Deluxe Lightspeed Megazord

In Episode 2, “Lightspeed Teamwork”, the Rangers are introduced to Miss Angela Fairweather, the lead scientist who is responsible for designing and creating all of their weapons and vehicles, as well as analyzing new situations and coming up with plans to help them. As they’re meeting, a giant meteor falls from the sky and transforms into a lava monster which stands several dozen stories tall! Fortunately, the Rangers have the use of five giant trains known as the Rail Rescues. The Rail Rescues contains within their armor a smaller emergency vehicle known as a Lightspeed Zord, which are each designed to deal with unique types of situations.

Pyro Rescue-1 (Ladder truck)

Aqua Rescue-2 (Water pump truck)

Aero Rescue-3 (Aerial crane and weapons fire support)

Haz Rescue-4 (Removing dangerous objects, armored decoy)

med Rescue-5 (Help evacuate civilians and provide medical support)

As the Lightspeed Zords first come onto the scene with the lava monster, Aqua Rescue-2, Haz Rescue-4, and Med Rescue-5 combine together to form Hydro Mode, which is tall and mobile enough to reach most areas with its quad water cannons. They use the cannons to cool the growing lake of lava just enough so that Pyro Rescue-1 can get close enough to use its Lightspeed Ladder Arms to reach trapped civilians inside a skyscraper elevator.

With the civilians rescued from the collapsed building, Captain Mitchell instructs the Lightspeed Rangers to combine their Zords into Megazord Formation; Aero Rescue-3 lifting Pyro Rescue-1 into the air with its cables to set it on top of Hydro Mode. As they are doing this, however, the monster charges and interrupts the process. Aero Rescue-3 responds by firing its laser cannons to ward it off temporarily, allowing the transformation for the Lightspeed Megazord to be completed.

As a special feature in battle, the Lightspeed Megazord can rapidly extend and contract its fists from the Lightspeed Ladder Arms to punch enemies, which is known as the Power Thrust. Though not automatically, the toy can extend Pyro Rescue-1’s arms in similar fashion.

In a first for a combined Deluxe-sized toy, the Lightspeed Megazord’s hands can open and close! This allows it to grip the Lightspeed Megazord Saber tightly without it falling out.

(Because I got this toy second-hand, I do not have the Saber, so I cannot show you the yellow PVC weapon. Sorry!)

For those of you wondering what the differences are between the Deluxe Lightspeed Megazord from “Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue” (2000), and its original Japanese counterpart, the DX Kyuukyuu Gattai Victory Robo (Chogokin #GD-15) from “Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGo-V” (1999), there was one major difference: All of the die-cast metal from the Victory Robo was replaced with plastic equivalents, with the sole exception of the hip transformation joints from inside Blue Thrower. Red Ladder’s metal shoulder transformation joints were simply swapped for plain black plastic, and Green Hover featured no die-cast metal to begin with. However, to compensate for the lack of shine on the front bumpers of Yellow Armor and Pink Aider, silver vacuum-metalized plastic was used instead. Otherwise, all other materials, plastic molds, and coloring, paint applications, and decal designs remain the same between the two toys!

This Megazord marks the first time in Power Rangers history where each sub-Zord was equipped with a unique gimmick, even if some of those required imagination to power them. It is also the first time that the sub-Zords do not deploy directly from their hidden location(s), but are rather carried to the location of emergency by the larger Rail Rescues. In the context of the series, the Zords do not ‘magically’ levitate and zoom together when they combine, but rather require time to form; two of them actually being dependent on Aero Rescue-3 to get them into their combining positions! For the most part, these three points are trivial when it comes to the toy itself. I will say, however, that the special feature on each feels more satisfying that they did on the earlier Rescue Zords in the Deluxe Double-Morphin Rescue Megazord from “Power Rangers Turbo” (1997), which were all strictly due to how they transformed (but understandable considering they were the first triple-changing Zords). Each Lightspeed Zord also has a specific purpose, and is dependent on the others to help out in differing situations, which ends up creating a stronger theme of teamwork and trust that extends beyond simply combining the Zords. (Umm… if Aqua Rescue-2 is a water truck, then why does Pyro Rescue-1 have water nozzles as well if it doesn’t have space for water tanks?) The Hydro Mode is a cheesy second combination, and is just a lack of upper body replaced by a couple of PVC water blasters (which do not rotate into position like they do in the series and have to be removed/attached each time, dang it), but again, this third mode goes towards the idea of special combinations for special needs and teamwork I mention above, so I’ve got to give Bandai and PLEX props for that. Having the Power Thrust extending arms available both when separated and combined is a nice charming touch that connects it closer to the TV show. Though certainly not as flexible as the ones on the Deluxe Zeo Megazord from “Power Rangers Zeo” (1996), the arms on this toy do have some nice extra shoulder articulation, even if they are part of the transformation. The opening hands are new and appreciated! About the only thing I can complain about is how fragile the yellow PVC cannons on both Aqua Rescue-2 and Aero Rescue-3 seem to be; they’re prone to breaking easily, I’m sure. Despite its blocky- some would say simplified- design, the Deluxe Lightspeed Megazord is guaranteed to be both durable and flexible in its mission to save the world in the blink of an eye. Highly recommended!