Review - Gundam Breaker HGUC 1/144 Gundam & Mass Production Type Zaku

I never had a PlayStation Portable. Always wanted one but to this day, I have yet to get one.

When Sony announced the PlayStation Vita in 2011, I was super-excited. This time, Sony would have a successful handheld game console, and this time, I would own one.

Well, half of that came true.

I pre-ordered the PlayStation Vita, which came out within a week of my birthday so I had a reason to spend NZ$600 on the thing. That was the price after getting a 16GB memory card (the biggest available in New Zealand at the time) as opposed to the paltry 4GB memory card that came bundled with the Vita. Of course, the thing came with Uncharted: Golden Abyss and I also bought the fantastic Gravity Rush separately.

I want to go on record to say that I love the Vita. It's a brilliant console with a ton of power, surprisingly good control inputs and a library that, whilst a bit small and underwhelming, is mostly good.
So when the Vita 2000 (the "slim" model) was announced, I knew I needed one. After all, it needed all the support it could get.

It wasn't all that tempting at first, but one day, I came across the PlayStation Vita Gundam Breaker Starter Pack on AmiAmi and this was my tipping point. An exclusive PlayStation Vita with Gundam decals and exclusive Gundam model kits? Oh hell yes.

PlayStation Vita Team-Up~!

Oh, by the way, I love Gundam too.

Fast-forward to today and I have had these model kits sitting unbuilt since their release in October of 2013. These things needed building but I was scared of screwing them up. I'm a fairly competent model builder, but I'm far from a professional. Paints are expensive over here and so those pesky sprue marks aren't always easy (or, at least, cheap) for me to get rid of.

But finally, I have built them! So how did they turn out?

Transformers RID (2015) Season 1 Episode 13 Review

What do you mean, "it's Saturday now"?

Alright, it's a bit late, but nonetheless, it's time for the review of Transformers Robots in Disguise's mid-season finale, Sideways.

Of course, you wouldn't know it was the mid-season finale if you were looking at the synopsis in Australia or New Zealand, because Cartoon Network decided it'd be funny to make the thirteenth episode appear to be the fourteenth.

As you should know by now, episode fourteen is nowhere in sight at the moment, so just how they managed to bungle that, I'm not really sure. Lest you think they've corrected this since the initial airing, don't worry, they haven't.
Cartoon Network was probably too concerned with finding new ways to make episodes of Adventure Time into new commercials. I like that show, but dammit if they don't shove it down everyone's throats.

Steeljaw, you should be the new Decepticon leader of Robots in Disguise, but Japan isn't having it.

Image by Hasbro Studios via Transformers.com

Well, no matter. What we're really worried about is episode thirteen, and if you're worried about it enough, join me after the break for the review of the mid-season finale to Robots in Disguise!

Transformers RID (2015) Season 1 Episode 12 Review

I write all my blog posts in Blogger's HTML editor, formatting my own HTML. The more you know.

Actually, that just makes me a giant nerd. I have been called worse.

Day of the Minicons, courtesy of Fixit from Robots in Disguise

Image by Hasbro Studios via Transformers.com

I've put my Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. catch-up on-hold to get this review done (seriously, that show is great), so away we go with full spoilers on the penultimate episode, Hunting Season~!

Transformers RID (2015) Season 1 Episode 11 Review

I'm back, after a week of sorting a lot of things out (you don't really want me to list everything, do you?) and with more content. Yeah, I know, I didn't manage to get the other reviews up last week, but I'll get 'em done. This blog is, more than anything, practice for me to stop procrastinating and actually work on stuff for once.

I've been preparing to cover more than just Transformers Robots in Disguise, and in doing so, I actually haven't done much more than planning, but I'm already starting work on more projects, so hopefully that'll mean more than just the same old content very soon.

I don't like the angle used for this image of Strongarm from Robots in Disguise. Oh well.

Image by Hasbro Studios via Transformers.com

For now, though, it's about time these reviews were put to rest. The show is still relatively new overseas (i.e. America, Canada and Japan), so I figure the delay isn't as big of a deal as I personally think. Still, if you're here, you're here to read my spoiler-filled review of Adventures in Bumblebee-sitting! What're you waiting for? Read on for the review!

Transformers RID (2015) Season 1 Episode 10 Review

It's that time of the week again. I'm a week late, you say? Oh, I guess I forgot about the world while I was busy fighting certain software just to get some simple videos produced. Pro-tip: Compressor sucks. A lot.

However, now that I've finally managed to get some quality time with video editing software and learn some more tricks (as well as which programs are better left untouched), I'm back for some more reviews. I've got a bunch of other content planned, with the last (for now) four Robots in Disguise reviews rolling out slowly throughout this week.
With any luck, I'll be doing some streaming next week as well, so if all goes to plan (which it usually doesn't), I'll let you all know to tune in.

Building something from nothing is pretty difficult and time-consuming, especially when you need to consistently pump out content, but I'm confident (er, kinda) that I can pull it off. Eventually. I just appreciate all the support that I have got so far... which isn't a lot, but it's better than none at all. I mean, damn, I made 26¢ from this blog in a month! I'm living the high life.

Dammit, Hasbro, update your website to include other characters. I'm running out of images!

Image by Hasbro Studios via Transformers.com

Anyway, if you're reading this, you're reading it because you want to get my opinion on Can You Dig It? Well you've come to the right place! Let's jump into the review of episode ten... after the break!

Transformers RID (2015) Season 1 Episode 9 Review

THIS EPISODE IS NOT SEXIST
Click here if you think this episode is sexist.

Strongarm from Transformers Robots in Disguise (2015)
Image by Hasbro Studios via Transformers.com

Full spoilerific review after the break. I won't be pulling punches. I might take a couple, though.

Transformers RID (2015) Season 1 Episode 8 Review

Yeah, okay, this one is a bit late, too, but I decided I didn't want to post them in rapid succession, because it's detrimental (I get one view instead of two)... and so I also put off writing the review, which wasn't a good idea.
Also, my internet connection has been unstable and rubbish. Not an excuse - I've got plenty of other ways to type this, but I thought you might like to know.
That is, if you're considering moving to New Zealand, first of all, don't, but second of all, be aware that our internet is rubbish, unless you live in an area that can get fibre optics and you pay a lot of money for it. It's still rubbish, though, but the ignorant drones in this country buy into the nonsense that ISPs and, especially, the government spew. Their loss.

Grimlock from Transformers Robots in Disguise (2015)
Image by Hasbro Studios via Transformers.com

But in all seriousness, you're here to read my review of True Colors (or you stumbled across this disaster of a blog by accident, and are now trying to get away, but your mouse and keyboard both ran out of batteries at the same time so you're stuck with me).
Well, you're in luck (or not) - continue reading after the break for my episode eight review of Transformers Robots in Disguise (and try not to scream about the pain).

Transformers RID (2015) Season 1 Episode 7 Review

Alrighty, it may be overdue, but it's time for my review of Transformers Robots in Disguise episode seven, Collect 'Em All, featuring Chro. Okay, it's not Chro. No one likes Chro.

Beast Machines Chro. It's relevant, okay?
Image by TFU.info

But enough hating on Chro - there's plenty of time for that in the review after the break!

Transformers RID (2015) Season 1 Episode 6 Review

So with an (un)healthy Final Fantasy XIV addiction, a currently unusable phone and a week's worth of video editing in tow, I'm finally back to continue my reviews of Transformers Robots in Disguise.
I managed to make a supposedly simple how-to video into a living hell, and the one I actually wanted to produce needs footage re-recorded because the PlayStation 4's recording feature has a caveat that some games can exploit. I'll explain in the future.
For now, I'm going to type the rest of this on my computer. I thought using my Vita would be almost as seemless as doing it on a smartphone. It's not. Never use the Vita for blogging. I promise you'll regret it.

Thunderhoof from Transformers Robots in Disguise (2015)
Image by Hasbro Studios via Transformers.com

Yeah, okay, it's over a week late, but I'm going to pump out the next four reviews (including this one) in rapid succession, so hopefully that will make up for it.
Before anyone complains (joke's on me - no one reads this), I decided that putting an image of Thunderhoof before the jump isn't a spoiler, because not only is Hasbro promoting him as one of the recurring Decepticons (I mean seriously, he's getting TWO TOYS neither of which are Warriors), but he's also in the opening of Robots in Disguise (albeit obscured).
So, hit the jump for a spoiler-filled review of As the Kospego Commands!

Transformers RID (2015) Season 1 Episode 5 Review

Better late than never (unless you hate me, in which case, that's mean), here's my review of Transformers Robots in Disguise (still bucking the trend of using a semi-colon) episode five, W.W.O.D.? ("What Would Optimus Do?")
! Yes, the title is a play on the old "What Would Jesus Do?" saying/acronym/whatever, but frankly, I don't think Jesus could create a show this good. Sorry man, but I think you should stick to carpentry or turning water into wine.

In all seriousness (which means "not a lot"), this review is a little later than I had hoped, but yesterday turned out to be "SNES Repair Day". Long story short, my Super Nintendo is alive and well, but as old hardware goes, it still needs some tweaking (which is my excuse for "I dun goofed up my modification").

As a quick aside, I've decided not to review Shuriken Sentai Ninninger because I'm already reviewing two episodes of RID a week and am trying to get some other personal projects done in-between, as well as trying to work on a hopefully great video for YouTube, so I don't have a lot of time to do another review. However, I will most likely review whatever new Kamen Rider show comes out later this year because by then, we'll hopefully be on a break from Transformers (not that I exactly want one, but I assume that will be the case and will give me some breathing room).

Bumblebee from Transformers Robots in Disguise (2015)
Image by Hasbro Studios via Transformers.com

But for now, let's get to the important part - the review! As usual, don't forget that this will contain spoilers of all kinds, so proceed after the jump with caution.

Transformers RID (2015) Season 1 Episode 4 Review

I hate birthdays. I HATE them. Family, too. At least my profile information is correct now, though. But anyway, that's all another subject. What you're here for is Transformers, not self-loathing!

In all seriousness, yesterday was chaotic. Thank every god ever that it's over. Now I finally have time (kind of?) to write a couple more reviews. I've given myself this obligation, so I should stick to it. I considered doing both episodes together like I did for the premiere, but the pilot was two parts, whereas these are two separate stories, so they're going to be separate reviews.

I've had no time for video editing (well, other than the obvious, at least to certain people), so I have yet to throw up something new on YouTube, but since the video I was preparing requires way too much work for what was a spur-of-the-moment look at a video game console power supply that I blew up (I'm sorry, V-Saturn, I promise you'll live again~), I've decided just to scrap it and jump straight into working on something more exciting. With any luck, I'll start working on it tomorrow. It should at least prove amusing if you like weird Japanese video games (or if you hate them, too).
Oh, by the way, I dropped the segment name, because I think it's dumb (and makes the already-long title longer). Let me know if you want it back. Until then, it can sit in a corner and think about what it has done.

Fixit from Transformers Robots in Disguise (2015)
Image by Hasbro Studios via Transformers.com

But now, it's time for the review. Don't forget, there are spoilers ahead, so join me after the break only if you're prepared!

TeleTalk - Transformers RID (2015) Season 1 Episode 3 Review

I think I'm going to make housekeeping a regular thing because it save me writing a separate post, and it's pretty quick. For now, it's at the beginning of each post, but let me know if you'd rather see it at the end, after the jump (and after the review, in this case). I figure it's a little messy here but is far more effective at the top.

• I'm a day late with this review. Apologies. I think I got burnt out after a weekend of Transformers (people watching RID in English, at least from TFW probably know what I'm talking about).
• I've got a video that I'm working on for YouTube that should hopefully be up by the end of the week. It's not exciting in the least and it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing, but it's better than nothing. Actually good videos are going to have to wait a bit longer, but they're in the works.
• Next week's RID reviews might be delayed because of my birthday. Ugh. I don't like birthdays (or Christmas, because I'm Scrooge - true story), but my family insists on making a thing out of it, so it's beyond my control... and since my birthday is on a Sunday, they're making it "convenient" for everyone by celebrating on Saturday. Which means my Sunday will also be taken up by this crap. At least I'll be able to WATCH Transformers, but the reviews might be delayed. I'd rather be writing reviews.
• I'm going to tentatively announce that I'll be reviewing some tokusatsu, since I love the genre and since Shuriken Sentai Ninninger started yesterday. I have no idea if I'll actually get around to it, but I plan to. I most likely won't review shows that have already started and/or finished, though - it's a lot of extra effort for something that others have already done (and done better).

Transformers Robots in Disguise Sideswipe

Image by Hasbro Studios via Transformers.com

Alrighty then, it's review time! Transformers Robots in Disguise (I refuse to use a semi-colon because the logo doesn't have one) season one, episode three is here. It aired yesterday in New Zealand (and some place called Australia that no one cares about. Screw those guys), so everyone now has access to the episode in English... which means I can review it. By "review", I of course mean "beat it like a dead horse". Spoilers abound, so beware. You've been warned - this is your last chance to turn back. Join me after the jump for a wall of text about a children's cartoon!

TeleTalk - Transformers RID (2015) Season 1 Episodes 1 & 2 Review

Before we get started, I have a few quick things for house-keeping.

• I'm not going to number posts (such as "Welcome to the Internet #1"). It's just tidier this way, even if it makes archiving seems less so.
• I've redone the Gare logo. I'll eventually redo it again (in a higher resolution to fill more of the top would be nice) but for now, I'm okay with it.
• I've tidied up all my previous posts and added breaks/jumps. This means that each post will only be shown partially on the front page, giving the front page more real-estate and tidying it up. Some posts have had images added to them. I hope to make this a continuing trend, but some posts, such as TeleTalk (a name which I've decided I don't like and may change in the future), will usually have images added retroactively.
• I don't actually turn 21 until March 1st, but I'm lazy, so I just updated my profile info now. One day, I'll write a script for it so I don't have to keep updating it manually.

Transformers Robots in Disguise logo and promotional image
Image by Hasbro Studios

Alright, it's 2015 (surprise) and a brand new Transformers cartoon has finally arrived! If you weren't aware, I am a HUGE Transformers fan, and I have been for most of my life. The first series I ever saw was Transformers Robots in Disguise from 2001, so what better way to start this segment than with a review of the NEW Robots in Disguise show?
Yes, Hasbro and co. weren't too creative with the name this time around (then again, I wouldn't call "Transformers Prime" a creative name, either), but does that reflect on the show itself?
Well, the show aired earlier this year over in China. In Chinese. I don't know about you, but I know literally no Chinese. Last weekend, it aired in France. I also happen to be completely fluent in a-language-that-isn't-French.
A lot of people were disappointed that the English premiere was a way off, and if you're in the US, that's true. But if you're in Australia or New Zealand (as I am), you got to see the world premiere of Transformers RID in English TODAY. Oh, but wait, it gets better: Cartoon Network gave the same timeslots for the show in both countries, meaning that by the time it aired in Australia, we'd already seen it hours ago in New Zealand. That means New Zealand got it first, before anywhere else in the world (in English, anyway).
Now, the only other time you'll hear the words "New Zealand" and "first" together is when Winston Peters' political party keep shoving themselves in your face, so either the world is coming to an end (probably) or New Zealand has finally found a way to not suck (definitely not).

"Get on with it, already!" I hear you say. Actually, you're probably just thinking it, which means I am literally reading your mind through the internet. The NSA wishes they had my powers, but they can't have them.

Seriously though, today (or tonight, to be specific), I'm reviewing the first two episodes of 2015's Transformers Robots in Disguise. This review will be spoiler-ridden (and verbose, as usual), so I recommend watching the episodes before you read this review. Whether or not you actually do that is up to you. I'll not only be spoiling the first two episodes of RID but also the end of Prime.
So buckle up, prepare your anus (or other orifices), and join me after the jump, for what is surely going to be a disaster of words, in this first TeleTalk on Transformers Robots in Disguise!