What I was dreading when I first saw this toy was that it would have a fake chest, with lots of back kibble in robot mode and be a "bot under a jet" in vehicle mode. Turns out this is not the case at all. My problems with this toy are not ones I could predict. While the design and transformation are interesting and new for Starscream, the toy just feels very cheap. The plastic used is not hard plastic like the Power Surge Prime Warrior figure. It bends and the wing has a tendency to pop off during transformation. But it does so much right as well. So let's take a look.
Here is his vehicle mode and I did not catch it from previous photos, but it is not an earth jet. It looks far more like Combiner Wars Cyclonus with a very long and narrow front section that fans out in the back. The design also shares similarities with Windblade who has the legs fold up and become part of the back of the jet. However, this is executed so much better because the resulting gap is very small.
Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Cyclonus Gallery
While the shot above might make you think there is a ton of kibble under there, it is not the case. Its just his shoulders which I think the designers were hoping would be flush under the wing to give the illusion that these become part of the wing in alt mode.
As you can see, it is not a bot under a jet.
Everything tabs in really well in alt mode, with some of the loudest snaps I have heard in the line so far. I also like how the hands fold into the arms through a hollowed out design very much like Dark of the Moon Shockwave's hands.
Here are some alt mode comparisons with RID Decepticon brethren and Prime Starscream. He is far beefier than the later.
As I mentioned previously, there is no fake chest here. The transformation is much better than either Cyclonus or Windblade. It is more complex than either and all the robot bits are tabbed in securely and better disguised as well.
The robot mode is also different than previous starscreams with him having his wings folded down to give the idea of a cape. This royalty theme is further emphasised by the large shoulderpads which reference his look when coronated. You can play with the wings ad how they look in robot mode.
What might be the biggest difference between this and other G1 themed Starscream toys would be his accessories. There are no null rays or rockets to tab onto his arms. Instead you get these very straighfrward pistols, which are nicely painted (gun metal over blue plastic). I was hesitant but this change in accessories totally changes the feel of this toy in robot mode. And they plug on his arms as well. I totally went John Woo on this guy!
Here are some comparisons with other wariors and deluxes. I brought in an older WFC deluxe to give an idea of height for those who might not be collecting Robots in Disguise.
Yeah, he did shrink a bit, but the legs are thicker, so it's a give and take
