Toy Review - JP United Stepper

(Please post comments, photos or even a fully comprehensive review - these are just brief details to start you off)

Toy Review - Stepper
Series - United
Sub-line - N/A
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - Redeco
Wave - N/A
Released here - not released here (Japan exclusive, Jan 2012)
Approximate Retail Price - ?
Approximate Size - 15cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Race car
Main Features/Gimmicks - (Flip out speakers in both modes)
Main Colours - Black, white, gold, red
Main Accessories - gun

Note - figure was only available through mailaway, from one of the recent Japanese Generations guidebooks.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/tftoys/jp2011a01.jpg

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by griffin

(Approximate Retail Price - ?

---

I saw some today in Osaka selling for 7800JPY. :eek::eek::eek: <faints>

Personally I've never understood the attraction with Stepper. Looks like an undercooked egg on burnt toast.

I'd say the main appeal factor is that it's based on an obscure G1 toy - and a Japanese exclusive which makes it more exotic to Gaijin fans. I'll admit, that's what made Generations Sky Shadow appeal to me - it was a neat and cheap way to get a Black Shadow without forking out an arm and a leg for a G1 Black Shadow, which is basically just a repaint/retool of Thunderwing.

Sky Shadow was released as a regular retail figure at the standard price of a Deluxe - albeit Hasbro AU didn't release it here, I managed to get a contact in Hong Kong to get it for me cheap (and someone volunteered to bring the toy back to Australia for me, so didn't have to pay for any postage!). I was happy to pay the RRP of a Deluxe for that toy, and if I ever found Stepper at the same price as a Deluxe, I'd be happy to pay that too. I'd be willing to pay a little bit more considering the limited exclusivity of the toy, but I wouldn't pay a whole lot more... but no where near something obscene like 7800 slaggin' Yen! ($98!) :eek:

That is still quite cheap Goki... he costs more than US$100 in BBTS and that's with postage cost on top...

Being a lesser rip-off doesn't equate cheapness in my books. :p

I'll write up a review and post it soon.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kup

I'll write up a review and post it soon.

---

Looking forward to it dude. :)

Ok here it goes:



As we know, United Stepper is a Japanese only exclusive available to people who bought the Transformers Generations Volume 2 book. Since one was only allowed to order a maximum of two, Wonkimus_Major, a fellow member of DM.Net in Japan offered to sell me his spare and here it is!

http://kupscigar.com/collection2012/stepper/1.JPG

As we all know, Stepper was originally a retool of Jazz that came out as a Targetmaster during the Japanese Headmaster era. He never appeared in the cartoon and even for the time there was limited fiction of him yet he managed to gain a bit of a fan following over the years. As a result there have been several releases of the character in both Japanese and Hasbro markets (where he is known as 'Ricochet') including G1 reissues, an Alternator, even Robot Heroes (! :p) and now a 'Classics' United release!

United Stepper is a straight repaint of RTS/United Jazz with a glossy black paint job, bright gold highlights and '80s' style flame decals. Just like his G1 counterpart, Stepper comes with Nightstick as his Targetmaster which is the same mold that came with Generations/Henkei Cyclonus.

The color scheme is really what sets this figure apart, it's fantastic! The black has this 'new car' glossy black and the gold is a very shiny metallic paint similar to what we have seen with the latest waves of United toys. The upper limbs and groin are flat white but for some reason, only the outer half of the shins are painted a brighter white - This is clearly unintended but it seems to have affected the entire production run making it the only real flaw to this new color scheme. Although this is a minor defect that doesn't really detract from the figure, it still noticeable.

All colors contrast really well complementing one another and really sells the character by giving him a unique look that sets him apart from Jazz and looking great! He certainly would stand out on your display as he is very eye catching. The use of the awesome Generations Jazz mold also adds much to his value as you can put him in several dynamic poses although he still inherits the 'flips up' chest problem.

http://kupscigar.com/collection2012/stepper/2.JPG

http://kupscigar.com/collection2012/stepper/3.JPG

http://kupscigar.com/collection2012/stepper/4.JPG

In car mode, he shares the same features as Jazz since he is a straight repaint which include the door speakers (which are now white). Unfortunately he doesn't have any way to attach Nightstick in car mode as the G1 figure could but you can get creative and position him so that he looks attached, but there is no way to properly secure him.

In car mode, there is much less white so only the black and gold is shown with the latter provided by his decals and wheel rims. The decals also have similar red stripes and patterns just like in G1. As with the robot mode, the colors in car more contrast really well and despite him being the same mold as Jazz, the new paint scheme make him look very different as it changes the 'personality' of the toy.

http://kupscigar.com/collection2012/stepper/10.JPG

http://kupscigar.com/collection2012/stepper/8.JPG

Overall, United Stepper is a fantastic figure and recommended if you like the character. However his price point is fairly expensive in the after market so he is only really worth something to the enthusiast or fans of the character since at the end of the day, he is just a Jazz repaint with an extra accessory.

Anyways as Pixel Dan would say...IT'S COMPARISON TIME! :D

United and G1 Stepper in robot mode:

http://kupscigar.com/collection2012/stepper/5.JPG

United and G1 Nightstick:

http://kupscigar.com/collection2012/stepper/6.JPG

http://kupscigar.com/collection2012/stepper/7.JPG

Targetmaster modes:

http://kupscigar.com/collection2012/stepper/9.JPG

Alternator, United and Robot Heroes Stepper:

http://kupscigar.com/collection2012/stepper/11.JPG

A BIG thank you to Wonkimus_Major (DM.Net) for this fantastic toy and thank you for reading! :cool:

http://kupscigar.com/collection2012/stepper/12.JPG

Thanks for the great review Kup, he sounds like a fun repaint (dare I say, a "stepper" above the rest?). :)

Indeed, and excellent review Kup as I wasn't really aware as to how many 'Steppers' had been produced but more to the point it really sells this rather enticing figure; now if I only had a larger budget... ;):D

Yep, good work there Kup.

I took a few photos at work, but my camera was playing up a tad. Hmm, might be a bit old now.

Anyhoo, posted them here, as I was having issues loading them to photobucket.

Overall a pretty good figure with very good posability, just a real shame about not being able to mount the TargetMaster on him anywwhere. (aside from his fists of course):p I find his 'lightpiping' interesting as there is the golden eyes in there, but the clear plastic combo as well. This kind of produces an interesting lit up golden look. the flame decals are COOL!

Targetmaster's name has been Reatained as the bland "Nebulon" as well. Even though Nightstick belongs to Ricochet, I would have been happy to see 'Nightstick' make the continental shift, but I guess it keeps him authentic.

Me likey very much!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tetsuwan Convoy

Targetmaster's name has been Reatained as the bland "Nebulon" as well. Even though Nightstick belongs to Ricochet, I would have been happy to see 'Nightstick' make the continental shift, but I guess it keeps him authentic.

---

That would've created confusion in Japan because in G1 Nightstick was Artfire's Targetmaster Partner (same toy as Fracas), whereas of course Stepper's Partner - identical to Nightstick - was called Nebulon.

Where's the ripping off of the head and arms like pixel Dan in his reviews kup ? heheheheh:p:p

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

That would've created confusion in Japan because in G1 Nightstick was Artfire's Targetmaster Partner (same toy as Fracas), whereas of course Stepper's Partner - identical to Nightstick - was called Nebulon.

---

Aaa, didn't realise that. But still, Nebulon is a tad plain imo. But I suppose, since Master partners didn't come from Nebulos anyway, it doesn't matter to Japanese fans.