Hasbro had a great line up this year at toy fair, but the standout lines were TRANSFORMERS and STAR WARS, as usual. The new line XEVOZ looked quite impressive as well.
TRANSFORMERS
For their Transformers line, they had an assortment of Energon and Alternators toys on display. Armada is being phased out and there were no Go-bots toys on display.The spokesperson said she did not know of any plans to continue the line. The star of the line was Omega Supreme. From the official press release:
As the AUTOBOTS battle UNICRON, the OMEGA SUPREME character is the ultimate combiner in the quest for ENERGON. The figure stands at an incredible 16? in robot mode and it is actually two vehicles -- an awesome aircraft carrier and a battle train -- that combine to make a super robot. OMEGA SUPREME is action-packed with electronic lights and sound, additional mechanized features, firing projectiles and holds MINI-CON figures. OMEGA SUPREME can also combine with the new OPTIMUS PRIME figure for even bigger ENERGON play. (Approx. $49.99; Available in fall)
Omega Supreme may very well be the biggest Transformer ever. The prototype on display was made out of resin and plastic, but it appeared to be actual size. They did not show how the toy combines with Optimus Prime. The ship mode had heavy Yamato influences, with a little SDF-1 thrown in for good measure. I don't know about the vehicle mode, but judge for yourself.
The rest of Energon was on display as well, including the long-awaited ARCEE toy:
They had prototypes of all the alternators including Silverstreak, which had a broken hood from being handled too much. Hasbro allowed people to handle all the product, which was nice, but I can imagine the shape these things are going to be in by the end of Toy Fair.
STAR WARS
The Star Wars display was a lot smaller than in years past. No PR people dressed up in costumes this time. But what they did have, should make every classic Star Wars fan happy for a long time. They are releasing figures in the ORIGINAL PACKAGING. That's right, the original packaging from the 70's. The front will be an exact duplicate, even including the Keener logo. The back will show the evolution of the figures from the 1970's to today. The figures themselves will be new, but styled in the spirit of the original figures. No overly dynamic poses. From the Hasbro press release:
Ever since the classic Star Wars trilogy burst onto the screen in 1977, a new generation of movie and toy fans has continued the tradition of celebrating the past, present and future of the Star Wars universe. In 2004, Hasbro builds on the tradition with the Original Trilogy Collection of authentically detailed figures, vehicles and lightsabers, this time celebrating Lucasfilm?s fall release of the Star Wars Trilogy on DVD. Hasbro?s Original Trilogy Collection will recapture the magic of the first three Star Wars film releases from the late 70s and early 80s for a new generation of kids, bringing back the memorable black-and-silver retro package look and collectible new versions of the earliest Star Wars toys. In addition to updated action figure versions of the most favorite characters from the first three films, Hasbro is bringing back one of the most legendary spaceships in the galaxy -- available for the first time since 1996 will be the Millennium Falcon. (Approx. $4.99-59.99; Available in fall)
The Millennium Falcon, Tie Fighter and X-Wing on display were mocked up versions of old toys, so expect the final versions to look substantially different. The falcon will feature light up rear engines, with different "modes" of lights depending on the play. It will also feature light up laser cannons, and front lights. There will be a classic version 12 inch figure, and 2 different 3 3/4 figure lines. One will be in replica packaging, one will be in "The Original Trilogy Collection" packaging. The figures will likely be the same. We will also see a series of action play lightsabers based on the original trilogy.
XEVOZ
Hasbro has a new line of Action figures that combine figures and gaming. The designs for this line was fantastic, and reminded me a lot of Stikfas (who were absent from Toy Fair):
Action figures take an evolutionary step forward with XEVOZ? - the convergence of action figures and gaming. XEVOZ are the first action figures kids can construct, customize and competitively battle in a fun strategy game. First, build your poseable figure with the kit. Then, battle an opponent?s figure using the special die, the BATTLE HELIX?. With each roll, a player dismantles the opposing figure piece by piece. Finally, xevolve your action figure by adding the new parts to create a more powerful warrior. Each XEVOZ character and species has a unique set of strengths and a compelling story. The web site, www.xevoz.com, allows players to build and battle virtual XEVOZ, as well as showcase their own unique character creations and learn more about the world of XEVOZ. (Approx. $6.99 - 14.99; 6 & up)