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What We Think Fun Factor: Durability: (what this means) The Good:Exciting stunt set sends cars looping and flying. The Bad:Only comes with one car. In a Nutshell:Fast-paced action. At a Glance Ages:4 and up Requires:Two D batteries.

Ready, Set, Go!
Before the action can begin, this stunt set needs to be assembled. Well-illustrated instructions and track pieces that are easy to slide together make set-up a quick process. You'll need a small Philips head screwdriver to install the two D cell batteries (not included) that run the power booster.

Even with an illustration showing all the launch buttons and the different settings on the power loop, it took us a few minutes of playing with the track to figure out how all the stunts worked. Younger racecar enthusiasts may need to be shown how to control the launchers and the release ramp, but once they get it, they're sure to invent all kinds of exciting games centered around the power loop set.

Three Serious Stunts
The centerpiece of this set is the power loop stunt. Featuring a pair of vertical loops that cross "dangerously" in the sky, a motorized speed booster, and a release ramp that can be operated automatically or manually, this trick is the perfect place to set multiple cars spinning and wait for awesome crashes. Kids will love popping open the release ramp to send cars shooting across the floor.

The mega drop is a section of track that can be clamped onto a table or chair to produce a velocity-inducing descent worthy of any roller coaster. A buffer at the bottom of the drop stops the car and lets you pick when the next stunt begins. To start the second trick, a heavy duty rubber band powers an arm that launches your Hot Wheels car into the 360-degree loop. Again, a buffer stops the car after it has completed this trick. We liked that an extra band was included, so the fun won't have to stop if the first one breaks or gets lost.

A World of Trick Tracks
At first, we were disappointed that the stunts were separated instead of having a continuous track, but then we realized that each time a car gets "stuck" under a buffer, it activates the launch button for the next stunt in the line. With three or more cars, this becomes a really fun feature that makes it easy for several children to use the set at once. Friends will need to have their own Hot Wheels cars for serious track sessions, since the set only comes with one durable little car. Be careful purchasing extra cars, because not all Hot Wheels are designed for track use.

If three super stunts aren't enough, there are several Trick Track Sets from Hot Wheels that can be purchased separately and combined into a gigantic world for stunt cars to explore. Kids will love thinking up new ways to combine their favorite sections of track and rooting for their favorite cars to make it through without crashing.