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Post by cybernaut on Feb 24, 2013 14:57:13 GMT 8
Transformers Prime: Beast Hunters Deluxe-class SmokescreenSmokescreenAllegiance: Autobot Function: Trickster (?) BioThis Autobot trickster strikes quickly, then disappears behind a black puff of magnetic smoke.Technical DataStrength: 5 Intelligence: 8 Speed: 8 Endurance: 6 Rank: 7 Courage: 9 Firepower: 7 Skill: 8 Electronet Launcher - Generates a shadow field that makes Smokescreen very hard to see or target. - Delivers powerful Bio-Electric shocks to enemies. - Can also be used as an electrified axe.Tales of the Beast Hunters Chapter 11With Bumblebee injured and Bulkhead near total shutdown, it’s up to Smokescreen to discover where the new and dangerous Predacons are coming from. Luckily, the Autobot trickster is also a capable spy, and soon he finds himself creeping through the shadows of a remote Decepticon lab. At first, he thinks the place is abandoned. Then he discovers a room lined with large glass chambers, each one filled with a strange, murky liquid, and the vague outline of a beastly machine. Satisfied that he’s discovered exactly what Optimus Prime needs to know, he turns to leave, only to find Shockwave blocking his way. “You should not have come here,” the Decepticon scientist says, raising his laser cannon. - Continued in Chapter 11 Voyager ShockwaveTf: Prime Smokescreen, CGI render.What, even the toy bios are now shortened to cut costs? Really, this reads like a generic description of any Autobot Smokescreen. Even his weapons have longer descriptions. (ooooh!)Nice cliffhanger and segue into Beast Hunters Voyager Shockwave though… Robot ModeSmokescreen comes out of the card in bot mode. The likeness is good, at least compared to the Arms Micron version, but somehow, the toy looks less bulky compared to the screen render. He’s got the familiar door wings and the headsculpt better conveys Smokescreen’s carefree character than the serious mug of the Arms Micron version. Unlike the Arms Micron version though, Smokescreen employs a panel with sculpting intended to emulate his car hood chest, while the actual car hood splits and folds up with the windshield and roof to form massive kibble pieces under his arms. In hand, he feels thin and fragile, especially when you view him from the side. The robot back’s not especially nice to look at since there are no car bits except the door, giving him an unfinished feel, kinda like those Lego Bionicle or Hero Factory figures. Smokescreen, robot mode views.Smokescreen, arm kibble detail.Smokescreen, leg detail.Smokescreen has good articulation, though certain parts tend to obstruct movement depending on the position. - Points of Articulation:
- Neck: Ball-jointed neck, severely obstructed by facial details. Lateral movement only.
- Arms: Shoulder pads on ball and socket joints, attached to individual struts. Ball-joint shoulders, with swivel joint above elbow. Soft-ratcheting elbows with a over 90 degree bend; no wrist or hand articulation.
- Torso: Swivel waist joint, unrestricted movement.
- Legs: Ball-jointed hips, thigh swivels, 90° hinged knees and ankles.
Smokescreen, posed, showing Points of Articulation.Smokescreen, kick test…Smokescreen, robot mode, with Shadow Quill armor and Electronet launcher accessories.Smokescreen, robot mode, with Shadow Quill armor and Electronet launcher equipped.Smokescreen, robot mode size comparison with Tf: Prime R.I.D Voyager Optimus Prime.Smokescreen, robot mode size comparison with Tf: Generations Deluxe FoC Sideswipe.TransformationClever but fiddly, and IMHO, too overly done for what it achieves. The leg transformation is pretty straightforward, standard fold and twist to form the rear. But shifting the chest assembly and wrapping the panels that unfold from the arm kibble around the internal assembly to form the car front is a panel-massaging exercise in frustration. There’s very little clearance and parts end up getting in the way of each other either way you go. And after all that, Smokescreen still needs a sculpted panel to simulate his car hood chest in bot mode. Alternate ModeBeast Hunter Smokescreen transforms into a sleek white sports car, quite different from the Arms Micron Smokescreen’s alt mode, which was the same as Tf: Prime Knockout’s, except with a new spoiler. It has the similar to the onscreen model, though somehow it doesn’t look as aggressive, as if some of the curves got smoothed out in the transition. The car mode is quite solid, assuming you’ve managed to massage the parts properly, and the hood and windshield pieces can prove troublesome. There also very little ground clearance, which results in plastic scraping on uneven surfaces. Though not quite captured in the shots, the off-white plastic takes to the molded details quite well. The transparent purple windows and amber headlights are nice. There are some painted details but they just barely do the job of representing this as Smokescreen (at the very least, he’s got those screaming 38’s on the doors…). The rims are unpainted, so is the rear window and tail lights and the layout of red and blue paint apps are off compared to the actual on-screen model (the checkered flag motif on the doors, the blue on the spoilers…). Smokescreen, alternate mode views.The included accessories also come into play in vehicle mode. The huge rubber piece clips on the hood in some sort of mad-max style hood armor while the projectile launcher pegs onto a hole in the roof. It adds an aggressive touch to the alt mode, kinda like those RoadBlasters Matchbox released back in the 80’s. Frankly, I find it underwhelming. Due to the parts being rubber, the hood armor part tends to warp and doesn’t quite lie smoothly against the curvy hood. Same goes for the rubber attachment on the missile, which tends to twist and droop in warm weather (which, in the Philippines, is most of the time… ) , Smokescreen, alternate mode, with Shadow Quill armor and Electronet launcher attached.Unlike the earlier BH figures, which were remolded PRiD molds, Smokescreen’s car mode ends up on the small end of the spectrum. Small, flat and compact. Smokescreen’s really folded up tight in car mode, with little hollow space inside. He does still look decently sized when placed alongside PRiD Voyagers, who are also quite small themselves. Smokescreen, alternate mode, size comparison with Tf: Prime R.I.D Voyager Optimus Prime.VerdictI think it’s really great that Hasbro released a proper Smokescreen, but I can’t help but be underwhelmed by this release. It’s a decent, if average toy, nothing fancy. There’s good articulation and nice play value to be had and it LOOKS LIKE Smokescreen, not Knockout in a new paint scheme and a new head. It’s too bad the use of lower quality materials brings the fun factor of the toy down noticeably, at least to me. The rubbery accessories don’t add much to the toy and present the possibility of degradation over time. The robot I’m not going to pregnant dog about the plastic and the decreasing size of Transformers these days, but in Smokescreen’s case, these factors hurt the toy a lot, especially since he costs PhP 800 (almost $18) over here. For fans of the show and those wanting to complete the main cast, he’s a sure purchase. As a stand-alone toy, however, it’s average. It’s definitely far from “Airachnid bad”, but there are probably better stand alone Beast Hunters toys. and a half stars out of Jya na!
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Post by cybernaut on Oct 1, 2012 3:50:18 GMT 8
Notes: - Credit is due to Cybertron Philippines where this review first appeared.Transformers Prime : Robots in Disguise Voyager-class ThundertronThundertronAllegiance: Star Seeker Function: Tidal Wave Captain(?) BioAges ago, Thundertron swore that the creatures that caused the destruction of his world would pay for their crimes. Since then, he has wandered space in search of his revenge. His ship is primed, his crew is willing and at long last, Cybertron is in his sights.Technical DataStrength: 9 Intelligence: 8 Speed: 6 Endurance: 10 Rank: 9 Courage: 9 Firepower: 8 Skill: 7 Let’s see… Revenge-fuelled character, swearing vengeance on a yet-unnamed entity, travelling through a great expanse with a ship and crew? Can anyone say “Ahab”? Great tech spec numbers though. Note: Thundertron is neither Autobot or Decepticon, but, as his faction sigil suggests, a Star Seeker. In-PackageThundertron, in package, showing front, back, left and right sides.Out of PackageOut of package, showing the contents.Thundertron comes with a Claw / Battle Sword accessory and an instruction manual, as well as a “Snap-On Claw” / removable foot. Robot ModeThundertron, Robot mode, Front and back.Thundertron, Robot mode, chest detail.- Thundertron is packaged in robot mode, so we’ll start there. Note that while promo shots on the back of the box show him with only one foot, the actual toy comes with two feet (the “missing” foot is attached to his leg )
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- An as-of-late off-screen TF: Prime character, there aren’t many visual references to of Thundertron, save the packaging art. His TFWiki article describes him as “'king-sized', blue and silver armor and brow plates and blue spiky protrusions on his head”. The toy pretty much matches both sources except that, 1) he’s not exactly “King-sized” (but still decent for a modern Voyager-class Tf toy..) and 2) the character art shows him with a more darker, royal blue color (which I would have preferred…) than the toy’s sky blue.
- Thundertron’s has a very distinct and visually striking appearance, defined by visible beast elements (claws, tail, lion-head chest), his “aged”” appearance (one of the few TF’s I know that has detailing synonymous to visible facial hair), and his peg leg. Yes folks, officially, Thundertron only has one foot, with a strut in place of his right foot. Arrr! Elements of his bot mode (shoulder decorations, forehead panel, as well as the hip / buttock plates) evoke a naval / pirate uniform, complete with epaulettes and flowing coat tails.
Thundertron, Robot mode, posed, peg – legged.Thundertron, Robot mode, foot detail.Thundertron, Robot mode, claw used as right foot.- Thundertron is molded in blue, white and gray plastic, while the claws, spikes and tail are made of softer plastics, most likely for safety reasons. There are also clear blue plastic bits on his arm, torso and head, but aside from the forearms, are not that visible. He’s got good proportions and sports lots of sculpted armor and tech details. I wish Hasbro had used darker shades of plastic or panel lines to make the extensive details of sculpt pop up.
- As far as paint goes, blue and white trim round out most of his detailing, as well as teal and gold highlights. The overall scheme is similar to TF: Cybertron Snarl, though the blue is lighter.
- Toy-wise, the robot mode is solid, no hollowed-out parts and floppy bits. Almost everything locks in place while the accessories can be placed via 5mm pegs holes on Thundertron’s fist, as well as his back and forearms. Thanks to the large footprint, Thundertron is stable in many poses whether the “Snap-on Claw” is attached to his foot or not, with the joints having just the right tension.
- Articulation is decent, at par with modern standards, though sometimes the sculpting tends to hinder the movement of the joints, especially at the neck and shoulders. It’s not a deal breaker and the toy is fun to pose, regardless. I’m just missing having ratcheting joints at the shoulders and thighs, since the’re the ones supporting the toy in most poses. Size-wise, as noted earlier, Thundertron is decent, for a modern voyager, although he looks significantly downsized when placed alongside a same class toy from five years ago.
Thundertron, Robot mode, size-comparison, TFU Leo Prime- Points of Articulation:
- Neck: Ball-jointed neck severely obstructed by facial details and cannot turn more than a few degrees side to side or tilt very far upwards.
- Arms: Ball-joint shoulders, with swivel biceps, sometimes obstructed by shoulder armor. Soft-ratcheting elbows with a little over 90 degree bend; hands fold in at the wrist for transformation.
- Torso: No torso or waist articulation. Side skirts are connected via ball-jointed pegs.
- Legs: Ball-jointed hips obstructed by waist sculpt, thigh swivels, 90° hinged knees, ball-jointed left ankle, rocker joint on right ankle.
Thundertron, Robot mode, claw used as forearm-mounted melee weapon.Thundertron, Claw / Battle Sword, default modeThundertron, Claw / Battle Sword, deployed mode.Thundertron, Claw / Battle Sword, default mode, mounted on left arm.Thundertron, Claw / Battle Sword, deployed mode, mounted on left arm.- Thundertron’s has two gimmicks:
- Thundertron’s “snap-on claw”, which serves a dual purpose as his right foot, or attached to his forearm (which I prefer…) as a claw weapon.
- Then there’s the Claw / Battle Sword “Powerizer” accessory, standard to all Hasbro TF: Prime RiD Voyager- class toys. In this case, it’s a translucent blue plastic (same as the forearms) “sword” attached via a mechanism to a claw with random plastic block (the battery compartment…). Engaging the mechanism flips the sword into a forward-facing position, while a red LED lights up, supposedly making the forearm and blade “glow with power”.
- IMHO, the “Powerizer” gimmick REALLY ruins this accessory. The translucent plastic blade is nicely sculpted and looks like some futuristic scimitar, but is ruined by the random blue kibble attached to it. Thanks to the non-locking mechanism, Thundertron can never hold the weapon properly (both the claw and the blade should face forward…) and the light-up function doesn’t even reach past 1/4th of the blade.
Thundertron, all weapons mounted. Kick Test™: Passed!TransformationThundertron, Mid-transformation shot.- Thundertron’s transformation scheme is simple yet engaging. It’s essentially, a “lie robot face down and rearrange limbs” setup typical to most quadruped / beast transformers with a few twists. Once you get the hang of how everything flows, it’s actually easy.
- The rear paws are basically the robot legs turned backwards (similar to BW2 LioConvoy), but the forepaws are NOT the robot arms (which end up in the beast chest…). The front paws are instead formed from the shoulder armor attached to struts (think TFA Waspinators extra arms) wrapping around and attaching to the forearms.
Alternate ModeThundertron, beast mode, front / side view.Thundertron, beast mode, rear / side view. Thundertron, beast mode, detail.- Thundertron’s alternate mode is robotic, blue and white lion. The overall aesthetic is, at first glance, very Zoids-like, specifically the Murasame Liger from Zoids Genesis, from the color scheme down to the single blade on the beast mode’s back. In fact, I’m ALMOST convinced the reference was intentional…
- Like the bot mode, Thundertron’s beast mode is packed with great sculpted detail, washed out only by the sky blue and creamy white plastic. Everything locks in place nicely, and despite being relatively small in this mode, still manages to look dynamic and cool. A minor gripe is that in beast mode, the lion’s mouth is molded partially open. A hinged jaw would have been a nice touch.
- Main problem of the beast mode is that the articulation of the paws is very limited. Due to how the front paws are formed from the bot mode forearms, movement is limited to beast mode elbows and wrists. There is no shoulder articulation whatsoever, which makes more dynamic poses out of the question. The hind paws aren’t that much better.
- The Powerizer weapon attaches to the beast mode back and, via the same mechanism, results in an extending blade gimmick, reminiscent of pop-out blades common to Liger-type Zoids from the Zoids anime franchise.
Thundertron, beast mode, size comparison, TFU Leo Prime.Thundertron, beast mode, posed, showing limit of articulation.Thundertron, beast mode, Battle Sword deployed!VerdictTransformers: Prime Thundertron is a refreshing offering from Hasbro, a fresh new character, and a new mold. The design is very nice, with the beast-former concept very distinct amongst the vehicle-based forms of the TF Prime cast (Airrachnid doesn’t count, and the Insecticons have yet to have toys…). While not as high-profile as a character as his wave-mate Ultra Magnus, Thundertron deserves a second look, on the strength of the concept alone. While the execution ins’t by any means perfect and the toy has few glaring flaws, Thundertron’s positives make for a fun toy and a great addition any Transformers toy collection, TF: Prime or otherwise. Grade and a half out of Jya na!
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Post by cybernaut on Jul 7, 2012 23:44:09 GMT 8
Credit is due to Cybertron Philippines where this review first appeared.(RANT) I'd like to get this out: Yes, these new Tf:G / FoC deluxe-class toys are freakin' small, almost 15% to 20% smaller, compared to releases in the same size class three to five years ago. Paint details are fewer and plastic quality has noticeably lessened as well, feeling much lighter and rougher compared to plastic of Transformer toys released 3 to four years back.
As for the engineering, admittedly, there are a lot of obvious corners cut across the line (simpler pieces, less parts, lower quality joint construction). I feel that part of the reason for the simpler designs across the line is due to negative reaction to the more complicated designs and transformation schemes of the TftM / RotF era, where most of the mainline stuff released proved to be too difficult to transform and play with for the casual customer, namely the parents and their children…
In the end, it’s a really painful reality to accept, but yes, Transformers ARE getting more and more expensive nowadays, all the while shrinking in size and amount of materials as well. Bummer. (END RANT)Now on to the review… Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Deluxe-class ShockwavePart of the first wave of the 2012 TF: Generations line, this is Shockwave as he appears in the War for Cybertron / Fall of Cybertron (WfC / FoC) video gamefranchise. This figure was quite highly anticipated by fans, especially since the TF: Classics / Universe / Generations sub-line has yet to come out with an update for G1 Shockwave. While not a straight-up G1 update, Shockwave manages to pad out the small cast of toys of characters based on the aforementioned games. ShockwaveAllegiance: Decepticon Function: Military Operations Commander(?) Shockwave, in package, front (left) and cardback (right).BioShockwave may appear loyal to Megatron, but in reality, he serves only one master – pure logic. Behind his emotionless face rests the mind of a brilliant strategist and mathematician. He calculates constantly, and enforces his solutions through the precise application of the vast power of his laser cannon.Tech SpecsStrength: 8 Intelligence: 10 Speed: 5 Endurance: 7 Rank: 8 Courage: 6 Firepower: 10 Skill: 6 Hasbro seems to be taking a page from their Marvel Universe packaging, what with the large, eye-catching character artwork on one side of the card and big bold letters. What I don’t like is that plastic bubble no longer has tabs to secure it to the card back. And hey, the Tech Specs is in line graph format again! Out of Package, showing the contents.Alternate ModeShockwave transforms into what the box calls a “Cybertronian Mobile Artillery”, which, for all intents and purposes, can be taken to mean essentially an “alien flying gun”… FoC Shockwave, Alternate mode (Artwork from FoC promotional material).It’s essentially brick, meaning to say it’s a solid, pointy mass of deep, dark purple plastic, filled with oodles of sculpted techno-greebling, pink highlights and spiky bits (safety plastic, of course!) coming out of weird angles. There are no wheels, spring-loaded gimmicks or new colors revealed in this mode. Play value is limited to pretending it’s a flying aircraft-gun-alien-whatever thing and zooming it around the room. Front / side and Rear / side viewsShockwave, Alt mode Top (right) and bottom (left) views.Robot ModeAfter a very “flippy” transformation, you get Shockwave, as he appears in the Fall of Cybertron videogame. Suffice to say, it’s a darker, edgier take on his G1 mode, but still retaining the skinny proportions. In other words, it’s very recognizable as Transformers Shockwave. He’s rather quite dark and monotonous, with pink highlights brought out by pink paint striping and translucent pink plastic. One thing to note is that, like the previously released DotM Shockwave, he’s got kick-ass lightpiping. FoC Shockwave, Robot mode (Artwork from FoC promotional material).Robot mode, Front view (right) and Back view (Left)Now we come to the my main issue with this toy: size. He’s on the small side for a deluxe, and compared to most small deluxes, is also a very simple deluxe. A lot of the parts on Shockwave are composed of mainly single piece, hollowed out bits of plastic, of the style one can see on cheap, simplified knock-off quality toys. While the plastic isn’t as soft as said knockoffs, it’s of noticeable lightness compared to plastic used on Transformer toys from the last decade. Robot mode, Comparison with DotM Voyager ShockwaveRobot mode, Comparison with DotM HA Basic SandstormRobot mode, Comparison with TFU Acid StormRobot mode, Comparison with RotF Deluxe LockdownIt wouldn’t be Shockwave without a gun arm, and in this regard, Shockwave does not disappoint (well, he does transform into an alien flying gun, so there..) The inner barrel of the “Mobile Artillery Mode” become Shockwaves weapon, which can be held as an arm-held weapon via a 5mm peg, or to please the rabid G1 fans, can be mounted on his forearm as a gun arm (you have to fold the hand in, first.). The gun can also store in his back via the 5mm peg. As a hidden bonus, the silver barrel can be removed to reveal a three sculpted barrels, probably to reflect a specific FoC game weapon. Shockwave, Forearm Detail (top), with weapon held by hand (middle), or attached as part of forearm (bottom).Shockwave, with cannon as part of forearm, ala G1 (left), back weapon storage (right).Points of Articulation:- Neck: Swivel-neck, unlimited rotation.
- Shoulders: Rotators on torso connection, unlimited rotation, pinned lateral hinge joint, sideways movement limited by shoulder armor.
- Arms: Hinge joint below bicep, with ball jointed elbows. Wrists fold in due to transformation.
- Torso: No torso or waist articulation.
- Legs: Ball-jointed hips with thigh swivels above the knee. Hinged knees, feet fold in due to transformation.
Shockwave, posed (top), Kick Test™ passed!(bottom).VerdictTo be honest, I’m finding it hard to rate Shockwave. As a character, he’s not that iconic to me and I’m really not a fan of his trademark “logic is my only master…” quirk. He’s not that popular a character to warrant an instant recognition reaction from casual buyers, compared to, say, Bumblebee or Optimus Prime, but for those familiar with the mythology, I think he’ll be a sure purchase. As a toy, Shockwave has a monotonous color scheme and has no outstanding features or gimmicks outside of his laser cannon and spring loaded, nicely light-piped head… While articulation and pose-ability are quite good and the amount sculpted detail is really nice, any menace that his character gives off is undermined by how tiny he is and a lot of his parts have visible hollow spaces reinforcing the “cheapness” factor of the toy. In the end, diminishing toy standards aside, Shockwave’s worth the purchase based on the strength of the character alone. While I do think the sculpt and articulation are solid overall, the niggling faults of the toy add up to make it a pretty much average figure at best. Grade out of Jya na!
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Post by cybernaut on Jun 17, 2012 3:02:00 GMT 8
Transformers Prime : Robots in Disguise Deluxe-class CliffjumperNote:
- Credit is due to Cybertron Philippines where this review first appeared.
- gaoJP has a review of the Tf: Prime First Edition Cliffjumper here.
- sluman has a review of the Takara Arms Micron version of this toy here.
Ah, Cliffjumper. Arguably one of the more interesting characters of the Transformers: Prime TV show, given that he was hyped to be one of the starring characters and voiced by none other than Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson himself but ended up having the shortest episode appearance ever, being killed by Starscream before the first episode was even over. As a toy, TF:Prime Cliffjumper also bears the distinction of being one of the few Cliffjumpers to not be a body double / repaint of the concurrent Bumblebee toy, and having been part of both the First Edition Prime toyline as well as the more recent Robots in Disguise Revealers subset, the latter of which we are reviewing. CliffjumperAllegiance: Autobot Function: Warrior(?) BioFew Autobots are as fierce as Cliffjumper. The Decepticons long ago learned to fear the loudmouthed warrior for the incredible skill with which he wields his battle hammer.Tech SpecsStrength: 8 Intelligence: 5 Speed: 6 Endurance: 6 Rank: 4 Courage: 8 Firepower: 7 Skill: 5 Interesting how even in package, Cliffjumper is subject to inaccuracies, as despite the card art showing Cliffjumper brandishing his triple-barreled wrist blasters, the toy DOES NOT have them. He comes instead with the battle hammer mentioned in the bio, despite him never using it in the show. Out of PackageOut of package, showing the contents.Alternate ModeFront / side and Rear / side viewsFront views, showing detail of grille and horns.Comparison with other Cliffjumper toys (Movie, Classics, G1 and WfC)Comparison with his “previous” alt mode, WfC Cliffjumper- Cliffjumper’s alternate mode is “a muscle car that crossbreeds the rear of a Plymouth Barracuda with the front of a Dodge Challenger (-TFWiki.net)”. He’s cast in a candy red, almost pinkish color, with gray plastic for the horns and internal workings, while the windows are clear plastic. The hood horns are done in soft rubbery plastic, most likely for safety reasons.
- Compared to other Cliffjumpers in the same size class, Tf:Prime Cliffjumper is probably the smallest, taking into consideration overall size and mass.
- Plastic used on toy is noticeably of lower quality compared to earlier Transformers toys, but that’s pretty much normal already for TF’s nowadays…
- There’s silver and blue paint detailing the car grille and bumpers, while the rims are painted silver and the taillights are painted black (apparently, he has smoked taillights…).
- The car mode is solid enough, with no floppy bits. All four wheels touch the ground and roll nicely, though sometimes misalignment of the panels may interfere. Ground clearance is a tad low due to the visible robot feet, but not enough for the bits to scrape the ground / table / surface / what have you.
With Battle hammer accessory attached to either roof or side of car mode.- In car mode, Cliffjumpers Battle Hammer accessory can plug in either on a hole on the roof and on a port on the side, becoming some sort of gun, with the handle being the barrel. Not very subtle and it looks goofy at times, but I can live with it.
- There are no c-clips here whatsoever, and unlike the Takara Arms Micron version, the car mode is smooth, since it doesn’t have the molded minicon ports.
TransformationView of Cliffjumper’s car mode underside.- Transformation scheme is simple yet engaging. The arms are formed from the front and sides of the car while the legs fold out from the back portion, with the hood, roof and trunk folding up on the robot’s back. Going back to car mode entails some panel massaging to get the sides of the car to align, but otherwise is smooth and simple.
- Due to the headlight portions of the car ending up in his arms and the roof on his back, Cliffjumper sports a fake car roof and headlights on his chest and torso.
- As part of the Revealers sub-line, Cliffjumper has an nifty bit of automorph where pulling his arms down to his sides causes his head to be pushed up from his chest.
Robot ModeRobot mode, Front view (right) and Back view (Left)Side view, showing hollow torso.- Cliffjumper’s robot mode, though relatively small, looks good and is screen accurate. His proportions are slightly off from the screen render, with the arms being longer than the legs. Mostly red and gray, the sculpt and detailing are good, with silver and red paint highlights.
- While the robot mode is generally stable, I find that there are locking issues with his back panels (the roof and hood in car mode) as well as in his arms, which are formed from the folded car sides, as these pieces sometimes have a tendency to become unclipped during play.
- Unlike the First Edition version of Cliffjumper, Tf:P RiD Cliffjumper sports an “angry” face, done up in silver, with cool blue light-piping. Just like the hood horns in car mode, the horns on his head are made of the same soft rubbery plastic.
- A major issue with Cliffjumper is that a significant portion of his robot mode is hollow, such as his lower legs, forearms and his torso. If you look at him through certain angles, you can see right through him!
Comparison with other Cliffjumper toys (Movie, Classics, G1 and WfC)Comparison with his “previous” robot mode, WfC Cliffjumper, long range weapons deployed.Comparison with his “previous” robot mode, WfC Cliffjumper, melee weapons deployed.- Cliffjumper is nicely articulated, with numerous joints to aid in posing. The arms are awkward at times, with the elbow and shoulder joints set at an angle, but once you get used to their range of motion, it’s not much of problem. The legs are great, and the ankle joints, combined with his flat feet make him very stable.
- Points of Articulation:
- Neck: Ball-jointed neck, slightly obstructed by automorph gearing.
- Shoulders: Ball joints, set at an angle, with swivel biceps. Double-hinged elbows, awkward ball-jointed wrist, due to how the hand connects to the arm.
- Torso: Torso / Waist swivel slightly obstructed by backpack / car mode panels.
- Legs: Ball-jointed hips, thigh swivels, 90° hinged knees, ball-jointed ankles.
- Cliffjumper’s accessory is something the bio calls a “battle hammer”, which to some, looks like the Polarity Gauntlet on a stick.
- The Battle Hammer is nicely detailed and looks good on Cliffjumper’s hands, though it’s more convincing as a melee weapon than as a gun. Thanks to Cliffjumper’s articulation, he can wield the weapon as both.
VerdictTransformers: Prime, Cliffjumper is quite the popular character, receiving quite a lot of figures for a character that appeared in less than one episode, and these are very good figures at that. While I’m going to stay away from comparing this toy to the earlier First Edition Cliffjumper (which I also have, although unopened…), I am going to say that this version of Cliffjumper is a very good Transformers action figure, and a decent representation of the character. While the smaller size of the toy may be a turn-off for some, and despite some criticisms on the arm setup, I think P.RiD Cliffjumper is another solid entry in the Transformers: Prime toy lineup. If you ended up missing the First Edition version of the character, this version will do the job quite nicely. Grade and a half out of Jya na!
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Post by cybernaut on May 6, 2012 20:36:33 GMT 8
Bandai Thundercats 4” Cheetara (Thunder Lynx series) ReviewThundercats was never part of my “childhood”, as compared Transformers, Voltes V, My Little Pony and all the other 80’s shows, simply because, living far into the province apparently resulted poor reception of the channels that aired them. Hence, when the Thundercats slowly came back , I had none of the nostalgia that gripped fans of the show, nor did any of the classic-styled figures screamed “buy me!” In truth, Cheetara was more of an impulse buy, out of curiosity and partly to add more females to the all-male (a common result of being an solid Transformers collector) lineup of my collection. “Cheetara is an expert fighter whose duty is to protect Lion-O and the Sword of Omens at any cost.”When the 80’s Thundercats cartoon was revived / remade, action figures of the characters were of course announced as part of the promotion of the show, with Bandai offering up a 6” scale line and a smaller, 4” line, albeit with more character, vehicles and playsets. It’s the Cheetara figure from the 4” line that’s being reviewed here. Cheetara, Packaging (reference pic from the net)The packaging is definitely very dynamic albeit very similar to Hasbro’s Marvel Universe packaging , with large character artwork on the upper left, and the figure and it’s accessories in full view encased in a plastic bubble. Typical of Bandai packaging, the card back features very little about the specific character you’re buying, just lots of co-sell pictures and disclaimers. In all honesty, I preferred how Bandai did the packaging for their 4” Power Rangers Samurai toys, with only tape holding the card to the bubble, instead of being glued in places. Cheetara, Out of the boxCheetara comes packaged with her staff and an instruction sheet. It’s very light on included accessories and inserts, if you ask me, considering the PhP 600 price tag. Cheetara, Instructions (scanned graphic from the net)As a side note, Cheetara comes with one of the most wasteful uses of paper instructions I have ever seen on an action figure. I mean, I get the cross-sells explaining how to use the “Thunder-Lynx” gimmick, but really, Bandai, do we really need to waste SO MUCH paper just to explain how to put the included staff accessory on the figure’s hands? Not to mention it REPEATS for the opposite hand! Geez! The FigureThe figure is made of Bandai rubbery plastic, with a more shiny, toy-like finish consistent with Banadi’s more mass-market offerings. I actually prefer this to the plastic Hasbro uses on its Marvel Universe figures as it feels sturdier. I’m after the durability of the fig after all. Visually, the figure looks good. The sculpt is fairly spot on to the show, with majority of the details not only painted on but are actual sculpted on details, such as her spots. Paint is good, with minimal bleeds between colors. My gripes include the rather unsightly brown block on her back which houses the “Thunder-Lynx” magnet gimmick (yes, there’s a real magnet in there, so metal objects actually stick to her back…). It disrupts the hair and removes a rather important point of articulation. That and in the show, her color palette skews more towards orange than brown. Cheetara, DetailsCheetara, size comparison with Hasbro Iron Man DronesFun FactorFor such a nicely sculpted toy, you’d expect Cheetara to at least move quite as well, right? Unfortunately, in this case, the opposite is true. The articulation on this toy is frustrating, with a joint setup that result in hardly convincing poses, which isn’t helped by the fact that the “Thunder Lynx” magnet on her back makes her back-heavy and difficult to balance without proper joint support. Cheetara, Arm and leg articulation detailsArticulation: Head / Neck - None (limited by hair and “Thunder Lynx” magnet gimmick) Arms - Combination Swivel / hinge joint shoulders (partially limited by shoulder sculpt), bicep Swivels and hinge elbows. No wrist articulation Torso - No torso or waist articulation Legs - V-cut hips with two(!) thigh swivels, one above the other, and hinge knees. No ankle Articulation I cannot stress how much this joint setup makes the figure look awkward and stiff when posed, especially with no head or torso articulation. The articulation on the legs are disappointing as well, with only v-cut swivel hips which rules out any forward or backward hip movements. The double thigh swivel is supposed to counteract the effect of the v-hips but the end result is far from impressive and still doesn’t work as well as ball joint / universal joint hips. Cheetara, Action posesAs far as accessories go, all you get is staff, made out of VERY rubbery, warp-prone plastic. While it does make it easy to slip it on and out of her hands, it’s ALWAYS crooked no matter what you do. The lack of any head and torso articulation also limits any creative poses you can do with it. With no wrist articulation, many dynamic poses with her staff aren’t possible, and due to the awkward hips and legs, even running poses look stiff and unrealistic, which makes playing with her () very frustrating. ConclusionMediocre at best, this figure is disappointment. Given the price you pay for it, the fun factor is severely lacking, especially as a standalone toy. While the sculpting and likeness is good, the limited articulation and lackluster accessories hold this toy back considerably. Bandai has definitely better offerings, but given that Cheetara is needed to complete the 4” Thundercats lineup, I guess she’ll end up getting bought anyway. I just wish the toy was at least at par with Bandai’s Power Rangers Samurai 4” figures, which are cheaper, yet offer better fun factor. Score:2.5 / 5
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Post by cybernaut on Jul 11, 2011 5:25:53 GMT 8
Notes: - Credit is due to Cybertron Philippines where this review first appeared.Transformers Dark of the Moon Voyager-class Fireburst Optimus Prime It hasn’t been that long since the Dark of the Moon Voyager-class Optimus Prime was released on mass retail and already we’re getting a repaint of it, in the form of Fireburst Optimus Prime, with a slightly different color scheme and a different Mech-Tech accessory. And like any fan of the character, I snapped him right up without hesitation. Note: This review will center on the significant changes present in DotM Fireburst Prime versus the regular Hasbro DotM Voyager Prime, which fellow member zephon has already made an excellent review about here. Optimus PrimeAllegiance: Autobot Function: Autobot Commander (?) BioOPTIMUS PRIME® fights with the utmost valor, courage and power. His dominance over the DECEPTICONS® is due to countless centuries of battle experience, a mighty armament and a virtuous Spark. Even so, widespread threats to the AUTOBOTS® and OPTIMUS PRIME still exist - there is no time to rest, there is no time for defeat, there is only time for victory!Tech SpecsStrength: 10 Intelligence: 10 Speed: 7 Endurance: 10 Rank: 10 Courage: 10 Firepower: 10 Skill: 9 Dare I say “ BURNING JUSTICE!!!”. In and Out of PackageIn package, front (left) and back (right)Out of package, showing the contents- I still think DotM packaging is SOOO generic looking, but I can’t help but appreciate improvements on the presentation.
- Plus points to whoever thought to add a slot in the cardboard insert tray for the instructions!
Note: This isn’t actually the first Fireburst Optimus Prime toy to be released. There was an HftD Fireburst Optimus Prime released as a Legends-class repaint of RotF Prime. If you’re lucky you can even spot him on markdown along with the other HftD Legends-class pegwarmers. Alternate Mode- When initial pics of Fireburst Prime surfaced, I thought he was remolded with exposed engine bits like DotM Nitro Bee, but on hand, I realized he’s just a straight repaint of Hasbro DotM Voyager Prime, right up to the visible “solar panels” and over-sized gas tanks.
- The deco carries an eye-catching lava / magma / volcanic theme, which I think is more interesting than the original DotM Prime’s in terms of impact and cohesiveness.
- The blue plastic is replaced by very dark grayish-green (I really can’t describe it…) plastic which contrast with the now-orange-y red plastic used, while the clear plastic on DotM Prime is replaced by red-orange transparent plastic, which adds to the “fiery” theme. The orange “solar-panels” have some sort of “lava” paint apps that match the plastic of the toy, though I think it would’ve been better if the paint was UNDER the shields.
- At least on mine, the truck mode is solid, no floppy bits or signs of mold degradation yet. All six wheels touch the ground and roll nicely, despite the low ground clearance.
- I’d say this deco by far improves on the unfinished look of the first Hasbro DotM Voyager Prime, even if the deco is very far from the traditional Optimus Prime deco we’re used to.
Transformation- Since Fireburst Prime’s essentially a repaint of DotM Voyager Prime, converting him from alt mode to robot mode is EXACTLY THE SAME.
- Special care must be taken with transforming the chest part. The tabs that secure the breastplate are very tight and may break if forced.
Robot Mode- In robot mode, the impact of the new deco isn’t as pronounced since the magma / volcanic deco is broken up into theparts that make up the back panels, arm guards and leg armor. In fact, side by side, you’d just think Fireburst Prime was the same as DotM Voyager Prime, only darker.
- As mentioned earlier, the pinkish-red plastic of Hasbro DotM Voyager Prime has been replaced with a more orange-y plastic, which IMHO, makes it lookmore vibrant. The blue is replaced by a darker blueish /greenish gray plastic, while the Hasbro-gray parts are now cast in a brownish-gray plastic.
- For those with scrutinizing eyes, you can see that the paint apps on the head are different (there’s silver on his forehead while his mouthplate is painted differently) and that his giant fuel tanks have orange paint apps that make it look like it’s charging up energy or something.
- Compared to my Hasbro DotM Voyager Prime, I find that my Fireburst Prime’s joints are tighter, especially during the waist and thighs. If I had to comment, I wish Hasbro had just used the Takara version of DotM Prime (without trailer, mind you) as their official DotM Prime, then released this mold (with giant fuel tanks, remolded knees and translucent solar panels) as the a standalone Fireburst Prime, similar to Nitro Bee.
- The main selling point of Fireburst Prime is that his Mech-tech weapon is different from the regular Voyager Prime’s.
- Instead of the huge cannon / shotgun seen in the film, Fireburst Prime comes with what looks like an energy rifle of sorts, with an extended barrel, and parts that look like energy magazines or something.
- The rifle sports translucent orange core (hence the energy rifle vibe) and translucent orange “fins”, which tend to make the rifle a bit goofy a times, but is essential because…
- …pulling on a cleverly disguised tab converts the rifle into what many see as the biggest draw to Fireburst Prime, his “Cybertanium Battle Axe”!
- The “Cybertanium Battle Axe” is isn’t actually an axe, in the conventional sense of that word as it is more of a bladed pole arm. The long barrel of the rifle serves as the handle while the orange fins sweep up to form the blades. It’s too bad the rifle’s chassis is too prominent that in certain angles it looks weird.
Like all Voyager-class Mech Tech weapons, turning the tab to one side locks the weapon in its secondary configuration.
- Special care must be taken with this accessory due to the fact that the mechanism to convert the rifle to the axe easily moves out of alignment, though it is easy to realign.
- The most common problem is that the Mech-Tech tab slips through the gears, keeping the blades from either fully forming or properly retracting. Many on-shelf samples show signs of this, so scrutiny is best exercised when choosing.
VerdictLike any repaint / retool / remold, Fireburst Prime isn’t as high on everyone’s priority lists, since he’s not screen accurate, and his Mech-Tech weapon is an acquired taste. If you’re buying this just for the axe, I dare say you might be a bit disappointed since it’s far from the best Mech-Tech weapon out there (and is really doesn’t work quite right as a stand-in for War for Cybertron Prime’s axe). But, if you’re looking for a good Optimus Prime toy and don’t quite feel the deco of original DotM Prime, then this one’s a good choice. Grade out of Jya na!
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Post by cybernaut on May 23, 2011 4:29:44 GMT 8
Transformers Dark of the Moon Deluxe-class Optimus Prime Optimus PrimeAllegiance: Autobot Function: Autobot Commander(?) BioOptimus Prime, the leader of the Autobots, earned the right to be called a Prime by virtue of his courage, intelligence and skill in battle. But the discovery of the long-missing Sentinel Prime means he may have to share his role as commander. The Decepticons don’t stand a chance with these two mighty Autobots fighting side by side! Tech SpecsStrength: 10 Intelligence: 10 Speed: 7 Endurance: 10 Rank: 10 Courage: 10 Firepower: 10 Skill: 9 Not one of the best Optimus Prime bios, but it gets the job done. In and Out of PackageIn package, front (left) and back (right)Out of package, showing the list of contentsAlternate ModeVehicle mode, front / side and rear / side views.- Alternate mode is, I assume, still the Peterbuilt 379 Long-nose Truck, done in dark blue and that pinkish red plastic that Hasbro’s been fond of using lately. The windows are clear plastic.
- Just like RtS G2 Prime, it is a small deluxe, but still a whole lot bigger than scout class.
- Plastic used on toy is noticeably of lower quality compared to earlier TF Movie toys, but that’s pretty much normal already for TF’s nowadays…
- Paint apps on the truck mode are decent. The recognizable flame paintjob is still there and, surprisingly, there are a lot of metallic silver paint apps, from the grill, fuel tanks smokestacks, even the wheel rims. I just wish they’d also painted the “headache rack” behind the sleeper cab (they become Prime’s arms in bot mode) silver as well.
- Truck mode is solid, no floppy bits. All six wheels touch the ground and roll nicely. Ground clearance is pretty low, but not enough for the bits to scrape the ground / table / surface / what have you.
- One thing of note is what seems to be trailer hitch on the back of the truck, which may be for an intended trailer somewhere down the line.
Vehicle mode, with Mech-Tech accessory attached.- In truck mode, Prime has two available Mech-Tech ports, two on the roof of the sleeper section. Unlike some DotM deluxes, no panel pops up to cover the holes.
- The Mech-Tech blaster can be attached on the roof of the truck, though like most Mech-Tech weapons, looks quite out of place (and, as an axe, quite useless).
- For those curious, the smokestacks have hard points for weapons with C-clip attachments.
Transformation- Transformation scheme is engaging and fun. There are some new tricks here, which results in the robot mode looking a bit awkward in places. It’s a whole new setup, which is intuitive given the size, but leaves a whole chunk of truck in the back, ala, TftM Voyager Prime. At least he has no fake kibble; the truck windows actually become his chest armor.
- There’s a bit of spring-loaded auto-morph in the chest where pulling the chest halves apart pops up the head. Nice, but I can’t help but think it was unnecessary.
Robot ModeRobot mode, Front view (right) and Back view (Left)Close-up of head and upper body details.- Like the vehicle mode, this mode is nice and compact, nothing flopping around, except perhaps a slight shakiness in the chest portion due to the automorph.
- The ENTIRE nose of the truck does not in any way transform, but hinges up on Prime’s back. It makes him somewhat back-heavy.
- Optimus Prime’s robot mode manages to resemble his on-screen model, though the chest is quite square-ish, thanks to those blue panels on his sides. The arms are different and have Mech-Tech ports, while those blue shoulder pylons look awkward as stand-ins for those metal things Movie Prime has on his shoulders.
- He’s a small deluxe, but still a bigger than scout class. Think RtS G2 Prime, though this is slightly bigger and IMHO, better in some ways.
- The sculpted detail is quite good, if a bit stylized in places. He really needs decent paint apps! As it is, aside from the scant paint highlights, everything in bot mode is the stock plastic color. The arms look bare, being cast in one shade of plastic with some feeble red detailing.
Posed, showing the extent of articulationKick-test, PASSED!- Prime has good articulation, with useful joints. The arms have a good range of motion, thanks to the double-hinged elbows. The legs are okay though the awkward foot setup, as well as the lack of any ankle articulation or heel spurs, makes posing tricky.
Neck: 360° swivel joint Shoulders: Universal rotators with another set of hinges for lateral arm movement Arms: Swivel biceps, double-hinged elbows, no wrist rotation Torso: Waist movement restricted by backpack / truck nose. Legs: Ball-jointed hips, thigh swivels, 90° hinged knees, no ankle movement, but has toe(?) articulation. Mech-TechMech-Tech weapon stowed (top) and deployed (bottom).- The Mech-Tech weapon is initially some sort of blaster with a scope. Pulling the scope forward engages what the package calls an “Energon Axe”. It can be mounted on Prime’s forearm or held in his hand. Prime can also use any Mech-Tech weapon from other DotM toys.
- Unfortunately, like all Deluxe Mech-Tech weapons, there is no way to lock the weapon in the “Axe” configuration.
- Prime sort of loses the universal C-clip system connectivity, since the smokestacks are now on his back, obstructed by the shoulders.
VerdictApparently a Wal-Mart Exclusive, DotM Deluxe Prime is a nice mold great truck mode and a decent robot mode. There are nifty ideas here and there, but the lower-quality plastic and sparse paint apps lessen the overall impact. Considering that he’s a bit more expensive than a regular deluxe (at least at local Philippine SRP), some may have misgivings on paying for another DotM Prime, given his size and especially if one already has the Voyager version. But despite the small size and missing detailing, I’d still say he’s worth a look, especially for those looking for a handy DotM Prime to fiddle with. The truck mode is nice (better than the Vyager, IMHO) and the bot mode is fun to fiddle with. While it may not be the best Movie Prime out there, it’s not a bad choice either. Grade and a half out of Jya na!
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Post by cybernaut on Mar 20, 2011 12:03:22 GMT 8
Credit goes to Cybertron Philippines where this review first appeared. Transformers Generations WarpathWarpathAllegiance: Autobot Function: Warrior BioWherever the fight is, that's where Warpath wants to be. His super heavy armor and powerful weapons mean he doesn't have to worry about things like orders or tactics. He just heads straight for wherever the fighting is heaviest, pouring fire into the enemy, and hoping there's someone left standing to give him a good fight when he gets there.Tech SpecsStrength: 6 Intelligence: 6 Speed: 5 Endurance: 8 Rank: 3 Courage: 7 Firepower: 7 Skill: 5 Uh… Ka-BOOOM! In and Out of PackageWarpath, in package, front (left) and back (right)Warpath, out of package, showing the list of contentsAlternate ModeWarpath, vehicle mode, front / side (top) and rear / side (bottom) views.- Alternate mode is a tank of made-up model (dubbed an “H-Tank” by some...), done almost entirely in brick red / maroon, with a dash of black and silver here and there.
- Tank mode is solid, no floppy bits. There are tiny red plastic wheels under the molded treads to make it “roll”.
- Turret can turn full 360°, while tank canon can lift up and down. Unfortunately, both gray weapon attachments (the missile launcher and four-barreled cannon) are pinned in place, instead of removable bits with c-clips, much to my disappointment.
- Since the turret weapons ARE NOT on ball joints, they cannot be aimed or repositioned other than facing forward. Bummer...
- Projectile for the missile launcher sticks out, due to US Safety laws, similar to HftD Tomahawk’s missiles. I’m okay with it, but some MAY find it annoying.
- Plastic used on toy is noticeably of lower quality compared to earlier TF Classics, but that’s pretty much normal already for TF’s nowadays…
Close-up of vehicle mode detailing, showing Warpath’s famous phrases. (Note: Directions are oriented with the tank facing the user… )Warpath, vehicle mode, top (right) and bottom (left) views. The C-clip rails are highlighted.Comparison with fellow TF Generations Deluxe Darkmount. The picture shows the maximum range the tank turret lifts up, as compared to Darkmount’s cannon.- The tampographed identification codes on the tank’s sides are a nice touch
- While the turret weapons are permanent attachments, Warpath has four C-Clip rails, all situated over each tread section, which can accommodate any weapon with a compatible C-Clip attachment point, available with recent TF releases.
Transformation- Transformation is on the simple side (almost too simple, IMHO), mainly involves unfolding the limbs out from the treads and swinging down the turret to form the torso.
- The turret has a nifty bit of auto-morph where pushing the barrel of the cannon flips up the head. This step can be done either as the first step or last step of the transformation. Ger-head mode!
- Care must be taken when moving the hinged panels as they are a bit tight. The plastic seems flexible enough, but it never hurts to be careful.
Robot ModeWarpath, robot mode, Front view (right) and Back view (Left)Close-up view of head sculpt- Like the vehicle mode, bot mode is nice and compact, nothing floppy, except probably the ankles. Everything folds nicely into place and the robot is stable thanks to his large feet.
- Warpath is still solid red, but a few more black and silver highlights appear, even some yellow on the shoulders and waist.
- Warpath’s robot mode is a VERY faithful update to his G1 Minibot self, with his trademark cannon on his chest, tank tread feet. Even his solid red color scheme is similar, including the gray on his shoulders, the black optics and vents on his face.
- That being said, Warpath is full of sculpted detail, with special mention to the shoulders, which have cool machine bits. The headsculpt is interesting, almost alien-like, vaguely Protoss / Predator - ish.
- The proportions are good, with a very muscular / powerful look. Must be his wide chest and Popeye-forearms and thighs… ;D
- Unlike recent TF Generations and Reveal the Shield releases who feature open-palmed hands, Warpath has the traditional molded fists with 5mm holes, similar to the Classics and TFU toys.
Warpath, posed, showing the extent of articulationKick-test, FAILED- Warpath has good articulation, with lots of useful joints, but not as much compared to other recent releases like RtS G2 Prime and TF:G Darkmout / Skullgrin.
Neck: 360° swivel joint Shoulders: Universal rotators with another set of hinges for lateral arm movement Arms: Swivel biceps, 90° hinged elbows, hinged wrists due to transformation. No wrist rotation Torso: No torso or waist movement Legs: Ball-jointed hips (slightly limited), thigh swivels, 90° hinged knees, no real ankle movement.
- Unfortunately, despite Warpath’s large feet, he cannot pass the kick test due to the small plastic wheels on his feet.
Warpath, Robot-mode size comparison with TF:G Deluxe DarkmountWarpath, demonstrating Darkmount’s clip on accessories and carrying Mini-con Over-run in gun mode. - Compared to Darkmount, Warpath is relatively smaller, and less bulky. Also, it’s noticeable how Warpath lacks accessories compared to Darkmount.
- Once again, the long missile sticks out significantly in robot mode. While it doesn’t affect Warpath’s balance, it's an eyesore.
- Thanks to the new universal C-clip system, Warpath can use any weapon with a C-Clip connector, though only the ones on his forearms serve as useful hardpoints. It’s a shame that Hasbro decided NOT to make the shoulder weapons as C-Clip accessories.
- Warpath can also utilize weapons (also Energon and minicon weapons) with 5mm pegs, though the forearm / wrist armor may limit the choices of weapons one can use.
VerdictHighly anticipated, Generations Warpath is another great offering from Hasbro. While I feel that, in some ways, his transformation, engineering and aesthetics are a bit dated, hearkening back to the days of TF Universe (as compared to his contemporaries in the Tf:G and RtS lines), Warpath is a solid toy and a great update to the old G1 Warpath toy, with modern engineering and style. Warpath's tank and bot modes are fun to play with and display, and will look right at home in any Classics shelf. While some may say he would’ve been better a Voyager, I’m quite pleased that he’s in the Deluxe class. It’s just too bad he’s the last of the better toys we’ll see before the DotM toys hit the shelves. Grade out of Jya na!
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Post by cybernaut on Dec 4, 2010 14:56:40 GMT 8
Transformers Power Core Combiners Grimstone with DinobotsGrimstoneAllegiance: Autobot Function: Dinobot commander (?) BioGrimstone has always dreamed of power and the privilege it brings. Despite his hunger for power, however, he has always considered the needs of others before himself. He believes it is the responsibility of the powerful to protect those less fortunate - a belief he intends to aggressively enforce now that he has his own Power Core team. Tech SpecsStrength: 9 Intelligence: 6 Speed: 3 Endurance: 10 Rank: 8 Courage: 9 Firepower: 5 Skill: 5 Er… Okay. Grimstone is quite the contradiction. Grimstone, in robot mode, with his team, the Dinobots- Very unified colors as a team. The classic G1 Dinobot color scheme (grey / beige and black with silver, red and gold accents) really define the set.
- Being all prehistoric animals, the members of the set compliment each other very well. No one feels out of place, unlike PCC Stakeout and the Protectobots.
- Plastic is consistent all around, chunky but with a slight “cheapness” to it, but it’s pretty much the same with all modern Hasbro TF’s anyway.
GrimstoneGrimstone, robot mode.- Very striking sculpt, kinda reminiscent of G1 Dinobot Snarl, with the red body, shoulder embellishments and the slim legs.
- Proportions are a tad off, with a rather tubby body, stubby limbs and a head unit that’s a little too big.
- It’s a shame Grimstone’s eyes are not light-piped, but the blue paint is nice. Plus it matches the colors of the PCC combiner ports and looks so G1… .
- Combiner ports fold out of the way quite nicely, so they’re not really noticeable EXCEPT in certain angles.
- Grimstone’s minicon port ends up on his back, which means no minicon chest armor for him, just minicon back packs.
Grimstone, robot mode, showing off articulation.- Articulation is so-so by Scout-class TF standards (head / neck, shoulders, double jointed elbows, Universal hips and pseudo-double-jointed knees). Shoulder rotation is GREATLY affected and reduced by the placement of the shoulder pads. No waist articulation.
- Interestingly enough, only the elbow and a part of the shoulder joints are on ball joints, everything else uses pin joints, which could be good or bad depending on how you look at it. .
- Cannot pass the kick test due to the way the legs are constructed.
Alt ModeGrimstone, Dinosaur mode, front and back- Transforms into a Styracosaurus though instructions wrongly label him a Triceratops.
- Small but er…cute.
- Relatively small as far as PCC altmodes go. Solid, though fiddly when it come to the shoulder / dino frill assembly.
- Bot arms form dino back, shoulders become Dino frill while robot chest plate become dino head. Robot legs rotate to become Dino hind legs while front legs are formed from Robot mode back pack, where dino tail folds out from.
- Very nice, very Dinobot-ish colors, though it would have been nice to have the dino head done in gold chrome with a smoky plastic shell just like the G1 Dinobots…
- Standard limb articulation (Shoulders, elbows, hips and knees), but no head or tail movement due to transformation.
- PCC combiner ports are VERY visible against color scheme, especially the ones in the hind legs, but not a that bad, overall.
- His Minicon port is at the tip of his tail though is better positioned than the one on the Dimetrodon drone.
- Robot head DOES NOT fold or retract. It just sits there, flush under the Dino head.
DronesParasaurolophus drone- Forms either right or left arm. Port located on Dino chest
- Armed with two shoulder mounted-weapons, one on each shoulder, with a minicon port underneath each gun. Too bad the guns can’t be rotated…
- Very nice sculpted detail, but has no articulation except for the red dino limbs, which are on ball joints.
Dimetrodon drone (Note: The instructions wrongly label him a “Spinosaurus”)- Forms either right or left arm. Port located on dino belly, near the tail.
- Only drone with no visible weapons, unless you count what looks like six sculpted cannon barrels on the front, under the neck. The minicon port is at the tip of his tail.
- Very nice sculpted detail, but has no articulation except for the upper jaw / head.
Ankylosaurus drone - Forms either right or left foot. Port located on top of Dino shell.
- Armed with two shoulder mounted-weapons, one on each shoulder, with a minicon port on the dino back, above the shell. Would’ve been nice if the guns could be rotated… ;
- Very nice sculpted detail, but has no articulation except for the dino head and tail (part of transformation into PCC foot).
Pachycephalosaurus drone - forms either left or right foot. Port located behind Dino neck.
- Armed with two shoulder mounted-weapons, one on each shoulder. There is a minicon port on its back, just above the tail. Too bad the guns can’t be rotated here either…
- Very nice sculpted detail, but no articulation except for the red dino limbs (part of transformation into PCC foot)
Power-Up ModeThe main event! - Transformation to powered-up mode is simple, but involving. The drone transformations are nice too, no fiddly, springy bits that frustrate.
- Surprisingly, the limbs attach VERY securely. Too secure in fact, that it’s a bit hard, docking them in. But I prefer this to a set whose limbs are randomly ejected when you least expect it…
- Grimston probably has the LEAST elegant way of hiding his small robot head compared to the rest of the PCC's. I doesn't hide or anything, it just... folds back and sits there.
Grimstone, Powered up mode, with Dinobot drone limbs attached.- Overall aesthetic is very nice, the combined mode is VERY unified thanks to the color scheme. The heavily armored look is carried well by the clever placement dino parts.
- Interesting bit: The moulding on the dino frill chest makes it look like Grimstone has a dino skull for a chest plate, with the frill horns looking like teeth. Can you see it?
- Proportions are great, he doesn’t look gimpy and his limbs are roughly all the same length and shape so he doesn’t look awkward when posed.
- Combined mode is VERY stable, the limbs attach securely, and thanks to the large feet, standing him up is no problem.
Grimstone, Powered up mode, posed.- Articulation is standard PCC layout, (ball-jointed head / neck, rotating shoulders with limited sideways movement, universal hips, swivel thighs and hinged knees). Minor nit pick, the knees cant fold back far enough, but it’s no biggie.
- Thanks to a combination of tight joints, very stable legs and creative placement of joints, Grimstone can achieve a decent, if not good number of poses in powered up mode. In fact…
Grimstone, Powered up mode, kick test PASSED!.- Just something to beware of: Due to the small pinjointed knees on Grimstone's powered up mode, he has a slight tendecy to tip over, usually backwards, due to the upper body weight. This is why I HATE pin joints...
VerdictI’ve owned Grimstone and his Dinobot drones for hardly a day, yet I’m really convinced that, if the quality of this set is any indication, then the future of PCC’s are assured. While Grimstone is far from the best PCC scout commander, he’s one of the better molds out there, and he gets even better when you connect his drones! He’s stable, the limbs LOOK like limbs, and the overall effect is just awesome. My only gripe is that the Dino drone limbs probably wouldn’t look good with any other set EXCEPT on Grimstone, which kinda hinders the “interchangeability” concept of PCC’s.. But, definitely, Grimstone is, by far the one of, if not the best PCC to come out to date. This set was the only set I was willing to pay full price for, and if you can get him for lower, well, all so much the better. Highly recommended to Dinobot, and PCC fans! Grade out of AddendumGrimstone, Dino mode, with the rest of the PCC Dinobots, with Tf Classics GrimlockGrimstone, Robot mode with with Tf Classics Grimlock in robot modePCC Searchlight with Backwind minicon, Powered-up mode using PCC Dinobot drones beside Grimstone, Powered-up mode using PCC Protectobot dronesJya na!
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Post by cybernaut on Dec 4, 2010 14:53:16 GMT 8
PCC: Stakeout with the Protectobots StakeoutAllegiance: Autobot Function: Protectobot Commander (?) Bio Before he became a team commander, STAKEOUT was considered a loose cannon by many AUTOBOTS. He often ventured out on his own, against orders, determined to win the war on his terms or not at all. Undergoing the Power Core process has mellowed him. He has learned that with power comes responsibility, and is determined to use his new power for the greatest good. Tech SpecsStrength: 7 Intelligence: 5 Speed: 7 Endurance: 9 Rank: 4 Courage: 9 Fireblast: 8 Skill: 7 Must stop associating this guy with the G1 Protectobots… Must stop associating this guy with the G1 Protectobots… Must stop… PackagingFront view, Stakeout and the Protectobots in packaging. PCC Searchlight included for reference.Standard PCC 5-pack box, I was really surprised at how small the toys were compared to the size of the packaging. Oh, and the box art makes the toy look cooler than it actually is… Back of the box view, Stakeout and the Protectobots in packaging. PCC Searchlight included for reference.I said this during my Battle Blades Prime review, I REALLY dislike the new packaging graphics, especially the way Hasbro’s boring product photography makes the toy look way uglier than the actual item, made worse now by the solid black background. Stakeout and the Protectobots belong to Wave 3 of the PCC line, which are basically repaints of the Wave 1 PCC’s with different drone combinations. I won’t dwell too much on the individual figures themselves, so should you want more info on the base molds, I suggest looking up the main reviews for these guys. Stakeout is a redeco of PCC Smolder, without the Chopster minicon, while two of his drones (the Mobile Artillery drone and the APC drone) are from PCC Bombshock while the other two (the Helicopter drone and the Fighter Jet drone) are from PCC Skyburst. StakeoutUnlike Smolder, whose deco designated him as a Fire Department Brush Truck, Stakeout is obviously an EMS Vehicle (read: Ambulance). The red plastic on Smolder has been replaced by white plastic with painted EMS stripes and window / grill details. The cool translucent orange sirens on Smolder are now a dark translucent blue. Stakeout, vehicle mode.Stakeout, vehicle mode, with Protectobot drones.As shown in the image below, the minicon port on Stakeout’s roof opens up a whole lot of interesting play options with the new PCC minicons. It’s too bad being a drone commander, Stakeout no longer comes with a cool minicon like Smolder did with Chopster. Stakeout, with Backwind minicon attached.In robot mode, Smolder’s black plastic was replaced by fluorescent blue with the gold paint now silver. Instead of faction symbols like Smolder, Stakeout has rescue stripes on his shoulders. Stakeout with dronesIMHO, the blue is really too bright, making Stakeout look more “kiddy” than he needs to. I wish they’d use a more subdued shade of blue so that it fit better with his rescue vehicle persona (similar to the shade used on PCC Searchlight or Skyburst). IMHO, while Stakeout is quite a fun Scout, he feels “incomplete” without a minicon, since much of his play value revolves around the little guys. Stakeout with PCC Searchlight and Backwind miniconStakeout, posed, with PCC SledgeDronesProtectobot Helicopter and fighter Jet drones.Protectobot APC and Mobile Artillery drones. Note that unlike the in packaging, the APC drone is actually gray instead of desert brown.To be honest, I think compared to his wave-mate Crankcase, Stakeout got the short end of the stick and is the weakest of all the PCC 5-pack sets. The drones are mismatched, the color schemes clash with each other. Taken as a set, the theme is a mess, with only the red rescue chopper staying in theme with the rescue vehicle motif. I also think it would have been better if the designers decided to put a repainted Jeep drone mold in rescue colors as the leg instead of the APC. Powered-Up ModeStakeout, powered up mode, default configurationStakeout, powered up mode, with Minicon Backwind in Chest armor mode, with PCC Searchlight in the back.Stakeout, Close-up of Powered-up mode head.Stakeout, Powered-up mode, posed.VerdictA mediocre set at best, a disappointing set at worst, Stakeout is THE weakest PCC 5-pack IMHO. He's got a poor choice of drones, a mismatched color scheme and inherits the worst problems of th sets whose drones he uses. While Stakeout is an okay scout on his own, the lack of the minicon brings the shortcomings of the set to the fore. It's too bad really, since if done well, with just a little more thought and effort, even for a repaint set this could've been done well. Easy pass, unless you're really a fan, and even then, the issues are too glaring to ignore. I'll give it a passing score since Stakeout is decent on his own, and I DID have fun trying to find cool poses for him. Score and a half out of AddendumJya na!
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Post by cybernaut on Oct 16, 2010 16:50:49 GMT 8
Haven’t done a review in a LONG while, it feels like I’m getting rusty with this. Anyway, with the launching of the new Transformers sub-line Hunt for the Decepticons comes a new-mold Optimus Prime toy, pegged at the Voyager - class price point. HftD Voyager Battle Blades Optimus PrimeBio: OPTIMUS PRIME isn't famous for being a particularly skilled fighter - he relies mostly on raw power to secure victory. Unfortunately for DECEPTICON BANZAITRON, all that raw power actually masks decades of training. OPTIMUS PRIME is one of the most accomplished fighters ever produced by CYBERTRON. He may not be as flashy as the DECEPTICON martial arts master, but he's got more than enough skill to crush DECEPTICON BANZAITRON.Tech Specs:Strength: 10 Intelligence: 10 Speed: 7 Endurance: 10 Rank: 10 Courage: 10 Fireblast: 10 Skill: 9 “ …one of the most accomplished fighters ever produced by Cybertron” Somehow, we never heard about that part of his life back in the first movie… In any case, all we need to know is that Prime’s been hiding the fact that he’s a really a bad-ass swords-bot, and that he’ll PWN Banzaitron’s behind. I’d start hiding if I were Banzaitron. ;D PackagingAs part of the new Hunt for the Decepticons sub-line, Prime’s packaged in robot mode. I like this since it serves to the highlight robot mode through the windowed box (you can easily spot any QC defects too) and makes for a more compact package. My only peeve is that whoever Hasbro hired to do the graphics really needs to re-do the layout. They filled the back of the box with large, boring product photos, while cramming character art, bio and tech specs on the side flap. Why don’t they just go back to good old clip and save tech spec / character cards? Robot ModePrime comes packaged in robot mode, so I'll start there... Prime is set on a clear plastic tray, secured by the new “eco-friendly” twist-ties, his two blasters and a thick instruction sheet. He’s mis-transformed in package, you need to the rear truck fender kibble to peg on the back armor, as well as rotate the wheel wells on his legs. Just under 18 cm tall, Battle Blade Prime is essentially a scaled down version of Leader Class RotF Prime, with a few proportion compromises resulting from being a smaller size class, notably the skinny legs and small feet. The color layout is the same, though in BB Prime’s case, brown plastic shows up in places to break the red, blue and gray, as well as the windshield parts being cast in translucent blue instead of clear. Battle Blades Prime comes with three extra features, two of which are advertised on his packaging. - The “Battle Blades”, which are flip out (not spring loaded) and made of soft rubbery plastic, in counterpart those found on LC RotF OP. And, whaddaya know, just like his bigger counterpart, the blades also get in the way of the arm articulation when stowed in more ways than one. It doesn’t help that the arm panel kibble adds to the interference. Still, compared to LC Prime, the fact that the blades are NOT spring-loaded means it’s also easier to move them out of the way when posing. - He has two dual guns formed from his two fuel tanks, ala Buster Prime and TftM VC Prime. Interestingly enough, these aren’t mentioned on the packaging. They’re basically gray cylinders with flip out barrels and an attached handle, but they’re quite nifty since it gives you play options other than the blades, a feat only nearly achieved by RotF Buster Prime. - Last is the “Removable Matrix of Leadership”, which is basically an unpainted piece of grey plastic, located in Prime’s chest cavity. It’s removable, though this only serves to show the under - detailed bottom where it pegs on a translucent blue plate. Detail-wise, Prime’s got a lot of it, just like bigger LC Prime, though the lower quality plastic tends to “soften” up the sculpted details, especially on the head and arms. He’s also missing a lot of crucial color apps, such as the space under his eyes, the red discs on his shoulders, blue stripes on his arms and the flame deco on his chest and truck roof. It would’ve been better if Hasbro gave him a light wash, just to bring out the details. Articulation is average and unlike the LC version, a lot more of it is actually useful. Neck: 360° swivel Shoulders: Universal rotators Arms: Bicep swivel, Hinged elbow Torso: No torso crunch or waist swivel Legs: Universal ratcheting hips, thigh swivels (need to unpeg the rear wheels on the legs to use), hinged knees, rocker ankles The lack of waist articulation is expected given the way Prime transforms, but the black truck panels interfere with the hip joints in certain poses, causing the upper torso to come apart at the waist. The transformation joint below the knees has a tendency to bend inwards (think Animated LC Megs) since there’s no way to lock the joint. If there’s one thing that REALLY stands out with this incarnation of RotF Prime, it’s the fact that he’s SMALL… Especially for a Voyager, considering you can still see the original TftM VC OP mold in stores (Regular RotF and the Defender recolor) going for the same price. He feels lighter too, compared to the first VC OP, though he’s a hell of lot more complex. TransformationEssentially the same as RotF LC Prime, but it all takes a different route to get there. The way chest transforms is better, and it’s more straightforward to get to one mode to another. I do wish the arm had locking pegs when forming the hood though, and that the blades once again didn’t get in the way as much. Truck ModeUnlike the first VC OP mold, which ended up transforming into a Kenworth truck instead of Movie Optimus Prime’s Peterbuilt, Battle Blades Prime transforms into a very screen-accurate toy version of it’s on-screen counterpart, and shares a lot of similarities with the larger RotF LC Prime. The end result is quite solid, with no loose parts or floppy hinges. Same as in robot mode, Battle Blades Prime’s truck mode is on the small side, almost nearing deluxe dimensions. It’s especially evident when put beside the first VC OP mold, though they’re almost the same in length. ConclusionHftD Battle Blades Optimus Prime is a good toy, possibly the one of the best incarnations of Movie Prime yet. It’s not perfect though, with a lot of negatives to its score (the annoying blades, lack of color apps, small size), but the positives of the mold help bring this toy up to a recommended purchase. My Score Optimus Prime heads out of Parting ShotsMy only wish is that TF3 at least drops the Blades for Prime for the third movie… At least with guns, we’re not forced to get stuck with Prime toys with annoying blades on the arms… Jya na!
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Post by cybernaut on Oct 14, 2010 22:29:57 GMT 8
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Post by cybernaut on Oct 10, 2010 12:03:38 GMT 8
New incoming TF line, supposedly it'll be the Japan counterpart of the Generations line. 10 figures have been announced.: UN01 - Optimus Prime Cybertron Mode UN02 - Bumblebee Cybertron Mode UN03 - Cliffjumper Cybertron Mode UN04 - Megatron Cybertron Mode UN05 - Soundwave Cybertron Mode UN06 - Optimus Prime UN07 - Bumblebee UN08 - Autobot Drift UN09 - Megatron UN10 - United Straxus No idea what the Un 06, 07 and 09 are but some are speculating it might be the G1 Legends scale versions? No idea yet either if there will be improvements with the paint or chromed parts. www.tformers.com/transformers-takara-brings-generations-line-to-japan-named-transformers-united/14337/news.htmlGold Pics of the Takara TF United versions: Takara Tomy's Transformers United PhotosMirrored Images here: These guys are due by the end of December 2010. News courtesy of TFW2005 and KAPOW Toys. Looks like we've got 1 remold, 5 re-issues and 3 repaints from the TF Classics Line... Nice to see the possibility of a Hasbro WFC Cliffjumper down the line. (credit is due to CybPh where this was first posted) jya na!
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Post by cybernaut on Oct 9, 2010 12:35:34 GMT 8
did anyone bothered to read his last post? what are your thoughts? I did... I think I can understand his frustration... It feels as if he's become REALLY tired of the hate the fandom is spewing, considering that they're all fighting for very, VERY, mundane reasons... Not to mention, he gets dragged up in those issues even if he has nothing to do with them. jya na!
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Post by cybernaut on Dec 22, 2008 7:45:32 GMT 8
Most Played songs?
Call You (Transformers Galaxy Force) Ignition by Chino (Transformers Galaxy Force) Climax Jump (Kamen Rider Den-O) Kagayaki (Kamen Rider Hibiki)
jya na!
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