Review: #150
Name: Blight
Brand: Transformers:
Allegiance: Predacon
Line: Prime - Beast Hunters
Year of Release: 2013
Size Class: Legion (Wave 3)
Variations: a Target exclusive clear version sold in a giftset and a red repaint under the Predacons Rising subline
BEAST MODE:
Blight transforms into a bipedal monster that is referred to as a dragon on the card backing. It reminds me of Godzilla with his head and posture.
This is a solid mode, although maybe not literally. Thanks to the transformation and the combining gimmick, the torso is hollow. You don't really notice it but it's there (you can tell in the photos). Just something that I thought was worth pointing out.
Like the rest of the Terrorcons, Blight has a detailed head sculpt and lots of paint applications to bring out those details.
You might notice that he had a peghole in his mouth for some odd reason. No, I don't know why it's there either (considering that he doesn't need it for robot mode or the combined mode), but you can use it so that he can wield his hammer in beast mode (although it looks like he's smoking a pipe to me).
The other place you can store the hammer in his mode is the outside of each arm.
Blight is short and stumpy in this mode, but he looks really menacing. A visual flaw is that you can see his robot fists sticking out of his feet, which is somewhat annoying (if they could have find some way such that it forms the heels, then it wouldn't be as awkward).
Blight is fairly poseable, with balljoints hips and shoulders. His claws look amazing, and thanks to transformation, they can open and close.
A neat little monster mode that provides a refreshing take on all the vehicle forms of other Transformers.
TRANSFORMATION:
More complex than you would imagine. The designers didn't take the easy route out, they've created an impressive transformation scheme. Blight basically flips upside down as the beast feet forms his arms and the beast arms forms his legs. It's interesting and it works very well, there are some clever twists, creating a robot mode that doesn't just look like the beast mode straightened out.
ROBOT MODE:
Blight is just as menacing in robot mode. He seems like the hulking figures who's stature just oozes power and strength. It looks like Blight might be the 'fists' of the Terrorcons.
The robot feet jut out from the underside of his arms, it would be nice if they could be dealt with better but I can't complain, this is a Legion sized toy after all. The beast mode's head also tuck in nicely on his back.
The head sculpt is quite nice, although the actual size of it is small (and thus, hard to get the camera to focus upon, or least, my old battered camera). The head reminds me a bit of Grimlock's.
His Predacon insignia is in plain sight, on his chest. Of note, it's also visible in beast mode, just upside down.
Blight becomes a little bit taller in robot mode since he straightens up. It doesn't matter that he isn't that tall since he's supposed to be stocky anyway.
Poseability stays the same as beast mode, since he has the same joints. There is the addition of one more, and that is his shoulders can flex inwards (for combined mode). Other than that, his elbows are perpetually bent, same with his legs. His head can look up thanks to a transformation joint (although it feels a bit loose on mine). His torso is once again hollow but less noticeable.
His weapon is the "Affliction Hammer", the mold of which is shared with his fellow Terrorcon Twinstrike. Sometimes you wish that there were more varieties in the Legion weapons, but I guess it would have been more expensive if each Legion figure had their own unique weapon.
Blight can hold his weapon in either fist. You can also attached the hammer such that it looks vaguely like a gun, but it seems a hammer would suit his looks more.
Once again, a stunning robot mode and another win for the Terrorcons.
OVERALL:
The Terrorcon toys are amazing figures in their own right and Blight just reinforces that. He has two wonderful modes connected with a clever transformation scheme. Both modes look imposing and Blight just looks so... *awesome*.
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