My interest in Star Wars has waned in recent years. Besides Rogue One, I haven't really enjoyed any of the new movies. And what little I've seen of all the recent TV shows hasn't done anything for me either. But I dig this simple toy, and really like that box art.
Just like that, Rebels is now on my radar. Will check it out at some point.
I think G2 appealed the most to kids like me who were born too late to easily get G1 toys of characters as they appeared in the original cartoon. So, it was cool because it was a chance at first to get G1 toys again. I managed to get all the Constructicons in yellow, Snarl in G1 deco, Jazz, Inferno, Bumblebee, Hubcap, Seaspray, three Aerialbots, and two Combaticons. Then from there, it was the all-new toys, which were cool in their own right.
Wild that it's been long enough, over 30 years now, that we're getting new G2 toys. Hope it keeps up, and they continue to do figures like this, based on unreleased designs. New versions of original G2 characters would be sweet too.
Since I don't work for a toy manufacturer, I can't say for sure, but that does seem to be among the prevailing schools of thoughts. Also, smaller companies having to pay larger companies for the rights to do them at all probably contribute a lot to it as well. By way of comparison, the upcoming Bandai Mazinger Z is being released by a a major company in larger number and the retail price reflects that. Having said all that, you should at least get what you pay for and here I don't feel we did.
You made "I shouldn't have to do that" a good catch phrase lol
Sorry it didn't turn out fantastic. Agreed, for that price, there should be a lot more polish. I'm not a big jumbo person, so I have to ask. Why are modern releases like this so expensive?
What a pain in the butt! I watched your review, and I got the sense that the clear version would be the superior version to own since you can just build it and leave it alone. Hmm...Yep, looking at pictures of the clear version now, you can clearly see how most of the details underneath are visible and you don't have to tear the damned thing apart to expose those areas. Clear version superior. Solid version inferior.
What a coincidence. I actually just bought this guy and a few other Star Tours Droids on Friday. I didn't know the name was wrong, not that I tend to remember these lesser known droids names anyway.
Cool. I think I have Grendizer and Gaiking in this line. I got them pretty cheap and hoped the same for Danguard Ace but for some reason that one seems more expensive. Doug did a nice paint job on his Gaiking one but I don't think i could bring myself to paint anything vintage.
In reviewing this old review, I realized that when I wrote it, I did not realize that this toy's gold painted eyes and horns were actually based on the rare 1st version of the Popy original. I've decided to leave the review as I wrote it back then though, just for posterity. The toy can still be differentiated from the original by some subtle mold changes as well as the update logo on the back. Also in reviewing this old review, I regret selling both my regular and silver painted ones in it. D'oh!
Your reviews for the Black and Red Lions may as well not exist, currently; the links that should go to them instead go to reviews for the Matty Collector ones.
The Blazing Shield is also supposed to be a cutter weapon, and is even identified as such in GoLion. The thing you called a "grenade" is essentially a smaller cutter weapon for the Green Lion as an individual.
It's still not as big as the Matty Collector version. That one is gargantuan since it's made to sit 4" action figures in the front bodies of the lions.
As for the shoulder rotation using the Black Lion's shoulder ratchets instead of having the sockets (or plugs) rotate separately on their own ratchets, I think that's actually a compromise dictated by both the size and the cross-compatibility:
* The Black Lion's shoulders already have to accommodate both its own shoulder ratchets and space to tuck the lower legs into. That limits the available space for the socket to have its own ratchet to the point that I doubt there'd be room for one capable of bearing the weight of the limb lions.
* If the connector plugs rotated, they'd be significantly different from the ones for the Legendary Defender version (for one thing, they'd almost certainly be bigger in order to bear the weight) and the cross-compatibility (which JoshB seems to be wrong about the true extent of) would be undermined.
My interest in Star Wars has waned in recent years. Besides Rogue One, I haven't really enjoyed any of the new movies. And what little I've seen of all the recent TV shows hasn't done anything for me either. But I dig this simple toy, and really like that box art.
Just like that, Rebels is now on my radar. Will check it out at some point.
I couldn't possibly leave something like this sealed and never find out who else is featured on the cards!
That is pretty snazzy looking. And the box art, especially on the sides, looks like something Frankie B might have drawn.
I think G2 appealed the most to kids like me who were born too late to easily get G1 toys of characters as they appeared in the original cartoon. So, it was cool because it was a chance at first to get G1 toys again. I managed to get all the Constructicons in yellow, Snarl in G1 deco, Jazz, Inferno, Bumblebee, Hubcap, Seaspray, three Aerialbots, and two Combaticons. Then from there, it was the all-new toys, which were cool in their own right.
Wild that it's been long enough, over 30 years now, that we're getting new G2 toys. Hope it keeps up, and they continue to do figures like this, based on unreleased designs. New versions of original G2 characters would be sweet too.
well that's just a straight up vehicle Pretender
Y'know, I never even considered it as a possibility. As much as it was a disappointment, I guess I'd still just rather have it than not.
And that's why they're nicknamed Subpar 7 lmao
It's Dave's review - so that's up to him! I passed on it..
WHAT A PIECE OF JUNK!
Josh, seeing all these issues, I would just return this thing and get the $350 back.
This toy is straight up GARBAGE.
Since I don't work for a toy manufacturer, I can't say for sure, but that does seem to be among the prevailing schools of thoughts. Also, smaller companies having to pay larger companies for the rights to do them at all probably contribute a lot to it as well. By way of comparison, the upcoming Bandai Mazinger Z is being released by a a major company in larger number and the retail price reflects that. Having said all that, you should at least get what you pay for and here I don't feel we did.
I've updated this review to show some variations that I've become aware of since first publishing this many years ago.
You made "I shouldn't have to do that" a good catch phrase lol
Sorry it didn't turn out fantastic. Agreed, for that price, there should be a lot more polish. I'm not a big jumbo person, so I have to ask. Why are modern releases like this so expensive?
Is it because of small production runs?
What a pain in the butt! I watched your review, and I got the sense that the clear version would be the superior version to own since you can just build it and leave it alone. Hmm...Yep, looking at pictures of the clear version now, you can clearly see how most of the details underneath are visible and you don't have to tear the damned thing apart to expose those areas. Clear version superior. Solid version inferior.
What a coincidence. I actually just bought this guy and a few other Star Tours Droids on Friday. I didn't know the name was wrong, not that I tend to remember these lesser known droids names anyway.
Cool. I think I have Grendizer and Gaiking in this line. I got them pretty cheap and hoped the same for Danguard Ace but for some reason that one seems more expensive. Doug did a nice paint job on his Gaiking one but I don't think i could bring myself to paint anything vintage.
In reviewing this old review, I realized that when I wrote it, I did not realize that this toy's gold painted eyes and horns were actually based on the rare 1st version of the Popy original. I've decided to leave the review as I wrote it back then though, just for posterity. The toy can still be differentiated from the original by some subtle mold changes as well as the update logo on the back. Also in reviewing this old review, I regret selling both my regular and silver painted ones in it. D'oh!
To be fair, Don Hakka is loosely based on the pig character from Journey to the West.
The firing missile fingers make me wish there was a Shogun Warriors Giant Robo.
Fixed, thanks for letting me know.
Your reviews for the Black and Red Lions may as well not exist, currently; the links that should go to them instead go to reviews for the Matty Collector ones.
Just like with the Black Lion, the links that should go to the Playmates Voltron 84 version go to this instead. This needs to be fixed.
The Blazing Shield is also supposed to be a cutter weapon, and is even identified as such in GoLion. The thing you called a "grenade" is essentially a smaller cutter weapon for the Green Lion as an individual.
That $28 price tag would be CHEAP for this thing now. Yeesh.
The link in the Playmates category that's supposed to go to the Playmates classic Black Lion instead leads to this for some reason.
What the actual fuck?
It's still not as big as the Matty Collector version. That one is gargantuan since it's made to sit 4" action figures in the front bodies of the lions.
As for the shoulder rotation using the Black Lion's shoulder ratchets instead of having the sockets (or plugs) rotate separately on their own ratchets, I think that's actually a compromise dictated by both the size and the cross-compatibility:
* The Black Lion's shoulders already have to accommodate both its own shoulder ratchets and space to tuck the lower legs into. That limits the available space for the socket to have its own ratchet to the point that I doubt there'd be room for one capable of bearing the weight of the limb lions.
* If the connector plugs rotated, they'd be significantly different from the ones for the Legendary Defender version (for one thing, they'd almost certainly be bigger in order to bear the weight) and the cross-compatibility (which JoshB seems to be wrong about the true extent of) would be undermined.