ToQ 1

From Ranger Wiki:
“Ressha Sentai ToQger (烈車戦隊トッキュウジャー lit. translation Train Squadron ToQger ?) is the title of the 38th entry in the Super Sentai series. It features a train motif. On February 16, 2014 it replaced Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger, and joined Kamen Rider Gaim as part of the Super Hero Time block on TV Asahi. On October 1, 2014 it will join Kamen Rider DriveIcon-crosswiki as part of the Super Hero Time block.

Plot:

Five young people travel on the Rainbow Line. But they have several problems. They’ll often arrive at a station only to find it’s been taken over by the evil Shadow Line. They can’t remember anything beyond their childhoods. And there are lost trains (Resshas) that need to be found.”

Personal stuff:

I was aware that the current Season (as of September 2014) was a train theme. I also was aware of how awesome Super Mega Force/ Gokaiger looked, in it’s designs as well as it’s fan service story line. I postulated that the next few series would have it rough following that show. Then I saw then designs and main concepts for ToQger and thought, “Wow, that looks terrible, maybe the worst sentai/power ranger concept ever”. I imagined Saban might bring over Kyoruger /Dino Charge, and extend it to two seasons skipping ToQger in the US market. Despite that, I did kind of like the train tracks on the helmet, it reminded me of a knight’s face-plate a bit. I watched episode one in preparation of this review, and man, it is crazy. It’s very fantastical, and has tons of wacky CGI, the characters are silly, and there lots of slap stick gags. Regardless, I enjoyed it way more than I thought it would. It’s SO goofy that you can’t take it seriously enough to critique it. It reminds me of an official less depressing version of Akibaranger. I really enjoyed the color switch concept as something new, and would watch more of it, even if I still think the train mechs are not very interesting, and the megazord/Ressha Gattai ToQ-Oh looks like Lego bars glued together.

Review:

OK, so I got this spanking new figure, hot off the shelves of a Japanese toy store, for the current sentai. There is a certain excitement in that for me. Since usually I get US released versions that are different, or even when the same toys, they come out years later, or are vintage or adult collector-type. Hardly ever an “of-the-moment” product.

Let’s look at the box, with it’s oh so appealing to American eyes Kana all over it. It has a clear front to show the figure and accessories, and a mix of suit actor photos and product shots on the box.

The back shows the play feature, accessories included, and other figures available in the line. Note, no Pink or Yellow, the girl’s default color. As of now that have not been released which seems like a wasted opportunity. They could have skipped the skirts and re-used the mold 2 more times for the cost of a 2 new head sculpts. Also, it makes me less interested in getting the other 2 knowing that I can never get the full team.

Removed from the box, he comes in a tray with all his accessories in front of a mirrored back panel and instructions. Very similar to they way an SH Figurearts figure is packaged.

OK, so lets take the turn-around tour of our super imaginative Tokkyuger leader

From the front and side he looks quite nice , the back has a lot of screw holes, but that’s to be expected in a mass release kids toy. The only complaint is that his shoulders look a little too big, but otherwise he looks great very close to the suit actor on the show. Paint apps are simple, but clean and accurate.

The belt buckle/Rainbow Pass is well represented as a metallic sticker, it’s shinyness was hard to capture in a picture.

Articulation:

He is surprisingly pose-able as well, like a Figuarts JR. He has a head swivel with slight up and down motion. The shoulders are on a ball joint, and as I said are a little bulky. If they could raise a little higher it would be nice. The bicep swivels, elbow bends, hand swivels, waist swivels, hips/legs go up and down, but also out to the side, the thigh swivels, knee bends, and the foot is ball jointed. He is very stable stands and poses well.

The gimmick is pretty great, and allows you to change him into any of the other Tokkyuger member’s numbers. This effectively means that you have all five characters in in one figure.
You can change his chest number using a wheel on his back.

For the helmet you pull up on the scope, spin it, and then push it back down.

This feature works fine, and I love that it is included, but they are pretty slippy especially the back wheel that often changed by accident while I handled it. Some sort of ratchet, or a stopper between each number would have fixed that, plus we all love “clicks”.

Accessories:

All three available figures come with the exact same set of weapons.

From left to right:

Red sword -Rail Slasher

Black ToQ blaster in Uchimasu (Gun Mode)

Black ToQ blaster in Kirimasu (Sword Mode)

Yellow -Shingo Hammer/Signal Hammer

Green- Tunnel Axe,

Blue gun-Home Trigger

Pink- Tekkyou Claw /Bridge Claw

They cannot be combined to form the “Combination Departure Cannon Renketsu Bazooka”

The weapons are made of a very soft almost rubbery plastic, no chance of breaking a handle or a thumb off the hand with these. The paint apps are again simple, but clean and accurate.

As red, the other color specific weapons should not be accessible, nevertheless they are included and fun to play with.

Of course all the Tokkyugers have the ToQ blaster and can use it on both modes.

Tokkyuu 1 size party!

He is almost perfectly sized to fit in with the other rangers/sentai in their SH Figurearts incarnations, and the detailing doesn’t look bad next to them either.

Overall I am quite pleased with having this figure in my collection, the solid construction and slim body mold really sell it for me.
Pros:
fun gimmick
stable figure
tight joints
solid construction
good articulation
show accurate look
lots of weapons

Cons:
Gimmick wheels a bit loose
shoulders a little to big/ slightly restricted range of motion
simple paint apps on weapons

I’d give it a 8 out of 10 and recommend it if you are a fan of the show for sure.