Sauro Knight

[zed]

My first Zoid review, and I've picked a tough one. Sauro Kinghts is supposed to be free, so I guess anything free is good. But I had to pay for this sucker, plus had to ship him to England. Should I compare him to Blitz Sworder (who is also free) ? Or maybe Bio-raptor who is a similar size ? Hmmm ...

Pictures of the box and sprues are in the Acquisitions Section, under Ugly Lil' Dino. I'd skipped lunch when I wrote that title ...

Onto the pics:
i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/zedpics/SauroK1.jpg
i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/zedpics/SauroK2.jpg

There is one extra connector, used in Weapon Mode to connect the Radar Dish thing. Plus a pic of the stickers:
i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/zedpics/SauroMisc.jpg
I think I'll paint SK one day, then put the stickers on. Note the green triangle, comprised of an Eagle, Lion and ... Fish ? I guess Pheno would love it, he's into his stickers.

SK compared to Bio-Raptor. Sauro is a little taller and longer, but looks kinda scrawny and under fed IMO.
i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/zedpics/SauroBio.jpg

But under the hat, their heads do look similar:
i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/zedpics/SauroHeads.jpg

SK forms a back mounted weapon, a visor, plus replaces the front sholder armour:
i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/zedpics/SauroLiger1.jpg
This reminds me of the Viking Lance CP. Technically, the rider is noy supposed to be used in Weapon Mode. But I love the rider pose, so he stays.

The view from the right side shows how the weapon attaches:
i17.photobucket.com/albums/b77/zedpics/SauroLiger2.jpg

The Good: Anything free is good, right ? I'm always a sucker for "bike rider" pilots and radar dishes. There is a lot of detail sculpted on, especially on the head and neck. The Weapon Mode looks good, and not too contrived.

The Bad: In Dino Mode, the legs are pretty poor. The pose is weird, have weird toes, weird shaped hip armour and no joints. The head and neck would have looked so much better in grey, with red armour. A lot of the details are lost.

The Ugly: Why is he called Sauro Knights ? There's only one in the box ?
The Hat: Looks passable as a visor on the Liger, but just crazy on SK.
The Weapon itself is good, but the shoulder armour is a joke. Hate the fact the big, gold screws are visible.

Overall, I think SK is a good concept, but a bit lacking in the execution. A coat of paint will improve him immensly, or display him in Weapon Mode. Initially I hated him, and bought him for his rarity. But he's starting to grow on me more and more.

zed

[Tyrann]

Good pics. Thanks. But I have a question. Does the pilot even stay on in Weapon Mode when it flings to the side? Or does it not even have that action anymore?

[zed]

LOL ! First thing I tried when I attached him to the Liger ! Unfotunately, the release button is on the blade, and there is nothing similar on the Sauro Lance. (No idea of the official name, so its now the Sauro Lance until someone corrects me) Cannot really attach the Sauro Lance on the side, as the Liger's legs get in the way ...

zed

[Tilly]

I still half like that thing due to it being so WEIRD. Its smile is creepy, though...

[bushido]

it looks like a rip off to me hope u enjoy it though, i mean if you enjoy something its all right, wat i don't get is if someone payed for that ;l BTW nasty diseases and voting for tony blair are also free but they are definately not good things

[adamassc]

congrats, Corporal! I grabbed a Sauro Knight ASAP, and I love the little fella. It is wierd how the box says knights, but whatever, its their model. I think he's one of the cooler horrible evil little monsters to be created so far. I'm toying with the idea of getting A Murasame Liger to display him in weapon mode, though that would go against my vow.

Oh, and I think its supposed to be a Lion, a hawk, and a dino, to represent Murasame, Pride Hawk, and Sauro Knight, though it looks more closely like a lion, a griffon, and a turtle to me.

[chrisjbrandon]

It's kinda nice if I can find it under 20 bucks...

[zed]

SK was free with a Nintendo DS Game. Since I don't have a DS or live in Japan, I picked him up off ebay. (They seem to go for abour $15 plus shipping) Adamassc: if you get a Murasame DO NOT use the white stickers on the gold spikes. I did, and boy do I regret it.

I REALLY wanted the free Ptero Rayse model that came with a Game Cube game. So I ordered it from Amenbo, and gave the disk to a friend of mine with a Game Cube. He doesn't read Japanese, and only has a vague recollection of Zoids from when he was a kid. But I gave it to him for free, so he's happy ! I don't see the difference between buying a game I don't need, or paying £100 for a 20 year old Zoid that cost £5 at the time. Its just supply and demand.

BTW - anyone know the Backstory for Sauro Knight ? Who is Pride Hawk ? Any connection to Blade Hawk ?

zed

[adamassc]

Pride Hawk is another promo zoid capable of fusing with Murasame Liger. He replaces the crest, inner foreleg armor, rear leg armor, and weapon. Pride Hawk transforms into a giant shuriken with a couple of detachable kunai knives and I believe he's pilotless-though I could be mistaken- and appears to have similar triangle stickers.

[stormhawk]

If Pride Hawk turns into a shuriken thingy, then its the same as Blade Hawk.

zed, its a nice buy. I'm getting one soon from a good friend. That said, I think the "radar dish" is more or less SK's shield. Since the critter has Knights in the name I would be more inclined to say its a shield rather than the radar dish.

[zed]

Good point Stormhawk, I had not thought about it that way.

Does anyone have the Technical Spec's for this bad boy ?

zed

[Abaddon]

Wow, that's custom sticker would look ideal on a custom team of Energy Liger, Buster Eaglw and Wardick!! ;D

[Königbreaker]

Pride Hawk was the prototype name for Blade Hawk.

[zed]

A-ha ! Konig's here !

He'll have the Weapon Specs. He has the specs for EVERYTHING.

Don't you ?

zed

[Königbreaker]

Sauro Knights does not have any stats on it's box.. So there really is none.. Unless Tomy puts some of their site.