chuckdawg1999

Finally, I was able to get my hands on this figure. The hype is justified as this is a fun Prime to transform and pose around. Unfortunately, for many, this is still hard to find, and with the Studio Series version coming around the corner, I'm not sure if it's worth it to buy, especially if you can't find it for a reasonable price.

Devcon was one of those characters growing up you wondered why they never got a toy. There were convention exclusives here and there but those never felt right. Finally in Legacy Evolution, we get the first mass retail Devcon figure. Transformation is smooth and feels better than its main mold mate Blurr. For reasons explained in the video, I feel this figure should've been bigger, but it's still a solid purchase.

Leave it to the Legacy line and go DEEP on this selection. The Paradise Parakeet was only featured in one episode of the G1 cartoon but left an indelible impression. Unfortunately, the soft rubbery plastic makes the figure feel gummy and tacky, with the humidity that I'm experiencing I'm surprised the figure hasn't melted. For accessories, PP comes with a Deluxe Class Beachcomber. Transformation is fun and including rubber tires is nice, but I don't see anything radically different from the Titans Return release that should compel you to run out and buy PP to get this version of Beachcomber.

There are some things that I never thought I would hear myself say, plug the car into the steak platter is one of them.

Finally! I was able to find one of the Tacticon figures. It's what I expected, fun and easy to handle. I would've preferred having the finger groove molded the other way, but that's a small complaint. Don't pay more than $10 for these.

Jawbreaker is a fun little figure that's a joy to transform and says a lot in a small package. I really appreciate how the weapon gimmick is so well hidden, it really took me a moment to find it. Hopefully, this shows up at retail sooner than later since I know Jawbreaker is on a lot of fans lists.

Not much to say really, It's a popcorn bucket in the shape of Optimus Prime's head that lights up, don't pay $70 for it.

I was surprised by how fun Armada Megatron is, and by how small. I can't remember the last time I transformed a Leader Class figure that was this simple, that's not to say that there aren't a couple of fun bits to the transformation. Articulation isn't THAT hampered by the shoulder pads, but you will need to get used to how the arms work. It's nice that most of the classic gimmicks have been updated but I do miss the inclusion of a minicon and Megatron's shiv. While I do recommend the figure I understand if you find the price a bit offputting.

If it's a movie cycle you know there will be plenty of Bumblebee toys. Beast Mode Bumblebee features lights, sounds, and a third mode hybrid of beast and bot. Transformation is simple, but there are a few steps that I think older fans will enjoy. Overall, Beast Mode Bumblebee caters to a specific audience but there are a few things that all fans can enjoy.

It's nice after all these years to finally be able to experience the G1 Hot Rod figure. The transformation had some neat tricks that really were innovative at the time and finally, we're getting a paint deco that matches the film. The price is a little high for what we're getting but if you're like me and never got to experience the vintage Hot Rod toy, it's worth a look and purchase.

While I own the previous two Generations Rhinox figures, I never opened them due to horror stories about the transformation and stability. I was relieved to find that the Voyager Rhinox figure from the ROTB mainline is a real delight for the hands. Transformation is smooth and results in a solid Rhino and robot mode. If you can find it this is a solid purchase and a great addition to your ROTB Rhinox collection.

If you've ever wanted an Optimus Primal toy that responds to sound and auto converts, this toy is for you! Optimus Primal is beefy and chunky, the toy responds to sound, not voice commands, so anything from a whisper to a shout will trigger one of the over 100 commands. If you were looking for a bargain Robosen Transformer, you'll have to keep looking. At $125 I find the toy overpriced, especially since AA batteries are required so I recommend waiting on a sale that would bring the price down to the sub $100 range. Other than that, this is really fun and something a whole family can enjoy.

As with every movie line various retailers get their share of exclusives and Target, under the Buzzworthy Bumblebee line is no different. Scorponok and Sandspear are a fun set and possibly the best Weaponizer set thus far, highly recommended.

Well, I'm surprised! I assumed that Swoop and Scarr would end up like the other Core Dinobots, fun little fiddle toys but ultimately just limbs for Volcanicus. What I wasn't expecting was that Swoop would end up being the best Core Class figure I've handled in a long time, while Scarr is just really cool and beefy. The transformation between dino and robot modes is simple yet fun, and while the limb modes aren't anything to write home about, they get the job done. Obviously, if you're completing Volcanicus you'll need both figures but if you're only interested in one, Swoop is the way to go.

One of the best releases under the ROTB line has been the Beast Battle Masters. It's fun to have small representations of the classic beast Transformers that transform into weapons for the larger robots. With Optimus Primal for example you can have some inception level displays going on. The Optimus Primal Battle Master is a great looking Gorilla, I really appreciate the attention to detail of the curved back and the ball-jointed head, that allows the figure in beast mode to look forward. Transformation is simple and gun mode comes together solidly. If you see it on shelves it's worth the purchase.

Scourge is a retool and repaint of Smash Changers Optimus Prime and unfortunately, mine suffers from the same issues that Optimus Prime had. The gimmick sticks and isn't as fluid as say Optimus Primal's is. I have to say Scourge is a solid pass, hopefully, there will be other simpler Scourge figures available in the future.

Finally got my hands on Skullcruncher. It was worth the wait!

It's exciting to be this close to completing a G1 accurate set of Dinobots and Snarl brings us that much closer. Transformation is fun and intuitive and robot mode is solid and sturdy. I'm sure you don't need to be told this but Snarl is another fantastic addition to the SS86 line.

While given the first numerical designation, Bumblebee is actually the third figure released from the Gamer Edition subline. Of the three figures we've looked at thus far, I would say that Bumblebee is the hardest to transform, but the resulting vehicle mode is solid, smooth, and very small. While I'm happy with the included weapons, I'm disappointed that there's no place to store the arm while using one of the included blaster attachments. Overall, if you don't enjoy complex transformations that can be fiddly, you might want to wait for a sale before buying Bumblebee.

While this figure is a straight repaint of the Cyberverse toy, I find myself enjoying it more. The lighter color pallet gives a more animation vibe to it and I find it easier to work with the laser arm and hose. If you have the Cyberverse version there's really no need for this figure but if you missed it the first time then it's a solid purchase.

Barricade is the second release in the Gamer Edition subline of the Studio Series. The figure is solid but I find the design makes for some fiddly moments, possibly due to just the tightness of some of the joints on my copy. If you're a fan of the War For Cybertron game and have a connection to this version of Barricade it's a solid purchase, otherwise, you might want to pass right now and wait for a sale.

If you remember the deluxe WFC Prime you, like me, remember a cool robot with an overly complicated transformation. Well, let me tell you, voyager WFC Optimus Prime is a chunky beast! I haven't held a voyager that felt this solid in both modes in a very long time. Transformation is smooth and intuitive. The weapon gimmick is nice but the arm comes off a little too easily and I would've liked storage in robot mode. Quibbles aside, this is a figure that you really should add to your collection.

Deluxe Class Optimus Prime is a great figure with an interesting transformation. I can't recommend this or the Warrior Class version over one another as they both do different things. Ultimately the decision is up to you if you want to dip or double dip.

It was expected that a figure like Core Class Ironhide would be released following the release of Core Class Ratchet, as both share the same mold since the start of the franchise. Ironhide has a new head and a pelvic region that closely resembles the animation models. While there were some issues with panel fitting on my copy, overall, Ironhide is a decent figure that complements the other G1 Core Class figures.

Of all the Warrior Class figures I've looked at for the Earthspark collection, Terran Thrash stands out as the best. The transformation process is seamless and unlike any other motorcycle transformation, I've seen before. Similar to the other Warrior Class toys, the weapon feature does not obstruct the robot's movements and enhances the overall experience of the toy. If you are considering purchasing just one Warrior Class figure from Earthspark, Thrash should be your top choice.