by Autobot032 » Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:00 pm
- Weapon: Switch Blade Tail
Animated:
Jetfire/Jetstorm
Samurai Prowl
Waspinator
Wreck-Gar
J/J
Robot Mode Pros:
Nicely poseable. (Joints galore.)
Nicely detailed. (Though a bit of panel lining helps.)
Captures the essence of the characters. (Really stand out.)
Robot Mode Cons:
The shoulder design could be prone to wear, causing saggy arms in time. (Nail polish or super glue will be your friend in the future.)
The details are plentiful, but nothing really brings them out. (Panel lining is recommended, especially on Jetfire.)
Overall Robot Mode Rating: 4.5 out of 5. The cons are minor, almost nonexistent on these two.
Safeguard:
Robot Mode Pros:
Quite posable, though not as much as the individual robots. (This is to be expected considering the way he's formed.)
Transformation. (Quite involved. Not just shuffling limbs around, no. Panels moving, heads folding, pieces snapping in place, you get the idea.)
Robot Mode Cons:
Limited poseability. (I know, I covered this in the pros, but I'm adding it to the cons to cover all the bases. A neck turn wouldn't have been impossible for the design team. Look at Samurai Prowl's armor and you'll see what I mean.)
Overall Safeguard Rating:
4.8 out 5. While he can't do much in terms of striking a pose (though more so than his G1 forefathers), he looks good just standing there. The colors while a bit...clashy, still work even in this combined mode. Simply because 'Storm and 'Fire are awesome.
Vehicle Mode Pros:
Streamlined, fast looking. (They feel like a mechanical version of a Wraith Dart. Fast, furious, efficient, and bad@$$.)
Sturdy. (Once fully transformed. Getting there...well read the cons.)
Vehicle Mode Cons:
Transformation. (The legs and the hip guards don't want to snap into place easily. Due to their design for Safeguard, it's kinda fiddly trying to get them into place. Once done, however, it's solid and stays that way. Getting there...hah. It's not difficult, it's irritating.)
You can see Safeguard's hands sticking out of the back. (Granted, there's really no place for them to go, but wow. Weird looking.)
Overall Vehicle Mode Rating:
3.8 out 5. Not quite as good as the other modes, but more than passable.
Overall Rating:
4.8 out of 5. The twins, while not perfect, are a LOT of fun, and do more than you'd expect at first glance. Once you pick them up, you find yourself tinkering with them a lot more, and for a lot longer, than you expected. You look up at the clock and see how much time has passed and think "Whoa. Alright. Keepers." And they are. Well worth the $20.00 (and kids will love 'em.)
Note: I realize I didn't say anything about the transformation (too much to go into) or the combined vehicle mode, because let's face it, it's two jets jammed together. Now, you can configure the wings into a X-Wing configuration and it actually looks pretty good, also gives them a way to stand up, akin to getting ready for launch. Beyond that, What you see is what you get, nothing really to report on.
Samurai Prowl:
Robot Mode Pros:
Looks great with the armor.
Retains the same amount of poseability that the original Prowl has. (perhaps even a bit more due to the heft giving him extra weight needed for certain poses.)
Robot Mode Cons:
It's the same friggin' figure with a piece of snap on armor. (We knew this going in, but seriously, you're buying the SAME FRIGGIN' FIGURE!)
Lots of missing paint apps. (Most of them went to the Armor piece. Saves on money, true, sucks though.)
Overall Robot Mode Rating:
4.0 out of 5. While he looks good with the armor (it really does add some oomph to the figure), seriously, it's Prowl. With armor.
Tranformation:
Pros:
The armor is a bit more complex than expected. (Perhaps even moreso than the figure, at least with the first go 'round.)
The connection is solid and feels like it was a part of the mold from the getgo. (Works so well with Prowl.)
Cons:
The pieces do tend to fall apart quite easily. (But at least it prevents breakage.)
Overall Transformation Rating:
5.0 out of 5. Even with it's problematic pieces, and it being just a bunch of pieces that surround the existing figure, it's an awesome design, and it works well.
Vehicle Mode:
Pros:
Nice solid piece. (Doesn't fall apart when picked up, and the wheel moves freely.)
A great compliment to Prowl. (Also, no more of Prowl falling over in vehicle mode. lol)
Cons:
None at this time.
Overall Vehicle Mode Rating:
5.0 out of 5. Does what it's supposed to, and looks really nice with Prowl. The gold on black just dazzles.
Overall Rating:
3.8 out of 5. $10.00 for this piece isn't worth it. Let's face it, you're buying it for the armor, not the figure. If you bought the original Prowl, you really don't need this version of the figure, unless you really want that armor. While it's a nice addon, it's not worth ten, no matter how you slice it.
The shame of it is, you actually need this figure to make the whole thing work. This figure comes with a smaller head (accommodating the helmet.), and arms that will hold the sword (a simple tab, though I'm sure it could be added to the arms of the original.)
The original has more paint apps, and overall just looks like a nicer figure. If it were possible to Frankenstein them into one robot full of paint apps and capable of using the armor, then it'd be worth it. As it stands, it's just not worth $10.00, and unless you feel you need the armor, stick with the original Prowl instead.
Had I just bought this one, I'd have been far more impressed, but when it finally hits you that you bought two of the same figure, basically, it makes you want to kick yourself. (Yeah, we knew it was going to be the same figure, but until you actually have it in hand and let it sink in, you don't really get it.)
Waspinator:
Robot Mode Pros:
Highly Stylized. (Conveys the Animated feel quite nicely. A big pro in my book.)
Poseable. (about on par, or maybe a little below the original BW figure.)
Robot Mode Cons:
Not as poseable as I'd hoped.
Overall Robot Mode Rating:
4.5 out of 5. Not perfect, but fun and stylish. Retains the original's goofiness.
Transformation:
Pros:
Simple enough for kids to get it.
Cons:
Too simple, too easy, and far from satisfying.
Overall Transformation Rating:
1.0 out of 5. Fold the head down, fold the arms in after splitting the hands in two, and folding the legs back. (yeah, that's it.) I've seen Basic and Mini-Con Class figures that were more involved. This was just such a letdown.
Beast Mode:
Pros;
Nice wasp mode, lookswise, (Not stable.)
Wings actually flap. (with the assistance of a lever.)
Cons:
His legs are hard to pose in this mode, you've no real idea which is the correct method for his Beast Mode, really.
Not stable, he will be a pain to have in Beast Mode once his joints loosen up.
Overall Beast Mode Rating:
3.0 out of 5. Looks good, that's about it. Still better than the original.
Overall Rating:
3.8 out of 5. Just not one of their best. Usually Animated waves get better with each new one, but Waspinator and Samurai Prowl just aren't gonna cut it for me. I hope this isn't the sign of a decline...
Wreck-Gar
Robot Mode:
Pros:
The cartoon character comes alive in this figure. (It's amazing how great he looks.)(
"Weird" Al as a toy! (Speaks for itself!)
Poseable!
Cons:
Balance is a bit of a problem due to his backpack, but there are work arounds.
He doesn't talk. (lol)
Overall Robot Mode Rating:
5.0 out of 5. His balancing act and massive shellformer backpack aren't problematic enough to knock points off of how cool this figure is.
Transformation:
Pros:
Quick and easy.
Cons:
Quick and easy.
Overall Transformation Rating:
2.5 out of 5. Too simple to be pleasurable, but not a pain to transform (other than the cab wheels, and they constantly feel like they're going to break off, so I don't fold 'em both in.)
Vehicle Mode Rating:
Pros:
Looks like the animation model.
Lifters actually work!
Cons:
Not too solid in the connection where the cab and grill meet. (Holds though, just one side might tip up a bit.)
Overall Vehicle Mode Rating:
4.5 out of 5. The vehicle mode, aside from the cab issue, is terrific. It rolls freely, and the lifters work!
Overall Figure Rating:
A solid 4.9 out of 5. (I have to knock the point for the overall because he's not perfect, but dang close.) Highly recommended, and a lot of fun!
NOTE: Realize that I am not a perfect Christian, nor do I profess to be. I apologize if anyone's ever offended by me, I'm not perfect. Don't hold my posts and opinions against other Christians.
lol
