I'm sad to say after all the waiting and hype, this bot is very much a let down.
The Vmode looks good from the front if you can get the pegs to line up right. The back end shows to many gaps from the leg and hip joints. It just leaves you wanting more, unlike Sideways who wraps up in a neat package.
Look closely though and you will see some nice features like the exposable cockpit.
The two gun barrels lock nicely to the wings, but drop off to easy.
The Rmode, has very flimsy legs that keep bowing outwards due to mid shin pivots used in Vmode.
The only improvement in the leg area compared to the G1 counterpart is the fact that the knees bend in the right direction.
Still the list goes on.
The arms like the legs are flimsy, and covered in to much poppy from the Vmode.
The shield on the left arm would be a nice feature if it would lock into place. Looking at it you can see that if they extended the peg on the shields underside it would fit nicely in his hand.
The right arm is even worse. The shoulder has an extra hinge so it constantly angels out of place. It continues to diapoint with the nose cone of the jet just dangeling. It would have been very easy to turn this into some type of weapon. maybe an extending sword or something.
I want to wait for this bot to go on sale and experiment with that idea myself.
The chest, I feel they got right on the money.
The head scuplt is very good, but it seems to just hover on a half plate on the bots torso.
The giant wings in my opinion, would look better pointed downward to give him more of a cape like apperance. The proximity to the body make alot of poses imposible and restrict Laserbeak from propping on his shoulder.
Even the ability to lower these wings into a Seeker like position would be an improvement.
The guns are intresting in the fact that they transform, but otherwise lack any real creative merit.
However the multiple points of placement realy help this bot out alot. Again if the wings could be lowered, they would look very good in possition, but the way things stand, they sit to far apart for me to keep them off his shoulder and hand.
As for Laserbeak, great articulation. I do miss the lack of machining the G1 figure had, but overall, very well done. Truely the highlight of this figure.
Awhile ago, I saw pictures online of other cylinder shaped drones. I believe one was a aircraft, and I can't recall the other two. Still I hope these also get released as they would make a nice adition. I always liked the casette forces, and following their tradition, more than Laserbeak would be great. I want a Ravage!
Overall, if you're a fan, you're gonna do like I did and buy this figure regaurdless. Still, I'm giving this poor review, not to be sacreligious, but to let the designers know, we want better!
The origional Soundwave was bulky and formitable. He had mass, and eveything fit right. This bot is skinny and sleek, with way to much poppy. So please do better, especialy when using such an honored G1 name.
Reviewer | Dave Adams |
Date | April 23rd 2006 |
Score | (4 out of 10) |
Reads | 8047 |
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