Robot Wars - Radio Controlled Matilda

More cunning than any of the other robots Matilda is a deceptive adversary whose moveable tusks can upend a robot's tactical plans at a moment's notice and definitely pose a threat. Fear not, however, a child's safety is never compromised: terrific detailing on the part of the manufacturers means Matilda looks deadly, but she is in fact perfectly safe. All edges and spikes are blunt plastic and rubber--paint and texture only indicate menace.

The radio-control unit is chunky enough for small fingers and the buttons and levers will withstand even the keenest of operators. The robot is surprisingly responsive, and moves left, right, backwards and forwards via the levers; the buttons on top of the unit will set her tusks in motion and the buttons on the side o the unit, when pressed, will provide atmospheric background noise for the heat of the battle. The range for this robot is surprisingly good: around 10 to 15 metres during this test.

It should be noted that all the Robot Wars robots benefit from a smooth, rather than carpeted surface, though Matilda still performs surprisingly well on either . If this is a gift, the giver should also be aware that the batteries require 15 hours of charging for first use. The packaging is such that it is possible to extract the charger and rechargeable batteries (both included) without too much effort or damage, and these could be charged and replaced before the robot is wrapped. A screwdriver is required to insert the batteries into their covered cavity, something children will need adult supervision for. Once up and running, Matilda has good stamina: after more than an hour of duelling for this test, she was still going strong. Full operating instructions are included.

This robot is not suitable for children under three years because of small parts, but to reach its full potential it probably needs an operator of around six or seven years old. There's no upper age limit--adults will love Matilda as much as kids do.

Matilda looks absolutely superb, and can stand alone as well as working with one of the other robots in the range. This is one lady who should never be underestimated and is an absolute dream of a toy for Robot Wars fans of any age. --Lucie Naylor

Also available: Shunt and Sir Killalot.