When a toy is marked down by nearly $40, are you getting a great deal or a piece of garbage?

Read the review, and watch the video, to find out....

The Manticore Megazord was released in 2006 and comes from the show "Power Rangers Mystic Force". I decided to take the plunge and pick one up when seeing on clearance at Toys R Us, marked down from $49.99, all the way to $10.98. I figured that at those savings it was worth a look. But unfortunately the reason it was on sale was simply that it's not a very good toy.

The Manticore Megazord is the result of the combination of a Phoenix Zord and a Lion Zord. Taken on their own, each Zord is really pretty boring and neither has much individual play value.

Phoenix Zord

Lion Zord

It is only when they are combined do they start to get even a little bit interesting. The Phoenix Zord is able to sort of "dock" with the Lion Zord and connect to it's back via three magnets.

Believe it or not, I actually prefer displaying the toy in this fashion instead of in Megazord mode. That does not bode well for any toy when it's main attraction is not shelf worthy.

Now, when you want to transform to Megazord mode, the toy features a battery operated "Auto-Morph Action". Basically, this means it transforms by itself. To do this, you have to turn the wings of the Phoenix Zord down so that it can stand upright, allowing the Lion Zord to roll along the ground until they connect. When they do, the tail of the Phoenix Zord will compress a small button on the Lion Zord, alerting it to stop rolling and start transforming.

Phoenix Zord prepared for docking

One of the biggest problems with this feature is how difficult it actually is to get the two toys to line up properly. Bandai included a thin cardboard placemat that you can use a starting reference point, but even with it's help, the transformation does not always work. Of course, that doesn't stop the toy from continuing to roll along, knocking over the Phoenix Zord and running into it on the ground and basically being a pain in the neck.

So, it's difficult to do. But even when it works, the robot does not completely transform. You still have to rotate the Lion Zord's paws into order to reveal the robots fists. And then you have to remove the Phoenix Zord's tail and transform it into a weapon.

Of course, perhaps the most visually obvious downfall of this gimmick is how badly the Manticore Megazod ends up looking because of it. Everything beneath the waist is just one big lump of plastic, with no articulation or play value whatsoever. Frankly, it just looks AWFUL. So the main featured gimmick barely works, doesn't work completely and makes the toy look terrible. Great. Just great.

I know I would give up an action feature in favor of a nicer looking design and some poseability. The only thing on the Megazord that can be posed is the arms. They move up and down and side to side (a little).

The completed weapon is pretty stupid, too. The robot really can't even hold it. Instead, it holds a small handle that is connected to it and the bottom rests on his right foot, often falling out of the hole it's meant for anyway. The weapon does spin around when the Manticore Megazord rolls forward.

When finally completed, the Manticore Megazord has a big space in between it's head and chest. There is a small black panel that you can use to fill in this space, but when it's in place, you are unable to transform it back into the separate Zords. So I just leave it down. You barely notice the emptiness from the front anyway. The lion head can also be pulled out and placed onto the separately sold Titan Megazord to form the "Ultimate Titan Mode".

The black panel on the inside front rotates up

So, what exactly does this toy have going for it? Well, it's colors are sort of unique for a robot. And....uhhhmm... that's about it. Unless you are just a total Power Ranger or Sentai completist, I can't recommend that you buy this one. Even for the $11 I paid. $11 will get you a large cheese pizza in most places. And if I could swap this thing for a large cheese pizza right now, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

(Thanks to Eva_Unit 4A", for reminding me of a couple of features I forgot about!)

Another talking Power Ranger Jumbo, no better or worse really than the others.

I must have been asleep at the switch, so to speak. Somehow a Jumbo Ranger was released and it completely flew under my radar. Actually, not just mine. Nobody I know actually saw this one in stores and I only recently came across it on Ebay. The Jumbo Red Legend Power Ranger comes from the "Mystic Force" show, same as the first Jumbo Ranger. I'm not really a Power Ranger fan so I have no idea why there is more than one Red Ranger in the show. Maybe this is some kind of "power up" version?

Once again, Bandai Creation uses the same generic body like they also did on the Mega Red Power Ranger from "Operation Overdrive". The only differences from the original Jumbo Ranger is that the hands and feet are now white, the head has a sort of "wing" on each side and he wears a removable covering over his upper chest and shoulders. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be some sort of armour in the show, but on the toy, it's a shiny "pleather" with a velcro strip on the back.

The talking feature is back again, this time saying "It's Morphin' Time!" and, *I think*, "Galwit Mysto Ranger!", when you press the button on his belt. You'll need two AAA batteries to make it work though.

I messed up a bit in my previous Ranger reviews by accidentally listing polyethylene in the material section. Force of habit, I suppose. But so far as I can tell, these are made entirely of hard plastic for the torsos and soft vinyl for the head and limbs.

I can't help but include these in the "Jumbo Machinder" category. Sure, they are totally different, but the initial 7 Jumbo Megazords are generally accepted as true Machinders and these toys are clearly an extension of that line. Like it or not.

The Solar Cell Morpher is supposed to be a combination Ticket-Puncher and Cell Phone/Morpher. For some reason, US manufacturers have added a soft plastic dagger attachment to the toy, which is something not seen in either the US or Japanese versions of the TV show.

The Solar Cell Morpher (Bandai #25103) is supposed to be a combination Ticket-Puncher and Cell Phone/Morpher. For some reason, US manufacturers have added a soft plastic dagger attachment to the toy, which is something not seen in either the US or Japanese versions of the TV show.

The Solar Cell Morpher is slightly smaller than it's Japanese counterpart. 5-1/2" in length; 2-7/16" in width; 1-1/8" deep. It uses 2- AAA batteries and the battery cover is held in place with a single Philips screw. It is mostly dark blue in color. A darker blue than the Japanese version. Almost black. The center of the morpher has a small square emblem under a clear plastic protective cover. Underneath the emblem is a red LED to provide the morpher's only light source.

No sound is produced when the Power Switch to the morpher is turned ON.

The bottom of the morpher has a keypad for the cell phone with numbers 0-9 and two telephone icon keys, but it's not a real keypad. The US manufacturers have replaced the Japanese soft-touch keys with a decal sticker sheet, so the numbers and icons have no function at all and do nothing.

Directly above the keypad is the Mystic Force "M" emblem/logo, which is a real key that activates lights and sounds. Pressing the "M" key causes a "mystical" sound to be heard for 2 seconds and the red LED underneath the center emblem lights up.

The Solaris Ranger uses the ticket puncher feature to punch a hole in cards, which in turn summons his train-zord and is used for other abilities. The top of the morpher has a slot for a ticket, or other piece of paper to be placed, but is lacking the ability to punch holes. The Japanese version actually does punch holes and has a compartment to collect the paper discs that can be emptied when full.

The morpher has a handle/lever for the ticket puncher and it functions to activate lights and sounds. When the handle is squeezed, a sound that is reminiscent of a steam engine train chugging along is heard and the red LED lights up for 2 seconds.

If you squeeze the handle of the ticket puncher and quickly press the "M" key, you hear different sounds culminating in a train whistle blowing. The sounds last for 5 seconds, during which time the red LED flashes.

In my opinion, the Solar Cell Morpher doesn't do that much and is not very impressive, but I'm sure that young children would be thrilled to have anything related to the show.

For a look at the Japanese version of this morpher, please see my review of it elsewhere at this web site.

This toy will appeal more to children who like Power Rangers than it will to adults who like Jumbos.

Bandai Creation's line of Power Ranger Jumbos continued in late 2005 with the release of the first non-robot character, the Red Ranger. I was skeptical when I saw the initial pictures on the web, as were most Jumbo fans who much preferred jumbo robots, but I decided to check it out for myself. I was pretty disappointed when I took it out of the box. Not only is the toy shorter than the previous entries (measuring in at approximately 21" tall), but it is also much thinner than the rest. I didn't have any problem with Bandai Creation releasing a human instead of a robot, but I just wished that they had made it the same size as the others. Furthermore, the sculpt of the toy is a bit too muscular for my tastes. It looks more like a big giant He-Man toy than what I think of as a classic Japanese Sentai hero.

But the toy isn't all bad. I mean, it's a jumbo and any jumbo is a good jumbo, imo. But it also has a nice design on the mask, which is a well sculpted piece of vinyl that needs to be attached to the body. Then you have a cape that can be placed around the neck. An opening on the top, back part of the cape allows for you to pull the cape over his head and it can then be closed by a piece of velcro.

One other thing that sets this toy apart from most other jumbos, and the other Power Ranger jumbos in particular, is that the body contains a talk box. By pressing the belt buckle, you can hear two phrases spoken. This is really the first true "talking" jumbo. (Two previous jumbos made sounds, the Popy Godzilla Jumbosaurus and the Bandai Ryu Sei Oh, but those two only roared.) The phrases spoken are "Get Powerized!" and "Red Fire Attack!".

The Jumbo Red Ranger features 7 points of articulation at the ankles, wrists, shoulders and neck. There is a crease along the hips as though there is articulation there, but there isn't.

Should you buy the Jumbo Ranger? Well, to me it's a tough call. I'm a jumbo completist so I have no regrets with it. It's even grown on me with the passage of time. I have him displayed with some other jumbos that are closer to his size and it doesn't look bad in a group like that. But many people won't be able to see past it's action figurey style and will pass on it. For my money ($24.99 of it anyway), I say it's worth it. I'd rather spend the small amount that it costs to get it than end up regretting passing on it later. But I really think this toy will appeal more to children who like Power Rangers than it will to adults who like Jumbos.

In the midst of a new series, Power Rangers always find a way to introduce a second or third Megazord to the stores before its appearance on the show. Such is the case of this guy.

In the midst of a new series, Power Rangers always find a way to introduce a second or third Megazord to the stores before its appearance on the show. Such is the case of this guy.

The Magiranger TRAVELION comes to the US as the “Solar Streak” Megazord. Sort of a fitting name if you know where it comes from. Considering the US hasn’t seen its debut to the show, parents and kids don’t know what to make of this guy just yet. This makes for its lack of attention at the local toy shops. I’ve seen the Titan Megazord fly off and restock numerous times, and the Steedergon Fury Megazord, the US version of the Magiranger movie edition “Saintkaiser” just as much, but this guy sits unnoticed at the local TRU. Of course this is only a regional thing.

The SSM comes packaged in the more economic friendly and toy showing window box Bandai opted for with their Mystic Force Megazord series. However it appears to be completely assembled, the train engine that makes up the chest is off to the side, with a sticker in its place on the outside of the packaging. This would most likely be linked to their standardized packaging and the SSM’s broad, protruding abdomen.

The toy itself is exactly like its imported cousin, from my best examination. It carries over the electronics from the train engine, even the on/off switch. This is actually a nice touch compared to most toys where they come with electronics and they go off when you really, really don’t want them to.

With the more complex details already posted (see the hyperlink of Travelion above), I can go into the basics a lot faster.

Like any other transforming unit, the SSM maintains the formula: two cars for the arms, two cars for the legs. Now unlike the standard of five units, this guy uses six. That includes the front engine and the follow up car. A series of hooks and clamps are placed out in the ends of each component to allow the cars to hook together. Now be warned, the hooks are not secured, so don’t try to make the train fly or else its going to rain rail cars on your head. The main engine has a linked wheel pin in place so that when you roll the front wheel the second wheel turns via a pulley, a really nice touch for that authentic train feel.

I’m not sure but I believe this Megazord fits the standards for a railroad set, however, I do not think it would be wise to have it compete with the 7:30 to Boston while on the same track. Nor those daring hostage situations where you hogtie your sister’s doll to the train tracks either.

Three things describe the Solar Streak’s Megazord mode: Big fisted, brick and broad. Combined the SSM stands over 10 inches tall and measures 9 inches wide, with the chest attached, he measures 6 inches in girth.

With the secondary car making up the head and body making the train engine the centerpiece. Like all of the ‘chest’ figures in the Mystic Force/Magiranger line, it can connect to the Titan Megazord’s body. This feature allows you to swap its parts with the other as well. This can be accomplished by attaching these two ‘mini trains’ together and snapping them into the heart of the SSM’s body and then attaching the chest parts as you normally would onto the body of the Megazord.

Personally I liked this guy. While I have yet to really see the character on the show I have seen bits and pieces thanks to the previous review on CDX of Travelion. All other reasons, because this is a really nice collection booster and the fact that nobody I know can resist a combining robot. Plus it’s a train set, now who could resist a good train set? My only dismay about it would most definitely be the price tag. Sure he’s large, but for what he’s made like, it just seems too high.

The Titan Megazord is the first large scale release from Bandai’s newest Power Rangers serial “Mystic Force.” The Titan Megazord has slipped into stores just in time for the 2005 holiday rush and is flying off the shelves fast. The robot follows the standard "five" rule and combines from five separate mythical robots based on the five different color characters:

Pink (Fairy)
Blue (Mermaid)
Green (Minotaur)
Yellow (Falcon)
Red (Dragon/knight)

Stand alone the figures are rather static. The zords vary in size greatly and their bodies are constructed to fit their position in the final Megazord modes. For example the Green is the largest in size for the purpose of being the torso in the main Megazord modes (Dragon and Titan). Sadly because of the Pink’s size, she’s limited to only her arms moving. Also because of the bulk of the Blue’s shoulders, the arms can’t move at all. The Green, Yellow, and Red zords though, have basic articulation in the arms and legs, but overall are limited by their physical construction. While Green, Red, and Blue hold the accessory weapons, they become rather pointless to arms that can’t move.

Dragon Mode Transformation:

Yellow

• Uncurl the wings
• Rotate legs out to the side and attach to wings
• Unfold upper body and flip the head down
• Extend out body as neck

Green

• Rotate the arms forward
• Unfold the feet and bend legs back until talons show
• Attach Yellow as wings.

Blue

• Separate body into halves
• Fit into place on back of Green’s body
• Attach sword components as tail tip

Pink

• Fold the toes back
• Rotate lower body forward and fold the arms down
• Attach to peg from Yellow ‘neck’

Red

• Insert staff into hand
• Flip front skirt up
• Bend legs at knee
• Attach to position via pegs

Dragon Mode:

Believe it or not, this really sold me on the Zord set. For long longest time since the original I haven’t seen an appealing Megazord. The Dragon mode is really cool. The fact that the rider doesn’t fall off is especially sweet. The dragon also reminds me slightly of Escaflowne. Its articulation is rather well balanced. The tail is stiff but helps to hold the weight in check from the front.

Megazord Transformation (From Dragon mode):

Yellow

• Retract neck from dragon mode and fit back into place with head still down
• Keep in place on Green’s back

Blue

• Remain split, flip feet forward

Green

• Rotate arms out (stomach from dragon mode)
• Flip minotaur hands around for Zord fists, shift into place with Megazord arms
• Unfold toes completely
• Attach Blue halves as legs

Red/Pink

• Keep Pink in Dragon head mode
• Fit Pink onto armor of Red’s arm
• Fold Red’s arms forward, Pink will lock in place
• Open cover on back, rotate Red’s head back
• Fold legs off to the side at hinge
• Connect to Green/Torso

Final steps

• Combine weapons to form sword
• Fold Green’s head into place over Red/Pink torso
• Lift crown up

Titan Megazord:

To be honest, I’m not really all that keen on Magic, and seeing a robot whose head looks like a pointed wizard/witch’s hat really seems iffy. However the overall look of the Titan Megazord is really nice. The downside is that the Yellow zord falls flat as mere accessory than overall component much like the White Falcon zord from way back in the days of the first Power Rangers movie. Unlike most of the latest Zords to come out of the Power Rangers line, this one comes without any electronics. No sounds or lights like the SPD Zords, and no accessory weapons like the Ninja Storm line. Nope; you’re your basic five zords that combine into one really good looking, and well balanced robot.

My only beef is that the torso is just too thick for my taste and for such well defined arms, they lack an elbow.

Now like Josh has done with comparing to the Import versions of several Power Ranger goods I did some research of my own on the Titan Megazord. While the toys are virtually the same, even to the extent of content, the only real difference between these two is a great deal of paint application. The Pink and Yellow zords especially suffer from missing a great deal of trim color, same goes for the Red zord. This might not sell for most diehard collectors, but for someone looking for a large combining robot. It’s not that big a deal. Seeing how the series isn’t supposed to debut much before February 2006, they still might have a chance to fix this.
: