Meccano MeccaSpider Review: The Creepy Crawly Robot Toy

Woooo! This is probably one of the coolest toys we have ever received.

It is big, it is bold and it is a futuristic creepy crawly!

And Jacob absolutely loved it.

When we first received the Meccano MeccaSpider, I knew it was going to be something a little different from the usual toys we review. It isn't just a toy that you take out of the box and start playing with.

You actually build it yourself, and then once you've finished building it, you get to control and play with your very own interactive robot spider.

It is seriously cool.

What Is the Meccano MeccaSpider?

The Meccano MeccaSpider is an interactive robotic spider toy that combines building, technology and play.

Because it is part of the Meccano range, there is a real sense of achievement involved in putting it together.

You aren't simply given a finished robot.

You have to build it.

And once you've finished, you can bring your MeccaSpider to life and control it using an app.

It combines construction with technology, making it a really interesting STEM toy for kids.

Building the MeccaSpider

Building the MeccaSpider is a big part of the experience.

The robotic construction kit encourages children to develop skills linked to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, commonly known as STEM.

When we watched an episode of The Gadget Show where the MeccaSpider was reviewed, they mentioned that it could take around two hours to build.

It took us a couple of hours longer than that.

But honestly, that wasn't a bad thing at all.

We thoroughly enjoyed building it.

There is something really satisfying about starting with a box full of pieces and gradually watching the MeccaSpider take shape.

We used the visual guide booklet to help us put everything together.

The instructions were helpful and, although it took us longer than expected, we enjoyed the process.

For me, that is one of the things that makes a toy like this different.

The building isn't something you have to get through before you can have fun.

The building is part of the fun.

And then, once you've finished, you have a fully functioning robotic spider to play with.

Learning Through Building

I really like toys that give children something to do rather than simply entertaining them for five minutes.

The MeccaSpider involves construction, problem solving and following instructions, while also introducing children to robotics and technology.

Jacob had to concentrate while putting the pieces together and work out how everything fitted.

Then, once it was built, he had the reward of seeing it actually move.

That feeling of I built that! is pretty special.

It makes the finished toy feel much more personal.

Controlling the MeccaSpider With the App

Once we had finished building the MeccaSpider, it was time to see what it could actually do.

The robot is controlled using an app.

We downloaded the app onto both my iPhone and Jacob's iPad, and setting it up and connecting it to the MeccaSpider was straightforward.

Before long, Jacob was controlling it just like a remote controlled toy.

He could direct the MeccaSpider around the house and have plenty of fun exploring all of the different functions.

The app allows you to control several features, including:

• Movement and direction

• Sounds

• Lights

• Water spraying

• Different play modes

• Built in games

There is quite a lot packed into the app, so there was plenty for Jacob to discover.

The MeccaSpider Can Squirt Water!

Now this was definitely one of Jacob's favourite features.

The MeccaSpider has an attack function that allows it to squirt water.

Jacob had great fun using it to squirt the dogs and us!

Let's just say the dogs weren't quite as impressed with the MeccaSpider as Jacob was.

The water spraying feature adds another level of interaction because you aren't just controlling where the robot moves. You can also use it as part of the games and attack mode.

It definitely made the MeccaSpider feel more like an interactive robot rather than simply a construction model.

Exploring With the MeccaSpider

One of the things Jacob enjoyed most was being able to drive the MeccaSpider all around the house.

Using the app, he could control where it went and explore different rooms.

But there was another feature that he really enjoyed.

You can set up a track for the MeccaSpider to follow.

Instead of manually controlling it the whole time, Jacob could create a route and let the MeccaSpider follow it around the house.

This was great because it gave him another way to play with the robot.

He could experiment with different tracks and see how the MeccaSpider moved around them.

MeccaSpider Guard Mode and Attack Mode

The MeccaSpider has different modes to keep the play interesting.

There is a Guard Mode, an Attack Mode and various built in game modes.

The different options meant that Jacob could use the MeccaSpider in different ways rather than simply driving it around.

The combination of movement, lights, sounds and water spraying makes the robot feel surprisingly interactive.

There always seemed to be something else for Jacob to discover.

MeccaSpider Games

The MeccaSpider also has several built in games.

One of the games involves sitting in a circle while the MeccaSpider walks around.

The idea is that everyone waits to see what happens, and the first person to move gets sprayed with water.

Of course, this was hilarious.

Another game involves copying light sequences, giving children a chance to test their memory and concentration.

There are several other games included too, so the MeccaSpider isn't just about controlling the robot.

It can also become the centre of a group game.

That makes it something Jacob could enjoy by himself or with other people.

What Did Jacob Think of the Meccano MeccaSpider?

Jacob absolutely loved it.

From the moment he saw it, he was fascinated by the fact that he could build his own giant robotic spider and then actually control it.

I think the combination of building and playing was what made it such a hit.

He wasn't simply given a robot.

He helped create it.

Then he got to control it, experiment with it and discover what it could do.

The water spraying feature was obviously a huge favourite, especially when he discovered that he could use it to surprise us!

He also loved driving it around the house and setting up tracks for it to follow.

There was plenty to keep him occupied.

Is the Meccano MeccaSpider a Good STEM Toy?

I think the Meccano MeccaSpider is a great example of a STEM toy that makes learning feel like play.

Children are developing construction and problem solving skills while building it, and then they are introduced to robotics, technology and programming concepts through the app and different functions.

The important thing for me is that none of this feels like a lesson.

Jacob wasn't thinking about learning science or technology.

He was thinking about building a really cool robot spider!

And sometimes that is the best way to encourage children to explore STEM subjects.

Our Meccano MeccaSpider Review

The Meccano MeccaSpider was a huge hit in our house.

It is one of those toys that offers something at every stage.

First, there is the excitement of opening the box and building it.

Then comes the satisfaction of seeing the finished robot come to life.

After that, there is the app, the different controls, the lights, sounds, games, track mode and, of course, the water spraying attack function.

There is a lot to discover.

For children who enjoy building, technology, robotics or anything a little bit unusual, the MeccaSpider offers a really different play experience.

Jacob loved being able to build his own robot and then control it afterwards, and we enjoyed watching him discover everything it could do.

Would We Recommend the Meccano MeccaSpider?

For us, yes, it was a really fun toy and one that kept Jacob entertained long after the initial excitement of opening the box.

The building element makes it more than just a robot toy, while the app and interactive features give children plenty to explore once construction is complete.

The Meccano MeccaSpider is aimed at children aged 10 and over, and it would make an impressive gift for a child who enjoys building, robots, technology and STEM activities.

And let's be honest, a giant robot spider that can walk around the house and squirt water at you is pretty hard to beat!

Our review was based on our experience of building and playing with the Meccano MeccaSpider.