New Planet Cybertron: Star Wars

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Happy Star Wars Day 2020

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Transformers Review: Darth Vader Death Star (Star War Crossover)

Intro:

Since the release of the movie trailer in November 2014, the world have seen a resurgence interest in one of the most successful movie franchise ever – Star Wars! And with just a matter of days before Star Wars: The Force Awakens “awakens” in the cinemas all around the world (or maybe by the time some of you read this, it already has), it’s only apt that NEW PLANET CYBERTRON BLOG brings to you the review of one of the most highly sought after figure in the “Star Wars Transformers Crossover” (SWTC) line – the Death Star Darth Vader.

Darth Vader is probably one of the most – if not the most – popular character from the franchise. Even those who are not familiar with the franchise will no doubt recognize him.

Darth Vader, being such a popular and iconic character such as him, is probably one of the characters that have received the most treatment in the SWTC line, and so far, I have managed to grab only 2 of these (3 if you include the Death Star version). Apart from the Death Star, there are also the TIE Advanced (review here), Sith Starfighter, and the most recent of these, the Anakin Skywalker/ Darth Vader to Jedi Cruiser/ Star Destroyer (review here).

The Death Star Darth Vader was a figure I really wanted from this line, alongside the Millennium Falcon. As far as the Transformers line is concerned, there has only been 3 planet-bots ever released so far, i.e. Primus, Unicron and Death Star. After already having the previous two, it was obvious that I needed this figure to complete the lineup.

The Death Star is the empire’s ultimate creation, so it’s only apt that the deadliest villain in Star Wars franchise gets the destroyer of planets as his alternate mode.

The Death Star Darth Vader figure have proven to be one of the most difficult to find figures in this line, and I was pretty darn lucky to be able to find this figure for such a good bargain.

However, anticipation aside, was this figure worth the wait and effort, let’s get on with the review.

Alternate Mode:

This is unmistakably Death Star – the ultimate weapon of the empire. Personally, I think that this is a perfect representation of this iconic space station.

Like I have mentioned earlier on, since there has only been 3 planet-bots so far in far in the Transformers line, it is only natural to compare Death Star to the other 2 planets, i.e. Unicron and Cybertron (Primus).

Unicron is huge and imposing, but he is far from being a perfect sphere, and not to mention a hugely unconvincing planet mode. Displaying Unicron’s planet mode can be a hassle too; because to pose him, you’d have to put it standing vertically (i.e. the outer ring should circle the planet from north to south, and back to north).

Cybertron Primus was an improvement from Unicron. Technically, Cybertron is a perfect circle, with a lot of details on the surface of the planet. There is even a built-in stand to display it in planet mode. However, there are just way too many spikes and kibbles all over the planet. The cannons for the robot mode are clearly visible. Also, from the planet’s surface perspective, the planet stands would be 4 towering, humongous structures that stretch upward from the surface of the planet. It’s almost perfect, but could be better.

Death Star is literally the perfect mode – mostly due to the fact that he’s a shell-former, while Unicron is a partial shell-former. Just like in the movies, where Death Star is literally a perfect sphere, and looked to have a near-perfectly smooth surface with some crevices and canals on it, this alternate mode reflects it perfectly.

Camouflaged Black Button

The designers have also incorporated the display stands onto the planet mode. Unlike the ones on Cybertron Primus, the stands are retractable, which is a neat idea – it gives us the options on however we want to display it.

Display Stand - Before and After

The carvings on the planet’s surface are very detailed. The iconic crater where shots would be fired from is equipped with a green translucent bullet. There are also light indicators that would be activated whenever the almost-perfectly concealed black button on the opposite side of the crater is pressed. Doing that would also activate the sound gimmicks, which are literally recording excerpts from the movies. The excerpts are as follows, in no particular order:

The sound of some sort of counting down sequence before the Death Star fires, accompanied by a green LED light and followed by the signature Darh Vader breathings.
You may fire… when ready… accompanied by a green LED light and followed by some blasting sounds and the signature Darth Vader breathings.
This battle station is fully operational... accompanied by a green LED light and followed by some blasting sounds, and the signature Darth Vader breathings.
You have failed me for the last time… accompanied by a green LED light and followed by some blasting sounds and the signature Darth Vader breathings.
Commence primary ignition… accompanied by a green LED light and followed by some blasting sounds and the signature Darth Vader breathings.
Let them out… all of them… accompanied by a green LED light and followed by some blasting sounds and the signature Darth Vader breathings.

Button on the North Pole

Apart from light and sound gimmick, there is also a trigger that will shoot out the bullet. The trigger button is situated at the North Pole, which you’d have to pry open the surface of the planet to reveal a button within. The bullet can shoot quite far, if you ask me.

Hidden Storage Compartment

I am delighted with the planet mode. It is a smooth as a Transformers-planet can ever be.

Robot Mode:

Transformation from planet to robot mode can be easy, but transforming him the other way can be tricky at first, but after a few rounds of practice, you’ll do just fine.

The head sculpt is as perfect as it can ever be. There is no mistaking him for Darth Vader. Along with the cloth cape, those are the only things that suggest that he is Darth Vader – and that doesn’t necessarily be a bad thing.

While there are a lot of the planet pieces dangling all over his body, with a majority of them on his back, they really put a lot of details into him.

In terms of articulations: the head rotates; the shoulders are on ratcheted universal joints; the elbows are on ratcheted joints; arms rotate slightly below the elbows and the fists rotate.

The waist is on ratcheted joint as well. The hips are on ratcheted universal joints; the legs rotate above the knees; the knees bend; and finally the toe pieces bend down and twist.

From left: Cybertron Primus, Darth Vader, Unicron

Every single articulation joints on this figure – apart from the head – are all on ratcheted goodness. That’s a very good thing especially for a very back-heavy figure such as him. Posing him is a breeze.

Blinding LED on his chest

Gimmick-wise, the figure has light and sound functions. There are 2 trigger buttons: one on the right arm and the other one is right on top of his waist, just below the chest. By pressing the button below the chest, it will activate the following recordings.

The Force is strong with you… accompanied by a green LED light and followed by the signature Darth Vader breathings.
I find your lack of faith… disturbing… accompanied by a green LED light and followed by the signature Darth Vader breathings.
Join me… on the dark side… accompanied by a green LED light and followed by the signature Darth Vader breathings.
The rebels must not escape… accompanied by a green LED light and followed by the signature Darth Vader breathings.
The circle is now complete… accompanied by a green LED light and followed by the signature Darth Vader breathings.

By pressing the trigger button on the arms, it will active the sound of light sabers activating and its humming. By repeatedly pressing on that button, it will activate the sounds of dueling light sabers.

The scripts excerpts aren’t exactly aren’t exactly uttered by James Earl Jones, but close enough.

Darth Vader comes with 2 weapons: a red colored light saber and a blaster. The light saber can be slotted into the right fist and it acts as a light piping for the light effects. The blaster, however, doesn’t have any light piping – it just shoots green pellets.

Light Piping on the Light Saber

The set also comes with 3 tie fighters, 3 clone troopers and a Darth Vader figure. All of these figures can be stored perfectly on various (hidden) compartments on the figure.

From left: Star Destroyer Darth Vader, Death Star Darth Vader, TIE Advanced Darth Vader

If there is a complaint that I have about this figure, it would be that there is no way to store the light sabers in Death Star mode.

Accessories

But overall, that is a very minor complaint. The designers have really put much thought into this figure.

Overall:

This is definitely one of the best, if not the best figure in the Transformers-Star Wars Crossover line. It is a wonderful play-set unto itself and fun figure to fiddle with.

Definitely a must-have for Star Wars fans, especially fans of Darth Vader.

Highly recommended.

Final verdict: 10/10.

Transformers Review: Darth Maul (Star Wars Crossover)

Intro:

The Star Wars mythology essentially started quite simple: it was a plain and simple war between good and bad. But as the story developed, it grew to become an entirely new world of its own, on par with Tolkien’s Middle Earth.

Then we were introduced to the two major forces in the Star War universe – the Jedis and the Siths. The Jedis are basically the knights in shiny armor (minus the shiny armor), almost equivalent to the Knight Templars. The most famous of these Jedis are arguably Obi-wan Kenobi, Yoda and Luke Skywalker.

The Siths, on the other hands, is the antithesis to the Jedis. They are basically the Dark Lords of the SW universe. The most famous of them are arguable Darth Vader and Darth Sidious (or more commonly known as Emperor Palpatine).

In Star Wars Episode1: The Phantom Menace, we were introduced to another Sith Lord, by the name of Darth Maul. Among all Sith Lords, I would rank him as the most unique-looking. Characterized by this trademarked red and black facial tattoos, and the facial spikes, he is one mean-looking dude and really looks like he means business.

Although Darth Maul have been released several times in the Star Wars Crossover line, I never actually felt inclined to buy him, until, thanks to persuasions from a certain Big Daddy during Chinese New Year this year, that I actually gotten myself ol’ tattoo face.

Alternate Mode:

The box says that Darth Maul transforms into a Sith Infiltrator (so that’s what they call it!).

Unlike the previously reviewed Yoda, Darth Vader and the Star Destroyer/ Jedi Cruiser Darth Vader/ Anakin Skywalker, whom all are made from plastics; this particular figure is made from PVC rubber, which I actually kinda dig.

While I do have to admit that this Sith Infiltrator really does invoke the looks of Vector Prime (of Galaxy Force/ Cybertron fame), he isn’t exactly as detailed as the latter. Then again, what is there to be detailed about, right?

In this mode, Darth Maul is armed with 2 spring-loaded projectiles, made from his two light sabers. On mine, the springs on the left wing is a bit loose, thus the projectiles may be accidentally shot to somewhere if you are not careful.

There is also a stand, of sorts underneath, which although is nice to have, I wished that there was some sort of mechanism where I can choose whether to deploy them or otherwise, rather than to have them deployed every time. Also, due to the shortness of the stand, the lower wings will tend to fold in due to the lack of space.

The kibbles are very minimal, and that is always a plus point.

Overall, a nice alternate mode, but with a lot of room to improve.

Robot Mode:

Standing at about 6 ½-inches tall, Darth Maul is kinda small and skinny. I expected him to be a bit buffer, but I was proven otherwise.

The hips are a bit awkwardly designed, in my opinion. They seemed to be a bit too big, considering how small the waist is.

The two light sabers can be held separately in separate hands; or when slotted into the same hands, as depicted in the photo, it will give the illusion as if Darth Maul is wielding double-end light sabers instead.

Articulation-wise: the head rotates 360°; the shoulders have all-around motions; the arms rotate slightly below the shoulders; double-jointed elbows and bendable wrists; the body rotates at the waist; the hips rotate and they also move in and out, albeit limitedly; the hip guards and groin guards also moves in and out; the legs rotate and bend at the knees; and finally, the feet tilt down and back up.

Although the articulations are there, I can’t help but feel that the articulations are a bit hindered and stiff. The right arm keeps on popping off whenever I try to transform him, although this may just be an isolated quality issue.

The one thing that I really do dig about this figure is the head sculpt. The red and black combination, along with the thorns really makes him cool. Some of you may look and him and sees a bit of Red Skull (of Captain America fame) in him.

Overall, a robot mode with a lot of room to improve.

Overall:

As far as a Transformers figure goes, there are many better figures than him. The TIE Advanced Darth Vader still remains, in my humble opinion, the best Star Wars-based Deluxe-sized figure in offer. For fans of Darth Maul or Star Wars, you’d probably want to get him to add into your collections, but as far as Transformers fans goes, it really depends on your personal preferences.

Final verdict: 6.5/10.

Intro:

Alternate Mode:

The box says that Darth Maul transforms into a Sith Infiltrator (so that’s what they call it!).

The kibbles are very minimal, and that is always a plus point.

Overall, a nice alternate mode, but with a lot of room to improve.

Robot Mode:

Standing at about 6 ½-inches tall, Darth Maul is kinda small and skinny. I expected him to be a bit buffer, but I was proven otherwise.

The hips are a bit awkwardly designed, in my opinion. They seemed to be a bit too big, considering how small the waist is.

Overall, a robot mode with a lot of room to improve.

Overall:

Final verdict: 6.5/10.

Transformers Review: Darth Vader (Advanced TIE Fighter)

Intro:

Ladies and gentlemen, my fellow Cybertronians, this is it. As promised ages ago, finally, we are going to take a look at my first ever Star Wars Crossover figure – the TIE Advanced X1 Star Fighter Darth Vader.

Darth Vader is a legend, not only in the Star Wars universe, but in pop culture in general. So when I first came across this figure way back in 2006, I never hesitated. If there was one Star Wars Crossover figure that I was going to get, it was going to be this guy. I even went past the Millennium Falcon – a combination between Chewbacca and Han Solo (which I kinda regret now of not getting) – just so that I could get this guy.

So is he well worth it? Let’s go take a look…

Alternate Mode:

Well, as mentioned earlier, Darth Vader transforms into a TIE Advanced X1 Star Fighter, and it’s a very good and convincing looking replica at that. I really how this guy looks in general, with minimal kibbles showing.

The cockpit has a transparent plastic which enables you to look at the tiny miniature Darth Vader inside piloting the spacecraft. Yes, you heard correctly, the set also comes with a miniature Darth Vader figurine, which looks absolutely screen-accurate.

The tiny figurine has both arms moving in tandem, and it bends at the hip to a sitting position. Personally I think that it’s a really nice touch and it’s kinda sad that they didn’t include any figurine in the Yoda set.

The spacecraft also has two translucent red-colored light sabers sticking out from the bottom edge, acting as a warping jet effect (however you wanna call it), which also double up as a couple of missiles. The triggers poking out on each side of the wings are used to shoot them out.

The downside of this mode is that the wings maybe a bit flimsy and may detach from the main body when you’re fiddling with the figure, but it isn’t really that bad.

Overall, it’s a very interesting alternate mode.

Robot Mode:

The robot mode is simply awesome. Of all the Darth Vader incarnations in the Star Wars Crossover line, this variant has the most similarities with the actual character depictions in the movies. The colors are tremendously accurate, amazing head sculpt and right down to the computerized chest look!!! He even has a cape(!), although I have to admit it’s a bit awkward looking, but then again, I think it was a creative touch by the designers to utilize the wings as both the cape and the shield – yes, he has a shield too.

Articulation-wise: the head turns left and right; the shoulders rotate and the lower shoulders consist of a combination of two swivel joints, which are mainly used for transformation, but is quite useful nonetheless; the elbows bend and rotate; the wrists rotate and the fists can hold the light sabers quite firmly; the hips are on a set of slightly-ratcheting joints; the knees, though are single jointed may be bend as if they are double-jointed; and finally the front feet move down.

Looks a bit naked without his cape...

That’s not all; even the cape itself has articulations! The lower cape is divided into 3 sections, all of which can swivel outward independently. I just wish that those separate pieces could lock in, and that would’ve been quite awesome.

The articulations are simply tasty and with appropriate stands, you could probably pose him in many exciting poses.

My one minor complaint would probably be the screw holes on the shoulders, which are facing the front that kinda slightly ruin the look. They could’ve either had the screws on the back of the shoulders, have a screw cover to cover them up, or at the least, used a black colored screws instead. Anyways, it’s just a minor, minor complaint.

The Epic Battle

Overall:

As far as the various Star Wars Crossover Darth Vader variants, this is definitely the best of the lot, simply because he looks the part. He can transform and still looks like an accurate TIE fighter model and also has an accurate-looking robot figure!!!

The Death Star version is a great figure (cuz I am a sucker for humongous bots!) – the planet mode looks amazing, but although the robot mode looks good, it’s unmistakably a robot! The same goes to the previously reviewed Star Destroyer Darth Vader, which has an amazing-looking alternate mode, but a robot mode that requires a little bit of imagination. In both versions, it is said that Darth Vader himself used the power of the force to modify the Death Star/ Star Destroyer to imitate his image.

This robot mode, however, doesn’t even look like a robot! It is as if you can say that Darth Vader himself altered his own body so that he can transform, and he really looks the part!

I just can’t tell you enough how much I love this figure, and if any of you guys ever thought of buying only ONE Star Wars figure in this line, this one has to be at the very TOP of the list.

ABSOLUTELY, EXTREMELY RECOMMENDED.

Final verdict: 9.5/10.

Transformers Review: Darth Vader (Star Destroyer)

Intro:

This particular character that I will be reviewing now, probably do not require any introduction. He is undoubtedly one of the most iconic villains ever created in the history of Hollywood. His signature costume; that rough, slow and heavy breathing – he was, and still, one of a kind.

Now if you’ve read my earlier review of Star Wars Crossover Yoda, you’d know that this isn’t my first Transformers Darth Vader figure, which I will be reviewing sometime in the near future. The other Darth Vader figure in the line – the Death Star – has been quite elusive for me, and so unfortunately, I won’t be able to do a review on him, unless of course God is also reading this and decides to intervene…

Anyways, the next Darth Vader figure to be served to us this time around is the Star Destroyer figure. From photos that I’ve seen, both the Death Star Darth Vader and this version are about the same size.

Apart from the appeal of the character itself, which would definitely attract many Star Wars and TransFans who are familiar with the Star Wars franchise, the allure of four-different transformations modes would definitely put this figure on top of any fan boy’s wish list.

The box itself promotes that Anakin Skywalker flew his Jedi Cruiser into battle and used the Force to convert his aircraft into a mech resembling himself, and then would later be drawn into the Dark Side and morphs in Darth Vader and changes his cruiser into a Star Destroyer.

A good concept, but how well will that be translated into figure form? Let’s see…

Alternate Mode (Jedi Cruiser):

Although the figure comes packed in Vader mode, I’ll review the Jedi Cruiser mode first instead, for the convenient of the transformation flow. Well, I guess one word sums up the Cruiser mode – HUGE!!! The craft spans about slightly over 14-inches in length and about 7 ½ inches at its widest.

One particular thing that I like about this figure is how immensely detailed the figure is. From the close-ups photos attached, you can see just how intricately designed the figure really is. Although the figure is not really that heavy, it does have a certain heft to it.

This mode also comes with some electronic feature. By pressing the button on top of the craft to shoot the well-camouflaged bullets, it will also activate the laser-blasting sounds and also light up the blue LED in front of where the cockpit I presume would be.

Having said all that, the figure isn’t all that perfect. The set also comes with a couple of translucent blue light sabers, which would be utilized by Anakin in his robot mode, and also Darth Vader’s fiery saber (yes, you heard correct, he’s sick and tired of using a plain old light saber – he goes for flamin’ instead, hehe…). Now unfortunately, there is no way to store any of these extra weapons in this mode, or at least I haven’t found any. There is an option though, for you to store the light sabers into the turbo rockets at the back of the cruiser, thus creating an unlikely effect of the cruiser going into warp mode of sort. I don’t quite like it, but I’m just saying that it’s an option. So that just leaves you with the fiery saber itself with no place to store.

Sound Effect Switch

Rocket Boosters

Accessories

Kibbles

Also, on both sides of the cruiser, there’s a huge kibble where you can clearly see the hands gripping to the side of the robot’s body. I know that the shape is quite accurate, but I just wished that they could’ve somehow cover up that part, thus making it seem less ambiguous.

Anyways, all thing considered, it’s one good looking mode.

Robot Mode (Anakin Skywalker):

The transformation is fairly easy, but could be quite tricky at first. The articulations aren’t that bad, but aren’t that great either. The head surprisingly doesn’t turn. The shoulders, although they are mounted on a combination of joints that should provide all-around motions, they are unfortunately heavily limited by the size of the shoulder pads. The elbows bend and turn, and wrists also turn. The hips are on ratcheting universal joints. The knees bend and the ankles tilt forward and back, which unfortunately don’t tilt sideward.

While I do think that the figure is visually proportionally designed, I can’t help it but noticed how back heavy this figure is! The size of that backpack he is carrying behind him is humongous, thus it’s so heavy that it renders most of his limited articulation useless. The figure itself can’t even stand on its own two feet and for most of the time it has to rely on his cape-flap as a third support!!!

To make matter worse, due to the inability of the ankles to tilt sideward, you can’t really put him in the poses that you would want him to.

The electronic gimmicks are kinda okay. There are basically 4 types of sounds: 3 of them are lines from the scripts and the other is the sound of lasers firing. Basical the 3 lines goes in a loop, and in between each lines, there would be the sound of the blasters. The lines are as follows:

a) The Sith will never transform me.

b) We got them right where we want them.

c) You’re no match for a Jedi master.

You can also listen to the electronic gimmicks on the video below.

The head sculpt is quite okay and it kinda tried to emulate Anakin’s look from the third movie where his right eye sports a scar. Anakin also comes with several accessories that he could wield. First in line is the pair of blue translucent light sabers mentioned earlier. Also mentioned in the instructions, you can have Anakin wielding one light saber and a shield (formed by the lower hull of the Jedi Cruiser). There is a slot behind the shield that pegs on to the peg behind the arms, as shown in the photos below. The way how the shield plugs on to the arms kinda put the arms in a humanly-impossible position.

Peg On Arm

Peg on Shield

The turbo boosters mentioned earlier can also become a pair of blasters that shoots blue translucent light sabers. Now, the unique thing is that the blasters can also combined to form what look like an arm blaster, pegging on to the same peg that the shield uses.

Again, there are no storage areas found to accommodate all the unused accessories and weapons.

Robot Mode (Darth Vader):

Well, as far as what’s been said on the box, this is supposed to be the star of the set. Unfortunately, that is not the case. With articulations exactly as that of Anakin’s, except that the legs are pulled out longer, the extreme back-heaviness of the figure makes it even more difficult for Darth Vader to stand on his own two feet, having to depend on his back-flap again. To add to that already heavy backpack, he has two more attachments on top of it to make him look more regal.

The electronic gimmicks differ from that of Anakin’s, especially now featuring scripts clips uttered by the character in the movies. The blue LED that was predominant on Anakin, was now red.

While the figure itself had a lot of promise, I can’t help it but wonder what went wrong during the execution stage.

Alternate Mode (Star Destroyer):

Well, I guess it’s rather expected that this mode was going to be a little too simple… the Star Destroyer mode is literally the Jedi Cruiser flipped upside down, with a little bit of modification. Although not exactly accurate to the movie design, it’s at least distinguishable as the Star Destroyer.

Here at the robot kibbles are not too obvious, but unfortunately at the expense of the Jedi Cruiser kibble all over the bottom.

Kibbles

Also, the set of electronics affects are changed as well. Again, it features red-color LED, accompanied with the sound of lasers firing and also Vader’s voice.

While it is not really that impressive, it is massive and as with the Jedi Cruiser, the ship’s surface details are quite neat.

Overall:

Well, let’s face it; this Darth Vader still has a long way from beating the Death Star Darth Vader as the best Darth Vader figure in the line. This figure had the potential to be one of the best, but unfortunately bad execution plagued it. Seriously, I was badly hoping for this to be a fitting substitute for the Death Star figure, but unfortunately, that’s not the case.

Final verdict: 6.5/10.