Toy Review: Jurassic Park x Transformers Collaborate JP12

Review:  #825

Name:  JP12

Brand:  Transformers

Allegiance:  N/A

Line:  Jurassic Park x Transformers Collaborative

Year of Release:  2023

Size Class:  Deluxe

Mold Status:  new

VEHICLE MODE:

Released in the second Jurassic Park x Transformers Collaborative set, based on the iconic scene where the character Dennis encounters the Dilophosaurus.  JP12 transforms into the Jeep Wrangler from that scene.

This is a very good looking vehicle mode, and it has a beige soft top.

JP12 is approximately Deluxe sized, although he is a little bit hollow in the middle underneath the soft top.

Something interesting is that the robot gun pegs in front of the grill, and it blends in there really well, surprisingly enough.

You can keep it unattached and that looks fine too (and reveals the yellow indicator lights).  The vehicle has a lot of really small details, such as the tiny Jurassic Park logo at the the front.

There's the Jurassic Park logo on the side as well.

An awesome vehicle mode, and while not as iconic as JP93, it's still very recognizable.

TRANSFORMATION:

JP12 has a slightly annoying transformation.  The soft top is this solid piece that constantly gets in the way, and does not collapse at all, and this ends up on the back of the robot mode.  The arms are from the sides, and the legs from the back.  The front wheels rotate forward for the lower torso but doesn't lock into place very well.  There's just a lot of little niggly parts that feels lacklustre.

ROBOT MODE:

The robot mode looks good at first glance, and he is clearly inspired by the character Dennis.

Unfortunately, he has a huge backpack, and it's the vehicle's soft top, and it is just kind of... stuck there, it's not integrated well at all.

The head sculpt is like a robotfied version of the character Dennis, and he comes standard with a yellow hard hat.

The hard hat is removable, but why would you want to remove it?

He's approximately the standard height of a Deluxe, slightly shorter to achieve a chubbier look.

From the side, you can see how awkward the backpack it.  It just feels so awkward there, as it does not peg in solidly.

Articulation is fine, with joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and ankles.

He comes with a bunch of accessories, a shaving cream can, embryo containment unit, and a gun.

The embryo containment unit is a translucent blue thing, and can be held in his hand.

The shaving cream can can go on top of the containment unit, since JP12 cannot hold the can by itself otherwise.

Finally, the gun can also be held in either hand, and it's a short gun but suits the character.

The pieces can store on his back but pegging behind the door wings.

Another big flaw of the figure are the front wheels on his torso.  Depending on your figure, the joints might not be tight enough and it will constantly be loose and dislodge.

Otherwise, this is a good looking, if not very fun, robot mode.

OVERALL:

JP12 is one of those figures that should have been at the very least solid, but ruined by some thing or another.  In JP12's case, the vehicle mode is flawless, but the robot mode has some design flaws that pulls down his play value.

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The Gardens Between (PS5)

The Gardens Between is a light puzzle game. It has a simple but unique aesthetic, one that reminds you of something that isn’t too taxing to play but isn’t too boring either. This is an apt description given how simple the gameplay is. You can move time forward and back using either the analogue stick or the triggers, the latter of which is more comfortable. In doing so, the pair of unnamed friends (unnamed in the game that is) will move forwards and backwards.

How does this create engaging gameplay or puzzles? Well, it isn’t exactly pausing time, rather it’s just the characters that don’t move. Thus, they can still interact with the world, and it can take a few levels before you can wrap your head around this. For example, one character’s motion will jump down onto a saw, whereby if you keep reversing and forwarding time, the character will jump up and down on the saw, eventually sawing through a plank and allowing the other character to continue.

Usually, one of the characters is in the lead, and they are holding a lantern. The aim of each level is to reach the portal at the end with the lantern filled with light. There are obstacles along the way where it might require the lantern to be snuffed out, and then relit to pass through. The other character is usually following behind (but from time to time, their positions will swap), and they can interact with certain objects which allows you to manipulate time in other parts of the level, such as reconstructing and deconstructing falling things.

It manages to visually convey this gameplay mechanic well. Moving forwards and backwards will rotate the circular level, giving you a familiar point of reference in what you are doing. Considering that the game doesn’t feature any dialogue or text, it intuitively teaches you the controls and what you need to do. Each level is split into several smaller puzzles, and you can be confident knowing once you pass an obstacle, you don’t need to backtrack too far back to solve the next one (in fact, the game doesn’t allow you to move too far backwards or too far forwards).

The levels themselves are short. The earlier easier ones will take less than a minute. The levels do get longer as you progress through the game, but the difficulty isn’t one to make you tear your hair out. It’s good knowing that there are only a limited number of variables that you can try to solve the current puzzle, so you will never feel like you are perpetually stuck on one, requiring you to search up on a solution on the internet.

The later levels increase the difficulty, but only through its reliance on some more abstract solutions. It tends to require the player to hold the characters in a specific location for a longer period to trigger the next thing. However, oftentimes it does not give you enough hints or prompts to do so. Yes, one of the characters might pause and point, or there is a sound, but you might still not pick up what you are supposed to do.

The story is told via short snippets of the characters interacting with each other. It’s nothing groundbreaking, in fact, it takes a backseat to the gameplay. All you need to know is that the two characters were in a treehouse in a garden at night, and then they are now traveling through dreamscapes. Each level has random everyday objects scattered throughout, adding to the theme.

The game doesn’t take long to finish, roughly two hours to finish the 20 or so levels it provides. However, that is enough for the game to never outstay its welcome and it is a fun and enjoyable experience. Apart from trophies / achievements, which are easy, there’s no replay value as there are no collectables either.

Overall, The Gardens Between is a wonderful, if short game. You only feel its short because of how interesting and well executed its idea is. Its premise and gameplay mechanic of moving time forwards and backwards, yet able to still manipulate certain events, into a puzzle is impressive. Yes, it is mostly linear but wow, it is a unique and beautiful game.

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Toy Review: Jurassic Park x Transformers Collaborative Dilophocon

Review:  #824

Name:  Dilophocon

Brand:  Transformers

Allegiance:  N/A

Line:  Jurassic Park x Transformers Collaborative

Year of Release:  2023

Size Class:  Deluxe

Mold Status:  new

DINOSAUR MODE:

The second set in the Jurassic Park x Transformers Collaborative line, Dilophocon is based upon the iconic scene in the Jurassic Park movie where the character Dennis Nedry meets his fate with a Dilophosaurus.

Naturally, Dilophocon transforms into a Dilophosaurus, and this is a really nice dinosaur mode, with no obvious robot kibble parts sticking out.

She's a bit slender though for a Deluxe, above is a comparison against TLK Bumblebee and Siege Sideswipe.

There is some play value here, where the mouth can open and close.

She also comes with an effects part that mimics the acid spitting action.

Curiously, the frills are two separate pieces that are only held on by small posts.  This means that they can occasionally just fall out.

There's no meaningful articulation in dinosaur mode, given that she is perfectly balanced as it is.

A fantastic dinosaur mode, and one of the best beast mode we've had.

TRANSFORMATION:

The legs are the easiest, as you just straighten them.  Otherwise, the tail comes off, and the arms unfold from the torso.  Once you do that, it leaves a gap for the dinosaur head to fold down.

ROBOT MODE:

Dilophocon has a fantastic robot mode too, she looks amazing here, and the slender proportions works beautifully.

If you left the tail attached during transformation, it will now sit on her back, and this is the main piece of kibble.

The head sculpt is great, and the frills behind her head is a fantastic piece of decoration.

Her height is roughly the size of an average Deluxe, but she is much more slender than most.

She has amazing articulation, with joints for her head, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips, knees and ankles.  What makes it amazing is that the shoulders can flex inwards, she's one of those rare Transformers that can hold a sword with both hands.

With the tail, the tip flips over to reveal a barrel.  She can then hold this gun in either hand.

The acid effects part can peg onto the end for some blast effect action now.

A wonderfully nimble and good looking robot.

OVERALL:

The set is worth it for Dilophocon alone.  She has two amazing modes, with pretty much no flaws in either of them.  This is one of the best molds we've had for a while, and it's a shame that it is regulated to an exclusive that is part of an expensive set.  Nevertheless, if you can get the set at a discount, then she is well worth it.

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