Nightstrike [Star Raiders Collection Multipack]

Pirates are a normal site at Halloween, but vampires and bats are as symbolic of the spooky season as a pumpkin. Amazingly, Nightstrike is all 3! As member of the Star Raiders, there's much pirate mayhem done he takes part in. However, his bat robot form utilizes a sonic scream to scare his victims before he drains them of their Energon as well. Nightstrike will trap a robot in their own nightmares while draining them of their life force as one of the most Halloween appropriate Transformers ever. He even turns into a pirate flag, which is you know... a skull. Which is a memento mori, a reminder of the inevitability of death and a cornerstone of the seasons decorations. Neat huh?

Nightstrike is a repaint of the Generations Selects Skar mold which turns into a shield. You'd think it could be used as a cassette for Siege Soundwave, however it doesn't actually fit in his cassette compartment. The shield is meant to be a pirate flag as Nightstrike's alt mode, which is incredibly silly and awesome. Just give whichever Star Seeker a flag to carry, things can get wild. In bat mode, Nightstrike can mount on Thundertron's shoulders as we'll see a little later this week. Transformation is extremely easy as he's a simple toy. However the bat wings are fairly articulated for such a small and basic thing. Nightstrike first appeared in Robots in Disguise 2015, so having a 'GeeWuun' version of him is neat. Aside from the silly alt mode, I really like his colors. It's impossible for me to hate such a neat little guy. He's just a neat toy!

BIOS- Autobot Battlefield Headquarters

"Speed and power are the driving force for victory!"

Function: Regional Ground/Air Defense

Keeps the peace on land and in the air! Full-Barrel and Overflow use their overpowering size to rumble to victory over any Decepticon adversary. Highly mobile, stock-piled to the max with energon defense armaments, including twin, wing-tip rocket launchers, pivoting high-intensity heat lasers and dual concussion mortars. Non-oxygenized, vacuum-sealed cybernetic computer system control all on-board weapons and energy output. Provides safety for Autobots under attack. Utilizing the Micromaster Combiner feature, tractor trailer separates to form two aerial defense crafts, then they combine to produce sub-orbital space station!

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

BIOS: Rescue Patrol

"True victory can only lie in the ability to locate and mend the injured."

Function: Search & Rescue

This fearless foursome braves the heaviest combat fire on land and sea to perform their assigned tasks. Fully equipped to administer emergency aid under the most adverse conditions: Seawatch has over-the-horizon radar and towing capability; Stakeout has a state-of-the-air communications dashboard; Fixit is outfitted with repair bay and life-function monitors; Red Hot contains fire-retardant chemical foam.

Teamwork: 9 Cooperation: 9 Strength: 4 Endurance: 6
Speed: 4 Intelligence: 8 Courage: 9 Skill: 8

Bios: Countdown

"For a world without evil, you need a universe without evil."

Function: Aerospace Commander

An intergalactic hero and space explorer. A legend to beings throughout the universe and an inspiration to his fellow Autobots. Fought 1000 battles and circled almost a million stars, defending the rights of the innocent. Transforms to lunar rover with com-link disk that enables him to control the entire defense base from up to 30,000,000 miles away. His interstellar rocket ship converts to mobile launch pad armed with two energy-zapping de-kineto cannons that freeze objects in mid-motion. Ship is also designed to use planetary orbits and gravitational pulls to "slingshot" across entire galaxies in seconds. Command base equipped with laser blasters, high-tech repair bay, interstellar communications center, space-tracking radar, and high-speed launch pad.

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

Bios: Skyhopper

"The bigger the boom, the better I like it."

Function: Aerial Assault Commander

Likes to watch things explode. Especially enjoys firing his helicopter's sonic cannon at anything associated with the Autobots. Transforms the copter into a battle base to use its powerful molecular disrupter gun to alter the Autobot's circuitry. Other Decepticons suspect all the explosions have rattled his brain circuits once to often!

Strength: 6 Intelligence: 4 Speed: 7 Endurance: 6

Rank: 6 Courage: 8 Firepower: 8 Skill: 9

Bios: Star Convoy

Function: Supreme Commander

Ability: The new leader of the Cybertron corps including the Micromasters. He fights with the power of supernova energy "Zodiac". Caterpillar treads on his feet are his special ability, allowing him to travel over all terrain.

Weapons: Galaxy Bomber, Shoulder Cannon 

Strength: 10 Intelligence: 10 Speed: 10 Endurance: 10

Rank: 10 Courage: 10 Firepower: 10 Skill: 10

Bios: Sunrunner

Function: Assault Warrior

Abilities: The strongest combat experts in space. They are wild characters and will sacrifice everything in order to defeat the enemy.

Weapons: Surrounding their enemy, they bombard them with shells.

Strength: 7 Intelligence: 5 Speed: 6 Endurance: 7

Rank: 5 Courage: 7 Firepower: 7 Skill: 6

Bios: Black Heat

Function: Cyber Warrior

Abilities: Invention of the Seibertron Zone Project. Due to their build, they rank high flying through the air. Do not have a lot of physical strength so do not like to participate in combat.

Weapons: They have a flash attack which blinds the enemy.

Strength: 5 Intelligence: 8 Speed: 6 Endurance: 6

Rank: 7 Courage: 6 Firepower: 6 Skill: 7

Bios: Battle Squad

"The higher they fly, the faster they'll fall!"

Function: Aerial Counterattack

Utilizing the Micromaster Combiner feature, each micro robot of the Decepticon Battle Squad has the ability to connect with other Micromaster Combiners to form powerful, devastating vehicles of destruction! The nucleus of the Decepticon's off-radar defense system. Banded together by a cybernetic compressor to ignite the stratosphere with a magnitude of firepower! Equipped with sophisticated, visual tracking devices for high-definition, target-lock capabilities! Usually to blame when Autobot space crafts suddenly disappear from radar. Able to annihilate anything within a three mile radius. When separated, take pop-shots at each other for sport. Combine to form an armored assault vehicle, blast cannon transport, and high-spy jet.

Teamwork: 7 Cooperation: 7 Strength: 8 Endurance: 6 Speed: 7 Intelligence: 8 Courage: 9 Skill: 5

Bios: Groundshaker

"A life without risk is a life without reward."

Function: Field Commander

A rowdy, rebellious robot. Likes to be where the action is! At his best crashing his titanium-steel, self propelled cannon through enemy barricades, just so he can unload his x-ray laser cannon, sonic boomers and automatic machine gun at the Decepticons. Converts his ATV vehicle into a battle station and helipad. Also equipped with awesome ultra-violet radar that guards against Decepticon attacks!

Strength: 7 Intelligence: 7 Speed: 3 Endurance: 8 Rank: 8 Courage: 10 Firepower: 8 Skill: 8

Bios: Greasepit

"An engine is only as powerful as the fuel that runs it."

Function: Fuel Depot

A small-minded swindler. Siphons gas from the cars of humans to supply his Decepticon comrades. In battle Mode, his station is armed with ionic cannons, rail-launched incendiary missiles and circuit-scrambling jammers. Tower-mounted sonic disruptor emits pressurized sound waves that can crush any target.

Strength: 4 Intelligence: 7 Speed:3 Endurance: 6 Rank: 7 Courage: 7 Firepower: 8 Skill: 9

Bios: Airwave

"My price is too high and you're going to pay."

Function: Aerial Defense

A black market barbarian. His airport is equipped with retractile tire shredding spikes that prevent enemy invasions. In attack Mode, airport converts to mobile, dual missile battery with a range of over 300 miles. Control tower armed with atomic panels that short out optic sensors.

Strength: 1 Intelligence: 6 Speed:7 Endurance: 5 Rank: 6 Courage: 9 Firepower: 8 Skill: 8

Bios- Full-Barrel

 

"Speed and power are the driving force for victory!"

Function: Regional Ground/Air Defense

Keeps the peace on land and in the air! Full-Barrel and Overflow use their overpowering size to rumble to victory over any Decepticon adversary. Highly mobile, stock-piled to the max with energon defense armaments, including twin, wing-tip rocket launchers, pivoting high-intensity heat lasers and dual concussion mortars. Non-oxygenized, vacuum-sealed cybernetic computer system control all on-board weapons and energy output. Provides safety for Autobots under attack. Utilizing the Micromaster Combiner feature, tractor trailer separates to form two aerial defense crafts, then they combine to produce sub-orbital space station! 

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

Bios: Sixtrain

 

Function: 6-Robot Gestalt Railroad Warrior

Ability: Whilst working on the railroads they have formed bonds with the Earth people. They are attached to their duty as ground defense. As elder brothers of Sixliner, they have shared similar experiences.

Weapons: Produce a road of light to create railway tracks from their gun.

Operation Micro Combination

 

A time I truly miss in Transformers is from of the early 2000's. Takara started re-issuing the Micromaster combiners from late G1. Instead of gift sets, the figures would come in blind box style packaging with each combiner team serving as a series. There would be a little hole in the bottom allowing you to see the number of each member on an insert, so it wasn't a totally blind box. The insert would be a generally informative set of instructions, who all else was in the set, and a short pack in fiction. However the number wouldn't be much of an indication of you got the regular toy or the chase color version. The line would even include Landcross whom was sold as a DX Micromasters.

A Micromaster combiner team (gestalt style, not the two vehicle combiners) would consist of six robots with a unified theme. There would also be the various combiner parts included with the figures that you'd need to form the main robot after completing the set. Those combiner parts would also assemble a flying vehicle of sorts your Micromasters could pilot. The originals were normally sold in a singular box (for the most part), however in this line came individually sold in the a fore mentioned blind box.

The boxes would come 12 to a display box that'd sit on the counter of a store. These display boxes were generally how you'd buy them online if you weren't in Japan (like me). Some sties did sell them individually, but it usually was by the display box that they were bought. Enough to complete two sets of the teams would be in that box. Perfect for trading or selling. The reissues didn't have stickers like the originals, instead the details were tampographed on. If you find yourself wondering if you've found an original, that's the easiest way to figure out.

Above I mentioned the color chase versions. That's because there would be an alternate version of the team in the set. Generally in solid colors and sometimes with a faction swap. They were highly desired and generally you'd get about 75% of one in that box, leading to some trading or buying extras to complete it if possible. Later Hasbro would release these teams under the Universe banner. Individually packaged and usually exclusive to Kay-Bee Toys (here, at least) they were mostly straight repacks of the Japanese releases named after classic combiner teams instead of the original teams names. Only Superion and Devastator got new colors and were really nice looking. These are still my favorite versions of Superion and Devastator to this day.

Decepticon Occultist StarViper!

 

ToyLanta has come and gone until next year. With it a new set of memories and experiences. This year I did something different, this is StarViper. StarViper is the first of what I hope to be a ongoing series of custom Zone Base exclusive toys. There's only two. Shawn has one and I the other. If you follow me on various social media, I've mentioned buying Siege Caliburts for a project. Hand painting them into an original character was fun. Sure, it's pretty basic and others could have done better. I'm still proud of him.

I came up with the name with wanting it to sound like a ridiculous old video game character. I liked it so much that I've been using it as a display name in places. Personality wise, StarViper is a Decepticon Occultist that lives on Planet Zone. StarViper is a member of a secret organization formed by some of the Cyberdroids that first came to Planet Micro. His alt mode is a blaster that can be used by larger Transformers. While used this way, StarViper has some mind control of the larger robot. The blaster can also act as a short range flight mode.

Bios: Skystalker

"Terror reigns from the skies, the hapless rule on the ground."

Function: Interstellar Assault

Obsessed with power, acquiring it, keeping it, and using it to tyrannize all who oppose him. Lives for the day when the Decepticons will rule the universe under HIS command. The meanest fighter to ever raid an enemy outpost. Rockets across galaxies in his fearsome space shuttle, destroying everything in his path. Shuttle and detachable jet pod armed with laser cannons, cluster bombs, accelerator beams, air-to-air missiles, and nose cone modulator that emits earth-shaking sonic booms. Control panel armed with long-range aerial tracking devices and lock-target laser guidance systems. Lower platform equipped with atom scrambler that disintegrates objects in seconds.

Bios: Rescue Patrol

True victory can only lie in the ability to locate and mend the injured.

This fearless foursome braves the heaviest combat fire on land and sea to perform their assigned tasks. Fully equipped to administer emergency aid under the most adverse conditions: Seawatch has over-the-horizon radar and towing capability; Stakeout has a state-of-the-air communications dashboard; Fixit is outfitted with repair bay and life-function monitors; Red Hot contains fire-retardant chemical foam.

A Squad Intended For Battle

Among the newer Micromasters I found recently was the Earthrise release of the Battle Squad. I wasn't able to get these guys when they were released in Siege, so of course I jumped on them. Then I got the pack I didn't jump on. Whoops.

Now I just hope I can find the Rumble/Ratbat pack at Ross or something. Then I'll successfully gotten all the new Micromasters from Generations. Go me.

Direct-Hit (right) and Power Punch (left) are both members of the G1 Battle Squad faithfully updated in Siege. The Earthrise version is a straight repack of that. So there.

The two combine to form a cannon transport vehicle. I've always liked this type of Micromaster combiner and was pretty happy to see them make a return here. The two are pretty faithful to the G1 versions aside from the black chest on Direct-Hit and that's great. I always really liked the more interesting colors of late G1 and often they're either muted or exaggerated in newer versions of the characters. They got it just right with some extra detailing color. The guys look pretty great.

Newer Micromasters have slightly improved articulation from the originals. You can't really expect a ton from a tiny toy that comes in a two pack for $10. It's just not going to happen. The newer Micromasters are on pare with most Mini-Cons and that's a pretty good amount of movement for a toy this size. The cannon from vehicle mode or Power Punch's back can be held or mounted on compatible Transformers. Really, these newer Micromasters are almost Mini-Cons by another name, which the reverse of that is how many of us saw Mini-Cons during their introduction. I liked those too.

Patrol Of The Race Car

Micromasters are a wonderful thing. Purple Robots are a wonderful thing. Bright yellow on robots... These guys are wonderful. In fact, you could call them majestic. I do. 

The Earthrise Race Car Patrol is an update of Roller Force (purple guy) and Ground Hog (blue guy) who were members of the Race Track Patrol in G1. Things change, names change, sometimes colors change. Ground Hog was purple in G1 for instance. They also change into robots, it's the gimmick of the toy line. I'm ok when things change.

I got these dudes last week and was pretty happy to do so. I'm gobbling up all the Micromasters and Battlemasters I can until the seeming end of tiny robots in mainline TF for the time being. Assuming the individual Titanmasters don't get re-released in that upcoming Headmasters thing. If that happens, then game on. Either way, I'm enjoying them while I got them. Surely there will be new tiny robots in TF sooner or later. Humor me.

These two turn into, you'd never guess, race cars. Weirdest thing right? The two can combine to form what's supposed to be a gun, like other newer Micromasters. I didn't take a picture of that. Sorry. I kinda forget they can do this as it just looks like two robots stuck together. Like the designers were told by higher ups to do something like that and they did whatever they did out of spite. "Fine, here's a fucking gun."

The two are pretty faithful recreations of the original toys (aside from colors) with improved articulation. I really can't find anything bad to say about these toys. If this was an email, I'd end it with a bunch of hearts. Like this. <3 <3 <3 <3