Monday, 17 August 2015

SACRED BEAST LEGEND BIOROID - TRIANFORCE - PART I


By




INTRO
Now it is time to talk about the DELTAFORCE's counter-parts the TRIANFORCE from the toy line "SACRED BEAST LEGEND BIOROID"  by MARK, SELECT, and HERO. 
This is Part I which focuses only on the Trianforce leader, Octymus. 
If you'd like to see the rest check out my Part II here: Part II
The TRIANFORCE had also 9 toy collectibles for their side just like the DELTAFORCE but I will be just talking about the first 5 which are the transformable Bioroid robot kats.
 FIRST TRIANFORCE MEMBER!
(TRIANFORCE - OCYTMUS - TOY PACKAGE - FRONT VIEW)
My very first TRIANFORCE toy member named "OCTYMUS" who is the leader of the TRIANFORCE. I was very happy to find him in wonderful condition and complete with everything. I always like the Japanese toy packaging from the 80s with the great designs, colours, clear plastic window to see the toy and especially the toy artwork, it really captures the essence of a well presented toy.
I'm hoping to translate all the Japanese writing on the box 1 day but I'll just mention out what is written in English. So we see the on the bottom of the box it has a email I believe and next to that is "1987 HERO MADE IN JAPAN" meaning HERO was the one who produced the toys but later shown on the toy I will show the SELECT trademarked on the toy.
 
(TRIANFORCE - OCYTMUS - TOY PACKAGE - BACK VIEW)
Back of the toy package is also wonderful to look at. It shows the toy series title on the left hand corner and name of the toy in the right hand corner. Below that is the toy instructions on how to transform the toy. Then lastly pictures of the 5 TRIANFORCE members in their kat modes which gets me excited to find the rest one day!

(TRIANFORCE - OCYTMUS - TOY PACKAGE - LEFT + RIGHT SIDE VIEW)
Left and right side views are the same showing toy title on the top and the bottom and in the middle a picture of the toy in kat mode with his name on top of the picture.
(TRIANFORCE - OCYTMUS - TOY PACKAGE - TOP + BOTTOM SIDE VIEW)
Top view has the written toy story background and bio of the character on the right.
Bottom view shows some Japanese writing on top and bottom BIOROID title with toy artwork beside it. 
(TRIANFORCE - OCYTMUS - TOY UNBOXED)
 Unboxed, the most exciting part which is to find out what kind of contents you get!
(TRIANFORCE - OCYTMUS - TOY CONTENTS)
 The toy comes on nice styrofoam insert and includes a toy catalog and with the weapon accessories stored underneath.
(TRIANFORCE - OCYTMUS - TOY + CONTENTS)
Toy freed with catalog and weapon accessories.

OCTYMUS - KAT MODE
(TRIANFORCE - OCYTMUS - TOY - KAT MODE - 1)

(TRIANFORCE - OCYTMUS - TOY - KAT MODE - 2)

(TRIANFORCE - OCYTMUS - TOY - KAT MODE - 3)
The kat mode is well proportioned and designed except for the visbile humanoid skin coloured legs below his stomach but hey its from the 80s!
He comes with 2 cool chromed weapon accessories called "Laser Cannons".
I like the stickers, they are a nice contrast to his black plastic parts which makes him stand out.
It has nice articulation on the kat legs which both can rotate 360 degrees and tail articulation that can move up and down. The weapons too can rotate 360 degrees but just have to be careful since when you insert them in or out his front leg shoulders, they fit in quite tight and the plastic on these toys isn't so solid which can cause them to snap off so please take extra care.
Overall I like the kat mode. 


OCTYMUS - BIOROID MODE
(TRIANFORCE - OCYTMUS - TOY - BIOROID MODE - 1)
(TRIANFORCE - OCYTMUS - TOY - BIOROID MODE - 2)
The Bioroid mode is quite cool looking. Its easy to transform from kat mode with exceptions of just rotating, sliding, things in and out to complete the transformation correctly. For his articulation, he can rotate his arms and weapons 360 degrees. Has a ball join at the elbows. The design of his hands isn't the best due to them being hollow but its alright since he  can't hold his weapons but design wise I think it would of been nice they added them in. His legs are simple, can only bend at the knees. His head mold design shows off the purpose of the toy line of the toys being humanoid robot characters. The paint job on the head is ok but faces are well molded.
Overall I like his bukly look in Bioroid mode.

 TRADEMARK
Here is the printed "©SELECT 1986 MADE IN JAPAN" trademark. It is inside his back. 
So the TRIANFORCE toy or toys were made in 1986 by toy companies SELECT and MARK then HERO came along to work together to produce them or SELECT and MARK went into bankruptcy, leaving them to find a produce the toys and market them which they went onto to do with many more other toy lines using these molds that SELECT and MARK created. 
TOY CATALOG
(CATALOG - TRIANFORCE SECTION)
These are shown from the inside or back of the catalog. It shows the wonderful toy artwork along with toy pictures of the characters' alt modes. It also has written their bio's for each character.

Super B-class Morfing Robot Wars Dagangu - Book
(OCTYMUS (Top) and BLARDE (Bottom).)
(GLUVERDA (Top) and GALLAGA (Bottom).)
(THAITAN)

These are scan pages from a book called "Super B-class Morfing Robot Wars Dagangu".
Essentially it has a lot of information on the toy makers, the toys they made, and pictures, a really great book. I'm hoping to find these last 4 one day to complete the 5
OTHER VERSION COMPARISONS

Left side: Original Japanese version
Middle: TATSUMIYA - FIGHTING ANIMAL, CHAMPION CROWN (AKA LEADER SHINE) - FIGHTING ANIMAL, TEK TOYS - ROBO-KATS,
Right: CHAMPION CROWN (AKA LEADER SHINE) - FIGHTING ANIMAL,
TEK TOYS - ROBO-KATS, TRENDMASTERS - ANIBOTS


(KAT MODES)
(ROBOT MODES)
There quality is quite the same on all 3 except with certain plastic parts being either painted colour differently or plastic changed and painted different.
Weapon accessories from the original from the other versions is slightly different. With the original version his chrome weapons aren't as chrome or shinier than the other 2.
Head molds are clearly changed with the 2 which are painted chrome and detail of paint design is very low quality which was meant to be robot heads instead of human heads which explains why it isn't the best looking but the toy artwork of them is what made me love them regardless. 
Paint jobs with 2 are overall are good, uniquely different and aesthetically pleasing.
With the stickers, there is some new ones added for the 2 which aren't on the original and vice versa which is pretty cool to get variety from other versions.
Overall I find the original to a bit more stronger quality and more easy to handle without breaking it. Whereas for the other 2 they are some joins or parts that I make sure I'm wary about because they do tend to have not the same quality control as the original but still easy to play with and enjoy.
 
CLOSING THOUGHTS
The overall presentation of the TRIANFORCE toys are really cool. What drew me in to collect these was they were made in the 80s and I like the choice of the animals they based these toys on. To me they are like a Voltron + Transformers combination except with the combining into a giant robot feature but regardless I love them!
I hope in the future to add and extend this topic when I find the rest of the TRIANFORCE members but for now I hope you enjoyed this topic and review!

If you have any questions or feedback please let me know, I would gladly appreciate it!

Wednesday, 31 December 2014

SACRED BEAST LEGEND BIOROID - DELTAFORCE

SACRED BEAST LEGEND BIOROID
By


INTRO
At long last I can talk about the original Japanese molds that the international molds came from!
I will share photos and information of the ones I have obtained from the "SACRED BEAST LEGEND BIOROID" toy line series which are called the "DELTAFORCE" consisting of 5 transforming humanoid robot reptiles and came out in 1987 by HERO, MARK, and SELECT.  One of the main differences in these original versions is they have 5 original members you could collect to form the team DELTAFORCE, however with the international versions from what I've seen always produced only 4 out of the 5 and I have yet to discover the reason as to why it was so. In any case this whole set I really love and I hope you find interesting and enjoyable and if you want to find out more about them check the fan website link in my very first blog entry, now onto my review!

REVIEW
Basically there is 2 teams in this toy line, the TRIANFORCE (good side) consisting of changing cats/humanoids and the DELTAFORCE (villain side) consisting of reptiles/humanoids which is the team I have obtained and will be talking about primarily.
Note: There is also insects in this toy line for each side but sadly they were unreleased, due to possibly the toy company going into bankruptcy but they did show photos of them which is cool to see what would of have been.

FIRST ENCOUNTER
(Front and back view of packaging. Photo credits: intergalatic_space_bunny )

My very first SACRED BEAST LEGEND BIOROID toy! The packaging is really amazingly well done and I think a lot of it incorporates the Japanese 80s transforming toy robots packaging style with the see through plastic that reveals the featured toy inside with them in Styrofoam insert, wonderful toy artwork showing off both modes, colourful package designing on every side, stylized lettering, logo, and for the back packaging you can see clear toy instructions and photos of the other DELTAFORCE member toys you can collect which you can see more of below!

COMPLETE ENCOUNTER
( The other 4 members of the DELTA FORCE. Photo credits: intergalatic_space_bunny )
These are the last 4 out 5 DELTA FORCE toys I needed to complete the set which are in amazingly new condition which I was never expecting to be due to them being old 80s toys and not knowing how to find them in such conditions and I have to give a huge special thank you to seller/store "intergalactic_space_bunny" for helping me find these rare beauties, couldn't of done it without your incredible resources and kind customer service!


DELTAFORCE

FRONT VIEW OF PACKAGING

Here is the complete set of the 5 DELTAFORCE toys which are all in perfect condition, they look marvelous together!


BACK VIEW OF PACKAGING

  Toy instructions shown, toy character name and photos of each collectable toy.

RIGHT SIDE VIEW OF PACKAGING
Shows the logo, name of toy characters, and photos of the reptile modes.
 

LEFT SIDE VIEW OF PACKAGING
Shows the logos, name of toy characters, and photos of the reptile modes.

TOP VIEW OF PACKAGING
Shows and tells the the toy story, character bios, and toy photos.

BOTTOM VIEW OF PACKAGING
Information, logo, and toy artwork.

UNBOXED
Toys in Styrofoam inserts.

TOYS
The toys that come with accessories and catalog.

 DELTAFORCE
Reptile Modes
  
DUSGATOR \ Reptile Mode - Alligator
BALCANNON \ Reptile Mode - Gila Monster

ASURAH \ Reptile Mode - King Cobra

DUSMANIA \ Reptile Mode - Iguana

MEREO \ Reptile Mode - Chameleon


DELTAFORCE
BIOROID Modes


DUSGATOR \  Bioroid Mode

BALCANNON \ Bioroid Mode

ASURAH (Leader) \ Bioroid Mode

DUSMANIA \ Bioroid Mode

MEREO \ Bioroid Mode

CATALOG
A super cool catalog that shows the entire toy line series explaining their story, names, bios, and modes. Top section is the DELTAFORCE who were were the villains and bottom section is the TRIANFORCE who were the heroes of the toy story.


COMPARISONS
Original Japanese versions differences to the international versions

 DUSGATOR and GATOR
 BALCANNON and SKULK
 SLICK from the FIGHTING ANIMAL/ROBO-KATS/ANIBOTS toy line and ASURAH. As ASURAH's mold wasn't reused I used SLICK as a comparison who was a remold of TRIANFORCE toy character "OCTYMUS" leader of the TRIANFORCE.
 DUSMANIA and IGGY
  MEREO and SQUIRM

TRADEMARK
 Toy company "MARK" trademark on ASURAH's left leg and DUSGATOR's right back shoulder. Mysteriously DUSMANIA and MEREO toys did not have the trademarks embossed on their molds.

CLOSING THOUGHTS
These were toys that came out during the popular years of Hasbro/Takara's "The Transformers" which is my favourite toy line and is the reason I got into this toy line. It has many similar design and playable aspects as the Transformers did with simple but also fun challenging transformations. Only difference I can say is the quality on these toys are not the strongest, they are light, a some brittle and can easily be broken if not handled carefully so please handle with extreme caution and care! Otherwise I love these toys regardless, what makes me gravitate towards them for me is the creative designs, molds, great sized toys, lovely colours, wonderufl paint job, cool stickers, innovative engineering, and shiny chromed weapon accessories. All those elements have everything in a transforming robot toy that make it charismatic and very enjoyable and would recommend them to anyone as long as you have a like old styled transforming robots toys!
 
I have yet again give a huge special thanks to "intergalactic_space_bunny"!