BEAST
WARS: TOY REVIEW
Name: DINOBOT
Allegiance: Predacon
Function: Special Operations Combatant
Beast Mode: Mecha Velociraptor
Average Price: 25 AUD
BEAST MODE
Length: 29cm (head to tailtip)
A very interesting looking toy, Dinobot looks like some
kind of cybernetic bio-fossil. What does that mean? Imagine a Velociraptor
fossil, with robotic bone material and several robotic and organic features
throughout. A truly monstrous image indeed. It has retained certain raptorlike
characteristics such as sharp looking claws, particularly on the feet as
well as the overall shape of the toy. It is well accompanied by several
mechanical features such as tubes, wires, screws, vents and even spoilers
on the back and hips! The six spikes on the hips (three on each side) add
a nice touch. Colourwise, the toy is predominantly off-white with dark
blue and chrome purple accents throughout. There are a few dark orange
accents on the side of the hips and top of the head. The eyes are vermillion.
Being a Transmetal 2, the toy has been intentionally moulded in an asymmetrical
way. There are two things about this mode that bug me: firstly, the forearms
are a tad too big (since they later form the robot legs)... secondly, the
tail tends to bend to one side. That being said, one thing I commend about
this toy over the old one is that the legs have been properly incorporated
into the beast mode, unlike the original toy which simply carried the robot
legs as excess undercarriage.
Gimmick: A knob on the tail makes it swing. Whoop-dee-doo.
TRANSFORMATION
The transformation scheme is similar to that of the original
Dinobot. The legs swing up to form the
robot arms, the hip sides swing up to form shoulder pads. The arms swing
down to form robot legs. Move the robot hip section into place. Voila.
ROBOT MODE
Height: 13cm
Articulation: 16 points
One word: ugly.
More words: It's Beast Wars meets Edward Scissorhands...
or... razorhands to be more precise. The neat thing about it is that it
makes Dinobot really look like a bot you'd rather not mess with. The main
thing I don't like about the hands is the fact that the large claw is immobile.
If it could swivel like the other claws, it'd make Dinobot look more fearsome.
That claw would just be so much better as a moveable digit, rather than
being a wrist weapon. It even appears to be a hinderance in terms of practicality.
It's not so much the positioning that bothers me, but the lack of mobility.
In its current position, the blades would be great for slashing, particularly
hooking and uppercutting. However, being unable to move the blades creates
a potential problem of them getting caught, ensnared, trapped or entangled.
However, the most irritating feature of this toy would be the tail. It's
just so bloody annoying! Although not mentioned in the instructions, the
tail is removable. I recommend taking it off... that thing seriously hampers
the toy's balance (which is rather ironic when one considers what the entire
purpose of a tail is for in the first place!). Oh, and the shoulder pads
are way too big for my liking... they'd totally screw up his peripheral
vision. The head moulding is rather interesting though. It resembles the
head of the original Dinobot on the TV programme (since Dinobot did look
markably different on TV compared to the toy) only with a claw slapped
on one cheek, and an optical lens thingy on the left eye. Both the right
eye and optic lens are red. The toy also has a cheesy grin moulded on it
too, with zig-zagged lines representing the teeth. Nope. Don't really like
it. Never liked Transformer faces with expressions (Megatron, Galvatron,
Optimus Minor etc.). I just like the plain ol' neutral expression. Still,
at least Dinobot actually looks like he's gritting his teeth in rage, rather
than in constipation like Galvatron. Aawww, big mean me is picking on poor
widdle Galvatron. Care factor: 0.
In this mode, the dark blues have become more promenant,
although the toy is still primarily off-white. Needless to say the the
chrome "metallised" purple still accent the toy... mainly on the shoulders
and chest.
Wait... there's more for me to whinge about this toy...
I just wanted to say that his lack of a long range weapon sucks. Give him
a gun... or even a crossbow, dammit!! A lack of ballistics has always been
a problem with Dinobot. At least the TV show compensated by giving him
optic laser blasts.
SPARK CRYSTAL LOCATION
Flip up the top of the beast head or chest plate (depending
on the mode).
OVERALL
One word: Disappointment.
BEAST TRIVIA
The word Velociraptor means "speed predator." A member of the Dromaeosaurid
family, Velociraptors are grouped under Therapoda (which includes carnivorous
dinosaurs), which itself is a subdivision of Saurischia (reptile hipped
dinosaurs). The Velociraptor differs from its fellow Dromaeosaurids with
its low and narrow
head. Dromaeosaurids varied in size. Like its cousin, the Dromaeosaurus,
Velociraptor was 1.8 metres in length. This made Velociraptor a relatively
small dinosaur,
especially if it stood next to another relative, Deinonychus, which
over 3 metres!
Velociraptor lived during the Upper Cretaceous period (about 70 million
years ago). Preserved Velociraptor remains have been found in Mongolia.
Bibliography: Children's
Museum of Indianapolis.
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