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Transformers Mini-Review - Knockout (ROTF Scout)

Intro:
Knockout was one of the figures that I won in a contest I entered (organized by Munchy's), running up to the premiere of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, back in 2009.

Alternate Mode:
Fantastic-looking superbike -- one of the best I've seen in recent memory.
Everything looks very slick and smooth.
Kibbles are minimal with fantastic aerodynamics.


Robot Mode:
Interesting robot mode.
Love the head sculpt. It has that vigilante's look.

Due to the many bits and pieces of the bike being all over the figure, Knockout can look a bit messy.
Good articulations, but the figure's lower body doesn't lock into the upper body.

Overall:
Would've been an even better figure if it was not for the lack of locking between lower and upper body, but still, an interesting figure nonetheless.

Recommended.

Final verdict: 8/10

Transformers Mini-Review - Roll Bar (ROTF Scout)

Intro:
Roll Bar was one of the figures that I won in a contest I entered (organized by Munchy's), running up to the premiere of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, back in 2009.


Alternate Mode:
Roll Bar transforms into a Red Bull transport truck.

Overall, quite nice. He is probably one of those objects given life during the events of the movie, when the Allspark dropped to the ground, simultaneously giving life to a vending machine, an electronic steering wheel etc.
If there is any doubt that this is a Red Bull truck, here is a closeup.
Kibbles are there, but acceptable.


Robot Mode:
Transformation from truck mode to robot is interesting, complete with Automorph function.

Love the head sculpt -- looks like a mini Optimus Prime.
The designs may be a bit awkward.
For a Scout figure, Roll Bar's articulations are not bad at all.
Comparing the size between Roll Bar with ROTF Knockoff and United Deluxe-class Bumblebee, he is quite bulky.


Overall:
Interesting figure.


Recommended.


Final Verdict: 8.5/10.


Transformers Review: Mindwipe (ROTF Voyager)


Intro:
            The Revenge of the Fallen line have proven to be a succcess for Hasbro and Takara-Tomy. HasTak seems to be really capitalizing on the movie franchise by releasing many assorted figures that are unrelated to the movies, although they do share the same aesthetic qualities as most of the figures of the toy line. Some of which includes Bludgeon, Skywarp, Stratosphere, Ramjet and many more, not to mention the numerous others Scout-class and Deluxe-class figures. Some of these are surprisingly very good, while some of them are just reasons to rake in more money from us TransFans.
            Anyways, one of these said figures is none other than Mindwipe. Back in the G1 days, or should I say, back in the Transformers Headmasters series, Mindwipe was a giant robotic bat that specializes in hypnotism. Well, he’s kinda like a natural successor to the Insecticon Bombshell, but minus the Cerebro-shells.
            The name Mindwipe has since then remained unused until now, although the character itself never appeared in the actual movie.

Alternate Mode:
This time around, Mindwipe takes the form of a Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk – a very futuristic stealth fighter, akin to a UFO. 
I don’t know about you, but Mindwipe here really reminded me of the Galaxy Force Sideways and Soundwave, due to the very slick designs and the Cybertronian marking on top of the wings. 
There are no other features here that really require any elaborations.
Robot Mode:
            Now we come to the best part. The transformation sequence isn’t really that hard, but it is kinda tricky when you transform him for the first time. 
            Overall, Mindwipe still maintains the slickness that was prevalent in his alternate mode, making him really ninja-esque. 
             His head is on a ball joint. His shoulders have a full range of motions and also have ratcheting joints that allow the shoulders to rotate. The arm rotates above the elbow, and sadly, due to the none-existence wrist joint, it really limits the amount of poses that you’d really wish you’d get from him.
            Mindwipe doesn’t have any waist articulation, but the hips have full range of motions, which really helps the figure a lot. And finally, the knee bends, albeit limitedly, and the ankles bend up and down.
            Apart from the limited arm movements, I really think that they could’ve done better with the legs. I mean, Mindwipe really can’t stand up straight, as the legs bended too much at the knee, so he’ll be like, always arching forward. The figure would’ve been close to perfect, had those issues were none-existence.

Gimmicks:

            Since he is an ROTF figure, he is laden with the Mech-Alive features. First of all are the shoulder wings. As you bend the wings backward, the tip of the wings will fold up and two spikes would rise up at the top of each wing. Then there are also the spring-loaded daggers that appear as though they are held by the back of Mindwipe’s hands.

Overall:

            Overall, I think HasTak could’ve done better with this figure. Don’t get me wrong though, Mindwipe looks very good and very slick. But it’s the minor things here and there that really ruin this figure.

            Final verdict: 7/10. 

Transformers Review: Sludge (Knockoff)


Intro:
            Let’s be honest, shall we? Who doesn’t like dinosaurs?
            Everyone love dinosaurs, right?
            So when the good people behind the creations of the Transformers franchise back in the 80’s knew that they had to capitalize on that fact, and hence, they introduced the Dinobots.
            Dinobots were cool, in every single way. They were the Autobot’s heavy-hitters. The Decepticons run scared whenever the Dinobots show up. Despite not being able to combine into a gestalt robot, which I have always wished that they could, they were the regular sparring partner for Devastator, and they have time and again emerged on top. They were almost impervious to harm and Grimlock, in most cases were as strong, if not stronger than even Optimus Prime himself.
            Anyways, the point is that I love the Dinobots and when I started collecting back in 2004, I wanted a Dinobot real bad. I looked for Grimlock, but he ain’t anywhere to be found. So I came across a knockoff version of G1 Sludge one day, albeit one with a totally different coloring. So I thought, why not, right? It’s better this than nothing.
            So I whacked him. I bought this guy probably sometime in 2005, and now finally, he’ll get some screen time on New Planet Cybertron.

Alternate Mode:
            Sludge transforms into a Brontosaurus.
            Predominantly blue and silver in color, he does have patches of gold here and there.
            Sludge isn’t exactly a total brick; he does have a little bit of articulations in this mode. For one, the mouth opens and closes. The neck tilts up and down.
The shorter front feet can move just slightly since it is hindered by the robot’s arms.

            The longer hind legs are articulated, and the ankles swing back and forth.
            Overall, it’s a very good alternate mode, by G1 standards.

Robot Mode:
            One thing that is easily noticeable from his robot mode – he’s got huge feet!
            Sludge is about the size of your ordinary Deluxe-class figure. He is suitably-proportioned, although the arms can be a little bit too short.
            Articulations-wise, he is pretty good for a G1 figure: the head rotates; the shoulders rotate and the elbows bend towards his chest; there is also a waist joint; the hips are on a two separate joints, which results in all around motions; and finally the knees bend as if they are double-jointed.
From Left: FOC Kickback and Sludge
            The figure also comes with his signature sword and blaster.
            For those who are good at customization, you guys could probably repaint Sludge into his traditional colors, and you probably going to end up with a perfect G1 Sludge figure.

Overall:

            I have to say, for a knockoff figure, he’s good. I’ve said it before, and I will say it again now, the art of making good knockoff figures is a lost art. Gone are the days when knockoff figures were still good.
            I doubt you could still find this guy anywhere else, but if you do, I’d suggest that you go for it.
            Recommended.

            Final verdict: 8.5/10. 

Transformers Review: Captimus Prime (Capbots)


Intro:
            Along the years, I’ve bought a variety of Transformers with unconventional alternate modes, i.e. a toaster (ROTF Eject), a laptop (Device-label Broadblast), a working computer mouse (Device-label Trypticon), a Nike shoe (Sports-label Optimus Prime) and many more.
            The latest of these that I’ve gotten, of all things, is a baseball cap. Yep, you heard it right, a baseball cap.
            When I first heard about the release of Captimus Prime (an obvious pun of Optimus Prime), I thought it was the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Then I remember the Sports-label Optimus Prime – and so Captimus is the second most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard about.
            For those not in the know, New Era Cap Company is an American headwear manufacturer based in Buffalo, New York, who manufactures and markets official baseball caps by numerous baseball teams from the US, Korea, Japan and Australia.
            At some point, Takara-Tomy stroked a deal with New Era and decided to do this. With no official toy line name, which I assume means it’s going to be a one-shot thingy, there has so far been two releases: a red cap called Captimus Prime, and a black cap called Capticon. They are both essentially repaints of each other, with only a slight retooling to the head sculpt. While Captimus Prime is an obvious tribute to Optimus Prime, Capticon isn’t really that obvious. He doesn’t have the slightest resemblance to Megatron.
           Anyways, since I am a sucker for any Optimus Prime figures, I thought I might as well as give this guy a shot.

Alternate Mode:
            Officially, it says that Captimus transforms into a 59Fifty cap – whatever that is. To me, it’s just a cap.
            The cap itself is kinda neat looking. It feels solid. Apart from the Autobots logo in the front and back of the cap, there is also a New Era sticker on the front topside of the visor.
            Predominantly red and blue, the underside of the cap does reveal some robot parts.
            I doubt any Transformers figures in your collections can wear Captimus as a cap – it’s just too big for any Transformers head. Unless of course if you have Fortress Maximus – maybe. I don’t have Fort Max, but those of you out there, if you have Fort Max, can you please try it out and let us know here.
            Thank you in advance.
            Anyways, overall, it’s a rather neat, yet unconventional alternate mode.

Robot Mode:
            The transformation for this figure is kinda unique; it integrates the ever-so-popular Automorph function into it.
            By pressing the button on the top of the cap, the entire figure opens up to reveal the robot inside. All that’s left to do is to rearrange the hands, feet and also the back flap.
            I really like the head sculpt. It looks like Optimus Prime is wearing a cap and looks like some baseball or football coach.
From left: United Bumblebee, Captimus Prime & Disney-label Buzz Lightyear
            Due to the shape of the legs, which kind of make him looks like a duck, some fans may need a little getting used to them.
            For such a tiny figure, his articulations are quite good: the head is on a double-hinge and a ball joint; the shoulders, elbows and hips are on ball joints as well; the knees bend: and finally, the ankles are on a combination of ball joint and hinge.
            I like the little guy. Good articulations, though nothing fancy. Good paint apps and a nice sculpt overall.

Overall:
            He is definitely one of the more unique Transformers figures that I got and I really like ‘em. He’s probably not for every fans, but if you are type of fans who like strange and unconventional stuff, and it doesn’t get more unconventional than this.
            Recommended.

            Final verdict: 8.5/10.