Jurassic World: Dominion - Velociraptor (Extreme Damage)

 

In the summer of 2022 I was finally able to take in the latest Jurassic World movie, Dominion, and as a result the plethora of toys being released started to grab my eye a bit more. The Extreme Damage subline of the toys offered a fun little play feature. Our look at this series brings us to the popular Velociraptor, fresh with a new deco.

For starters, this is just a great mold of this breed. The new paint deco is probably one of my favorites. The skin is molded in a granite color with dark blue highlights running up and down it's head and back. The talons on the feet have been painted black, where as some previous versions went unpainted. The eyes have been painted red and look very eerie.

There is articulation in the jaw, neck, arms and legs. The head is able to swivel from side to side and has some up and down range of motion. The mouth is able to be opened, displaying a nice set of painted teeth. The arms are able to move in a full 360 degrees, as well as being able to swivel out to the sides. The legs have motion at the hips, but sadly that's it.

There is a button on the back that when pressed activates the Extreme Damage gimmick. There is a piece inside that essentially rotates that reveals "bloody" red tissue. It's a simple gimmick, but one that I find fun.

A new feature added to the Jurassic World toys is an embedded "DNA" chip on each toy. This is basically a hidden QR code that is meant to work with a mobile phone app that when scanned, unlocks the dinosaur. After being unlocked, it adds it to your virtual dino collection but also offers facts about the dinosaur. A simple game can also be played via the app. On this particular dino, the chip is hidden in the back, just behind the button you press for the damage gimmick.

I don't know what it is about dinosaurs that is so fascinating, but even in my mid-40's these beasts keep drawing me in. Mattel has done a great job in recent years reinvigorating life into the Jurassic Park/World brand and this Extreme Damage version of the Velociraptor is a great example of what they are capable of. Even as we come close to closing out 2022, this toy (and others from the line) can still be found on retail toy shelves.