The Energon Pub

First of all, let me just say this has been a good, but off day.

I paid double for Stockade through BBTS (because tail end figures of any line and especially Movie figures (any wave) are next to impossible to find here) and after he arrived here today...my local Wal-Marts had him and his case mates just bending the pegs. These figures ain't movin'! O_o (that or they're seriously overstocking the crap out of 'em...)

I must say...BBTS was excellent. They shipped it Wednesday and it arrived today! (Should've been here Monday.)

Anywho...onto the review...

Allspark Power Deluxe Class Stockade

Packaging: Already covered this on the last two A.S.P. figures I bought, no need to rehash the same gaudy mess a third time.

Vehicle mode

http://tformers.com/ig.php?mode=view&al ... 00&start=0 (linked from TFormers.com)

Pros:
Captures the Sector 7 Cadillac Escalade design quite nicely. I'm impressed with how well a Deluxe Class figure was able to give off that model feel.

Details are well crafted and makes it look like an oversized Hot Wheels car without die-cast metal.

Instead of the Cadillac logo (which would've cost 'em money) the Decepticon emblem is emblazoned on his grill. (works well in the looks department. I'm seriously impressed.)

Easy, free wheeling movement.

Windows that actually function as windows (I.E. translucent) and a sunroof!

Cons:

None, nada, zip. (No, I'm not kidding.)

Overall:

This is where Stockade really shines. This is his wow factor for me. I'm genuinely impressed by his vehicle mode. So nicely done.

A solid



Transformation



Pros:
Easy.

Cons:
Too easy that it's completely unsatisfying. (even easier than Landmine...)

1.) Pull nose down, flip hood underneath to expose feet and lower leg. Pull heel piece out and position as needed.

2.) Pull roof/windshield in half, swing both pieces to the side and then back.

3.) Straighten arms, flip windshield pieces away from body. Position fingers as needed.

4.) Pull license plate holder/bumper backwards to reveal head.

Done.

Overall:

A very boring and simplistic transformation. Feels like a bloated G1 Basic or A/E/C/C Mini-Con. There's no reason for it to be as easy as it is.

A pathetic



Robot mode:




Pros:

Quite posable. (Head turns, pivots up and down. Elbow and shoulder movement. Pelvis turns left and right. Excellent leg articulation, knees, hips, ankles move smoothly and hold some great poses.)

His punching gimmick is simple to implement and does exactly what it's supposed to. A bit cheesy, but it never promised anything otherwise.

Cons:

Looks like a gorilla. (Chest is too wide, arms are spread too far apart.)

No lightpiping in the eyes. (Looks as though he'd have it from the first glance, but you quickly realize it's just painted on.

Other than the goofy punching gimmick, his only real selling point is the ability to make a number of poses. (Whoopity freakin' doo.)

Overall:

With his goobery proportions, lack of anything substantial in the way of gimmicks (or weapons) he just isn't up to snuff with me. He has a great face and while the punching gimmick is goofy, it does work as it's supposed to. Those two points, I can't complain about. The rest of him...eh. Boring.

A mild



Overall:

Stockade feels very boring and simplistic to me. There's nothing outstanding or "oomph"ish about him. He seems like a standard, run of the mill Decepticon drone or something. (Swindle's simplistic, but he grows on you, especially with the chest cannon o' doom. Stockade doesn't give this feeling at all.)

Again, the A.S.P. series has let me down. It just doesn't give off the cool factor that the original Movie figures do. They just don't go for the gusto with these guys. =\

Still, he's better than Landmine (imo) and makes Incinerator even cooler. I'd say Incinerator is the best of the three out of this series.

I recommend him to completests and kids who want a solid rock-'em sock-'em figure. Casual collectors will most likely be let down by how boring and simple this guy is.

Maybe I'm too picky, but I prefer something with a bit of a challenge to it. Part of the fun of TransFormers is actually transforming them. When even their main selling gimmick becomes boring...the whole hurrah is gone.

EDIT: Pictures added, revised rating.

His chest and legs are really lacking good detail, he seems average in every way.

Better colours and some paint apps could improve him alittle.

Craven Knight wrote:His chest and legs are really lacking good detail, he seems average in every way.

Better colours and some paint apps could improve him alittle.

Thank you for pointing that out. I truly paid little to no attention to him.

If it wasn't for the Allspark blue paint, he'd be entirely bland, more so than he already is.

Due to his simplistic transformation, he's a quick change figure, so if you want something to goof with a few times here and there when you're bored, he's the figure to pick up.

Beyond that...he's just not what I expected. Then again, none of the A.S.P. figures were.

I already have STOCKADE, and I would say he's a class of his own. I'm quite impressed by his SUV mode and most especially his robot mode. The adult gorilla body shape complements STOCKADE because he's a an enforcer-bouncer-bully robot type.

He's doesn't need any guns or bladed weapons coz his huge fists and arms would surely beat the hell out of any unlucky opponent. Just check my STOCKADE gallery in my Friendster profile " BOTS and CONS". Peace!

I think you're being a little hard on ol' Stockade, honestly. His transformation is relatively easy, but I can appreciate a good solid transformation that isn't frustrating, but is rewarding when everything snaps into place very nicely and solidly. I tend to appreciate the engineering a lot more for those kinds of figures, since it's easy to overlook the ingenuity required to make a good looking TF in both alt and robot mode that is able to transform fluidly and without a great deal of hassle.

I agree Stockade isn't the most exciting figure, but I still think he's a solid addition to my collection. However, I can understand if somebody finds him a bit on the dull side.

Landmine, on the other hand, I find to be a whole different beat; his alt mode is fantastic, but his robot mode, particularly his head, is ugly. Plus, transforming him back into dune buggy I found needlessly frustrating despite the easy steps required; folding his legs back in was oddly difficult since you have to line up the tanks in the rear of the vehicle and the panels they sit on, just right. Plus, his head pops off easily! I was able to appreciate Stockade's smooth transformation after playing around with Landmine.

I think there's still a chance I'll pick him up...
He and Premium Starscream are the only movie figures left that I want.

No Death for Prowl wrote:I think you're being a little hard on ol' Stockade, honestly. His transformation is relatively easy, but I can appreciate a good solid transformation that isn't frustrating, but is rewarding when everything snaps into place very nicely and solidly. I tend to appreciate the engineering a lot more for those kinds of figures, since it's easy to overlook the ingenuity required to make a good looking TF in both alt and robot mode that is able to transform fluidly and without a great deal of hassle.

I agree Stockade isn't the most exciting figure, but I still think he's a solid addition to my collection. However, I can understand if somebody finds him a bit on the dull side.

Landmine, on the other hand, I find to be a whole different beat; his alt mode is fantastic, but his robot mode, particularly his head, is ugly. Plus, transforming him back into dune buggy I found needlessly frustrating despite the easy steps required; folding his legs back in was oddly difficult since you have to line up the tanks in the rear of the vehicle and the panels they sit on, just right. Plus, his head pops off easily! I was able to appreciate Stockade's smooth transformation after playing around with Landmine.

I will agree with you about the Landmine part. I don't feel that I'm being too harsh on the A.S.P. series of figures, they're just lackluster all the way around.

I ordered one from Toys R Us and it should be here Monday or Tuesday. I figured I'd save gas by just paying to have it shipped instead of hunting for it. The simple transformation doesn't bother me much and I like the overall look of him. Nice review by the way.

Just got him earlier today, and there's certain aspects of your review I must disagree with.

First, yes, the transformation is simple. It is not, however, as simple as, say G1 Prowl or Sideswipe. It can be a touch tricky in a couple spots (lining up all the pegs and grooves to lock things into place going back to truck mode), but is satisfying.

Second, I like his proportions. He's not as 'heroically' proportioned as, say, CC Bumblebee or Voyager Prime, but he's not supposed to be. He's a brute, a musclebound crude basher, and his bot mode fits his alt mode in many ways.

As far as articulation, he's no Longarm, but he has one thing currently found on only ONE other Deluxe figure - poseable fingers. He's got all the most important points as well - shoulders can point almost completely out to the side, the elbows bend, it has hip and knee articulation, and the head can turn (albeit limitedly) from side-to-side. He even has a rotating waist, something still rather rare in TF's. I consider articulation at least as important as any other factor in a TF, so this was a plus in his favor. The joints are also nice and tight, and he holds a pose well.

The gimmick is rather simple, but doesn't take anything away from the figure with the possible exception of wrist articulation. It's well done for its simplicity, and has no sign of its "trigger" like Payload's massive plunger, and doesn't trigger at the drop of a hat like Barricade's lunging fist.

I give him a solid 3.5 myself.

Valandar wrote:Just got him earlier today, and there's certain aspects of your review I must disagree with.

I give him a solid 3.5 myself.

More power to you. If you enjoy him, please do. Me, still not so much.

I just can't find enough good about him.

The more and more I think about it...Incinerator is the best of these three. Slap some hands on him and he's made of pure win.

I saw Stockade at Walmart Saturday, and thought the vehicle was cool, but so small. I held off because I wanted to see where this thread was going. Haven't made my mind up yet.