From the Twitter of Takara designer Hisashi Yuki, we get our first look at the packaging for Takara’s Unite Warriors Defensor! The box stacked on top of the boxes of Superion and Menasor depicts the mighty Protectobot gestalt and the Protectobots themselves racing across a bridge lit up by the cityscape’s lights, and of course includes the current Takara-exclusive deluxe Groove in the combined form.
UW-03 Defensor is slated for a December release and is available for pre-order. Check out the image after the jump, and be sure to get your pre-orders in with our sponsors!
PlanckEpoch
To be fair Takara's primary interest is the Japanese market, rahter than foreign markets. It makes sense obviously for them to favor the interests of their own fans rather than foreign ones.
Dark Jedi
I still have this on preorder even with all the Hasbro ones in package. Not sure if I will keep it though.
PoweredConvoy
True, but how much are they factoring into that? Or do they not care and just want you to have to buy the whole set any way? Either way, looks like people have to buy the whole thing for the one.
Randy
Autovolt 127
Probably but still.
Probably but it just doesn't help out foreign Transformers fans who have the rest and just need a Groove.
Onslaught24
That's why I grabbed a Hasbro Hot Spot and pre-ordered the set. I think he'll look better replacing Takara's in combined form.
Predakwon
Cool!
Still on the fence about this one or MakeToys.
I'll wait till the end of the month when I get paid to see if Rover will be released. If he is, then I'll go with Maketoys. If not, I don't want to miss out on UW Defensor w/Groove.
PoweredConvoy
Depends if they think they're better off having to make people purchase the whole set over selling a lot more of just one figure. I'm guessing they're more interested in the former as it probably makes sense for their market more and more fiscally sound.
Randy
Jerrimus
If we could hypothetically time travel to where we didn't know which hot spot was which and take a poll with a side by side comparison, people would assume that the Hasbro version is the Takara. Why the Takara version ignores the molded vents and other details is beyond my understanding because it ends up looking unfinished.
There aren't a shortage of apologists in the matter. Are more paint apps better? Less? I think the answer usually comes down to…which one is the Takara? THAT one is better.
monish
I'm sure someone will sell one on ebay individually at some point.
Autovolt 127
This is one of things that bothers me about Takara handling this line. I mean Groove alone would sell like hotcakes on his own.
Motormaster too.
It just restricts us from what we want personally. many people don't like Takara Drag Strip and would prefer the Hasbro version and don't want another one.
Afterburner
I always love the city at night look.
Yobuster
That's a nice box that's for sure.
Starscream 91
Looking at Defensor's box I get a Pacific Rim vibe from it.
Underwear
THAT!
Yeah man WSX
[Wing_Saber-X]
yeah, if only Takara followed their original G1 release pattern of one giftset and individually boxed ones, then this would give us collectors more leeway /choices to mix and match our CW/ UW toys.
SPLIT LIP
If I could get just the Protectobots and not Hot Spot, I would. Then all I'd have to worry about is grabbing Rook.
I wish these weren't just giftsets.
monish
I personally like the takara toys better to be honest.
[Wing_Saber-X]
Hyped. Look at that sweet as hell box art!
shamanking282
The Defensor torso doesn't bug me as much as Hot Spot's individual bot mode. He was given so much nice sculpted detail that Hasbro actually did a really nice job painting, and it's just left ignored on the UW version. I get what Takara's going for, but I think it is definitely an inferior paint scheme to the US version.
Easy solution however, just buy the US Hot Spot. Can't wait for the rest of the Protectobots to arrive! Need mah Groove.
PlanckEpoch
I disagree that the paintjobs are patently worse. In my case, the simple cartoon accurate paintjobs look really smart and clean.
There's a saying that goes "Less is More." It applies here if you ask me. The extra blue on Defensor's torso makes him look really good and it helps that it's a shade of blue that I really love.