Review: #749
Name: Inferno
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Predacon
Line: Generations - Legacy
Year of Release: 2022
Size Class: Voyager (Wave 3)
Mold Status: new
ALTERNATE MODE:
Based upon his Beast Wars appearance, and the first update to the character we've seen since the original toy that's based on Season 1, Inferno transforms into a red ant.
It's a decent ant, but instead of a smooth metallic texture, we get a lumpy surface, and a dull-ish red, so it doesn't match the TV show that much.
Inferno is a Voyager figure, and he is fairly big as a result, especially for an insect. Above is a comparison with Siege Optimus Prime.
The robot weapon can peg on his back, facing forward. Unfortunately, there's no space in his abdomen to store it in ant mode.
The mandibles can open and close, while the antennae can also move up and down.
Unlike the original toy, the ant legs aren't the robot legs, so there's good and bad relating to this choice. It benefits ant mode though.
A good solid beast mode, with the only thing that could improve it is making it a smoother texture (it's the same conscious choice made by the designer, since Optimus Primal also had fur instead of a smooth surface more akin to the show).
TRANSFORMATION:
Inferno is a good difficulty, as he is not too difficult and also not too simple. The abdomen opens up into three pieces, with a four faux piece for robot mode. The robot legs then fold down, while the head splits open to reveal the robot head. Once you've fold the arms out from underneath the main body, the ant head can fold down to form the torso.
ROBOT MODE:
Inferno's robot mode is good, and it conveys the big bulky look that he had in the show.
The back may look kibbly but it is Inferno's iconic design element, especially since he used it to fly in the show. What's more, it can manually rotate (there's no spring loaded spinning gimmick this time around).
The head sculpt is perfect, accurately capturing Inferno's crazed personality, it's also painted a nice metallic blue. The mouth can open, and it's just so perfect for the character.
In terms of size, he's about standard, although there are a few hollow parts. Rather, they're not visibly hollow, just that he feels lighter than you'd expect for something this size.
And with Inferno, we've finally gotten an update for the whole Season 1 Beast Wars cast (over two lines, Kingdom and Legacy), and that is an amazing feat that sometimes, you don't know whether it would have been able to be reached at all.
Articulation is good, he has joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, hips, knees and ankles.
He has his gun, which is a piece of transparent red plastic with a lot of paint over it.
He can hold the gun in either hand, and the disproportionately large gun in his hand is exactly how it was in the show as well.
The gun's storage is at his back, which is designed to mimic the propellant / engine that he used to fly in the show, which is a nice touch.
The only thing negative here are the ant legs, which just stick out oddly and in the way, especially the ones on his back.
A strong robot mode and a great update to the character.
OVERALL:
This is a figure that's long overdue. For a Season 1 cast member who had a sizable amount of screentime, it was a shame to never get any new toys for him. Finally, we get an update and it's one that, while not perfect, is still very nice. Inferno is a solid figure that's worth purchasing.
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