Back to mecha-related collectible after the review on Sega Prize's PM Figure Mari. ^^
Unintentionally put onto this month's menu, this figure adheres to the the theme of transforming mecha, which is shared by Kabaya's Brave Legend Brave Gum shokugan series, and "Transformers: Prime - Beast Hunters" Cyberverse Legion Class Blight, but it's much bigger than the two previously reviewed figures. ^^
Composite Ver. Ka Cybaster
Production company: Tamashii Nations (Bandai)
Release date: Late July, 2011
Price: 5,800 Yen (exclusive of tax).
Official link
The Composite Ver. Ka line was launched in March 2010, with Lancelot Albion as its pilot release. With Hajime Katoki supervising the figures' design and production (hence the series's name), I used to believe that this merchandise line is the equivalence of "Not-Gundam" Fix Figuration. XD Since he is a very prominent and active mecha designer, with many of his work realized as action figure releases by Tamashii Nations, it's to be expected that Hajime Katoki would have many non-Gundam designs, which are equally marketable as his Gundam-type designs. This action figure line would be Tamashii Nations' positive response to that market potential I guess. ^^
Like many other merchandise series, Composite Ver. Ka started off quite strongly when it was launched. Lancelot Albion is a really well designed, elegant realization of that mecha from the TV series. There were a couple of really funky releases as well, like Haruhi Robo, and Virtual-On Fei-Yen/Hatsune Miku, which showed off the massive creativity and potential of Composite Ver. Ka. Unfortunately, the series didn't last for too long. ^^; Cybaster, the focus of the this review series, came out in 2011 when there would be a new Composite Ver. Ka release every other month, but Virtual-On Fei-Yen/Hatsune Miku which came out in Novemeber that year was the last of the normal releases. Kyon's Sister Robo, a Tamashii Web Shop limited release in July 2012 remains as the last item from the series till this day. ^^;
In total, Composite Ver. Ka has ten releases before it went into "hibernation". ^^;
I'm not going to speculate on the reasons behind the series's demise, since its discontinuation doesn't mean that the releases from the series are all bad. On top of that, Bandai, especially Tamashii Nations, have many other product lines that are currently inactive like Composite Ver. Ka as well. In the end, it's all just normal business decisions I suppose. As customers, even if a series we like don't get the focus it should from the company, it doesn't mean that there's nothing else from other product lines that we can like. On that note, for a particular mecha or character that we like, differences in designs, scales, gimmicks due to their product series are perfectly fine with me. I already got the non-scale plamo version of Cybaster from Kotobukiya years ago, but I still went for this Composite Ver. Ka figure for its detailing, and gimmicks.
Plus, along with Haruhi Robo, I got Cybaster through a sales bargain, which is always very nice to have. ^^
Front view of the box.
Cybaster stands gloriously, right in the middle of the box. ^^
(Left) Product series, and mecha name
(Right) Merchandising seal of the Super Robot Wars Original Generation franchise.
The large clear window allows Cybaster to be seen clearly without the need to remove it from the box.
Closeups on the content.
A colored illustration of the mecha on the left hand side of the box.
Simple, rather elegant design on all sides of the box.
Introduction of the figure on the back of the box.
Size-wise, Cybaster's box is just a bit shorter than that of an S.I.C., like Vol. 65 Kamen Rider OOO Tajadol Combo. ^^
Box open.
Content.
The figures, accessories, option parts, and display base components are arranged on two different trays.
Front view of the first tray.
First tray content without the top cover.
Closeups on the content.
Rear view of the first tray.
Closer look at the details.
Front view of the bottom tray.
Bottom tray content without the top cover.
Closeups on the content.
There's a large molded gap between the right edge of the base and the bottom tray that allows the base to be taken out easily. ^^
Rear view of the second tray.
Closer look at the details.
A straight out of box display of Composite Ver. Ka Cybaster. ^^
By default, the top part of Cybaster's head is collapsed inside the chest area. It's pulled up for a full display in robot mode.
A large, very simplistic backdrop that features a large emblem of the product series, and the hexagram pattern that pops up when Cybaster initiate its Akashic Buster attack move.
A large-sized instruction sheet is included.
Content list, weapons and display base configuration are shown on the front page of the instruction sheet.
The Cybird mode transformation sequence is shown on the rear page.
A look at Composite Ver. Ka Cybaster's accessories and option parts in the next posting. ^^
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