Tag Archives: Decepticon

Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Toy Review – WFC-GS11 Exhaust

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It’s become an accepted fact now that the Generations Selects line is going to be part of the Transformers toyline for the foreseeable future.  Whilst annoying that one can never simply walk into a store and purchase one of these figures, at least they are still easier to obtain than store-exclusive figures (most often only obtainable in the US).

Most Generations Selects figures are either simple recolours or slight retools of toys from the main line.  And today figure is no different.  So without further ado lets take a look at WFC-GS11 Decepticon Exhaust

Sporting some serious fricken shades!

The character Exhaust has a kinda cool history.  A Diaclone figure that shared a mold with Wheeljack and whose paintjob was closely associated with a brand of cigarettes, in the new area finally got a Transformers toy (Masterpiece no less!) based on him as well as an actual name – Exhaust. And yes the smoking jokes have never stopped since then.

 

Robot Mode

‘I can do the arm cannon thing too!’

As you can see here, Exhaust being a retool of Wheeljack continues, with a new visor and paintjob being the only real difference between this figure and Earthrise Wheeljack.  Like the Autobot mad scientists toy, I find this Exahust to be a tad stocky.  I also would have liked to see some greater detail in the paintjob such as some blue on the wings and patches of green on the body.  Still, for his first Generations outing Exhaust got a fairly good toy.  What is interesting to note is that he is sporting a ‘Mercenary’ badge rather than a Decepticon one.

New Mercenary Badge

Like most toys in the War for Cybertron trilogy toyline, Exhaust comes with extra ports to attach Weaponizer components, such as those from Greasepit.

Protected from both Autobots and rain

 

Vehicle Mode

This is where he comes into his own.  He retains his old number but otherwise the paintjob is different from his MP outing, with Decepticon even being spelled out in Japanese on the side.  It’s a really nice looking sportscar and the little missile launcher on the roof I feel suits the likes of Exhaust better than Wheeljack.

For us older fans, we have to wonder: Is Exaust deep down a Burt Reynolds fan?  And with a new paintjob could he be the source of the next movie crossover figure?

 

Transformation

Pretty simple, you aren’t going to break your brain changing this guy.

 

Overall

If you are a Generations completionist then Exhaust is worth grabbing.  Unlike Prime and Soundwave and so many other big names he doesn’t already have hundreds of toys out there of him.  If looking for a solid figure with an interesting history then this is also a good reason to pick him up.  However if simply looking for a new toy, there are plenty easier (and cheaper) to obtain than this smoky bandit.

 

Related Articles:

Selects Nightbird, Cromar & Zetar

Earthrise Sky Lynx

Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Toy Review – Studio Series Scrapper

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The slow release of the Studio Series Constructicons continues.  Some see it as a good thing, not overloading their budgets.  Others see it as an irritation, their frustration to build Devastator from Revenge of the Fallen growing week by week.

For me personally it has been neither.  As someone who is happy enough with the ROFT Devastator I already own, this Studio Series has simply been a chance to fill out my collection with those onscreen Cons who never received an actually decent toy before such as Scrapmetal.

Today we are looking at one such character.  The leader of the Constructicons in G1, who like Long Haul and Mixmaster got to actually keep their proper name and traditional alt-mode for the movieverse, we are looking at Scrapper.

 

Robot Mode

This looks pretty good for a movieverse toy.  He actually looks like a robot rather than just a mess and is pretty faithful to how he appeared on the big screen.  He has retained the flail attachment on his arm, however sadly is unable to swing it.  He has decent articulation for a fairly stocky bot, with elbows, neck, knees and hip movement.

‘Am I busting a kung-fu move or just getting down with my bad self? Let your imagination run wild kids!’

The colour scheme is not only faithful to how he appeared in ROTF, but also has some G1 roots too, almost an homage to the European/Australasian rerelease of the G1 Constucticons from 1992.

“The studio insisted I bulk up for the movie”

 

Vehicle Mode

Really pretty damn good!  A superb amount of detail throughout the entire vehicle form, this looks like a proper model of a real construction vehicle.  Some have argued that the alt-mode is too kibble-laden, but as someone who has seen a lot of very large construction vehicles up close, some Front Shovel Loaders do indeed look similar with parts everywhere.

The vehicle form feels very solid overall and a nice touch is that you can actually raise the shovel!

Super-Sweet-Shovel-Slap Bro!

 

Transformation

This figure has a really interesting transformation.  With 36 steps its going to take you a few minutes to do the first time out, but there is no part that is overly frustrating or a head-scratcher.  It feels very satisfying to work through, and that is always a massive plus when dealing with actual transformer toys.

 

Overall

If you have no interest in the Movieverse (in which case why are you reading this review? Go outside and play!) then it’s an easy pass.  But if you like the Movieverse, are a Constructicon fan or a completionist then you will want to pick this guy up.  Of course if you intend to build Devastator then you have no choice but to pick him up!  But you wont regret doing so, it’s a solid figure in both modes with a good transformation and for once you feel like you are getting a proper Voyager-class sized figure when buying a toy of that classification.  So yeah, a good value toy that reminds you just how fun transforming transformers can be.

 

Related Articles:

Toy Review: Studio Series Scrapmetal

Devastator Pack Review – Transformers TCG

Movie Review – Transformers 5

 

 

 

 

Games & Competitions, Transformatorium

Exclusive Card Reveal: Electro-Optical Visor. Transformers: TCG

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Thanks to Hasbro and Wizards of the Coast, BigAngryTrev.com has once again been given an exclusive reveal for the Transformers: Trading Card Game to share with the world! Rather than a new character, this card is an Upgrade – Armour card from the new Titan Master packs that will be available later in the year.

Note: Neither Hasbro nor WOTC have paid for this reveal and have in no way tried to dictate the content of this review. BigAngryTrev would like to thank both companies for the continuing opportunities to share facets of this card game with the public.

 

So let’s have a look at the Action Card Electro-Optical Visor. 

 

Using the card in game

The usefulness of the card will rely heavily on what cards you and your opponent are sporting. If you are sporting a team of all Autobots, when you place this on a character and it adds 1 Defence point via an Armour Upgrade to its stats and the cards usefulness stops there.

However, if you have any Decepticons in your team, putting this card on one of them will not only add 1 Armor Upgrade point, but also:

*Makes your opponent reveal their hand

*Your opponent must scrap an Autobot card of their choosing from their hand

Of course, your opponent could quite easily have no Autobot cards in their hand, which means they don’t have to scrap any card at all. But even if this is the case, it still means that you get to have a good look at their hand, see what cards they are sporting and prepare yourself accordingly.

 

The Artwork

The artwork is lovely, showing Soundwave wearing what one assumes to be an Electro-Optical visor. Oddly I don’t recognise the origin of the artwork, so I am making the assumption it is from the IDW Transformers comics reboot, as I have not read all of them yet. If I am in error, or you know which exact comic, please pop it in the comments section below and I will be sure to credit you.

Note: According to reader ‘Flip Flip Bang Bang’ this is probably new artwork as WOTC no longer uses IDW comic art.

 

So all in all, depending on the cards you and your opponent have, this could prove to be either an average or a very useful card to pick up. I look forward to getting a physical copy in my hands and trying it out in gameplay.

The new Titan Master Packs for Transformers: TCG are slated for a release on the 17th of April, 2020.

  

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Transformatorium, Videos

Transformers Siege trailer: Character breakdown and analysis

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Today at the New York Toyfair the world was treated to the teaser trailer for the new Transformers cartoon trilogy coming to Netflix later this year – War For Cybertron: Siege.   Even though this has been touted as ‘Anime’ we are getting a CGI cartoon like the Power of the Prime’s trilogy rather than some stylized Japanese animation.  Based mainly on the Siege Toyline, but also reminiscent of the opening sequence to the 2018 Bumblebee Movie, this cartoon has kept many of us in keen anticipation and is set in the final stages of their war on Cybertron.  Watch below:

Video from Transformers Official Youtube Channel

 

So let’s have a quick rundown of what characters we saw in this short video, what they did and what implications it could have for the upcoming cartoons storyline.

 

AUTOBOTS

Optimus Prime: Voiced by Peter Cullen, we see Optimus doing his usual – saving other Autobots, battling Megatron, protecting the Allspark and so on.  More interestingly, you get to see some of his warriors questioning his methods rather than talking about how great he is.

Elita-1: The only  Transformer from the video that did not have a toy in the Siege line or the upcoming Earthrise (her figure coming out in POTP).  Her line said to Optimus ‘This is not the life I imaged for us’ brings up the question: is she referring to her and Optimus indicating a relationship between the two, or referring to the Transformer race in general.

Ultra Magnus: Instead being his usual ‘Yes Prime’ self, we see him questioning Prime’s methods, and even going in secret to see the Decepticon command.  This potentially could be the most interesting we have ever seen him portrayed on screen.

Bumblebee: Another bot that is usually at Prime’s beck and call, we see him telling Prime his attitude to the war will get him killed.  Thankfully it seems he is based on his G1 self which will get a toy in the Earthrise line, rather being based on the Bumblebee Movie.

Chromia: Seen fighting Barricade, one wonders with the inclusion of her and Elita, does this mean we will finally get a break from Windblade and Arcee being the two main female Autobots in any given story?

Cog: Seen dying of an injury, but his parts being used by Sideswipe in Weaponizer fashion.  Oddly later in the trailer we see a bot that has Cog’s body type but is coloured like Six-Gun running after Elita.  A trick of the lighting or the first animation error?

Wheeljack: Like Bumblebee, he has a figure coming up in the Earthrise toyline, so will he transform in the cartoon?

Sideswipe & Hound: Both seen in fight scenes

DECECEPTICONS

Megatron: Not voiced by Frank Welker, but sounds good all the same.  Sporting some battle damage and some big Overlord-style lips.  Like Optimus he is doing his usual – inspiring his army and trying to kick Prime’s butt.

Soundwave: Seen standing off to the side of the Decepticon command table.  Does this mean he wont be as big a character as usual?  Or without Welker’s voice that he may remain silent?

Shockwave: Also seen at the command table.

Refracktor/s: Two Refracktor’s are seen firing over a barricade.  The powers that be have obviously gone for the choice of having them all identical like the G1 cartoon, rather than Spectro, Viewfinder and Spyglass getting their own colour schemes and weaponry.

Barricade: I guess this solidifies Barricade’s inclusion to the G1 universe.  Seen sitting at the command table as well as putting the smack down on Chromia.

Skytread: Seen getting punched in the face by Optimus.

Jetfire: In a few scenes with Megatron and most definitely sporting the Decepticon symbol.  Looks like we will get the inevitable ‘Jetfire swaps sides’ storyline at some point.

Impactor: Like Jetfire we see his Decepticon incarnation.  Will he, like Jetfire undoubtedly will, join the side of the Autobots at some stage in the series?

SEEKERS: From some shots it looks like there is going to be a lot of them, perhaps all of them.  Here are the ones that were definitely spotted:

Starscream: In both battle scenes and at the command table.  Given all the other story implications, we might actually be spared the ‘Starscream betrays Megatron’ story that has been played to death in the past.

Skywarp: Battle scenes and at the command table.

Thundercracker: In a few battle scenes

Redwing and Acid Storm:  Seen standing guard as Ultra Magnus approaches the Decepticon base.

 

So, seems like there may be some interesting story arcs and some interesting takes on characters.  One can just hope that this cartoon is better than the last CGI transformers cartoons we received.

What do you think of this trailer?  Pop it in the comments section below!

Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Toys Review – Selects: Nightbird, Cromar and Zetar

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The Generations Selects line is one that divides people.  On the one hand it provides opportunities for figures to get made that might otherwise not due to a lack of popularity.  On the other, it means these figures are often only available either online, at specific stores and/or limited to a few select countries, meaning higher prices with a dollop of international postage for good measure.

The War for Cybertron Siege toyline has had a whopping nine Selects figures released this year.  Some such as Redwing have been virtually impossible for overseas collectors to get their hands on at a reasonable price.  But some have been released through multiple US online stores making things a bit easier, and today we are looking at the latest wave of them, consisting of the Powerdashers Cromar and Zetar, and the always mysterious Nightbird.

Note: As all three characters are minor retools of other Siege figures that have been out for quite some time, we will be focusing more on their aesthetics rather than their articulation, transformation and Weaponizer potential.

 

Powerdasher Cromar

Robot Mode

‘We all float down here…’

Whilst it seems his main weapon would be to hang about in Cybertronian Sewers eating Decepticon Protoforms, as a retool of Six-Gun his body is bristling with weapons.  Two long guns on the lower arms and four cannons on the shoulders and back.  Not bad since the original toy didn’t even have a gun.

‘Everybody loves a clown, so why can’t you?’

Cromar gets his distinctive face from the 1984 Mail-away figure he is based on (and the only TF I had and lost as a kid that I have yet to replace as an adult).  It’s… not flattering and makes this a figure you really don’t want to give to a coulrophobia sufferer as a gift.

Alt-Mode

If you think this looks weird, you should have seen my original toy

Pretty much Siege Six-Gun with new colours.  However it works for the character quite well, with perhaps only Cybertron Sideways being a more appropriate recolour.  I likes it!

 

 

Powerdasher Zetar

Robot Mode

I’m smiling because I can kill you with a headbutt

No fingers, no neck, but one helluva hat!  The silly thing is the drill on his head can be spun fairly easily in robot mode but not in vehicle mode. A retool of Siege Brunt, he lacks a certain appeal that Brunt possessed, but is certainly faithful to the original toy & character.  The bonus being he gets a gun this time around which (due to the no fingers thing) can be attached to his forearms.

The creepy circus motif continues

The look of his head really makes me want to get the third Powerdasher – Aragon – just to see if he has some clownish attributes too.

Alt-Mode

‘I..I just don’t know what the hell I am supposed to be’

Once again we are looking at Siege Brunt, but with a drill on the front.  The ironic thing is that the cannon on top, if you attach the blaster, sticks out further than the drill does.  But hey, with the drill that close to the ground Zetar can definitely get a job drilling holes for oversized cybermice or mowing really thin strips of lawn.  Unite Warriors Nosecone or even Combiner Wars Drillhorn make far more practical looking drill tanks.

 

Nightbird

Robot Mode

‘I’m quite frolicsome for a Ninja’

A retool of Siege Chromia, Nighbird boasts a totally new headsculpt which is very indicative of how she looked back in the G1 cartoon, though severely limits how much she can turn her head.  She comes with the same weaponry that can be either a pistol and grenades, a gun or a sniper rifle.  It would have been nice if she had come with some sai’s like the Legends version of her did to show her Ninja origins.

‘Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!’

What is very disappointing for a Selects figure is that Nightbird comes apart quite easily.  Her legs, arms and crotchplate all come off way to easily, though at least are not too hard to reattach.

Alt-Mode

‘Wonder if I can get a date with Kit from Knightrider?’

I had no idea she would be this black!  Her backpack makes up the majority of the car body and it’s as black as black can be with a dark purple canopy.  I would have liked to see the backpack/car body remain grey with the black limited to her fenders.  However at least this car mode is more generally Cybertronian, rather than the Legends version which was quite Arcee indicative.

 

Worth Getting?

Only if, like me, you are a fan of obscure G1 characters.  All these moulds have been done before and none of these characters are popular enough that any kid is going to be screaming for them this Xmas.  It’s nice to see the Powerdashers get new figures after all this time, though the lack of a dash component kinda irks me.  Nightbird isn’t bad but I find the Legends version to be far superior in both modes.  So yeah, they are all nice in their way and I’m glad to have them, but none have any wow factor that is going to keep you awake at night wishing that you owned them.

Got anything to add to this review?  Pop it in the comments section below!

 

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Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Toy Review – Cyberverse Gnaw

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Sharkticons.  In G1 they worked for the Quintessons.  In IDW they worked for the Junkions.  Whatever the place in the Multiverse, it always seems to be the fate of the Sharkticons to be the serving class – rotund warriors who turn into savage shark… thingies.

Gnaw is to this day the only named member of the Sharkticon race, whereas even the Junkions have grown their named-character ranks over the years.  But given their appearance in The Transformers: The Movie in 1986 and then in multiple episodes of G1 Season 3 thereafter Sharkticons – and therefore Gnaw – are instantly recognisable to nearly any Transformer fan on the planet.

Gnaw got his first new toy in thirty years with his 2016 Titans Return figure.  It was much beloved, especially since he was so small and cheap that you could by a ton of him!  Well now three years after that Gnaw is taking his first steps into the Multiverse with a bigger (if somewhat similar figure).  So let’s chomp down on Cyberverse Gnaw.

 

Robot Mode

“Call me ‘Humpty Dumpty’ again. I dare you – say it one more time”

Tubby fragger isn’t he!  But he conforms perfectly to how the Sharkticons looked in the G1 show and how they may/probably look when they debut in the Cyberverse cartoon.  The articulation isn’t too bad for a Warrior-Class CB figure, with some actuation in his shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and neck.  With a neckline covered in teeth and a light grey, light blue and pink colour scheme you would be hard pressed to mistake this fella for anyone else.

Mace Mash 

By pushing the shark fin situated in the middle of Gnaw’s Back you make him do a Mace Mash spin, akin to the gimmick that the Cyberverse Acid Storm sports.  It’s kinda fun I guess, certainly aimed at a younger demographic.  Certainly adds more play value than simply pressing a button like on Alpha Trion.  I do like how his mace has a big kink in it, something to give it a bit more visual appeal.

 

Sharticon Mode

“I watch you while you sleep”

Half-Frog, Half-Shark – all ugly!  Yup – he ticks all the boxes.  This is for the most part simply an upscaled version of the Titans Return version, in fact their transformations are nearly identical.  Sadly this Gnaw has no articulation in his arms which is a bit of a letdown as was something they could have been easily included without compromising the Mace Mash gimmick.  But it’s a small quibble, on the whole he looks great. Ugly yes – but great.

 

Worth Getting?

Gnaw’s on parade

Well, I reckon so.  As only the third official Gnaw toy we’ve had in the last 33 years, people would have been over the moon if this had been released before the Titans Return figure existed.  As it is he is worth getting if you are into Cyberverse or the character in general.  Given the $29(AU) price point I can’t see many folk using him to army build. Given his size however, which is half way between the other two official Gnaw figures, he will add some nice variety to your Sharkticon displays.

Baby Shark, do-de-do-do-do

 

Got anything to say about this figure?  Pop it in the comments section below!

 

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Transformer Toy Reviews

Toy Review – Cyberverse Soundwave

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Good old Soundwave, after having a break for many years he got revived for the Cybertron series and has been a staple ever since.  Animated, Prime, RID(15), Movieverse – he’s been in them all.  It should not come as much of a surprise then that Soundwave has cropped up in the new Cyberverse series, ensuring he gets yet another new toy.  So lets take a look at Cyberverse Warrior-Class Soundwave. 

 

Robot Mode

‘Operation: Look Awesome’

I kinda like the style of it.  Somewhere between the G1 and Animated Soundwaves.  The blue is quite vibrant, the yellow stands out well on his chest with the Decepticon Symbol in the middle, the soundwave patterns on his shoulders, the shoulder cannon – all good!  Good to see the cassette-player symbols on there too despite the fact that’s not what he transforms into.  He also has an extra little satellite dish that can flip out from the side of his head.

The articulation here is better than most other Cyberverse Warrior class figures too with the elbows and knees bending, the neck turning and the leg and shoulder connections being able to swivel.

The only letdown is how bare his legs look, much like Cyberverse Prowl, they look far too plain due to making up the back half of the vehicle mode.

 

Vehicle mode

Quite a letdown.  A survellience vehicle  is a good alt-mode choice for him but this is just way to bland.  Some different colours on the lights and grill or even a stripe down the side would have helped break up this big box of blue.  Once again you can flip out the satellite dish which makes sense for the vehicle, whereas the cannon definitely does not.

 

The Laserbeak Blast

‘Laserbeak: Eject. Operation: Attend Rave Party’

This made me laugh the first time because I didn’t mean to activate it, I was just seeing if his head swiveled.  By turning his head & cannon you make Laserbeak (who sadly can’t detach) pop out of his chest compartment at a surprising speed!  But that colour – translucent neon pink?!  Haven’t seen a Laserbeak this pink since he was pretending to be a Bumblebee copy in DOTM!  It’s kinda fun and it’s kinda quirky – it would have just been a lot better if Laserbeak popped all the way out.

Laserbeak can also pop out the back of the vehicle.  I can’t figure out if this works in the figures favour or not.  On the one hand it forces Soundwave’s head to be uncovered and the overall effect is weird.  On the other hand the back panel dropping down like that and Laserbeak shooting out makes it looks like Soundwave is getting tailed and is deploying Laserbeak out the back of his vehicle – could make for some interesting play options.

 

Worth Getting?

I’d say that this figure is worth getting for the price tag, but only just.  The robot mode is really nice (if small) and has replaced Shockwave as my favorite Warrior-Class bot.  However the vehicle mode is definitely lacking.  Pretty simplistic transformation too.  It may simply be a case of how amusing  you think you or your kids will find the Laserbeak gimmick.  But it’s easy to say this is definitely one of the much better Warrior-Class Cyberverse figures.

Got anything to say about this figure?  Pop it in the comments section below!

 

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Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Toy Review: Cyberverse Slipstream (Ultra)

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Slipstream – the female Seeker fatalle.

Introduced back in Transformers Animated as a female clone of Starscream, Slipstream became very popular very quickly.  Not only having the distinction of the only official female Seeker ever, but also one of a small number of female Decepticons all up.

Fans loved seeing another female baddie and combined with her cool attitude and colour scheme it meant that Slipstream soon started turning up in other Transformers Universes.  In the Aligned Universe via novels, video games and a Timelines figure (recolour of TFP Starscream) and was retroactively introduced into G1 via a Legends toy (retool of Legends Windblade).

Well now Slipstream has shown up in the new Cyberverse cartoon.  Not only was she the main antagonist for the first season of the cartoon, but it has finally after all these years given her well overdue original toy that’s not simply a redo of someone else.  So let’s check out Ultra Class Cyberverse Slipstream.

 

Robot Mode

Aesthetics

I reckon without a doubt this is the best looking Slipstream we have ever had!  Not a recoloured Starscream, not Windblade with an Animated-style head stuck on.  No, this is Slipstream all the way!  The proportions, the colour scheme, the arm cannons, the face with the plum coloured lipstick, she looks exactly like she does on the cartoon.  If it wasn’t for the fact you can see a big purple panel hanging down behind her thighs I’d say she was perfect.

Jet black hair and plum lipstick – I AM the emo girl you lusted after in High School

Articulation

Knee’s are for the weak!

Of course, while her looks are great, her articulation is not.  No knee articulation, no neck and head movement and the few places where she does have articulation (hips, shoulders & elbows) the movement is quite limited.  So unless you want her very purposely striding somewhere or doing the splits, you will feel let down here.

So glad I’m not a Malebot right now!

 

Jet Mode

Aesthetics

Once again, you can tell this figure was meant to be Slipstream from the start, the jet mode looks just like it does on the cartoon.  Whilst a tad plain for my tastes, it certainly does the job of recreating the onscreen look.  She has landing gear that pops down but the cockpit is simply painted on.  The only real letdown to this mode is the very visible hands from the robot mode, it would have taken so little effort for the designers to make them fold into the hollow forearms.

Sonic Swirl

WTF?! Well I suppose….. no seriously – WTF?!?

Sigh… look, I understand why these gimmicks get put in.  While I as an adult would prefer they get left out so as to put more effort into the rest of the toy, they are very appealing to little kids. My 6 and 4 year old had great fun squeezing the jets guns together to activate the ‘Sonic Swirl’.  My question is – what the hell is the sonic swirl supposed to be?!  It makes some panels pop up off her wings and flip behind her to briefly twirl.  But why?  It can’t be propulsion, she is already a jet.  As it’s sonic, maybe it causes some kind of noisy vortex behind her to deter pursuers or something?  For me it just seems to be a bit of useless gimmickry that the toy could have done without.  But yeah, I guess I’m not the key target demographic.

 

Ultra Class Slipstream, worth getting?

Hey – I look better than Starscream at least!

Depends.  Aesthetically she is by far the biggest and best looking Slipstream figure we have ever had from any continuity.  Articulation wise she isn’t much better than the KRE-O version.  The vehicle mode looks great but has a couple of glaring issues.  That combined with the very simplistic transformation (9 steps) means that your more serious Transformer fan will happily bypass her. But for young kids, Cyberverse fans or Slipstream & Seeker fanatics (which I am) she is worth shelling out some bucks for.

 

Got anything to add to the review?  Pop it in the comments section below!

 

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Transformer Toy Reviews

Toys Review – WFC: Siege – Micromasters: Wave 1

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Back in the late 80’s the Transformers brand was starting to suffer.  Something new had to be tried.  So in direct reaction to the popularity of Micro Machines, the Transformers made Micromasters.  These were actually pretty cool little toys!  You could get them in packs of 4 or 6, some had bases, some could combine, and they were pretty cheap to get.  I know for myself I collected most of the Decepticon ones to try and even out the amount of each faction I had as a kid, having to track down the Autobot ones as an adult.  Micromasters got a brief revival in the Universe line in 2003, but didn’t grab the toy consumers imagination.

Here we are in 2019 and Micromasters are back!  And the first wave of the War For Cybertron: Seige line is made up of 3 pairs, each pair making up half the members of their original patrol team.  So lets have a look at some classic G1 characters, most we haven’t seen in 30 years!

 

 

BATTLE PATROL

Flak & Topshot

Robot Modes

Flak is so unchanged from his G1 incarnation that I had to look twice to make sure it was a new figure.  Topshot (formerly Big Shot) also represents his G1 heritage well.  Both have far more detail in their faces and their bodies overall.  Both have knees but no elbows or head swivel.

Vehicle Modes

Once again Flak looks very much like he did in G1, though with some cooler details on his missile ports.  Topshot has lost a bit of length from his turret (maybe that’s why he had to change his name) but this is made up for by being able to swivel the gun up and from side to side with a great degree of control than the G1 toy allowed.  Both get top marks!

Weapon Mode

Topshot becomes the back half with his turret becoming the gun peg, with Flak making up the front to become an oversized missile gun.  Looks a bit odd being held by a Deluxe Sized figure, but would suit a Voyager sized bot well.

 

AIR STRIKE PATROL

 Visper & Storm Cloud

Robot Modes

Visper (formerly Whisper) has a nice amount of detail and looks quite good.  Storm Cloud is odd as in he is the only figure out of this entire wave of Micromasters that has elbows, yet at the same time he lacks hands.  An odd trade off.  Besides this Storm Cloud does however look good otherwise.

Vehicle Modes

Both Visper and Storm Cloud are both very faithful to their G1 origins, while adding a bit of extra detail to their jet forms that one would expect after a 30 year hiatus.

Weapon Mode

Quite a decent looking sword, nicely balanced and well proportioned.  Yes Visper is still obviously completely in jet mode but Armada’s the Star Sabre set the precedent for that.  Very cool!

 

RACE CAR PATROL

Roadhandler & Swindler

Robot Modes

Swindler had shoulders that put Ultra Magnus to shame, and its hard with the lack of elbows to position his arms anywhere but down that doesn’t cause him to fall over.  Roadhandler looks quite decent.  Both suffer from having massive holes in their chests which are required for the weapon mode.

Vehicle Mode

Swindler still resembles a Delorian, which is great for us of the generation that grew up on Back to the Future movies.  Once again, Roadhandler looks decent as well.

Weapon Mode

Pretty weak.  You simply fold over the back of the car and insert the other car on top to make a weapon that sorta resembles the Double Targetmaster ones from G1.  The only slightly redeeming feature is that they are the only pair that can swap spots, so either character can become the top or bottom half.

 

Worth Getting?

Yup!  A cheap price point, an outing for G1 characters we haven’t seen in 30 years, very faithful to their origins and now with combined weapon modes.  There are a few drawbacks sure: little articulation, the legs come off really easily on all figures and whilst you can combine the different teams bots to make new weapons, only a few of them look decent and are better off with their original partner.  However these are small quibbles.  I heartily recommend picking these guys up and really hope that the other halves of their teams get released in the future.

Got something to say about these little figures?  Pop it in the comments section below!

Transformer Toy Reviews

Toy Review – Cyberverse: Acid Storm

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The relatively short first season of the Cyberverse cartoon has come to an end, but new toys are still turning up on the shelves.  I must admit I am eschewing most of them but when I saw Acid Storm in a local store I couldn’t help but pick him (or is it her?) up.  So let’s have a look at the characters first foray outside of the Generation One universe with Cyberverse Warrior Class Acid Storm.

 

Robot Mode

‘It’s not easy being green’

The wing shape over the shoulders is reminiscent of the characters Thrilling 30 toy.  And the colour scheme?  Well the colour scheme is very G1 reminiscent, ya gotta give it that.  We are talking green here.  I mean, really green.  Besides some grey on the torso & thighs and a yellow cockpit there is very little to break up the overpowering green to be found here.  This may be case of where being a G1 homage might be taken a little too far.

G1 Acid Storm

 

Toxic Slice

The flip out toxic wings

The gimmick here in robot mode is to swivel the entire upper body around a couple of times and let it go, making it spin and the coloured end sections of the wings spread out.  It doesn’t work, which is to say it works too well.  Acid Storm spins so fast it’s just a blur and you can hardly make out the wing segments at all.

 

Jet Mode

Pretty stock standard with little to recommend it above the litany of other TF jets out there.  The backs of the legs are visible from above and the annoying thing is you can’t take out Acid Storm’s landing gear without having to reverse the transformation somewhat.  A bit of a let down overall.

 

Is He a She or She a He?

A ‘He’ on Cybertron…
…then a ‘She’ on Earth

There is a bit of confusion over the gender of Acid Storm.  In the cartoon Acid Storm’s first appearance on Cybertron portrays the character as male.  Yet on Earth the character is definitely portrayed as female and appears in multiple episodes as such.  Yet when one looks at the toy, the toys box art and the official Cyberverse website Acid Storm is once again male.  Therefore we are forced to conclude that the character was intended to be male, but the writers at some point after the initial Cyberverse episodes arbitrarily changed the gender.

The official website description

 

Worth Buying?

Battle of the average toys

To be honest, not really.  The transformation is uninspired as is the jet mode and colour scheme and the whole toy feels cheaply made.  The Toxic Slice gimmick is also a joke.  However it isn’t a completely horrible figure and it’s nice to see Acid Storm finally get an outing in a non-G1 toy line. So if like me you are a Seeker enthusiast, you may wish to pick this guy (or perhaps gal) up.

 

Got something to say about this figure?  Pop it in the comments section below!

 

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