Post by grahamthomson on Jul 4, 2010 7:53:49 GMT
Transformers Review
Transformers Generations Bumblebee (2010)
It’s 2010. Hasbro has re-branded its Universe line into Transformers: Generations, a platform from which to release what it calls “legacy” characters from all generations of Transformers.
One of the first Transformers from this range is the ever-popular Bumblebee. And this time he’s part of the oldest generation of all, and the one Transformers collectors have been intrigued about for more than 25 years: the ancient civil war on Cybertron.
This era, only really glimpsed in the comics and cartoons has recently been immortalised in third person shooter format in Activision’s Transformers: War For Cybertron computer game.
Cybertronian Bumblebee, as so named on the blister card, takes the form of a smooth and glossy pearlescent mustard and black courier vehicle.
The design, with its sugar-coated shell, is sleek and aerodynamic, but also retains the general shape of the original Bumblebee that fans have grown to love. In fact, just as it is a four million year old Cybertronian design, it also looks like it could be a 2014 concept of Volkswagen’s next Beetle car.
Mimicking the glowing panels and lines as seen in the computer game, Bumblebee is adorned with pink pinstripe details and vehicle lights. The Autobot symbol is screen printed in the same colour.
The transformation to robot mode is surprisingly complicated, and fairly novel, too. Changing from car to robot is straightforward, but returning to vehicle involves some amount of panel aligning. There are numerous tabs and slots to help secure the vehicle mode, but it can be tricky making sure they all fit at once.
Bumblebee’s robot mode is top-heavy, with its large forearms and massive back-pack. The thin upper legs amplify the look somewhat. Despite the Cybertronian look, Bumblebee’s head is incredibly familiar and well sculpted. In fact, the resemblance of this toy to the playable character in Transformers: War For Cybertron is uncanny.
The small pistol stored behind/inside the car mode’s rear bumper can be held by either robot hand. Two translucent pink blades can rotate out from the inner forearms to be used as close combat weapons. The blades are not spring-released, but are on a ratchet.
The robot’s feet can be rotated behind the heels to allow the vehicle’s rear wheels to roll freely, and give Bumblebee something of a Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Sideswipe roller-blading ability.
All in all, Bumblebee is a brilliant Transformer; with its futuristic-but-still-cute vehicle mode and challenging transformation sequence. Plus the adherence to the computer game’s design should please collectors that like toy to screen accuracy. For the rest of us, it’s Bumblebee before he came to Earth, which is something worth waiting 25 years to see!
Full Flickr Gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/the-hub/sets/72157624292697835/
The Hub: www.the-hub.co.uk/bumblebee-2010/
Transformers Generations Bumblebee (2010)
It’s 2010. Hasbro has re-branded its Universe line into Transformers: Generations, a platform from which to release what it calls “legacy” characters from all generations of Transformers.
One of the first Transformers from this range is the ever-popular Bumblebee. And this time he’s part of the oldest generation of all, and the one Transformers collectors have been intrigued about for more than 25 years: the ancient civil war on Cybertron.
This era, only really glimpsed in the comics and cartoons has recently been immortalised in third person shooter format in Activision’s Transformers: War For Cybertron computer game.
Cybertronian Bumblebee, as so named on the blister card, takes the form of a smooth and glossy pearlescent mustard and black courier vehicle.
The design, with its sugar-coated shell, is sleek and aerodynamic, but also retains the general shape of the original Bumblebee that fans have grown to love. In fact, just as it is a four million year old Cybertronian design, it also looks like it could be a 2014 concept of Volkswagen’s next Beetle car.
Mimicking the glowing panels and lines as seen in the computer game, Bumblebee is adorned with pink pinstripe details and vehicle lights. The Autobot symbol is screen printed in the same colour.
The transformation to robot mode is surprisingly complicated, and fairly novel, too. Changing from car to robot is straightforward, but returning to vehicle involves some amount of panel aligning. There are numerous tabs and slots to help secure the vehicle mode, but it can be tricky making sure they all fit at once.
Bumblebee’s robot mode is top-heavy, with its large forearms and massive back-pack. The thin upper legs amplify the look somewhat. Despite the Cybertronian look, Bumblebee’s head is incredibly familiar and well sculpted. In fact, the resemblance of this toy to the playable character in Transformers: War For Cybertron is uncanny.
The small pistol stored behind/inside the car mode’s rear bumper can be held by either robot hand. Two translucent pink blades can rotate out from the inner forearms to be used as close combat weapons. The blades are not spring-released, but are on a ratchet.
The robot’s feet can be rotated behind the heels to allow the vehicle’s rear wheels to roll freely, and give Bumblebee something of a Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Sideswipe roller-blading ability.
All in all, Bumblebee is a brilliant Transformer; with its futuristic-but-still-cute vehicle mode and challenging transformation sequence. Plus the adherence to the computer game’s design should please collectors that like toy to screen accuracy. For the rest of us, it’s Bumblebee before he came to Earth, which is something worth waiting 25 years to see!
Full Flickr Gallery: www.flickr.com/photos/the-hub/sets/72157624292697835/
The Hub: www.the-hub.co.uk/bumblebee-2010/
