Just how different are the Super Megaforce Ranger Keys?

In celebration of Power Rangers’ 20^th anniversary, Power Rangers Super Megaforce is coming. The new show, premiering in 2014 is the direct sequel of Power Rangers Megaforce, in which the Megaforce team gain the Legendary Morphers, which with the use of special keys allow them to transform into past Ranger teams. Super Megaforce is an adaptation of Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, which is also the Super Sentai series 35^th anniversary.  In line with this, Power Rangers Super Megaforce will feature a new gimmick – a release of the keys. However, as the show is an adaptation, there are also Japanese versions of the aforementioned keys, called Ranger Keys.

But what are the differences between the Ranger Keys and the yet unnamed keys from the upcoming Super Megaforce toyline? (From here on in I’ll refer to them as Gokaiger and Super Megaforce keys)

1. SCULPT

The Gokaiger toy, the prop version (middle) and the Super Megaforce toy.

The Gokaiger keys are show-accurate in terms of sculpt. They retain nearly 100% the look of the keys in the show. (With a minor exception for Capsule toys, which we’ll get to in a bit.) Here’s where the Super Megaforce keys fall short. While the Super Megaforce keys seem to have retained much of the upper body sculpt of its predecessors, the arms and legs are relatively ‘scrunched’-looking, leaving the figures looking rather top-heavy. The Gokaiger keys take this round.

2. SIZE

The Super Megaforce Keys are a couple of heads smaller than the Gokai Keys. 

But note the front distance of the Gokai Key. ©MMPR Toys

 It’s not new that toys are resized to be smaller than the props for kid use. Thus the Super Megaforce keys are, not surprisingly between ½ to 2/3 smaller than their predecessors. For play that’s okay. However, for show-accuracy, the Gokaiger keys win.

3. PAINT QUALITY

Just hold your finger 2cm over the Ranger Key and watch the paint magically disappear!

 Bandai Japan role-play toys are notorious for chipping with use, unlike Bandai America products that last longer paint-wise. While silver, gold and Neptune-painted toys from Bandai Japan already have the tendency to have paint come off, the Gokaiger keys proved to be worse with paint sometimes wearing from simple touching. The incredibly brittle paint caused die-hard collectors to come up with better ways to store their stuff. However, given Bandai America has a better history with paint, it’s safe to say that the Bandai America keys will be longer-lasting.

4. PAINT APPLICATIONS VS STICKERS

World-weary Gashapon Gokaiger keys can't stand up to prolonged handling, let alone, play.

Gokaiger Keys were released in different ways. Buying the versions with Ramyune candies, you will receive Gokaiger Keys painted with the exception of the black space between their legs. Buying Capsule (Gashapon) versions means you basically have to place stickers on your Gokaiger keys for the torso designs. The problem with stickers is that you may apply them wrongly or they wear over time.  It looks, however that the Super Megaforce Keys will be all-painted- each and every key. So wrinkled paper stickers are a thing of the past.

5. BASE COLORS

The "best" Gokaiger MagiShine has an orange base while the Super Megaforce one has Solaris Knight in gold.
The Gokaiger Go-On Silver has a gray base while the Super Megaforce version has Ranger Silver in silver.

One thing that had many disappointed with Gokaiger keys is the fact that they skimped on metallic plastic, leaving their gold keys with a light orange base and their silvers with a pale grey. They did, however, release a VERY small number of metallic Ranger Keys as well, but nowhere near enough to complete a collection. It does, however, look like the Super Megaforce keys WILL be carrying true-blue (ehem) gold and silver keys! So far the only exception seems to be Shadow Ranger, who will be in a flat color.

The prop key was metallic. The Gokaiger version had a near-lilac/indigo hue.

6. HINGING

The original Gokaiger deluxe and candy toy keys retain the prop keys' simple hinges.
The Gokaiger capsule toy keys snap on and break off whenever you like. The Super
Megaforce key hinges are constructed differently with a spring barb in the middle.

 The Gokaiger keys, when bought with Candy or in deluxe sets, have show-accurate hinges. These hinges are a simple metal bar through the mid-section. They’re less show-accurate though, when bought through capsule machines, as they have snap-lock hinges as opposed to true working hinges. However, the Super Megaforce keys have a different hinge system, not at all show-accurate BUT functional. These hinges have a single barb that allow the keys to be “flipped open” like they are in the show. While it takes a lot of training and strong fingers to flip Gokaiger keys, Super Megaforce keys promise to do the work for you, easy as pie!

Note: Gokaiger has a limited set called the One-Click Ranger Key Set that also flips. However, there’s a huge button on one side of each that you need to click to open it. Most people aren’t a fan of the fact that it’s a premium-ish set and yet you have to use stickers on it and that there’s a ginormous thing sticking out of the sides of the keys.

7. STANDING

The Super Megaforce keys have one other change to the original keys, in that they have flat stands. The flat stands, of course will allow kids and collectors to stand their keys without fear of the domino effect that accompanies standing Gokaiger ranger keys. But of course, this is a matter of preference, as it also affects the look of the sculpt. 

8. KEY BLADES

The Gokaiger keys (left) and the Super Megaforce keys (right). The show props mostly have key blades like the red Gokaiger key shown.

 We have yet to see what the functionality is of each Super Megaforce key. Will it be like the Gokaiger keys which call out the team names once inserted in the morpher and the color in the blaster? Or will it be like the Action Card Game cards that announce the team and the color at once (individual rangers)? However, the key blades have cuts that are wider than in the original key blade. So if it’s sculpt your after, Gokaiger keys take this round.

9. PURCHASABILITY

If you're familiar with Justice League Unlimited by Mattel, then you'll have some idea of how the Gokaiger keys are packed and sold. There will be sets of deluxe keys and some of them with overlap with what you have. Some of those keys will also be available as singles, or perhaps some are ONLY available as singles. What's worse, if you're in Japan or anywhere there's a capsule machine, there's a gamble with how you can acquire said singles in a random system. Like JLU, the final pieces for the collection were also released in a web-exclusive premium set. Needless to say there are so many challenging ways to get a Ranger Key and if you're not from Japan, you can compound that with the effort and cost of auctions, surplus shops and middle men. The Super Megaforce keys will more likely be easier to find. We can speculate, based on the Action Card Game, that they might put a key or two in with every toy purchase. Or they may go the mini-figure/Mega Bloks route and blind pack some of them for trade-and-collect. If you're not in Japan, these may be easier to collect. Also the treasure chest that they'll be selling looks like it may hold more keys than the Gokaiger version.

10. NUMBER OF KEYS

There are 199 Basic characters in the Gokaiger key series, barring subsequent additional Rangers, Kamen Riders and Megazords. There are approximately 119 Basic characters in the Super Megaforce key series, barring any surprise new teams (Dairanger?)

Here's a quick overview of what's different with what version.

	Base Color	Paint	Stickers	Hinges	Stands	Size
Gokaiger Show props	Grey Resin	Entirely painted	Bow sticker	Metal bar	none	Exact size
Gokaiger Deluxe	Ranger color	Painted details	Bow sticker	Metal Bar	none	Exact size
Gokaiger Candy	Ranger color	Painted Details except for leg space	Bow sticker and leg space sticker	Metal bar	none	Exact size
Gokaiger Gashapon	Ranger color	Painted details except for chest	Bow sticker and chest sticker	Snap lock	none	Exact size
Gokaiger One-Click	Ranger color	Painted details except for chest	Bow sticker and chest sticker	Metal bar	none	Exact size
Megaforce show prop maquettes	Unknown, likely resin	Entirely painted	none	None. “belt color” instead of hinge	None but mounted on acrylic stands	Double or triple the original size
Super Megaforce toy keys	Ranger color	Painted details	Bow sticker	Hinge bar	Flat stand	½ - 2/3 less

There you have it, folks! It’s quite a quandary for some which of the versions is better, but without a doubt Ranger Key collecting is STILL great fun for all and will continue for a couple more years thanks to the new versions for Power Rangers Super Megaforce.

Super Megaforce Ranger Keys courtesy of MegaforceCast