Dilemma

[TRUCKvsGUN]

lol hopefully they aren't all smiling

[pandagfx]

I'm in the same boat as you, having a tough time deciding between MP or Ocular Max version for Inferno. If I buy MP Inferno, then I'm gonna go with Ocular Max for the eventual Grapple repaint (to sample their quality for "real car" series).

I'm not gonna kid myself. My gut feeling is, if I had bought MP Inferno first, and then this Ocular Max version came out, I'd be tempted to sell the MP version (because I think the OM version looks better).

Out of all the 3P options available for any "real car" figure, I like what I've seen aesthetically from Ocular Max. It seems to best match the Hasui vision of a "blend of the toy/anime and other references" (ie some extra details here and there, and no stupid faces like FT Perceptor and FT Reflector). If the MP-10 reboot had begun with a full hard-on to match the bland anime look (ie flat panels, no details, looks like PVC figurines), I'd hate to think what the other 3P companies would have churned out to match that style.

Anyway, the recent MP's have more accessories, so that's a plus in Takara's favor if you like re-arranging/re-posing for playing and phototaking.

However, if you're more of the display-collector type, then choose the one that looks best to you and call it a day.

[Blurrz]

Originally Posted by The7thParallel

The only one that will retain any real value over time is the Takara, if that matters to you. People will still pay for the 3P, but as they are 3P and not part of the mass market, are counterfeit versions of owned IPs, and don't have any official backing they will never increase in value.

I used to agree with this side of the argument but as years have gone by I can't really say it's 100% correct. There are some instances where the third party equivalents hit the proverbial dumpster (ala FansProject Defender vs Hasbro Voyager Spinger / 3rd party Arcees vs Hasbro Deluxe Arcee), but there are some cases where its the opposite, and most of these cases happen to be at the MP-scale of things.

I gotta say that the 3P backing matches the size of the fanbase behind HasTak's MPs, if not more. You can simply look at the fact that all of these companies are still going strong, and that there are so many characters in the Universe that HasTak cant cover. And even when both groups push out the same character, HasTak doesn't always win out; from what I've seen Shockwave is split 50/50. And then there's the iGear MP Coneheads. Those are at a frightening price despite HasTak dishing those out as well.

Anyways I like Hellfire. The ladder is pretty lengthy.

[funkmasterke]

Easily the takara version. Comes with a sick accessories and also is the most accurate.

It the announcement for MP couldn't have had better timing, I literally just made an order for MMC's ver seconds before so I still had time to cancel.

[Darth Cylon]

Originally Posted by Scrapmaker

lol hopefully they aren't all smiling

static face, smiling face, and shoutnig face

[Mega-Prime 316]

I like Backdraft the best, Takara's legs need more details.

[optimusb39]

The deciding factor for me was the cover panels on the mmc version. Recently watched several reviews on that model and love how vrhe vehicle becomes a solid realistic firetruck with no visible arms or legs and all their associated kibbly shapes.
The cover panels fold away beautifully into the leg cavities and leave the robot looking superb.

[wedge1021]

I love Maketoys, and I love Inferno, so you'd think Hellfire would have been a no-brainer for me. But I couldn't get past the wheels, particularly the huge screw-holes in the centres. I wavered back and forth between it and MCC's long enough that now I'll just wait for the Takara one. I prefer to get the official releases where I can, and fill in with 3P figures when they're unlikely to get the official treatment (ie, Dinobots and a few others).

[xueyue2]

For other characters, maybe I will need to consider between Has/Takara and 3rd parties.... however for Inferno, I have to be really blind to choose 3rd parties version over official's. This picture explains all, the vast advantage Takara MP's version over other 3rd parties Inferno.
I will order MP Inferno as soon as it's available...

[Pascal]

I would buy them all if I could. My old me would, my new me can't. F...