Where to buy toys in Manila: Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Makati

Maxiworks, Power Plant Mall

Where to buy Toys in Manila: Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Makati.

We're trying something new today: producing a guide as to where you may find toys for sale here in Manila, Philippines.

While the toy Mecca of Manila will, in our opinion, always be that wretched hive of scum and villainy called Greenhills (Seriously, it used to be a real hive of scum and villainy); time, circumstance and company sometimes prevent us or visitors from going to Greenhills - especially with the traffic.

So we've decided to start compiling alternate places where you or visitors to our country may find toys.

First off: Power Plant Mall, Rockwell Makati. Wikipedia defines the Power Plant mall as: "...an upscale indoor shopping mall in Makati City, Philippines. It is the anchor establishment of Rockwell Center, a mixed-use area north of the Makati Central Business District on the Pasig River waterfront across Mandaluyong."

It opened a day after Christmas in 2000 and sits on Rockwell Drive cor. Estrella Street, Rockwell Center, Makati City, Philippines. Believe it or not, it does stand on the remains of a former power plant.

MORE AFTER THE JUMP

Transformers Prime: Thundertron

Presenting Thundertron from the Transformers Prime Robots In Disguise Toyline.

Okay: Shoulder pads, what appears to be coat-tails, a beard, a peg-leg and a saber.

Hmmmmmm. All we're missing is a hat and we we'd have one bondafide Transformers Pirate (Get this, he transforms into a Lion who has what looks like an earring pierced into his left ear).

Thundertron is, for the lack of better words, yes, a pirate. He bears neither the Autobot nor the Decepticon sigil. He has his own sigil  (Head - skull? - over swords) that you can see on one of his coat-tails or on the packaging. So you could say that he fights for himself.

Thundertron was released as a part of the Transformers Prime toy-line, but he actually has yet to make an appearance in the cartoon. Despite his visage, he hasn't made an appearance in the Beast Hunters series either, but it does hint on him becoming a character for the series, especially sine Thundertron bears no love for anything Cybertronian - weird I know.

Marvel Legends Heroic Age Iron Man

Presenting the Heroic Age - or Bleeding Edge - Iron Man Armor from the latest Marvel Legends Iron Man Series.

I have to say that I really wasn't too keen about this latest series of Marvel Legends - like we need another Iron Man figure right? But I was intrigued as to whether or not this particular Marvel Legends would stand up to the articulation of one of the nicest Marvel Universe figures I have in the Dungeon: the Iron Man Bleeding Edge Modular Armor.

That and this is, by far, my most favorite Iron Man armor variant - well this and the Silver and red armor. The jury is still out on whether or not I like his current dark red and yellow armor.

And I hated the Extremis armor.

GI Joe Retaliation Battle Kata Roadblock

Presenting the Battle Kata Roadblock from the second series of the GI Joe Retaliation Toy line.

I remember the series 1 Roadblock from the same line and I remember thinking... "He's soooo..... white!"  And I really did not understand why the son of a Black Nova Scotian and a rich brown Samoan would agree to have his skin represented as white. And I bashed this fact when I reviewed the GI Joe Retaliation Ninja Dojo Set.

I was so bothered by what I considered racisim that I actually tweeted the Great One.

Clearly someone must have heard me as now the GI Joe Battle Kata Roadblock has a nice brown skin tone that's closer to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's.

I'm also not sure why, when or how Roadblock, the GI Joe machinegunner, became a ninja, but I doubt if this is anything more than a marketing gimmick.

GI Joe Retaliation: Flint

Presenting Flint from the GI Joe Retaliation Toy Line.

GI Joe Retaliation finally hits the big screen at the end of the month and we get to see if the release delay was really due to the movie having an incredibly horrible story or due to the supposed oversight of not having filmed the movie for 3D release.

Personally I think it's probably because the story sucks - I mean in what universe is Roadblock a Ninja?

Anyway, the GI Joe Warrant Officer Flint will be portrayed by D.J. Cotrona - the guy you all loved in that chick-flick "Dear John" and one episode of Law and Order SVU, and this is his action figure. To be fair at least it kinda looks like him - it's not a recast of previous Flints - unlike that feeble attempt to repackage Scarlett figures and call them Lady Jayes despite the fact that they look nothing like Adrianne Palicki.

Marvel Legends X-Force Wolverine

Presenting the Wolverine in his X-Force uniform from the Marvel Legends Hit Monkey BAF series.


I have to admit that I actually stopped blogging about Marvel Legends for the simple reason that they were a) becoming a pain to store; b) Marvel/Disney had produced some really hideous Marvel Legends with varying levels of articulation that gave insult to the name "Marvel Legends", and; c) I was having more fun playing with my Transformers and GI Joes.

I only picked up the Red She Hulk because I thought she was hot, but I did indeed like what I saw in terms of articulation and quality, so I tried the X-Force Wolverine.

And I have no regrets about it.

Year of the Snake Omega Supreme

Presenting the Transformers Year of the Snake Platinum Edition Omega Supreme.

When news of the Year of the Snake Omega Supreme started filling the internet I originally balked at the idea of having to pay over US$ 120 for a repaint of the Energon Omega Supreme  (That I already had) - even if it did come with a new arm and a new head. So I passed when it hit the market

But when I saw it in Toys R'Us I just had to have it and I started rationalizing that it was technically not the same collectible, but a brand new collectible and a fine rendition of one of the most iconic Transformers characters to ever be made.

So I spent over US$ 120 to but him, and here he is in all his glory.

Fall of Cybertron Kickback

Presenting the Transformers Fall of Cybertron Kickback.

I remember when playing the Fall of Cybertron video game that there was no way that the Insecticons would be able to trump the freshly minted Grimlock and his Dinobots - and I was right.

No one trumps Grimlock.

But the Insecticons did give it a good fight and we do have to take into consideration the fact that they did take Sludge.

To date, Kickback is the only Insecticon to come out of the Fall of Cybertron Video game as an actual figure. Hopefully Sharpshot and Hardshell are not far behind.

Oh and if you're a fan of the Transformers Animated Movie, then do look to the homage that involves Kickback made during the Fall of Cybertron marked by those infamous lines "Excuse me"

Transformers Fall of Cybertron Ultra Magnus

Presenting Ultra Magnus from the Transformers Fall of Cybertron line.

On to the obvious! Yes, he's a repaint of the FOC Optimus Prime with a cooler weapons and a new head. That's one way of looking at it. The other way is to think that he's actually the original and the FOC Optimus Prime is the repaint.

Another pretty obvious item worth mentioning  is that this particular incarnation of Ultra Magnus DOES NOT appear in the Transformers Fall of Cybertron Game. The Ultra Magnus that appears in the FOC game  as an exclusive to Nintendo has a design more akin to the Transformers Animated Series Ultra Magnus and bears a hammer, not the sword - which by the way bears a striking semblance to the one used by FOC Optimus Prime.

Marvel Universe: Daredevil (Greatest Battles 2-pack)

Presenting Daredevil from the Marvel Universe Greatest Battles 2-pack. 

This is the second and happily updated version of Battling Matthew "Matty" Michael Murdock  - reputedly the most beat up super-hero in the Marvel Universe (I would have thought it was Spider-Man but because he has the enhanced physique of a spider, he's more immune to damage). 

Honestly he's a surprise coming from a company known for simple repainting or re-issuing figures like Iron Fist and Gambit.  And quite honestly given the quality that you can see here, it's worth re-investing in getting this particular Daredevil from the 2-pack. We'll talk about the upgrades later within the review.

That and Bullseye is also pretty dope as a figure. 

Transformers Prime: Airachnid

Presenting Airachnid from the Transformers Prime Toyline.

I still really haven't figured out why a race of robots should have genders. I do believe we've talked about how Transformers reproduce in the past and somehow they apparently do sometimes reproduce like carbon life-forms - should be pretty loud and disturbing.

Airachnid is a psychotic big-game hunter with a fetish for collecting body parts from endangered species. To her credit she doesn't just go after lumbering beasts, she also goes after challenging sentient species who can provide her with a worthy challenge.

Airachnid is also a triple changer. For the longest time she transformed between her robot form and a half-spider/half-woman form till she was overwhelmed by the forces of Earth's Agent Fowler and scanned his Bell Huey 212 helicopter to escape - but somehow transformed instead into a Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche Stealth helicopter instead.

Unfortunately this particular Transformers Prime Airachnid only shuffles back and forth from her helicopter and robot modes.

Transformers Cyberverse Arcee (Legion Class)

Presenting the Legion Class Arcee from the Transformers Prime Cyberverse Toyline.

Recently the local market has been flooded with Optimus Maximus battle-stations. I thought that it was cool that Optimus Maximus was here, but noted that there were no Cyberverse Legion Class figures in the market to man the station.

A few days ago, while walking down a small side-stall in Toys R' Us in Galleria, disgruntled that there was apparently nothing new, I saw them: A few Transformers Prime Cyberverse figures. I'm not sure why the quantities were so small, or why these particular figures were hidden and not on the more prominent display racks, but here they were.

This particular figure of the Autobot's "Stealth Fighter" Arcee, which stands a mere 2.6 inches tall - not counting her flaring shoulder blades - is from that tiny selection.

Transformers Prime: Soundwave

Presenting Soundwave from the Transformers Prime Toy-line (Robots in Disguise - not the Takara one).

I once stated that I am not a fan of the "Animated" versions of things - especially when they start distorting the heroes. But I have to say that I really like what Hasbro has done with the Transformers Prime: Soundwave.

In the Transformers Prime Animated series - and practically all Transformers canon, Soundwave is, and remains Megatron's first recruit and number one die-hard fan faithful to his unappreciative leader to the very end.

And a faceless master spy who never fights alone because he has his own loyal sidekicks - in this case he has only one, Laserbeak.

In this incarnation, Soundwave transforms into a Predator Drone (General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper AKA Predator B or Guardian)

Soundwave also actually has a... third form - kinda, sorta, could-be.

The Dark Knight Rises Movie Masters: Batman

I'm Batman

Presenting The Dark Knight Rises Movie Masters Batman.

I was originally psyched when I saw this come out, opened it and... well... I had a sinking feeling - which I couldn't really verify at the time since the key to the riddle was in storage - that this was nothing more than a repackaging of the Dark Knight Movie Masters Batman which came out in 2008. I scurried through the Dungeon Basement  and.... yup. It's a re-issue.

So if you have the one from the 2nd Dark Knight movie, don't bother with this figure - unless you're trying to complete the Collect -and-Build Bat Signal (But you'll need both Bane and Alfred for that) that comes with this particular Dark Knight Rises Movie Masters Batman.

The Dark Knight Rises: QuickTek Venom Menace Bane

Presenting the QuickTek Venom Menace Bane from the Batman Dark Knight Rises toy series.

I have to admit that I had no intention of buying this particular toy as it's what I consider "cannon fodder" promotional items for the movie that wouldn't reflect the essence of the movie nor provide sufficient "nourishment" for collectors. In fact a part of me kept wondering if this was a re-released toy from the 2nd movie or - worse - from all the way back from the disastrous nipple suit Clooney movie "Batman and Robin".

But I was entertained by the packaging - I'm easily entertained - you could actually move the figure up and down and execute the "QuickTek" transformation. It was cool. You can even make it appear that there's no figure inside by moving the figure into the "QuickTek" chamber - which I have to admit I did to some of the figures on display. It was fun.

But I truly appreciated this packaging because it gives buyers a complete idiot's guide explanation as to what "QuickTek" is without buyers having to resort to reading the back - else it just looks like a toy with a Batman prison poised above his head. Simply grasp the "Try Me" buttons and move the figure up to his holding cell. Pull him down, and the "Venom Menace" cannons are gone. Repeat the process and the cannons reappear on Bane's shoulders.

Marvel Universe Black Widow (Comic Series) with Light up Collector's Base

Presenting Black Widow with light-up collector's base from the Marvel Universe Comic Series Collection.

In a nutshell this is a repaint of the original Marvel Universe Black Widow - from silver utility belt and Widow Bites to gold (Which is more in-keeping with the modern Black Widow since she only used silver when she was going around in gray as can be seen in this Marvel Legends Black Widow) - with Jean Grey's head from her Red-Pheonix outfit from the Cyclops/Dark Pheonix Greatest Battles Comic-Book pack.

This is the one time where I feel a salvaged and re-purposed body-part is worth it because the original head was just so.... dead.

And she comes with a special "S.H.I.E.L.D." light-up base that combines with five other bases to make a cool collection.

Ultra-Poseable Spider-Man (Movie Series)

Presenting the brand new Ultra-Poseable Spider-Man from the upcoming movie re-boot of the Spider-Man franchise. This particular action-figure from the Movie-toy-line boasts a whopping 20 points of articulation - making it the most flexible and poseable Marvel Universe sized action figure.

It also features Spider-Man's new costume as he will appear in the movie reboot (The Amazing Spider-Man) staring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.

What do I think of the costume? Well there's the Filipino joke that basically says that Spider-Man is a "REAL MAN" because he can make a sticky-white fluid appear from his hands. This costume seems to reinforce that idea because it includes an arrow pointing straight to his gonads. I swear if the movie bombs there is going to be a lot of jokes about this costume.

Transformers Prime First Edition: Optimus Prime (Voyager Class)

Presenting Optimus Prime (Voyager Class) from the Transformers Prime Animated  First Edition Series.This is the big brother of the SDCC 2011 Exclusive "Matrix Prime" that we reviewed back in October. Only this time this one doesn't come with kick-ass packaging (A Matrix of Leadership that can be hung around your neck and a nice magnetic case) that we have here on the right.

Transformers Prime Voyager Class Optimus Prime debuted on the retail store shelves around December and I got him for Christmas along with Transformers Prime Bulkead. But since Transformers Prime: Optimus Prime is quite common and Bulkhead was rarer - and has those lovely baby-blue eyes -  I came out with him just now.

Transformers Prime Voyager Class Optimus Prime was purchased at the retail price of PhP 1,499.75 (Roughly US$ 34). Strangely he's available on Amazon for a whopping US$ 49.95 (Roughly PhP 2,200 plus shipping), which makes me wonder if he's rare in the U.S. If he is, give a shout out because it might be cheaper for you to get it all the way here from the Philippines where they fill toy-shelves throughout the Metro.