JP United - general reviews and comments

[Lint]

The deluxe package is pretty lame. I generally a packaging appreciator, but this fails, in shape, design and [lack of] artwork.

I wholeheartedly agree on this point. In fact i'm not a fan of their Voyager packaging either. It's a real step down from what they've produced in the past.

TakaraTomy are taking a lot of bad pointers from Hasbro regarding packaging and adopting none of the good ones. i.e feature shaped blisters with lots of little taped tabs to connect onto the cardback, a fatter more air-filled blister, minimalisation of extras such as cards & comics and retaining the use of wire twisty ties.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah, the generic front design of the cards is disappointing... like Beast Machines, only at least it's the two leaders duking out (as opposed to just Cheetor screaming at you). I prefer the back of the card on United compared to RtS though -- has that nice "action pose" shot and better written tech specs FTW. Although having tech spec cards would have been nicer -- ditto a catalogue. Comic... meh... don't care one way or another as pack-in comics usually aren't well written anyway, even if Tsushima Naoto's artwork is really nice. Okay, they're not badly written, they're just clearly aimed at very young children, so it doesn't engage _me_ as an adult. But Tsushima did also write/illustrate a better written Henkei manga series outside of the catalogue comics (the token human kid can be quite annoying, but he's still an intriguing character in his own right).

So I guess RtS has a nicer looking front whereas UTD has a better looking backside.

[Doubledealer]

Maybe that's the cost of having metallic paint? My guess is it was the shiny new paint jobs that directly resulted in the packaging, and more specifically, the extras, taking a nose dive. After all, the rubbish Takara packaging began when their TFA toys came out, and we all know they were the first toys to start the 'bling' craze.

I hope that for the next G1-update line of figures Takara go back to focusing on G1 cartoon/toy accuracy (eg. drop the metallic paint, unless subtle like Cyclonus) and quality packaging.