, and I notice after some collisions with the curb there the bumpers are a bit scratched and some scrapes, so just be ready to know your Batmobile will show battle damage early. It's super light and compact though, very easy to transport so taking this indoors or outdoors is a simple matter, unlike larger RC cars.
(driving video from my instagram feed)
Now, I am not by any stretch an RC car hobbyist, and I do acknowledge that this is a basic, low remote range vehicle. BUT, it's a sweet looking replica-level Batmobile in its latest incarnation. It also drives well I think, some nice additional touches to add to the Batman feel, and is a nice diversion indoors or out. $60 might be a little much, but when you account that this car can offer a lot in the way of playability (the size allows it to be driven indoors with little issue, and less material would be necessary to build an obstacle course, for instance) it might balance out the expense. I do have some questions about durability, but I think marks like those add character to my own Batmobile.
One oddity I encountered was if I left the batteries in the controller after turning off the Batmobile, they would keep going once I turned the car and remote back on again. This was remedied by removing the batteries from the remote as well between driving sessions. Not a terribly big deal and easily remedied, but still a weird thing to encounter. Now this didn't change the fact that I had a good time driving the Batmobile at all, and that zipping it under cars and inches from the curb was a lot of fun all the same. All in all, a pretty fun purchase if you can get past the price. If you're a little late on a present for Easter, or you know a Batman fan who really likes tearing up the streets of Gotham in their mind, you wouldn't be wrong going with this Air Hogs R/C Batmobile.
Don't miss out, Air Hogs has a pretty awesome contest (Grand Prize is a trip to L.A.!) going on right now. Ends April 30, don't miss your chance to enter! Labels: affleck, air hog, batfleck, Batman, batman vs superman, batmobile, cinematic, contest, dawn of justice, dc, DC Universe, gadget, gear, play, remote control, superhero, tech