Review: #675
Name: Starscream
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Decepticon
Line: Generations - Studio Series
Year of Release: 2021
Size Class: Voyager (Wave 12)
Mold Status: new
JET MODE:
Despite turning into a jet, Starscream has a very unique jet mode. It's a Cybertronian tetrajet, as seen in the Bumblebee movie.
At first glance, this is a really messy jet mode with a ton of undercarriage kibble. However, if you compare it against the CG model, then you can see what the designer was going for. It helps that there are visible thrusters at the back to help sell the jet mode.
All that undercarriage kibble, which is formed by the robot arms and the gun pegged onto the bottom, is the third wing underneath the body. Knowing that, it looks somewhat okay.
In terms of size, Starscream is actually one of the bigger Voyager figures in the line, and he feels quite big and hefty in your hand.
There are visible robot parts although it does a good enough job at trying to blend in. The jet mode does grow on you, although the wings on either side can feel a bit flimsy.
It's hard to say whether this is a good jet or not. Taking into account what the designer was aiming for, you do appreciate the mode a bit more.
TRANSFORMATION:
Transformation is surprisingly complicated, and despite sharing similar robot design with Blitzwing, Starscream has a completely different transformation with no shared parts. The bottom third wing splits to form the arms. The thrusters and part of the fuselage on top unfold to form the legs. Then it's just folding the nose down for the torso, and angling the wings. However, there are numerous smaller panels that you need to manipulate to shift everything to where they need to go. It is quite satisfying.
ROBOT MODE:
The robot mode is definitely Starscream's stronger mode and it is a great blend of movie and G1 aesthetics. There are some iconic Starscream elements such as the color scheme and the air intakes on either side of his head.
For such a bulky jet, he doesn't have much kibble, just a few pieces tucked onto his back.
The head sculpt is messy and it can be hard to make out some of the details unless you look very carefully.
In terms of size, Starscream is once again a fairly sizable Voyager. It also helps that he isn't full of hollow parts, he just feels very solid in your hands.
And now a comparison with Blitzwing and you can see that yes, they share similar designs, but every single piece is different, it's really impressive that Hasbro didn't go the lazy route.
As part of the Studio Series line, Starscream does come with a cardboard stand.
The stand shows off the scene from Cybertron.
In terms of articulation, Starscream has joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles.
Each figure will vary, but due to the thinness of his wings, and the twisting required, they can detach fairly easy at times.
Starscream has two null-rays, they usually stay pegged on the wings on his back but he can also hold them as handheld weapons.
Sadly, the designer neglected to mold a slot on his arms so Starscream cannot use the null-rays like his G1 incarnation. It's either as handheld weapons or as adornments on his wings.
The other weapon, and this is his main one, is a triple barreled gun.
Starscream basically holds the gun in his hands, and the biggest flaw here is that the gun doesn't look integrated into his arm. Rather it just looks like he is awkwardly holding onto it.
It's a shame that they went for transparent plastic for the actual cockpit, but yellow paint for the false cockpit, so that they clash against each other.
Nevertheless, this is an excellent robot mode and one of the best that the line has to offer.
OVERALL:
Starscream is a surprisingly good toy. You might not have expected so given the messy jet mode, but it manages to pull it off after a while, and the robot mode is simply amazing. He's pretty good value too in terms of size, complete with a complex yet easy to figure out transformation scheme.
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