Review #15 - Target-Exclusive Universe Ratbat (The Dark Ages 2-pack)

The Transformers have never been subjected only to the television show; they have also appeared in numerous comic storylines. One such story revolves around the Ultracons, and their leader. This is the review for a character who has be relegated to being a mindless servant cassette. This is a review for...

Ultracon Ratbat.



The Ultracons firstly were a sub-group of the Decepticons, put in charge after Optimus and Megatron disappear in a space-bridge experiment. Their main rivals are the Autobot group known as the Wreckers, led by Springer. Ratbat (in this continuity) is a brilliant strategist and a ruthless leader, even acquiring the aid of the mighty gesalt Devastator to defeat his enemies. It is hard to believe that this mighty warrior and military strategist would become a cassette for Soundwave, but fate has a strange way of messing with us.

The toy of this Ratbat is probably one of the best choices of the Cybertron line since he is a repaint of the Sideways figure. However again, this is a nice choice as it is both the closest resemblance to his comic self and a very cool figure by itself. The colour scheme also is indiciative of the Ratbat we all know and love: magenta with gold and black. There is no other "Decepticon" who can pull that colour scheme off as well as Ratbat can. He is also very stable and tends not to fall over as easily as some figures of his size (deluxe-class).


VEHICLE:



The vehicle mode for Ratbat can be described as both awesome and aethetically pleasing. The spaceship mode does fit with his comic character and is really cool to display him in. Now granted, we are all used to seeing Mr. Rattybat in his cassette mode, but I'm sure that you will learn to love this style. Sadly, this mode has been rehashed into characters such as the Sweeps (you can kinda consider them the Seekers of G1 Season 3 and 4), Scourge himself, and numerous others, so this style isn't that uncommon and does take away from Ratbat's design a bit. One nice feature is that his weapon in robot mode can also be used in vehicle mode, because if you can't defend yourself in battle, you aren't gonna survive for very long (as seen in Photo #2 of vehicle mode.)

Vehicle: 19/25


ROBOT:



This is seriously a robot you do NOT want to tangle with folks. Ratbat not only looks threatening, but has the equipment that allows him to not only talk the talk, but walk the walk as it were. Ratbat is about the size of a deluxe-class figure, but possess some big feet, which makes him one of the more stable deluxes I've seen in the Universe line. This also allows him to be put into some crazy poses, but I shall get into that later. One thing I dislike is the lack of gold on this mode rather than the vehicle mode. Ratbat has too much of the base colour to make him really stand out, now granted I know that he's supposed to resemble the "comic book version", but at least you could have made his toy a tiny bit more flashy. In any case, this is a minor gripe.


ARTICULATION:

Head: 360 degree rotation
Shoulders: 90 degree pivot, 360 degree rotation
Elbows: 360 degree rotation, 180 degree pivot
Hands: 360 degree rotation
Waist: n/a
Thighs: Ball jointed (NOTE: ball joints come off easily.)
Knees: 360 degree rotation, 90 degree pivot
Feet: ~45 degree pivot
Other: His shield/crossbow can rotate 360 degree and pivots 180 degrees at two point to extend it.

Articulation: 21/25


GIMMICK:

Like Springer, Ratbat possesses a Cyber-key gimmick (proving once again that Hasbro is willing to totally cheap out in the name of money.) His key - however - does little in the way of anything interesting. When plugged into his only cyber-key plug, Ratbat's arm-cannon becomes something like an energon crossbow, in ways like the RID Arcee's weapon.



One thing that is cool about this gimmick is that the Decepticon logo that is normally seen on the cannon/crossbow changes into Ratbat's Ultracon sign, which is a nice touch.



The only other gimmick is that his wings detach during transformation and can either become shin guards or a double-bladed sword. I have yet to try it where he has one blade in each hand, but I am confident it can be done as well. To conclude however, Ratbat's gimmicks are lack-luster to say the very least.

Gimmick: 18/25


FUN FACTOR:

Ratbat - I've found - is a really fun figure to fiddle around with, and offers some nice options for the user. However, his legs due tend to pop off easily and thus makes separating the hip a nightmare at times. Also, the crossbow arms are both pointed and are weak, so rough play will sever them off. But aside from this small hiccup in the transformation sequence, Ratbat is still a very decent figure.

Fun factor: 19/25


OVERVIEW:

Universe Ratbat is one of the better repaint I have seen since I started collecting a few years ago, and is definitely fitting to his comic persona. His articulation is excellent for a deluxe class figure, but points are subtracted due to the weak gimmicks and reused vehicle mode. Still, it could have been worse; Hasbro could have made Ratbat into a tape again.


My score for Universe Ratbat; 77/100


Sadly, Ratbat did not score as high as expected, but being a B-ranked figure isn't always a bad thing. Since he is not a unique figure and is basically rehashed from the Cybertron Sideways mold, most general collectors look past it as that and nothing more. But I seriously would recommend picking up this 2-pack if you can, not only for Springer (see previous review), but for Mr. Rattybat as well.

Review #14 - Target-Excluse Universe Springer (The Dark Ages 2-Pack)

In the world of the Transformers, there are numerous alternate modes that are shared by many warriors in disguise; Cliffjumper and Jazz share Porsche, every Optimus Prime nowadays (not counting movie Prime) are fire-trucks, and etcetera. But in terms of the helicopter, there can only be one true Autobot who deserves this form.

Springer.


(art by Dan-the-artguy; http://dan-the-artguy.deviantart.com/art/Springer-126471378 )

Not much is really known about Springer's past prior to the events of the 1986 film, but it is safe to assume that he - like many of the new characters that make their debut sduch as Hot Rod and Kup - was only stationed at Autobot City. According to the storyline of the IDW and Dreanware comics, he is the leader of the Wreckers; a sub-group of the Autobots who took on Ratbat and his Ultracons. As for his personality, Springer is the stereotypicial macho-man hero; he's the type who is effective in any battle scenario, and isn't afraid to let you know it. Another interesting note is that he was named to be Rodimus Prime's successor for leadership of the Autobots (yeah, because Springerous Prime is such a great name for a leader ).

The Universe toy version of Springer (which is a repaint of the Cybertron Evac mold) does away with Springer's original gimmick of being a triple-changer, but does keep his most used form from the G1 cartoon; his helicopter form. And I must say that this remake does do his character justice in the fact that it is a very accurate representation of a rescue chopper, and matches the colour scheme of G1 cartoon Springer quite well. Also, he has his swords; what more do you want?


VEHICLE:



The first thing you notice about this mode is that it's bigger than normal two-pack vehicle modes. This is because Evac was a Voyager-class figure in the Cybertron line, and as such Springer is a "Voyager-class" figure as well. To add to this mode, there is a button that - when pushed - spins the rotor blades for a few seconds. (it is possible to get the blades spinning fast enough for it to mimic a real helicopter should you wish to do that.) There is also a recovery crane that can be pulled out and retracted with the push of a button. Finally, using any cyber-key, the vehicle mode is given a set of two missile launchers. In total, I am quite impressed with this mode and this rank will reflect it.

Vehicle: 25/25


ROBOT:



This robot mode fits Springer's character so well it's scary. He's tall, strong and just generally appears like he could beat you to a pulp without actually needing to prove it. He has replaced his rotor swords from his G1 figure with a spinning arm-mounted weapon, which can double as a shield is need be. The colour scheme is also well done, making your believe that this is an original mold for Springer and not a repaint.


ARTICULATION:

Head: 360 degree rotation
Shoulders: ~360 degree rotation, 180 degree pivot
Elbows: 360 degree rotation, 90 degree pivot
Hands: n/a
Wasit: 360 degree rotation
Thighs: 180 degree pivot (forward/backward), 90 degree pivot (outward)
Knees: 360 degree rotation, 90 degree pivot
Feet: n/a
Other: Tail pieces can rotate 90 degrees, grappling hook rotates 360 degrees.

Articulation: 22.5/25


GIMMICK:

Universe Springer has a lot of nice gimmicks available, and I shall start with the most simplistic first. Like in vehicle mode, Springer possesses a rescue crane, but this can be turned into a grappling hook that can rotate to suit (rotating 180 degrees to store away). It contains an internal mechanism that allows the user to pull out the rope and retract it quickly with the push of a button.



The second gimmick is the same one that allows his rotor blades to spin in vehicle mode. By pressing the yellow button on the side of his arm, you can make Springer's dual-bladed weapon rotate quite fast; this can make it into both an offensive and defensive weapon, deflecting blows while dealing out serious damage at the exact same time. The only drawback is that you have to constantly push the button to make the blades spin.



The final - and by far most "advanced" - gimmick has to do with the cyber-planet key. As Springer is a repaint of a Cybertron figure, he possesses the same cyber-key gimmick, which also works in vehicle mode. By pushing in the cyber-key, you unlock the two missile launchers, which swing forward by means of springs. (Springer having springs....wow, how totally not funny.) The missiles themselves do have a bit of power behind them, but using them in this mode, unless you have them facing forward at any point is about as useful as the Fan in Super Smash Bros. Points go off because of this; I want missile launchers that I can actually use.



Gimmick: 22/25


FUN FACTOR:

Springer is firstly a helicopter, which uses to his advantage a child's love of flight. Planes, jets, helicopters; all of these things are fascinating to a child and as such they would at least over Springer's vehicle mode with the spinning blades and rescue crane. However, the blades have a tendency to pop off, and could hurt if going at a high speed and hitting a child in the face. The hook and cyber-key are also dangerous, but not as much. I would advice telling your children to be careful with the crane as it is a thin rope and plastic gearing, all of which can easily break.

Fun factor: 20/25


OVERVIEW:

For a repaint, this is definity worthy in my books. Hasbro made a good choice of the Evac mold for Springer (they also made Protectorbot Blades out of Evac, but that's aside from the point.) He has a lot of cool and nifty gimmicks, a kick-ass vehicle mode, a robot mode that isn't that half-bad either and truly is a nice upgrade from his one and only other toy. (the green face....why.....)


My score for Universe Springer: 89.5/100


Universe Springer has firstly achieved the highest score of all the figures I've reviewed, including my favourite figure Soundwave (guess it's true what they say; expect the unexpected.) But being truthful, Springer deserves the score. It is a real shame that he is simply labelled as a repaint and not given the time of day. If it were me, I'd buy the Springer and Evac molds (Blades can suck it). If you can still find it, pick up the Springer and Ratbat two-pack as both figures are worth it.

Nostalgia Chick, Transform and Roll Out!

Hey everyone, Todd here with a small video plug.

If you know of the Nostalgia Critic (Thatguywiththeglasses.com), you'll also know of the Nostalgia Chick. Well, the following link is to her newly-released review of not only the G1 cartoon, but the 1986 animated Transformers movie.

Trust me when I say this; you will laugh so hard your head will explode.

http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/videolinks/thedudette/nostalgia-chick/8881-transformers

Review #13 - ROTF Leader Class Optimus Prime

If you asked any Transformers fan who Optimus Prime was, the first thing they'd say would usually be "which one?" And they're technically right as every Transformers universe has had its own version of the valiant Autobot leader. But today I shall be focusing on the Leader class toy for the new Revenge of the Fallen movie, which comes out this Wednesday. Hang on folks, this is going to be a good review I swear.



Now, like most of the character who have bared the name "Optimus Prime", the live-action movie version's main objective is to protect all sentient beings of all planets from the evil Decepticons. The difference with him starts before the Great War, when he and his brother Megatron (yes, Optimus and Megatron are brothers....seriously....so that makes the bad guy Ultra Magnus?) were co-leaders of Cybertron. But due to his greed and lust for power, Megatron soon was stripped of his title and started waging war against the Autobots. After the events of the 2007 movie, Prime is now charged with keeping Earth safe. What he's doing I won't say as it will spoil the ROTF review I have cooking.

This toy is - by all accounts - freaking massive. He's firstly tall, as should be expected of all leader-class figures, but it's to the right scale of the film. He's got his slender legs, wide chest and signature head, which is a plus if you are spending upwards of 70 bucks for a Leader-class figure.


VEHICLE:



Hasbro has truly outdone themselves with this figure's vehicle mode. Prime resembles the customised Peterbilt semi-truck cab from the first film, and compared to the 2007 Leader-class version, this is a truly better form all-around. Firstly, the back of the cab is more filled in, getting rid of the gaps that the '07 model possessed. Secondly, this mode rolls quite well for plastic wheels, and has no trouble moving from carpet to wood or laminate floors, while figures like Shockwave would have an issue with it. Finally, this mode has a small button which activates Prime's vehicle mode sound gimmick; the sound of a diesel engine at idle. It's not terribly necessary, but it does add to the figure as a whole. Basically, I am utterly flabbergasted at this mode, and this is only the VEHICLE mode.


Vehicle: 25/25 (seriously, scoring it any lower would see criminal)


ROBOT:



I must admit, what an improvement from the '07 movie's Prime, with this toy resembling Optimus' movie self a lot more closely than his predessecor. This mode is also quite articulate and sports the flaming paint job that most fans seem to hate. (Hey, I think it makes Prime look modern.) I love how the sixe of this version of Prime (there is a ROTF Voyager class as well) matches the scale he is in the film as well, with the majority of the other Autobots and Decepticons being smaller than he is. Prime also is quite stable with his huge feet and strong thigh and knees joints, so he can be put into various poses (personaly favourite; dual-sword battle stance.)


ARTICULATION:

Head: 360 degree rotation, ~90 degree pivot
Shoulders: 360 degree rotation, ~180 degree pivot
Elbows: 360 degree rotation, 90 degree pivot
Hands: 360 degree rotation
Waist: n/a
Thighs: 180 degree rotation, 90 degree pivot
Knees: 90 degree pivot
Feet: Ball joints
Other: various bits of kibble, such as the shoulder guards and thigh guards can pivot up to 90 degrees.

Articutlation: 20/25


GIMMICK:

Obviously, since Leader Prime is a Leader-class figure - and cost me a cool 70 bucks - it's a given that he'd have some gimmicks to him, otherwise he'd be worth less. First off, let me get the his most annoying gimmick out of the way; Prime's lights and sounds. Now, usually this wouldn't be much of an issue if it weren't for the fact that it tends to be quite touchy. How touchy you ask? During the transformation sequence, Prime stated he was Optimus Prime more times than all others of the same name combined. Along with the sounds are the light-up eyes and windshields, which blink for the length of the sound clip. Finally, Prime possesses two flip-out energon swords under his arms that flip out when a button is pressed on the side of each corresponding forearm. The one problem with this gimmick is that the sword tips seem to get caught on the shoulder guards and limit the articulation of the forearm. Still, having dual energy swords isn't exactly a bad thing.

Gimmick: 21/25


FUN FACTOR:

This is really hit and miss in Leader Prime's case as it is his weakest area. First off, let me say that his transformation is insane; in fact I had to watch a video review on Youtube after giving up three times to put Prime into vehicle mode. THREE TRIES. This isn't a toy for a kid who isn't very good with Transformers as it will frustrate the hell of out him/her and make them move onto others they can morph. Second is the price: yes, I'm quite aware that fun doesn't have a price tag, but I am sure most will agree that when buying a toy for your son or daughter, you would want it to be a tad less expensive, and at a cost of 59.99 CDN at Toys R Us, you would more than likely buy a deluxe-class figure. (the child won't care however as they got a Transformer anyway.) But to his credit, Prime is a fun toy when you have him in robot mode, and I can see kids messing around with him a lot during play.

Fun Factor: 14/25


OVERVIEW:

Leader-class Optimus Prime is a great figure to possess in one's collection, despite the high retail price. His vehicle mode is quite well made, reflecting the look and attitude of the on-screen version. He's also got nice articulation and is loaded with gimmicks, but don't expect the transformation to be a breeze. (I would suggest watching peaugh's Leader Prime review as it helped me with some parts I got stuck on. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZC8qb-R6yjI&feature=channel).

My score for ROTF Leader-Class Optimus Prime: 80/100


Despite the bad score in the Fun Factor department, Leader Prime still deserves the score he has recieved. The articulation and gimmicks (although cliched), along with the robot and vehicle modes themselves make this figure worth the asking price. If you have the cash and want a nice movie version of Prime for your collection, I would recommend this figure over the '07 version.

Review #12 - Purple Ver. Transformers Animated Longarm Prime/ Shockwave

There has never been an Autobot who has been true to his cause, indomitable to the very end, all while stabbing everyone he knows and "cares" for in the back. This character has got to be the first who I have both genuinely rooted for and hated all at once. It is time for me to do my first in a line of Animated figures.

Transformers Voyager class Longarm Prime/Shockwave.



Shockwave's main purpose in the Decepticon army is to infiltrate and sabotage, and his ability to change his appearance makes him quite good at his trade. So, when Megatron concocted a plan to destroy the Autobot Elite Guard from within, Shockwave was selected to become a new recruit codenamed LONGARM. Longarm was nearly found out early on, but using some quick thinking and manipulating the easily manipulatible mind of Bumblebee, he managed to divert the attention to the unfortunate recruit Wasp. Graduating and becoming a Prime, Shockwave was put in charge of Intelligence; right where he wanted to be. I could tell more, but frankly it'd ruin the show for you if I did.

The toy for Shockwave is unique in that it is the only Transformer to have four modes (Sixshot has six, so it doesn't count. Nice try though.) It possesses two modes for each character; Shockwave and his tank mode, and Longarm with his rough-terrain crane mode. This toy also features a gimmick that is quite unique, but I shall cover that later.


VEHICLE:

Mode #1: Rough Terrain Crane;



This is the first of Shockwave's two vehicle modes, and it does quite well at immitating the show version. This crane mode has a crane that can rotate 360 degree and pivots about 45 degree from level. The tip of the crane can extend out a bit and a hook that can be adjusted to fit the need. One strike against this mode is that it doesn't roll very well as the treads have only small plastic wheels under them. Basically, it's a crane....not really much that's spectacular...but at least it's more exciting than Ravage's vehicle mode.

Vehicle Mode #1: 7.5/12.5


Mode #2 - Cybertronian Tank:



This is the truly devastating mode of Shockwave, and sweet Jesus does this mode reflect that. Just like Longarm's crane, the tank turret does rotate and pivot, but now it has two added laser blasters that fold out. Just like the crane mode however, the tank's ability to roll is restricted due to the small plastic wheels under the treads. This mode is a lot more aesthetically pleasing than the crane, and is what I usually display Shockwave in when not in robot mode.

Vehicle Mode #2: 10/12.5


ROBOT:



As you can tell by these two photos, these are the two robot modes for Shockwave, with Longarm Prime being the top mode and Shockwave himself below that. Aesthetically, they are both unique and as cartoon accurate as a toy could be. Again, I prefer the Shockwave robot mode as he's taller and looks more "natural" of a shape than Longarm, who is short and fat. Both head scuplts are well designed, with Shockwave's single red optic sensor possessing its own light piping. These modes also share a few good gimmicks, but I shall get into those later; first comes the articulation.


ARTICULATION:

Longarm:
Head: n/a
Shoulders: 360 degree rotation, 45 degree pivot
Elbows: 360 degree rotation, 90 degree pivot out
Hands: ball joints, 90 degree pivot (wrist)
Waist: n/a
Thighs: ~360 degree rotation, 90 degree pivot out
Knees: 360 degree rotation, ~45 degree pivot
Feet: n/a

Shockwave:
Head: 360 degree rotation,
Shoulders: 360 degree rotation, 45 degree pivot
Elbows: 360 degree rotation, 90 degree pivot out
Hands: claw; ball jointed bottom claw, 180 degree pivoting top claws, 90 degree pivot (wrist)
Waist: n/a
Thighs: ~360 degree rotation, 90 degree pivot out
Knees: 360 degree rotation, ~45 degree pivot
Feet: n/a

Articulation: 21/25


GIMMICK:

Shockwave has a lot of gimmicks to name, but I shall start with the simplest of the bunch; his switchable logo. As his job requires, Shockwave can't really go around being an Autobot without having a damn Autobot symbol on his chest, hence the need for a symbol that can change sides. What is cool is that this isn't automatic, so if you really wish to, you can have an Autobot Shockwave or Decepticon Longarm. The second gimmick involves his crane/tank turret.



In its normal mode, the crane isn't very special, but if you look at the top, you will see a purple tab. When this is pulled back, it activates the gun's gimmick, flipping forward the spring-loaded gun barrel, and changing a harmless crane into a tank turret. This is a very nice gimmick asit gives the figure a lot of options. The final gimmick is that - in gun mode - Shockwave can hold the gun in either hand (a toy reference to G1 Shockwave, who had a gun for a hand as this turret is bigger than the hand and thus gives the appearance of this.) This gun can also be mounted on the figure's back (where it would normally tab into as the turret/crane. In total, all three gimmicks are quite fun and are a nice touch to this figure.

Gimmick: 20/25


FUN FACTOR:

Let's review what Shockwave has to offer here folks; he's basically four forms in one, he has great articulation, he has a great tank mode, and a nice alt robot and crane mode, and finally he can be transformed from crane to Shockwave just as smoothly and easily as from tank to Shockwave or crane to Longarm. I'd say he gives kids a lot to fiddle around with, and won't leave them grumbling about the figure's lack of this or difficult with that.

Fun factor: 22/25


OVERVIEW:

Animated Shockwave is one of those Animated-line figures that you really should at least look into, if not purchase. The robot modes are very well designed, as are the vehicle modes, and the fact that you are getting two Voyager-class figures for the price of one is just as good of a deal as the Universe Hound and Ravage/Cyclonus and Nightstick figures, if not a better one.

My score for Animated Longarm Prime/Shockwave: 80.5/100


Buying either version of this figure will set you back at least 40 bucks CDN, but the purple variant comes with a little extra figure: Activators Bumblebee. But that is a figure for another day (assuming I seriously want to review a figure where the transformation is pressing a god damned button.) I would personally recommend Shockwave to anyone who likes Transformers as he is both a great homage to his G1 self and an awesome stand-alone figure as well. Still, he'll never be forgiven for what he did to Blurr...

...slaggin' scrapheap lol

Review #11 - Toys 'R' Us Encore G1 Jazz

Every army needs the light-hearted, improvisational soldier, and the Autobots are blessed with one individual who is both cool, kind-hearted, and is able to go with the flow. Ladies and gents, today's review is on the Toys 'R' Us Encore series Generation One Jazz.




Jazz is - by all accounts - cool. He's into everything that has to do with television or music, absorbing as much of human culture as he possibly can. His upbeat personality and friendly demeanor make him a very well-liked member of the Autobots, and it is quite hard to find one Autobot in the ranks who dislikes him. He even has the time to put his own flare on anything he does; either at HQ or in the heat of battle. And as the head of Special Operations, this helps him a lot as - unlike Prowl - Jazz can bend with the wind and take things as they come.

This figure is a 95% exact copy of the 1984 mold; Hasbro and Takara have made a few slight changes to the figure (I'd say probably so it wouldn't get marketed as a fake '84 figure or something). The materials used to mold are different, with the plastic being of a higher quality (the original Jazz is really delicate, as I found out. I'm sorry I broke your windshield Fox T_T). Finally, this figure was created in 2002, marking almost 18 years since an "exact" remold (not counting Generation Two.....god...) was made, and for the price of a deluxe class figure too.


VEHICLE:



Jazz's vehicle mode - a Porsche 935 Turbo race car - has got to rank in the top 10 of my favourite G1 alt modes (I'd say at least 5, right behind Grimlock). The first thing you notice is that this is a pretty good representation of a Porsche of any kind, all-be-it with an oversized rear spoiler. Underneath there is very little kibble, aside from up front where the arms are "stored" in vehicle mode. The tires are rubber, and Jazz rolls remarkably well for a Transformer (in that he rolls better than 25th Optimus, over carpet or laminate flooring). One final nice touch is the fact that the doors do open and close, adding extra roleplay value to this mode.

Vehicle: 23/25


ROBOT:



I'll be honest: this was the main reason why I decided to purchase my version of this figure in the first place. This robot mode is stylish, and is one of the better cartoon-to-figure adaptions in the 84 line (G1 Ironhide >_<). He also comes with the array of addons such as his missile launcher (which has a backpack that plugs into his bacvk, and the the launcher connects to that), three missiles (the Encore edition's missile are different for some reason) and his blaster. His head sculpt is also quite nice, with the smirk of the Generation 2 version quite visible. One minor note I wish they could have done was given him a blue visor, but that's only a minor detail. The feet also look slightly weird, but again, this is only a small item to worry about.


ARTICULATION:

Head: 45 degree pivot
Shoulders: ~360 degree rotation, 180 degree pivot
Elbows: 180 degree pivot
Hands: 360 degree rotation
Waist: n/a
Thighs: n/a
Knees: n/a
Feet: n/a
Other: Jazz's doors - like in vehicle mode - do swing.

Articulation: 17/25


GIMMICK:

Jazz's only real gimmick is his missile launcher, and this is where the differences start. On the original figure, the missile was something like you would have found on G1 Ironhide; a short, chrome missile. This Encore reissue's missile is more of a Classics/Universe seeker-style missile. This is very unnatural for a toy of Jazz's size as it is basically like attaching an RPG to your shoulder. The missile also does have a tendency to misfire on occasion; this could be due to the amount of force needed to put the missile into the launcher, or the design of the tracks that help center it once inside. In any case, be prepared to search for missiles if you are not careful. (my suggestion, leave the missile off him or buy a G1 Jazz launcher and missile(s) off eBay).

Gimmick: 13/25


FUN FACTOR:

Jazz's real fun factor is really limited because of the missile launcher, which was a disappointment for me when I actually tried it out. While the missile does fly far, it's usually not due to pushing the button, and I don't know about you, but looking for parts of toys is a lot less fun than playing with them. On the plus side, Jazz's arm articulation is quite good for the mold (and the genre actually), and the fact that the doors do open in vehicle mode is also a nice touch. Personally, I feel this figure is more of a show-piece than an actual toy, but again why would Hasbro have made it with stronger plastic other than to be played with hard?

Fun Factor: 18.5/25


OVERVIEW:

This is truly a figure that I wish could have scored higher in terms of Gimmick, Articulation and Fun factor, but this is 1980s technology and design we're dealing with here. It is hard to expect a lot from a figure from the 1984 line, but at least it does have great articulation in the arms. The missile launcher could have stayed the way it was, but I don't really have a right to complain as I'm not the head of design at Hasbro, now am I?


My score for Encore G1 Jazz: 71.5/100


This is a must for any collector of G1-style figures as it is basically a cheaper version of the Jazz mold, which can easily fetch upwards of 60 USD online. It is also more durable and can stand up to more transformations than the original '84 figure could ever have. I am really glad that hasbro brought Jazz back in this modern age as - aside from Animated - he has had no real revisits. This is not necessarily a bad thing as revisits seem to slowly make the character lose its lusture, but you have to remember that this is Jazz we're talking about here. He's got enough cool stored away to keep his popularity going for a long time to come.

Review #10 - Universe G1 Twins - Sunstreaker and Sideswipe

During the first few waves of the Transformers toy line in the 80s, the usual method for creating characters was to spam a specific mold to make multiple coloured version of a single figure, and sell them as separate characters. While these two did have the same reason for coming into being, at least Hasbro and Takara did give them a good back story.

Ladies and gentlemen, here is the review for Transformers Universe Sunstreaker and Sideswipe.

Now, this review will be a tad different than most of mine as the two are basically the same figure with minor changes to each. So I'll first give a short bio of each character, then rate the gimmick, fun factor, articulation and vehicle modes as if it were one figure.


First, let's start with Sunstreaker...



Sunstreaker is unlike the majority of the Autobots in that he is only about one person; Sunstreaker. He believe that he was created by the mighty Primus (god of all Transformers) as the best there was and will ever be (lol Autobot Bret Hart?) He is so self-centered in fact, that the only Autobot who truly can get along with him is his brother Sideswipe, which says quite a lot.

The single reason why he is still under the command of Prime - and not on a asteroid repairing a space bridge - is because of his knack for being a ruthless warrior. He can take just about anything the Decepticons can dish out and yet can still whip some tailgate with the best of them. He is a true asset to the Autobots, despite his ability to annoy every bot around him.




Sideswipe is like the polar opposite of Sunstreaker, as it is common with most identical twins. Unlike his sociopathical brother, Sideswipe is more of a team player, and takes into account the efforts of all who battle with him. However, he is a tad more reckless than his brother. Now, when I say reckless, I mean "charging headlong into battle, ignoring everything that opposes him, all with the risk of perminent deactivation" reckless. In short, he tends to get himself into many bad situations. But this is in the name of victory.

Victory for Sideswipe is not just the first solution, but the ONLY one. If he has to put his spark in danger to ensure victory, he will. If cheating is required, he'll cheat. This makes him something of a mechanical jock, but he does also have a humourous side, attaining the title of the Ark's resident prankster.

VEHICLE:





The vehicle modes of Sunstreaker and Sideswipe have got to be the most streaklined and slickest of all the Universe line, hands down. Both seem to be a combination of a Meclerin M1 and a Lamborgini (their original modes), with the generic sports-car additives thrown in for good measure. Both figures possess dual-vent turbo chargers on their roofs, and have their own custom license plates.

While Sideswipe's plate simply reads "SWIPE", Sunstreaker's is a tad more interesting, saying "WE R 84" (a nod to the fact that they are both G1 characters obviously)



One final note about both figures is that there is no kibble. Yes, I said it; NO KIBBLE. If it wasn't for the fact that Sunstreaker has a huge ass Autobot symbol on his roof, and both came in Transformers Universe packagaing, you would honestly have a hard time believing these figures are Transformers. That in itself is a major note to take into consideration.

Vehicle: 24/25


ROBOT:



As you can tell, like their G1 counterparts, the Universe releases of the twins are relatively the same mold. The main differences are the head sculpt, the body and the paint scheme. Both look extremely nice side by side, and are designed to give their G1 selves a major makeover. The head sculpts are quite well done, with Sunstreaker having his signature fins and Sideswipe possessing light piping. (finally I get a crystal clear picture of something!)



For transformation, the two start off about the same, turning into what is seen in the first photo below...



This is about where the similarities end. For Sideswipe, you must rotate the entire body 180 degrees on his waist joint. You then perform one of the best head reveals of all the Universe line. By turning the entire roof section 180 degrees, the head raises up from the body section by means of a gear system. This is epic; serious props go to Hasbro for this gimmick. One thing to note about Sunstreaker is that - as an early Universe figure - his plastic is different from Sideswipe and wears out easy with frequent "play". (My figure's feet, shoulders and head are a lot looser than Sideswipe's).


ARTICULATION:
Head: Ball jointed
Shoulders: ball jointed, ~270 degree rotation (due to transformation)
Elbows: 360 degree rotation, 180 degree pivot (two places)
Hands: 360 degree rotation
Waist: 360 degree rotation
Thighs: Ball jointed
Knees: 360 degree rotation, 90 degree pivot back
Feet: Ball jointed
Other: The knee guards are on ball joints

Both Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are quite posable, although you have to watch Sunstreaker as his joints tend to become slightly looser as you transform and play with him.

Articulation: 24/25


GIMMICK:

This is the one thing that these two figures seem to lack, and sadly will hurt their overall score greatly. Both figures only have two gimmicks, and unfortunately, both are quite weak depending on what you consider a "good gimmick". First off is their head reveals. Okay, I did say before that these head reveals are epic, but it isn't that strong of a gimmick compared to some of the others out there. The other gimmick is the shoulder-mount for the laser cannon. There is a small hole one either side of both figures' heads, and it takes a bit to get them inserted.



Gimmick: 16/25


FUN FACTOR:

On their own, both figures are quite a treat to play with. Both figures do take a bit of force to pull apart and a bit more time to transform, but not much in the grand scheme. The vehicle modes of both figures are quite well made however, and the robot modes are very articulate, which gives kids many options for poses. Finally, the turbo-charges can be considered as jet packs. Why this would add to the fun, who knows; only Sideswipe had a "jet pack" anyway. But still, these figures are quite fun, ignoring the hard transformation.

Fun Factor: 19.5/25


OVERVIEW:

Universe Sunstreaker and Sideswipe are very intriguing figures in that both were made from the same mold, and yet are unique. Not many remolded figures can say that, which means that the G1 Brothers are in a league of their own. The overall lack of gimmicks does hurt the figures' score, but the epic head reveal, the great articulation and the vehicle modes do compensate slightly for this weak score.

My score for Universe Sunstreaker and Sideswipe: 83.5/100

When I saw Sideswipe in the stores, I initially skipped over him due to the fact that I hated Sunstreaker as a figure and felt I didn't want something that was a remold. But then I finally bought him and now I love both figures equally; equally good that it. If anything, get Sideswipe, as his plastic is a lot better quality and he has the light-piping. But if you are a completist, you still may have a chance to purchase Sunstreaker at your local retailer. (or check eBay as well).