The movie version Mach 5 is a little more "real" than it's predecessor. I don't see why they couldn't have just used the original design, but it's close enough.

The movie version Mach 5 is a little more "real" than it's predecessor. I don't see why they couldn't have just used the original design, but it's close enough.

In the movie Speed Racer, the Mach 5 is Speed's brother Rex's car. Unfortunately Rex dies in an accident, so the Mach 5 Becomes Speed Racer's car. The Mach 5 is an all purpose vehicle, being both street legal, and equipped to race on tracks. It is not until the Speed enters the Mach 5 into a Road Rally that the Mach 5 is outfitted with all the gimmicks that we know and love.

Unfortunately, like Jada Toys' Mach 5, this version has none of those gimmicks. The only thing you get here is opening doors, rubber tires that turn together, and diecast construction.

Mattel owns the Hot Wheels brand, so you know they know how to make a toy car, and the Mach 5 is no exception. The toy has quality construction and is in the same scale as the Jada Toys Mach 5.

Both are worth getting, and although the Mattel version is a bit more expensive, it is still a great piece.

I will survive in my Mach 5

Yeah, I liked the new Speed Racer movie a lot. While the movie was cool, what was also cool was seeing all the new merchandise out for the movie.

I was confused to find that there was more than one company making toys for the movie, and sometimes, in the same scale. A little investigation revealed the answer.

Mattel got the rights to do toys based off of the movie, while Jada Toys got the rights to the CLASSIC Speed Racer designs. When you watch the movie, the Mach 5 does not look any different from when you saw it as a kid, but comparing the two side by side reveals a host of differences.

Jada Toys' 1:24 Mach 5 is made out of diecast metal and plastic. The finish on this is pristine, and this toy is an amazing steal for only $15. The wheels are rubber, the tires turn, and the doors open. I wish it had a few more gimmicks, but at that price I really can't complain.

If only they released all the cars in this scale.

Knowing how toys from summer blockbusters go, look for these to be on clearance in a few months. Not that you SHOULD wait until then, but they will more than likely go on clearance. Its a shame - this is a fantastic toy.

This is the same review I did for the Stick Type. If you've read that, there's nothing different here. It still kind of stinks.

The VR-052T MOSPEADA Ride Armor hails from the anime series Genesis Climber Mospeada, better known as Robotech: The Next Generation here in the states. In Mospeada, the VR-052T ride armor is used by Ley. In Robotech he was renamed Rand and the Ride Armor was renamed the Cyclone.

The last transformable Mospeada Ride Armor toy was made by Gakken in 1983. I got that toy for my 10th birthday, and I still have it to this day. I love that toy and that design.

Last year, no less than FOUR companies announced that they were making new Ride Armor toys. Twenty five years with no ride armor toys then BOOM, 4 toys. These are crazy times we live in.

The first of the four companies to hit the shelves is CM’s Corporation. They released 2 versions of the Ride Armor – a Stick type and a Ley type. I got them both from HobbyLink Japan about a week ago.

I can’t remember the last time a toy filled me with such internal confusion. I want to love this toy. I really do. I just love the ride armor design, and I love CM’s toys. It sounds like a match made in heaven. Unfortunately, it seems like someone at CM’s dropped the ball here, because this toy is kind of crap.

LET’S BREAK IT DOWN SHALL WE?

Ley

The Ley figure is about the size of a Microman or GI Joe figure. This figure is actually really nicely done, with great articulation and paint detail. The translucent visor flips up and down, the arms are double jointed and pretty much everything moves where it should. The feet have the pull down action to accommodate the ride armor and they pop out just like the old Gakken toy did.

The chest and waist of the figure is painted but the arm and leg armor are just plastic. I’m not sure why these are different, but the figure would look a whole lot better if it was all the same color.

The Bike comes packaged in bike mode with only a few parts to assemble. It features nice printed-on markings, removable saddlebags with opening hatches, rubber tires. The frame is diecast metal as are the swing bars on the legs. Also included is a small stand that clips onto pegs on the bottom of the frame.

Once you begin to handle the bike, it all begins to go horribly wrong. The two parts of the front cowl never seem to line up right, and the headlights on the front have no locked in position, so they are always pointing the wrong way.

The panels on either side of the front wheel are really awkward. Lets see if I can explain this in a way that makes sense. The struts that come from under the front of the bike are supposed to clip onto the pegs on the inside of the plates. This peg is removable, so each time you try to clip it in, it pops out. The front of the panel is supposed to attach to a peg on the wheel, but the hole isn’t deep enough for it to really grip. The rear wheel armor has a similar problem.

Riding the bike

In theory, Lei should be able to ride on the bike, but it takes an extraordinary amount of patience. This is the worst part of the entire toy. The interface between the bike and the rider is just terrible.

First off, you have to swap fists on Stick so he can grab the handlebars. Then there is a small “hook” on the back of the seat that is supposed to attach to Stick’s rear, but there’s just no way its gonna work, the fit is all wrong.

Beneath the rear wheel armors there are small riding pegs that fold out and you can insert them into the holes in Stick’s feet. Not only are these pegs small and fragile, but they like to fall off for no apparent reason. If by some sheer luck you get both hands on the handlebar and both feet on the pegs, you will notice that you can’t get the Stick figure anywhere near that peg.

Oh, and as you are doing all that, you will be swearing because the other parts keep falling off. The foot pegs just come right off of the armor.

RIDE BABY RIDE

So, next is the Ride Armor. You’ll be happy to know it’s not all that bad, but still there are some glaring flaws.

Transformation is similar to the vintage Gakken toy, just made more complicated. I’m not going to go through all the steps here, you can watch the video for that. Put it this way, CM’s included some spare parts in case you break something.

Once you go through all that to get it together, its not actually half bad. The figure remains poseable and can stand on its own, but is aided by a stand of sorts. The stand is actually just a stick that plugs into the back. 6,000 yen and they couldn’t pack a real stand?

The most noticeable thing wrong with the ride armor is the giant seam right through the center of the metal. I can’t help but think there was a better way to do this. It just looks like crap.

On the good side, there are some nice touches, like the rubber tires, targeting scope, and the pop-out articulated vents on the wheels.

SIZE MATTERS, NO MATTER WHAT SHE SAYS

This thing is SMALL. Disappointingly small. When I held the box in my hand I had this feeling of dread. It felt light like a model kit. In Ride armor mode, the toy is only 12 cm (4.75in) tall. The metal content is almost laughable. Apparently, at CM’s they apply the Brave Gokin label to anything that has ANY metal in it.

I am going to have to recommend that you don’t buy this toy, unless you meet the following criteria:

1. You have a high tolerance for frustration
2. You are good at origami
3. You are a complete and utter Mospeada maniac (and even then…)
4. You plan on never taking it out of the package

It just misses the mark… sorry CM’s. Let’s hope the Legioss is better.

Isn’t a toy that inspires use of the imagination one of the most quintessential things in making a truly great toy?

NEO Shifters are a new toy line from MEGA Bloks and are obviously designed to be competitors to LEGO’s Bionicle toys.

NEO Shifters are creatures with the power to transform from sphere to robot as they battle for survival. Their masks protect the light-up Hydrax energy core, which projects a laser blast. Controlled by the NEOzome figure that lives inside them, NEO Shifters compete for resources needed to produce the Hydrax energy that fuels their powers and abilities. But too much Hydrax changes them from a peaceful Paladin to a destructive Templar. Join the resistance and discover the codes that control NEO Shifters.

Like all previous Neo Shifter’s before, Duneskiff comes unassembled in a fantastic package. MEGA BLOKS really know how to design dynamic packaging. The box has futuristic shiny copper foil outside with great illustrations of the toy. The box also features opposed rounded plastic edged corners. Both of these features make it a real eye catcher on a toy shelf.

Upon opening the box you will find a set of detailed instructions as well as all 26 pieces neatly sealed plastic baggies.

I want to start by saying that I really enjoyed assembling this vehicle. It was together within ten minutes and ready for play. The vehicle comes with a tiny pilot that can be seated inside the nicely detailed cockpit. The cockpit seat provides a nice platform for the pilot as well as storage for both of the pilots guns.

After admiring the Duneskiff for a moment. I started running the toy through its motions, transforming it to the pictures on the direction and the box. After doing this I realized that this toy had a whole lot more play value than depicted in the pictures. Within minutes I had it transformed into a spaceship mode and a cool battle platform mode. All with just a few turns of the wrist! But wait, the fun doesn’t stop there. The vehicle includes a sandstorm ball launcher that mounts on the rear of the vehicle or it can be hand held. I found this a very cool feature but I must warn you, the launcher fires far, making it is easy to lose the sandstorm balls under a piece of furniture. I know some parents may get scared off when they see the word launcher on a toy. Please don’t worry, the Blue Sandstorm balls that launch have no sharp edges.

• Transformability
• Two-in-one toy with multiple playing possibilities
• Sphere Launcher
• Cool details and colors
• 26 fun and easy to assemble pieces

Perfect for active boys 6 years old and up

I really liked this toy. I admired the engineering in this toy that enables you to really use your imagination. Heck, isn’t a toy that inspires use of the imagination one of the most quintessential things in making a truly great toy?

You can read more about Neoshifters, including all about the on-line game at www.neoshifters.com

This toy is one of EVA_Unit_4A's three choices for Hottest Must-Have Items for the 2007 Christmas shopping season!

Now this is the anime influence at its best-!

The Aero Booster is one of EVA_Unit_4A's three choices for 'Hottest Must-Have Items' for the 2007 Christmas shopping season!

-- WARNING --

According to the manufacturer, this product is not recommended for children under the age of 7 years as it contains many small parts which a child could potentially choke on.

This toy contains a spring-powered rubber projectile that can shoot over three (3) feet (1m) across a flat surface- Supervision by a Responsible Adult is Suggested during play. Toy should not hit, be thrown at, or shot at people or objects as it may cause damage or personal injury.

On the Sentai Mountain, humans work side-by-side with intelligent robots in mines. They use large excavation machines to dig out, gather, and transport mined rock to the surface. Unfortunately, an error occurred in one of the machines, and it sparked a vicious rebellion. Robots turned on their human masters, and through the fighting a series of mysterious explosions blasted the mountain into two halves. The robots were eventually driven deep into the newly-formed canyon far below.
Peace was restored, and the humans began building long bridges to span the two halves of the tall mountain. But deep underground, the robots came together again, and grew quietly; rebuilding their mining machines into powerful Battle Machines with armor and weapons. Their surprise return ignited another furious war, which allowed them to take control of half of Sentai Mountain. The robots were about to take on the second half when they were halted by a secret human project: Exo-Force. The humans had quickly assembled a team of warriors, and built their own Battle Machines to counter the robots.

After a chaotic and desperate battle on the very doorstep of Sentai Fortress- the last surviving pocket of humanity on Sentai Mountain- against the robot army’s onslaught of innumerable Battle Machines and their ultimate Striking Venom project, Exo-Force was just able to drive back their inhuman enemy. But at a cost... With heavy losses in manpower and Battle Machine hardware, Sentai Fortress was now more vulnerable than ever to a second wave. While the robots are licking their wounds on their own side of the mountain, Exo-Force’s sensei Keiken ordered a small scout mission to an unspecified location at the top of the mountain. Uncertain of what they would encounter, the Exo-Force pilots came across the lost Golden City- a stone-walled fortress with highly-advanced technology accessible through the computer system in the tall & ornamental Golden Tower at its center. Hearing of their success, Keiken ordered all of Sentai Fortress to evacuate to the legendary city above them until they could rebuild themselves and prepare a proper counterattack against their mindless, mechanical creations... unaware that the robots also already know about the lost Golden City.

Short on parts, and needing a new variety of Battle Machines for the Golden City’s defense, Ryo salvaged parts from his own Cyclone Defender, used advanced technology he learned from the city computers’ memory banks, and created the Blazing Falcon. However, it was more of a flight-capable close-range-oriented Battle Machine than usually employed by Exo-Force. So Ryo delved deeper, and discovered the plans for an advanced thermonuclear rocket backpack which could be fitted to a Battle Machine. While the standard-sized ones were all in use and could not be spared or did not fit the parameters needed for the backpack, he took, instead, another unused Cyclone Defender model and altered it to become half of the newly-designated Aero Booster unit. It was worth it…

Hayato was quite anxious to get his hands on the Aero Booster when Ryo was finished with it. And, wow! did this Battle Machine deliver. In trial runs, it proved to be the fastest unit on the battlefield- even outstripping the Sky Guardian; though due to its powerful generators, it didn’t have the same lack of energy as the latter. Indeed, it had an impressive surplus even when at top speed. To compensate for the slipstream of supersonic air around it, and yet not jar the pilot around or zoom out of control, the Aero Booster is equipped with no less than five elegant air brakes merged along the sides and top that can gently press into the wind to slow and steer it. The three thermonuclear engines themselves can also be used directly for steering- the two external engines being able to pitch both up-and-down and extend outwards for fast evasive maneuvers or Vertical Take-Off and Landing (V-TOL). The Aero Booster is designed for long-range assaults that keep it out of targeting range of fixed emplacements or even other Battle Machines. In addition to the specialized long-range missile on top, it is equipped with two outrigger arms which carry both paired heavy laser cannons on the right and a focused plasma cannon on the left. The modified Cyclone Defender was not entirely stripped of its own armament even though it was stripped of its name during the modifications. The spinning shield on its left arm was removed and replaced with a four-fingered hand manipulator, as was the right side one. The three grenade launchers were left intact on the shoulders. However, being that the Aero Booster was meant to be an oversized upgrade rather than a permanent fixture, it can separate from the smaller Battle Machine, but this leaves it under-defended. And so, the plasma cannon can be removed from the left outrigger arm, and equipped on the smaller Battle Machine itself; though not be as powerful because of the smaller generator, it can still do heavier-than-usual damage. As an added bonus, the Aero Booster’s backpack unit can fly under limited remote control from the smaller Battle Machine as a large decoy, heavy support drone, or kept in storage until called upon. Like Exo-Force’s Battle Machines, the Aero Booster uses a similar control system which mimics the movements of its pilot, so it was easy for Hayato to adapt to the advanced design.

The Aero Booster set is composed of two parts: the small Battle Machine, and the rocket backpack…

The unnamed Battle Machine (back) could be considered one of LEGO’s super-rare repaints… even though it’s not paint that is changed since it’s all about the plastic. (I may not be fully up on the history of all things LEGO, but I can’t remember the last time that any set was re-released as a ‘repaint’ before the mass-production sets from the second line of “Bionicle™” in 2002…) It is based on the Cyclone Defender Battle Machine from earlier in the 2007 line, but with a few modifications. The most obvious would be the change in color pallet from dark green, white, and dark gray to mostly blue, dark gray, and a little white. The torso and cockpit have undergone some modifications, though is still roughly resembles the one on the Cyclone Defender. The shoulders and back of the torso have been rebuilt with new parts. The arms are the same, but the weapons have been swapped out. The hand-held pulse laser cannon and attached spinning shield were both removed, the right hand changed from three fingers to four, and the same four-finger hand attached to the left arm where previously there was none. Also, LEGO Technic cables now snake their way out from the waist to be held in both hands like control sticks; they utilize the same peg-in-the-palm attachment. The legs remain unchanged structurally, with only color changes. Flexibility for the set remains unchanged, through use of ball-and-socket joints at the shoulders, hips, and ankles. This mirrors their frequent and popular use in the “Bionicle” line which continues successfully to this day. This also becomes a well-known, if little-advertised, problem as LEGO’s ball-&-socket joints are known for wearing out quickly when used a lot and aren’t the greatest for supporting heavy loads. (I’ve become aware of this over time since I used to collect “Bionicle” sets too, and so I’ve become somewhat paranoid of ball-&-socket joints in new LEGO sets.) One brand new item, though, is a Technic connector which replaces the minifig wrench alongside of the three yellow ‘grenade’ parts on the shoulders. This connector will come in use later…

The rocket backpack is the real treat of the Aero Booster set. As this set is fairly unique for a LEGO set, and is filled with its own features, I’m gonna attack this a little differently than I usually do and break this section down into three parts…

Rocket Pods

With the previous year’s Sonic Phantom, the two-of-four large thermonuclear engines mounted to the front of it were quite disappointing. They had these huge turbine intakes on the front and nice streamlined panels along the outsides, but once you turned it upside down, the effect was completely spoiled, and- in my opinion- dragged the set down as a whole [in addition to others which I covered in my review of it]. That is not as bad a problem with the backpack rocket pods. It has three of these turbine blade intakes used as compressors for the rocket nozzles themselves, though now molded in a swirled combination of blue and light gray ABS. Right off the bat, I’ll tell you that the center rocket is built pretty much the same way as the outside two, but just turned on its side, attached to the backpack, and then added to in that position to make it look different. But each rocket pod has a matching curved piece along the top and bottom, leaving the center and internal support structure exposed. What sets it apart from the Sonic Phantom is that it attempts to cover the gaps up with 1) the large airbrakes; and 2) the center pod’s opening faces downward, and so is not seen as you hold onto the grip from below. Now, when the two side pods are pulled away from the center one (more on this later), this is the only time that the center section is exposed from the inside view. But, again- IMO- this is a better, cleaner, and more stylized an arrangement and effort than the Sonic Phantom was.

Air Brakes

Air brakes are a fairly unique feature in a LEGO set, and so the ones on the Aero Booster deserve a little more recognition than usual. There are two kinds, and they all move independently of each other. The three larger, longer white air brakes each occupy a single rocket pod, and serve two purposes. First, not since LEGO “Star Wars™” Snowspeeder (Set #7130) has it been as cool to be able to extend and contract air brakes. (They act as very minor blast deflectors along the sides as well, if you wish to think of them that way too…) The other is that they help significantly in covering the gaps in the sides of the pods; some would say that if this were a real vehicle- the way they move through the air might help with engine performance, as indeed some real supersonic aircraft do today. The two smaller red ones cover the gaps between the center and side booster pods on top. But due to how they are built, you can actually twist them side-to-side a bit if you want to in addition to raising and lowering them. (I don’t, but that’s just me…) The length and narrowness of the five airbrakes helps give the backpack an overall streamlined look and helps to cover the gaps (from above and the sides, at least) between the round-yet-bulky booster pods.

Weapons

What’s the point of having a really big rocket pack strapped to your back if you don’t have some awesome weapons to go with it? What seems to be turning into a standard feature on larger “Exo-Force” sets above 150-parts-per is the spring-loaded missile launcher. How you fire that missile is the interesting part here. Again, mirroring the one found on the Sonic Phantom, the missile launcher is mounted on top… but the trigger is located below by a grip handle. If I had one thing to complain about in Set #8106, it would be the set up for the grip and trigger. The grip is rather flexible and twists uncomfortably (whereas the Sonic Phantom’s was more solid), and- for larger collectors’ hands- is placed too far forwards to grip well because your fingers bump into the small Battle Machine in front. Therefore, the one modification from the instructions that I made was to shift the entire grip assembly one hole backwards. The change is so minor that only eagle-eyed Lego-Maniacs would be able to spot it… unless someone told you about it beforehand. [This also had the rather unexpected effect of allowing my index finger to stretch a little more to reach the trigger rather than curling it back uncomfortably. I can also grip the handle with my entire hand and not have to worry about gripping the trigger and firing off the missile all the time. (*whew*)] The trigger itself- a round ABS piece at the end of a black Technic shaft- is quite sensitive, and will indeed fire off at the slightest movement. The outrigger weapon arms are built the same way, extending out from just in front of the rocket pods’ movement joint. The right arm carries two long-barrel laser cannons with four ‘targeting sensors’ surrounding it. The left arm, however, has a more stout-looking single-barrel plasma cannon mounted to it. They both have the same shoulder and elbow joint system used by all of the larger “Exo-Force” sets for their leg [and most arm] joints, so they can each snap-rotate along two axis easily and will hold poses with no problems. (Whether-or-not the arms move in the continuity of the story or are fixed-position weapons, I do not know.) So as not to leave the separated Battle Machine under-armed when they are separated, the plasma cannon can be disconnected from its arm mounting and affixed to the peg inside either of the blue mecha’s palms- via that yellow connector piece to the left of the cockpit mentioned earlier- though it is typically portrayed in the left hand. Nice touch! When the plasma cannon is affixed, the associated under-the-arm Technic cable is simply removed from both the hand peg and the peg in the torso and put aside. (Not as satisfying a solution to that problem, IMO.)

Connecting the backpack to the Battle Machine is, literally, a snap. Because of the minor redesign of the back of it’s torso from the Cyclone Defender, there is a hole made available right between its shoulders. On the very front of the backpack unit is a long dark gray Technic peg which just slides into that hole and snugly holds in place via friction; it can just as easily be removed with no hassle. One thing to mention about joining them, though- it’s not a perfect fit. That lone white brick just below the missile launcher barrel gets pressed up against the shoulders of the Battle Machine, and if pressed together all the way, that brick will pop off. (With any other kind of similar part there, it would have pressed up against the launcher instead.) So, you just have to live with leaving that millimeter space exposed; but don’t worry, it’ll still hold very well, and it’s barely noticeable.

I’ve already gone over the poseability in the Battle Machine and the air brakes in the backpack, but now you can start thinking about really playing with it once the two halves are together. The missile launcher will easily clear the top of Hayato’s head when it fires, don’t worry! If you just set the Aero Booster on the ground, obviously the backpack is way too big and way too back-heavy for the Battle Machine’s little legs to hold it upright, so it just leans back against the rocket pods at an uncomfortable angle. This can be solved with the rocket pods themselves. As hinted at earlier, the two outside pods are hinged at their bases by another of those ratcheting joints used throughout most of the larger “Exo-Force” Battle Machine sets. And so, the outside rocket pods can be positioned upwards 90-degrees or downwards 90-degrees- snapping at every few degrees in-between too. Also, they can be extended away from the backpack 90-degrees as well from the normal. Though it doesn’t say this next part in the instructions, I’ve found a way to make the Aero Booster stand up on its own without modification. All that you do is rotate the pods downwards as far as they go, make sure that they are angled slightly outwards (one snap in the joints ought to do), and then extend the two white air brakes out as far as they will go. Then you can stand the completed Aero Booster (back) up all by itself. The weapon arms cannot be pointed straight ahead, and must be angled outwards in order to clear the Battle Machine’s arms; but, otherwise, they are still fully poseable. (If you want to put the plasma cannon in its hand again, there’s certainly nothing against that, but it’s always shown with it still attached to the backpack’s arm when they’re combined.)

Lego Set #8106 comes with a new version of the Hayato minifig (LEGO spells it as “Ha-Ya-To”) different from the previous year’s: a new ‘flight suit’ which adds gold to the original white and blue, and he has the same two separate facial expressions (one painted on either side of his head) and red spiky hairstyle piece introduced in the “Exo-Force” line, which adds to the Japanese anime style of the series. When the head and hair are flipped around, Hayato either displays a determined face, or a battle-cry expression, both with his confident, quirky smile. (This double-face design originated in the LEGO “Spider-Man™” minifigs from 2001 and 2003, but is now becoming more commonplace in themed lines like “City”, “Star Wars™” and “Batman™”.)

Normally, when a Lego set needs specific details on a part, such as a control panel or flag, the image is printed or painted directly onto specific parts. “Exo-Force” continues on by using stick-on decals; something that was rarely ever used in the past. There is a small sticker sheet which provides allegiance markings, warning symbols & notices, and names- some of them written in Japanese text! Translations of the Japanese text are given on the sticker sheet, but do not go on the parts. This allows for a wider range of piece marking without Lego having to create a completely different piece each time, and merges the “Exo-Force” and Japanese toy influence closer together. It does, however, have a small downside- because of the design of the decals, some of them cover places where other Lego pieces can go, which limits how a decal-applied piece can be used or taken apart. There are no conflicts in Set#8106. The decals for the small Battle Machine have been remade for this new incarnation, and are completely different from the ones on the Cyclone Defender. But there are also new decals for the backpack as well on the same sheet.

The common gimmick of the debut 2006 line was- aside from them all being giant robots (!)- the introduction of the LEGO light brick with clear fiber-optic cable, though this was seen through almost all of the sets. They also had instructions for building an alternate set with the same parts on their homepage. Alas, neither of these returns in 2007. Instead, LEGO brings us a pivotal part of the storyline: the EXO Codes. When entered into the computer in the Golden Tower, they allow the refugees inside the Golden City to access a special feature within the ancient technological fortress. Each 2007 “Exo-Force” sets has at least one exclusive EXO Code located on a flat 1x2 plate placed somewhere on the Battle Machine’s body. When entered into the Code Brick Central area of Exo-Force’s homepage, it gives you special access to new things online like exclusive background info on the set, stickers & wallpaper for your computer’s desktop, images to be used for real shirt iron-ons, IM avatars, and more! (Not to spoil anything, but the only really unique thing for each set you get access to is a 10-sec silent video clip of your set in action on the site!) Oddly, the Aero Booster has no video for it in Code Brick Central!

Now this is the anime influence at its best-!

One of the reasons I liked the Cyclone Defender was because it was small but still fun; this was something that pretty much all of the larger sets could not accomplish. While the shield and pulse cannon were very nice extras, they were only part of that overall package and served only to enhance what was already there. Now, this set takes that to a whole new level without sacrificing what was already there in the previous one. While those cables under the blue Battle Machine’s arms are a bit on the odd side even though they look cool, everything else about it flows just fine. Now, though larger, the rocket backpack itself is pretty sweet as well. Those two large weapon arms show that this is a powerful machine. But the rocket pods themselves were very well designed even though they are hollow. Being able to pose them at different angles just made them that much more awesome. The air brakes were an awesome idea, and they fit the sleek, streamlined-yet-overpowered look of the whole shebang. This set very much reminds me of the METEOR support system from the anime series “Mobile Suit Gundam SEED” (2005) or the earlier G-Falcon unit from “After War Gundam-X” (1996) and larger Gundam Dendrobium Orchis system from “Mobile Suit Gundam 0083- Stardust Memory” (1992) OVA- all being oversized backpacks with incredible weapons attached to a smaller humanoid-shaped giant robot. I would liked to have seen a stronger design for the handle grip and trigger assemblies underneath, but it was a good idea to put them there in the first place so that- God, this sounds so clichéd!- you can “feel like you’re really flying it”, and that you have more control over it than just holding something big in your hand and flyin’ it around the room. It’s a whole other experience with these toys. That the backpack was not permanently attached to the Battle Machine (believe me, I looked for a proper name but I guess they didn’t give it one) was a very nice touch too. I was instantly sold when I saw this set, and you should be too. Plus, it’s only like $30, so you’re getting a great deal here for as much as is packed into it; better, I’d say, than any of the other “Exo-Force” sets released this year. While I still certainly love the Cyclone Defender, I give my highest recommendations for the Aero Booster!

(Not all of the available pictures are in this review, so be sure to look at the full gallery to see even more details and step-by-step views!)

There have been a few attempts at making a nice toy of the bike, but none come anywhere as close as the PX-03 Soul of Popynica Kaneda’s Bike. This is an amazing piece, and if you are a fan of Akira, there’s no reason for you not to have it.

Everyone loves Kaneda’s bike. It has become a symbol to anime fans across the world.

I remember watching AKIRA for the first time. I just picked up a bootleg vhs tape of the raw movie at a comic convention after seeing it on the screen at a dealers booth. I ran home to watch it, only to find that all of my VCRs were broken. I quickly called a few friends to see if I could bring it over and watch it. I ended up going over this kid Scott’s house to watch it – he could care less about it. I remember watching that scene where all the buildings explode with the riot going on… I couldn’t understand what they were saying, but right then and there my mind was opened to a whole new world.

Kaneda’s bike in AKIRA is just awesome. Street punk Kaneda steals the bike and uses it to fight against the clown gang. This bike is smoking hot. To this day people are still trying to make a working version of it. I think it is every otaku’s dream to sit behind the wheel of this thing and cruise around Neo Tokyo.

There have been a few attempts at making a nice toy of the bike, but none come anywhere as close as the PX-03 Soul of Popynica Kaneda’s Bike. This is an amazing piece, and if you are a fan of Akira, there’s no reason for you not to have it.

First of all, the bike comes with a Kaneda figure that is basically stuck in the pose you see him in. Boo to Bandai for not making him articulated. Still, he looks nice and fits well on the bike.

The markings on Kaneda’s bike are anime accurate – something the McFarlane version wasn’t able to do. The toy features rubber tires, clear windscreen, and diecast internal skeleton.

Most of the parts on Kaneda’s bike can be removed to expose the beautiful diecast beneath. Pretty much anything you see silver is metal. The front fork turns, raises and lowers, and has spring loaded suspension.

Kaneda’s bike comes with a second set of coverings that can separate a little differently than the first set.

This toy was first unveiled at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show with a limited edition “naked” version – this was basically just the bike without any of the sponsor logos printed on it. Also, the Kaneda figure was not included with this version.

I’m not kidding – this thing rocks and you need to get it. They are reasonably cheap, all things considered.

Who is that little green haired girl that manages to sneak into the shots of the Japanese uber otaku reviews? Why, it’s none other than Yotsuba!

Who is that little green haired girl that manages to sneak into the shots of the Japanese uber otaku reviews? Why, it’s none other than Yotsuba!

Once only available has a hard to find static figure, Kaiyodo brings us the Revoltech 2G Yotsuba, available from HobbyLink Japan.

Anime and Manga nerds know Yotsuba as the title character of the series Yotsuba&!, a manga created by the same people as Azumanga Daioh. But for us toy nerds, we recognize this little girl as one that has shown up in countless toy reviews in Japan. Yotsuba has become a sort of an indicator of scale. By placing a small Yotsuba figurine in each review, readers can get a sense of scale of the toy being discussed. You can see a good example of the previous Yotsuba figure here.

The previous Yotsuba figure

Kaiyodo recognized the demand for people to have their own, articulated Yotsuba figure and responded with the Revoltech 2G Yotsuba figure.

This figure is really cute. There aren’t a lot of Revoltech joints, but it’s quite poseable and absolutely adorable. Yotsuba features 2 heads, 2 extra hands, a squirt gun, Popsicle, and display stand. The head swaps out easily and is attached with a Revoltech joint. The shirt is new for the Revoltech line – its rubber, making for more poseability. In fact, Kaiyodo included an extra dual Revoltech joint to be swapped out with the existing chest joint for added flexibility.

The shoulders are dual swivel joints and not as articulate as I would like. You can put Yotsuba’s hands up, but the shoulders end up looking odd. The elbows are Revoltech Joints, and the hands can be swapped out easily via standard plug joints.

The hips and knees are standard joints but the ankles are Revoltech joints. Youtsuba stands up pretty well but does benefit from the stand when trying advanced poses. The stand can be used as the base only or in conjunction with the included metal rod.

If you are not into cute, this is not the toy for you. But if you are sick of using AA batteries and cigarette packs for size comparison, why not pick up a Revoltech Yotsuba? It will add some color to your otherwise boring life.

Enjoy Everything!

Get yours now at HobbyLink Japan

BIG, BAD VAMPIRE BAT!!

Gre-Gory is a pretty famous toy among monster collectors. Fans of Halloween and cheesy black and white monster movies tend to have a soft spot for the classic rubber bat and this one is a winner. Released in the late 1970s, Gre-Gory comes with feature unique to himself in the rubber bat world. His chest has been hollowed out and a clear plastic stomach has been inserted. Within this is some "blood" that actually flows when you press his back! Unfortunately, many remaining specimens, including my own, no longer function because the blood has dried up over the years. Finding one with working blood isn't easy.

Much like any other rubber bat, his wings flap when you shake him. Also, the feet have holes in them through which you can run a string or rope and hang him upside down.

But for my money, the best part about having this is the box. The colorful, blood-drenched artwork on the cover alone makes this one worth picking up. Of course, getting the box is harder than finding a loose specimen, but it's worth waiting to find one.

Scar <> Dorn from Neo Shifters

NEO Shifters are a new toy line from MEGA Bloks and are obviously designed to be competitors to LEGO’s Bionicle toys.

Each Neo Shifter comes unassembled in a fantastic package. If its one thing MEGA Bloks knows how to do, it’s design really dynamic packaging. There is a small lenticular print area on the front, a working light up feature, and plastic edged corners.

The parts come in sealed plastic baggies, and of course come with a full set of instructions. The instructions are easy to follow and once built, the Neo Shifter is a solid poseable toy.

In Robot mode, Scar <> Dorn is an imposing figure. His face design is reminiscent of the designs from the recent Transformers movie. Behind the mask is a large glass ball that lights up when the button on the back of the head is pressed. I’ll be honest – I like the look of the head without the mask better.

The limbs are fully articulated with really solid joints. Once assembled, parts feel like they are going to stay on and will withstand play. Claws open and close and each figure has an arm mounted missile launcher that shoots a good distance.

Housed in the chest is a circular ball that can be launched by pulling back the lever on the back and letting it go. This ball can also transform into a robot.

Like the smaller robot, the larger robot can also turn into a ball. You can fold all the limbs in and then snap shut the large discs on the back.  To release the figure from ball mode, you just press on a panel in the middle and the sides pop open automatically.

I like that these toys are cheap, sturdy, fun and well designed. They hold a great pose, and I love the little details, like the transparent tubing on the arms and legs. The transforming gimmick is cool, but not very precise.

I don’t like that all four NEO Shifters released at this point are essentially the same figure. Aside from color variations and some mask changes, they are all the same. Best you pick the color you like and stop there (unless you are a completist or something).

You can read more about Neoshifters, including all about the on-line game at www.neoshifters.com

NEO Shifters are creatures with the power to transform from sphere to robot as they battle for survival. Their masks protect the light-up Hydrax energy core, which projects a laser blast.

Controlled by the NEOzome figure that lives inside them, NEO Shifters compete for resources needed to produce the Hydrax energy that fuels their powers and abilities. But too much Hydrax changes them from a peaceful Paladin to a destructive Templar. Join the resistance and discover the codes that control NEO Shifters.

Scar <> Dorn features:

• Transformability
• Two-in-one toy with multiple playing possibilities
• Light-up laser projection beam
• Launchers
• Automatic opening sphere
• Cool colours
• 50 fun and easy to assemble pieces

Perfect for active boys 6 years old and up

Like the smaller robot, the larger robot can also turn into a ball. You can fold all the limbs in and then snap shut the large discs on the back.

NEO Shifters are a new toy line from MEGA Bloks and are obviously designed to be competitors to LEGO’s Bionicle toys.

Each Neo Shifter comes unassembled in a fantastic package. If its one thing MEGA Bloks knows how to do, it’s design really dynamic packaging. There is a small lenticular print area on the front, a working light up feature, and plastic edged corners.

The parts come in sealed plastic baggies, and of course come with a full set of instructions. The instructions are easy to follow and once built, the Neo Shifter is a solid poseable toy.

In Robot mode, Magna :: Rex is an imposing figure. His face design is reminiscent of the designs from the recent Transformers movie. Behind the mask is a large glass ball that lights up when the button on the back of the head is pressed. I’ll be honest – I like the look of the head without the mask better.

The limbs are fully articulated with really solid joints. Once assembled, parts feel like they are going to stay on and will withstand play. Claws open and close and each figure has an arm mounted missile launcher that shoots a good distance.

Housed in the chest is a circular ball that can be launched by pulling back the lever on the back and letting it go. This ball can also transform into a robot.

Like the smaller robot, the larger robot can also turn into a ball. You can fold all the limbs in and then snap shut the large discs on the back.  To release the figure from ball mode, you just press on a panel in the middle and the sides pop open automatically.

I like that these toys are cheap, sturdy, fun and well designed. They hold a great pose, and I love the little details, like the transparent tubing on the arms and legs. The transforming gimmick is cool, but not very precise.

I don’t like that all four NEO Shifters released at this point are essentially the same figure. Aside from color variations and some mask changes, they are all the same. Best you pick the color you like and stop there (unless you are a completist or something).

You can read more about Neoshifters, including all about the on-line game at www.neoshifters.com

NEO Shifters are creatures with the power to transform from sphere to robot as they battle for survival. Their masks protect the light-up Hydrax energy core, which projects a laser blast.



Controlled by the NEOzome figure that lives inside them, NEO Shifters compete for resources needed to produce the Hydrax energy that fuels their powers and abilities. But too much Hydrax changes them from a peaceful Paladin to a destructive Templar. Join the resistance and discover the codes that control NEO Shifters.



Magna :: Rex features:

• Transformability
• Two-in-one toy with multiple playing possibilities
• Light-up laser projection beam
• Launchers
• Automatic opening sphere
• Cool colours
• 50 fun and easy to assemble pieces

Perfect for active boys 6 years old and up