Tag Archives: War For Cybertron

Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Toy Review: Kingdom Rodimus Prime

June 1, 2021 Big Angry Trev Leave a comment

Two years ago the Transformers line saw the introduction of the Commander Class – a toy scale a size up from the Leader Class. In 2019 we got a fantastic Jetfire, followed last year by an equally great Sky Lynx.

This year with the release of Unicron, we are seeing a slew of figures based around the 1986 Transformers animated movie. One of these was Hot Rod in the Studio Series line. Now we get to see him all grown up as the Commander Class Kingdom Rodimus Prime.

Robot Mode

Extremely nice, and much better proportioned than the POTP Rodimus we got several years ago. He looks extremely character accurate, both in proportions and colour scheme and even has the trademark grimace he usually wore since he was always stressing he wasn’t Optimus. The figure has tight joints and numerous points of articulation.

Rodimus Prime also comes with his signature rifle, as well as the Sword of Primus that he wielded in the ReGeneration One comics.

Like most Prime toys, this Rodimus comes with a Matrix that can be removed. Can make for some great scenes from the movie such as his transformation from Hot Rod and his destruction of Unicron.

Vehicle Mode

Good luck trying to overtake this on the cyber-highway

Damn that’s big! Much bigger than the leader class POTP Rodimus we mentioned earlier. For the most part he is cartoon and toy faithful, though the front of the car sticks out a little too far for my liking. But perhaps there is no hard and fast rule as to what a Cybertronian Winnebago should look like.

This Rodimus has some features that most previous figures of the toy haven’t had. One is that you can open up the back of his trailer which is a nice touch. Another is that you can take the cannon emplacement from inside and put it on the top of the trailer for a sick battle mode.

What old people wish their Winnebago’s would do when other drivers honk

Rodimus can detach from his trailer and for once he still looks like Rodimus rather than Hot Rod. The vehicle mode is stockier and makes it look a beefier version of Hot Rod, which Rodimus himself actually is. In both modes you can attach what is shaped like exhaust flames, but coloured like exhaust fumes. Whether they chose this so as to not add more yellow/orange I don’t know but its an odd aesthetic choice.

Battle Platform

The original G1 toys trailer could open up to reveal a cannon platform and that has been recreated really nicely here. The cannon can swivel 360 degrees and can also detach with little tank tracks on the bottom. Personally I would have liked to see the ramp at the front be able to fold down to touch the ground, but that is rectifiable by the connecting of a Battle Master, which also allows the platform to hook up to other playsets.

Transformation

The trailer is dead easy. I found the robot mode a tad fiddly in places but everything locks together very tightly and there was no point I got overly frustrated.

Worth Getting?

This would be the best mass-release Rodimus that we have had so I would say yes, despite the larger than usual price tag. However if you already have the POTP version it’s pretty good and also has the option of turning into Hot Rod, so I wouldn’t trade in just yet. It will be interesting to see if the upcoming Galvatron figure scales well with Rodimus, then we really will see if this toy is capable of lighting ones darkest hour!

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

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Transformatorium, Transformer Multiverse Toy Galleries

Multiverse Unicron Toys Gallery

May 16, 2021 Big Angry Trev Leave a comment

It’s been a long time since I did a Multiverse Gallery but if any figure warrants their return it’s Unicron! So lets have a look at the Chaos Bringer in his myriad of toy forms.

Please Note: All pictures are my own figures unless otherwise stated. Many thanks to M.K. Griffin for providing pictures of his different variants of the Armada Unicron Mold.

Smaller Unicron Figures

Haslab Unicron

See full review HERE!

Armada Unicron & subsequent variants

(please check out http://toycollectors.com.au/ for more pics of M.K Griffins impressive collection!)

Group Photo’s

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Multiverse Sky Lynx Gallery

Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Toy Review – HasLab Unicron

April 14, 2021 Big Angry Trev 1 Comment

In what could be said to be one of the biggest toy events in Transformers history and perhaps the most anticipated Transformers toy of all time, we have the biggest official Transformer figure of all time – Unicron! Yes The Chaos Bringer has finally shipped out to all those all over the world lucky enough to be able to afford this behemoth, and he does not disappoint! So lets have a look at what the ultimate evil looks like in his 27 inches of glory.

Planet Mode

Frick-en HUGE! The main body of the planet is bigger than a soccer ball, and his halo of struts makes him absolutely massive! The sheer scale of this figure really does dwarf everything that has come before. The colours are spot on and the amount of detail with the spikes around the midsection, the different strata of layers and the planet jaws that open and close are just beautiful. Yes its essentially a big (expensive) ball which limits its playability and poseability but that’s OK – this is the ultimate display piece and mainly for looking at and going ‘wow – just wow’.

To make up for the lack of playability in planet mode Unicron’s head comes detached (like it was at the end of TF:TM and in S3) and has a few features of its own. You can change the beard and you can change the face as well to the battle smashed version. Or you can remove the face all together and swivel those creepy eyes around. The Head comes with it’s own display stand like the main figure, and also has an Autobot ship as well as a tiny Rodimus & Galvatron to round it out.

Robot Mode

Again we get to see the scale of Unicron here, so much bigger than even the biggest of Titan toys. The amount of detail put into this figure is staggering, Haslab going above and beyond to make him resemble his animated appearance as much as possible. He has great articulation for such a huge figure and nearly every part of Unicron has movement; the neck, waist, knees, elbows, feet, wrists and so on all have different degree’s of swivel and articulation. By keeping Unicron on the stand you can pose him however you wish, even the legs in stances which would let a normal toy fall over. The articulation of the fingers on each hand is unprecedented, with every finger having 3 points of movement.

There has been a great deal of discussion about all the kibble. Most of this can be removed. However I like to leave it on, for me it shows that this really is a functioning Transformer that can be changed into a different configuration – its not simply a statue. His backpack is not a major downside for me and neither are his calves. The skeletal wings really polish off what is a massively impressive figure.

Transformation

Get yourself a coffee and some snacks because you are going to be there a while. The first time you do it will probably take you the best part of an hour. The majority of this time is taken up with folding all the layers of the planet shell on top of each other to form the backpack and calves. The inner robot is fairly simplistic and will present no challenges. At no point did I find any part of the transformation overly fiddly and when you finally get him in robot mode that first time you may well feel a true sense of satisfaction. According to blog-fan Trent, a good way to keep track of how to transform him back to planet mode is to take photo’s throughout the initial transformation – this helps you remember where everything was at different stages and reverse the process, though getting those planet panels back into position can be quite fiddly and awkward at times.

Overall

Unicron is a big fella and came with a big price tag (which has already been eclipsed by the new auto-transforming Optimus toy). With only 12000 units made, we are already seeing Unicron’s on ebay going for 3 times what they cost. Personally I bought two for my different displays and kind of wish I’d bought a 3^rd so I could now sell it to pay for the other two. Is he perfect? No. The inner chomper walls of the planet should have been painted silver as should his lower teeth. The transformation to planet mode can be irritating at stages. Also some extras such as lighting for the eyes and outer ring would have been appreciated, as well as would have a detachable leg like in the movie. The backpack does detract from the way he looks from the back and many may not like the calves. However on the whole this is a brilliant figure that will easily become the crowning centerpiece of any Transformer collectors collection!

Thoughts from other Transformer Fans:

Steve: Impressive, Hefty & Awkward

Trent: Big!

Dallas: Just assembling the planet mode out of the box required separating a lot of panels. It’s awkward to manage because of its sheer massive size. The way all the ring components assemble, the spike strips install and lock in place and the shell components separate and reintegrate speaks of well thought out elegant engineering. The fact that it’s been designed to allow transformation on the stand indicates a real understanding of the intended use, anyone who says they can transform this thing without the stand is talking out their arse.

Orion: It’s awesome – biggest Transformer ever! And Dad let me transform his butt!

Jason: The missus gave an almighty headshake when she saw me come home with a box that size!

Got your own thoughts about this giant figure? Pop them in the comments section below!

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Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Toys Review – Galactic Odyssey Ratchet & Lifeline

December 27, 2020 Big Angry Trev Leave a comment

As the Earthrise portion of the War for Cybertron toy trilogy wraps up in preparation for the Kingdom line, people are still receiving exclusives that have been ordered and delayed due to the Covid Crisis.

I’ve just received one of these exclusives and it contains two characters that have historically been very hard to get in the Generations line. So without further ado let’s look at the Paradron Medics duo from the Galactic Odyssey Collection – Ratchet and Lifeline.

Ratchet

Ratchet has been a real bastard to get over the last decade for those who have wanted Generations versions of him. The only one that has seen mass release in the west was Rescue Ratchet from the Hunt for the Decepticon toyline. Being a movieverse toy with a G1 recolouring this did not sate fans who wanted a representation of the Ratchet of old. Then there was the Universe version, which saw a very limited release which lead many collectors like myself to pay stupid amounts to get him online. After that came Siege Ratchet, once again very hard to get as it only saw mass release in countries like Malaysia. Whilst Earthrise Ratchet is still an exclusive, at least he has been relatively easy to obtain through Amazon.

Robot Mode

Very G1 (cartoon). Looks really stocky and strong. Nicely proportioned and with decent articulation too. His windshield is more aqua coloured than blue which helps him match his partner Lifeline. Due to this Ratchet, despite having a Terran alt-mode, being based on Paradron he has no Red Cross stickers on his shoulders. The minimal red in his colour scheme makes him look a tad bland.

Ratchet comes with a shield (the ambulance roof) and a gun that is highly reminiscent of the G1 toy. Personally I liked how Siege Ratchet came with actual medical tools and feel that would have been good here.

Like the G1 Ratchet toy the roof becomes a sort of mini-medical bay thing. Not nearly as cool as the G1 version, this one does come with the same gun placed at the front. Personally I prefer to use it as a shield for him, making him look more like a combat medic.

Vehicle Mode & Transformation

For only the third time Ratchet is once again an old fashioned ambulance van. The transformation from robot to this mode really showcases how this Ratchet is actually a retool of the Siege version, and if it wasn’t for the new roof and the differently shaped windshield they would be near identical. It’s a great looking retro ambulance, the only drawback is those awful huge feet at the back of the vehicle.

“I can get to the hospital fast with these boosters! Just a shame I can’t carry any patients”

Lifeline

“I’ve got the expression of your Aunty at Xmas when she gives you that extra slice of pie”

Yep, if you appeared in the G1 cartoon you get a toy – that’s how it works these days. Lifeline was in one very tiny scene, tending to an injured Cyclonus, in S3 of the G1 cartoon. She never talked, never transformed and was never seen again. But like Lancer and Greenlight , she now gets her own figure.

Robot Mode

The only other figure produced of Lifeline was a Timelines version from the TFCC that was a recolour of Thrilling 30 Arcee. Likewise this Lifeline is a recolour of Earthrise Arcee. I actually like her more, her colours really do it for me and I think it’s a really nicely proportioned toy. When in group shots I tend to use T30 Arcee so that there is that bit more differentiation between Lifeline and her.

Arcee secretly plots to kill Lifeline out of jealousy of her slimmer thighs

You can remove the backpack for it to become a sort of sled. Lifeline also comes with an Energon Infuser which is obviously a gun. Like Ratchet I would have liked to see her receive some actual medical tools. Still, it’s a good looking figure with some really great articulation.

“Check it out – I’m doing the final scene from the **Footrot Flats** movie!”

Vehicle Mode & Transformation

Like Earthrise Arcee and Netflix Elita, Lifeline is a Shellformer, and not a very good one at that. It is so frikken hard to get her body to squeeze into the car shell properly, and when you do manage it the slightest nudge makes the legs pop back out which pretty much ruins her play value in this mode. She looks nice from certain angles but otherwise this is a very disappointing alt-mode and it’s embarrassing I have three different versions of it now.

“Errr, pay no attention – those are just the brakes for my hovermode. Yeah, thats it – the brakes”

Worth Getting?

Being an exclusive (like half the Generations line seems to be these days) these figures are more expensive than those on the store shelves. Ratchet’s vehicle mode is compromised by the feet at the back and Lifeline’s by the legs that constantly emerge from her undercarriage. These negatives may cause you to bypass if you expect top quality from your Generations toys.

However overall I’m quite happy with the pairs other attributes. Both have great robot modes, both match each other very well and both are a lot easier to obtain than the previous figures of them that have been released. So if you are looking to finally add a G1’esque Ratchet and Lifeline to your Generations line-up than these two are well worth grabbing.

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

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Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Toy Review – WFC-GS12 Greasepit

September 30, 2020 Big Angry Trev Leave a comment

Transformer fans had mixed reactions when we saw the return of the Micromasters a couple of years ago. On the one hand it was great to get new versions of characters we hadn’t seen since 89/90. On the other their joints were often weak and their combined weapons modes were more often than not fairly crap.

Then this year we got a new spin on the whole Micromaster gimmick. Back in the day some of them had bases that transformed from things like airports into battle stations with Micromasters manning them – very cool with a lot of play value. Now those classic bases are coming back but now have a third and fourth mode – robot and Modulator armor/weaponary.

The first of these figures released was earlier this year in the Earthrise line with Ironworks. So let’s see how his Decepticon counterpart is getting on in the new millennium with Generations Selects Greasepit.

Fuel Station Mode

Being a redeco of Ironworks, we are seeing pretty much the same figure here. A small compact petrol station, Greasepit’s building portion looks more industrial than than the auto-repair theme the original sported. Also what the hell were they thinking with the positioning of those gas pumps?! Right at the entrance/exit ramp to the fuel centre, filling up your vehicle means you are going to block other customers and, Primus forbid, if you leave your handbrake off you are gonna see your car roll off into traffic!

The one thing that is kinda cool here is the ‘Super Gasoline’ sign – all but identical to the original toy.

Battle Station Mode

The original Greasepit station (or station belonging to Greasepit I should say) unfolded to have towers, missile launchers, guns and radar dishes – it was very cool. Almost all of that is gone now except for the tower and a solitary gun emplacement. Certainly a downgrade from what had come before and essentially identical to Earthrise Ironworks.

Robot Mode

Also pretty much identical to Ironworks. And once again I have to question the placement of the fuel pumps. I mean, on the end of his fist? Punch someone once and you’ll blow your own hand off! At least the colour scheme is pretty boss and he comes with a gun which you can replace the fuel pumps with.

Modulator

Yeah, the Modulators as a whole aren’t working for me the same way the Weaponizers did. Besides a gun you are really just giving other bots a bit of extra armour and some cyberclown-sized shoes.

Overall

The new Ironworks toy worked because the base mode still had its crane, the battle station mode still had one big weapon and you could get the little truck to go with him from the Micromaster 10-pack that was released in Siege. This redeco doesn’t do the original toy justice at all. No little partner to obtain to go with it, the fuel station mode looks odd and the battle station mode is nowhere near as cool as the original. If like me you intend to get Generations versions of classic G1 characters then you are going to want to pick this guy up. If not then this figure is an easy pass.

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

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Toy Review – Earthrise Snapdragon

September 30, 2020 Big Angry Trev 2 Comments

The original Headmaster Horrorcons were G1 toys that kinda had it all. They were triple changers, they had beast modes, they had jet modes AND they were Headmasters where the Nebulan partner also triple-changed – becoming the head of the robot and of the beast. Combine all this with the fact that they also showed up in the season 4 of G1 cartoon before it’s end and these were sought after figures!

Sadly, the beast modes weren’t brilliant, the colour-schemes were cringe-worthy, the accessories were easy to lose and if you lost the Headmaster itself the toy only worked as a jet. This makes these figures very hard to find on the secondary market today, and both toys remain some of the few from the G1 cartoon I don’t own.

However for those wanting representations of these figures but can’t afford the huge amounts the originals go for – fear not! They are back in the new toylines! Last year saw the release of Apeface in the Siege line and this year we get his partner in the Earthrise line. So without further ado, let’s have a look at War for Cybertron Snapdragon.

Robot Mode

A good sized and robust figure for the Voyager class, very chunky and strong looking, though it would have been nice to see less kibble on the arms. Despite this the figure has decent articulation. A bit plain looking, but pays homage to the original toy – right down to Krunk becoming the head and the Decepticon-faction symbols on the nipples.

Cybertronian Fighter Jet Mode

Once again it is very faithful to the original figure and it’s certainly his strongest mode. A really nice representation of a Cybertronian Fighter Jet and had multiple ports to not only attach the robots guns but also other weapons such as those from Weaponizer characters.

One feature I really like is the big cockpit in the middle of the jet. It splits down the middle to open sideways and allow Krunk to ride inside and even has a control panel!

Dragon Mode

“All the better to eat Daniel with m’dear!”

If his jet mode is his stronges mode, then the dragon mode of Snapdragon is definitely his weakest, even if a distinct improvement on the original. Firstly Krunk doesn’t even become the head, he becomes the lower jaw and can be extremely frustrating to get into place. For me it usually means leaving his mouth wide open. Also he doesn’t really look much like a dragon – he looks more like a weirdly coloured faux T-Rex with the little forearms and general proportions. Add to this all the visible jet kibble and this is not a great beast mode at all.

Overall

If you are after a Generations representation of the Headmaster Horrorcons then Snapdragon is for you. Also if looking for a figure for a younger fan this isn’t bad, what with the easy transformations, three modes and the Titan Master gimmick. However to other collectors the very cool jet mode may not make up for the average robot mode and subpar dragon mode. So yeah, this is definitely a ‘take or leave’ kinda Con.

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

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Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Toy Review – WFC Earthrise Quintesson Judge

September 16, 2020 Big Angry Trev Leave a comment

How long have we been waiting for an official G1 Quintesson toy? The time seems immeasurable…

… well, not really. Thirty four years. 34 damn years since Transformer fans first saw those 5-faced tentacles monstrosities passing judgement on Lithone and Cybertronian alike, having their victims thrown into the Sharkticon tank. And we’ve wanted a toy ever since!

The Quintessons have had a varied history in Transformers lore depending on the source. In the G1 cartoon they were the creators of the Transformer race, having been rousted from Cybertron when their creations rebelled. In the Aligned continuity they were cousins of the Transformers – the children of Quintus, one of the first 13 Primes. Most fans these days tend to lean towards the latter.

We’ve had a few Quintesson toys in other Transformers continuities. In the Energon cartoon we got an Alpha Quintesson figure and in the Movieverse we got a tiny Quintessa toy that came with her combiner bodyguard Infernocus. Earlier year in Cyberverse we finally got a non-transforming Quintesson Judge, albeit based on the Cyberverse design rather than G1.

But now we finally have what we have been waiting for – and it even transforms! Geewunners put your drool-bibs on as we look at the Earthrise Quintesson Judge.

Judge Mode

A thing of friggin beauty! Beautifully proportioned and G1 through and through. They simply got everything right, from the tentacles to the light beam to the five faces of darkness. You can see each face by pushing a small handle on the side of the figure which makes it spin – so cool!

He has slight articulation via being able to position the tentacles and open and close some of the mouths. And admittedly there isn’t much else you can do with it after that besides make it spin. He can sit in a chair to pass judgement…

Everyone likes a sit down, even those without arses

… and he can hold his pistol.

But overall the Judge looks great and it would be difficult to pass for any rabid fan of the 1986 movie.

Prison Mode

Well you get those that complain when a ‘Transformer branded toy doesn’t transform’ so I guess they had to put a transformation in. Admittedly the chosen altmode is not a bad idea given the history of the characters. The Quintesson’s main body turns into a guard town and the chair and inner core of the robot turn into a prison cell.

The prison cell is proportioned so you can just fit a Micromaster or Battle Master character into it.

So I’m going to give the creators of the figure points for effort here. But to be honest it doesn’t look fab and I can’t see many people having this toy displayed in Prison mode rather than Judge mode.

Transformation

I’m not sure you could even really call it a transformation – it’s a cross between partsforming and folding stuff either up or down really.

Overall

As a Geewun fan I would have been happy for them to leave the transformation gimmick out and simply have this toy as a Quintesson Judge at a lower price point so that I could get several. But that’s just me. For kids and casual fans of the franchise this figure may be easy to pass up, but for your G1 enthusiast it is simply a must have that we have waited oh so many years to finally receive!

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

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Transformatorium, Videos

Transformers Siege trailer: Character breakdown and analysis

February 23, 2020 Big Angry Trev Leave a comment

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

Video from Transformers Official Youtube Channel

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

AUTOBOTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sideswipe & Hound: Both seen in fight scenes

DECECEPTICONS

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

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

Shockwave: Also seen at the command table.

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

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

Skytread: Seen getting punched in the face by Optimus.

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

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

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

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

Skywarp: Battle scenes and at the command table.

Thundercracker: In a few battle scenes

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

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

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

Transformatorium, Transformer Toy Reviews

Toy Review: Siege Omega Supreme

October 16, 2019 Big Angry Trev Leave a comment

Omega Supreme – the first BIG bot of the Transformers franchise.

Sure Devastator showed a season earlier but he was made up of 6 smaller bots whereas Omega was simply massive in his own right. I still remember the first episode I saw him in – out of nowhere this big battle base character showed up, flew to the moon as a rocket and then turned into this giant robot that was able to pick up Megatron in one hand and tell him what for! The first time he showed up in the comics he promptly killed half the Decepticons on earth in a single battle!

In other words – Omega is huge and Omega is SUPREME!

Being one of my very favourite characters I was extremely chuffed to hear we would be getting a Titan class Omega Supreme toy. Whilst I really liked my YOTS Omega, his alt-mode had nothing to do with the G1 character. Likewise I loved Omega in the Animated cartoon, but he never got a toy at all. So when it was announced that Omega Supreme would be getting a huge new toy which was based, in both modes, on his G1 incarnation, I gave a little squeal of geeky delight!

So without further ado, lets look at Titan-Class War for Cybertron Siege Omega Supreme.

Robot Mode

Siege Omega Supreme Big Angry Trev — Size: Impressive

Oh be still my beating fuel pump! He is friggin awesome! And unlike Metroplex and Fort Max, Omega Supreme gives a real sense of bulk. Good thick lower legs and arms and a massive torso, just like one would hope for. Add to this the two cannon arms, track-wings, translucent visor and faithfulcolour scheme and there is no mistaking who this big boy is supposed to be. Something I think is an excellent addition is the fact that they have made his claw arm prehensile, as in the claws can bend in the middle in order better grab things. In fact, whilst not as good as some other toys, this Omega has the best articulation of any toy of his namesake, with shoulders, elbows, knees and neck all moveable to put him in a variety of poses.

FIREPOWER!

Omega is packing a ton of firepower in robot mode. As well as having a huge blaster on the end of each arm, he has his signature tank cannon in the back of his head which can be swivelled around. On his upper chest he has two cannons, these can be folded upwards to reveal further missile racks underneath. So if Omega doesn’t simply squash ya, he can blast you into oblivion.

PARTSFORMER PRECEDENCE

Omega Supreme figures have always been partsformers. Though some purists contend that a partsformer isn’t really a proper transformer, given Omega’s alt-mode/s it’s actually a necessity. Both the original and the Siege versions consist of three separate machines (tank, rocket, base) and even the Energon version needed to come apart to form various trains and cranes. So while there was no way that Siege Omega was not going to be a partsformer, the separate parts have been kept to a minimum (Tank/Torso, Arms/Rocket, Body/Base, Wings/Tracks x 2) and there is still a lot of transformation going on.

The Base

The outer body and legs of Omega become the base whilst his wings, like the original toy, become the tracks. It’s really a nice looking base and I love the fact that it comes with two little inner ramps that Micromaster figures can drive up and down. The missile racks are displayed here so that the base can defend itself and one thing I really like is how the track is both elevated as well as being wide enough to accommodate the tank. The feet of the robot can fold out to show little caverns for Micromasters to hide in, though personally I prefer to keep them folded up to keep that oval shape.

The Tank

The torso and head become the tank. The tank cannon that is on the back of Omega’s head is actually not the same tank cannon here, this one is way larger. It’s a great looking tank, though not motorized like the original. The tank can open up to reveal a space for Micromasters, though I would have preferred they make the ramp smoother so that the little guys can actually roll out of him properly, rather than bump their way down.

The Rocket

Wow – this is a big rocket! Like, really big! Made up primarily of the arms and a thin panel along the back, it’s amazing just the length this rocket reaches, making it as tall as Omega is in his robot mode! The transformation is very clever, wrapping around circular parts and the top of the rocket opens up to show a small cockpit for Micromasterfigures. If I had a complaint, it’s that the prehensile claw that serves as the landing struts tend to slowly slip outwards, so unless you have them flat down Omega’s rocket mode will eventually tilt as one of them gives way.

The Finished Article

All three of Omega’s modules on their own are pretty cool, but add them all together and it looks wicked! Seriously, I don’t think there is much I can say here about how great it is that the photo’s don’t convey on their own.

Countdown

In the G1 toyline and Dreamwave comics Countdown was a Micromaster lunar rover that came with his own rocket base. Making him a partner to Omega Supreme who himself turns into a rocket base was a good call. Countdown looks good in both modes and if nothing else really highlights how much interactivity there is between figures his size and the Omega toy.

Worth Getting?

At around $260(AU) he isn’t cheap but isn’t any more expensive than Trypticon was two years ago. If you are a G1 lover or a fan of huge Transformers this figure could be considered a must have. The interactivity with Micromaster figures, the robot mode, the rocket base mode – it all works. Whilst not the absolute perfect figure, he is a genuinely excellent toy which by far is the best Omega Supreme we’ve ever had, and perhaps ever will have. What can I say? This toy is truly SUPREME!

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

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Toys Review – Autobot Alphastrike Counterforce

August 22, 2019 Big Angry Trev Leave a comment

The exclusives continue thick and fast in the Transformers: War for Cybertron: Siege toyline. In fact nearly 40% of this toyline is made up of figures you can only purchase in particular US stores or otherwise online.

Last time we looked at Greenlight, who was only available through the US Amazon Prime site. Today we are looking at some more Amazon exclusives, though thankfully you can get them through the AU store. Today we look at the Autobot Alphastrike Counterforce.

This pack is made up of three bots but four characters – Covert Clone Sideswipe, a new Battle Master character named Trenchfoot, and vehicle only characters Raindance and Grand Slam who combine into Slamdance.

Covert Clone Sideswipe

Robot Mode

‘Look, I’ve got the G1 symbol so that makes me G1, totally not G2, I swear!’

Yep – despite the name we all know from the colour scheme this is really G2 Sideswipe. Except the inversion of the red and black colours, this figure is exactly the same as the regular Sideswipe that came out in the main Siege toyline. At least with all the blaster adaptability you can beef up his weaponry – which consist of a Photo-Pulser Proton Launcher and a Gryo Blaster that can combine into a RR Gryofuse Axleswitch Hyper-Blaster – so he resembles more his more hardcore G2 incarnation.

Cybertronian Sports Car Mode

No sir, I don’t really like it. It’s not bad, but with all the red under the translucent dome the colour scheme really screams the Decepticons Wildrider or Runabout. Once again, adding lots of weapons is your friend here to give him that G2 Sideswipe feel.

Trenchfoot

Trenchfoot is a recolour of Decepticon Battle Master Caliburst and his colour scheme makes it clear he is more intended to be paired up with Sideswipe than Slamdance. I think he works really well in both modes, his gun apparently being a Foxhole Counterblast Cannon. Interestingly he is one of the very few completely original characters in the Siege toyline so far.

Raindance & Grand Slam

A little history lesson. In 1988 G1 Blaster finally got a 3rd set of cassettes – Raindance and Grand Slam. What made these characters unique was that they had no robot or robotic animal modes whatsoever (until they combined) – they both turned from cassettes into vehicles.

Raindance

Here Raindance once again has no robot mode of his own, and not even a cassette mode! He is however a very cool looking blue earth jet, replacing his Cybertronian Jet-Drone mode.

Grand Slam

G1 Grand Slam turned from a cassette into a red Cybertronian Tank. Like Raindance he has also lost his cassette mode but turns into a pretty sweet red tank fairly reminicent of the original, sporting a big A2A Proton Missile Launcher on the front. Both Grand Slam and Raindance can sport each others weapons as well (Raindance’s being a Smokecloak Blaster)

Slamdance

As mentioned, the original G1 Raindance and Grand Slam toys could combine to finally give them a robot mode – Slamdance – and here he is once again. A slight retool of Siege Skytread but with a new head, he stands that slight bit taller than your average Deluxe figure. This is a great shout out to a pretty obscure character!

Beware the left ankle!

There have been many reports of people snapping the left ankle off their Slamdance! And indeed having this knowledge in advance I was very careful with mine and found that yes, his left ankle is very tight and stiff. However I found that giving the area a quick squirt with some spray lubricant like WD-40 and then leaving him for half an hour resulted in a much less stiff and more fluid movement in the part, so now I transform him without worry. I highly recommend doing the same when you first remove yours from the box.

Is this set worth getting?

Well there are no brand new moulds here. All 3 (or 4) moulds have already been released in the main Siege line so if you are looking for something new look elsewhere. That said, this has been the cheapest version of G2 Sideswipe we’ve had since the original, its the first time in over 30 years we’ve had a Slamdance figure and Trenchfoot is that rare thing becoming more elusive – a whole new character. The price is around $80(AU) online which really isn’t too bad for 2 Deluxe’s and a Battle Master so you can feel like you are getting decent value for money. This is really a take or leave exclusive which I primarily picked up for Slamdance, and I am quite happy I did.

Got anything to say about this set of figures? Pop it in the comments section below!

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