Computron has always been my favorite G1 combiner, but I won't be getting this set. There are a few things I do like about it, such as the bright and dark reds they used, but way too many things that I don't.
The short list:
- Most of the alt modes look terrible, particularly Lightspeed and Afterburner
- Several of the bot modes look horrible, I think Afterburner's the worst
- Their limb modes look pretty junky, especially Lightspeed and Afterburner, the former of which looks like his parts were basically turned inside-out
- The combined mode's chest is supposed to resemble a gigantic computer/series of computer panels (hence the name Computron) but with the artistic license Maketoys has taken with it to break it up and of course improve his leg articulation, that look is totally non-existent in this version
- As always, the combined mode's elbows looking like a couple of robot legs, although they did do a better job of it than FP thanks to those pistons, which make it at least a little more convincing
- The head is sunk down between those shoulder/chest bits way too much. Raise it up an inch or so and it would look fine.
I don't like the giant longbow/crossbow gimmick, but the cannon does look good on its back, so I can't take any points off for that. As always, of course, I'm bothered by the Scout class size instead of Deluxe, but since it's Maketoys, that's to be expected.
I've looked at Warbotron's and it doesn't seem that they've done much better than Maketoys so I guess I'm still waiting for someone to do a Computron that I like. Hopefully sometime down the road after these are out, FP, MMC or TFC will give the Technobots a shot and will deliver something more suiting my tastes. Until then, I guess I'll just have to do without a 'Classics Computron' in my collection. It's a real bummer too, because I was super excited as soon as I heard that Maketoys was doing them.
I do love the fact that they're selling it as a complete boxed set rather than taking forever to get the whole thing out by releasing the figures one at a time and that from the beginning, anyone buying it/them knows exactly what each member looks like in all modes and what the combined mode looks like rather than shadowy silhouettes, renders or no information at all until after the first bot (or more) is out. I hope more of these third parties follow suit and do the same. Taking a year to complete a combiner one figure at a time really sucks. They all know that most of us buy these things primarily for the combined modes, so having to purchase it piecemeal over the course of many months is a real pain in the ass, especially when there are multiple combiners coming out at the same time. It's more expensive to buy it all at once in the short term, but it's a hell of a lot less trying for one's patience. They also don't run the risk of someone losing interest after the first figure or so and deciding to back out on getting the whole set, selling off the one or so they got on the aftermarket and never paying up for the complete combiner (something far more likely to happen these days with all the third party and now possibly official competition from Hasbro).
Oh well, maybe more pictures will convince me it's worth getting, but I'm just not sold on it at this point.
)
PM ME PLEASE!
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