At first glance, Disney's new Playmation toys don't look like much. The box doesn't really say a lot, and the YouTube videos and commercials overrunning the Disney Channel look more like the next Avengers movie than a toy for kids. But open the box and strap on the "Repulsor Gear," and you will quickly learn Playmation is unlike any toy you've ever played with before.
A cross between laser tag and video console game, Playmation Marvel's Avengers Starter Pack ($120) transforms players into their favorite characters using motion sensors and wearable technology without a wire or WiFi device to be seen. Confused yet? We thought so. Think of it this way. "Toys-to-life" is a buzzword in the toy and video game industry, where toys like Disney Infinity, Skylanders, and Lego Dimensions are supposed to come to life as kids play with them. But with Playmation, the toy actually does come to life, as kids put on the gear, become the character, and then jump and dive their way through enemy-fighting missions.
