BEAST MACHINES: TOY REVIEW

Name: STRIKER
Allegiance: Maximal
Function: Ground Combat Specialist
Sub-Group: Dinobot
Beast Mode: Stegosaurus
Price: 10 USD
Note: This toy is a recolour of Sabreback.

BEAST MODE

Height: 9.5cm
Length: 21cm
Width: 7cm
Striker is a recolour of the Beast Wars Neo toy Sabreback, as part of Hasbro's new "Deluxe Dinobots" line. This sub-line complements the Beast Machines line. So, how did they change Sabreback? So, how did they change Striker? Well, Sabreback's gray body plates are now gold (Hasbro has been using a lot of this gold lately), Sabreback's light body stripes are now yellow and orange, the back plates were changed from dark gray to bright red, and the dark gray and silver upper front legs are now 2 shades of blue. It's odd that this toy was originally a Predacon mould, since the expression on his face makes him look like he should be surrounded by small children singing songs. I mean, he's got a smile that extends to his neck. He only has 6 points of articulation, 3 in each front leg. The back legs do move, but the surrounding mould requires them to sit in one place or they look separated from the skin. Each back plate
can also be moved slightly.

Gimmick: Flatten the legs to the side. Raise the tail and spine, and open the tail. Make sure you pull back on the large plate to lock it in place. This is his trap mode. It's supposed to be a flower, with the rest hiding. Unfortunately, the flower lacks a trigger, so it can't spring shut. If you want to go the extra distance, open the head panels to reveal his skull for a "dead" look. This mode wasn't in the instructions, cut for space reasons, as Hasbro prints instructions on the cards of basic and deluxe sized toys. The inside of the flower is also now blue and orange, unlike the yellow with bits of blue and red on Sabreback.

TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE

Fold the tail up and remove it. Split the head and swing out the body panels. Separate the rib panels from the larger panels. Straighten the back legs and unfold the robot feet. Snap them onto the beast feet. Unfold the waist cover. Fold the rib panels down, turn the torso so the Spark Crystal faces out, lock the front legs in place as the arms, and push the torso down. Fold the toes on the arms back, and fold the hands out (reminds me of G1 Hun-Grrr). Turn the large body panels so the head halves face down, and fold the skull section forward and lock it in place so the skull folds over the spark. Fold the plates on the spine flat, turn the base to reveal the robot face, and fold the spine down. reversing this can be tricky, since you have to fold things in order and pieces flop around.

ROBOT MODE

Height: 12cm
Width: 7cm
His robot form looks a lot better than his beast form. Unlike his beast head, the robot head looks threatening. Sabreback's red and yellow armor is now blue and orange on Striker. He also has an Aztec warrior theme, with the head dress, waist flap, and the head dress extension hanging down his back, with the plates resembling feathers. The legs also resemble a G1 gestalt limb, with the large foot plate attached to a smaller foot. The beast mode panels that hang off don't get in the way, thankfully. The rib panels form a small "skirt", and the larger panels form wings. He has 12 joints, in the neck, waist, shoulders, upper arms, elbows, hips, and knees. Each beast panel is also on 2 joints each. The robot is mostly blue and gold where Sabreback was almost solid gray.

Gimmicks: Open the tail into its flower shape. Fit the base peg in either hand. This is his gun. Not a very convincing gun, but it's a weapon at least.

SPARK CRYSTAL LOCATION

On his chest, though you have to lift the skull to see it.

OVERALL

Beast mode is nothing special, but the trap mode is nice. He also has a nice robot mode, which makes up for the beast mode looking so "dopey". Colours aren't as dark and menacing as on Sabreback, but the new colours are reasonable, considering that this toy is a Maximal, not a Predacon like his predecessor. Though if you have the money and want an import, hasbrocollector.com sells Sabreback and Corahda in a box set for 35 USD in the US.

This review was written by Kasady Voorhees.

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