I’ll be honest I’ve kinda given up the ghost on proper reviews a while ago, but I’m trying to get back into writing other things which includes buying a mechanical keyboard and the ASMR I’m getting from the clackety-clack of the keys is doing things for me only my wife does. So hey, let’s dust off the writing cobwebs with a couple of mini-reviews
APC Toys Dark Master 2.0 (Prime Megatron)
I recently discovered this via ShowZStore and pre-ordered it almost immediately afterwards. This was because the description read that it was gonna be a bit more robust and easier to transform. I own the original version of APC Toys Megatron and it is a lovely-looking bot…but it’s not a great feeling bot. The plastic at used doesn’t feel particularly sturdy and coupled with the odd joint tolerances make transforming the bastard a bit of a…bastard (God I gotta work on my fuckin’ metaphors). It always felt like it was going to snap or bits were getting in the way of each other, and while the paint is lovely it was prone to scratching. Lastly, you had issues with the arms going floppy at the shoulders meaning you couldn’t pose it. I’m actually on my second version of the original mould for that exact issue (in addition to the Beast Wars Rampage version).
So, does version 2.0 fix these issues? For the most part yes.
This pic sums up the differences quite well. The new version does not have the metallic silver finish, being mostly unpainted grey plastic, but it does use that grey well and the silver highlights it does have really pop. The new plastic is much sturdier than the original, and the figure feels like it weighs more because of it. He still has paint in all the right places and that head sculpt is still brilliant. However, it’s in the stuff that you can’t easily see which, in my eyes, makes 2.0 better than the original.
In addition to the plastic before a lot sturdier, the tolerances on the transformation joint have been tweaked to be easier to work with. You do not have to use the same amount of force you did on the original to move parts. Nothing feels loose, but it just lets everything flow better, and while there is still potential for bits of kibble to bump into each other mid-transformation, it doesn’t feel like anything will break due to excess forces and parts can move smoothly past each other.
It’s not until you handle the figure that you may notice something else without it being pointed out. But 2.0 has had some tweaks to its spikier areas. The shoulders are the biggest example. If you look at the comparison pic above you can just about see that the points on 2.0 have been rounded off. This is the same for most pointy parts of the sculpt, even the cheek guards on the head which aren’t quite as long as the silver original and are more rounded. What this does is make 2.0 a lot easier to hold and play with. You don’t feel like you’re gonna take a spike in your hand flesh this time. Couple that with the sturdier plastic and reworked tolerances mean 2.0 is a far better toy to manipulate and hold.
The looks continue with the alt mode. And well.. that’s about it. All the things that make the robot mode and transformation a bit easier to handle carry over here.
2.0 also comes with the same accessories as the original, but tweaked to fit the new colours, here he is all tooled up.
And happily, he still has the light-up cannon.
So, I would say that the 2.0 version of Dark Master is my preferred. Version one does take it in looks because while it is a bugger to play with, that silver is just really beautiful, and I’d say he’s the best version to just plonk in a display. But if I had to choose, I would say 2.0 exceeds it. It still looks very good, and every other part of it just works better. The one drawback is that his backpack is a bit easier to pop out in robot mode, but that may just be my copy.
Beast Box Acid Ghost and Lithiumon
Thanks to Dr Wu’s Energy Dragon, aka Teeny Tiny Trypticon, I found myself looking at 52 Toys Beast Box line, and started by getting their Sub-Zero, basically an ice-themed Godzilla by way of their Stegosaurus mould. Finding myself impressed with him, I on and off had a look at other versions, and was drawn to A) Bloodstone, the red and black original version of Sub-Zero because I am a fucking sucker for anything in that colour scheme. And B) This set is a retool of their most well-known toys Dio and Mega-Dio (soon to be followed by Super Mega-Dio and Super Mega Dio God Dio). In Evangelion EVA-01 colours.
I never really got into Evangelion, but I am a fan of evil-transforming dinosaur mecha with awesome colour schemes so here we are.
And honestly? These guys are great. The larger Acid Ghost is the main draw, with the lovely colours, complex yet fun transformation and great posing, but I find myself weirdly enamoured with Lithiumon. I think it’s that head sculpt, combined with the industrial/Eva battery colours gives me some Metal Gear crossed with TMNT Mouser vibes.
In terms of transforming, Lithiumon’s simple transformation is rather enjoyable, but Acid Ghost steals the show there, he’s a lot more complex than I would have imagined after only experiencing Sub-Zero beforehand. Either way, they’re fun to go back and forth with, and the combined mode is silly but fun.
Overall, a good fun set and if you’re thinking of getting into Beast Box, I’d recommend it.