Grendizer Dam Base
Go Nagai’s UFO Robot Grendizer (internationally known as Grandizer, Goldorak, or Goldrake) remains one of the most beloved Super Robots of its era. The anime was the first of its genre to be widely exported and still enjoys popularity in Europe and Middle East.
High Dream has been digging into the property with gusto, releasing an impressive array of Grendizer product. The Grendizer Dam Base is in the tradition of the classic Popy super robot bases of the 70’s.
The base for Duke Fleed and his cohorts lies within a Dam, and springs to life when the services of Grendizer are called upon.
The Grendizer Dam Base arrives courtesy of High Dream Corporation.
The base comes in a simple, well-illustrated window box. The box is surprisingly heavy.
Inside, a plastic clamshell houses the base, and a tiny Spazer is packaged separately.
The Dam is a sturdy block of plastic and diecast. The whole front sloping panel is metal! You could use this thing as a bookend if you so desired.
The paint applications are subtle and effective. I like the detail on the trees and the airbrushed shading on the front panel. Notice the rectangular protrusion at the base of the dam. That will come in handy when it’s time to launch the Spazer.
I’m confused by the absence of the beautiful base building at the top of the dam. Go back and look at the back of the box. Why couldn’t they include that? The whole piece looks dramatically plainer without it. As is, it’s just a model of what could be any dam. A real missed opportunity.
The included Spazer is impressive for such a small piece. It’s diameter is just one inch, but the paint apps and sculpted details are outstanding.
This set has a single play gimmick. A panel in the face of the dam folds down to reveal a launching bay.
The Spazer fits nicely into a spring-loaded launcher at the rear of the bay.
You need only depress the mechanism an eighth of an inch, load the Spazer, and press the button at the base to launch. Try as I might, this was the best action shot I could get.
The vehicle launches a good 8 inches or so. I appreciate that it doesn’t fly across the room.
As I said, there are no other play features here.The Popy PA-63 Grendizer base was loaded with beautiful and intricate gimmicks, metallic and clear flourishes, fold-out panels, tiny accessories. You can get lost in that toy, imagine yourself actually running around inside.
The High Dream base is going for something different. It feels more like a high-end desk accessory than a proper toy, which is fine, but disappointing nonetheless. Everything is executed very well, I just want more.