By now, chances are you’ve heard the buzz behind the latest toy craze gearing up to take over America this holiday season; Zhu Zhu pets. With their ability to behave, react and adapt to their surroundings like real hamsters, these little motorized “pets” are already causing a crazy shopping spree that rivals previous holiday crazes like Tickle Me Elmo and Furby. The Zhu Zhu pets themselves are intriguing enough for many of their owners, but there are also a plethora of games and other accessories available, and the various games in particular can be customized and even combined into one big mega game for hours of fun. . for your kids. Some great Zhu Zhu Pets accessories for the holidays include:
- hamster fun house – Hamster Funhouse is the staple hamster accessory for new Zhu Zhu Pets owners. This “Habitat” for hamsters has two main areas that house a bedroom, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a tunnel to connect the two areas. The game also features special “bumps” on key parts that encourage hamsters to make unique noises, like sleeping noises in the bedroom or flushing the toilet, along with fun moves. Of course, the Hamster Funhouse also has openings that allow it to connect to the other hamster playsets currently available, making it a great starting point for building your very own Hamster City.
- Spiral slide and ramp – This game has your hamster going up a ramp, then down and around the big corkscrew slide. Simple but fun addon for Hamster Funhouse and other games.
- Tunnel and hamster wheel – Just like real life hamster wheels, the Zhu Zhu Pets Hamster Wheel and Tunnel playset is exactly as it says on the box; “Zhu Zhu Pets hamsters scamper up the ramp to jump onto the exercise wheel and start running.” Only unlike a real hamster wheel, it can be connected with other hamster games. No actual hamster poop to clean up is also a plus.
- adventure ball – Another Zhu Zhu Pets accessory inspired by real life, this transparent blue ball works by first placing a stabilizer under the Zhu Zhu Pet hamster, preventing it from tipping over while inside the ball. The hamster is then placed inside the ball, where he is free to explore the world around him, especially on rough surfaces such as carpets, where Zhu Zhu Pets alone may have difficulty treading. As a bonus, the Adventure Ball set also includes a “Rattlin’ Clatterin’ Mini Ball” that the hamster can push almost anywhere, even inside the games themselves.
- Surfboard and Sleep Dome – Surfing hamsters are no longer just a dream, now the Surfboard and Sleep Dome set make it come true. Your hamster can “surf” around a floor with the surfboard, but he can only surf on land, so don’t try it in the water! Plus, when your hamster is done for the day, they can rest in the included sleeping dome.
- Skateboard and U-turn – Just like the Surfboard game and Sleep Dome, the Skateboard and U-Turn game has our curious motorized creatures tackling the sport of skateboarding. Zhu Zhu pets hop on the skateboard and ride up the included U-Turn ramp, down and around to the ground or to another connected game. It may not be as spectacular as surfing, but how many hamsters do you know that can do one, let alone two sports?
- Hamstermobile and Garage – Probably the most interesting game set is the Hamstermobile and Garage. The ingenuity of Zhu Zhu Pets’ artificial intelligence is on display when the hamsters walk into the garage, climb into the Hamstermobile sedan, open the garage doors, and drive off on their own. Lots of good times can be had watching hamsters drive, accelerate, brake and reverse in the Hamstermobile on their own. As long as they don’t find their way out of their house and drive on real-life roads, that is.
- Hamster Bed and Blanket with Pet Carrier and Blanket – These two accessories give your hamster a cozy bag as a luxurious place to curl up and “sleep” with the hamster bed and blanket, or a soft and safe way to take your hamster with you with the carrier and blanket for pets. Both accessories come in a range of colours, to further personalize your Zhu Zhu Pets.
Certain accessories and games are also available in bundles with one of the current five hamsters, making it easy to own a Zhu Zhu Pet without having to purchase one separately. Plus, even more hamsters and accessories are coming in 2010, so get your hamster surfboard ready, because the wave of Zhu Zhu Pets is just beginning to roll in!