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While the Transfomrers Platinum Autobot Intel Ops set, featuring a rerelease of Blaster, Perceptor, Ramhorn and Steeljaw, has been out for a while, there hasn't been an in depth analysis to what this set offers over previous rereleases. The new slide feature has not been covered correctly elsewhere with reviewers making the dreaded mistake of not following the instructions.
Since he is now sold out at this product's exclusive retailer in America, it seems a lot of folks now have this fun new collectible and I will list the main differences with this release and go in depth for the new slide feature.
Firstly, while the box art is awesome...
... no one has yet to comment on the dumb grin Blaster has. I guess he does really enjoy pummeling Decepticons, as his bio says.
While the quality is not terrible, the grey plastic used for Blaster has the similar flecks found in the the plastic used for contemporary Transformer toys. You can see the reflection from the camera's flash:
The grey plastic is also a shade more brown than the original release but it is the same plastic found on the other Blaster reissue.
Also, while the original mold indentations for the date and copyright are found on the figure, there is also a contemporary trademark stamp found all across Blaster's upper back.
Like the original Hasbro Perceptor, his gun can not fire, which is customary. However, unlike the previous reissue, there has been a slight change so that the missile will not fall from the gun when inserted for poses.
Also, Perceptor has an Autobot logo sticker in his abdominal area which is absent from the stock photo in the back. This reminds me, all stickers are preapplied.
Now onto the New Features!
The main difference between this and previous releases of the Perceptor figure is the inclusion of a whole new accessory for his microscope. He comes with six microscope slides which have diverse sci fi imagery, ranging from fractals, solar flares and technorganic cell as well as a blueprint for Optimus Prime.
These six slides can be held by a case which can close.
This case, in the open formation, can be attached to Perceptor's back. It has four pegs which match with the already existing holes found on Perceptor's back.
Now, for viewing the slides themselves, I haven't found any review that has done this correctly. This is not how you are supposed to place the slide:
While you might think that they are made to fit on the chest plate (which still works visually if you want to pose him in microscope mode), this won't work and the instructions instead indicate that they must fit over the smaller mirror.
The slides indeed fit snugly over the mirror due to a molded indentation on the slide. The slide can only fit on the mirror when it is upside down.
The gimmick actually works since Perceptor retains his ability to be a working microscope. Here is a messed up view of what you might see.
Woah, let's back up a bit. Ok, so here is the tecnorganic cell slide placed on the mirror:
And here is how it looks under the microscope. You will notice that it is reflected upside down.
Now let's look at the Optimus slide. Here is what it looks like under the microscope.
Now let's talk about the casettes. This time around, it is not stickers used for the tapes but tampographs instead. Let me know if you notice anything strange with these:
I will let our own Scotty P take it from here to describe the intricacies of the changes with the casetttes:
ScottyP wrote:This Platinum Edition Eject has a tampo, and you've seen it before, but never on Eject. It's Ratbat's.
Lastly, a note on Platinum Steeljaw's weapons. They actually have the chrome stop to allow for a nice, smooth connection to the body of the tape. This is awesome! This same feature disappointingly doesn't carry over to Ramhorn's weapons. I can't find myself lamenting Eject's guns being all chrome, since like most versions of the mold they don't stay in all that well anyhow.
So hope that helps any cassette collectors still on the fence with this one. There is one real, actual variant in here in Eject. Can't believe it took it being "in hand" for me to catch that!
Hopefully this helped highlight the new features as well as explain how to get the most out of this set. I know I am having a blast (pun intended)!
After very little in terms of news for the Transformers: Robots in Disguise WArrior class Fracture figure, fellow Seibertronian chuckdawg1999 has shared with his thoughts and video review of the menacing purple Minicon master motorbike - take a look at both of them below!
When we saw the gray prototype a few months ago many felt that we wouldn't see Fracture released. Well let me tell you, Fracture is real, and real good. Transformation is solid, with pegs and tabs being used smartly in both modes, kudos to Hasbro for finally printing clear and full instructions on the back of the packaging. For me the best part of the toy is the modular weapon use. Hopefully there's a wider release soon to get this figure out for the 2015 Christmas season.
Fresh from the Energon Pub, Seibertronian YouTuber optibotimus has shared his next video review, this time featuring Generations Combiner Wars Combaticon Brawl! An all-new mold, the little bruiser that could is part of the Bruticus gestalt Transformer, along with Blast Off and the upcoming figures featuring remolded previous toys. Check it out below.
As we are now at mid-November, we are starting to see reviews pop up for the Generations figures making up the first wave of Combiner Wars 2016. Fellow Seibertronian Optibotimus has reviewed Generations Combiner Wars Blast Off. This is the most controversial of the set since, while Combiner Wars Bruticus has all his original members being released at standard retail (unlike what has appeared in every Combiner Wars wave so far), Blast Off's alt mode is the only one to have changed drastically; going from a space shuttle to a jet, and a repaint no less. Thus, this is the toy people were most hesitant for and it is good to now be able to see it in a review.
Our own Twincast member and Epic Voice Guy Jon Bailey has brought back PRIME REVIEWS! In a new series called "in LOOSE CONDITION" - fun, fast & not-to-be-taken-too-seriously Transformers "reviews" of old and new loose, damaged or not-so-MISB figures intended for fans, kids and kids at heart! First up is the original Defensor in honor of the new Combiner Wars!
Synopsis
THE ANSWERS! BUMBLEBEE's search for the truth about the rival AUTOBOT TEAM on Earth leads TEAM BEE to a thief with deep connections… but knowing the truth may be worse than getting lied to.
Kid Friendly, Am I right?
Story
With Robots in Disguise now stuck in that rut between seasons show-wise, the comics are the main source of story entertainment, and Georgia Ball does not fail to impress with the finale to the first main story arc.
Character Development!
We finally get the showdown that the previous issues have been leading to, and in true Robots in Disguise fashion, we are not disappointed with all the little things thrown in there for our enjoyment, not to mention Sideswipe. Sideswipe definitely shows his best sides here. And yeah, he does kinda take the issue.
We're all laughing with you, Sides
This issue definitely was the arc finale that we could be hoping for, and it features some of the most classic comic book endings you can find. Plus things do get a bit heated for those who like a little seriousness in your goofy, but there are jokes abounding and references that will just make you smile when you read them.
Art
Priscilla Tramontano once again does not fail to make me smile, as she continues to bring her cartoony look to the book that adds so much fun to just looking at it let alone reading it. Not to mention the great faces that pop up, both funny, mean, serious, and accomplished.
Uh-oh! Angry Buffaloid! Angry Buffaloid!
Josh Burcham once again delivers brilliant coloring that keeps the scenes bright and loud, just as you would expect from this series. He also creates some pretty amazing contrasts, and he is pretty dang good at making a swamp feel…swampy.
And that’s just a taster!
The lettering in the issue is also spot on, but then again, when is it not with Tom B. Long working the letters? Just look at that very first picture in the review. That is all you need to know about how good the words fit the art. And we once again are treated to marvelous covers featuring our favorite Prime and Robots in Disguise characters courtesy of Tramontano and Travis Sengaus.
Thoughts Spoilerish ahead
This issue was a fantastic issue and one that certainly makes for a great bookend to this first story arc. One could not have asked for a better story to tell, and the entertainment value is there to hold us over for a while until the show starts back up again. And the fact that Prime and Robots in Disguise work so closely together for such a short time yet make such a big impact (and show some big impacts) makes this all the more enjoyable.
Quite the light show eh?
Nevertheless, Ball delivers, and we are ready to receive. Another great issue has arrived and I strongly recommend you seek this out. The whole story arc is fascinating and certainly fun, and the finale definitely is worth anyone’s time. So what are you waiting for? Rev up and Roll out!
Synopsis
What does it mean to be a DECEPTICON in a postwar universe? Was MEGATRON’s rise to power the inevitable consequence of configurative determinism? Is it possible to "disprove" an ideology? Who decided that all the badges should be purple? In this issue, the Scavengers ponder at least one of these questions.
Ooo boy
Story
First of all, a note of apology and of due credit. Life this side of the screen gets busy, and a lot of the wording and thoughts for this review are worked in tandem with ScottyP (my saviour). On the other hand, the issues getting in the way of writing the review actually feed 'nicely' into the topics of the issue itself!
Soz
Whatever lacklustre comments I made last month for the first part of this story, and of James Roberts' style in approaching it, have definitely redeemed themselves by issue #46. There is plenty of character development, plenty of plot direction, and some really good work in terms of addressing wider post-war issues for the TFverse overall, no longer limited to the other titles.
...
Some characters clearly stand out, in terms of how they are portrayed and their role to the story, with Krok, Fort Max and Crankcase definitely taking centre stage. The rest of the cast, though, is not set aside, and we have some excellent moments with pretty much everyone involved, through a wide range of (e)motion, too.
Plus a lot of guns, apparently
I do have some criticisms by the time the book comes to a close, though I will mention them more below. The standout point, if a little clunky in some of its execution, was looking at not only physical, not only theoretical, not only ideological consequences of the war - but the repercussions on the mental health of many of those who took however little a part.
Art
The visual team on this issue is gigantic, as Alex Milne prepares the pages, layouts and pencils, while Brian Shearer, John Livesay, John Wycough and Milne conjoin inking powers to bring a very different, multi-faceted look at some of the outer spaces of the Transformers universe currently explored, inwards and outwards.
Typical Transformers
Both sides of which are cleverly rendered in tone and volume by the excellent colouring, shading and hue work of Joana Lafuente, who deftly includes one of the wider-ranging palettes we had currently seen on this book, at least since the Swerve issue and Hedonia, and some seriously emotional contrasts in dark/light games.
And just look at that sky, again
Multiple inkers clearly (?) required multiple letterers, as regular Tom B. Long is joined by Chris Mowry - and with the Scavengers and Grimlock involved, you just know there's going to be plenty of font-based fun. And there is. The main cover also shows more of spotlight on one of the key players of the issue, as teased in #45, with Milne teaming up with Josh Perez again, as Nick Roche single-handedly Fort Maxes out for the artist edition variant (see thumbnail).
Thoughts Spoilerish ahead
Practically copying Scott's words now, the issue does a very good job, along with some parts of Transformers: Redemption, at dealing with the often underrepresented consequences of war, and the individual repercussions of that state. It's no longer factions of Autobot, Decepticon, colonies or unaligned, but rather those who can let go of the war and those who hang on to it desperately.
Then, of course, there's that side
The criticism I mentioned? Other than the couple of niggles above, the conclusion feels a little too nebulous, a little too complex and too much of a stinger to a wider story that we have only really started seeing - and it felt like a kick to remind us that, yes, we are still part of a wider narrative. Some will love it, I found it a little ..whelming. That said, definitely worth the read.
Quite a few fans were let down by Transformers Legends (LG-17) Blackarachnia because of one thing, a chest gap. Every reviewer has been quite adamant about pointing it out, here is a sample of screencaps from reviews all around from TJ Omega to honoured friends of ours on these boards.
They actually happen to be alltransformed incorrectly. This toy should have no gap and when this figure was first introduced to us, Takara themselves had properly transformed it.
While the instructions don't specify just how far you have to push the chest piece up, it turns out you can push it until there is no gap. The new tooling allows the chest to extend upwards beyond markings.
Almost everyone is lifting it to here:
But you can keep pushing it up and it actually keeps sliding and then locks into place leaving no gap:
This was actually found in Emgo's review of the figure.
So there are a few lessons to learn from this. One being that there can never be too many reviews or reviewers and secondly that we should have more faith in Takara. I now feel foolish for having doubted them but my love for this figure and them has only grown because of this. I hope you will all better enjoy your figure as I do.
Adding to the review of Takara Tomy Transformers Legends Blackarachnia video review from earlier this week, we also have - via Decepticon Sunstorm - a look at wave mate Slipstream, which uses the Windblade mold, with retooling (including new head) and a new paint scheme. Check it out below, courtesy of YouTuber emgo316.
Unlike what the internet will tell you, the "new" Robots in Disguise line has its fans. One of the main compaints from this line, however, was the problem with Grimlock's scale. He towers over his friends on the show but Hasbro's line doesn't go beyond the warrior/deluxe class for the more traditional collector figures. This is why Takara's Transformers Adventure Battle Grimlock figure is probably one of the most sought after figures from the corresponding line in Japan since it is a retool of the Voyager class FOC Grimlock. There is a lot of retooling done and you can see the breakdown of this toy through the three reviews below. We have two from fellow Seibertronians, EbeforeI and Chuckdawg1999 as well as an extra long one from Emgo. Enjoy!
ebeforei wrote:Here is my detailed review of the Takara/Tomy Transformers Adventure Voyager Class TAV30 Battle GRIMLOCK - A heavy remold of the Voyager Class Fall Of Cybertron Grimlock... this actually REALLY WORKS to make the figure we should have gotten to begin with.
chuckdawg1999 wrote:Leave it to Takara to take a good, existing Grimlock mold and turn it into something great. Takara basically rebuilt the FOC Grimlock from the ground up, giving us a new shell and head. If you're really into scale then this figure will fit perfectly into your RID display.
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