Generations Combiner Wars Titan Class Devastator - Pictorial Review

This review is courtesy of Hasbro Malaysia and MyToy. This is a review unit, will hit the shelves in Malaysia around July/August.

Almost every year, there will be at least one Generations figure that fans look forward to. There are quite a few interesting official releases that were revealed for 2015 Generations Combiner Wars line like Leader Class Megatron, Ultra Magnus, the Stunticons, Aerialbots, Protectobots and few others. Personally, the most intriguing would be Titan Class Devastator, the 2nd Titan Class ever released.

To be honest, I'm quite surprised with the choice they made considering the other three combiners are around leader class and they already planned a more suiting Titan Class figure to be released within this couple of years (hush hush for now). However, knowing that Devastator is the most iconic combiner, the decision doesn't really feels weird.

So, let's get right it, one member of the Constructicons at a time.

1 - In Package 

The box is quite big, compared to regular releases but for those who are familiar with Titan Metroplex's box size, this wouldn't surprised you much. The artwork on the front looks really good, I must say.

The tech spec design can be seen on the top left corner of the box.

Generations Combiner Wars Leader Class Ultra Magnus - Pictorial Review

Now, a release that fans had been craving for so many year, the one and only, the legendary and iconic, Ultra Magnus!

Pic Credit : Web

Ultra Magnus was first introduced in Transformers : The Movie in 1986, an elite soldier that was entrusted with the Matrix by Optimus Prime in his death bed (but the Matrix chose Hot Rod). Ultra Magnus was one of the main cast in the season 3 and 4 of US G1 series, all the way to G1 Headmasters. 

G1 Ultra Magnus
Pic Credit : TFWiki

 

Ultra Magnus's G1 toy is actually a white version Optimus Prime with a convertable trailer that becomes his armor. This indirectly the reason why several version of his toys afterwards are a white repaint of Optimus Prime. Some, not all. There are few series where Ultra Magnus were designed uniquely such as in Robot In Disguise/Car Robot, Animated and also Transformers:Prime.

Dreamwave Ultra Magnus

In Dreamwave Generation One continuity, Ultra Magnus IS actually a white Optimus Prime. Ultra Magnus shed his armor in the episode Countdown to Extinction after he was shot down by Shockwave.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

In IDW Generations 1 continuity, Ultra Magnus is not just one bot. The 'immortal' lawman was close with Orion Pax, Skids and Delta Magnus where he fought alongside them in countless wars, witnessing a lot of historical event. However, after his death (the cause has yet to be revealed), Chief Justice Tyrest who was inspired by Magnus's legend, fashioned a suit of armor cast in Magnus's image and bestowed it upon a succession of other robots. Currently, Minimus Ambus is the mastermind under the suit of the legend.

Alt Mode

He's finally here! 

Ultra Magnus comes in a box with the same design as the previous three Combiner Wars Leader Class figures (after Megatron, Armada Megatron and Thundercracker).

Might not be big but the artwork of Ultra Magnus is clearly based on IDW version of the character.

Generations Combiner Wars Leader Class Thundercracker - Pictorial Review

Now, a repaint that no one saw coming but inevitable, Generations Combiner Wars Leader Class Thundercracker, third repaints of Jetfire mold after Hasbro and and Takara Jetfire. This review is courtesy of MyToy.

MyToy

Pic Credit : TFWiki

A character that is frequent in both the cartoon series and in the toyline. Thundercracker, along with the other Seekers (Starscream and Skywarp), was one of Megatron's warriors that participated in the attack of the ark. The character ended after the attack on Autobot City where he was gunned down by Optimus Prime and later thrown out into space only to be reformatted into Scourge by Unicron.

This is the 3rd mold ever used for a Thundercracker in CHRUG line, after the first classic seeker mold and then the FOC version. BUT, if you consider all the repaints and variants, it's another story. For instance, for the first classic seeker mold, there are 4 variants which are Botcon 2007, Henkei, Generations and United 3-Pack version (5, if you count the Shattered Glass version).

Review of Generations Leader Class Jetfire can be found here.

In Package

Let us get started, shall we? Thundercracker comes in a black box with his artwork on the lower left corner.

Generations Combiner Wars Defensor - Pictorial Review

To continue my previous review, here's Combiner Wars Protectobots combined form, Defensor.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Always went head-to-head with the Combaticons, Defensor can be considered the exact opposite of Bruticus, focusing primarily in safeguarding the civilian while repelling the Decepticons' assault. Other than his combat skills, Defensor also equipped with the ability to generate a forcefield (which sometimes failed).

G1 Defensor
TFWiki

G1 Defensor was released in 1986 both separately and and as a giftset. Later he was repainted as Guard City in 1992 and released in Japanese market.

Review of TFC version of Defensor, Prometheus, can be found here.

Also here are the reviews for Combiner Wars Stunticons and Menasor.

Combiner Wars Protectobots

Generations Combiner Wars Protectobots - Pictorial Review

Now, time for Combiner Wars. The Protectobots are released under the third wave of the line with different approach as before. Unlike the Aerialbots and Stunticons, all members of the Protectobots are all released in the same wave.

G1 Protectobots
Pic Credit : TFWiki

Aside from G1/G2 version (and comic books), the Protectobots (as a team) were never included in any other newer Transformers series unlike Constructicons, Aerialbots and Combaticons for instance, that made appearance (an iteration of them) in the Energon/Superlink series among others.

Some back stories of the characters and a third party version of them by TFC can be found below

• TFC Gumball (Not-Streetwise)
• TFC Warning Line (Not-Groove)
• TFC Hydrant (Not-Hotspot)
• TFC Red Cross (Not-First Aid)
• TFC Verti-Aid (Not-Blade)

Generations Combiner Wars Menasor - Pictorial Review

The review of Stunticons wouldn't be complete without reviewing the combiner himself, the mighty Menasor.

Dreamwave's G1 Menasor
Pic Credit : Web

Decepticon's 2nd combiner after Devastator, Menasor is the name of the combined form of the Stunticons. The Stunticon's ability to match the Autobots dominance of the road is the not the end of Megatron's secret weapon. Unveiling their combined form when they were confronted by the newly created Aerialbots, Megatron predicted his genius Plan B to be smart and foreseeing the end of the Autobots, only to be matched Superion, the combined form of the Aerialbots.

G1 Menasor
Pic Credit : TFWiki

Combiner Wars Stunticons

Generations Combiner Wars Stunticons- Pictorial Review

Sorry for being late doing this review, these 3 months had been extremely busy with work. Not only that I'm currently in the middle of moving to a new house.

For the Combiner Wars releases, I'll be doing 2 parts of review for each team, the first as individuals and the second will be on the combined mode. Basically, this review will only focus on the team members of Decepticon's Stunticons.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

The Stunticons were Megatron way of breaking Autobots' dominion over the road/land, created from various stolen human vehicles and customized. The Stunticons were given life by Vector Sigma with Megatron special request, 'to fill them with hatred for the Autobots and everything they stand for'. But before they were granted life, Megatron brought them for a 'test drive' via remote control, forcing them to do all kind of 'stunts' from summersault, flip to bashing through forests. They are the arch enemy of the Aerialbots.

G1 Stunticons
Pic Credit : TFWiki

In this review, I'll do them part by part, starting with in-package image of all the members, then alt mode and finally robot mode. The combiner mode and the combiner itself, will be done in the next review.

Generations Combiner Wars Leader Class Armada Megatron - Pictorial Review

Comes together with Generations Combiner Wars Megatron is an unexpected pair (well...not if you saw the news back then), a repaint of Megatron, Armada Megatron!

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Armada Megatron is the main antagonist in the cartoon series Armada, the first installment of "Unicron Trilogy", before Energon and Cybertron. In the continuity, the war between the Autobots and the Decepticons escalated resulting both enhancing their power with the small race of Transformers called Mini-Cons. Believing that they made the conflict worse, the Mini-Cons seek help from the Autobots to escape Cybertron. The attempt almost fail due to an ambush by the Megatron and the Decepticons resulting the Mini-Cons, in their damage starship warped and crash-landed on earth.

Armada Megatron
Pic Credit : TFWiki

In Package
*Please take note that I won't be going into details for this review as it's a variant of Leader Class Megatron previously reviewed.

The fourth CHRUG Leader Class figure after Jetfire (Hasbro and Takara) and Megatron, Armada Megatron comes in the same Combiner Wars box as Megartron.

Generations Combiner Wars Leader Class Megatron - Pictorial Review

I was working out on the review of LG-09 Brainstorm when this arrived and the sane thing to do is to put that Brainstorm on hold and proceed with the tyrant, Generations Combiner Wars Leader Class Megatron.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

One of the greatest villain of all time, Megatron led the Decepticons force fighting for the control of Cybertron against the Autobots, an act that brought war upon the entire universe.

In Package

Hasbro surprised the fans with the announcement of Leader Class Megatron under the Generations Combiner Wars series. Most are skeptical while others ridiculed Hasbro's attempt to reboot the character for CHRUG line. Let us see, shall we?

Megatron comes in a big box with the same theme as the previous Combiner Wars releases. I just noticed that the word "Transformers" laid out vertically on the side resembles Age Of Extinction box design.

Transformers Generation Deluxe Chromia - Pictorial Review

Enough with combiners (for now), it's time an official release of a character whose 'type' doesn't make appearance quite often in Transformers universe especially in CHURG line (original mold). In fact, its 1 out of 2 of its kind to be officially release under the Neo-G1 line, both under the same wave (excluding TFTM All Spark Power Fracture who uses Classics Mirage's mold). Chromia, the Autobot Fembot.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Along with the other Fembots, Chromia first appeared in G1's The Search for Alpha Trion. Chromia, along with Moonracer and Firestar who are working under the orders of Elita One, sneak into Shockwave's headquarters to raid the energon cubes stockpile. As the mission went south, they escape and return to Elita One only to be ambushed by the Decepticons and Elita One captured.

The Fembots
Pic Credit : TFWiki

After the Generation 1 timeline, Chromia (at least the name) made few other appearances in both cartoon and comic book, the most recent would be in the IDW Generation 1 continuity. Born from the hot spot (filled with unborn sparks) in Caminus, Chromia is a part of a distant colony of Cybertronians whose citizens had adapted to their new life by developing differentiated genders. Joined by Nautica, Chromia went to Cybertron as bodyguards for the Cityspeaker, Windblade.

Chromia and Windblade
Pic Credit : TFWiki

Mastermind Creations [Reformatted] Feral Rex - Pictorial Review

Predaking, the beast of all combiners. As opposed to decreasing in intelligence experienced by most of other combiners, Predaking somehow manages to combine all the personalities of the components into one perfect, animalistic hunter.

Pic Credit : Web

So, here it is, the long awaited Mastermind Creations Feral Rex, completed. And it's impressive. First thing first, presenting the Feral Cons!

Feral Cons in Alt Mode

Feral Cons is robot mode

There's a certain degree of satisfaction whenever a combiner team is complete. Staring at the images, the uniformity of the design of all members is awesome.

Mastermind Creations R-06 Tigris - Pictorial Review

It seems like forever since Talon was teased and finally the [core members of] Feral Cons are complete, with the release of R-06 Tigris

Review of TFC version of Rampage can be found here.

In Package

Front View

Considering he's the fifth, there's not much to say about the box except that it follows the design of the rest of Feral Cons.

Mastermind Creations R-02 Talon - Pictorial Review

Seems that recently, everything is about combiners, even I feel more excited whenever a combiner team member arrive. Now, for something that's been long overdue, Mastermind Creations Talon (Not-Divebomb).

G1 Divebomb's Box Art
Pic Credit : TFWiki

Along with the other Predacons, Divebomb was created in 2006, given by the Quintessons as a symbol of the alliance between them and Galvatron. Forming Predaking's left arm, Divebomb is one of the deadliest predator in the sky that enjoys nothing other than destruction.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

G1 Divebomb (and the rest of the Predacons) was released in 1986 in individual pack (D-75) and also in gift set (D-78) .

Generations IDW Deluxe Crosscut - Pictorial Review

Now, a release from the same wave as Windblade, Generations Crosscut. Crosscut is one of the new "original G1 characters" in Transformers universe, an ambassador to almost every world known especially earth.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

In IDW Dark Cybertron Chapter #7 The Dead Are Not Enough, Crosscut can be seen battling the Ammonites with the help of Swerve...who he confused with Rung...

Pic Credit : TFWiki

G1 Crosscut was released on 2002 as e-Hobby Exclusive and sold togather in set with Road Rage. G1 Crosscut is a retool of G1 Skids and comes with a different head and hood.

Generations IDW Deluxe Windblade - Pictorial Review

Now for the release that lots of fans have been looking forward to. Back in 2013, Hasbro started an initiative for fans to be involved in creating a whole new character, the "Fan-Built Bot".

There were 2 polls conducted, the first one commenced from April 18th 2013 to May 5th 2013 for fans to decide her faction, alternate mode, weapon, color scheme, and also personality; while the poll from May 10th 2013 to May 17th 2013 was conducted to select her name, gender, origin, and specialty. And all of that gave birth to Windblade.

Art By Sarah Stone
Pic Credit : TFWiki

Windblade has a four-issue miniseries, published by IDW from April to July 2014 while a second miniseries was planned under the title "Windblade Returns" which was changed back to "Transformers : Windblade"

Windblade comes from Caminus, a place whose inhabitants were cut off from Cybertron for millions of years. This change when Thunderclash came to seek help from Cityspeaker in order to aid Metroplex.

Generations Leader Class Jetfire - Pictorial Review

Now, time for another exciting official release. Just to be clear, I tried my best not to be biased in my reviews and being that my collections focused mainly on [Official] Neo-G1 figures, there's been up and down in terms of the excitement of HasTak releases. My last Deluxe wave (Scoop, Rattrap, Tankor, etc) was a big disappointment while Voyager Roadbuster is kinda great (better than Skybite). But this here, is one of the best official figures for 2014, the 2nd biggest original Neo-G1 CHURG mold after Metroplex and the first of it class in this line, Leader Class Jetfire.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Jetfire (also known as Skyfire) first made his appearance in G1 cartoon, Fire in the Sky episode. He was a friend of Starscream from way before the war but an exploration mission gone bad causes Jetfire to be lost (presumably dead) for millions of years.

I could go on and on about him but the best thing about Jetfire is his G1 toy. Not all original G1 toys originated from HasTak. Jetfire is one of the example, taken from Macross Super Valkyrie VF-1S of Takatoku Toys. And perhaps due to legal reasons, Jetfire in the animation was changed to not resemble his G1 toy.

Pic Credit : TFWiki/Seibertron.com

Generations Deluxe Tankor - Pictorial Review

One would thought that Beast Wars was the most unorthodox and controversial Transformers franchise when it was aired in the 90's. But then 1999 came in and we have Beast Machines (BM), a 26-episodes sequel to Beast Wars.

Season 1 of BM focused on the Maximals (Optiumus Primal, Rattrap, Cheetor and Blackarachnia) being back on Cybertron...but not the Cybertron as they know it. All that's left is a deserted Cybertron with streets patrolled by mindless Vehicon Drones serving Megatron and at the same time, the Maximals are infected with a deadly virus that'll kill them. The problem was solved with the help of a supercomputer, the Oracle which reformats them into technorganic bodies.

On the other hand, we have Drones serving Megatron evil plan, specifically Tank Drones, lead by the tank general, Tankor. Tankor along with the other Vehicon Generals, leads Megatron mindless army in keeping the planet under control and to fight against the Maximals.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Tankor and the other generals are the only ones granted sparks, as opposed to normal drones. Tankor fought again and again with the Maximals, holding onto Megatron's promise of "fabulous prize to be won!" for getting them into captivity. And the Maximals anything they can to defend themselves from Tankor brutal attacks. However, much to their dismay, Tankor turns out to be their beloved comrade that fought side-by-side with them during the Beast Wars, Rhinox

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Rhinox was one of the unlucky ones during Maximals' returned to Cybertron. Unlike the Transmetals that were able to stay mobile for a short period, Rhinox was held captive by Megatron and had his spark forcibly removed. The spark was later used to power Tankor, the tank general with hope that the Maximals will be less willing to fight him. But Megatron failed to foresee that Tankor end up being only slightly more intelligent than the rest of the Tank Drones.

Pic Credit : TFWiki

Despite Optimus Primal attempt to reach Rhinox's spark, he was too late as the spark was already tainted by his time inside Tankor, rejecting the Maximals and supporting Megatron's idea of technologically-pure Cybertron....but only the idea, not Megatron himself. This resulted in a fail coup d-etat and Tankor was killed. Rhinox expressed his regret over his actions when Optimus Primal met him (his Spark) one last time within the Allspark.

The widely-inaccurate BM Tankor
Pic Credit : TFWiki