Post by Zoidmagnite on Dec 1, 2009 21:50:04 GMT -5
At the request of a good friend, I was asked to give a review of the Robotic Beasts Dibison Bootleg sold during Christmas (they're back too 
) at Big Lots Stores. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Shield Liger, the Redhorn/Dimetrodon abomination and the Dibison, which I understand is a little harder to find online for reviews. So, I've stepped up to the plate to share with you my Robotic Beasts Red Box Big Lots Dibison Bootleg. And we're off:
The Box: Well, it's a colorful box and that's a good thing cause all of the Robotic Beasts that I have purchased have been white. And from what I gathered across the internet . . . all Robotic Beasts are white. If color is a factor in your decision to buy a Bootleg and white is not your color, then the Robotic Beasts Line is probably not for you.
The red box showcases the Robotic Beast inside. They use the same box for the Shield Liger, the Dimetrodon/Redhorn hybrid, and the Dibison as shown below. Ironically, the box says that detailed instructions are inside, yet of the three boxed versions that I bought new, not one of them has detailed instructions, or any instructions for that matter, inside the box.
EACH robotic beast is mounted on a set of plastic posts that have to be removed via a screwdriver from the model kit. Ironically, neither the missing instruction set, or the box says anything about this. If you acquire a Robotic Beast, please bear in mind that you will need a screwdriver to remove the beast from the mount.
Once removed from the box, you will find that all of the robotic beasts are operated via a cord-connected remote control unit. The batteries are included in the versions that I have and as such should you acquire a Robotic Beast as a collectible you would be wise to check, and remove, any pre-installed batteries.
The batteries are included and pre-installed in the remote control for last year's models. This year's models, as shown below do not have batteries. Also, for those who have last year's models, the box has been shortened slightly since there is no need to 'test' the toy's lights and sounds.
The cord-connected remote control features two buttons, one which allows the beast (a rather appropriate name for this toy) to walk forward. The second button operates the motor in reverse so that you can . . . well . . . go backwards, if you so desire. Ahem, there is no option to turn the Robotic Beast while walking.
And while your beast is walking forward you will be treated to a lovely sound of what I can only describe as some kind of giant reptile roar as I remember it from the infamous black and white movies. And to top it all off, it sounds as though it were digitally recorded from a cheap cassette tape right onto the EEPROM of the remote control. Nothing like listening to digitally-mastered tape hiss. But that is another story.... The point here is that while I'm operating my plastic Dibison Bootlleg, I can listen to a dinosaur roar, whether I want to . . . or not.
Side by Side Comparison of the Official Tomy Dibison (Hasbro Release shown) when compared to the Robotic Beast Bootleg shows some rather obvious differences. The Robot Beast comes with no missile-pods. It also lacks the top row of cannons and the side cannons that come standard with the dibison. There is provisions to mount a set of missile-pods should you locate any, however, my experience has shown that the pegs on the Robotic Beast Line of toys to be larger than the standard Tomy pegs. To mount an official Tomy product on a Robotic Beast peg would damage the Tomy Weapon. I don't mount any of my Tomy products to my Robotic Beast Toys.
Then next thing to note is that the Robotic Beasts toyline does not use caps to affix their parts . . . which doesn't really matter since the Robotic Beasts toyline comes pre-assembled. Please note that, instead of a Zoid rubber cap, the Robotic Beasts use a hard plastic cap to fit over the post of the connecting part. Then the toymakers drive a screw through the center of the caps and into the underlying post. These screws must be removed if one were to desire to disassemble a Robotic Beast.
One final note is to clarify that none of the Robotic Beasts toys I own feature moving heads, jaws, etc. However, to compensate for this, the Robotic Beasts have instead mounted an LED lamp in the cockpit of each toy. This led illuminates as the Toy Walks forwards, or backwards (should you like to back your Beast up.). Please also note that none of the Robotic Beasts feature opening cockpits.
In the next image we compare the rear of each model and as one can obviously see there is a definite difference in tail designs. It appears that the Robotic Beast comes standard with a reinforced tail. On a more serious note, you can also see that the Robotic Beast's body does not have any secondary parts. There are no separate pieces such as the gray and green panels on the Tomy Dibison. With the Robotic Beast, it's all one part. Also note the 'blanked-out' switch plate on the Robotic Beast.
Profile Comparison. Positioned head-to-tail, we can compare the two toys from a side perspective. The most significant thing to notice hear is that the Robotic Beast is actually shorter than the Tomy model kit. If you will compare the humps of each toy, you can see where the robotic beast took a chunk out of the middle of the hump and fused the body together. Why did they do that? I have no idea.
Another tidbit, Robotic Beasts tend to walk a little sloppier than Zoids. Their steps are not fluid, they actually kind of 'lumber' along as though movement was something that the toy really didn't want to do.... Weird for a walking toy. The Tomy products walk MUCH better. Also, any of the Robotic Beasts that I have encountered have SIGNIFICANTLY Noisier motors. Zoids have a distinct tight sound to their motors. A robotic beast sounds like it's ripping it's gears with every step. It has been my experience that this gear-grinding sound tends to go well with the dinosaur roar.
Just another profile of the two toys. Also note that the Robotic Beast's hooves are not as tall as the Dibison.
All robotic beasts feature a red see-through canopy. This is where the most significant feature of the Toy comes into mind when gazing at it. All of the Robotic Beast canopies are red in color. This is to allow the 'glowing' LED to be clearly visible as it walks forwards (or backwards if you really have the need.). Actually it isn't that bad of a feature. It just seems so odd.
The next photo shows the underside of the robotic beast. Clearly there is no battery compartment, nor is there any of the armaments that often attach to the battery cover on many Zoids. On the Tomy Dibision, there is the back half of the shock cannons. Here there are none.
And so in a nutshell this is the Robotic Beasts Dibision Bootleg. Some overall experiences I've had with this toyline:
Still, these ugly things are pretty neat..........
) at Big Lots Stores. I was lucky enough to get my hands on the Shield Liger, the Redhorn/Dimetrodon abomination and the Dibison, which I understand is a little harder to find online for reviews. So, I've stepped up to the plate to share with you my Robotic Beasts Red Box Big Lots Dibison Bootleg. And we're off:The Box: Well, it's a colorful box and that's a good thing cause all of the Robotic Beasts that I have purchased have been white. And from what I gathered across the internet . . . all Robotic Beasts are white. If color is a factor in your decision to buy a Bootleg and white is not your color, then the Robotic Beasts Line is probably not for you.
The red box showcases the Robotic Beast inside. They use the same box for the Shield Liger, the Dimetrodon/Redhorn hybrid, and the Dibison as shown below. Ironically, the box says that detailed instructions are inside, yet of the three boxed versions that I bought new, not one of them has detailed instructions, or any instructions for that matter, inside the box.
EACH robotic beast is mounted on a set of plastic posts that have to be removed via a screwdriver from the model kit. Ironically, neither the missing instruction set, or the box says anything about this. If you acquire a Robotic Beast, please bear in mind that you will need a screwdriver to remove the beast from the mount.
Once removed from the box, you will find that all of the robotic beasts are operated via a cord-connected remote control unit. The batteries are included in the versions that I have and as such should you acquire a Robotic Beast as a collectible you would be wise to check, and remove, any pre-installed batteries.
The batteries are included and pre-installed in the remote control for last year's models. This year's models, as shown below do not have batteries. Also, for those who have last year's models, the box has been shortened slightly since there is no need to 'test' the toy's lights and sounds.
The cord-connected remote control features two buttons, one which allows the beast (a rather appropriate name for this toy) to walk forward. The second button operates the motor in reverse so that you can . . . well . . . go backwards, if you so desire. Ahem, there is no option to turn the Robotic Beast while walking.
And while your beast is walking forward you will be treated to a lovely sound of what I can only describe as some kind of giant reptile roar as I remember it from the infamous black and white movies. And to top it all off, it sounds as though it were digitally recorded from a cheap cassette tape right onto the EEPROM of the remote control. Nothing like listening to digitally-mastered tape hiss. But that is another story.... The point here is that while I'm operating my plastic Dibison Bootlleg, I can listen to a dinosaur roar, whether I want to . . . or not.
Side by Side Comparison of the Official Tomy Dibison (Hasbro Release shown) when compared to the Robotic Beast Bootleg shows some rather obvious differences. The Robot Beast comes with no missile-pods. It also lacks the top row of cannons and the side cannons that come standard with the dibison. There is provisions to mount a set of missile-pods should you locate any, however, my experience has shown that the pegs on the Robotic Beast Line of toys to be larger than the standard Tomy pegs. To mount an official Tomy product on a Robotic Beast peg would damage the Tomy Weapon. I don't mount any of my Tomy products to my Robotic Beast Toys.
Then next thing to note is that the Robotic Beasts toyline does not use caps to affix their parts . . . which doesn't really matter since the Robotic Beasts toyline comes pre-assembled. Please note that, instead of a Zoid rubber cap, the Robotic Beasts use a hard plastic cap to fit over the post of the connecting part. Then the toymakers drive a screw through the center of the caps and into the underlying post. These screws must be removed if one were to desire to disassemble a Robotic Beast.
One final note is to clarify that none of the Robotic Beasts toys I own feature moving heads, jaws, etc. However, to compensate for this, the Robotic Beasts have instead mounted an LED lamp in the cockpit of each toy. This led illuminates as the Toy Walks forwards, or backwards (should you like to back your Beast up.). Please also note that none of the Robotic Beasts feature opening cockpits.
In the next image we compare the rear of each model and as one can obviously see there is a definite difference in tail designs. It appears that the Robotic Beast comes standard with a reinforced tail. On a more serious note, you can also see that the Robotic Beast's body does not have any secondary parts. There are no separate pieces such as the gray and green panels on the Tomy Dibison. With the Robotic Beast, it's all one part. Also note the 'blanked-out' switch plate on the Robotic Beast.
Profile Comparison. Positioned head-to-tail, we can compare the two toys from a side perspective. The most significant thing to notice hear is that the Robotic Beast is actually shorter than the Tomy model kit. If you will compare the humps of each toy, you can see where the robotic beast took a chunk out of the middle of the hump and fused the body together. Why did they do that? I have no idea.
Another tidbit, Robotic Beasts tend to walk a little sloppier than Zoids. Their steps are not fluid, they actually kind of 'lumber' along as though movement was something that the toy really didn't want to do.... Weird for a walking toy. The Tomy products walk MUCH better. Also, any of the Robotic Beasts that I have encountered have SIGNIFICANTLY Noisier motors. Zoids have a distinct tight sound to their motors. A robotic beast sounds like it's ripping it's gears with every step. It has been my experience that this gear-grinding sound tends to go well with the dinosaur roar.
Just another profile of the two toys. Also note that the Robotic Beast's hooves are not as tall as the Dibison.
All robotic beasts feature a red see-through canopy. This is where the most significant feature of the Toy comes into mind when gazing at it. All of the Robotic Beast canopies are red in color. This is to allow the 'glowing' LED to be clearly visible as it walks forwards (or backwards if you really have the need.). Actually it isn't that bad of a feature. It just seems so odd.
The next photo shows the underside of the robotic beast. Clearly there is no battery compartment, nor is there any of the armaments that often attach to the battery cover on many Zoids. On the Tomy Dibision, there is the back half of the shock cannons. Here there are none.
And so in a nutshell this is the Robotic Beasts Dibision Bootleg. Some overall experiences I've had with this toyline:
- You cannot just interchange parts with Tomy Products.
- You can unlock the canopies, but you have to disassemble the product and trim tabs (Zoiders know how to trim tabs). Once the tabs are removed, the canopy will operate similarly to the official Tomy Product.
- None of the mecha details on any of the Robotic Beasts toyline are as crisp and sharp as the Tomy Products.
- The panel lines are duller, the line work is sloppier and the movements are not as tight.
- With some grinding and cutting, you can swap a Tomy Motor into the Robotic Beasts, but I do NOT believe you can do this with the Dibison because the body (and hence the distance between the motor axles) is shorter. I had limited success with installing a Tomy Motor into the Robotic Beasts Shield Liger and it does not work nearly as good as a real Zoid.
- The plastic used in a Robotic Beast has a slippery-weird finish, and is more brittle than the Tomy plastic.
Still, these ugly things are pretty neat..........
