DotM Japanese Toy Launch

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sat May 14, 2011 2:25 am

We got a fairly modest assortment this time, in comparison to the massive roll-out of Revenge of the Fallen.

The largest and most expensive figure is Sentinel Prime, a character that nobody in Japan has any reason, what-so-ever, to care about. It has an MSRP of 8,400 yen, which is very near $100 USD. Fortunately, nobody seems to be using those MSRPs. The most I've seen it for is 6,000 yen, just over 70 USD.

Next is the Japanese exclusive Voyager Optimus Prime w/ Trailer (and, it seems, a different mechtech weapon. This is a REALLY nice figure, although there's a lot of wasted space in this box that's going to make importing it something of a bitch. I've seen it selling for between 4,999 yen and 6,000. A hefty price for a Voyager class figure, but that's mostly due to the TERRIBLE Dollar/Yen exchange rate at the moment.

The next largest figure is the new Leader Bumblebee. An awesome figure made LESS cool through the use of an armored backpack. Take the thing off and you have, arguably, the best movie Bumblebee figure to date.

We also got Voyager class figures of Megatron and Ironhide. Both of these are excellent figures. They look very classy, and much better than they do in pictures. Megatron, especially.

The next step down is a Deluxe Bumblebee with some kind of card holder (exclusive to Japan). Very nice figure. Not nice enough for me to plunk down 2,999 yen for. Just one yen more and I'd be qualified to get a little opening day freebie.

Finally, there are an assortment of Deluxe class figures. They're all between 1,800 and 2,200 yen. They include the Japanese exclusive Air Raid, a blue Arcee, and a few others. Starscream's a Deluxe this time around and he's REALLY tiny.

All in all, a pretty good roll-out. As usual, I'm tempted to pick up all the "main-cast" characters, but exercised restraint. I did pick up a few figures for some friends, though.

Nice stuff.

Hot Shot · Post by **Hot Shot** » Sat May 14, 2011 5:54 am

Launch date over here is midnight Monday morning. I can't get excited for the line, but I'll still swing by TRU that morning and buy what I want(mainly some of the Human Alliance basics, maybe Skyhammer). Yay for $10-off coupons.

The new Captain America line on the other hand looks really nice. I'll definitely pick some of those up.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sat May 14, 2011 11:40 am

I've gone to the Japanese launches for all three Transformers movies. Which kind of hurts a little bit.

This is the first time that Prime and Megs were available, in the same scale, on launch day. So those were easy impulse buys. I'd have picked up Bumblebee and Starscream, but I didn't want the card holder that's being used as an excuse to bump up the price an extra 12 bucks on BB.

Price aside, I'm lovin' these new movie figures. They look really nice as packaged figures (I was never really feeling the LOOK! IT'S RED! of the first two lines). And I dig the slightly smaller scale.

That said, I saw a display of those Duel Model figures and my jaw just about hit the floor. Unbelievable detail. Unprecedented detail. Yeah, they're pricey, but they look like they just stepped off the screen. Prime more than BB, but still. Exquisite.

Hound · Post by **Hound** » Sat May 14, 2011 2:17 pm

I dont suppose you could pick me up a United Rumble & Frenzy, Smooth?

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sat May 14, 2011 2:32 pm

Hound wrote:I dont suppose you could pick me up a United Rumble & Frenzy, Smooth?

I'm SO sorry. I actually found one today. But I've already eBay'd it.

It's paying for all the new figures I bought! Sorry...

Hot Shot · Post by **Hot Shot** » Sat May 14, 2011 3:53 pm

SO freakin' jealous of Frumbles. Hopefully Hasbro delivers...