Review: #527
Name: Long Haul
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Decepticon
Line: Generations - Studio Series
Year of Release: 2019
Size Class: Voyager (Wave 7)
Mold Status: new
VEHICLE MODE:
Based on his appearance in Revenge of the Fallen, Long Haul gets a new toy in Voyager class and transforms into a dark green dump truck.
At first glance, the dump truck looks pretty good. It doesn't hold together too well though since there is too much pressure on the bed and joints like to pop off.
Looking from above you can see what the real problem is. Instead of a smooth bed, there are exposed robot arms and this is a really disappointing aspect of the figure. Unlike the previous figure, he also loses the ability to tilt the bed.
This is a compact truck, above is a comparison against Titans Return Optimus. He is pretty hefty though since the figure is compacted into a smaller footprint.
An okay vehicle mode, passable but only because compromises would have had to have been made for the combined mode.
TRANSFORMATION:
Transformation is really boring and nothing jumps out as being clever. A huge part of the vehicle panels forms a backpack. The front just folds out in two twists into the robot legs, the bed splits to form the arms and that's pretty much, the only surprise is how simple it is.
ROBOT MODE:
No matter the flaw of vehicle mode or the transformation, the robot mode is stellar and is really accurate to the movie design,
He has a huge backpack comprised of various panels and they don't lock together securely. Picking him up will most likely dislodge a piece or two.
The headsculpt is fantastic with the highlighted areas showcasing the intricate sculpting. Due to its design, while it can turn, it can be hard to grip to turn it.
Long Haul is short and stocky. Above is a comparison against Studio Series Optimus (Bumblebee movie).
As part of the Studio Series line, he comes with a cardboard stand.
The stand depicts the pyramids in the desert scene where the Constructicons combined together to form Devastator.
Poseability is okay, he has shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. Due to the way the feet are folded down, they like to fold back up.
The biggest negative is that Long Haul doesn't come with any sort of weapon. The designer could have easily added in a flip-out axe in the arm kibble like the original Voyager toy.
You can fold out the kibble to try and give him something like a weapon but it is just not the same.
A great looking robot let down with limited articulation and the lack of a weapon.
OVERALL:
If you're wanting to form Devastator, Long Haul is an essential purchase. The figure itself is solid, the biggest positive being that it is screen accurate to the character. Unfortunately, the play value suffers with a bland transformation and limited articulation in robot mode.
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