BEAST WARS: TOY
REVIEW
Name: MEGATRON
Allegiance: Predacon
Function: Predacon Commander
Beast Mode: Mechanical Dragon
Average Price: 25 AUD (damn that's cheap!)
Note: This toy is not a repaint of Galvatron.
BEAST MODE
This is a very unconventional toy! Although classed as a
Transmetal 2, it exhibits features that would make one question its classification.
The most unusual feature of this mode is that it's a combination of two
breeds of dragon. The sculpting of the head and neck, as well as the long,
slender body and tail, resembles an Asian dragon. however, the presence
of wings and hind legs resembles a European dragon. So you've really got
a sort of Fuzor Transmetal 2 thing happening, much like the other Ultra
Transmetal 2, Tigerhawk. The toy is
almost entirely metallic red. There are chrome-red parts on the face, neck
and wings. The underbelly is accented with metallic yellow and chrome-orange.
There are some deep purple accents on the underside of the wings and the
actual wings themselves are translucent brown to amber. There are black
accents throughout the limbs and lots of metallic yellow and orange on
the tail. The eyes are green. Going in concordance with the Transmetal
2 ethos, this toy is asymmetrical, however, the asymmetry is reasonably
well balanced. The organic and robotic parts mix with each other quite
well, giving the illusion that this is a dragon in a suit of armour. The
neck and tail are made of rubber, making it very flexible. A purple switch
on the back allows the player to manipulate the neck. Pulling a red switch
on the back opens the wings up. Lock this switch to keep the wings extended.
This gives a wingspan of 34.5 centimetres The wings itself look rather
odd and the hinges have two VTOL-like structures. Standing on its own,
the toy looks pretty impressive. With its neck arched over, the toy is
already 27 centimetres high, making it two centimetres taller than Optimal
Optimus (head height) and Super Fire
Convoy. With head and tail fully extended, this toy measures a full
forty-four centimetres! There are two missile launchers, one at the base
of the tail and one in the mouth. I like the idea of having a missile shoot
from his mouth. The major drawback of this toy is that the robot head is
painfully visible on the base of the tail. There seems to be no attempt
to hide it at all.
TRANSPORT MODE
Bring the legs forward, Flip up feet and pull out wheels.
Although not mentioned in the instructions, two panels on the leg flip
open to expose the larger wheels. Yay, a half-arsed intermediate mode.
Why do they bother??
TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE
Eek gads! I could sneeze better drawings than the scribble
they have in this instruction booklet! Release shoulder panels. The left
panel on my toy requres excessive force. Grrr. Fold wing section back.
Shift the dragon head to the right (that'd be your left, if you're looking
onto it face on). Open chest and raise up robot arm. Place arm to the side
and close chest. Lower and lock hip halves. Rotate feet 180 degrees. Rotate
robot legs and hip section up 180 degrees. Insert pins on wing section
onto body. Fold down and lock robot head. Drape tail over back. Lock shoulders
onto body.
ROBOT MODE
Height: 18 cm up to head (22 cm up to wing)
There's no major change in colour scheme here. The head
is more noticeable (although it's still too noticeable in beast
mode). The head is a very, very dark brown (almost black) with orange accents.
The eyes are green and the mouth and teeth are white. The mouth looks utterly
silly as it's sculpted to make Megatron appear as if he's yelling. Not
only that, but the robot teeth are pointed!! On top of the head is a transparent
orange visor/helmet. It has some "dragon-esque" decos sculpted in, but
best of all is that there's a Predacon insignia moulded on top of it! The
chest features an oversized ball. Inside the transparent amber ball is
a cockpit with a black seat. Apparently Hasbro initially thought about
giving this toy a humanoid "Spark", but decided to abandon it at the last
moment in fear that it might confuse some fans. Hey look! It's Bomberman
Megatron!! ;-)
Having a dragon head for an arm is just absolutely dorky,
but at least the other arm has a hand, unlike the original Ultra Megatron
who just had a head and a tail for arms.
SPARK CRYSTAL LOCATION
Under robot chin.
OVERALL
A fairly impressive dragon mode and an okay robot mode (it
would look better if it had two arms instead of one). Arguably the best
Megatron figure they've released so far.
BEAST TRIVIA
Serpentine creature found in numerous cultures. From region to region,
dragons' appearances, temperments, and attitudes differ.
In Medieval Europe, the dragon was depicted as a demonic creature, since
in the Bible, the dragon was often a metaphor used to describe evil, destruction
and Satan. European dragons were commonly represented with the tail of
a serpent, scaly wings, the claws of a lion and the ability to breathe
fire.
In Asian countries, however, the dragon was identified with theYang
(light), where they are depicted as divine creatures that were often benevolent
towards humans. In China, they are referred to as the Long and are
considered the elementals of air.
Bibliography: Mythical
Creatures
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