TF01 3,Merchandise Reviews 4,by Marcus Priddey, Phil Inness-Chaytor and Simon Plumbe Star Trek: The Next Generation Micro Machines Set by Galoob ------------------------------------------------------------- Reviewed by Simon Plumbe -------------------------- Following on from their highly successful range of miniature toy cars, Galoob released three sets of Star Trek miniatures in 1993, (which has been since followed by a number of additional sets), the third of which featured three ships from The Next Generation - a Klingon Attack Cruiser, a Romulan Warbird and (the reason this set is being reviewed here), a Borg vessel. Each ship is no more than 2 inches long, and yet they are incredibly detailed and are extremely well painted. The Klingon Cruiser has the Klingon emblem on it and on both the Klingon and Romulan vessels you can even see the ships running lights. However, the one I'm really interested in is the Borg vessel. Well, there's not much that Galoob could have done with the ship really, but it is adequately designed and reasonably well painted. The one good thing to note is that although te ship is constructed from six faces, they are all different - Galoob could have so easily fobbed us off with a ship with six identical panels adorning it. There is an alternative version of this pack with the Enterprise-D replacing the Borg ship, but you're not really interested in that one are you?! Also, there is another version of the Borg ship in their boxed sets with a better, more metallic paint job, but it's still basically the same ship. Overall, it's quite a good collection and not bad value for money at around £5. "The Best Of Both Worlds" - Soundtrack ---------------------------------------- Reviewed by Marcus Priddey -------------------------- One of the things that you do not really pay that much attention to whilst watching your favourite episode is the accompanying music. Unlike one of the directors at Paramount who believes in keeping music firmly in the background, I think it is an integral part in setting the atmosphere in an episode just as much as the script and actors and actresses. In writing the music to The Best Of Both Worlds, Ron Jones has done an extraordinary job - just by listening to the soundtrack, you can tell where the action is, where the cliffhangers are and so on. One of the better things of this particular piece of work is the use of a human choir when the USS Enterprise first engage the Borg. My favourite tracks are the ones used in Part Two - "Cemetary of Dead Ships" where the Enterprise arrives at Wolf 359, and "Intervention" where Riker intervenes. If you like instrumental work, then this is one to buy (right after Star Trek II - The Wrath Of Khan, the best of all). Reviewed by Phil Inness-Chaytor ------------------------------- This CD is the second in the series of TNG Audio CD's, it has the music to "The Best Of Both Worlds" parts 1 and 2. The Story in question is a very good episode - many would call it a `classic' TNG story, so what's the audio CD like? Well, it contains the music from the two episodes plus as you would expect the main theme and the end credits music. The main music is very dark and moody (not surprising since it's a Borg story). The soundtrack has been excellently produced and the CD also contains a track which was written for but not actually used in the first part of the story. Well did I like it? Yes and no. Yes it's an excellent CD - the music suits the episodes perfectly and is well put together, but also NO because I don't think it's exactly general listening really, because the soundtrack is very dark and moody it does make it quite sombre. It may be worth having in your collection if you particularly liked The Best Of Both Worlds story. but I cannot recommend it as an essential purchase. Star Trek: The Next Generation - Borg Action Figure by Playmates ------------------------------------------------------------------ Reviewed by Simon Plumbe -------------------------- This figure is one from the original set of 10 released in 1993 and is a 5" tall figure of a lone, unidentified Borg. As with all of the Playmates figures, it is numbered an limited although looking at the number on the figure itself (mine is 264,501) will give you some idea as to how limited they actually are. The figure comes complete with a base to stand it up on, moulded in the form of the Borg emblem, and the figure comes with three detachable arm pieces - a "normal" hand, a grabbing device and a weapon attachment. Along with this, there are a couple of short pieces of rubber piping to insert into the various holes in the Borg allowing you to customise the Borg figure with as much, or as little, tubing as you want. Like all the figures in the Playmates range, the figure is well designed and has quite a lot of detail considering its size. The figure is also well painted with a variety of silver, black and other dark metallic colours, with the face having the characteristically pale skin tones associated with the Borg. A good figure and one of the better ones in the first set, although they are now quite hard to come by. You may be able to find the European re-issues without too much difficulty, but you will find it quite hard to get your hands on the original American edition. If you do, however, I'd advice you to keep it sealed in it's packaging - you only have to look at the value of the Galoob figures from the late 80's to realise that these figures, which are far superior, could in time be worth a lot, lot more.