Review: #746
Name: Victory Leo
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: HasLab
Year of Release: 2022
Size Class: N/A
Mold Status: new
BEAST MODE:
As part of the Victory Saber set comes Victory Leo, who transforms into a robotic lion. As expected from a G1 take on beasts, Victory Leo is blocky and chunky.
The back is pretty much a cube, and the tail is a short chubby thing but surprisingly this mode works. It helps that there is a pair of long guns, and then an even bigger gigantic gun in the middle, which gives him a powerful look.
Victory Leo is approximately Voyager sized, but heftier than one. Above is a comparison with Leader TLK Optimus, and Voyager Siege Optimus.
The head sculpt for the lion is pretty decent, and the mouth can open and close as part of transformation. However, annoying, the mane on either side is usually pulled out, but can easily be accidentally pushed back in.
There is some articulation here. His front legs are much more poseable as they're the robot arms, so they have three joints. The rear legs are more static but still have hips and knees. The head can turn as part of transformation but it is not recommended. You can also take the guns off his back but this will leave gaps on top, and the toy isn't really designed to be displayed with them off.
As the set includes six fire effects, which combine into two bigger effects, they can be attached to the cannons on Victory Leo's back and they look very nice.
One thing is note is that the set comes with two stickers that form the red detailing on the tips of his wings. This is quite disappointment but even more so when the stickers are small and finnicky to attach.
This is a good mode, it's not the best or the most convincing, but it is faithful to the G1 design.
TRANSFORMATION (JET MODE):
To get Victory Leo into jet mode is quite easy. You rotate all the guns 180 degrees so that they face the other way, and then flip the lion's head up into the gap. Then you fold up all the legs and then flip up the tips of the wings so that they're longer, flip it 180 degrees so that the back is the front and you're done.
JET MODE:
To be honest, the jet mode is one of those third modes that's just here because if you squint, it could pass off as another mode. It adds play value without compromising the figure too much, and it was in the original design so it had to be included.
That isn't to say that this is a good mode, since it's pretty much just a block with wings. It works better than expected due to the guns but it's a fairly forgettable mode.
Again, it's approximately the size of a Voyager classed figure.
The effects parts can also attach to the guns here, and it can look like a tank more than a jet when you do this.
Needless to say, he looks great with Star Saber although to be fair, this mode purely exists to combine with Star Saber and not really to display separately.
A forgettable mode but at least it doesn't compromise the figure so it didn't hurt the figure to include it.
TRANSFORMATION (ROBOT MODE):
Despite being a biggish figure, and an expensive one to boot, the transformation is extremely simple. The front of the jet (the lion's rear) splits into two and then extends to form the legs. The lion's front legs form the arms, and the lion's head clips onto the top of the torso to become the head. To reveal the face, you flip the black piece up, although this piece is so tight that there is a real risk that it'll break and snap off.
ROBOT MODE:
Victory Leo's robot mode is pure G1 with its blockiness. That isn't to say it is bad, since it has its own charms.
He doesn't have too much kibble, only the lion's rear legs on the side of his legs. The guns on his back pointing upwards look very nice.
The head sculpt is fine, it's big given that it is the lion's head. He has a chromed chest too (but watch out for chrome flaking, there are some minor quality control issues with this set).
In terms of size, he stands taller than a typical Voyager, and shorter than a Leader. He's around halfway between the two sizes, although considering how much Leaders have shrunk, and given Victory Leo's mass, he's on par with a Leader (but much more simple in design).
Poseability is quite good as he has joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, hips, knees and ankles. He doesn't have a waist joint due to transformation.
The guns can point forward as shoulder cannons, and yes, this never gets old and looks awesome. The guns can also detach and attach to his forearms instead but they don't look as good like that.
As you'd expect, the fire effects parts can attach to the end of the guns as well.
While not in the instructions, the included Micromasters Holi and Fire can combine into a weapon, and only Victory Leo can hold it, given that Star Saber's forearms get in the way, preventing that figure from wielding it.
Of course, there's the humungous V-Lock cannon, and the huge size actually lends well to Victory's Leo's bulky figure.
A slight annoying is due to the tighter hip ratchets, when you want to spread his legs, you'll more than likely split the thighs as part of transformation rather than using the hip ratchets.
This is a good robot mode and pairs well with Star Saber.
OVERALL:
If Victory Leo was released as a standalone figure, most likely as a Leader classed figure, then his simplicity might have put you off. However, as part of the set, and with a decent amount of paint applications and accessories, Victory Leo is a great piece. He is a tad bit too simple for something this size but considering what he has to do (lion mode, robot mode, jet mode to combine with Star Saber, and combined mode for Victory Saber), it's forgivable and surprisingly, he isn't that compromised as a figure at all.
-------------------------------------------------