It’s a great time to be a Zoids fan/collector. Last summer, toy collectors, hobbyists and fans were (re)introduced to the famed Japanese toy series by Takara Tomy, under a new line dubbed Zoids Wild.
Not only has this new series spawned a fresh slew of toys for newcomers and veterans of the franchise to build and play, it has also birthed a new anime and manga series, as well as a Nintendo Switch game.
And leading the line for the entire Zoids Wild series is its flagship model, the Special Edition Wild Liger.
A spiritual successor of the Shield Liger, Blade Liger and Liger Zero models of yore, the Wild Liger sports a badass-looking triple blade that flips to the front as it walks. The DIY mechanical sets still requires some technical know how to build, but that’s always been the attraction of Zoids.
The white exterior parts contrast really well with the black interior ones, making the Wild Liger’s leonine features really pop out. The paws and fangs are a nice golden tint, but the triple blade really shines (literally), sporting a cool chrome finish that gleams under the light.
Right out of the box, the parts are separated according to interior (A), exterior (B), and smaller parts (S). There is also a motor which requires a single AAA battery, and the flipping attachment.
Building it is a rather simple affair, as is the case with most Zoids. Simply follow the various instructions and you’ll manage to complete building it in roughly 20 to 30 minutes.
However, there are some parts to the instructions that are a little hard to see due to either the blackened parts being too dark, or the assembly of some parts are totally blocked out because the graphic is tilted to only one angle.
Despite this, once you’re done, you’re pretty much all set.
All you need to do is to slide the tail guard and it starts moving. There is a mechanism that makes the head tilt downward, eventually causing the triple blade to spring forward. To reset the Wild Liger, all you need to do is push up the head, then flip back the blades, which will then click into place.
However, the Wild Liger still suffers from the lack of replayability as compared to its predecessors from nearly two decades ago. The most you can do is make it walk a few steps to see the blade spring out, which can get old after a while.
So far, so good for the Wild Liger Special Edition. However, the price of S$69.99 is rather steep, especially if you’re considering getting this over the regular Wild Liger, which is priced at S$31.69.
Furthermore, we also noticed that the Wild Liger Special Edition actually looks shabbier compared to its regular counterpart. We’re not sure if it’s a casting issue, different manufacturers, or both, but there are inconsistencies across both models.
The Special Edition is billed as a shinier, more crisp-looking version, but the white plates are far from crisp. In fact, the regular version’s white parts are much sharper and angular, as compared to the off-white and slightly rounded edges on the Special Edition’s.
The difference in the tint of the paws, fangs and blue areas are not that much different. Only the triple blades on the Special Edition look “special” compared to the normal one. If only the paws and fangs were of a similar chrome finish, then maybe the title of “Special Edition” would be more deserving.
Because of this, the steep pricing will be a turnoff for some buyers and collectors. If you’re looking for something of more value, either get the regular Wild Liger, or top up another S$10 and get the Grachiosaurus or Death Rex instead.
GEEK REVIEW SCORE
Summary
Takara Tomy’s mascot for the new Zoids Wild series is certainly a looker, but 9 times out of 10, we’d strongly recommend the regular version simply for the price alone.
Overall
7.6/10-
Design - 9/10
9/10
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Build Quality - 8.5/10
8.5/10
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Playability - 7/10
7/10
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Value - 6/10
6/10
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Geek Satisfaction - 7.5/10
7.5/10
User Review
( votes)Marion has a serious RPG addiction. Sometimes it bleeds into real life; he forgets to sleep because he thinks he has a Witcher’s body clock. Forgive him in advance if he suddenly blurts out terms such as “Mind Flayer” and “Magic Missile”, because never once does he stop thinking about his next Dungeons & Dragons game.