Keitaizer/Digimorpher


Version reviewed: Digimorpher

Like the Astro Morpher/Digitizer, this toy is one of the more innovative changers. It's the size of a normal cell phone. The antenna can be raised a half inch (whee). Turning it on plays a five-note chime, and the phone will beep every ten seconds while it's on. Pressing the black button on the side opens the phone, revealing a keypad. Each number plays a different note (nice idea). The functions are on the back of the phone:

Press a combination of numbers followed by the enter key and the morpher will say the last 3 numbers, then play either a sound effect or a dull error tone if it's an incorrect combination. There are five different sound effects: 2-5-9 is a brief shimmering noise to call the Silver Cycle, 1-4-8 is an array of computer beeps, 5-0-6 is a communication button that rings six times. The most interesting feature of the toy is by pressing 7-3-0, it will play the first 1:20 of the Megaranger theme song from the beginning through the first chorus. This is the American version of the toy, but as a Sentai fan first and foremost I'm glad they left this feature unchanged. I don't have the instruction sheet so I don't know how the feature was explained. I bet there were a lot of American kids in 1997 that wondered what the hell this song was that their Digimorpher was playing for 80 seconds.

Pressing the bottom left key will make a trio of beeps, and then pressing any number will make the phone say whatever letter it has on it. Pressing any combination that spells MEGA and enter will activate a morphing sound identical to the Astro Morpher's.

This toy, like the Astro Morpher, is very loud. There are no lights (the red Mega on the phone is painted on instead of lighting up) but the music is an interesting alternative. It doesn't have as many features as the Astro Morpher (and no game, nuts) but it's still far better than most other morphers and I'm glad the American version remained mostly unchanged from the Keitaizer.

The Digimorpher goes for between $15-30 on Ebay and shows up rarely. Definitely worth picking up, especially for Megaranger fans in the U.S.

Final Word: Excellent array of sounds, great playability. A-

The original Keitaizer.