5 replies to this topic

[Draznar]

The contest is over but that's ok. I've been really excited to get this package and to share it with you guys anyways!

 

First up, here's the package:

 

 IMG_0636.JPG   565.73K   10 downloads

 

It really put me off and made it feel like a knock-off product in my mind. I grew up with the clear blister packages and nothing of this sort. When I opened it up, however, I was glad to be proven wrong.

 

 IMG_0637.JPG   364.89K   13 downloads

 

Two decent-sized beasts in all their glory. I'll start my review with Break, the Maximal penguin. To be 100% honest, I thought this character was a complete joke when I saw it. The honest-to-god only reason why I even bought him was because he came packaged with Deadend. (More on this later!). Was I ever wrong about this figure though.

 

 IMG_0639.JPG   469.6K   11 downloads

 IMG_0640.JPG   421.18K   14 downloads

 

His penguin mode looks really good, surprisingly. The feet, head, and flippers are ALL articulated! The paint is pretty nice and it can stand up on it's own. One thing I did notice, however, is that the missile from the launcher sticks out. Essentially, this is a butt rocket. (See the third posted picture).

 

 IMG_0641.JPG   455.01K   16 downloads

 IMG_0642.JPG   434.63K   11 downloads

 

Break's robot form is really robust due to the outer shell of the penguin form. What is extremely surprising here is that he is ridiculously well-balanced and does NOT tip over. I'm actually thoroughly impressed with the details on his robot parts aswell. Something different done in the beast wars neo line is they have replaced the energon chips, (heat sensitive rubs like the battle beasts), and put in these cool looking orbs. This will make cleaning these figures immensely easier and the orbs look just as cool. (If not, arguably, cooler!)

 

 

And now, onto the real reason why this review is happening. Dead End! He is a Nautilus for the Predacons. He's got some really interesting colour schemes and I really like the detailing on his shell.

 

 IMG_0643.JPG   515.7K   7 downloads

 IMG_0644.JPG   500.47K   8 downloads

 

Speaking of his shell, you'll notice I've attached a picture with it off. That's because he comes with the uncanny ability to actually fire his shell off like a missile. Why? I haven't got the faintest idea. But it's awesome. The transformation from beast to robot is surprisingly pretty decent and fun to do.

 

 IMG_0645.JPG   526.1K   8 downloads

 IMG_0646.JPG   270.92K   7 downloads

 

He looks very formidable in his robot form, but unfortunately he doesn't like to stand up all the time. You can remove the shell shoulder-pads, but then he looks puny and wimp-like. With the shoulder-pads he becomes top-heavy and has to be posed accordingly. Is that a bad thing? Sure. Does it ruin the figure? No way! The details they've put into his robot form are stellar, and his transformation process is just plain fun. Aside from all of that, how many people do you know with a Nautilus action figure on their shelves? Probably not too many! So this figure is pretty unique in that regard.

 

Unless you live overseas, you are pretty much required to buy this sucker out on the bay. I bought mine from this fellow:

 

http://www.ebay.ca/i...984.m1497.l2649

 

He is asking $28 for the pair, but I offered $25 and he accepted. After all was said and done, it converted into $26 CAD or something and I was a happy camper. $13 a figure is awesome, especially since I can't get them any other way. This brings me to my point I made earlier about Break. I bought this 2-pack because it was cheaper than buying each figure individually and paying shipping on them. The auction linked above has free shipping, so that saved me from spending $15 - $20 per figure. As stated, I'm glad I went this route because Break turned out to be a great figure alongside Dead End, and I definitely say I got my moneys worth out of this.

 

These figures are a MUST for any Transformers fan!

[BaltanII]

And now, onto the real reason why this review is happening. Dead End! He is a Nautilus for the Predacons.

 

No he is not. Don't you dare libel Dead End's good name by calling him a nautilus!

 

Dead End is an ammonite, a prehistoric cephalopod. One of the many running themes of Beast Wars Neo is that the Destrons in that series were all extinct prehistoric animals. That's how you end up with Archadis the Archaeopteryx, Killer Punch the Styracosaurus, or Magmatron, a combiner made up of a Quetzalcoatlus, Elasmosaurus and Giganotosaurus.

 

Spark Crystals are not actually unique or first to Beast Wars Neo and first appeared as one of the main features in the Transmetals 2 subline of the Hasbro Beast Wars toys.

 

Oh and you are so right, Dead End is an awesome Transformer. I got mine very cheaply sold loose only, so he doesn't even have a box, let alone Break. The Korean two-packs are a little tempting to grab but if I was going to buy them I'd rather go for the Japanese two-pack with the windowed boxes and character-specific bio cards. Korean Beast Wars Neo toys only seem to come with several that are of the same characters no matter what set you buy, I believe.

[Draznar]

My bad. I thought the ammonite was different entirely.

The spark crystals are cool, but I didn't know they started them on trans metals. I lost interest in the beast wars line when trans metals hit because I hated them at an insane level as a child.

Edited by Draznar, 02 August 2013 - 02:53 PM.

[BaltanII]

Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but I hope that someday, I'll find it in my power to forgive you.

 

I was never into Transmetals, myself. Loved them in the show, sure, but for me it was definitely the Fuzors that had my attention, and of course I could never find Silverbolt or Quickstrike. Couldn't even get Air Hammer and had to settle for Bantor to have someone to fight my Buzzclaw...

 

Transmetals 2 were the shit! They were vicious, asymmetrical, and downright badass Beast Wars toys! You definitely missed out on a great period in the lifespan of Beast Wars.

[Draznar]

Bantor is the honest to god worst fuzor I've ever had tr displeasure of owning.

If I knew you needed a silver bolt, you could have had one for free! I had doubles in great shape a few weeks back.

[BaltanII]

I was referring to my childhood, almost never finding anything but the worst shelfwarmers at Walmart when I wanted to buy TFs (didn't repeat that with TM2 by virtue of the line premiering around my birthday and having cash to buy Dinobot II immediately). I'd totally have accepted a free Silverbolt, but I'm not feeling any particular need to own him or anything. I can wait until I feel in the mood to pick up collecting Beast Wars again and grab the Metals version of Silverbolt.