Zybots Splash Robo
Review by The Enthusiast
Venerable old skool toy manufacturer Remco made a few clumsy stabs at relevance in the eighties with obscurities like Mantech and the Zybots. Zybots were cheap, unambitious mediocrities, similar to basic Gobots in size but inferior in execution. I happen to like them, but they are strictly for completists. Splash Robo is a strange outlier in the line, a more ambitious, deluxe-style piece. Clearly, ahem, inspired by Shockwave (and in this way a near cousin to the Gobots Convertible Laser Gun), Splash Robo also, bafflingly, happens to squirt water.
Which, in a way, really excites me. In addition to being an obsessive collector of the obscure, I consider myself something of a transforming squirt-gun aficionado (my wife, as you can imagine, is immensely proud). Splash Bot is an appealing oddity among this cohort of candy-colored toddler-style toys. So I dig it, is what I’m saying. Let’s look closer.
The gun mode is a simplified version of Shockwave, minus the barrel sheath (though, to be clear, the sculpt is entirely unique). I love the dual squirting barrels, fed via clear rubber tubing (still in great shape).
The clear suspended reservoir is also a nice touch.
Transformation, again, is similar to Shockwave.
Robot mode is a little odd, but not too bad. Still loving that clear bubble and hoses. The sculpt is reasonably detailed, and the blue paint apps really pop. The head’s a little too abstract for my tastes. The hands are clenched at an awkward angle. The whole thing tends to list a little. The build quality is very drugstore. Respectable, kinda, but just.
It goes without saying that articulation is meager. Arms move sorta. But the damned thing has presence.
A lovely, funky piece, engineered for my tastes (and hopefully, but probably not, yours).
Posted 22 June, 2013 - 21:28 by The Enthusiast |
Comments
3 comments postedI don't know why but i like the idea of this toy it might because I think the water container is cool
I had Zybots as a kid, and was lucky enough to find the semi truck NIB for next to nothing since hardly anyone was searching for these on ebay. I did not find out till later that all their cars and trucks were offered as a gift set that made a gnarly looking gestalt. I like some of them, especially the Semi. He stands next to Road Ranger and G1 Huffer & Optimus on my shelf. He has earned a spot of the retro truck bots.
There is an image of the gestalt here: http://www.geocities.jp/sijimiya_konoha/hobby_kako_top65.htm
I love that Gattai. One of my grails, like the Four Star Mr. Hard Hat. I'll probably cover some more Zybots in the future. There's a few gems in the line.