"LET IT RIP! GO SHOOT!"
Browsing through my social media, it seems the Beyblade craze is slowly returning to the Philippines, bringing back those fond memories we had in the 2000s of watching the anime series and buying these spinning top toys to challenge our fellow classmates.
The anime series featured some memorable characters from the main protagonist Takao (Tyson in English), and even the cold-hearted Kai Hiwatari come to mind.
And it even featured some iconic battles, like that time when Takao's Dragoon clashed with Kai's Dranzer.
Now things have reached a different turn with the introduction of Beyblade X, launched back in 2023 and its arrival has revitalized the scene.
Why is Beyblade gaining popularity?
Since the Summer Olympics in Paris, France, there have been some discussions and memes of Beyblade becoming an Olympic spectacle. In an article from Metro, the employees from Takara Tony (developers of Beyblade) joked about the spinning top game becoming an Olympic sport.
However if this was a joke, how come the company has marketed their game into a spectacle that even adults would enjoy? There are even numerous Beyblade X tournaments happening around the world, even involving the Philippines, which could foreshadow that the game might become a global sporting event, similar to what we see with other toys like the Rubik's Cube or those Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh! TCGs.
Then when looking at the mechanics of Beyblade X, it totally differs from what we normally see in those old school Beyblades from the past. The games are paced faster given the structure of the arena, as well as the introduction of a new version of the 'bit' when customizing Beyblades, making it attractive to all kinds of players.
What makes Beyblade X different?
Earlier we mentioned about the pacing of the game becoming faster due to the changes in the arena, which introduces rough edges surrounding the battle field. Combined that with the developers making changes to the 'bit,' where the bottom part of Beyblades can capitalize on these rough edges, and these spinning tops can deliver a quick finishing blow towards their foes.
But there are other notable changes as well with the introduction of the Generation X launchers, and these are the only ones that players can use with the current Beyblade setup as the previous launchers aren't compatible with the modern generation.
As usual there are two types of launchers namely the string launcher and the winder launcher and both are solid options, with the developers strengthening the speed boost provided by the latter.
Yet despite these game breaking changes, the traditional Beyblade mechanics remain as Beys can be classified into attack, defense, balanced, and stamina types.
Attack oriented Beyblades have sharper edges, while defensive and stamina blades are more rounded. Meanwhile a balanced Beyblade has a mixed of all attributes.
In general, attack oriented Beyblades will pose a problem to stamina blades, while defensive ones will shine against their attacking counterpart, but will struggle against stamina-based ones.
But it is also possible for Beyblades who are at a disadvantage in terms of battle style to prevail against their rivals, giving balance to the game.
Where to buy Beyblades?
With Beyblades gaining steam, they're basically everywhere. One can purchase these classic toys online through Lazada and Shopee, with ToyTown and Toy Kingdom being one of the most recommended stores, plus there's also the option to purchase Beyblades on the official website.
For starters, the Sword Dran (attack), the Arrow Wizard (defense), the Scythe Incendio (balance), and the Helm Knight (defense) are your go to options, and eventually players can invest in other Beys like the Steel Samurai, Talon Ptera, Knife Shinobi, etc.
While the aforementioned Beys were created for the Generation X version, this begs the question are the traditional Beyblades still viable?
The Dranzers, Dragoons, and Draciels will always have a place in our hearts especially with the nostalgia involved, and they can still be competitive as long as players could find the right parts that will suit them in the modern game.
And with Beyblades making a comeback, perhaps we could see more tournaments in the Philippines. If you wish to look for tournaments or interact with the community, there are various online social media groups such as Beyblade Philippines or the Professional Beyblade Battle League.
Once again: "LET IT RIP!"
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
