The Energon Pub

[Autobot032]

Gonna cut right to it.

Watch (alt mode):

At first glance, if you weren't in the know, he looks like the real deal. (Impressive.)

At second glance, he looks like an overly complex wrist watch, and how it needn't be so. (However, the look also covers the robot mode, so the excess can be forgiven, I mean they can only do so much with this design.)

The arm band is quite strong (the joints are tight), strong enough to actually cling to your wrist if you're too big to wear it. (Let's face it, this was made for kids, but those of you (you know who you are lol) out there who own him...tried it at least once. lol)

Problem is, it looks like it'd be a tad too big for a kid's wrist as well. (Win some, lose some.)

Overall: Detailing is top notch. So real on the face, it fools you. Conveys the whole "I'm not a robot in disguise, I'm really a watch." thing just fine. It's just a goofy looking watch.



Transformation:
1.) Spread straight out, like a watch with it's armbands laid out flat in opposite directions.

2.) Unhook upper part of clasp assembly and swing back behind the strap (this creates the ankle/foot assembly).

3.) Separate each armband into two pieces (one piece will become the arm, the other part (with the foot assembly) will become the leg (of course).

4.) Swing legs down and snap pelvis together. (Head and shoulders will Automorph into their correct positions at this point).

5.) Swing arms down, turn the arm (at the bicep swivel) around until the hollowed side shows. Flip out hands and they'll click in place.

6.) Rotate chest/watch face so the Decepticon symbol is upright in robot mode).

Done. A tad too simplistic of a transformation (well, that's a given, considering the design of the overall toy, I mean, it's a watch.) but the Automorph works well, and he'd be perfect for stop motion films.

Overall: Eh...

Robot mode:

Now this is where the alt mode's excessive detailing shines. There's absolutely no doubt he's a robot and not some Flavor Flav wanna be. ("Yeeeah boooyy!")

Quite a range of posability, for sure. Shoulders move out to the sides, forward and backwards. Elbows bend and there's a bicep swivel. Wrists move up and down (though that's required for transformation, however...does make for some nice poses.)
Thigh swivel, knee bend, ankle bend, along with side to side, forward and backward hip movement. Head turns and can slightly look upward.

He's most likely the tallest of the RG line (though I can't say for sure, no comparison to wave one figures.) and he towers over High Score 100. I'd say he darn near comes up to a Deluxe Class figure's shoulder. A little over the size of a Basic even. (I'll need a side by side comparison to be sure, but he's tall.)

I absolutely love the fact that he even has a watch molded into his left forearm/wrist area. (Such a neat added touch.)

Overall: He's not perfect, he's definitely not the worst, plus as simplistic as his transformation is...it's part of the selling factor on him. I mildly recommend him (I mean, hey...eight bucks ain't that big of a hit to the wallet) and the Real Gear figures are fun in their own way. Kids will definitely have fun with the role play aspect and kitbashers such as Jin could make this into a fully functional watch. I'm gonna say he's worth a purchase, but realize he's nothing that I'd actually call amazing. Neat, not amazing.

An amusing