Mon Oct 21, 2019 5:48 am
I sorely miss Universe. The concept was certainly unique and hasn't been replicated since. Sci-Fi and Fantasy themes can and normally do go hand in hand, but combining the two comes with the major cavoite of having to actually explain magic and how it works with a somewhat sci-fi standard. Not an easy thing to do.
I'm not entirely sure as to why, but I really like the figure designs and ranks system. There bulky armor and hulking weapons are both more toyish, yet oddly satisfying to imagine the massive weapons being able to figuratively blast figures apart and the bulky armor able to soak up blasts from the dragons. The weapons massive size made them all look like heavy armaments, which to be fair. They were fighting dragons. Space Dragons.
I'd definitely enjoy seeing something for this series return with updated figures, weapons sets etc. The sub theme had an entire wave cancelled before it got off the runway, which was a shame where the big dragons are concerned considering the approved concepts for the dragons live on through the card game.
In the end though, Lamentation aside. I'm with Nato 100% on this one. Would much rather see a reprisal of the original dragons theme, diving head first into super detailed dragon figures and massive towering structures over a DU return. Simply because the concept wile interesting, didn't have a story to go along with it. Which means we lack investment in the line. (Mind you they named every figure, not kidding, also they weren't simple names for the human figs. No, they used names of Greek and Roman archetypes. Captain Kato, Captain Niveous, and General Julius come to mind.)
I would wrap the lines flaw in the same blanket that I wrap the fall of the original dragons line in. Way to many eggs. Not enough actual sets. There is a total of...(edit: totally forgot about the non sub-theme Alliance Dragons, which is either at least a +2 most a +4) (Edit 2: Ha, also forgot about the special one off dragon, Golden Heart, that's a +1) 14 medium, 7 small (dragon) and 8 (Non dragon) eggs and technically 6 swarm dragon packs. Companied by a whopping… 5 sets... (Flarestorm is a single 1-off dragon, he doesn't count) One of which had such a small release cycle (Ha Banished Marauder anyone?) That it is literally unfindable today. With 4, 5 figure pack blisters and two MAF bag series, one for the Alliance and the other for the swarm dragons. Wave 1 (Alliance) is also practically non existent today. Lastly though, there was also a huge issue with production of advertisement vs the actual product, + the line being marketed heavily at a younger audience, something we haven't seen till quite recently I'd have to say overall. There are prototypes of the Ultimate Dragon Destroyer that circle the internet to this day, showing what could have been. Final approved art on packaging horribly miss-represents the final color of the plastics and molds of the figures. There is a obvious disconnect between the production time and packaging/marketing of the products and a huge dip in QC. It was bad even for 2010 - 2011 mega bloks standards.
:D I know a little too much about this line, but not enough to get super into detail. (That last statement might be a lie actually)