Learning Resources Coding Critters MagiCoders Blazer the Dragon Review

Reviewed by Dot W

I love anything to do with Dragons, maybe it is because my dad was Welsh and I spent quite a bit of time visiting my Welsh relatives during school holidays as a child.  A little bit more information, Castell Coch was my favourite Castle, I would watch out for it at the side of the railway track as we travelled by train to and from Merthyr Tydfil and Barry Island.  My dad told me that in 1954 Castell Coch was used as the location to film The Black Knight.  Just imagine Blazer the Dragon in Castell Coch helping rescue the Princess!!

I chose to try Blazer out quietly on my own before I introduced him to the grandchildren.  I am not the best at following written instructions so I wanted peace and quiet.

This Coding Critters set by Learning Resources comes with a twenty-two-piece playset.  This playset includes 1 Magic Coder, 1 Wand, Magic Coder playset and twelve Coding cards.  Included in the playset is the front of a Castle, a Treasure Chest, a target and a sling with three fireballs to fire from the sling at the target which is included.  The fireballs can be stored inside Blazer’s treasure chest until there are swamp creatures to cleared out of the way.

The Magic Coder (Blazer the Dragon) requires three x AAA batteries and the Wand 2 x AAA batteries, these are not supplied so be prepared and have the batteries ready before giving it as a present to a child.  Nothing worse than being given a gift which needs batteries but having no batteries to be able to play with it.

Once I had switched Blazer the Dragon to ON and turned the Wand to ON I was all set to go.  Unfortunately Blazer didn’t like moving on my lounge carpet, but I have laminate flooring in the kitchen.  I had fun programming him to move forward, I could specify how many forward moves he had to make, how far he needed to go to the left or the right or even go backwards then pressed the GO button and off he went beeping at me as he did so.

I had fun using the SPELL BOOK which came with Blazer and got him to follow his ball, I even got him to ‘chow down’, he reminded me of my Chihuahua getting ready to settle for a sleep!  I could make Blazer guard, dance and even made his horn rumble!  I laughed at him chasing his tail.

There are endless possibilities for a child’s imagination with this playset, I have only explored those included in the Spell Book.  Two of my grandchildren are due to arrive later this afternoon for dinner and I am sure they will have fun playing with Blazer the Dragon and doing endless codes to make him move, turn, back away.  They can also send Blazer’s fireballs hurtling towards the swamp creatures to clear the way.  I just couldn’t resist trying hurtling fireballs at the swamp creatures myself before the grandchildren arrive!

A great fun learning toy suitable for children aged 4+ (not suitable for children under 3 due to small parts) but don’t forget to buy batteries for this if you are giving it as a present.

(Editor’s note – The Learning Resources Coding Critters Magicoders Skye The Unicorn was also received and also went down very well. I had great fun trying it out before gifting it to a friend’s daughter who loved it. RRP: £52.50 Buy from Learning Resources here.)

Rating: 4.5/5  (batteries not included)

RRP: £52.50

This product can be purchased from Learning Resources here.