Review: #849
Name: Yokuryu
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Decepticon
Line: Generations - Legacy: United
Year of Release: 2024
Size Class: Core
Mold Status: retool of Legacy United Swoop
ALTERNATE MODE:
Yokuryu is a retool of Swoop and transforms into a blue and white robotic Pteranodon.
Given we're so used to seeing Swoop, the color scheme can feel out of place. Nevertheless, this is a fairly decent alternate mode given the small size.
This is a Core class figure so you'd expect the smaller size, above is a comparison against a Deluxe, which is much bigger.
The robot weapon, which is also the combined mode's right hand, can attach to the bottom, and gives him a kind of a stand.
Looking underneath, you can see how he transforms... he's a robot mode with folded up legs and the Pteranodon elements on the back.
The white and blue may seem a bit bland, but it's one of the least compromised alternate modes of the set.
TRANSFORMATION:
A very simple, and predictable, transformation. Flip the legs down from the underside, fold up the wings, flip the beast head down to the chest, rotate the robot head and then detach the arms from the sides.
ROBOT MODE:
The robot mode isn't too bad to be honest, and looks quite good. There is a little bit more blue that comes out to help break up the boring white.
He doesn't have much kibble, the folded up wings on his back sit very flush and doesn't get in the way at all.
The head sculpt is new, and looks very G1.
He's still very small in robot mode, which suits the simplicity of the figure.
Ironically, he features some of the best articulation of the set, with joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, hips and knees.
His only weapon is the combined mode's fist... which you are supposed to think is a gun...
He can hold it in his hand, but it is comically oversized, and just looks like a giant fist.
Instead of hoping it passes off as a gun, it would have been nicer if they could have made it attach like a gauntlet instead.
OVERALL:
Yokuryu is an inoffensive figure. He isn't complicated, and his engineering isn't amazing. However, this simplicity works in its favor as he has a good alternate and robot mode, although the color scheme being accurate to his G1 color palette, can look a bit boring here.
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