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On the face of it this is quite a clever idea. Playing cards are one of the fundamental gaming items that have lasted the test of time. Action figures are now really popular too, so why not mix them?!

The Micro-Universe range links miniature action figures with playing cards by having, on the underside of the base, numbers of the different character’s skills. It’s like 3D Top Trumps. There’s a clever game you can play, instructions at the bottom of the page, which allows you to ‘battle, collector or trade!’ The faces had no detail on them, this was apparently an order from ‘on high’ at CO rather than because it couldn’t be done, which gave them quite an ‘Auton’ look, but this didn’t hold back their charm.

For many people the disappointment was how you bought them. As with all cards, but not with all action figures, you bought packs not knowing what contents you would get. You could buy the figures in packs of 7 and packs of 3. In packs of three one figure could be seen, whilst two were obscured, and in 7 packs 3 were on view whilst four were hidden. This lead to a build-up of ‘swapsies’ and put a lot of collectors off.

However the figures were not the only part of this range, and the other side has been much admired by collectors and children alike. A range of ships were released, each containing an exclusive Micro-Universe figure (most interestingly Madame de Pompadour as, of course, we have not had a 5” figure of her), and these turned out to be really highly detailed versions of famous ships from the television show.

Unfortunately the Micro-Universe range seems to have ended now, the only update since the range started being a new Planet of the Ood Woolworths (RIP) exclusive spaceship and figure, unfortunately packaged along with two previously released ships. These are highly prised parts of collectors however, especially the ships, and if the basic range design was changed, perhaps aiming more at the ships, I think there’s still opportunities for a future here.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE GAME:

Two players play at a time. Place your figures on their bases in front of you to start with. The bases MUST NOT be seen or the game is void. Agree whether you are playing for ‘keeps’ or ‘fun’, i.e. whether the loser would hand over their figure.

The youngest player goes first and they choose a character of their own to make a challenge with (for example ‘The Doctor in Long Coat’). They then choose an ability they think their figure can win in out of ‘Temporal’ (based on exposure to time vortex), ‘Logic’, ‘Fear Factor’, and ‘Physical Ability’. They then choose a figure from their opponent to battle against, one they think won’t have as high a rating as theirs.

Both figures are turned over and the number for the chosen ability read out. Each player then spins the TARDIS spinner and adds the chosen number (the number touching the floor when the spinner falls to rest) to their total. The winner is the person with the highest number.

If playing for ‘keeps’ the winner takes the loser’s figure, if for fun the loser puts the figure to one side. No figure can be used twice in a row, one round must be played before a figure can enter into combat again.