Review: #558
Name: Shockwave
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Decepticon
Line: Generations - Studio Series
Year of Release: 2019
Size Class: Leader (Wave 4)
Mold Status: new (but reuses parts from SS ROTF Megatron)
FIGURINES:
Lets first check out the three additional figurines included into the package, the first is a mini-figure of Brains. He's made of a soft silver plastic with blue "hair".
The second is Wheelie. He's also made of a soft plastic but has more paint applications, combining blue, black and red.
Unfortunately, these figurines are absolutely minuscule, to the point of wondering why they were included in the first place. You are bound to love them, they are literally 1.5 cm tall, making them something like one-sixth of a typical Legion figure.
Finally, there is a paratrooper figure, complete with a fabric parachute and strings. He is bigger than Brains and Wheelie, and is of a size that you'd expect (therefore this makes Brains and Wheelie to scale...).
These three figures supposedly help bridge the gap between Shockwave's slightly bigger Voyager mass and the Leader price point but in reality, fails completely.
TANK MODE:
Anyway, it's time to focus on the positives and that is Shockwave himself (since you bought it for Shockwave, not for the three figurines).
Shockwave's alternate mode was always a bit iffy since it is a Cybertronian tank. It doesn't look too much like your traditional tank, and has whiffs of a "robot lying down with some parts rearranged" smell to him.
The rubber hose that attaches from the thrusters to the cannon isn't quite long enough and so it tightly rubs against the side. This is a bit of a design oversight and a disappointing one.
Shockwave is officially a Leader class figure and above is a comparison against Age of Extinction Optimus.
However, the core of the figure is actually Studio Series ROTF Megatron, which was originally a Voyager class figure. Above is a comparison against Deluxe Bumblebee, and while Shockwave is definitely heftier than a Voyager, he is not that much more so, at least not to the degree of what you would expect of a Leader class.
There are some plastic wheels at the bottom to allow him to roll. Note that he does actually have some treads, but these are hidden (and are the same as ROTF Megatron's).
The back is a bit hollow and the tank can look quite messy, but is at the very least passable.
TRANSFORMATION:
This is where the re-engineering shows its cleverness. There are some elements that you'll feel is familiar if you have transformed Studio Series ROTF Megatron but the bulk of it is new. The legs unpeg from the side, while the arms unfold from the top. The thrusters shift up his back and this whole while, the hose does not detach.
ROBOT MODE:
Robot mode is seriously where Shockwave excels and he looks absolutely amazing in this mode. The proportions are perfect and he looks extremely imposing.
There's a distinct lack of kibble. He wears the thrusters on his back and he has his iconic hose, but these are all on purpose.
The headsculpt looks evil, as befitting of the Movie version of Shockwave. It is on a balljoint and has plenty of motion.
A comparison against a Leader and Deluxe, and he is right in the middle of both. It's a bit of a harder sell in robot mode when he is literally the height of a Voyager and not much bulkier.
While not exactly the ROTF version, he shares quite a few parts with the jet version of Megatron as well, and he is actually shorter than the Voyager version...
As part of the Studio Series line, he comes with a cardboard stand.
The backdrop is that of the city that was the battleground during the climax of Dark of the Moon.
The bulk of the mass that makes him bigger than a Voyager is the cannon arm, and it is a really nice piece of sculpting. It also has a movable thumb to really sell the fact that it is a natural part of Shockwave.
Shockwave has big heelspurs but they don't work very well, are flimsy and do not actually lie flat on the surface.
In terms of poseability, Shockwave is pretty decent. The hose on his right arm does not get in the way at all.
Noteworthy is that there are several pieces that uses soft plastic: the very tip of the cannon, leg spikes, his left hand and the sword on his left arm.
As the sword is made of soft plastic, it doesn't fit quite right into its slot and can be a bit loose.
Interestingly enough, Shockwave is largely black plastic with a metallic purple paint wash. There are only a few areas where it is purple plastic or painted a solid purple.
When you put Brains and Wheelie together with Shockwave, it shows off how small they both are.
Nevertheless, this is a great looking robot mode.
OVERALL:
Ignoring price for a second, Shockwave has a really nice robot mode, and a so so tank mode. If he was sold as a Voyager, then he would be an easy buy. Being sold as a Leader though, and it is a tougher sell. Despite the three additional (tiny) figurines, it doesn't quite bridge the price gap. He is definitely stunning in hand but the value is just a tad bit off.
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