new

i let myself get some toys with my tax refund. not many (relatively speaking…) but a few of the less expensive ones that i’d been eying for awhile now.

energon starscream and a couple energon basics(buy 1 get 1 free at tru); the new scarlett and cobra viper 2packs; dextrus(a 6 armed warrior) from imaginext; a couple small lego sets for parts; and one of the new toa metru from bionicle.

there’s no way in hell i can afford the $70 masterpiece optimus prime, so maybe i’ll ask for him for my birthday. doubtful though. still, he’s 12″ tall, perfect transformation from show-accurate robot mode to reality-accurate semi-cab mode. he’s got the matrix in his chest and everything.
also passed up the new alternator sideswipe, who turns into a super-realistic dodge viper; some of the new gijoe vehicles that are totally cool; any number of larger lego sets; more bionicle for building things; more transformers; xevos ninja/mantis 2pack; etc… the list is depressingly long. as usual.

the new toa are freaking sweet. super-posable right out of the box, and the new mask designs are more in line with the original designs than the bloated, warped masks off the toa nuva. they fixed all the articulation problems from previous figures, except the shoulders which are actually harder to fix now. but they now have knees and elbows, hips that aren’t restricted, and a built-in ball neck. redoing the shoulders is a worthy trade for the rest of it already being perfect.

additionally, the masks plug in securely now, rather than being easily knocked off by enemy figures or a slight breeze.

unfortunately, the new enemies look like crap. a cross between the bohrok and the rakshi, but without the good qualities of either of them. money saved i suppose. each good new design only inspires more and more ideas in my head. i have too many already…