Tag Archives: Maximal

Toy Review – Studio Series Airazor

The new Transformers: Rise of the Beasts movie is less than two months away, and figures are already turning up on shelves in anticipation of the latest instalment of the franchise.

Movie Review – Bumblebee

When I attended the Beasts Base Camp experience at Taronga Zoo I was lucky enough to be given a gift bag by Hasbro that contained, amongst other things, a Studio Series Airazor.  Then when attending the MTMTE Exhibition at Kings Comics my son was lucky enough to receive the same!  So being the first foray for both of us into the new movies toyline, thought it only fitting that we give you our thoughts on the figure.

 

Robot Mode

Given that Airazor has not, as of the writing of this post, had her robot mode shown in any footage, it is hard to give a proper account of how screen accurate the figure is.  It is certainly a nice looking figure, with an avian-like head, consistent colour-scheme, good proportions and decent articulation.  The wings give a cape-like appearance and the missiles on the arms lend that combative look of an alien robot about to enter the fray.  The face is not particularly feminine, but then very few Airazor figures in the past have had one either so one could say its true to form.  The feet should be turned so that the smaller talons face the front, but I personally think she looks that bit cooler and more bestial with the larger facing forward.

 

Falcon Mode

The figure really shines here.  A beautiful wingspan that can be adapted to a number of different configurations and poses.  A sufficiently detailed head and claws really give that metallic-bird appearance, with this Airazor not having an organic outer form like previous iterations of the character.  Looking from below she doesn’t look great, but then to be honest most real life birds don’t from that angle either (I raise ducks and chickens – trust me on this) so I personally find it forgivable.  The only main detractor is that the outer wings unclip very easily.  They can be clipped back on with similar ease so it’s a mild irritation at best.

 

Worth Getting?

Studio Series rarely lets us down in terms of screen-accurate & highly detailed figures, and has not disappointed once again.  The figure boasts a lot of detail, though more detail in the Transformation would have been nice, you definitely don’t need the instructions for this gal.  The figure shares much of its engineering with Kingdom Airazor so anyone who has that figure will know largely what to expect.

If you are into Beast Wars characters, or are looking to pick up toy representations of characters from the upcoming movie, then Studio Series Airazor fits the bill nicely and I welcome her as the first Maximal to enter my Studio Series collection.

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

Toys Review – POTP Optimal & Unicronus

The Power of the Primes toyline continues at a good pace, and just in time for some midyear toy sales, the next two leader class figures – both sporting the evolve gimmick – have hit the shelves.  The first of these is a brand new mould and likely to excite those who are Beast Wars fans – Optimal Optimus! The second is a recolour (albiet a very cool one!) of a previous figure and a brand new (sorta) character – Rodimus Unicronus!

 

Optimus Primal

Robot Mode

‘I aint no stinkin ape!’

Optimus Primal looks quite good here, reasonably faithful to how he looked on the cartoon, though minus the hair, and very well proportioned.  He comes with two guns instead of his signature swords, and though that is unfortunate it is forgivable.  His backpack is fairly visible, personally I fold the cockpit up when looking at him head on to minimize this.  The red on the body, along with the Maximal sticker, give the figure that little bit of contrast in his colours which makes him pop more.

 

Hoverboard-Spaceship thing

An Uber driver for Silver Surfer

Primal’s alt-mode, instead of being a gorilla, is the flying surfboard that was used by his second incarnation back in the Beast Wars cartoon.  While personally I think this is a good way to incorporate all of the forms he had back in the day, purists will be annoyed at the lack of Beast Mode.  Optimal Optimus can affix to the top fairly well without falling off.

 

Optimal Optimus

Robot Mode

The big fella!  One of the biggest Beast Wars figures has been very well recreated here.  The guns from the smaller figure can be combined into one large rifle, or else can affix to his chest to represent the weapons that the original had.  Likewise the armour from his forearms can be removed and added to his shoulders to make him appear more like the original.  The face sculpt is very good and, the colour scheme is well done and he has those gigantic orange signature hands.  Overall pretty good.

 

Cyber-Gorilla Mode

“OK, I lied – I am a stink ape”

Really just the robot mode but with shortened legs and a different head.  Works well on the hoverboard but you would be hard pressed to call this a proper transformation.  The hoverboard can transform into a gun-toting backpack for some variety.

 

Cyber-Jet Mode

“I beat Victory Saber in the ‘weirdest spacecraft’ competition”

This is pretty much the robot mode lying down with the hoverboard attached to the back to add a cockpit and guns.  It’s not bad, but certainly not great, I haven’t been less impressed with a Transformers flying mode since RID Twinferno.

 

Nemesis Hot Rod

(Please note: As I have already reviewed POTP Rodimus Prime, I will be giving an abridged review of this figure.  For a more comprehensive review of this toy mould, please check out my review of Rodimus HERE)

Robot Mode

The Hot Rod of nightmares

Geez the colour works well here!  I was that in love with the Unicronus mode that I didn’t think I’d pay much attention to how Hot Rod would look, but one look at that face changed my mind completely – almost makes me wish I had the cash to buy a second so I could have both the robot modes on display!

 

Sports Car Mode

Kit from Knightriders bad-news cousin

Really sexy!  Got that evil-mirrorverse motif down-pat!  Looks exactly like a macabre version of Hot Rod should look!

 

Rodimus Unicronus

Robot Mode

“You can tell I’m the evil twin because I have a beard”

Oh he is just cool!  I’m absolutely loving the beard!  You just see him and Motormaster arm-wrestling while they pound some Energon-brews in some dingy cyber-pub somewhere!  Big, black, bulky – just great!

 

Cybertronian Winnebago Mode

What Hells Angels go touring in when they retire

Probably the least impressive of all the modes for this toy.  It has the faults that Rodimus Prime has, but a lot of the cool little details are hard to see because there is too much black in the paintjob.

 

Overall

I can’t say I’m hugely overwhelmed by Optimal Optimus, however my son, who is vaguely aware of the existence of Beast Wars at best, can’t stop playing with him so that’s a big tick.  And personally I am loving Nemesis Hot Rod/Rodimus Unicronus and plan on picking a second one up if they ever become super cheap.  Both would do well to find a place in your collection.

 

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

Related Articles:

POTP Dinobots

POTP Terrorcons