For serious Bandai?
 

Someone else besides me has to be tired of the difference between the asian release and the american release of both Sentai and KR stuff. I just did an eBay search for any Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight toys and saw the american release of Drag Redder... and seriously Bandai? The Dragon looks like it was made out of that cheap KO China plastic, and the figure is just.. It looks like someone melted an action figure in the microwave. And it's the same for Sentai Mecha. The first couple Megazords were exact to the Asian Market release, but recently? I love Samurai Megazord. I love MMPR Samurai, I swear I do. But the megazord? And like Baltmatrix said about the difference between Overdrive Megazord and the Asian release. Cheaper. And he's right about Gosei Great. If there is ever an american release? It'll be smaller and the mouths won't open. And knowing them the heads won't come off right either.

I missed the day when they just release the same stuff, changing molds and crap like that, doesn't that waste even more resources?

As said before, this is probably due to the restricted pricing that American toy manufacturers are forced to comply with. I heard on TFW once that toys above $40-50 are a tough sell for parents; hence why we don't see Japanese DX mecha anymore.

Luckily though, Operation Overdrive seems to be a one-time thing. Subsequent dumbing down of toys, at least for Power Rangers, seem to be better adaptations of their source toys compared to Operation Overdrive's. They've even made a few improvements, such as overall better proportions and even occasionally increasing play value (such a fully wieldable sword in the Jungle Pride Ultimate Megazord).

I feel that the ideal direction for Power Rangers is the Jungle Fury line. It had great action figures, decent role-playing items, smaller, cheaper Zords, and most importantly, Japanese DX Mecha available as "Deluxe Megazords". I must admit, though, that the direction that the Samurai line is taking is quite good too.

eh, after owning the US G12 and then seeing the real thing, I'd much rather have the Japanese version, also, owning the Samurai Ha-Oh, I find the US version quite disappointing. I can see if you've never seen the Japanese version, the US version is cool enough, but when put next to the Japanese version, it pales in comparison.

Oh, I own several Japanese DX mecha, so I know the differences. :)

I'm just saying that for their considerably cheaper prices, the Bandai of America mecha usually aren't that terrible and they even throw us a bone sometimes with the aforementioned improvements.

Yes, given the choice and resources, I'd much rather buy the Japanese versions (and I am shifting to more of that gradually) but the American dumbed-down versions are decent alternatives for the price, especially for thrifty parents. So, of course they pale in comparison, but I guess I can say that their prices "pale" in comparison too, if you get my drift. :)

Remember, kids, you're not the target audience for the BOA toys. These just need to appeal to American children, and more importantly be comfortably priced for their parents. You're more or less free to obtain the Japanese version if it really bothers you that much. And that includes the original example of the Dragon Knight stuff, for which there is many good Japanese iterations to get hold of.

Personally, I'm actually glad BoA does the smaller, more stripped-down mecha. I'd really like Gokaioh and some of the ancillary mechs, for example, but I don't want to shell out the cash for the Japanese version nor do I really have the display space for something that big. But a smaller, cheaper, more basic US version that can still split apart and, ideally, incorporate something like the Magidragon, Pat Striker, etc.? I may be on board for something like that.

I wouldn't rule out that a Bandai America MagiDragon could even turn out to be a better toy than the original. :P

If they get rid of the dial gimmick (which is likely) it is highly possible that we'll get an improved Magidragon. All the restrictions necessary to make the dial gimmick work would no longer need to be considered when designing the toy.

Count me in for American DX Gokaiger mecha too. I'd like the Japanese versions, but I don't have space nor funds to get them all. Smaller cheaper one sound like a good alternative to me.

I thought all the Samurai Megazord stuff was actually pretty cool. The only and biggest turn off being that they lacked their emblem modes, and that was enough for me not to buy it. If they make a decent GokaiOh that retains enough features, I probably might pick it up. But in all honesty, the things I REALLY want them to release are ranger keys. Hopefully they don't change the mechanism of the keys/mobirates. Really, I can see them just having waaaaaaaay fewer sounds. It would be a shame if they changed the size or something else such that they wouldn't work on the Japanese version.

The American Samurai mech have had their fair share of improvements.

- The mechs being better proportions overall.
- Swordfish having a moving tail, instead of that wiggling nose.
- Beetle having the head turn when it's rolling. Having more combining options that aren't just a helmet.
- Octo having a "spin" gimmick now. The head piece extending farther (From what I remember.).
- Shark being sized better as a sword. Extra combining options with the pegs on the sides.

Those are what I can think of off the top of my head.

Even my son, who has the Ha-Oh, went to the park and one kid brought with him the Samurai Megazord, and he came to me shaking his head saying "These poor kids, they have no idea..." :lol

Can I be your son? Can you buy me Ha-Ohs and G12's? :D I promise to behave well.

In all seriousness though, your kid is very lucky to have such exquisite Japanese products. I can't even afford a Shinken-oh, much less a Ha-Oh!