The 10 Toys that Make us Nostalgic

These colorful springs with an amusing name were such a hit in the 1990s because of their ability to ‘walk down the stairs’. Photo from flickr.com

Did you know that troll dolls were originally called a variety of names? They’ve been known as Leprechauns, Dam dolls, Gonks, Wishniks, Treasure Trolls and Nofins. They’ve actually been around since the ‘70s, but it especially gained recognition in the ‘90s when it was listed by the Toy Industry Corporation as one of the most creative toys of the 20th century in 2003. These gnome-like creatures with big eyes and noses can be dressed up with an assortment of costumes and brightly colored hair. They became a fad among toy collectors as there seemed to be an endless line to the Troll Doll releases. Photo from flickr.com

Long before the PSP and the Nintendo DS came, there reigned only one handheld game console: the Nintendo Game & Watch. This gaming device, which was around from 1980 to 1991, popularized games like Mickey Mouse, Balloon Fight, Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda and the Mario Bros. Photo from flickr.com

Most of the toys back in the ‘80s were based on TV cartoon characters. Kids watched only a few and the same animated shows then, as cable television wasn’t in existence yet.) This line from Hasbro features the adorable and magical ponies from the “My Little Pony & Friends” cartoon franchise. Directed primarily to little girls, these toys sport colorful and candy-colored designs, each bearing a unique symbol or mark to signify their magical power. Photo from flickr.com

Probably one of the biggest toy fads in the ‘80s were the Cabbage Patch Kids. The Cabbage Patch Kids series, which introduced six characters, namely BunnyBees, Colonel Casey, Otis Lee, Lavender McDade, Cabbage Jack and Beau Weasel, is considered one of the longest running doll franchises in America. Photo from flickr.com

If you grew up in the ‘80s, it would be hard not to fall in love with these toys. Originally created for greeting cards, these cuddly characters soon became popular enough to inspire their own TV shows and feature films. The Care Bears come in different colors and designs. Each of them has a distinct personality and power, which can be identified by their “tummy symbols.” Photo from flickr.com

As the name suggests, these toys feature a minuscule doll named Polly in a pocket-sized bag containing a mini doll house. The portability and uniqueness of Polly Pocket allowed little girls to play and enjoy these pint-sized characters anywhere and anytime. Photo from flickr.com

Any toy that could talk two decades ago was already considered cutting edge, and this toy was one of them. Teddy Ruxpin was a talking bear, a bestseller back in 1985 and 1986. The teddy bear soon had its own television show as well as a book-and-tape series. Photo from flickr.com

Kids couldn’t get their hands off this Japanese toy in the late ‘90s. This virtual pet – er, mini console - which owners had to feed, bathe, and play with, just like live, regular pets, got a lot of youngsters hooked. These pets could “die” if left neglected but could easily be reborn by resetting the game. Photo from flickr.com

You could consider these toys an upgraded version of the Pinoy teks. These round cards were collected and used as playing discs and were also the prize, meaning the player with the most number of Pogs at the end of the game wins. Each Pog features a unique design and is usually played with a slammer, Photo from commons.wikimedia.org