Review: #489
Name: Blast Off
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Decepticon
Line: Generations - Prime Wars Trilogy
Year of Release: 2018
Size Class: Deluxe
Mold Status: repaint of Unite Warriors Shuttler
PACKAGING:
Hasbro's version of Blast Off (as in, the one that isn't a redeco) was released as a special edition exclusively at Amazon in the US.
Thus Blast Off comes in boxed packaging with a fancy artwork. While officially part of the Prime Wars Trilogy (which comprises of Combiner Wars, Titans Return and Power of the Primes), it was released at a time when Power of the Primes was in full swing.
The front flap opens up to reveal the figure in robot mode, and while it is still cardboard packaging, the presentation is really nice.
The side of the packaging has the robot artwork.
MEGATRONUS:
The figure comes with a Prime Master, Megatronus.
Megatronus is no different to any of the other Prime Masters. Only his torso is solid plastic, everything else is clear red plastic which is painted over.
While Megatronus is supposed to act as a power up, he can still attach as a head to any Titans Return Deluxe, Voyager of Leader figures.
SHUTTLE MODE:
As a return to form, Blast Off finally transforms back to a space shuttle.
The shuttle isn't without its flaws though since the arms are tacked onto the side which feels lazy and messy.
In terms of size, Blast Off is bigger than most Deluxes nowadays, and heftier too. Above is a comparison against Titans Return Quake.
The robot weapon can attach on top of the shuttle. Unfortunately, there is no way for Megatronus to store anywhere in this mode, since Blast Off was originally a Combiner Wars mold.
Despite the arms on the sides, this is a nice jet mode.
TRANSFORMATION:
This is a Combiner Wars mold so the transformation is generic and laughably easy. Downside is that is feels boring but the back extends to become the legs, arms lift out to the side and the front folds onto his back to reveal the head.
ROBOT MODE:
The robot mode is a cross between the original G1 toy and the animation model. This is because he has the squared chest of the G1 toy but the blasters feet of the animation.
Unlike the Unite Warriors version where the front of the shuttle was used as the chest (although you can still do that), he has the underside as the chest.
The headsculpt is neat but the head is on a panel that doesn't peg into place. It doesn't flop or anything but is a nagging doubt in your head.
Blast Off loses a chunk of the shuttle's length in robot mode, thus he is a little bit shorter here but still around the average height of a Deluxe.
As you'd expect, Blast Off's poseability is decent. The best thing is that he has ankle joints to allow him to stand flat on the table in most poses.
The negative is that his hips, while on balljoints, are restricted in their outward movement.
Blast Off comes with two weapons, a small pistol and a bigger gun that is the combiner piece (that acts as a foot or limb).
He can easily hold the gun in either of his hands.
The combiner gun looks ridiculous and oversized but that is the price you pay and at least you can use the kibble for something.
One of the neat things about Blast Off is that he has 5mm posts at the end of his hands, giving him the option of having super big fists!
As if that wasn't enough, he has posts on the underside of his arms too, allowing him to carry his weapons in an underslung fashion.
Unfortunately, just like in jet mode, there is no way to incorporate Megatronus. Since the combiner feet uses the older design, it doesn't have a slot for Prime Masters.
A great robot mode overall with more than expected weapon options.
OVERALL:
It is nice to finally get the last version of a Combiner team member which didn't get a new mode in their original release, even if it took a few years and a special edition to do it. Blast Off looks good in both modes and the mold is nice. Megatronus is a superficial addition, particularly since Blast Off can't utilize him in any way. Since Blast Off isn't that much more expensive than a normal Deluxe, this is great value.
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As Blast Off was originally part of the Combiner Wars line, he can form either an arm or a leg.
Arm mode is the best since he has the iconic space shuttle cockpit as the shoulder.
While leg mode is fairly generic. Note that since he uses the older style of the combiner pieces, the foot mode isn't as stable.
As Blast Off was originally part of the Combiner Wars line, he can form either an arm or a leg.
Arm mode is the best since he has the iconic space shuttle cockpit as the shoulder.
While leg mode is fairly generic. Note that since he uses the older style of the combiner pieces, the foot mode isn't as stable.