Transformers Review – Marvel Crossover Incredible Hulk (Rewind)

Intro:

            Transformers is undoubtedly one of the biggest action figure franchises in the world, and a lot of people & industries have jumped onto the bandwagon & “borrowed” the Transformers concept into their advertisement campaign, e.g. the Citroen advertisement that featured a car which could transform and dance; or the Double-A paper advertisement that has a photocopier transforming into a renegade robot and many more!!!

            Not only that, there are also many other collectible franchises that have incorporate the art of transforming unto themselves, most notably – the Star Wars franchise. For the 1^st time ever, you could see your favorite Star Wars characters such as Chewbaca, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Hans Solo, Luke Skywalker & even Darth Vader himself transforming into various spaceships & in Darth Vader’s case – into an Imperial Tie-fighter, & also the Death Star. I particularly like Darth Vader, for which I managed to buy the Imperial Tie-fighter version, but unfortunately not the Death Star version.

            Heck, even Mickey Mouse jumped onto the band-wagon!!!

            It was only a matter of time before Marvel would jump onto the bandwagon as well. You see, Marvel & Transformers had previously involved with one another before, and it was only a matter of time before that relationship would be reconciled. The line features some of the most popular Marvel Superheroes ever – Iron Man, Spiderman, Thor, Captain America, Venom, Carnage, Hulk, Wolverine and many more!!! I don’t know whether or not is there a Ghost Rider figure made – I would definitely grab him if I ever found him (he’s my number 1 superhero of all time), but since I can’t find him, I might as well settle for number 2 – the most destructive force that have ever existed in the universe – the Incredible Hulk.

            I like Hulk – the superhero. In a way, I have a lot of similarities with the green behemoth. And I also like the fact that he is so powerful that nothing in the universe could kill him – not even Thor, or even the insanely strong Onslaught. So by characterization, he is definitely amazing, but how does that translate into a transforming figure? Read on to find out…

Alternate Mode:

 

            Befittingly, Hulk transforms into a green colored tank (there is also a gray version for Joe Fixit). It is only logical that the ever powerful Hulk to transform into one of the deadliest machine of destruction on land. Maybe I’m being a bit of a spoilsport here, but after experiencing with many other Transformers tanks in the past such as Leader Class Brawl, Classic Galvatron & ROTF Voyager Bludgeon – all of which have very good tank modes – I felt that Hulk came up pretty short. While the colors are spot on, the turrets doesn’t turn, which is a major drawback of the tank mode. There are also numerous exposed kibbles visible all over the figure – with the groin area being the most significant of all. The durability of the figure of this mode is also questionable, especially with the turrets (or legs) doesn’t snap on tightly.

            Apart from rolling freely on its four wheels, the figure doesn’t do anything else in tank mode.

Robot Mode:

 

            The transformation is filthy easy. In fact, I’ve seen Scout-class figures with more complex transformation than him!

            In robot mode, he looks distinguishably Hulk – the colors, the head sculpt & the feet. However, he too somewhat reminds me of Frankenstein, due to the parts of the tank sticking out, but then again, maybe it’s just me. The arms are very long – awkwardly long. The articulations are as follows: head turns 360 degrees; shoulders can rotate all around & also move out 90 degrees; the elbow move up, down & it also turns; wrist, thumb & fingers; waist, hips & rotate-able knees; & finally ankles & toes. Despite the huge feet size, the figure tends to tilt over; then again, it could just be an isolated case on my figure. It’s worth to mention that the waist articulation is loaded with spring-action. Apart from that, the figure doesn’t do anything else.

Summary:

            As much as I would love to like this figure, I kinda feel that this figure falls a bit short in all departments. I feel that the figure could’ve been designed better to improve the tank mode especially. The robot mode looks okay, but could’ve been made to be more durable.

            Probably you guys are better off buying Captain America or even Iron Man instead, which in my opinion have far better designs than Hulk.

            Now I wish that there will be a Ghost Rider figure – let’s keep our fingers crossed.

            Final verdict, 6.5/10. 

Transformers Review – Alternity Megatron (Black Version)

Intro:

            Welcome back, and today we will take a look at Alternity Megatron or also stated as Mega Therion in the Japanese fiction. I have absolutely no idea about the name Therion, never heard of it before, and as far as memory served, never before have Megatron been called Mega Therion in any sorts of fiction except probably in the Alternity fictions.

            If you’d remember my review of Alternity Convoy earlier, you know that I really like that figure, and I personally thought that it was a very good effort from the boys at Takara-Tomy. So this time around, Takara-Tomy really needs to maintain the quality or up the ante for this line.

Alternate Mode:

 

 

            Megatron (forget about Master Therion) comes pack in his vehicle mode – the Nissan 370Z, a.k.a. Nissan Fairlady Z. Now, similarly to this line’s Convoy, where he was released in 3 different variants – Vibrant Red,  Ultimate Silver and Super Black – Megatron too is released in 3 different variants – Blade Silver, Le Mans Blue and Diamond Black. Choices of color are fully dependent on preference. I prefer the Diamond Black variant as I think that it reflects the Decepticon essence well. Some may prefer the Blade Silver as the original G1 Megatron was in fact, silver. But personally, the Le Mans Blue is a bit out of place. Megatron – blue? That just doesn’t slide with me. 

 

            Anyways, like I said, Megatron transforms into a very slick-looking Nissan Fairlady Z. Just like the Binaltechs/ Alternators lines before this, these vehicle modes looks extremely detailed. Although there is no steering-action on the front wheels and are scaled 1:32 instead of 1:24, this line still maintain other qualities such as an open-able engine compartment, which reveals a detailed engine block (that doesn’t turn into any sort of weapons). The doors still open, which reveal more detailed interior such as seats, steering-wheel, dashboard & gears. The tyres are still made from good quality rubbers, although I do wish the rims were colored in shiny chromes instead of plain silvery-grey. 

 

 

            I also like the front and rear lights designs, which I don’t know how to say this, but it kinda have that angry looks that bode well with the character. 

 

            As this is a trademarked car, the figure also carries the Nissan logo both in front and at the back. There is also a Fairlady Z etched at the back of the trunk, which is really a nice touch. 

            I also like the fact that the bottom of the car looks clean and doesn’t reveal too much kibble. The idea of storing the blades underneath the car is also a very neat idea.

 

            One complaint that I have with this mode is that the front tyres are a bit too loose and tends to get very, very wobbly, which kinda makes rolling on flat surfaces seemed to be a chore. The tyres are too loose that the weight of the car tends to push the tyres towards the plastic above, thus create frictions that prevent the wheels from rolling freely. 

 

            Apart from that, Megatron’s vehicle mode is just suhweet…           

Robot Mode:

             Now, despite the coolness of the car mode, this is why we’re here --- the robot mode. At first glance of this robot mode, it kinda reminds me of the Revenge of the Fallen Voyager Bludgeon that I reviewed a few weeks back. It has that samurai feel to it, and I could literally imagine Takara-Tomy doing a redeco of this particular figure, put on a skull as a head and calling him Bludgeon instead.

 

 

            Well, that’s an idea.

 

            Anyways, the robot mode looks cool. The head sculpt itself is a dead giveaway that this really is Megatron and not some Master Therion guy. I like the idea of Megatron wielding swords or katana instead of any blasting weapons. In fact, despite that his G1 counterpart had that humongous Fusion Cannon; Megatron doesn’t come with any sort of blasting weapons at all!!! 

            Articulation-wise: his head is on a ball joint, but its movement is somewhat limited due to its shape and design. The shoulders consist of a combination of swiveling hinge and rotatable joints that gives the shoulders full range of motions. The elbows rotate and bend, and the wrists also rotate. Megatron has no waist joint, but do have ratcheting hip joints. The knees bend and rotate, and finally, the ankles are on ball joints and swiveling hinge. 

 

            Overall, I do like the articulations of the figure. I also like the pair of blades sticking out of the forearms, which otherwise would stay hidden on the back of both the passenger and the driver’s seats. The shoulder pads look cool, but sometimes they do get in the way of some exciting poses. The transformations of the legs, similar to that of Alternity Convoy are somewhat unorthodox. Instead of one whole piece, the legs are actually formed by folding or combining several car parts. 

 

            There is also a Decepticon logo right on this groin guard, just to let you know of his allegiance. 

 

            The back of the robot, I think, could have used a little bit of a cleaner finish – excess car mode panels are just everywhere. But then again, I’d rather those panels go to the back than the front.

Overall:

            Megatron, in my opinion, is every bit as good as Convoy/ Optimus Prime of this line. He is well proportioned and pretty much well articulated. Since this figure does come in 3 different variants, it’s really up to your preference on which versions that you really like. Personally, I would recommend either the silver or the black version. Of course, if you do have a lot of cash to spend, you can always grab every variant available out there. Anyways, he is definitely a really good addition to your Megatron or Transformers collection, and definitely worth it.

            Highly recommended.

            Final verdict: 9/10.

Transformers Review: Robot Masters Beast Wars Optimus Primal

Intro:

            Big Banana; Fearless Leader; Boss Monkey – well, those are just a few nicknames that Optimus Primal was known as during the events of Beast Wars & Beast Machines, thanks to one Rattrap. Optimus Primal was the leader of the Maximal faction (descendants of the Autobots), when their ship, The Axalon was damaged and crash-landed on prehistoric Earth.

            The Beast Wars series, when they were released in the 90’s, were intended to revive the flaying franchise. Personally, I love the animated series, which was all done in CGI. The scripts and storyline were good, and I especially love the character Rattrap, for all his wisecracking jokes and sarcasms.

            Action figure-wise, now that is a different story: while the initial released of the figures were okay, the subsequent figures in the line such as Trans-metal and Beast Machines figures were largely animation-inaccurate – for better or for worse.

            Optimus Primal – the character was not a reincarnation of Optimus Prime. He was rather a brand new character, who took on the name based on the legendary hero as more of a reverence rather than anything else. Although he may not be the bearer of the Matrix, he was a worthy successor to the leadership mantle for he has the legend’s compassion and leadership ability. Character-wise, he had the potential; action figure-wise? Let’s see… 

Alternate Mode:

            Optimus Primal transforms into a friggin’ gorilla. The original Optimus Primal was a Silverback Gorilla. This Robot Master version however, doesn’t seem to reflect that, since he is only depicted as a black-colored gorilla. 

 

 

            Articulation-wise: the shoulders are severely restricted in movements; the elbows, though bendable, looks hideous when doing so; no wrist movements; no waist or head joints; hips are on tight ball joints; bendable knees and those are about it. 

 

 

            To be honest, I don’t really like this mode. It’s just full off robot kibbles. The folded shoulder cannons are clearly visible. I wished they had installed some sort of a camouflaged flap on the back panel. It would’ve been nice.  The robot mode’s colors are still clearly visible, especially around the legs areas. I just wished that they could’ve somehow done things differently. 

 

Robot Mode:

 

            Well, this is also one of the reasons why I really hate a robot that transforms into an ape-like creature – the transformation is so simple that you’d almost feel cheated. Both modes share the same limbs and body – well, at least in this case, you’d have to turn the lower body around in order to get to the robot mode. Anyways, it’s just kinda insulting to one's intelligence, if you ask me. 

 

 

            Now, once you can get pass all those stuffs, the robot mode is actually way better than the gorilla mode. The head looks dead-on Optimus Prime, or should I say, Optimus Primal. Instead of the signature faceplate, this Primal has lips instead. 

 

            Articulation-wise: the head is on a ball joint; the shoulders have more range of movements compared to the gorilla mode; elbow joints; waist joint; ball jointed hips; and bendable knees. 

 

 

            Instead of his allegiance to the Maximals, this Primal is allied to the Autobots instead, as shown on his left shoulder. 

 

            Primal also comes with his signature shoulder cannons and arm-blasters.

            I have to give credit to the color-scheme of this mode though – they blend quite well.

Overall:

            Standing at barely 5-inches tall, Optimus Primal is much smaller than your average Deluxe-class figure, but cost more. While the visual details such as fur linings and color finishing may be worth mentioning, this figure could be further improved in terms of its disguise and articulations. Still, if you are an Optimus Primal fan, or a Beast Wars action figure fans, this is probably the figure for you.

Highly Recommended.

            Final verdict: 7/10. 

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Transformers Review: Sentinel Prime (DOTM Leader)

Intro:

            Well boys & girls, it’s official!!! The countdown to Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon has just begun – at least it is so in Malaysia. 14^th May 2011 marked the official launch of DOTM merchandises in Malaysia, and what better way to commemorate this auspicious date with the review of one of the most highly anticipated figure from the upcoming movie – Leader-class Sentinel Prime.

            The name Sentinel Prime first appeared in the original Marvel comics Transformers series where he was depicted as the immediate predecessor to Optimus Prime, as the bearer of the Autobot Matrix of Leadership. His appearance was brief where he was seen passing the Matrix to Optimus before going offline – permanently.

            After G1, the name Sentinel Prime went on a long, long hiatus before returning as a snobbish & incompetent Autobot leader in Transformers: Animated. Truth be told, Sentinel is one irritating robot in this series.  

            This time around in DOTM, Sentinel Prime is depicted as an Autobot legendary warrior, who was thought to have been lost for time immemorial. We first caught glimpses of him in the trailer where his body was seen floating in a wrecked building on the dark side of the moon, seemingly lifeless. That brief glimpse alone should be enough to convince even non-Transformers fan to watch this movie.

            So, the movie depiction of Sentinel Prime looked promising, but how would the actual action figure fare? Let’s check him out…

Alternate Mode:

            Sentinel Prime transforms into a Rosenbauer Panther Airport Crash Tender Fire Truck, which looked awesome. The truck rolls very well on surfaces, but I just wished they had done the tyres with real rubbers like they did with the 2007 Movie Leader-class Optimus Prime instead. Well, I guess you can’t have everything.

 

            The truck itself has very nice details on it. It has the Rosenbauer logo, the word Fire Rescue, the numbers 316 (which I would appreciate it if someone would tell me what this means) and the Autobot insignia on both sides of the truck. 

 

            The protruding side mirrors are made from soft rubbers for fear of getting your eyes poked during transformations. 

 

            The water cannon arm is quite flexible in terms of movements: it rotates at the base and has 2 swivel points. 

 

            As perfect as it may sound, the truck mode isn’t without its drawbacks. While generally the kibbles are very minimal, it kinda irks me that the front windshield is transparent, which kinda reveals the robot’s head within. 

 

            Having the shield as the base of the truck is also kinda weird looking, but it beats having to expose all the legs kibble underneath the truck. Also worth to note that the blades, used by Sentinel Prime in his robot mode is kept underneath the top flap of the truck.

Mechtech Attack Mode:

            I have no idea what to call this mode, so sue me for improvising. Anyways, based on the looks of this mode, it kinda reminds me of Galaxy Force Galaxy Convoy (Cybertron Optimus Prime) figure, which also has a Flying-mode. I’m not sure whether or not this mode is the flight mode, but it kinda looked plausible. 

 

 

 

 

            In this mode, Sentinel comes with added firepower, i.e. the pair of lasers/ canons/ missiles or whatever you wanna call ‘em at the back of the truck. Sentinel is also armed with some blade and scissor-like devices sticking on top of the truck, formed by the piece detached from the bottom of the truck, i.e. the shield. I am not sure of the capabilities of those scissor-like stuff, but I could imagine Sentinel shooting some sort of a blast from it. 

             The mode looks kinda silly, but hopefully the movie itself would prove me wrong.

Robot Mode:

            The robot mode is really the gem of this figure. It is absolutely awesome. I could quite literally imagine this guy to be named Alpha Trion instead – he looks old and wise. Predominantly red and standing 9 ¼ - inch tall, this figure reeks of awesomeness. 

 

 

            The head sculpt is very nice and detailed. The legs designs kinda remind me of some chogokin robots, especially with the pointy feet. 

            The transformation is kinda tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, it ain’t that tough after all.

           Articulation-wise, Sentinel Prime reeks of ‘em. The head unfortunately can only turn slightly to left and right. The shoulders are one ratcheting joint and so are the elbows. The arms can lift up at the shoulder pads and the lower arms rotate at the elbow joints. The wrists turns and all four fingers on each hand, excluding the fixed thumb, move in tandem. 

 

Sentinel Prime doesn’t come with any waist joint. The hips are on ratcheting universal joints, which is absolutely useful for fancy poses. The legs rotate slightly above the ratcheting knee joints.

The ankles are kinda interesting here, which contain several points of articulations. The ankles move inward and outward at two points, i.e. upper and lower ankles. The point feet bits also move upward and downward, which is very nice. 

My only complaint of the figure, apart from the lack of certain points of articulations, is that this figure is kinda back heavy.

            Otherwise, this is definitely one heckuva robot mode.

Gimmick:

            Overall, the main gimmick of the entire line is Mechtech, as mentioned previously. Another gimmick available here are the sound and lighting effects.

            In truck mode, pressing the button on top of the cockpit will produced the siren sounds and the blue emergency light will light up.

            In robot mode, pressing the button on the chest will make Sentinel announce that, “I am Sentinel Prime”, with his eyes lighting up as he says so.

Overall:

            All in all, I really love this figure. To be honest, this is the figure that I have been looking forward to since the day they announced that Sentinel Prime was going to be in the 3^rd movie. At least, this time around, HasTak made the right move in making Sentinel a Leader-class figure, unlike the ROTF The Fallen, which was only made into a Voyager-class figure, despite its legendary status.

            A good start for the line, and I can only hope for better things in this line.

Highly recommended.

Final Verdict: 9/10