BEAST WARS: TOY REVIEW

Note: I got both the US and Japanese versions of this toy, but since I got the Japanese one first, this preview will be slightly biased more towards him.
Not that it really makes any difference really.
Name (Japan): MEGALLIGATOR
Name (USA): MEGATRON
Allegiance (Japan): Destron
Allegiance (USA): Predacon
Function (Japan): Amazon Warrior
Function (USA): Predacon Commander
Beast Mode: Crocodile
Average Price (Japan): Single; 750 JPY
                                    Versus Set; 1480 JPY
                                    Versus Set (with CD ROM); 2980 JPY
Average Price (US Versus Set): 13 USD
 
 

BEAST MODE

Length: 15cm
Apparently the body is a repaint from Iguanus' body. It has fairly decent scale moulding sculpted along the toy.  The head is the most striking feature of the toy and is better moulded than I thought it would be. I like the eyes -- they have reptilian eyeballs -- the first Beast Wars Transformer to sport eyeballs! The toy is primarily olive and emerald green. The head is olive green with red eyes and white teeth. The jaws open up to reveal a red tongue.

The main drawback with the toy is when you flip it over -- there's way to much robo-undercarriage.

TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT  MODE

Unlock the tail and watch everything else flick into place. Remove the tail and flip the end to form robot gun. Flip out hind legs. Flip up front feet to form robot fists. Flip down robot feet. Flip flip flip, flippity flip.

ROBOT MODE

A lot better than I expected, but still not too much to write home about. The colour scheme of the beast mode is pretty much retained in robot mode with a few gold accents on the legs and feet. The robot face is purple with orange eyes and two really stupid looking fangs sticking out of the mouth. The rest of the head looks fairly Megatronlike, which is good. Standing the toy is a bit tricky though.

RUB STICKER LOCATION

None.

OVERALL

It's just so so-so. I'd only recommend getting it in a versus set... no way I'd get this toy on its own.

EAST vs WEST : Differences between the US and Japanese releases

__________________________________________________________

ROUND 1: The West

Optimus Primal and Megatron came together in a double pack on card. This set came with a small, badly drawn and poorly written comic book.
Not worth opening up, really. Although the toy retails for around 13 USD, I managed to pick mine up for 8 USD at KB Toys. I'm glad I didn't pay full price for this set.

ROUND 2: The East

At first, Convobat (C-6) and Megalligator (D-6) were released as any other Beast Wars Transformer in Japan; available either individually or together in a versus set (VS-6). Other than all the usual stuff (catalogue, instruction booklets, Tech Specs cards etc.) there wasn't much else. Still, beats the hell out of their counterparts across the Pacific. ;)

ROUND 3: The CD ROM pack

The only Beast Wars Transformers to have ever been sold on a card in Japan. Both Convobat and Megalligator were repainted for this release and came with a CD ROM.

(Right): The CD ROM repaint. Image courtesy of Benson Yee. 
Megalligator was repainted. Olive green was replaced with deep purple, emerald green was swapped with black and gold was replaced by silver. The face itself was repainted silver with red eyes. On the chest of the robot (or head of the croc), there's a silver Destron (Predacon) insignia. Beneath is the inscription "D-ROM." Other than the change in colour, there's no difference. However, a change in colour can often make a significant difference to the overall look of the toy. I personally prefer this repaint.

The CD ROM itself has two main options; one is a database with Tech Specs on various Beast Wars Transformers as well as various footage from the TV show and TV commercial. The second option is a colouring in programme. It's basically like a colouring book, except you're using a mouse instead of crayons and the beauty of it is that you can recolour the same image again and again...
(Left): One "page" from the CD ROM's colouring-in programme.

BEAST TRIVIA


Unlike their larger saltwater relatives, freshwater crocodiles (Crocodylus johnstoni), also known as Johnstone’s crocodiles, are not usually dangerous to humans. They are very common in the Kimberley.
Freshwater crocodiles are often seen basking in reasonable numbers around the perimeter of gorges and rivers, creating an interesting wildlife spectacle for visitors. There are some 21 species of crocodiles and their relatives. These primitive reptiles have an ancient lineage and are remnants from the time of the dinosaurs.
Freshwater crocodiles are grey or greenish-brown above, with heavily mottled flanks. In contrast to the saltwater variety, this species has quite long, smooth and slender snouts. However, they are often difficult to distinguish when partially submerged. They may reach up to three metres long (the Australian saltwater crocodile may reach up to seven metres!).
Freshwater crocodiles are widespread across the northern Australia, including the Kimberley, Northern Territory and Queensland. They live largely in freshwater rivers, gorges and billabongs.
These reptiles are active by day but most hunting is done at night, when they search for fish, frogs and other small animals. They breed between October and November, at the end of the dry season, laying about 20 eggs in nests excavated in sandbanks. As with the saltwater crocodile, the sex of the young is determined by nest temperature. A steady temperature of 32 degrees Celcius results in the birth of males, but if the temperature fluctuates much above and below this, females result.

Bibliography: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Email
Back
1