Tigerhawk [Legacy United/Leader Class]

My love for Beast Wars is probably pretty well known. Earlier today (as I'm writing this), I was watching Beast Wars on the Transformers channel as I often do. It inspired me to talk about today's toy that I haven't covered on the site yet. This Legacy version Tigerhawk was a Christmas gift from the Mrs. last year and a most welcome one at that. The original is one of my 'best of all time' Transformers and something I hold in high regard.

Tigerhawk was created when the Vok merged Tigatron and Airrazor together creating a singular being. With that in mind, the designers used the more recent Kingdom  Tigatron and Airrazor molds for parts to use on this toy. That was both a fun bit of synergy and a good way to keep costs down. This time around, Tigerhawk is very show accurate in a way I wasn't prepared to appreciate.

Original Beast Wars Transformers were pretty thick and chunky as was pretty standard for robot toys at the time. Of course those looks were often streamlined on TV, and it was just something I was used too. This new Tigerhawk has the show models look down really well, and it's impressive. Of course I'm accustomed to the chonk, so it's weirdly different... but I'm very happy that the show model is so right on. I like having my original toys and show models represented well. There's no beating that original toy to me, so the new figure being the show model is a perfect solution!

They even nailed the proper purples and copper Mainframe used. In robot mode, he looks great and is nicely articulated. The feather missiles no longer fire, but can be held in hand. The same is of those wing mounted cannons. The chain gun ends are still present, but they flip around manually to reveal static cannons. Those cannons can be removed and held as well. They even combine to form a larger gun! The wrist mounted blaster is now an removable piece that can be placed elsewhere also. Tigerhawk was always heavily armed, but feels even more so now.

Transformation is similar to the original, but has it's differences. I had a little difficulty getting the chest to close correctly. It fits around the cockpit a certain way and it's all got to be in place just right to work. After a little finagling, it finally worked. The wings have a wide range of movement and can fold forward in attack mode as the original. Being show accurate, the battle mode helmet is gone as is the hidden tank mode. The cockpit is on Tigerhawk's robot shoulder, but hidden in beast mode like in the show.

Cockpit?

Yes, Tigerhawk originally was one of the Beast Wars toys designed with a Spark Figure cockpit. The gimmick was dropped, but those cockpits remained on the figures. Here it's just for show, but I'm glad it's there. This is a really cool toy and a great update of a classic. I'm very appreciative of it's show model accuracy and enjoy the differences from the original. That original may be an all time classic, but chasing down those missiles when accidentally fired was a nightmare. Like the original, this feels like something special I own. It's not just a toy, but a representation of a cherished character from a special time in my life.

Wild Jungle Mission 5-Pack [Swapticons]

Between upcoming Swapticon waves getting revealed/leaked online and being inpatient waiting for this set at at stores, I ordered the Wild Jungle Mission 5-Pack from Walmart shortly after Memorial Day. I think it's Walmart exclusive here in the states, which may not be true, but Walmart has been the only place I've actually seen Swapticons... so maybe. You don't get much news about these sort of things online unless it's from a site's sponsor, so *shrug*. I've been anticipating this set since getting bit by the Swapticon bug for three reasons.

1. It's a mostly Beast Wars set. I'll cut a fool over Beast Wars. On their feet, so they feel me cutting them when they walk. 2. There's some choice selections here. Not just the Alligator Megatron, which was originally part of that initial Beast Wars 2-pack that I've always loved... and is apparently officially named Megatron Gator now (that's awesome). But also because of the addition of Apelinq. Not the movie Apelinq, but the BotCon 2000 exclusive Apelinq. That's super cool! 3. Because I've really been having fun with Swapticons. Despite being vastly different, they manage to fill the spots that BotBots and Kreons took. Fun and weird little Transformers like BotBots were. Then they're the fun cool mini-figures that occasionally take a deep dive into Transformers history like Kreons did.

Due to the nature of Swapticons and this being a 5 pack, there's an odd bot out. There's 2 complete sets- Apelinq and Optimus Primal (they form a gorilla) and Megatron Gator and Skullcruncher (who form an alligator). Scorponok is the back end of a Scorpion. Thanks to various leaks and reveals, I know an upcoming 5-pack has a lone G1 Scorponok. He'll form the front of a scorpion that will match up with this one. Well, kinda. It's G1 Scorponok and Beast Wars Scorponok. They'll be a little mishmash... but the idea will be there. HOWEVER, with the implied wackiness of Swapticons... you can just have an alligator with a scorpion backside. Think about that.

Let's look at these little bots individually. Apelinq is the front of the gorilla with Optimus Primal forming the rear. Both are colored pretty closely to the incarnations they're based on, but still manage to match when combined. Considering Apelinq was a repaint of Transmetal Optimus Primal, it's pretty neat that they work well together. Primal's robot arms do not hide away as well as other Swapticon arms do. In fact, they don't hide at all. There's just a set of arms hoping that you don't notice them... and they manage to blend in if you don't look very hard. The magic of unifying color. As you could expect, Megatron Gator and Skullcruncher form an alligator. Thanks to their similar color schemes it's a pretty cohesive alligator.

Due to how Swapticons connect, the alt mode tends to be a little stretched out. It works pretty well with the gators long body though. Skullcruncher is the lone G1 character in the set, but he's been paired with BW characters lately (Beast Alliance toys, for example). It works. Scorponok is the oddball like I mentioned here and... his colors look pretty nice on the square Swapticon body. He makes me think a Tarrantulas could probably pull off being a solo bot when not connected to anyone else. I'm looking forward to partnering him later on with the other Scorponok. This is a fun set. Swapticons are fun in general, but a themed set is extra neat. Thankfully there's more coming. They may be silly, simple little toys... but also a fun time. That's what a hobby is all about.

Cheetor and Tigatron [Swapticons]

When Swapticons were first to be shown off, it was today's subject that I was most interested in initially. Being a Beast Wars fan, I'm an easy sell for anything related. This set features Cheetor and Tigatron combining to form one long kitty boo boo.

Originally in Beast Wars, Tigatron was a repaint of Cheetor's toy. That bit of trivia stays on my mind with this set. Even if it's redundant right now, it's funny with the two paired up. They're a pretty neat little bots, and their wacky Swapticon faces make them look more cute than silly. They kind of remind me of Sacred Beast Legend Bioroid figures a little because of their shape. Not a lot, just a little. Obviously these are sillier toys that super serious collectors would scoff at... but there's something about them that's hard to resist. Of the four sets in the first wave, this is my favorite as you probably would guess. Of course I don't have the Walmart exclusive 5 pack yet, so I can't rule those out. It's all beast warriors, so you know I'll love it. Until then, this is the last of the Swapticons posts on the site until more are made available. Hopefully there is more, these little shits are pretty fun.

Optimus Prime with Lionblade [Beast Alliance/Beast Combiners]

We've reached the end of our look at the Beast Alliance toys from Transformers: Rise of the Beasts with today's look at Beast Combiner Optimus Prime with Lionblade. This is a rather fun toy as it draws strong comparisons to Lio Convoy, but also makes me think about the old Action Master Optimus Prime concept art involving him combining with a lion partner. This toy is a super fun idea.

The base Optimus Prime figure is a pretty decent representation of his appearance in ROTB in a simplified figure. It has a decent rang of articulation, not as much as a Generations figure, but decent enough for a basic toy. He transforms to truck mode fairly easily and mostly how you'd expect him to go... and can I make a comparison here?

When I returned to my look at Beast Alliance, it was just as the Transformers Wild King toys were starting to get shown off (I'm about two weeks ahead in writing posts, mind you) and I just cannot shake the mental comparisons I'm getting between this figure and Energy Master Optimus Prime. I wonder if there's some shared engineering going on. Energy Master Optimus Prime certainly has plenty of new parts and looks bigger... but look at the truck modes. They're very similar. Seeing a these toys are all designed in CAD these days, I don't think it'd be super hard to reuse designs. It could just be me seeing the similarities and coming to some wild (pun intended) conclusions... but I can't unsee it.

Lionblade, Optimus's animal partner is a new Maximal character who so far only exists as this toy. He's a nicely sculpted white mechanical lion with a gold mane. Yes, he's very similar to Lio Convoy in beast mode. I do wonder why they made him a separate character, but I'm not gonna argue with a new character. They're rare these days. Like the other Beast Combiner partner figures, he's large... but limited. Only his legs can move in a basic fashion. Actually, mine was loose right out of the box so I had to use some trickery to have him stand for the picture. Hopefully yours is better.

Transformation to armor is pretty much the same as the others. Remove tail and the top of the beast head, fit body onto the shoulders of the robot. The spring loaded gimmick modes parts into place whilst you plug that head onto whichever hand you chose and the tail becomes a melee weapon. Don't forget to position the bottom jaw from the beast mode as it's now a gun. In Beast Combiner mode, Optimus looks awesome. These toys feature a mixture of classic super robot and Beast Wars looks in a fun package. My only complaint is that the beast parts do limit Optimus's arm articulation some... but any robot toy veteran is used to limited possibility in combined forms. If I ever get those three Japanese exclusive Battlemasters, I'll make another return to Beast Alliance here on the site. For now though, our look at the line is done. It's a fun set of toys tied to a fun movie. The upcoming Transformers Cyberworld and Wild King feel spiritually similar and I'm looking forward to covering them here.

Arcee with Cheetor [Beast Alliance/Beast Weaponizers]

The last of the Beast Weaponizers, Arcee, is who we're looking at today as we close the book on the Beast Alliance toys from Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Like Wheeljack with Rhinox, Arcee comes partnered with a recolored Cheetor. I don't mind the mold reuses as it's a good Battlemaster, but would have preferred a new character with a new deco. I guess they wanted to keep as many onscreen characters relevant as possible.

I've liked the Beast Weaponizers best out of the Beast Alliance 'main' figure types, so it's probably obvious that I find Arcee pretty pleasant. I know that I compare lots of Transformers to Microman figures, but this Arcee really looks like she could fit in with them. It's the sculpting. Like the other Beast Alliance figures, there's some hollowness here and there. It's most noticeable on her back as there's just a large open space. Fortunately it's part of her design as that's where the wheels go from alt mode. So that space does get filled up. Arcee is fairly articulated as Beast Weaponizers generally are. Transformation to motorcycle is pretty easy, everything just goes into place. Her windshield piece can pop off easily, so be careful. This is actually my second one as I initially didn't notice my first was missing out of the store. Dang it! Both modes are pretty good and part of me wishes I would have checked to see if another figure could ride the motorcycle. Maybe one of those Micromen I keep comparing toys too.

Cheetor has the same cheetah root mode and claw weapon mode as his regular Beast Battlemaster release. It's a very slight redco of that toy with darker yellow,and lighter gray plastic with less spots. It feels like a weird choice, possibly a last minute decision. Cheetor turns into the same claw weapon that I still like to think is some sort of electric gun type ranged weapon. It's just too awkward to imagine as a melee weapon... but I guess could serve as one. Once again, I really wish he was a different character or at least in a much different set of colors. Still a good toy, so my only complaints feel like a nitpick. Though I feel it's a fair one. Arcee can hold him in weapon mode or he can mount on her forearms, which would be more suitable looking for a melee weapon. Overall it's a decent set and another satisfying addition to a really fun series of toys.

Wheeljack with Rhinox [Beast Alliance/Beast Weaponizers]

I really enjoyed Beast Alliance upon it's release (as you all noticed) and taking this look back to finish the series just as Transformers Wild King is debuting is making it a little extra fun. Both Wild King and Cyberworld feel like successors to the Beast Alliance series from Transformers: Rise of the Beats and I'm all for it. Today we're looking at Wheeljack with Rhinox from the Beast Weaponizers portion of the series.

Beast Battle Masters and the Beast Weaponizers were my favorite part of Beast Alliance and Wheeljack is a great example as to why. When I covered his mainline toy, I had a lot of fun joking about the naming, but really enjoyed the characters design all together (I really wish he was another character). I haven't gotten the Studio Series version of Wheeljack yet, but this might be my favorite toy of the ROTB version as good as that mainline toy was. Beast Weaponizer figures are similar to a Core Class figure, but just a little bigger. Wheeljack is nice and bulky with a pleasant amount of articulation. It's pretty amazing just how satisfyingly chonky this figure is in hand. There's some hollowness here and there and some skimping pf paint apps... but nothing feels lacking you know? They just did and all around good job.

Transformation is easy and everything just goes into place as it should. Thanks to the placement of joints, his windshield looks as though it has eyes. That's a funny little side effect of the engineering, but isn't overwhelming. Just funny. Unfortunately his Battle Master isn't a new character or new mold. Fortunately it's a good Battle Master with a slightly different deco. Beast Battle Master Rhinox partners with Wheeljack making a great pairing. Traditionally the two are smarty pants, but as this version of Wheeljack is beefy, they contrast nicely.

Rhinox is of course a rhino and as a Beast Battle Master turns into a gun that Wheeljack can either hold or be mounted to his vehicle mode. There's a good amount of points to stick a Battle Master onto Wheeljack, so maybe you'd prefer Rhinox to be arm mounted instead. Rhinox has less colors for this version, making him look more like a natural rhino. I do wish the barrel of his chain-gun mode had some color to add detail. Overall, I really like this set. Wheeljack's Urkel inspired looks contrast with his stocky build nicely and Rhinox pairs well with him. I'd love to see this mold get reused in Cyberworld or elsewhere down the road. It's a good one.

Silverbolt (Legacy United/Voyager Class)

I've been really looking forward to an update of Silverbolt for some time now. He was a favorite from Beast Wars who seemingly had been forgotten when it came to updates. Silverbolt is a Fuzor, a Transformer who transforms into a mixture of two different animals. He turns into a wolf/eagle hybrid that's pretty fantastic. I've always enjoyed his robot mode's appearance as well. He's very unique looking combined with great characterization of the show making for a lovable character. This new figure is larger Voyager Class compared to the Deluxe Class original. The extra room fits him and allows for a more show accurate toy.

Honestly, this toy isn't a big departure from the original. It's very similar to the with some improvements like placement of the wings in robot mode. Speaking off those wings, they no longer have the 'flapping' gimmick or shoot missiles. Instead the feather swords attach via pegs and are smaller, which looks better. Silverbolt is fairly articulated in robot mode and has a VERY show accurate sculpt. Like other recent updates, he looks like walked out of my TV screen. Transformation is fairly easy and similar to his original figure. I transformed my original one a million times while watching the show and found my hands automatically arranging parts from muscle memory. It's not completely the same, but somehow he was transformed in a few seconds without much effort. I should have been watching Beast Wars while doing it for old times sake.

In beast mode, Silverbolt is a winged wolf that looks like something out of mythology. Articulation remains pretty good here with he wings able to be put in a variety of poses. The way his rear end comes together is a bit messy. The back legs kinda just rest against each other leaving a big gap. You can look past it, but it's not really avoidable. Really though, that's the only negative thing I've got to say about the toy. Your going to have a messy area here and there in a Transformer and that's not the worst I've ever seen on one. Other than that, Silverbolt is a great toy and I'm happy for the update. I'm sure there'll be a Windrazor version as Generations Selects, but I really hope for a 2003 Universe version. Always loved those colors. The ongoing love Beast Wars is finally getting in Generations is exciting for me and I'm definitely glad to see more characters than just the original season cast. Silverbolt's a good toy of a great character. It's awesome that they made this.

Cheetor (Legacy: United/Core Class)

Of all the pleasant surprises in Transformers Legacy, a Core Class Beast Machines Cheetor was definitely not expected. Beast Machines was one of the more derided series of the past 40 years in Transformers due varying reasons and doesn't get a lot of attention when it comes to updates and homages. Personally, I've always liked it despite the departure from Beast Wars (which it was a direct follow up). Sometimes it does irk me from time to time, but with all the actual problems from the real world... I just take it in stride usually. I've always liked Cheetor's BM design, though in toy form it's been hit or miss. The Night Slash Cheetor mold is the best version of the character personally, though this new Core Class might just give it a run for the money. It's pretty good. As you'd expect, Cheetor turns into a techno organic cheetah.

The transformation is fairly easy, he basically lays down and a few things fold/unfold around to present his beast mode head and feet. His main torso stretches out and tail unfolds. Pretty simple. I know one complaint some had about beast era toys was often transformation was basically standing up... they're still going to have that complaint here. No reason to overly complicate the transformation when you have something with four limbs that turns into something with four limbs. My only complaint in transformation is the robot head doesn't tuck away neatly. The beast head flips over it like the hood on a hoodie. That's fine, but you end up with a visible robot face. You can turn the head around a, but some bits poke out of the neck. I'm sure creative posing can help hide that some... but it sticks out like a sore thumb. I'm fond of Cheetor's twin scimitar swords. They're faithfully recreated here and can even be doubled up like in the episode 'Fires of the Past'. Cheetor can hold them individually, or in double blade form. They even store on his shoulders neatly. This is a pretty impressive toy for a Core Class, which admittedly I'm often impressed by regularly... it's impressive what's being done at the small scale.

I hope to see recolors of this new toy mold into characters like CatSCAN or incarnations like Night Slash Cheetor. I'm reminded of the Go-bots cat bots by those larger front paws, so would definitely be game for some of those characters to make an appearance here. I like this little toy. It's a solid example of why Core Class Transformers are so great. They're small, but not specifically lesser than the standard Deluxe Class figure. I like that for the $9.99 I paid for Cheetor (what I USED to pay for a Deluxe) I got a solid action figure that doesn't feel compromised. Your results may vary, but I'm VERY happy with this cool cat.

Tasmania Kid (Legacy: United/Core Class)

Legacy continues being the Generations series I want with this new version of Tasmania Kid, a character I honestly thought would be lost to time. A kid appeal character from Beast Wars II, Tasmania Kid is Takara's version of Beast Wars Snarl. Not a repaint or remold, the same toy with a new name for the market. I don't believe Snarl was released by Takara, so he could easily be considered the same guy with a different name if you choose. Like all other recent Transformers figures, Tasmania Kid is a pretty great update of the original design. The original toy featured a spring loaded transformation, something all the initial Beast Wars basic class (precursor to Core Class) figures had. Of course this wasn't universally loved by all, so this newer toy skipping the gimmick is probably welcome for a lot of people.

I personally wasn't bothered by it, but can see how it would turn off some. Despite the lack of spring loaded transformation, Tasmania Kid transforms VERY faithfully to his original toy. It's pretty impressive. It's like they took the original toy and improved it. Tasmania Kid transforms into his Tasmanian Devil beast mode fairly easily and satisfactorily. It's just a pleasant experience. He retains his Tasmanian Gun arm cannon, which is the tail from his beast mode. Unlike the original toy, there isn't a firing missile. Something I'm not sad about, though it does look a lot smaller now. Not just because it physically is, but seems puny. Not a bad thing, it's just that this is such an accurate update that the difference in seems out of place. It's fine on it's own.

It's probably easy to see that I'm happy with this toy. I'm obviously a big Beast Wars fan and love all these recent updates. It's really cool and a lot of fun for me as a fan. Especially after all the years where Beast Wars was seemingly put away and all but ignored. The orignal toy was always a cool little figure. While I doubt a Snarl version will be coming... though if that's Takara's version it would be sort of awesome. I would love to see a Bound Rouge as that was always a cool recolor. Or hey, maybe a leopard version... that would blow my mind.

Bios: Powerhug

Function: Judo Expert 

The Insectrons' Judo Master, Powerhug is covered with an incredibly durable shell. Straightforward of character, for some reason he speaks with a Kyushu dialect. Long ago, he apparently had a nasty experience with the Autorollers, and is hoping to settle the score. His special skill is the Hug Hell Wheel, in which he rolls into a ball and delivers a body blow. In beast mode, his fangs and tail become alloy cutters. His crushing Power Hug pinions his enemies. 

Strength: 9 Intelligence: 7 Speed: 9 Endurance: 10
Rank: 8 Courage: 8 Firepower: 6 Skill: 5

Airazor (Beast Battle Masters/ Beast Alliance)

Let's take a look back at the Beast Alliance toys from last summer. I was quite the fan of them and plan on covering the entire line here even if posts are sporadic. I've managed to collect all the toys from Beast Alliance (the Hasbro version), and Airazor here was the hardest to get. If this was a social media post, I'd follow that up with a 'lol' and maybe a laughing emoji. I found Airazor at Publix, of all places, while picking up the Mrs and I up lunch from their deli.

Grocery stores can be interesting places to find toys and Publix occasionally has a good selection. The only problem is... the price is more than you'd pay at a regular store. Normally Airazor would be $5, but I paid $10. Which honestly, got under my skin. I expect to pay more the the three 'Burning' Battle Masters exclusive to Japan whenever I get them. However, a $5 figure whose class normally stayed in stock... well that's a pisser. I had assumed her being in the end of the line, she'd be harder to get. So I paid the extra money to get her along with the Mrs sub sandwich and my sushi. Publix has a great. That was in December and come January... my local Walmart is all Airazors. Well, I guess I paid extra for the piece of mind. 

Airazor as a Beast Battle Master is pretty great. She's larger than the others thanks to her wingspan. According to the TF Wiki it's 4", which doesn't seem right to me. I didn't measure her though, so maybe. Airzor has quite a bit of movement due to the ball sockets her wings use. It's basic, but feels like a lot compared to some of the other Beast Battle Masters. Thanks to this extra movement, she has two weapon modes instead of the usual one. She can either transform into a crossbow blaster or a shield-blaster depending on where you fold the wings. Airazor's colors are an odd choice. I feel like they were chosen to represent the statue/artifact of her seen in the movie. Which is neat, but I feel may be lost on some people. It looks good and makes her stand out from the other Beast Battle Masters on the pegs. If she were brown (as you'd expect), she'd be too similar to Optimus Primal and Rhinox.

In either of her weapon modes, Airazor can be held by most Transformers figures compatible with the 5mm system. You could also plug a blast effect inter her or Optimus's gun barrel for extra fun.  Sadly Airazor is seemingly the last new mold Beast Battle Master of Beast Alliance. I know being a move tie in line, it would be a limited series. Part of me hopes Transformers One will have a similar partner figure line as I just love this sort of thing. There's a few more Beast Alliance figures that we'll be looking at over the coming weeks. It's a fun little tie-in line to a movie that I wish did better financially than it did (though we'll only know box office, not ongoing profits). Like I said, hopefully something like it will accompany the upcoming Transformers One as the mask figures seem to be making a return. Fingers crossed.

Bios: Prowl

 

Function: Military Strategist 

"Logic is the ultimate weapon."

Prowl strives to find logic and reasoning in everything. A listener, not a talker. Has most sophisticated logic center of the Maximals. Able to analyze and advise on complex combat situations almost instantaneously. Fires highly corrosive acid pellets. Cybernetic eye and frontal lobe interact with wing mounted ion orbs, supplying limited telekinetic power. Afflicted with ironic, dry sense of humor. Believes himself to have been a great military strategist in a former life. 

Strength: 6.1 Intelligence: 8.2 Speed: 7.9 Endurance: 7.6

Rank: 6.5 Courage: 8.1 Firepower: 8.8 Skill: 7.9

 

Bios: Ramulus

Function: Scout, Survivalist

Ramulus' stasis pod crashed in a mountainous region of prehistoric Earth during the onset of the quantum surge. Isolated, damaged and forced to develop his own survival tactics, Ramulus trusts neither Maximal nor Predacon alike. He is reluctant to fight, but rash and impulsive once provoked. Characteristically calm and reliable when venturing through unexplored territory on his own. Relished adventure and argues that the Maximals' success depends on their continual repositioning and relocation. Longs to see Cybertron. Ramulus wields a double slagmaker cannon in robot mode and his fractured spark crystal generates disruptive ion pulses.

 

Strength: 7.2 Intelligence : 8.3 Speed: 5.7 Endurance: 8.2

Rank: 5 Courage: 7.8 Firepower: 6.3 Skill: 8.1

Bios: Moon

What's this in his chest? Twelve moon reports are in there! Transform Moon!

I'm Moon, the rabbit shaped robot! Usually, my friend Artemis and I are up on a little planet circling the planet Gaia. And in upcoming "Second News" segments on TV, I'll be telling everyone the secrets of the Beast Warriors we've seen, so be sure to root for me!

(Hmph, trying to hog the spotlight all to yourself! Hey all you good kids, don't forget to root for me, Artemis too!)

Arcee with Silverfang (Beast Combiners/Beast Alliance)

Arcee has gotten a variety of different figures in Rise of the Beasts. Each one based on the same design, but also coming out completely different. As a Beast Changer, she's a much more simple toy for gimmick compatibility and I kind of like it in this case. Beast Alliance as a whole brings up strong comparisons to past Transformers gimmicks and Arcee has Pretender vibes. Specifically because her combined form reminds me of Jazz's Pretender armor, or maybe even Dee-Jay from GIJOE. Both toys I've always liked from an era in which bother were really neat. During the concept art phase of this toy, Silverfang (her Maximal partner) had purple armor. This lead to a really neat combined look that was clearly  a victim of cost cutting.

Arcee turns into her ROTB motorcycle alt mode as to be expected. Like I said above and is the case with all the Beast Changers toys so far, she's a fairly simple toy. In Arcee's case, it works as she has a fairly generic robot body. I could see customizers turn this toy into just about anyone. Transformation is simple and combination is done the same was as other Beast Changers. Silverfang slips over he shoulders and select bits can become a gun or melee weapon and a bit of armor/shield. I think that simple robot toy makes it work well in this case as Arcee practically becomes a new robot in this mode. A better looking robot, the wolf armor is cool and that new super mode head are great. So far this is one of the better looking super modes in the Beast Combiner assortment IMO.

Silverfang is a pretty large wolf as is the case with these Combiner partners. Simple like the others as well with unfortunately no articulation. Part of me wishes they would have more features for a more impressive toy, however I'd rather not pay the price that'd come with that. As fun as these are, the lower cost is an incentive and as they are aimed more towards children... I think it'd be pretty detrimental. Not to mention, the old school robot fan in me appreciates the simple figures with a combining gimmick. There's quite a few more Beast Alliance figures still to go and two more Beast Combiners I've yet to acquire as of this writing (Optimus Prime and Scourge). I don't expect the sub line to go on after Rise of the Beasts dies down... but I'd love it too. It'd be super cool to utilize this gimmick with more traditional designs. I could see it working well in the Authentics line.

Optimus Primal w/Skullcruncher (Beast Combiners/Beast Alliance)

Getting back to Beast Alliance, Optimus Primal is the weird one of the bunch. The only Beast Combiner so far to be a Maximal main robot and a Decepticon partner. However this works out for one gnarly looking combined form that grew on me really fast. Skullcruncher returns from his Beast Battle Master toy, and his crocodile beast mode paired with Optimus Primal makes me draw mental comparisons to the original Beast Wars 2 pack. Just wish Primal had his bat alt form. Primal does resemble his original Beast Wars design a lot, however. Like the Beast Weaponizer toy, he's made from an earlier design for the movie. They've gave him Transmetal colors this time and that just makes me want an Apelinq from this mold now. 

Unfortunately, Optimus's mold isn't as great as his Beast Weaponizer toy. Beast Combiner main bots are more simple figures and there's just no ignoring it here. He's arguably more simpler than a Beast Changer figure and it's a little disappointing. Really though, you got the figure for the gimmick. Skullcruncher combines with Optimus just like all the other Beast Combiners including the tail becoming a melee weapon and an appendage folding out to become a gun. Obviously they all follow a similar template to allow for interchangeability between figures, so this is all pretty standard fair. Yet the vision of crocodile armor on simian robot mode is just so bizarre... this just might be the most original Beast Wars feeling toy of the new Rise of the Beasts toys. Not just because of the two beasts, but the overall look of the toy. He looks like Beast Wars box art and I freaking dig it.

Nemesis Leo Prime (Legacy Evolution/Voyager Class)

As happy as I was to get the updated Lio Convoy, it's probably no surprise that I'd be all over his repaint. I have a few different Lio Convoy toys from over the years, but this is the first 'black' version that I've gotten. Takara often does a 'black' version of some of it's toys. It's a simple repaint and often used as a special edition. With Hasbro, it's usually an easy repaint called 'Nemesis' instead of 'Black'. In Beast Wars II, Black Lio Convoy was a result of the Copy Machine creating an 'evil' version of Lio Convoy and some of the other Cybertrons. Black Lio Convoy was a much more arrogant character than Lio Convoy as these 'evil' mirror image types tend to be reversals of the characters they're based on. It's an old trope that's fun if handled right.

So far there hasn't been much to make me think Nemesis Leo Prime is a separate character, other than he's in the Velocitron Speedia 500 manga as a background character. I guess he could be another guy. There's also Dark Amber Leo Prime, who's a repaint of the Masterpiece Lio Convoy and another character. Dark Amber Leo Prime is created from the body of Lio Convoy/Leo Prime (spoiler, he died... like all Transformers leaders do regularly) and some of Unicron's energy. Bluebolt thought it would be a good idea to revive Lio Convoy to save the dying universe (in Transformers, our words are in danger... always). Of course he isn't Lio Convoy reborn, but a new character who borders on good and evil for a bit. Not sure if he saved the universe yet, but if that's him in the crowds on Velocitron... 

Really, I wanted to talk about this new toy, but as it's a straight repaint of one I got not too long ago, there's not too much to say. Despite his naming, Nemesis Leo Prime is more than just a black repaint. There's a mixture of dark gray and teal in the mix creating a very pretty toy. I do wish there was some new feature added for this figure, but he's  literally an easy repaint. I don't mind though as it is what it is, and repaints in Transformers is just how it is. Either way, I'm happy with my purchase. Lio Convoy is one of those Transformers characters I hold in a higher regard. Whenever I get the chance to buy a new toy of him, I usually jump on it (assuming I'm able). Prior versions of Black Lio Convoy were special editions, so having a version available at general retail is hard to complain about. 

Optimus Prime with Chainclaw (Beast Alliance/Beast Weaponizers)

Getting back to Beast Alliance, we're taking a look at Optimus Prime. This toy of Optimus is like the others in it's class in that you have a very similar to Core Class figure (about Robot Master sized) with a Beast Battle Master partner included. You all know I'm a fan of partner figures and this gimmick, so obviously I like this set. Thing is, I really like this set. There's just no getting over just how awesome the idea is. Optimus Prime has a wolf that turns into a chainsaw. In the future, the product description will be in a book of great poetry. Let's talk about Chainclaw for a second. He's a wolf or maybe a dog, that's not clear nor is the gender. I'm just assuming. Like Arrowstripe, Chainclaw is a more simple Beast Battle Master than the individually packed ones. It is what it is. 

Chainclaw is a name reuse of an older G1 guy. This kind of thing happens, especially with glorified accessories. It just is what it is. There's not much sense getting too worked up over it, not to mention the whole wolf/chainsaw things just kinda makes everything better. The chainsaw of course can be held by Optimus Prime, but is compatible with most 5mm ports and hands. 

Speaking of Optimus... since he's technically the main figure of the set (personally I bought the set for Chainclaw)... he's a pretty standard Optimus Prime. The intention is a representation of his appearance in Rise of the Beasts, though could really be his classic self if you so desired. I wouldn't be too surprised to see this figure pop up elsewhere down the road. Or any other Beast Alliance figures either, they could work in multiple places and I almost think that was intentional. Optimus is decently articulated for a toy his size and price class and honesty pretty nice. Like, there's nothing bad to really say here. If you came in expecting the smaller toy at a lower price to be a Masterpiece style toy, you fully deserve that disappointment. If you come in knowing what you're getting... you'll be pleasantly surprised. That's been my general impression with Beast Alliance toys. The Beast Weaponizers are generally nicer figures than the others. Optimus could use a little extra paint, which is obviously a price cutting issue. If you're prone to customs or adding extra detail to your toys, he's a prime candidate. I'm not apologizing for the pun. 

Cheetor (Flex Changers)

Flex Changers are an oddball novelty Transformers line that I'm not sure how I feel about. They're a form of those rubber band type action figures you'll see that are clearly popular enough to warrant a constant shelf space. I guess it's a type of fidget toy, I can see the fun in them. I do have some gripes though, mainly the price. Cheetor was $16.99 and doesn't have any actual articulation in robot mode. A Core Class is around $10 and does. So, it's a little bit of a thorn in my side. I do plan on getting more... but they're going to be on some sort of discount or clearance price. 

I bought this Cheetor because I wanted to check these little figures out and love Cheetor. Like other Cheetor figures in the Rise of the Beasts toy line, he's got a more traditional look. This leads me to think the figure will pop up in other lines. Toy companies like to reuse assets and I can see these selling well at the holidays. Like Titan Changers, they're obviously sold at a huge mark up and make profit even when on clearance. As the name implies, they 'flex' to transform. The parts are all held together by a larger rubber band. You essentially take them apart and reassemble to transform with said rubber band holding everything together. It's a simple toy that honestly pleasant if you can get past the limitations... or the price. If you don't mind the price or can get one on sale or clearance it'd make a great little desk toy.

Cheetor (Studios Series/Voyager)

While the prior Cheetor toys from Rise of the Beasts have been more in line with his classic design, the Studio Series release has our favorite cool cat in his new movie looks. Like I've said before, Cheetor is one of my favorite Transformers characters. It's going to be hard to be impartial with this one, and to be honest, I love this toy. I'm going to gush. This is a good, solid, figure and great representation of Cheetor's movie appearance. He's a Voyager class figure. That seems a little large for a character who's normally in the Deluxe range, but it's nice having this larger toy. The Maximals size up to regular Transformers in the movies, so it's not too odd. Not to mention, with his movie looks...it just fits. I can't believe I'm comparing this with toys like Clench or Stalker... but the larger size feels super appropriate here.

Cheetor turns into a cheetah of course. As with the case with the other movie beast warriors, it's a techno organic cheetah. If I were to compare it with anything, this Cheetor looks like a cross between his Transmetal and Beast Machines design with a dose of late Euro G1/G2. It's a mix of design cues that somehow just works. If I had any complaints, I wish the yellow was a little more varied. Cheetor is a somewhat metallic Dijon mustard that works, but I'd have preferred something different. The colors are a little darker than normal because movie, but I feel like there was other dark yellows that would have worked better. It's not a deal breaker at all, just a slight nit pick. 

Transformation is a breeze, and kinda works exactly how you'd expect. I do really appreciate the fact that his weapon doesn't form from the beast mode tail. Tail weapons are pretty standard for beast type toys, so it's really refreshing then they're not. Cheetor's spear splits in half and can be held as a whole or in halves. It also mounts on his back in both modes. That's not a big feature or anything... but I feel like that really adds to his look. Since his arms are made from the cheetahs front legs, the claws can either fold out of the way, or over the hand as a melee weapon. For some reason this reminds me of the claw gimmick from Supreme Cheetor. Not his most popular figure, but hey... this one is much better!