BEAST
WARS: TOY REVIEW
Name: JAGUAR (Actually pronounced JAGAR
- this spelling will be used during the rest of this review)
Allegiance: Destron
Function: Intelligence, Demolitions
Beast Mode: Mecha Panther
Average Price: 1800 JPY
Notes: This
toy is based on the RAVAGE character seen in "The Agenda"
in the show.
Jagar (which has been Romanised as Jaguar on the packaging and Techs)
is the Japanese name for Ravage.
G1 stands for Generation 1. It is a colloquial fan term used
to refer to any Transformer predating Transformers Generation 2.
In general, G1 spanned from 1984 until the early 1990s.
BEAST MODE
Height: 18cm (including tail)
Points of Articulation: 15 (including the jaw)
The beast mode is not much more impressive than Transmetal
Cheetor's. The most irritating feature of this mode is that the robot arms
are clearly visible beneath the beast chest.Also, the forelegs are kinda
hard to move. The toy is predominantly black with vacuumised deep purple
(close to being black) and metallic beige accents throughout. The head
and neck are totally different moulds, featuring a black jaguar head with
metallic beige strips and red eyes. Other than that, it looks like
nothing more than a repaint and simple retool of Transmetal Cheetor. But
in the world of Transformers, nothing is just what it seems...
TRANSFORMATION
The instruction booklet itself was compiled by using a series
of photographs, rather than technical sketches... just like the
original instruction booklets back in 1984!!
Remove the tail. Straighten out the hind legs and fold
down robot heels. Fold up forelegs. Swing back and leg section up and back
until it locks into place. So far, same as Transmetal Cheetor. Now here's
where it gets different. Unfold robot arms and swing shoulders out into
place. Fold the support strut that joins the head to the body in a zig-zag
formation. Swing robot head down. You can place the tail back on, but I'd
rather not.
Oh, although it's not mentioned in the instructions, Jagar
can transform into a vehicle mode. It's the same as Cheetor's... flip out
the wings and turn the tail around.
ROBOT MODE
Height: 14.5 centimetres
Articulation: 18 points
Much more than just a simple repaint and retool of Cheetor,
Jagar has several significant differences from the base mould. The most
significant difference is the head and neck. Cheetor's head has been totally
removed and replaced with an originally moulded, black, jaguarlike head.
It looks quite similar to the TV show counterpart except that the neck
is much larger and there are silver stripes. The jaw also opens up to reveal
a set of teeth. The chest plate is also an original mould. The furry polkadots
have been replaced with two black chest panels. The entire chest panel
is black except for the solar plexus, which is bronze. The inside
of the chest doors also have some interesting mechanical moulding. Neat.
The arms are also original moulds too. Unlike Cheetor, Jagar's arms have
hands. The upper arms are metallic beige and the lower arms are
black. The back, waist and legs are, mouldwise, the
same as Transmetal Cheetor. The thighs have been repainted metallic beige
with bronze accents and the lower legs are black. The feet and heels are
metallic beige. The barrels of his guns (yep, the ones with the laser sights)
attach onto grooves on the back of the thighs. Cheetor has these grooves
too, but they don't do anything. It's interesting to see how the designers
of this toy have taken advantage of a previous mould feature that was originally
intended to be purely decorative, rather than making a slight mould modification
to the legs. Very resourceful!
Gimmicks:
The chest opens up (similar to how Optimus Prime opens
his chest in the movie/show). The inside of the chest compartment is metallic
beige. It has quite a few wires and buttons moulded onto it. In the centre
lies a sticker sporting the Predacon insignia embedded within an array
of wires and circuits. You can either apply the Decepticon logo sticker
or a sticker with G1 Megatron's face (from the golden disk recording) onto
this... well... sticker! I personally have opted not to put either of the
stickers on.
The hands are moulded with thumb and fingers opposed.
Under each forearm is a small, black pistol which can flick into Jagar's
hands (a spring loaded gimmick)! Attach the barrels onto the pistols. Now,
laugh maniacally with an evil Russian accent. ;-)
STICKER LOCATIONS
Just like a G1 Transformer, Jagar comes with a sticker sheet!
Apply the Predacon insignia onto the right shoulder (as shown in the photographic
instructions... damn! Sorry, it's just been so long since I bought a Transformer
with photographic instructions... up till now, all instructions were illustrated
since 1985) and the Decepticon insignia onto the left. The sticker sheet
comes with two of each insignia, which is quite handy, because the stickers
don't apply very smoothly. These stickers seem like they were intended
for a smooth surface rather than a round one. Also, as mentioned above,
the chest opens up to reveal a compartment with a sticker featuring the
Predacon insignia. The sheet has a sticker with a large Decepticon insignia
with a purple grid behind it and a picture of G1 Megatron's face. These
two stickers are supposed to be applied over the Predacon insignia in the
chest compartment. Take your pick.
A certain irony lies in the fact that this is the only
(Trans)Metal without a rub sticker.
Above: The Decepticon insignia.
OTHER COOL STUFF...
It's no secret that Japanese tech specs and packaging have
always been better than their Western counterparts.
The front of the Tech Specs card has a picture of Jagar
looking out with fists clench. As one tilts the card, it changes to a picture
of him with guns out, mouth open and laser sights activated. Tilting it
even further shows the guns blazing away and explosions in the background.
This is the most complex Tech Specs picture I've ever seen!!
On the front of the box is a special logo which feature
the Predacon insignia in front of the Decepticon insignia. One of the side
panels also shows a picture of the Tripedacus Council with a caption reading,
"Wakusei Energoa no subete no Transformer wo massatsu surunoda!"
which means "Exterminate all the Transformers on planet Energoa!" (I presume
planet Energoa is Earth). Doesn't sound quite as threatening as, "Exterminate,
with extreme predjudice," does it? Nope.
The other side panel shows the gun and chest gimmicks,
as well as a photo of Jagar in robot mode with a caption reading, "Ore
wa Jagar, Destron yo eien nare!" which means, "I am Ravage, Decepticons
Forever!" Now that's cool. Also, look at the Beast Point. It has a Decepticon
insignia on it! Clip and save this for future mail aways, kids.
Furthermore, this toy is packaged in robot mode.
Very unorthodox.
OVERALL
A very sophisticated repaint and retool of Transmetal Cheetor.
Unlike other previous repaint and retools, such as the Cyberbeasts, Hardhead
and Sharp Edge, almost half the toy
is comprised of original moulding! Furthermore, even the Ravage CGI model
in the show was a retool of Cheetor's robot mode model anyway. Hence the
toy looks very similar to the show counterpart. Typically in Transformers,
the characters in the show are based off the toys. In this instance, the
toy is based off a character in the show! And not only does it look great,
it's highly articulated too, making this toy great to look at and
play with!
This toy is a special treat for G1 and Beast Wars fans
alike. Decepticons FOREVER!
BEAST TRIVIA
The panther goes by many names including American Lion, Cougar, Deer
Tiger, Mexican Lion, Puma and Mountain Lion. Scientists just
call it Felis concolor. The panther is a large, graceful cat of
the family Felidae. In the New World, its size is exceeded only
by the jaguar. The panther ranges widely from British Columbia to Patagonia
in various habitats such as mountains, deserts and jungles. However, in
many regions, most local subspecies have been eliminated by humans and
panthers are now generally restricted to wilderness areas. The eastern
puma (Felis concolor cougar) of North America and the Florida cougar
(Felis concolor coryi) of the southern United States are both considered
endangered.
A wide range of colouration exists among panthers, from pale buff to
reddish brown. The ears and tail tip are generally dark, while the rump
and belly are white. There is no mane. The weight of an adult may range
from 35 to 100 kilogrammes. A large male may be as long as 3 metres, one-third
of whcih is the tail and stansd at 60 to 75 centimetres at the shoulders.
The female tends to be smaller.
The voice of the panther is like that of a domestic cat, but louder.
Its mating call is a harsh scream. Breeding occurs at any time of the year,
the female usually bearing young ever other year. A litter consists of
one to five spotted kittens born after a gestation of 90 days. The kittens
are playful and follow the female on hunts in about two months. Sexual
maturity is attained at two or three years of age.
The panther eats a wide range of foods. It shows a preference for deer
when available, and occassionally kills livestock. However, like all predators,
the panther is vital in maintaining balance in nature by preventing the
overpopulation of prey animals.
Humans hunt panthers for bounty or sport by such means as dogs, traps
and open pits. As there are few authentic reports of attacks on people,
it is not considered a particularly dangerous animal to humans.
Bibliography: Encyclopaedia Brittanica.
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