Toy Review: Transformers DOTM Autobot Ratchet Lunar Crawler

Review:  #69
Name:  Ratchet
Brand:  Transformers
Allegiance:  Autobot
Line:  Dark of the Moon
Year of Release:  2011
Size Class:  Cyberverse Playset (Wave 3)
Variations:  the Legion toy is a repaint of the DOTM Ratchet (which was also repainted into various exclusive packs)

Note:  for this review I am going to focus on the Ratchet standalone toy first, before I move onto the playset itself.

VEHICLE MODE:

Ratchet transforms into the same vehicle as he had done in all three movies, however, this time, he is in white with blue highlights.  It does make him look a bit odd as the two colours somehow managed to clash, or maybe it's due to the weird metallic bronze/gold paint.

Overall, I'd say it's a well formed vehicle mode, and certainly better than the previous Legends mold.  The back has some gaps, which, while it doesn't look good, can be forgiven at this scale.  All four wheels roll, but that's the only play value Ratchet has.

While the original green version had a spare tyre on the roof, Ratchet has this part replaced with something that is a 5mm hole.  It looks odd there and I don't really know what it represents.

However, that allows the claw to plug onto the back (which is needed for one of the molds), it looks a bit ridiculous to be honest since the claw is so much out of proportion.  A really solid vehicle mode.

TRANSFORMATION:

A really simple transformation that works well.  It's very intuitive, and fun.  Granted, due to the way the arms form, there are major hinges in vehicle mode but I really like the transformation.  It makes Ratchet feel very solid.

ROBOT MODE:

As great as the vehicle might be (and it's decent), the robot mode is better.  He has near perfect proportions and invoke the character very well (apart from the different colour scheme, obviously).  However, in these colours, it doesn't feel like Ratchet, the white and bronze seems off.

He has the roof of the vehicle as a backpack and it impedes his legs a little bit.  Ratchet has a very solid robot mode, not flimsy and even without heel spurs, he won't fall over backwards any time soon.

The only thing that feels restrictive is the articulation (which is pretty much 95% of complaints of these small sized figures).  Weirdly, they have the elbow balljoints in such a way that he can only bend them with his hand facing the air.  Shoulder movement is limited only to swivels and his legs are one solid piece.

For such a small figure, they have packed a huge amount of detail into the head sculpt.  I've seen someone comment that it looks more like Optimus Primal than Ratchet and I can somewhat see that.

There's probably some reduction in size compared to figures from earlier lines, but he doesn't feel as small or as flimsy as Bumblebee.

Not mentioned on the packaging, this set also includes a smaller crawler, that can fold in half into Ratchet's (oversized) gun.

You can only plug the gun onto Ratchet's right hand, why they couldn't sculpt the other hand to hold something I do not know (which is annoying coz all DOTM Legion toys have this asymmetry).  A robot mode that's great to look at, but not so much when it comes to posing.

LUNAR CRAWLER (CRAWLER MODE):

The lunar crawler is based on the one seen in the movie, when the Autobots went onto the moon.  At first glimpse, it's pretty accurate, and looks good.  The claw is jointed in three places, basically just three hinges, a and swivels at the base and the claw.  This makes it fairly versatile.

There's some decent paint apps but nothing that strikes you as jarring.  There's some grey plastic wheels on the treads (obviously they don't work like treads should) that allows it to roll, but like with many figures, the crawler tends to slide rather than roll.

Something that's quite disappointing is that the crawler is basically a shell.  There is not underside to speak off, it's a huge gap, and this impacts greatly as it makes the whole thing feel hollow, fragile and cheap.  I understand that at this price point, I shouldn't expect anything more, but it just surprised me when I took it out of the box.

The claw itself is spring loaded, you can retract the white thing on top to close the claw, releasing your hand will make it open again.

Although there's some nice sculpting, the treads is like an indistinct lump.  There's quite a few elements that are not fixed into place, which is annoying when you hold it and pieces start to shift.

Still, it's a decent crawler, and it's a pretty big size.  I'm glad they made the claw fairly articulated as it adds quite a bit to the play value.

TRANSFORMATION (TO REPAIR STATION):

It's a really simple transformation that basically involves you flipping all the panels up so the thing becomes flat.  It's simple, and it somewhat works.  Obviously, on a complexity level, it's disappointing, the transformation of some legends toys are more complex, and more fun, than this.

LUNAR CRAWLER (REPAIR STATION MODE):

We now focus upon the mode where most people would buy the figure for, a repair station.  It fits into the medical role of Ratchet really well.  However, this mode is basically just the crawler with all pieces flattening out.  There's not much transforming here.

However, it's still a really really cool mode and looks decent.  I like how the claw now acts as a repair claw, but due to the large pieces, it's somewhat awkward it pose it such that it seems like it's fixing the robot lying on it.

It's best to leave this on the table, as it's unstable when you're holding it in your hands.  Like the crawler, nothing is fixed into place, it all relies on gravity, that isn't to say it's an unstable mess, it displays just fine.

Although it's long enough for some scout classed figures, it's not wide enough, so I recommend having legends instead.  It's a pretty cool mode overall but I wouldn't say it's better than the crawler's (just because the crawler is so much more defined and seemed to have been the focus of the designer).

TRANSFORMATION (TO COMBAT VEHICLE):

From the lunar crawler, it's very easy, as easy as going to the repair station.  It kind of cheats a bit by having the claw detach and reattach onto Ratchet's vehicle mode.  I thought it was actually pretty ingenious at how the whole thing flips upside down, and with a few minor twists, you've got the wheels touching the ground again ready for rolling.  I honestly believe this is the lunar crawler's best transformation, purely because it surprised me.

LUNAR CRAWLER (COMBAT VEHICLE MODE):

Probably the mode that is the most overlooked, yet, it's one of the better modes in this set.  Why?  It feels the most solid.  Ratchet slots into the empty gap we had in the lunar crawler, and although there's way more space than he needs, it makes a huge difference in how it feels in your hands.

It looks really good too, surprisingly.  For some reason, I just get a vibe from Death Race.  The claw somehow feels very natural and it looks like Ratchet is ready for some battle.  You can plug in the gun (and this weird detachable white thing) onto two peg holes on the side 'spoilers'.

One thing that's flaw is how Ratchet is held there.  Only by friction from the two pieces of the grey cage on top.  It does not clip securely, it would have been better if there were some grooves to fit onto the vehicle or something.

Ratchet also looks like he's ready for race, having a speedy appearance.  Fairly streamlined, the claw is still adjustable and he has a cow catcher-ish attack piece at the front (or he could be just a snow plow type vehicle...).

In this mode, he's bigger than a deluxe, yet, the size is deceptive as he doesn't have the same density.  A surprisingly good mode.

OVERALL:

One of the better Cyberverse playsets, Megatron is still the best.  However, there's some clever thinking of the modes here, and it's quite cool if you think about it:  the same claw in each of the three configuration perform different jobs, picking and investigating samples for the crawler, repairing robots in the repair station, or attacking other robots/vehicles in the combat vehicle.  The lunar crawler looks good, but it basically just a big piece of hollow plastic.  Considering the pricing (around that of a scout), it's worth it, if only for the amount of plastic.  In terms of complexity and the satisfaction of a Transformer?  It's lacking.

---------------------------------------

If it takes your fancy, other reviews can be found on this page.

Book Review: Black Cat Volume 20: A Carefree Tomorrow

Review:  #151
Title:  Black Cat Volume 20:  A Carefree Tomorrow
Series:  Black Cat - 20th volume
Author:  Kentaro Yabuki
Read Before:  no
My Comments:  This volume marks the ending of Black Cat, and it's a satisfying end.  The fight of Train against Creed was intense and good here, Imagine Blade Level 3 is so so, a bit ugly, but I liked the Maximum Level version, and it was somehow fitting as the ultimate attack of Creed.  The final attack that Train used to defeat Creed was fitting as well, his Rail Gun technique using a Burst Bullet, but I didn't really like how Saya appeared in some sort of spirit form, it kind of didn't fit into story.  I get what the author is trying to convey but I just don’t like these spirit ideas, this happened in Volume 18 with the Doctor as well, it felt like an easy way out.  Eve and Sven’s battle against the Demon Star Force was great, and we finally get to see an Eve who is not weak or needs someone’s help.  The ending worked, with Creed still alive but broken, I especially like the way how Train says that he is not a God, but is a man, right where Creed is most vulnerable.  The final chapter wasn't that enlightening, and there are a few story arcs that haven’t been finished, like Lugart Won (he never appeared after Volume 5 to come back and fight Train) and Charden (we only see him in a frame in the final chapter, but did he stop pursuing Chronos??).  I wished we saw more of the Chrono Numbers and even Kyoko appearing more than just an illusion (maybe helping out in the final battles on the island?), but I do like how Train’s gun broke in that final attack.  To be honest, I’m surprised at all the gore and blood in this series, and there were quite a few deaths.  All in all, a critical volume, and provides a nice ending to this series.
Rating:  7.5/10

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Even though it was first released 18 years ago, it withstood the test of time and was released on DVD once again during last Christmas 2011.  Anyway, I brought it since it was a good price.  The Nightmare Before Christmas was, and is, a good film, and I love it.  The attention to detail of some of the characters and background was what made it so fascinating and captivating to watch.  There were so many classic scenes.  To be honest to myself though, I'm quite a bit biased towards this film due to nostalgia, frankly put, the story had so much potential, not that anything was wrong, but the film felt too short!!! There were so many areas it could expand upon, I wanted to see more.  The story never really picked up pace, but I'm being unfair, since it's focus wasn't on that (unlike films these days).  The music and songs were great, I liked most, if not all of them, and it shows how subpar some recent Animated musicals could be (even Corpse Bride didn't have that many "instant like" songs).

I cannot express how I love the originality here, with the different towns for each different holiday, and this was where I wish that Jack Skellington could have visited some other worlds, so we get to have a look at what they are like.

In terms of special features, it's nice that they put in a fair amount into the DVD, especially with the trend of stripping all special features in the DVD release due to the push of Blu-Ray.  Granted it's put onto two discs, but there's a fair amount on it (not that I'm too interested).  Deleted scenes were okay, the animated ones were nice to look at, and I kinda wished they did put it in.  The quality stacks up really well, the digital remastering worked (especially when you compared it to the originals).

Book Review: Black Cat Volume 19: As a Sweeper

Review:  #150
Title:  Black Cat Volume 19:  As a Sweeper
Series:  Black Cat - 19th volume
Author:  Kentaro Yabuki
Read Before:  no
My Comments:  Epic, these last few volumes has been great with the fight scenes, this final story arc has been great, and I’ve been looking forward to every single chapter so far.  The first part of the volume focuses on the fight between Sephiria and Creed, and for Chrono Number I, it was a disappointing fight.  She is supposed to be the captain of the Chrono Numbers, and one of the strongest, but I didn't see any evidence of that.  It could have been awesome, since she also wields a blade, but none of the techniques were staggering or stunning, just disappointing how fast the battle ended on her loss overall.  I guess it’s to set up the next part where Train starts on Creed, and the beginning of the fight is great, too bad you have to wait until the next volume for the next half of it, but Creed attains Imagine Blade Level 3 right at the end… so I’m waiting in anticipation to see how Train would defeat him, alive, especially when Creed is near immortal due to his rapid healing powers.  Creed’s thinking is still as twisted as ever and it’s good to see Eve holding her own against some powerful enemies, but Train and Creed does steal the spotlight.  I was just disappointed with Sephiria’s powers, all through the series it was kinda hyped up at how powerful she is, but it doesn't deliver.  The bonus chapter at the end on how Train met Sven was cool, and typical of Train, so it’s a good volume.
Rating:  7.5/10

Toy Review: Transformers Masterpiece Starscream (Walmart Version)

Review:  #68
Name:  Starscream
Brand:  Transformers
Allegiance:  Decepticon
Line:  Classics/Masterpiece
Year of Release:  2006
Size Class:  Masterpiece
Variations:  a repaint from TakaraTomy's MP-03 Masterpiece Starscream, this was also repainted into Skywarp and Thundercracker

PACKAGING:

Don't know why I really bothered but here's some packaging shots for the figure.  Although he's in Classics packaging, in my mind, Starscream belongs to the Masterpiece line since the mold originated from there.

The shape of the packaging is odd, and doesn't store very well.  However, it does look pretty good.

On either side, the packaging displays some of the (numerous) gimmicks of the figure.

At least on a packaging this big, you can afford to detail the more intricate features.

The top is nice, with a molded Decepticon symbol and molded "MASTERPIECE STARSCREAM" with silver detailing, which looks really good.  I personally still prefer the Japanese packaging though.

The first of Starscream's accessories that he comes with is an all white (except for the face where it's painted) Dr Arkeville, the villain from a few of a the cartoon episodes.  It's really really small and easily lost, and he doesn't add much to the playability.  Okay, now, please be prepared for a long drawn out review.

JET MODE:

Starscream's alternate mode is a F-15 Eagle fighter jet, just like what his G1 self was.  Unlike the multitude of G1 Starscream based toys, this jet is probably one, if not the, most accurate to the actual plane of them all.

There are so many details here it's not funny.  The whole body has detail sculpting, and there's a black paint wash over the entire jet.  He features three point landing gear, with actual rolling wheels (not that you would expect less at this scale).

Undercarriage kibble is pretty much non-existent, he's very sleek and slim, particularly when viewed from the side.  The engineering in the figure to create this is quite a feat.

Once you start delving into the gimmicks, you can tell by the sheer number that the designers has focused more on the plane mode than robot (which makes it a weird twist).

The first is the cockpit.  Starscream is big enough such that he can feature an opening cockpit, and there's some nice detailing inside, well, alright, there's only a molded seat and a huge gap at the back (which is completely unnecessary) but it's nice that they included the feature.

You can also put Dr Arkeville into the seat, he's molded to fit into the seat comfortably.  Although I don't see much point since he just rattles inside there anyway.

Next up is the nosecone (which has black spray fade out effect) which opens to reveal a radar dish (but unpainted).

Starscream also comes with a small black clip that pegs onto the underside of the nosecone and if you've got Masterpiece Optimus Prime/Convoy (or any of it's repaints/repackages), then you can plug the mini-Megatron underneath.  This configuration emulates the one time in the cartoon that they did that (however, in that instance, Megatron was as big as Starscream himself, sadly, you can't attach Masterpiece Megatron instead).

Then there's the various panels on the plane that opens to reveal detailing (?), I'm not really sure if this is realistic but they must have put it in for a reason...

There are also opening panels by the thrusters.

The thrusters themselves are on balljoints.

The wing flaps are also adjustable (although they're more so because they are required for transformation).

Starscream is big, very big, he's actually longer than Masterpiece Optimus (the one in the picture is Universe Deluxe Starscream though).

He's just barely longer than Leader Movie Starscream (which is a pretty big leader toy itself).  Starscream's size is impressive.

Another gimmick he has is that he has interchangeable weapons.  Well, one's primarily for his jet, and another's for his robot, but you can plug whichever one you want.  The first is the missile racks.  Or you can opt to use his iconic null rays instead.

If you use the null rays, this makes him just that slightly less realistic, but you'll get a more authentic Starscream jet... it all boils down to personal preference.

And now, FINALLY, the last part.  Starscream comes with a stand, which I recommend using since it makes him look so much better.  It shows off Starscream in a kind of taking off angle and this angle really emphasizes how sleek he is.

The stand also serves as a storage point, you can plug in most of the unused accessories here.  The extra weapons can plug in at the front, while the Megatron clip goes underneath.  Sadly, the Dr Arkeville figure doesn't really go anywhere but I guess you can put him in the cockpit.

An excellent jet mode that's perfect for display.  He looks great, and if you're not looking closely, you can't really tell that he's a Transformer.  The stand is a great addition and the paint job is good.

TRANSFORMATION:

Starscream has a very complex transformation.  The way the two side torso pieces fold out can be annoying (as bits seem to get in their way).  It feels elegant though, and works very well.  Getting the transformation to start can be somewhat heart wrecking, due to how everything is pegged together tightly and getting just that first panel out is hard (it feels like the plastic is going to give way first).  The tail fins are somewhat fragile, especially the white ones, as they are attached only via friction joints, and those joints stress very easily if by mistake you fold it the wrong way.  Generally, the basic transformation is similar to all the other Starscreams out there in that the cockpit folds to become the chest and the head is revealed there, arms fold out from the torso and the legs extend.  Not a bad transformation, does take some getting used it, but at times, it feels that the transformation doesn't go easy on the plastic.

ROBOT MODE:

First of all, I recommend using the stand for robot mode, not only coz it looks better, but more importantly, it's more stable.  Starscream has huge trouble standing on his own (it's possible, but unstable), and he's fragile, so you don't want him falling over any time soon.

Other than that, he's an okay robot, you can clearly tell that the designer focused more on the jet mode coz there are some things left to be desired.  He has considerable panel kibble, although they don't protrude much, the way they fold and are situated, it makes Starscream quite unwieldy.  Then there's also the huge tail fin pieces on either side of the hips, you would wonder would it have been so hard to integrate it to the legs just like the original?

Starscream has a very stylised design, and it takes some getting used to, particularly when compared to other Masterpiece figures.  In terms of accessories, you can keep the missile racks attached to the wings (which is now on the back) and since Dr Arkeville doesn't plug in anywhere (and doesn't fit in his cockpit anymore), you can get Starscream to hold it in his hands.

Speaking of his hands, Starscream's hands are articulated.  Due to the smaller size, it's not to the same degree of flexibility as Optimus'.  His forefinger and thumb are individually articulated (forefinger has two points of articulation) and the rest are all jointed as one.  Even though, it's quite flimsy and more often than not, it'll fall apart as you're trying to make him grab something.

Starscream can also hold the Megatron gun that came with MP Convoy (or any of it's iterations), and he looks much more suitable here.  Starscream's poseability is okay, hindered primarily by his reliance on the stand, and his hips cannot lift too far due to the tail fins.

Another gimmick that Starscream has is that his chest turbines can lift up to reveal the missile launchers that he used once in the cartoon.

The very last gimmick involves his head.  If you don't like the neutral expression, you can swap it for a more lively smirking one.

Despite how large the plane was, he's only really Leader classed size in robot mode, which is disappointing as he's a huge chunk shorter than Optimus or Megatron.

A robot mode that takes some getting used to.  There are many elements that you can hate here, from the tail fin placements to his forearms, but this is a good display piece.

OVERALL:

Starscream is, and always will, be a display piece.  He is too fragile to be an action figure, although being in the Masterpiece line, I highly doubt you'll have him do anything else.  The plane mode is where Starscream shines, but the robot mode isn't bad either.  Both modes are packed with gimmicks, and they don't affect the engineering at all.  The transformation has enough twists to keep your interests.  Although I would only recommend this figure if you find him at a decent price, particularly because a revised/retooled version is coming out (which fixes many many flaws).

-------------------------

As always, if you want to see more reviews, have a look here.

Book Review: Black Cat Volume 18: Guiding Light

Review:  #149
Title:  Black Cat Volume 18:  Guiding Light
Series:  Black Cat - 18th volume
Author:  Kentaro Yabuki
Read Before:  no
My Comments:  Probably sick of saying this, but Black Cat keeps up its standard of the plot so far.  The fight against the Doctor was hugely disappointing, I expected more, and it’s not that the Warp World was so bad but it was how Train managed to get out of it.  The way he got out was by the help of Saya (who is dead), it felt a bit cheap, just like how Llyod appeared in front of Sven and told him that his Vision Eye was evolving.  Anyway, so the Doctor’s arc was not as good as it could be, and then when Train is confronting Eathes next, that was even worse.  I had expected more of a fight from a Tao user but Eathes had suffered one punch and then gave up (although he is supposedly trying to find an opening to attack the party).  Only thing saving this volume was the appearance of the Chrono Numbers, and finally getting to see what weapon Shaolee uses (it’s unique, I can say that much), and then the volume ending with No. I, Sephiria, in a fight against Creed.  Still, the volume was absorbing, and I enjoyed it.
Rating:  7.5/10