Japanese Transformers Prime Breakdown with Arms Micron Zamu

Box:  The boxes for the Voyager toys are the same shape as the US versions.  All the text and pictures are changed.  Breakdown has more paint apps than any of the deluxe toys, though unlike the previous Voyagers, you really don’t see them in robot mode accept for his face.  Still, this is likely the reason for using the window box.

Arms Micron Zamu

Kit:  The kits are fairly easy to assemble, and so far the stickers seem to be staying on well.  The plastic is higher quality than the Kabaya kits.  They have no paint apps and are perfect for customizers to paint up for a more elaborate look.  Each Arms Micron includes something like a spark crystal, but I’m not sure if that is the intent of it.  A sticker goes on before the outer translucent plastic to form it.  They look nice, but I had some problems getting the crystal to stay in on some of them.  Might need a little glue.

Weapon Mode:  Zamu’s weapon mode is a hammer, and unlike other toys that have had hammers (Animated Optimus Prime and Ultra Magnus come to mind) it is pretty small.  It doesn’t look bad though accept that due to the design there are areas that should have stickers and don’t.  It makes it look like it is missing stickers even though it isn’t.  Not the greatest weapon.  I wish it had a flip out barrel so the hammer could double as a gun.  That would have made it much better.

Robot Mode:  Zamu’s animal mode is a Rhino and they did a really nice job on it.  I can’t imagine many animals you could transform into a hammer and have it not look silly.

Breakdown (New Mold)

(No Stickers)

(With Stickers)

(With Weapon)

Vehicle Mode:  The truck mode is nicely detailed, though could have used a few more stickers.  All his parts snap together and stay in place.  He is big and blocky, just like he should be.  It would have been nice if the hammer could sit flush on the roof so it would look more like luggage strapped to the roof than a hammer sticking up.

(No Stickers)

(With Stickers)

Robot Mode:  As with the vehicle mode, he could have used some more stickers, especially on his upper arms and chest.  Still looks magnificent though.

Overall:  Breakdown is awesome.  Period.  It is a terrible shame that Hasbro in their infinite stupidity will not be releasing Breakdown in the USA.  I do not believe they have given an answer as to why, but whatever the reason, I’m betting it was stupid.  It really is a shame we will never see him with paint apps.

If you weren’t lucky enough to snag one of these (and they seem to be sold out everywhere) don’t worry.  The mold will be used two more times in Japan, once for a “Cyrus” version and one repainted as Swerve.  Pictures of the Cyrus version show a new Arms Micron, which appears to be a praying mantis.  The silhouette for Swerve shows Bumblebee’s Arms Micron, but as I recall, the silhouettes didn’t always show the correct Arms Micron.  It does seem unlikely that he would come with the hammer, but I believe you can pick that up separately in different colors.

Thanks for reading!