Review: #760
Name: Menasor
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Decepticon
Line: Generations - Legacy
Year of Release: N/A
Size Class: N/A
Mold Status: new
STUNTICONS:
Menasor is a combiner comprised of five Stunticons: Motormaster, Breakdown, Dead End, Drag Strip and Wild Rider.
As a group, they look really good together, and the biggest benefit of the Legacy versions is that they are very G1 focused and inspired.
This is doubly true in robot mode, where even the aesthetics are more of an upgrade of the G1 versions rather than a reimagination like many previous Generations toys.
It's a shame that the engineering of the Deluxes are so similar. Breakdown and Wild Rider are basically the same mold, while Dead End and Drag Strip share a lot of the engineering design, even if they are a completely different mold.
TRANSFORMATION:
The unique aspect of this version is that is uses the G1 cartoon episodes where Menasor's combiner form was more of a giant robot with the rest of the Stunticons hanging off its limbs, rather than becoming the limbs itself. Therefore, you have Drag Strip and Dead End in vehicle modes which peg onto the arms. There is a tab underneath that then allows the pair to separate into halves so that Menasor retains his arm articulation. On the other hand, Breakdown and Wild Rider are also in their vehicle forms and pegs solider into the back of each leg, which folds the panels forward to cover up the shins.
MENASOR:
This is definitely a unique Menasor for sure, and one that hasn't really been tried before.
It's a good attempt but the biggest negative are the legs, since Breakdown and Wild Rider form the back of the legs, they are hidden from the front, which makes Menasor seem less like a combiner. It also means that he lacks the color variety that you usually associate with combiners since both his shins are unpainted grey. One thing to note is that you can only swap Breakdown and Wild Rider around, otherwise, every other Stunticon cannot be swapped around or between an arm and a leg.
The head sculpt is good, and is on a swivel so he can look from side to side.
As expected, Menasor is a big figure, given that Motormaster (being the base) is a Commander sized figure. Above is a comparison against a Leader sized figure.
Unfortunately, not all pieces are used in this mode. There's the gun turret, and then all of the guns from the individual Stunticons. It's a shame that the designer didn't manage to allow them to combine into a bigger gun or something. At least you can kind of plug them to the base of the turret so it won't get lost as easily.
Articulation is very good here, given that the Stunticons just attach to the limbs and don't get in the way. Menasor has ratchets for his shoulders, elbows, waist, hips, knees and ankles.
The individual Stunticons also attach very securely, which isn't necessarily always a given. Each Stunticon has several points that pegs onto the limbs.
Naturally, being a combination of a Commander plus four Deluxe figures, he is hefty and can be a bit unwieldy at times.
It's unfortunate that Menasor doesn't have a good weapon. He has the sword from Motormaster, but whereas it was too big for Motormaster, it's too small for Menasor.
Similarly for the turret, Menasor just towers over it so it looks somewhat ridiculous.
Nevertheless, this is an impressive robot mode and one that works much better than expected.
OVERALL:
Menasor is a good set. It's pretty good that Motormaster himself can form a functional skeleton of Menasor, but having the rest of the Stunticons filling out the gaps, does make him feel much more whole and complete. In his combined form, he is extremely solid and is something that you feel can still hold together even through play, which is doubly impressive.
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