[Den-O]

Titanium Power!

We're back with one more push to shore up support for the first truly original Power Ranger, Titanium Ranger! Before you check out our images be sure to head over to Morphin Madness and #VoteTitanium Ranger today!

Today's subject is the Titanium Crawler! Avid fans of course know that the Max Solarzord was billed as Titanium Rangers personal zord in Lightspeed rescue. However since Titanium Ranger was produced entirely for Power Rangers, with no Sentai counterpart, he doesn't have a zord made specifically for him. The Bandai of America toyline for the series sought to rectify that with the Titanium Crawler.

Designed by PLEX, the company behind Sentai toy design for decades, this vehicle almost made it into the series. Unfortunately the budget for Lightspeed had already been stretched thin just from creating the Titanium Ranger suit and accessories. Add on top of this things like the Trans-Armor Cycle, Mega Battles, and Red Mobile Armor, and there simply was nothing left for the Titanium Crawler. That being said, the toy is still very fun. Sharing a design at a basic level with the Red Ranger's Mobile Armor this unique vehicle has it's own robot and vehicle mode.

The Robot mode stands roughly 11" tall and can accommodate a ranger figure standing up fully inside of it. In this mode the forward section of the vehicle becomes a handheld gun and there are also 2 included pressure firing missile launchers which are normally stored on the forearms but can also be held in either fist. As you'll note based on the boxes stock photography, the final product varies quite a bit in paint applications and a fair amount in mold details.

The Titanium Crawler mode is very very similar to the Omega Megazord in it's alternate configuration. Clearly inspired by it. Surprisingly, and undocumented via the instructions, the crawler can open up and form an appropriate cockpit for a ranger figure to pilot it. Showing again where the final product differs from stock images, there are even control stickes which rotate up from the waste for a ranger to grab. This adds some much needed playability to the otherwise brick that is the robot mode.

The included Titanium Ranger figure shares the same basic body mold as the Electronic Lights/Sounds figure of the character. Though because it has no electronics it's articulation isn't hindered. The head can actually rotate on the neck joint, and the shoulders can actually rotate 360 degrees this time. Also of note is that the gloves and boots are the properly colored white this time rather than the odd blue of the previous release. Combo-ing this version of the Titanium Ranger with the superb accessories of the previous one gives you one near perfect figure. Also included with this Titanium ranger figure is a Rescue Blaster accessory.

All in all this is actually a pretty damn nice set. The Titanium Ranger included with the Crawler is easily the best representation of the character that currently exists, and that includes the subpar Super Legends figure. The Titanium Crawler itself is actually quite fun, and I can never resist something that's original and truly inspired like this. Much like Titanium Ranger himself and his in show arsenal, this one feels like it was always meant to be a part of the show/toyline, rather than being solely designed for the US adaptation.