More often than not, a new Doctor means a new Sonic Screwdriver - and when Jodie Whittaker's 13th Doctor hits our screens this Autumn she will be rocking a brand new version of the Doctor's multi-purpose sonic device.
As Master Toy Licence holders, Character Toys are releasing their own 1:1 scale roleplay version of the Sonic to go alongside all the other electronic light and sound versions released to date.
The new sonic comes in the usual tube packaging with an internal artwork panel wrapped around the screwdriver. The artwork represents the new golden logo while keeping the overall blue design with TARDIS imagery to the side. The screwdriver itself can be seen through a cut out panel which is then headlined with some red flashes quoting "Electronic Lights and Sounds" and "includes new diagnostic sound FX". Under this sits a grey slate section with a touch of Gallifreyan text visible at the sides. Here the release is confirmed as the "Thirteenth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver".
Round what you can describe as the back of the packaging are the standard copyright and legal blurb, the barcode and a set of instructions on how to change the batteries.
You open the sleeve by means of the top of bottom panel which are taped shut. The inner section slides out with the screwdriver held in the middle. There are thankfully no twisty ties or tied string.
The inner sleeve, also acts as the instructions. We've already seen the part around changing the batteries - and on the reverse side is a piece that explains how the Screwdriver operates - including what already seems to be a very odd choice to have a "dummy" button that "does not function"?
The aesthetics of the Screwdriver are pretty impressive. While it is cast in plastic, it is engrained to look like hammered metal with a paint job to weather and darker it. All of this is around a central clear plastic core. The centre section that connects the two halves is a cleaner silver as is the emitter at the end which is also ridged.
The Screwdriver does not operate directly out of the packaging, there is a white tab to pull out first to enable the batteries.
With the batteries enabled the Screwdriver is now ready to operate. The first part of this is a clever function where the users hand, when gripping the handle, enabled the light up function. This is obviously via some contact sensor or other, but it is temperamental and doesn't work in all positions. The light is and orange hue that makes each exposed clear panel glow. It is however very dull, it almost looks and feels like the batteries are going?
We then have the two buttons. Both look and feel identical, but the bottom one is a dummy. I find this bizarre as it must have cost more to put in a dummy button than just cast the piece without a hole - I imagine the 2nd button had an original function that was then lost in development.
Pressing the top button once gives you the standard sonic sound, this sounds very similar to other releases and may be a direct re-use of the sound clip. Pressing the button twice in quick succession creates the "diagnostic sound" as quoted on the box. This sound appears to be brand new.
There is a 3rd sound FX as found by my Son when he was giving it the once over. This is turned on by pressing the button three times quickly. This is a stuttering version of the usual sonic sound, and the lights flicker as its playing.
The two left hand images above are the sonic lit up in general lit conditions. The light has what look like two LED's front and back to light all the exposed clear parts and the crystalline emitter.
The 13th Doctor's sonic measures just under 8 inches (20cm) which is smaller than its immediate predecessors from the 11th and 12th Doctors' It is however bigger than the original new series Sonic used by Doctor's 9 and 10.
The 13th Doctor Sonic Screwdriver will come with an RRP of £14.99. For this you get a well crafted piece with a neat metallic hammered metal finish and crystalline emitter. The let down is the electronics. The light up function is temperamental and the light given out very low. I find the dummy button odd and anyone who doesn't read instructions may think they've got a faulty sonic? On the positive side the three sound FX are clear and pretty easy to work out - my 8 year old played around with it for a good hour or so after we'd unpacked it.
I suspect the success of the Screwdriver will fall in with the series and how well received Jodie Whittaker's 13th Doctor will be. We score the 13th Doctor's Sonic a better than average 3 out of 5.
You can get your 13th Doctor Sonic Screwdriver direct from Character Toys
or from our Affiliate Partners at Forbidden Planet
Our 13th Doctor Sonic Screwdriver was supplied for review by the PR team at Evolution PR on behalf of Character Options