REVIEW: TMNT Talk-To-Me Mikey: Voice Response Turtle

Review and Photos by David Yeh
Review Sample Courtesy of Playmates Toys

Coming out of Playmates Toys is a new interactive Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mikey to keep your kiddies (ages 4+) occupied. The concept is pretty simple: It hears what you say and it talks back. Does it always work? Well, it depends on your diction but Mikey should mostly perform as described on the box, which is “the most intelligent, interactive turtle toy ever!”. Since this is my very first interactive turtle toy ever, I don’t have an argument. Mikey is listed to be able to say 100+ phrases, has 10 voice-response commands, 3 motion sensors, 3 unique songs, 12+ sound effects, and 4+ ways to play.

In the box, Mikey is well displayed in a box with a TRY ME window. In demo mode, he operates in a more limited capacity but enough to engage you. Mikey itself is sculpted in a seated position with arms out and a big Mikey smile. Since he’s meant to sit on your shelf or desk, the only points of articulation are in the double jointed elbows. I’m not sure if the articulation benefits the toy or not since there aren’t many poses you can put him in; plus the nunchuks are sculpted permanently in his hands, but for those who want just an extra bit of something, it should do okay.

But articulation isn’t the reason to get Mikey, so let’s get to the talking. I had a little trouble with Mikey understanding me properly but I was able to write down as many phrases as I could. Some of the phrases have a multitude of combinations so you might get a variation of what’s written but it’s generally pretty close.

There’s A LOT of sayings and phrases from Mikey that should be a lot of fun for the kids, as long as you’re a fan of Mikey too. Mikey does have a self-sleep mode if ignored long enough to save on battery life and can wake back up just as easily by pressing the button on his belt, or turning him off/on with the switch on the back of his head.

Talk-To-Me Mikey will run you about $39.99 and is exclusive to Toys’R’Us stores.

Here’s a good majority of what Talk-To-Me Mikey says:

How are your ninja skills?:

• “I’m the super awesome ninja maestro!”
• “I totally rock the nina scene!”
• “Mikey rules!” “Dude, I got hot nunchuk fury!”
• “I got moves so quick you can’t even see! HIYA! Wanna see them again?”
• “Totally awesome!”
• “Michelangelo Rules!”

Sing me a song:

• “I’m the ninja teen, here to rock the scene with the orange bandana and a shell of green. I’m the ninja bro here to let you know, Now you heard, spread the word: Michelangelo! And that’s how I rap!” “And I’m out!” “That’s how a turtle do!”
• “I like nunchuks and bro I can’t deny! I spin them and I let them fly! When the Krang walk in and wana get rude I just bust him with my ninja moves! Boom! And that’s what’s up!”
• “I’m manzy Mikey from coast to coast! You want ninja skills I got the most! I battle all the moves till they’re on the run – and I chill with the pizza till I am done! Aw yeah! And that’s how I roll!” “And that’s that!” “Word!”

Do you have any hobbies?:

• “Skateboarding! Of course!”
• “Sometimes I just like hanging with my bros!”
• “Three words: blindfold, nunchuk, juggling!”
• “Does bashing bad guys count as a hobby?”
• “I like comic books and video games and my pizza box collection!”

Tell me the future:

• “The future? Sure! Concentrate and ask me anything! Anything!”
• “Dude, that’s a big high three!”
• “Umm yeah.”
• “Totally, my man!”
• “Hmmm reply is hazy. Better ask Splinter!”
• “Without a doubt! Positively!”
• “Ummm yeah… NO!”
• “Focus, my ninja friend and ask again!”
• “Without a doubt! Positively… NOT!”
• “Dude, that’s a big NO WAY!” “

Are you hungry?:

• “I could always go for pizza.”
• “Jelly bean pizza with algae and worms and jelly beans!!”
• “Gotta fuel up and get my ninja game on strong, yo!”
• “I just ate but BELCH I still got room for more!”
• “Aw man! Im always hungry!”
• “Yeah boy! Got anything good?”

Do you like being a Turtle?:

• “If you knew how great it was, you’d be green with jealousy!”
• “Dude, I love being a turtle!”
• “It’s a totally good time.”
• “Being a turtle rocks!”
• “It’s a shella good time!”
• “I am what you see! I gotta be me!”
• “The only thing better than being a turtle, is being a ninja turtle!”

Can you tell me a secret?:

• “I wear tighty whities but not on laundry day. And today is laundry day!”
• “I ate all the leftover pizza!”
• “I might know who mutated April’s kitty?”
• “The cheese phone in the litter is for emergencies.”
• “Donny likes April!”
• “Raph is totally scared of cockroaches!”

Who’s your favorite mutant?:

• “Leatherhead! He’s my good buddy.”
• “I like Ice Cream kitty. So cute!”
• “Huh, that’s a tough one. Can I pick me?”
• “You’re pretty cool! Are you sure you’re not a mutant?”
• “Anyone but Snake Weed! He gives me the creeps!”

What are you afraid of?:

• “A ninja knows no fear.”
• “As long as I have my bros and trusty nunchucks, I’m fearless!”
• “Um uh, still not scared!”
• “A world without pizza! Can you imagine?”

Go to sleep:

• “Sleep is for the weak.”
• “Aww just a few more minutes pleassse!”
• “But I’m not even sleepy!”
• “I said I’m not … snores” “

General sayings:

• “I’m all ears my man!”
• “You don’t say?”
• “I don’t get it.”
• “Lay it on me brotha!”
• “Uh hey, did you forget someone?”
• “Whoa you just blew my mind!”
• “I’m here for you buddy.”
• “And just what is that supposed to mean?”
• “Mm hmm I’m listening.”
• “What the what?”
• “Talk to the turtle!”
• “::gibberish:: that’s what it sounded like to me!”
• “Talk to me, bro.”
• “Go for Mikey!”

Lay Mikey on his back:

• “Ha! I can see up your nose!”
• “Hey, I’m just relaxin’ from the action.”
• “Not cool! I’m a turtle remember? Somebody help me up!”
• “Okay, a turtle can only take so much of this! A little help here!”
• “This is the life.”
• “Whoa, nap time! Already?”
• :::fart:: “Whoa one too many anchovy slices”

Spin him on his back:

• “Whoa! Head rush!”
• “Booyakashah!”
• “Check it out, I’m breakdancing!”
• “Yeah! Spincycle!”
• “Everything is getting blurry and swirly!”
• “Not so fast! I’m getting whoozy!”
• “Electric bugaloo, like a turtle do!”
• “Whoa, talk about a turtle flashback!”

Shake Mikey up and down:

• “Chillax dude!”
• “Whoa! It’s like an awesome roller coaster!”
  :::fart:: “Well that’s not good.”
• “Chill, dude! Be mellow!”
• “Don’t scuff the shell! I just had it waxed!”
• “Burp! Excuse me!”
• “Stop the ride! I’m feeling kinda loopy!”
• “Take it easy, I’m gonna hurl!”
• “Check it out I’m breakdancing!”

Leave Mikey be for awhile:

• “I’m sooooo bored.”

[gallery_bank type=”images” format=”masonry” title=”true” desc=”false” responsive=”true” display=”all” sort_by=”random” animation_effect=”bounce” album_title=”true” album_id=”176″]

Keep up with all the latest toy news by following Figures.com on Facebook and Twitter!

To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com, TheToySource.com, Toynk.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, and EntertainmentEarth.com.