Review: #59
Name: Cybertronian Bumblebee
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Transformers 2010/Generations
Year of Release: 2011
Size Class: Deluxe
Variations: repainted from the original Generations Bumblebee, which was also retooled into Generations Cliffjumper
VEHICLE MODE:
Again, like the others in the sets, Bumblebee transforms into a Cybertronian vehicle, it's a carrier this time (obviously?). Unlike the other toys based from the game War for Cybertron, Bumblebee looks futuristic and very sleek, and you can immediately tell what it is trying to be.
Light blue/aqua transparent plastic swaps out for the red of the original, and this is a step back, as it looks really weird (even worse in robot mode). As expected all four wheels roll, and he's a really compact little figure.
However, I cannot, for the love of all things Transformers, get him to properly peg together in vehicle. I have tried for a whole hour, trying to do the same thing, pegging his legs properly. Its annoying to say the least. I have given up, and there are gaps here and there from not finishing it.
He's got these aqua Cybertronian/powered up detailing on his windshield, in a similar fashion to Optimus Prime. There's also some silver wash out, like damage from paint scrapping, creating a worn look.
You might be able, or might not, tell from just looking at the underside, that Bumblebee is a shellformer. I can say though, that he feels and look hollow in this mode.
So, in the end, if you managed to get him into vehicle with no dramas, then this is a good vehicle mode. One of the best Cybertronian designs yet in toy form.
TRANSFORMATION:
This is where it's a big pain. Going into robot mode isn't bad, since you just unpeg everything, collapse a few things, and whola. It's going the other way that's the problem. Most of it is fine, but the final touch, pegging the legs together, that's where it stumps me. I can peg one leg in fine, but if I force the other one to peg in, it dislodges the first one. Very very annoying, and I have checked videos online and I am doing everything correctly, so it might just be my figure. Anyway, there are some good elements here, but mostly, it's not as innovation or fun as Optimus Prime or Megatron. It's complex, yes, but fiddly, and that is not a good combination. I like how the legs are formed, but the whole panel collapsing bits feels cheaty, but hard to avoid considering the design. Verdict? I'm going to leave this guy in one mode for a very long time.
ROBOT MODE:
Bumblebee's robot mode is somewhat different, he has a solid chest/torso due to the whole front of the car forming it. Yet, his legs seems too long and skinny (especially the thighs), and bulky forearms. It's like, the the stocky hands and feet are connected to the body by sticks.
You'll get used to it though and it's not terrible. He does wear a huge chunk of the vehicle mode shell on his back, pretty much the roof and back of the car panels collapsed down. The silver scratch/wear/scorch marks continue here, giving Bumblebee a worn out look (something I don't really prefer).
Due to the panel collapsing, his torso is fairly hollow, he seems to have the least bulk between Megatron and Optimus. The yellow is dull, and the aqua doesn't really work here, the worse colour scheme out of the set. The grey is light, which also adds to the dull look.
If you look straight at his back, the backpack does look unwieldy, but in reality, it is very compact and situated very close to the body. You'll have no problems with standing him up and balancing him.
The feet looks great and very well formed, they're pretty much the highlights of the figure. Only thing that looks out of place is that half the side is dull yellow plastic, while the other side had silver metallic deco.
Bumblebee has both melee and ranged weapons. His ranged weapon is a gun, that looks more like a hairdryer than anything. While the blades flip out from each hand, it's transparent blue, I would have preferred the red of the original, but I guess it keeps with the aqua blue theme here.
Head sculpt is good, and looks like Classics Bumblebee to be honest. The eyes are freaky, since they're painted in that baby blue. It's also huge in size compared to the rest of the body.
Poseability is great, but he has way more joints than he needs, and that gets in the way. This is true in his things, they're required for transformation, but the way they can hinge out is very annoying since it tends to do that when you want to move it at the hips instead.
It's a decent robot mode in the end, there are some flaws, and he's not as solid as the other War for Cybertron based figures, but it's a nice attempt and very accurate to the game.
OVERALL:
If you managed to get used to the transformation, then it's a good toy. For me though, the transformation is too annoying and ruined it for me. Both modes, when you get it right, are good. Personally, I would not have gotten this mold if he was sold on his own, but there are worse (much worse) toys out there.
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