[TokuChris]

Dino Drive, Activate!

When the Power Rangers Dino Charge need more power in their Dino Charge Megazord, they pull out the Dino Drive Charger and activate it, powering themselves as well as their Megazord up to new levels! With this new power they're able to better stop Sledge, Fury, and whatever released monsters that they've unleashed upon Amber Beach!

In typical "we need to sell more toys but how?" fashion, Saban Brands created a new "power up" suit for the cockpit scenes of the Dino Charge Megazord (just like they did in Power Rangers Samurai). This allowed Bandai America to basically re-release the same 5" figures from the first wave but with a second shoulder pad and a new chest piece for each figure. To top it off, they included translucent weapons because translucent.

So how did they do? Let's take a look! This review will cover all five figures at once rather than separate them out over 5 different reviews.

The Figures
If you purchased the original 5" figures released in the first wave about a year ago then you pretty much have the exact same figure, though the new Dino Drive armor is well sculpted and looks nice with the right lighting. A second shoulder pad is added which does make the suit feel a little more symmetrical.

The downside to more armor is less articulation. While the figures feature the same articulation of their original release, the second shoulder pad on the right shoulder now limits the movement of the right arm a touch. It's no problem though - you can raise that arm to your heart's content and snap off the shoulder pad and reattach it at will.

The weakest figure, again, is the Dino Charge Pink Ranger. With absolutely zero leg articulation, she has only neck, arm, and elbow joints at her disposal (and that forearm spin). This makes any type of posing you want to do kind of lackluster - imagine your legs being frozen, unable to move, and then doing fight poses with a sword and a gun. It just doesn't work. If not for the skirt, her legs would be able to move. I think. It's just awkward.

Overall, the figures are fun and you can do some cool poses. Check out the bazillion images to see some fun poses.

The Accessories
Each of the Dino Drive Rangers come with a translucent yellow-green Dino Charge Saber and Dino Charge Morpher. As always, its Bandai America soft plastic meaning if you look at it wrong it will bend itself in to a form not recognizable. Best to keep them out of extreme warm areas of your display - and do not put them in direct sunlight. I can just see the puddle of goo that would be leftover.

The Good

• Great articulation on 4 of 5 figures
• Dino Drive armor is nicely sculpted
• More visually popping than the non-Dino Drive version
• Easy to find and affordable

The Bad

• Pink Ranger's lack of leg articulation
• Standard complaint about soft plastic weapons here
• Joints will loosen up on you quickly

Overall Conclusion
This is kind of a hit or miss for me. If you're collecting the whole line like I am then yes, this is an easy buy for you. If you're not then do you want the same figure with a different color weapon, some chest armor, and an extra shoulder pad? The lack of paint applications on the back is kind of a moot point because I don't believe the armor is anything but silver, so you can call that a win if you'd like.

I recommend this to anyone on the fence. If you're looking to buy just one version of the Rangers, then I recommend the original version as they will be the most iconic. And with at least one (if not two) more versions of these figures coming out (Dino Steel and possibly Dino Drive but with Dino Steel Armor as well) you will have your pick, that's for sure.

Enjoy nearly 100 images of these figures below!