2015 is officially coming to a close tonight for those of us in the US, and for many of our users around the world 2016 has already dawned! But before we can ring in the new year we wanted to find out what YOU thought about the toy releases of this past year. What were your Top Toku Toys of 2015?
Some of the staff got together recently to share their thoughts on what exactly the top toku toys of this year were. Our answers ranged from the inexpensive and fun 66Action figures, to S.H. Figuarts like Drive & Mach, all the way up the other end of the spectrum with S.H. Figuarts Tridoron!
We’ve included our picks after the jump below, you can see them by clicking “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post. But please feel free to share what your favorite toku toys of 2015 were.
2016, here we come!
Some of the staff got together to share what their top picks for Toku Toy of the year were. But we wanted to know, what were yours? Share here!
Staff Picks
Den-O-
2. S.H. Figuarts Vul Shark & Panther 2-pack- a brief addition to the Sentai subline of S.H. Figuarts and the only one for the entirety of 2015. It makes my list because Vul Eagle was already one of my favorite toys for 2015 and these 2 figures reuse that magnificent body again and still have the same kind of exquisite detailing and personality.
3. S.H. Figuarts Tridoron - The behemoth companion to my #1 pick. I just love super premium releases like this. Tridoron is unlike anything else in the line. Drop dead gorgeous, functional, loaded with accessories & display options, it's the most all inclusive package you could ever hope for. I love everything about it.
Extremely honorable mentions -
S.H. Figuarts Doras
S.H. Figuarts Drive Type Formula
S.H. Figuarts Proto-Drive
Super Sentai Artisan Shinobimaru
DX Shurikenjin
Rarely would you ever see a Kamen Rider's vehicle show up in anyone's Top 3/5/10 whatever lists, but Tridoron is a different story. Complete with diecast metal, working LED lights, and incredible detail throughout, it perfectly captures and recreates the Tridoron from the actual show. The only real thing that it's missing is seat belts. It works as the show's premiere item release, leaving collector's everywhere scrambling to afford it or kicking themselves for missing it when it was available.
2) Legacy Saba
Kudos to Bandai America for successfully creating a working replica of one of the most iconic weapons from the Power Rangers franchise. With working sound effects, the original voice actor (Tony Oliver) reprising his role with new lines for Saba, as well as the animatronics to make the mouth of Saba move, the Legacy Saba is an item that no Power Rangers fan should go without. In a world dominated by "Masterpiece Transformers", you HAVE to tip your cap to Bandai America for creating a line that focuses on show accuracy down to the smallest detail.
3) Legacy Blade Blaster
A late release in the year, the Legacy Blade Blaster is a fun roleplay weapon that makes my Top 3 list. There's nothing ground-breaking about this item except that it's nearly identical to the actual show, except for the fact it may be a little thin. You can easily turn the weapon from blade to blaster and back again in mere seconds, just as in the show, and the added electronic effect where depending on how fast you push the "fire" button will result in the explosions from the laser effects happening at the same rate is pretty impressive. The Legacy Blade Blaster is currently at $80 and while you may be tempted to rush out to get one now, if you can wait for it to be closer to $50 you will feel much better about your purchase. Kind of like how the Legacy Megazord is worth a good $50 and not $80, the Legacy Blade Blaster feels the same way.
Honorable Mentions - S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Mashin Chaser, S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Drive, S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Ryugen Yomi Arms.
Roleplay: GanGun Saber. Don't own it, but the multiple modes make it awesome.
US Toy: Blade Blaster. It is my first legacy toy and it doesn't disappoint
This is not s perfect release but is a great example of the potential the Legacy line has. While it isn't as big as the original, it has none of the negative qualities the original had. Hated stickers that peeled over time and having to keep track of the red orbs? Neither issue is present here. The more slender silhouette and refined sculpt result in a more show accurate figure. The heft adds a good feel to the toy. I love how everything is painted on. In comparison it looks like a collectible whereas the original definitely looks more like a toy. This isn't to say the Legacy release is completely superior(it isn't IMO), but it's got beneficial improvements.
I think all the Legacy items are overpriced. However I do think the line features zord toys the way we wanted them to be as kids; not necessarily all they can be presently. Nonetheless, the Tigerzord is one of the best in the Legacy line so far.
1) SIC Kikaider - Kikaider is the series that Kickstarted the SIC line and this is a brilliant update that captures perfectly why the character is so suited to the line. Beautifully detailed, nicely articulated and some really well thought-out effect parts included. Definitely my favourite toku figure of the year.
2) S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Mach - All of the Drive figures are utterly fantastic but Mach wins because he's the only one that doesn't heavily rely on extra sets. Perfect sculpt, really nicely done figure.
3) 66action Kamen Rider Ryuki & Kamen Rider Accel - It's no secret that I absolutely adore this line, but for cheap candy toys these two were really something else. Not only are they fully articulated chibi figures, but Accel is fully transformable and Ryuki comes with a fully functional Dragredder. How cool is that?
S.H. Figuarts Kuuga Renewal. It's simply the definition of a perfect Figuart.
To list off my top 3, I think they'd have to be, in no particular order:
SHF Drive Type Speed
I dropped Drive early on, with quickly declining interest in it's annoying characters and dull protagonists, but I do have to admit that the Drive suit is a beauty. While I'm not a fan of his later forms, the Type Speed suit just looks lovely. While I don't own it, it's definitely a figure I'd love to add to my collection~
Legacy Saba
-Insert mini Tommy and JDF rant-
That said, I'm so glad Legacy Saba turned out so well. Coming hot of the heels of my finishing Dairanger, it's so wonderful to have the option of an accurate Byakkoshinken that's better than what both the states and Japan provided some 20 odd years ago. It's a thing of beauty.
SHF Doras
I loved Kamen Rider ZO. It was interesting and, while not the best, kept my attention well and just a joy. However, ZO's biggest failing is that, design wise, he just wasn't anything special. Especially in comparison to his beautifully designed villain, Doras. I love the guy, and is an amazingly designed kaijin. I'm saddened that I couldn't pick one up, but's definitely on my want list.
BakurenOh- hey, it was a Toku Toy I got this year!
Deinosuchus and Ammonite Zords- because even if they're cheap BoA toys, WE STILL GOT THEM AND THEY ARE EXCLUSIVE TO POWER RANGERS! HAHAHAHA!
Jungle Deers- same camp as BakurenOh, but this guy makes the list for being quite decent. Plus we now have an official reference point for quality!
Souchaku Henshin Kiva- another "this year for me so HAHAHA!" entry, but aside from how the shoulders work, it's a really nice toy and a good stand in for an ACTUAL Kiva Figuart. [insert meme here]
I got a bunch of Figuarts this year but only a few actually came out this year. The highlight of those would likely be Baron Mango Arms. The only Baron I've managed to get, but man he's a beauty. Fantastic sculpt and detailing. All the Gaim figures are great, but of the 3 I got from this year (4 if we're counting the Orange Arms rerelease) Mango is the best.
Drive and Mach are both great figures as well, though.
And the Ghost Eyecons are fun, whatevs.
I love the SHF Agito Renewal. Great all around figure, and a outstanding representation of one of my favorite Riders of all time. I also think the DC villain figures deserve a mention. I might not personally own any of them, but they were a very welcome surprise.
I didn't collect any of the Drive, Ninnger and Dino Charge roleplay toys. My top three favorites would be (in no order):
S.H. Figuarts Kuuga Renewal
S.H. Figuarts Agito Renewal
S.H Figuarts Mach
I really like SHF of Drive, Mach, Type Wild, Rider #3, Ryugen Yomi Arms and Blue Beet too. Just focusing on the figuarts that I bought that came out in 2015.
Not in particular order
Figuarts Sangou, almost perfect release, too bad his left leg is a bit longer than his right, it happen in all sangou figuarts I encounter
Figuarts Kuuga and Trychaser 2000, such a perfect release it gives 2 things that Kuuga needed, a better figuarts representation, and a Gasgas Pampera bike.
Figuarts Maul, words can't describe how good this figuarts is, ofc the movements are a bit limited, but as far as the figuarts goes, it's fairly accurate and almost able to do all of the movement of maul in phantom menace.
1. DX Shurikenjin. I just love the aesthetic is has. Plus, the whole robot controlling a robot suit is something out of the ordinary and a thing we havent really seen in sentai.
2. Dx Senpuujin. Ordered it December of last year but got it January of this year. I always loved the Hurricanger mecha. Too but that they suffer from crappy plastic issues like clip breakage.
Shinkocchou Seihou Kuuga. Perfect release, awesome figure.
I really hope we get SS Ultimate Kuuga and N-Daguva-Zeba soon-ish.
Second place would go to Ryugen Yomi I think, the weapons are really great and I love that they even included a Kiwi Gekirin.
Keep reading: Your Top Toku Toys of 2015 - Page 2
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