Review: #194
Name: Rattrap
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Maximal
Line: Generations
Year of Release: 2014
Size Class: Deluxe (Wave 9)
Variations: the Japanese Legends version has slightly different paint applications
COMIC:
Rattrap comes with a comic, the issue Finest Hour: Dark Cybertron Chapter 5. Bad news if that if you're only getting one or two toys in the Generations line and you don't follow the comics, this will be confusing. Good news if if you're getting all the toys, you'll have a complete set of the Dark Cybertron arc. Anyway, Rattrap doesn't even appear in this issue which is a massive disappointment. In terms of storyline and plot, it jumps from place to place but it fairly easy to pick up and at least kinda know what is happening. The art is inconsistent and proportions are weird at times (especially Shockwave). It's not the worst pack in issue but far from the best (the Spotlight ones were much better).
RAT MODE:
True to his name, Rattrap transforms into a rat. It's nice to get some beast modes again to break up the multitude of vehicles and this is one of the best beast modes yet.
Sure, Rattrap relies heavily on panels resulting in large panel breaks but it's believable and realistic. The brown coloring in addition to the grey "fur" looks good.
This is a plausible rat from most angles but you can see some robot kibble poking out of his stomach.
This is an angry looking rat, he has painted white teeth and his mouth can open and close.
In terms of size, because he is so compact, he can feel small in your hand.
Looking underneath, you can see the robot all tucked up inside, yes, Rattrap is predominantly a shellformer.
One really cool thing about the tail is that it is not just a single piece of soft plastic. There must be a metal wire inside or something because you can bend it and it will hold it.
Rattrap is able to stand on his hind legs without any balancing issues although doing so does break the disguise.
What's also a nice touch is that his head can fold down and there is a second panel behind it that covers up the gap it leaves (i.e. his neck).
That's about as much articulation as you're going to get. His hind legs are mostly static except for the feat, his front feet are on swivels but they swivel out at a weird angle. You can't really move the front legs despite appearances as it will dislodge the transformation pegs.
This is a fantastic rat mode which is leaps and bounds better than the original figure (keeping in mind that the original was released something like 18 years ago.
TRANSFORMATION:
You're either going to love or hate it. In order to achieve screen accuracy and like the original toy, most of the rat mode are pieces of shell that encase the actual robot parts inside. However, one of the best things is the way the robot leg forms which ingeniously incorporate the rate's hind legs. It is the highlight of the fight and the thing that makes Rattrap impressive. Going back into rat mode can be a pain as you need to position some pieces just right in order to tab the pieces together.
ROBOT MODE:
Once again, Rattrap is amazingly screen accurate in robot mode. He looks as if he just jumped out of your TV screen, down to the gears on his shoulders.
Unfortunately, he does retain most of the pieces of the alternate mode on his back, while still accurate to his original form, it would have been nice if it could be reduced a bit although I would have no idea how.
The pieces stick out a fair bit from his back, there's no way to compress it further. It doesn't really clip in, relying more on friction to keep it in place.
One of the best things about these updated Beast Wars characters are the head sculpts which are amazing. Once again, the head sculpt captures the character well. It's only missing a blob of silver paint on his cranium. Instead, it's left in transparent plastic, the lightpiping doesn't work properly due to the red painted eyes.
I've mentioned it briefly earlier on but the way the robot legs incorporate the rat's hind legs are ingenious. I love how it integrates the rat feet as heelspurs.
Rattrap is on the shorter side in robot mode, which is true to his character.
Get ready... for Rattrap is packed full of gimmicks. First up is his blaster, unfortunately it's in transparent plastic which makes the details hard to pick up.
He can hold the blaster in either hand although I find that the handle is slightly too large for the fists, be careful as you may stress the hands.
Now... the blaster can split into two pieces to form two separate guns.
Which allows Rattrap to dual wield! Awesome!!
There are tiny Maximal insignia's on each forearm.
That's not all though because his left forearm can be opened...
To reveal a bomb of the type he used in the Beast Wars cartoon!! I'm surprised they kept this piece as I thought the small size would be a prime choking hazard.
He can hold the bomb in either hand. Once again, it's transparent plastic which makes it hard to pick out the details.
I find that the rat head is too big because it covers up his head from various angles. Joints are also very tight.
Articulation is excellent. His forearms can feel slightly too long when trying certain poses.
There are no balancing issues or any looseness of parts. Paint applications are strategically placed to bring out all the details.
This is a great robot mode that just blows your mind with how good it is.
OVERALL:
Some of the best updates in the Thrilling 30 Generations line would have to be the Beast Wars figures. They are simply amazing. Rattrap is a massive improvement over the original (and hard to find). The show likeness is astounding. While transformation is a little bit tricky and he relies heavily on panels, Rattrap is a solid Transformers that's well worth tracking down.
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