The 32nd installment of Japan's "Super Sentai" franchise is currently airing overseas, and despite my best efforts to conserve funds the toyline has managed to ensnare my interests yet again. This years' storyline involves sentient creatures with hybrids of both machine and animal characteristics known as Engines from an alternative dimension who select humans to bear their colors and protect them. It sounds odd but really its no worse than anything else Toei has come up with! The toyline starts off with 3 Engines (I'll refer to them as "Zords" for now)- The red Speedor (a condor/racecar hybrid), the blue Buson (Bus/Lion) and Bearr V (bear/4WD Truck). Not bad by any means. Blue is quite literally a brick though. These 3 combine to create the first main "Megazord," Engine-Oh! Engine-Oh unfortunately maintains the old tradition with three-piece combiners: two of the zords make up about 90% of the Robot Mode while the third (usually the groups' sole female member) is basically sandwiched in and serves no real purpose. Aside from that, Engine-Oh is a decent Megazord. Comes with the usual sword-&-shield armament and has an impressive range of movement in his arms. But the Super Sentai line thrives primarily on the introduction of new members, so Engine-Oh is joined by... Gunperd (police car/German Shepherd), Birca (motorcycle/orca) and Carrygator (alligator/semi truck). These 3 can join together to create- GunBir-Oh, the second Megazord for the Go-Ongers. Not nearly as articulate or as interesting as Engine-Oh. The new Zords can also combine WITH Engine-Oh, either individually or separately. The end result for their combination is: Engine-Oh G6! Impressive shelf piece but articulation is very limited. Recently, a THIRD set of Zords was released- Toripter (a rooster/helicopter fusion), Jetras (tiger & fighter jet) and the massive Jum-bowhale (whale/jumbo jet). And, like the previous set, these 3 can join to form- Seiku-Oh. With the giant wingspan from Jum-bowhale, this is simultaneously the largest and thinnest of the Megazords. And finally, the 3 Flyers can join with the other Engines to create: Engine-Oh G9!!! A truly monumental display piece. I'm a sucker for huge combiners so this nine-piece set is perfect for collectors like me. But the line is far from over; one more set of Zords is set for release within the next 2 months which will allow for an unprecedented 12-Zord combination! I can't wait to add the last of the Go-Onger Mecha to my shelves...
Wow, maybe I should've been keeping up with MMPR toys all this time. Are they all this interesting? The show had always driven me off.
I know PLEX (Bandai's design subsidiary) designed many of the previous Sentai zords in the past. Did they design these?
You're right, they look more like Zorp's to me. (megas reference ftw) I know what he means though, it seems like each sentai series robots become sillier as they make more of em.
I still think Boukenger did this better, but the sheer mass and legion of eyes STARING AT ME is impressive.
As of right now, PR isn't going to be animated next year. Also, I agree. The mecha this year are terrible. Up next are three trains that are part Mammoth, Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops. Mammoth is supposed to become legs for G12, with Gunpherd and Birca in the legs like a garage of some sort, while Trains Tyranno and Triceratops become the new, longer arms... that still cannot be lifted to face forward due to Toriptor and Jetras hitting Jumbo Whale's wings. Boukenger did it better.
I have DX Engine O,Birca,and Gunpherd right now Toripter & Jetoras in My pile of loot at bigbadtoystore as well as Carrigator.Preordered from them un less they get in again Engine #09 - JumboWhale I'll have to look ellse were I decided after the mess BoA has made of Power Rangers: Operation Overdrive (Boukenger) and Power Rangers Jungle Fury (Geki Rangers) That I'm importing BoJ ranger merch from now on
Yep, at this stage they are basically sacrificing articulation for cosmetic look. The theme....."lets see just how many eyes we can place on this badboy!!!"
