Power Master
| This article is about . For other uses of "Powermaster", see Powermaster (disambiguation)|The name or term "Powermaster" refers to more than one character or idea. For a list of other meanings, see Powermaster (disambiguation).}} |
The four Generation 2 Power Master toys were released at the end of the Generation 2 line in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The Australia and New Zealand releases were in US packaging, complete with Hasbro's Rhode Island address, suggesting they were originally planned to be released in the US as well, but eventually canceled and shipped overseas instead.
Their pull-back motor gimmick was not unlike that of the Throttlebots: Each Power Master could be dragged backward in either robot or car mode, then by placing one of his guns in the right spot, a catch would release, allowing him to zip along a smooth surface. They share no relationship to the Generation 1 Powermasters except for their name.
Notes
- It is possible these toys were designed by Hasbro without help from Takara, explaining their oddly simplistic look, lacking detail and inconsistent with the rest of the figures originating with the Generation 2 line. While it isn't necessarily a confirmation, they only carry Hasbro copyright marks instead of both Hasbro and Takara.
- The Generation 2 Power Master line is notable for giving us the first new non-redeco Ironhide toy since 1984.
- For whatever reason, each Power Master has the designation "PM(#)" on its lone sticker, regardless of allegiance. "PM1" is Staxx, "PM2" is Ironhide, "PM3" is Meanstreak, and "PM4" is Bulletbike.
- A redeco of Power Master Ironhide may have been in the works at some point. The Power Master Ironhide card art, recolored in yellow and blue, was used on packaging mock-ups under the names Belzone, Light Speed, and Pothole. However, no physical samples of such an item have ever surfaced. An Ask Vector Prime question interviewed a contact at Hasbro about the matter, who stated that packages are often "Greeked" with gibberish text for display purposes, with no intention of releasing such characters.
Notes
Foreign names
- English: Powermasters (for the British, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and German markets)
- French: Les Maitres [sic] du Bitume
- Italian: Turbomasters