Review of HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures: Alpha

I found myself in Radio Shack this weekend (again) looking to return a cable splitter that I had no need for. Unfortunately they wouldn't offer me cash back, but instead they gave me store credit. Fine by me, it's an electronics store, I'm sure I'll find something to waste my $17.00 in store credit on.

I picked up a new HDMI cable, which is way over my $17.00 mark...but eh... I needed one. While ringing up I came across these gnarly looking plastic pods. Inside the pods were these small plastic robotic bugs! Why, they looked like some sort of futuristic insect, and I needed to have one.

I imagined that they creatures called HEXBUGS would come to around $30.00 each. Radio Shack has a tendency to really dig into that wallet. They didn't have a price, but I didn't hesitate to add one to my order.

I picked Alpha, which is an orange robot bug. The bottom of his package though stated his name was Charlie. After looking at the website though, it is apparent my bug was cased incorrectly.

HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures: Alpha looks like a large lightning bug, although I do not know what type of bug he is supposed to resemble, it's my opinion that he looks like a lightning bug, a roach, or a fly.

HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures: Alpha has 6 legs, 3 on each side. Alpha's box didn't give me any clues on how to use him whatsoever! Thankfully I read the stand-up display case that he was lined up on at the store.

According to this, HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures: Alpha actually feels things, with his small antenna, and will make his way around the object without bumping into it. HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures: Alpha also detects noise, and will back up away from the source.

Of course I had to put HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures: Alpha to the test when I got him home.

Test One; Objects:
 
HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures: Alpha comes with batteries, so when I got the little robotic bug out of his case, I simply had to turn on a switch located on, what I would call, his butt.
 
I put the bug down, and placed a can of soup in his way. The bug walked up to the can, and his antenna slightly rubbed against it. Once this happened the bugs little legs directed him in a backward walk, away from the can. Success! What a smart bug!

Test Two; Noise:
 
This is probably my favorite feature. While the HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures: Alpha is doing his little robot walk, if you clap, or slap your hand down on the table, the bug will stop walking, and back away from the area the noise came from. Its pretty neat, because you can direct his walking this way.

Where HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures: Alpha Won't Walk:
 
The HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures: Alpha has a hard time walking on rugs, and textured surfaces.
The best place to play with a HEXBUG would be the kitchen floor.

I do not recommend you let the HEXBUG walk on counters, because it does not detect edges, and it will fall, and could break.

Price:
 
When I first got a glimpse of these cool robotic bugs at the store, I thought they would be really expensive high techy toys; however HEXBUGS at Radio Shack came to a fair $9.99 for the lil' guy.
You can find them for sale for even less online.

Overall:
 
I think the HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures: Alpha is a cool gadget for kids and adults alike. Although you won't find yourself playing with the thing for hours on end, it does offer some entertainment value, and is cool to watch.

I'd rate the HEXBUG Micro Robotic Creatures: Alpha 4 stars out of 5. It's just a really cool geek toy.