Review: #897
Name: Megatron
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Decepticon
Line: Timelines
Year of Release: 2025
Size Class: Deluxe
Mold Status: new
PACKAGING:
Similar to the Optimus Prime / Starscream two-pack, Megatron comes with Bumblebee, and they're in a very nice box with a great looking piece of artwork on the cover.
Take the cover sleeve off and the figures are packaged in a book like packaging, that can open up with windows, so you display them like that if you didn't want to take them out.
ALTERNATE MODE:
Based on an unused design, Megatron transformed into a wheeled cannon, and has a medieval feel to him (the Hearts of Steel theme that this was based upon was kind of a cyberpunk theme).
While Megatron looks great from the front, the back isn't as good, as his folded up robot legs are there and looks somewhat awkward, but does mean he is super stable.
He is an okay size for a Deluxe, but he does feel quite light, and thanks to what must be a lot of hollow parts, which cheapens his feel despite the uniqueness of the design.
A quick shot with Bumblebee, and there is clearly a scale issue, especially with Bumblebee being so tiny himself.
The two big wheels roll, and there are actually two more small plastic wheels on the bottom of the back, so the whole cannon can roll on a flat surface, which is pretty cool (they could have just made him completely static to save costs).
The cannon itself doesn't have any articulation so it can only ever face straight forward. There are two small guns on either side of the wheels.
Looking down from above, you can see most of the robot, the back being the legs, and the middle the torso. The hips are completely visible.
This is such a unique mode for a Transformer that you cannot hate it.
TRANSFORMATION:
As you can guess from the alternate mode, Megatron has a simple transformation. The legs just unfold from behind. The arms are from the side. Remove the cannon and you can then flip out the head.
ROBOT MODE:
Despite the simple transformation, the robot mode looks pretty sharp, and the wheels as giant shoulder pads work so well thanks to each of the individual spikes being painted silver.
The only annoying kibble that he has are the semi-circular grey things on the outside of his forearms (which are used to hide the robot fists in cannon mode).
The head sculpt is classic Megatron.
He is taller than the usual Deluxe in robot mode, and the shoulder pads gives him the illusion of being bulkier than he truly is.
His only weapon in robot mode is the cannon.
The cannon is plugged on top of his forearm. He's not actually holding it in his hand even though it might look like it from a few angles.
Compared to Bumblebee, Megatron's much bigger, but he is also simpler in engineering.
With all four of the Hearts of Steel figures, they look so well together, and it is still amazing that these figures were even made since they're so niche and different.
Articulation is good, he has joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips, knees and ankles.
His legs are quite long, so he can look lanky. Just like in cannon mode, he can feel overly light and cheap for his size.
The shoulder pads are jointed so that they can get out of the way when posing the arms.
The grey used here is a tad bit on the lighter side and too close to "Hasbro grey", thankfully it's limited in use.
A good looking robot mode whose design may not be as unique as the cannon, but still more unique than most Transformers.
OVERALL:
If you're even marginally interested in the design, the Megatron is a good figure to get. Even if you're not sure what Hearts of Steel is, the alternate mode and the design is so unique, that he is worth getting. He's like a breath of fresh air being different to the typical Transformers we get nowadays.
-----------------------------------------------------------
(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases)
