Review: #82
Name: Sideswipe
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Dark of the Moon
Year of Release: 2011
Size Class: Deluxe (Wave 2)
Variations: remolded later on as DOTM Darksteel
VEHICLE MODE:
Appearing into the sequel, Sideswipe once again transforms into a Concept Stingray Corvette, however, with a little twist. He is now a convertible, and there are other aesthetic changes, like the absence of the slit headlights (which seems weird), twin air intakes and a spoiler.
The most obvious thing that stands out here is... the ugly shade of grey plastic used. I guess it's contrasted even more so when the previous Sideswipe toy was completely washed in silver paint. The smaller wrap around windshield takes some getting used to.
There are not as much panel lines here, and Sideswipe holds together fairly well. His hubcaps are painted silver, and along with the grills, intakes and Corvette badge, they're the only paint in this mode, it's a sad sad fact...
Being a convertible, you can't just have robot bits sticking out, so Sideswipe has a decent amount of detailing. He has twin seats along with a dashboard, and a steering wheel.
Although he doesn't have any floorboards so you can see right through to the table. This is actually much more obvious than you would expect.
In comparison with ROTF Sideswipe there is a world of difference. DOTM Sideswipe just quickly takes a backseat and feels like a knockoff. He just does not seem as aesthetically pleasing.
Size and mass wise, you can instantly tell Sideswipe is smaller, much smaller than previous Deluxes. It's annoying at how much cost-cutting was done on this figure as he had the potential to be a great toy.
Some of the reduction in mass came from having a huge stupid MechTech weapon, in this case, a gun. You can plug it at the back of the car, the peg holes are spring loaded so they 'fill' in when nothing is plugged in (with the reason that it doesn't show an unsightly hole).
There's two more of these MechTech ports on either side of the car although the gun doesn't look as good at that position.
A good vehicle, one that is massively held back by the lack of 'premium' paint. The MechTech weapon doesn't detract too much and actually looks okay attached. Mold wise, a much cleaner vehicle mold than Sideswipe's previous toy.
TRANSFORMATION:
Easily the figure's best aspect. It's an interesting transformation that improves upon the concept of the previous Sideswipe toys. It's simpler, yet it works so much better. Granted, Sideswipe is still much of a shellformer as his previous figures but the panel manipulation is much improved this time around. The plastic feels a bit cheaper, and easier to break and snap, and some of the paneling feels fragile. It's as easy to go back into vehicle mode as it was to robot. The transformation is fun.
ROBOT MODE:
Sideswipe is still sorely missing some silver paint highlights in robot mode. He's as bland as vehicle mode, and he shouldn't be!! He could have been a striking robot, as such, he's just average. Sideswipe is very lean and athletically proportioned here.
Sideswipe retains most of the vehicle shell as kibble on his back. There isn't a good arrangement for them yet such that they don't get in the way. The hood and back is okay, but the side panels just feel like they hang there with nowhere else to go, and thus make it harder to compact. It's doesn't affect Sideswipe structurally, it's an aesthetics problem.
There's an improvement in the blades this time around. They're made from one piece, and looks great as blades from all angles. They thin and you can see blade molding on the insides. They look like they are dangerous and deadly to other robots.
The kibble at his back do sit fairly close to the body so they're not terrible from the front...
Focusing on the gun for a short while, it can be a huge gun or a short blade with a huge handle. Since it's a Deluxe figure, the weapon doesn't lock (what a stupid idea...), and it doesn't look that great anyway, since it's molded from one colour, it looks bland. You can probably tell I'm not such a big fan of this gun since it was obviously they had to make a lot of compromises from the core robot to have this stupid gimmick included.
If you don't want Sideswipe to hold the gun (since he already has two melee weapons) you can plug them in one of the three MechTech slots around the backpack. The one on the back of the car is perfect for storing the gun on his back.
You can plug it onto one of the side panels and rearrange it so it's like an over the shoulder gun, but it doesn't really work that well and looks awkward.
The head sculpt is good, and much more defined. There is a lightpipe that doesn't work that well. It's on a fairly restricted balljoint though.
On comparison with his ROTF form, sculpting and proportions wise, he does look a whole lot better. Plus, he's easier to stand, the feet aren't perfect, but much easier to work with that ROTF's.
Pairing with a Generations figure (which, by that time, also began to shrink a tiny bit), the difference in mass is instantly recognizable. It's not helped that toys based on the movies are so reliant on panels, which emphasizes the smallness of the figure.
Poseability is good, and improved from the previous version. Still a bit difficult to balance, and his knees cannot bend backwards, which was quite a shock (they only bend back far enough so you have the 'chicken legs').
This Sideswipe is actually a decent robot, he's got some wicked looking blades, but almost non-existent paint applications ruin this mode.
OVERALL:
Not a bad mold, but ruined by a lack of silver paint (and just paint in general). The transformation is fun, and both modes look good, albeit bland. The robot mode displays well and fun to boot. The plastic does feel cheaper, and he's noticeably smaller than any Deluxe figure you have laid hands so far, so I can only recommend this guy if you can grab it on a clearance sale or something similar.
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