Review #44: Universe Ultra Class Onslaught
Sorry for the delay for most of the month... I've been on a roll updating the hell out of my other website, and thus got distracted from this one. If you don't mind indulging me in a bit of shameless self promotion, please go check it out!
Anyway, the delay may be for the best. I had been planning on doing a review of the MP-10 Masterpiece Optimus Prime mold. And that is still coming. But a few days ago I saw a pre-order for a cool looking third-party accessory for it, so I shall now wait on that review for until the third party accessory comes out and then I can review everything all at once.
Anyway, the delay may be for the best. I had been planning on doing a review of the MP-10 Masterpiece Optimus Prime mold. And that is still coming. But a few days ago I saw a pre-order for a cool looking third-party accessory for it, so I shall now wait on that review for until the third party accessory comes out and then I can review everything all at once.
In the meantime, I thought I shall review one of the toys I'd had knocking around for quite a while, and which might be an appropriate prelude to another cool set of toys I am expecting in the mail later this week. (Pity that package is scheduled to arrive on the same day as I'll be departing for a trip... But something to look forward to upon my return!)
In 2008, Hasbro released three molds in a size class called Ultra, which was a class larger then Voyager. One of them was Powerglide. (Makes perfect sense that a character who, in G1, was a mini-warrior was an Ultra class.) The other two were characters who in G1 days were the leaders of Scramble City style combiners: Silverbolt of the Aerialbots and Onslaught of the Combaticons. Today, we will be looking at Onslaught. In the G1 days, Onslaught was an anti-aircraft artillery truck, distinctively boasting a large, double barreled cannon. This Universe mold reimagines him as a six wheeled S.W.A.T. assault truck. The truck has a turret on top with two barrels, giving some continuity to the character's design. |
The large Decepticon logo on the top is a Reprolabels sticker I added, but otherwise this figure is completely stock.
The vehicle mold features some interaction. The large shield atop the turret is removable. The turret itself can rotate 90 degrees to either side. The cow catchers on the front can be raised or lowered. One of the wheels, when rotated, will activate a sound effect of a motor running. There is a button on the turret that, when pressed, can activate one of two alternating features: One, the light bar lights up red for an instant, and there is a brief siren sound effect. The second, lights behind the guns light up and a firing gun sound effect plays. The channel behind these lights is a reflective silver color, and interacts well with the flashing red lights. The gunfire effect plays continuous for as long as the button is depressed. (Personally, I thing the siren as the continuous effect and a brief burst of gunfire would have been better.)
The vehicle mold features some interaction. The large shield atop the turret is removable. The turret itself can rotate 90 degrees to either side. The cow catchers on the front can be raised or lowered. One of the wheels, when rotated, will activate a sound effect of a motor running. There is a button on the turret that, when pressed, can activate one of two alternating features: One, the light bar lights up red for an instant, and there is a brief siren sound effect. The second, lights behind the guns light up and a firing gun sound effect plays. The channel behind these lights is a reflective silver color, and interacts well with the flashing red lights. The gunfire effect plays continuous for as long as the button is depressed. (Personally, I thing the siren as the continuous effect and a brief burst of gunfire would have been better.)
Overall, a very nice vehicle mode. Quite different from the G1 original, but like many "Classics" style releases, evocative enough to be considered a good homage.
Moving onto robot mode!
Moving onto robot mode!
Transformation is a satisfying mid-point between old-school and modern. Certainly more involved then the classic '80's fold out a few things and boom, you're done. But much more solid then some of the over complex, and thus extra fiddly, designs that you come across these days. You have a decently involved process, but nothing feels over delicate and the end product is satisfyingly hefty in the hand.
(Although, in the interest of disclosure, I did once accidentally drop and break this toy. One of the blades on the front of one of his cow catchers - shoulder mounted here in robot mode - snapped off. Fortunately, it actually glued back on quite solidly, and is hardly noticeable. Even on close inspection, it looks at most like a stress mark in the plastic, rather then a full break.) Articulation: His head rotates 360 degrees. His shoulders swivel 360 degrees and have a separate joint for outward movement. There are swivels in his upper arms, pivoting elbows, and then swiveling wrists. Sadly, especially for a figure in a class larger then Voyager, there is no waist rotation. It could likely be tied into the needs for the electronics (I couldn't say for sure without opening him up), and I suppose I understand that this toy is aimed primarily towards children who like that sort of thing, but as a collector I'd have rather had a possible waist. The legs have all of the expected articulation in the hips, upper legs, and knees. Overall, articulation is decent although not exceptional. |
Anyway, all said and done you end up with a nice, hefty robot who looks like he means business. He again has details to help tie him into being the same character as his G1 self: the double cannons are now on his back extending up over his head, and that head has a sculpt that looks proper for Onslaught.
The button on his turret is still fully functional for the siren or gunfire sound and light options.
Onslaught has no separate gun, although his hands do feature 5mm peg holes and should be compatible if you have any extra guns lying around you wanted to equip him with. A Combaticon cannot go around completely unarmed, however, and thus he does have an attached gun slung under one of his arms that will flip out at the push of a button. His other arm has a fold out tab upon which you can attach his shield so that he can wield it in robot mode. |
In honor of the show turning 50 years old this November, I have decided that any size comparison photos for the rest of the year will feature Doctor Who DVDs! And what better place to start then The Beginning?
So yeah... Onslaught. Weird for him to be a stand alone figure when he is best known as the leader of a combiner team. But rarely does Hasbro show the combiners any love. Although, to be fair, there has been a recent Combaitcon combiner... but I was not a fan of what I saw with the Fall of Cybertron Bruticus. (I may take the plunge on the Autobot Wrecker repaint... we'll see, I suppose.) As a stand alone figure, however, he certainly shines. The only complaint I'd have is the lack of a waist joint. Other then that, he looks good in both modes, has a satisfying transformation between them, and has a nice imposing shelf presence. |
(For the sake of completeness, it is worth mentioning that this figure has had a repaint as a character who was an Autobot Headmaster, plus a third party add-on kit to make that repaint a closer homage -- including making it a headmaster, as well! Alas, I don't have that figure or its upgrade kit, so I cannot properly review them... but reviews I've seen elsewhere of the figure with the upgrade kit sure look nice.)
He's a five year old figure, so perhaps not the easiest find at this point... but I would definitely recommend him! If you find him for a decent price, he is worth picking up.
Review added 23 April 2013 by Yotsuya. Please comment!
He's a five year old figure, so perhaps not the easiest find at this point... but I would definitely recommend him! If you find him for a decent price, he is worth picking up.
Review added 23 April 2013 by Yotsuya. Please comment!