Review: #118
Name: Vortex
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Decepticon
Line: Generations - Fall of Cybertron
Year of Release: 2012
Size Class: Deluxe
Variations: SDCC and JP version in game accurate colors, retail version in Generations line, retooled into Whirl.
VEHICLE MODE:
Vortex transforms into a blue and purple futuristic helicopter. Vortex only has one set of rotors, and they spin freely (which is all the play value this mode has).
There are a lot of panel breaks and you can clearly see the combiner port at the back just below the tail. There are no landing gear of any sorts, he just lays at rest on the table.
You can detach the purple blades from either side to have a cleaner helicopter, and Vortex does look a lot better like this (he's not as wide).
An okay size, due to the nature of the choice of alt mode, he would feel smaller and lighter than other Deluxes. There is a G2 Decepticon insignia on each side.
While no means the best helicopter you have ever seen, it does a passable job.
TRANSFORMATION:
Like the rest of the Combaticons, Vortex doesn't possess a complex transformation per se, it only feels harder than it is due to the fragility of it. Some of the pieces peg together tighter than you'd expect and you don't want to exert a large amount of force in fear of breaking it. Vortex contains joints that are specifically for his combined form, so it might confuse you if you are transforming Vortex without instructions.
ROBOT MODE:
Vortex has a 'skirt' and unlike the rest of the Combaticons, he has decent paint applications in robot mode. His feet is fairly undefined.
The only kibble here is the tail on his back. Sadly, while he has a bulky torso, his arms are very spindly. The forearms are basically panels and the elbows are thin, feeling like they'll break if you try and use them.
The head sculpt is good but you can barely turn it from side to side since the two black pieces on either side get in the way.
The biggest detractor of Vortex's robot has to be the helicopter rotors on his left arm. If only they added in another joint that would allow the rotor to fold in and sit on the side of the arm, instead of above it, it wouldn't be so bad (it would look quite cool actually).
Vortex expands a bit once into robot mode, but feels very hollow and light.
Unlike the packaging shots, his blades aren't painted, they're just a solid block of purple plastic. Some silver would go a long way here.
The blades go into either hand, and if you think it's redundant when he already have the rotor blades as a weapon on his left, then you can let Vortex hold both blades at once on one hand.
The articulation is decent. He has double jointed knees due to the transformation (very easy to get confused that the transformation joint is the knees, but there are proper joints above it). Vortex is stable in a lot of poses due to the large footprint.
The skirt can be lifted to free up the legs. All in all, another good looking robot, good for display if not for play.
OVERALL:
I believe Vortex is the second weakest toy of the set, but still a fun figure in his own right. The helicopter mode is just passable and the robot ode feels fragile and insubstantial. It feels as if Vortex is just lacking something. Nevertheless, he's a must if you want to form Bruticus. The compromises made show in both modes, but considering it all, Vortex is still very impressive.
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