6.8.2019

It's quite cool that this toy can be used to interact with a game (albeit a freemium one) on your phone or smart device. The cars (there are two in this set and others available) can be scanned with your phone (as the vehicles have microchips in) and they immediately appear in your Hot Wheels racing game ready to be raced. My 5-year-old has done some races with it and loves it. It definitely adds another dimension to the play.Also with this set is a piece of Hot Wheels track, a race portal, that can connect to your smart device via Bluetooth. This will then register the Hot Wheels ID cars as they pass through the race portal so that their speed can be translated into speed in the game.This allows game modes like Speeder and Slingshot to be played. Speeder is a game that is a simple speed game with a leaderboard of all your cars and the top speeds you have been able to get with them through the race portal (my son got 309 mph which he is very happy with). Slingshot is another playable game mode. It has a ramp in the game which varies gradient as it goes up and down and you have to time your "slingshot", i.e. when your car goes through the race portal bit of track, so that you have the correct angle and speed to complete the challenges (hitting a pile of boxes, jumping through a hoop or to clearing some walls).To get the race portal to work well you will need more bits of track (available separately) so you can build a big ramp for your cars to go down to build up speed, or the launcher to speed your cars along. Unfortunately even with the race portal there are some game modes where you need additional track pieces we don't have (the launcher pump from the "Hot Wheels ID Smart Track Kit" set). However there is still plenty to do in the game, even without this race portal.The race portal works with a rechargeable battery with the charging cable (the app tells you how much battery power it has when it is connected so you know when to charge it).The Hot Wheels ID range has been designed to maintain kids’ interaction with hands-on toys. I don't like it when I get my kids a toy and they lose interest in it after a short time playing with it - where's the value in that? - so anything to extend the play I applaud. And my 5-year-old son has been having great fun with the Hot Wheels ID toys we have. He has been spending a lot of time playing with them and the game, certainly more than he would have done without the app.Hot Wheels ID cars have microchips in them so they can interact with the app and with the special track pieces (such as this one) that Hot Wheels have made. The game/app does seem to be child friendly with the game easy to play (maybe it'll be harder when you get further into it than us) and the cars easy to scan into it. It has in-game currency which allows cars to be upgraded, with more game currency earned per race. Unfortunately this also seems purchasable with real money and I don't think we should be encouraging young kids to do that (I certainly won't). Plus the cars in the game can only be used limited times before turns recharge, or extra turns can be bought with real money so you have to make sure you protect yourself from your kids spending any real money in the game if you don't want them to. There is also a trade system in there too which again hopefully protects kids, but we haven't got that far into the app yet.The bad things about this toy/app (other than the freemium and extra track issues mentioned above) is that the app is not compatible with non-ID Hot Wheels vehicles and sets meaning you can only build up and digitally exhibit your Hot Wheels ID collection rather than your whole Hot Wheels collection. Also the vehicles and track are a bit more expensive than the standard Hot Wheels cars and track (although the vehicles do come in nicer boxes with magnetic snapping lids, have special, unique wheels, a microchip inside them and their finish is done with "spectraflame paint" which gives a better, shinier finish). Lastly because my son doesn't have a mobile phone, being only 5-years-old and all, this is currently installed on my phone so he will not always have access to the game.So we are currently very positive about this with my son having great fun with the Hot Wheels ID physical and digital world combined adding to the play value of this toy and range.

5.9.2019

This is a super cool, innovative toy that takes technology and toys to a new level! I don't even really like cars but I was so excited to play with this and race cars with my partner. The portal uses Bluetooth and the cars use NFC technology, and altogether it works extremely well when measuring speed. The game is also so fun on the app.The Good: It's pretty straightforward to set up. We set up our track (which is also super easy to set up) and put the portal after the loop-de-loop. I turned on Bluetooth and NFC on my phone and got the Hot Wheels ID app. Following the instructions was easy, it found the portal fine and it needed an update which was pretty seamless.

11.9.2019

My all family loves this Hot Wheels Track Builder Multi Loop Box and Hot Wheels id Race Portal,but my kids were so excited that I had to set it immediately and let kids to try it.Firstly,I found this set nicely and tidy packed,especially Hot Wheels id Race Portal,because it is packed in to prime quality box and looks astonishing.Secondly,both items very well made from high quality and strong materials and looks stylish,modern and bright.Thirdly,I like that instructions detailed and clear,so was easy to set all parts.Just you have to know that here is 3 beautiful and stylish cars in total,but one of them without chip and can not be scanned and seen on your smart device screen,but you can use

6.10.2019

An inevitable update to the traditional track racing games - the "novelty" of this one is that it has a digital element - in that a partner app can be used to race your cars on a tablet/ phone.I predominantly got this with my nephews in mind, but also for the nostalgia that us adults could join in with; and I would say everyone had as much fun as each other.The kit (this "portal" does include some track and cars!) is premium quality, really well built and fairly easy to set up and strip down - and can be added to with other kits - so I would say is well worth the money for a) the quality and b) longevity of play.The digital part though leaves me a little.... hmmm. Basically it introduces a virtual play,

25.2.2020

My Son has a huge Hot Wheels sort of city in his bedroom with multiple tracks joined together to car parks etc but the race portal has brought a new level to the Hot Wheels fun for him. I do love that they have thought of this as my Son like most children his age was getting to the digital stage where they only seem to want to use technology rather than physical play and the race portal has given a new feel to his older track.The race portal can be connected to older Hot Wheels track such as the loops box set but only the chipped ID cars will work with the portal and app. You can still of course race the older Hot Wheels cars but obviously they won't show on the app.The portal was relatively

5.8.2019

My 7- and 9-year old nephews were delighted with this portal. Suddenly the game changed - and hugely improved.Their father also enjoyed setting it up and the children generously let him play (and even allowed him to win occasionally).This is like Hot Wheels only better! The portal means you can get the exact detail you need from every race. It makes the whole thing more strategic. It's still about who gets around the track the fastest but even if you win 4 out of 5 races, suddenly you don't necessarily win the Grande Prix!You need the correct cars (not too expensive) and, of course, lots of track pieces to play with but this is an add-on which they truly loved and it made the whole game

19.8.2019

So much technology!!I am very surprised to see there was a rack together with the race portal when I opened the box and I wasn't expecting it!Good quality race, very technological.My husband and my son really enjoy. That's the first time my 3 years old son spends so much time on a "toy" without getting easily bored.When the car runs over the portal if you download the application you can see the carvon your phone like being on a game and you can race with your phone.It includes 3 cars and the portal charges with USB.

1.9.2019

This adds longevity to existing Hot Wheels tracks by breathing new life into it. It adds a new challenge. Just download the app (which is free) and your child can measure the speed of his/her Hot Wheels cars and also count laps.It is actually educational – you can see how the speed varies as you change the track or even the car.Two cars are included - Twin Mill and GT Hunter. They have NFC chips inside them (just like contactless credit cards) to identify each car.Great fun and a good accessory.

6.9.2019

Awesome bit of kit. If you're reading this review then you've probably already read the technical details. Just the weight of the box instantly tell you this is some great bit of kit. A good way to encourage your little ones off of their screens, while still using them to interact with their physical cars. Or will it entice them away from their track and onto their screens??

5.8.2019

Waiting to give this to my son for his birthday, but looks really smart, it also came with a box with a full track inside, which I wasn't aware of, which is a real bonus.The concept is a really great idea, children can enjoy playing with their smart devices while connecting them with physical toys, for fun imaginative play.

24.8.2019

My husband and daughter both had a lot of fun playing with this.They loved the way they could use their iOS devices to do more with the sets.The app pairs really easily and has some cool functions.The speed measurement was their favouriteVery tempted to get the smart track for Christmas as well.

8.8.2019

with the addition of interactive play, the extension gives children speed measuring and further race information to what is already a much-loved system-I played with it in the last generation and it still holds its thrall today; always a winner.

14.8.2019

Wow i wish be kid, this track is amazing and so smart can check hot wheels car's speed very easy to use just don't forget need car mobile phone with the NFC connection

19.8.2019

So impressed with this portal ID made by hotwheels! My son loves collecting the cars now and he loves playing with it with his dad!

12.3.2021

It does work just had one issue where it wouldn't read a chip. Other than that, it works as advertised

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