Review: #884
Name: Ultra Magnus w/ Blue Bolts
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: HasLab
Year of Release: 2025
Size Class: HasLab
Mold Status: new
VEHICLE MODE:
It's still somewhat unexpected that Robots in Disguise Ultra Magnus, of all characters, would get an update (given how complicated the original toys were, plus the series wasn't as high a priority / popular as other series). Nevertheless, here we are with an update in the HasLan line and Ultra Magnus transforms into a car carrier.
It's not your typical looking car carrier but it is a unique design, and not something we have seen since.
This is a huge figure, even though most of it is empty space. Still, it doesn't dull its appeal, size and presence. It's around Commander size, so much much bigger than you typical Deluxes and Voyagers.
A quick comparison against Optimus Prime that also comes in the set, and they are roughly the same size, and of course, looks great together.
The set comes with two stands, which can combine together to allow you to display the vehicle mode on. This represents the Global Space Bridge, and as you only get two pieces, this means you can only display one of the vehicles on the stand at one time.
Impressively, Ultra Magnus features a total of ten rolling wheels. Unlike the original toy, they're not soft rubber anymore, which is great as it should have more longevity.
Ultra Magnus retains most of the original's gimmicks, including that he is a functioning car carrier. The back can open and you can store a Deluxe in there (Siege Red Alert above).
The lower section can hold one Deluxe, and the upper section can hold two Deluxes, for a total of three Deluxes (addition of The Last Knight Bumblebee above), and this is super cool and fun.
Ultra Magnus has a huge bumper, and he retains the chromed (vacuum metalized) plastic. It looks great, but also means he will be prone to chipping over time (a deep rich blue paint like the Encore version might have been better, since metallic paint is also prone to fading over time).
A little bit of disappointment is that while he has mostly translucent windows, the rear side windows are painted blue instead, due to the strength needed for transformation. A shame really, and cheapens the figure somewhat due to the inconsistent look of the windows (either have it all translucent or have it all painted, a mixture of both makes it stand out in a bad way).
Ultra Magnus holds together fairly well and is a solidly put together toy. There are plenty of meaningful paint apps, including the back where it simulates taillights.
The robot weapon, which is also Blue Bolts, can peg on top of the car carrier (as storage since it looks ridiculous up there).
A fantastic vehicle, and sure, it looks 80% like the original, but it's been tweaked here and there to make it look just that little bit better.
BLUE BOLTS:
Ultra Magnus's weapon is called Blue Bolts (even the original), and it's like this dual barrelled blaster thing, one side is like a gatling gun, while the other side is single barrelled.
There are two white (non-launching) missiles, and a sight on top. It's this big bulky thing to be honest.
It's big, and while size-wise, it may be near approaching a Deluxe, it's got less mass, and is slimmer overall.
Why does this get its own section? Because cleverly, in this release, it now transforms into a robot! This is such a great idea given the original was this bulky thing (that had electronics in it), and it was just awkward no matter which mode it was in.
Therefore, giving Blue Bolts her own robot mode solves that issue, and adds even more play value without much compromise. She's a slim robot though, with two massive arms, comprised of one gun each.
She is approximately Deluxe size, but as mentioned, she feels light and slimmer than one, given that she is mostly hollow.
She's small when compared to the rest of the set though.
Articulation is pretty good, with joints for her head, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips, knees and ankles.
Unfortunately, she is in the Weaponizer format, and so splits up into multiple pieces, and this makes her more unstable as things can detach when you're trying to pose her.
Still, it's a great idea and one that works well enough, and is a great addition to the set.
TRANSFORMATION:
Like Optimus, Ultra Magnus' transformation scheme remains clearly inspired by the original, with some tweaks here and there. He's still a partsformer unfortunately, as the rear has to separate to form the legs. The sides of the car carrier still cleverly folds up in various panels to form the legs.
Most of the bulk is at the front though, which forms the torso and hands. It isn't too hard to transform him at this point, fold the massive chromed grill up, get the hands out from behind, and flip his head up.
A point of difference here though is that the rear forms the legs plus the waist, whereas in the original toy it was only the lower legs. Another thing is that Ultra Magnus requires a fix himself as well. It's not as urgently serious as Optimus Prime, but still pretty bad. The wings are on very tight joints, and you need to shave it down otherwise it'll tear itself apart over time.
ROBOT MODE:
The original robot, given that it was power armor for Optimus Prime first and foremost, and its own robot second, was mostly legs. That is still the case here, but is slightly (just slightly), better.
He has a huge backpack but it works somewhat given that it is sculpted like a jetpack plus some huge wings.
The head sculpt is great, and the white used is so so white, one of the whitest you'll see on a Transformer.
He is quite tall in robot mode, taller than your typical Leader, but maybe not quite as tall as a Commander. He has heft to him though and feels really solid in hand.
The set looks fantastic together, and Ultra Magnus can stand toe to toe with Optimus in super mode.
From the side though, some of the design compromises come out. Those pieces have to store somewhere, but is still unsightly.
The biggest flaw though, and this was on the original too, are the hollow insubstantial legs. They look fine from the front, but from the inner sides and from the back, they aren't so good. This means that too much weight is at the upper body.
Articulation is theoretically good, with joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, wrist, waist, hips, knees and ankles. But in practice, you will need to take care of his balance given his centre of gravity is higher than normal.
He also has a Matrix of Leadership within his chest that can open up to reveal it.
There are some great detailing sculpted all around, such as his chest and knees. There's a splash of red around his torso, since that is a dedicated part for Omega Supreme.
The stand can act as a robot stand and does suit him a bit better given his longer legs, so that his legs will touch the stand when you use it.
Blue Bolts doesn't quite work the same way as the original. It cannot act as one super long gun anymore. Although it is can split into pieces.
Those three pieces means that Ultra Magnus can hold a gun in each hand, and the last piece pegged on his backpack as overhead missiles.
You can also keep Blue Bolts as one piece so that Ultra Magnus can wield it, looking through the sight, and it looks really good there.
Despite his long legs, there are some aesthetic improvements, such as proper feet and ankles, the car carrier sides not obscuring them, and he has big heelspurs.
The other really cool thing is that if you don't want to use Blue Bolts as weaponry, you can split her up into multiple pieces...
It's such a brilliant idea and an innovative storage solution, especially when it resolves one of the biggest flaws of the original figure.
It can be hard to pose him since his thighs are short and he has huge forearms, but those are the compromises for a good combined mode experience.
Despite all the flaws, this is still a wonderful robot mode, and you can see that there was a lot of engineering effort that went into this figure to help resolve the flaws of the original.
OVERALL:
Ultra Magnus might be the weaker of the set, and he still remains as a glorified power armor for Optimus, but wow, this is still a superbly engineered figure. It takes the original as a base, and adds in a lot of modern engineering touches that enhances the figure, such as creating a better looking and thus better handling robot mode. While giving Blue Bolts her own robot mode gives it more purpose rather than yet another accessory to set aside, but not only that, it utilizes the weaponizer gimmick to help fill out the (required) hollow spots within Ultra Magnus himself. This figure does not feel lesser as a result and is a worthy component of the set.
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