The Energon Pub

News Credits: 6 · Thu May 06, 2010 6:08 am

CAR MODE

-same '09 Camaro as previous ROTF versions
-pretty much the same deco as Cannon Bumblebee, but tail lights are painted with a darker red, tail pipes aren't painted (silver on Cannon Bumblebee), no visible Autobot symbol anywhere to be seen, front bottom lights (4) aren't painted either (silver on Cannon Bumblebee) and black stripes have sharp outerlining corners (they were rounded on previous versions)... also, the stripes don't go over the yellow part under the rear window unlike previous versions and the yellow is less orangy than previous versions
-all windows are clear blue

TRANSFORMATION

-legs retain the automorph feature but rear window is now part of the roof assembly
-feet now have fold out heels like HA or Battle Ops Bumblebee
-lower torso piece folds down from under the front of the car like on HA Bumblebee
-front wheels swings out and sit in front of the door wings like on HA or Battle Ops Bumblebee
-outer halves of the front of the car are hinged and can extend forward and be angled
-the separate black grill halves can be also angled
-backpack compresses in a fashion similar to HA or Battle Ops Bumblebee but the tip of the hood piece kinda pegs in the rear spine
-hip guards are now hinged and can be positionned as you wish (on the sides, facing front or in between)

ROBOT MODE

-battle mask slides down like on HA Bumblebee
-to transform the right arm into cannon mode, you fold up the hand against the forearm, you split open the yellow arm cover, you swing the rear piece forward and align it with the forearm and you close the arm cover panels
-to deploy the battle blade on the left arm, you press on the bronze-ish piece of the arm cover, the blade will swing down and up forward then you just need to unfold the upper half of the blade... I can you can fold the hand against the forearm or not, not sure how it's done in the game (that's what that weapon is based on, right?)

PROS

-best transformation yet for a deluxe Bumblebee
-more
-great articulation, even has waist swivel
-great headsculpt
-probably the sleekest version of the battle mask yet
-2 real arms and 2 real fully integrated and unobtrusive weapons
-automorph feature in the legs (always liked that one)
-chest halves can be angled to your liking
-somewhat poseable hands (fingers + thumbs)
-some cool silver paint apps on the arms and crotch and yellow on the waist

CONS

-can't see the eyes behind the battle mask
-tip of cannon should have been grey to better flow with the forearm
-black hands and heel pieces?
-hood halves sit a bit far from the rest of the chest
-lower torso piece tends to unpeg when you try to rotate the torso
-no wrist rotation
-no matching bronze-ish paint app on the right arm cover

Is it the best Bumblebee out there? As far as Deluxe Bumblebees are concerned, yes. Some minor deco glitches, but playability factor is very high compared to the other versions with the 2 integrated weapons, the dual mode head and the 2 real arms/hands. Highly recommended!

News Credits: 6 · Thu May 06, 2010 6:11 am

Slight deco differences (Battle Blade on the right)... Also, the little nubs under the bumper are slightly bigger and rounder on Battle Blade Bumblebee.

News Credits: 6 · Thu May 06, 2010 6:12 am

Robot mode

News Credits: 6 · Thu May 06, 2010 6:15 am

Right arm transformation

News Credits: 6 · Thu May 06, 2010 6:16 am

Left arm transformation

News Credits: 609 · Thu May 06, 2010 8:51 am

Seibertron.com member Pascal also gives us a detailed review of the upcoming Hunt for the Decepticons Battle Blade Bumblebee. The figure features a transforming arm cannon and transforming energy blade, as well as flip down battle mask.

Pascal wrote:CAR MODE

-same '09 Camaro as previous ROTF versions
-pretty much the same deco as Cannon Bumblebee, but tail lights are painted with a darker red, tail pipes aren't painted (silver on Cannon Bumblebee), no visible Autobot symbol anywhere to be seen, front bottom lights (4) aren't painted either (silver on Cannon Bumblebee) and black stripes have sharp outerlining corners (they were rounded on previous versions)... also, the stripes don't go over the yellow part under the rear window unlike previous versions and the yellow is less orangy than previous versions
-all windows are clear blue

TRANSFORMATION

-legs retain the automorph feature but rear window is now part of the roof assembly
-feet now have fold out heels like HA or Battle Ops Bumblebee
-waist piece folds down from under the front of the car like on HA or Battle Ops Bumblebee
-front wheels swings out and sit in front of the door wings like on HA or Battle Ops Bumblebee
-outer halves of the front of the car are hinged and can extend forward and be angled
-the separate black grill halves can be also angled
-backpack compresses in a fashion similar to HA or Battle Ops Bumblebee but the tip of the hood piece kinda pegs in the rear spine
-hip guards are now hinged and can be positionned as you wish (on the sides, facing front or in between)

ROBOT MODE

-battle mask slides down like on HA Bumblebee
-to transform the right arm into cannon mode, you fold up the hand against the forearm, you split open the yellow arm cover, you swing the rear piece forward and align it with the forearm and you close the arm cover panels
-to deploy the battle blade on the left arm, you press on the bronze-ish piece of the arm cover, the blade will swing down and up forward then you just need to unfold the upper half of the blade... I can you can fold the hand against the forearm or not, not sure how it's done in the game (that's what that weapon is based on, right?)

PROS

-best transformation yet for a deluxe Bumblebee
-more
-great articulation, even has waist swivel
-great headsculpt
-probably the sleekest version of the battle mask yet
-2 real arms and 2 real fully integrated and unobtrusive weapons
-automorph feature in the legs (always liked that one)
-chest halves can be angled to your liking
-somewhat poseable hands (fingers + thumbs)
-some cool silver paint apps on the arms and crotch and yellow on the waist

CONS

-can't see the eyes behind the battle mask
-tip of cannon should have been grey to better flow with the forearm
-black hands and heel pieces?
-hood halves sit a bit far from the rest of the chest
-waist panel tends to unpeg when you try to rotate the torso
-no wrist rotation
-no matching bronze-ish paint app on the right arm cover

Is it the best Bumblebee out there? As far as Deluxe Bumblebees are concerned, yes. Some minor deco glitches, but playability factor is very high compared to the other versions with the 2 integrated weapons, the dual mode head and the 2 real arms/hands. Highly recommended!

Thu May 06, 2010 9:05 am

I am SOOOOO tired of Bayformer Bumblebee.... I could throw-up!!!

Thu May 06, 2010 9:10 am

I'll definitely be picking him up. I do feel bad for everyone that has bought the previous (now inferior) versions of Bumblebee.

News Credits: 2 · Thu May 06, 2010 9:26 am

I have high hopes for this guy. The cannon mold was underwhelming

News Credits: 37 · Thu May 06, 2010 9:28 am

THIS is what BB should have been from the start! Perfect movie accuracy, comes with movie accurate gun, video game accurate axe, AND his chest TFs just like movie BB's! :APPLAUSE:

News Credits: 11 · Thu May 06, 2010 9:35 am

GEEWUN wrote:I am SOOOOO tired of Bayformer Bumblebee.... I could throw-up!!!

I was too, in fact, I'm tired of the Bumblebee over-satuation in general.

But dammit, I thought I could pass on this one easily due to the lame weapon gimmicks, I thought he only had one real hand...but better chest transformation & hip armor, better backpack, battle mask, AND fully-integrated transforming weapons... I'd say the only flaws are the relative lack of paint apps, and that this is the version Hasbro should've made first.

Looks like I'll be getting my THIRD Bayverse BB. #-o

News Credits: 1 · Thu May 06, 2010 9:41 am

I guess I will be getting this. More accurate and TWO hands. If he had only one hand, that would have been enough to pass.

News Credits: 767 · Thu May 06, 2010 11:12 am

Yea I thought I could wait for a more accurate paint job on this but hell this is too awesome to resist.

I still like my ROTF preview BB.

Thu May 06, 2010 11:31 am

Well.....It's awesome...

Although I prefer CC BB's Head sculpt, and the HA one, all the deluxe's besides the TFTM one's heads look.....as some else said "Lemur face." I'm hoping I can fit the mask over the CC BB face(providing I find one..).

News Credits: 11 · Thu May 06, 2010 11:55 am

Dead Metal wrote:Yea I thought I could wait for a more accurate paint job on this but hell this is too awesome to resist.

Hmm, yeah maybe I should wait for the inevitable repaint... for movie 3 perhaps? Ah, who am I kidding, movie 3 will see 5.8 new Bumblebee molds.

News Credits: 8 · Thu May 06, 2010 12:18 pm

I am so sick of Bumblebee, why are there so many? This figure looks decent and theres a lot or remolded parts but still give some other characters (maybe some better ones) this kind of treatment. I dont think prime has this many figures.........yet.

News Credits: 1452 · Thu May 06, 2010 12:31 pm

I'm sick of looking at Bumblebee, but it doesn't mean I'm tired of the figures. The only Bumblebee I actually own is the 2007 Movie CC Concept, I think this Bumblebee tops them all off, looks phenomenal.

Thu May 06, 2010 12:53 pm

One more Bumblebee for my colection, i have the 2007, last year preview and the Human Alliance but this one i think is the most complet of them all and he his a deluxe, that's amazing because he is a small class figure.

News Credits: 8 · Thu May 06, 2010 1:07 pm

Well I said it before and i'll say it again. I LOATHE Bumblebutt. BUT I did break down and get the HA version and i'm quite liking it. I guess i'm going to end up picking up this version as well because I really only fiddle around with cheap deluxe TFs(don't want to ruin any pricy ones). He'll go beside DLX Ratchet & Ironhide. 8-}

News Credits: 1 · Thu May 06, 2010 1:22 pm

F-bombs and angry words!

I think I'm going to have to get this guy.

$#!+

I thought I could skip this guy, but he's better than all the previous incarnations including HA BB.

Thu May 06, 2010 6:01 pm

I WANT THIS SO DAMN BAD!!!!!!!! i told myself no more bumblebees but then this comes along! the best bumblebee ever made!!!!!! MUST BUY!!!!!! i never thought i would say that!