Review: #864
Name: Hatchet
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Decepticon
Line: Generations - Studio Series
Year of Release: 2025
Size Class: Deluxe (Wave 27)
Mold Status: new
VEHICLE MODE:
Finally, for the first time, we get a Hatchet toy in a full sized Deluxe offering. He transforms into a Chevrolet Suburban car.
This is a pretty decent vehicle. It's high riding, although the only let down is this thing underneath sticking out the back, which is the robot mode's tail.
He is an okay size. He feels smaller than he should, given that he is supposed to be a large SUV, so he ends up being tall but narrow.
While there are some panel lines, thanks to the black, they're not that noticeable.
This is a great vehicle mode, and if you think about it, a lot of paint went into painting all the windows... so despite being a black vehicle, he isn't drab at all (plus all the lights are also painted).
TRANSFORMATION:
This is the biggest downside of the figure. Hatchet has a horrendous transformation, further ruined by panels that are only loosely attached via friction, so they constantly fall off. It's best to leave them detached when they inevitably fall off, and peg then back on in the end (it's more annoying getting into vehicle mode as a result). He's a big shellformer, as most of the vehicle shell ends up folding on top of each other, with the rear legs unfolding from the back, and the front legs from the front. Unfortunately, his tail is a separate piece that you need to attach yourself.
ROBOT MODE:
Hatchet has always had an interesting robot mode, being a quad-legged beast-like robot. At first glance, he's pretty good here.
He has a lot of kibble, but that's actually good as it helps bulk up his figure. His torso is actually quite skinny and insubstantial.
The head sculpt is one of the best things about this figure, it looks fantastic.
Another disappointing engineering aspect of the figure is his tail is a separate piece that you peg on, and it doesn't even peg on solidly. It likes to fall off if you accidentally touch it.
Hatchet is one of the last in the line to come with a cardboard stand, depicting the highway scene.
Articulation is okay... with joints for his head, and each leg has a hip, elbow and ankle joint.
However, given the inherent limitations of a quad-legged figure, Hatchet can't really do that many poses where he doesn't look lopsided or falls over.
The dreads on either side of his head are also not locked into place, so if you're moving his front legs or the head, they tend to fold back towards the center.
A good looking robot mode at first glance, but is filled with flaws.
OVERALL:
Hatchet as a design has a lot of potential. However the engineering effort that went into this toy is disappointing. We haven't had such a flawed figure in a long time. The pieces that are prone to constantly fall off, the poor transformation, and the lazy design elements, make Hatchet a hard one to recommend, unless you really want the only representation of the character we've had in all these years.
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