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Microman 2004 Series Microman Biomachine Series - BM-01 MachineMirror with Machine Force MF03-01 Machine-Microman Xeku (9/30/04) |
Machine Force |
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Micro
Force (Reissue) (2/04) MF1-02 Ninja Microman MF1-03 Gunner Microman MF1-04 Spy Microman
Master
Force (3/25/04)
Acroyear-X
(3/25/04)
Micro
Lady (5/28/04)
Acroyear
Lady (5/28/04)
Biomachine & Machine Force Microman (9/30/04)
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Microman Xeku Story With his super mobility, Xeku is an ace soldier of the Biomachine Team. Due to programming errors at the time his personality was set up, he emerged as a tyrannical time bomb and is under constant supervision by Trinity. He is packaged with Biomachine Mirror, a Micro G-Control IC System that can fly at exceedingly high speeds.
(If you are not familiar with the Monkey Magic epic, the monkey had bad temper and very cocky and has to be control by Tripitaka. A very nice story set up by Takara based on the original tale!)
Biomachine came package with new Microman catalog - "Infomercial Vol.02". The package also contains "Proof of Purchase" and by mailing in all four proof of purchase from the Biomachine toys one can get exclusive Lady Material Force from Takara. (Offer good in Japan only)
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Microman 2004 Biomachine series was released on September 30th 2004. Unlike the previous series, the Biomachine consisted not only of Microman and armors but also a vehicle (Biomachine). This marked the first time full size vehicle was produced for the 2004 line. The vehicles (called Biomachine) were also part of a combiner and when combined with other Biomachines, they made Microman Bio-Suit. (The name was a homage to the Real Microman series toy from 1980's). While the series main attraction was these Biomachine vehicles, the figure that came with them, however, was not just afterthought redeco of the old 2004 figures. Instead, Takara had fully redesigned the core body for the new Machine Force Machine Microman figures. The Machine Microman figures, while retained the same basic design of Full-Action Body, had been entirely design from top to bottom. The Machine Microman had more "machine"-like look than the previous series, actually the new design was more akin to the Magne Powers and LED Powers figures. Beside the more mechanical look, the figure also added many ports and pegs similar to Beta Midget figures. One of the more notable feature of the Machine Microman figures was the inclusion of "true" 5mm port in the back of the figure (though still in the higher position than the vintage figure). |
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| Machine Force Microman, like previous 2004 series, followed a certain theme and design. Takara interestingly based the designs of these Machine Microman on Chinese epic story called "Tripitaka" or also better known as "Monkey Magic". Actually the words "Machine Force" (in Japanese) was a play on the words "Monkey Magic". Machine Force consisted of four members - Xeku (the monkey), Microman Godoh (the fish), Microman Hack (the pig) and Microman Trinity (the priest). The Machine Force were not always look like this. They, according to the story, were like other Microman in appearance. But the Machine Force members were badly injured in one of the battle and they were rebuild with machinery parts and thus they became the "Machine Microman". They are now part Microman and part machines, which made them the first true cyborg for Microman 2004 series. |
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BIO-TECH ARMOR
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BM01 Machine-Mirror & Machine Microman Xeku was the first member of the Biomachine. Xeku, of course, was the infamous magical monkey from the Monkey Magic epic. Xeku, like other Machine Microman members, had clear purple-blue body with silver body armor and metallic chrome red chest, lower legs, and shoulder pads. The chrome chest design was very interesting as it evoked the old vintage Microman chrome chest design of the M10X and Command series. The new body had several ports that allowed the clear "Bio-Tech" part from the Biomachine vehicle to be attached to the figure and transformed Machine Microman into "Bio-Tech" mode. Machine-Mirror (the name came from the vintage Spy Magician Spy-Car line Jet Mirror) was a flying hover craft with several guns protruding from the front. The vehicle, like the rest of Biomachine, was done entirely in chrome accented with clear blue "Bio-Tech" parts. Machine Mirror design was very nice and work well for Xeku as he can be mounted on top like Monkey riding his magic cloud. I have to admit that I was not very fond of the all chrome look originally. But now looking at the actual toy, the chrome actually work really well especially with the clear blue pars. The vehicle had very nice detail sculpt with cool looking mechanical design throughout the unit. Biomachine vehicle also had another cool feature, by combining all four Biomachine vehicle one can make Microman armor suit unit aptly named Bio-Suit. MachineMirror formed head, shoulder, chest, jet nozzles and magnum gun for the suit. |
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Microman Biomachine series was a great addition to the 2004 line-up. The Microman figures were excellent with nice theme incorporated into the overall design. The chrome body parts really help set these figures apart from the other 2004 series. The paint job and chrome finished on the figures can be a little sloppy in places but over all these figures were very beautiful looking. The only main problem with Machine Mirror was the clear blue "Bio-Tech" parts. Curiously, while these parts fit well on Microman Xeku figure, they had high tendency to pop out when attached to the vehicle. While this was not a big problem overall, a more secure fit would really make these excellent toys perfect. The poor fittings were not too terrible (they will stayed on if you don't bump the piece too hard) and then only limited to couple of the clear pieces on my sample, however some fans report slightly more problem. The culprit again seem to be the uneven peg size due to the chroming process. It appeared some of the vehicle 2mm pegs were a little too small for the clear parts. This problem can be easily solve by apply small clear tape around the peg to help added some thickness to the peg.
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BM-01 MACHINEMIRROR
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BIO-SUIT Biomachine, beside being "machines" for Microman Machine Force to ride around, they also can be combine together to form an armor suit called "Bio-Suit". The combination process was pretty simple with no parts left over after the Bio-Suit was formed which was very nice. The design of the suit itself was more like mechanical power-suit from the Matrix movie than from the old Dougram style. The parts, surprisingly fit well together. The only problem was again the clear parts. Microman Bio-Suit also had several points of articulations and the pilot legs even move along with the robot legs! The change from plain clear parts to clear blue really help added to the overall look and appearance. Originally, I did not care much for the all chrome design, but the actual toy really proved me wrong as the Bio-Suit was not only a very beautiful looking "mecha" but one with excellent details and even superb articulations to boost. BIOMACHINE |
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