Tyco RC N.S.E.C.T. Robot
Street Price: $69.99 US
Manufacturer: Tyco RC
Mfgr's recommended min. age: 8+
Our recommended age range: 8-13
Primary use: Indoor
Top speed: n/a
Radio: 49mhz
Includes:
- Assembled robot
- Controller
- Foam projectiles
- Transmitter
- 7.2V rechargable battery pack
- Charger
- 9V battery for transmitter
- 27mhz version (green)
Initial Impressions
Have you ever seen anything like this? I sure haven't. It's a giant six-legged arachnid-robot with big pinchers and a hidden "missile" launcher! It's also very surprisingly heavy. I can't compare it to anything else out there in this market because there isn't anything comparable!
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The controller is as unique as the robot itself, with two forward/reverse lever, index finger triggers on both sides, and another button or switch in the center with a flip-up cover that looks like something from a nuclear missile command center!
Preparation
To get running you need a 9V battery for the controller, plus a big 7.2V high-power rechargable pack for the robot itself. Neither of these are included, and when you add in the charger for the 7.2V pack, you're probably going to spend an extra $40. You'll also need a phillips screwdriver, as is pretty common these days.
Testing
The N.S.E.C.T. robot walks just like you'd expect -- like a robotic insect, moving its six legs in a stiff rhythm. It's extremely loud, too, and it's so heavy that the feet actually strike the ground like hammers. The left stick on the controller controls all of the left legs to move either forward or backward, and the right stick controls the right legs. Thus, to go forward, you move both sticks forward. To turn right slowly, you just move the left stick forward. If you want to spin to the right even faster, without moving forward at all, you can also move the right stick backward. It's very slow, and for something that's advertised to go on "secret missions," I don't think it could sneak up on anyone who isn't completely deaf. One of the trigger switches activates the pinchers on the front of the NSECT, but they only stay pinched together for as long as you hold the trigger in. It can't pick anything up because the pinchers just close and open, they don't lift.
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The middle switch activates the hidden revolving projectile launcher that pops up from the back. When the launcher is deployed, the NSECT's eyes turn red, as does the switch. Then you can use the other trigger to launch foam projectiles, either one at a time, or all in a continuous sequence. The launching is, like walking, extremely loud, and you'll probably think something is breaking the first time you try it. The missiles go about 10 feet through the air.
Conclusion
What can I say? This is a very interesting machine the likes of which you won't soon again see in the RC aisle at the local toy store. The motion is very robotic and menacing, and the missile launcher is a cool feature. However, the whole thing is heavy, extremely noisy, and also expensive (especially after you buy the batteries & charger needed to run). I wouldn't tell anyone who's really, really interested in it to not buy it, but I personally don't feel like it's worth the money.