Classics Rodimus.
Now, before I get too far into this review, I shall make note of one thing. I shall be referring to him as Hot Rod and not Rodimus, as Rodimus is his new name due to Hasbro not acquiring the copyright to Hot Rod. With this out of the way, I shall continue.
Hot Rod first makes his debut in the 1986 movie, and quickly becomes similar to Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars IV-VI trilogy. He's brash, cocky, and not someone you'd give a leadership role to at the very beginning of the film, but eventually, with his friend Kup at his side, Hot Rod gains some experience, and is eventually revealed as the sole Autobot to recieved the Matrix of Leadership and use its power to "light our darkest hour". Once he has acquired the Matrix, Hot Rod becomes the Autobot leader Rodimus Prime (who is not as loved by fans as Optimus was. Go figure.) However during Season 3, he returns to being Hot Rod after giving back the Matrix to a newly reborn (zombie) Optimus Prime.
The figure itself is not only a nice update for the character, but it's also one that doesn't seem to have changed very much. Aside from the over-sized tail fin on the back and his arms; he is still essentially Hot Rod. This is great as it gives the kids of this generation a chance to own a Hot Rod, all while giving those who have or have had one a figure they can display proudly beside it.
VEHICLE:
If his name doesn't already indicate what Hot Rod is all about, the design of his vehicle mode surely does. He is about speed; nothing is faster than he is. According to his box information, his vehicle mode is able to hits speeds over 250 mph. As I said, this figure just screams "Generation One Hot Rod" with its aerodynamic design, cockpit-style windshields and signature tailfin. In fact, ReProLabels (http://www.reprolabels.com/Classics/hotrod.asp) has come up with a decals/sticker set that gives Classics Hot Rod that extra G1 feel. (only recommended if a) you don't care that your figure is a short-run or b) you have a spare.) The vehicle mode is also very seemless, with the occassional break due to the arm joints not fully connecting. Finally, if one were to turn Hot Rod over, you would see that very little of the actual robot mode is visible; aside from the giant gaping space where his jet turbine goes, his true form is well hidden.
Vehicle: 24/25
ROBOT:
What else can I say about this mode other than absolutely awesome? This definitively proves that if Hasbro does put their minds to designing brand-new molds, they can actually do it right. Not only does this mode reflect the Hot Rod we know and love, but also does a great job of updating his style to something more modern (because his 2005 model was so four years ago). The over-sized tail fin from vehicle mode is nicely compensated for in robot mode due in part to a genius transformation sequence involving the front seats, and while the feet are much bulkier than his G1 self, this does give him some more stability.
ARTICULATION:
Head: 360 degree rotation
Shoulders: Ball joints; 360 degree rotation
Elbows: 90 degree bend
Waist: n/a
Thighs: 45 degrees forward (the cockpit kibble prevents an motion backward), 90 degrees out
Knees: 90 degree bend, 360 degree rotation
Feet: n/a
Other Notes: Sadly, due to Hot Rod's vehicle mode, his elbows are the worst-designed in all the Classics line. In order to hold his weapon straight forward, you would need to bend the whole arm backward as the forearm is too short for the gun. Also, his thighs tend to shift outward if you pose them too much.
Articulation: 19/25
GIMMICK:
Hot Rod has three gimmicks, which is quite good for a deluxe-class toy. Firstly is his communicator (or his arm-mounted saw as seen in the 1986 movie) which flips out of his left arm. Either interpretation add to the fun of the toy as a whole.
The second gimmick is the Autobot rub symbol that was used on every Generation One figure in since 1984. To activate the rub symbol, you have to simply rub your thumb over it several times. The symbol also changes colours from orange to a deep violet depending on how long you rub it for.
The last gimmick is a third mode, which - if you wish Classics Hot Rod a triple-changer. And, it follows the "Rule of Triple-Changers" to a tie; it is a horrible third mode.
What did I say? Does this mode just scream "last-minute feature"? Basically to get to this mode, you have to detach the tail-fin and flip it forward. That's it. To a child playing with this toy, it's an interesting and cool feature, but for people like me, it's just stupid. However, I have to rank the gimmicks based off how a child might react, not myself.
Gimmick: 20/25
FUN FACTOR:
Hot Rod is a race-car; plain and simple. It's exactly the same reason why I'm sure kinds loved him back in the 80s; kids love speed. His design and gimmicks are both worthy of a child's toy box or a collector's shelf. Not much else I can really say sadly; that's all there is.
Fun Factor: 20/25
OVERVIEW:
Classics Hot Rod is part of one of the best Transformers toy lines of the new millennium, proving that redesigning old figures can and does work. That isn't to say, however, that this formula works twice, as while the Universe line did provide us with some amazing figures, it didn't wuite stand up to its predecessor. Hot Rod himself is also quite the update, and I'm glad I bought him when I did.
My score for Classics Rodimus (Hot Rod): 83/100
Hot Rod's design and fun factor scores helped keep him from becoming like G1 Ironhide, however the weak third mode and the bad design of some pivot points did hurt his score a lot. If Hasbro had designed Hot Rod a tad differently, he would have definitely been scored at 80+ easily. I still highly recommend you get him, so search eBay if you feel the need to own this amazing Classics figure.
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