Transformers Megatron Decepticon

Suggested retail price: $69.99

Recommended age: Five plus

Rating: Excellent

Kids across North America are dusting off their old Transformer toys, thanks to the live-action feature film Transformers that premiered yesterday.

The Transformers movie, from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, is produced by Steven Spielberg and stars Shia LaBeouf (Disturbia, Holes and Even Stevens), Josh Duhamel (Las Vegas), Tyrese Gibson (Annapolis, 2 Fast 2 Furious), Megan Fox (Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen), John Turturro and Jon Voight.

On June 2, Hasbro unveiled all-new action figures, games and role-play toys based on the movie.

We gave Kyle Cushnie, 8, of Hamilton a Megatron Decepticon, the most dangerous Transformer to ever stalk the galaxy, to test.

Transformers are two toys in one - a robot that can be reconfigured into an everyday vehicle such as a car or aircraft.

"I think it was cool," said Kyle, whose warrior figure changes from menacing robot to jet mode.

Kyle has other Transformers at home but hadn't played with them in ages. "I had forgotten about them," he said.

Now he plays with his Transformers every night, according to his mom, Lisa Cushnie, a certified early childhood educator.

"It's a neat concept," said Lisa, who likes Transformers because they encourage small-motor development, problem solving, concentration and imagination.

"It's two toys in one and it's a puzzle, too."

The new Transformers toys are sold at all major Canadian retailers.

Transformers TRIVIA

* When Hasbro introduced the Transformers brand to the U.S. in 1984, it revolutionized action figures by giving kids the power to change the toys from one form into another.

* Pre-1984 Hasbro secured the rights to many changing/converting robot brands in Japan and created the umbrella name The Transformers to unite them.

* Takara, a Japanese toy manufacturer, saw the potential for future Transformers growth and became Hasbro's lead partner in the development of new Transformers products.

* Over the past two decades, the Transformers brand has spawned numerous television series, comic books and feature-length animated films.