Review Compilation - The Seacons!

[grahamthomson]

Herewith reviews of all six individual Seacons, enjoyeth;

I won't have time to review 1988 Piranacon and 2010 Piranacon this side of Auto Assembly due to my commitments to the convention, so they will follow at the end of the month.

[grahamthomson]

Overbite



Hasbro knows when it’s onto a good thing. When something sells well, it’s usually a good idea to churn out more of the same. It’s simply good business sense. Since the introduction of the Special Teams in 1986, the concept of individual Transformers merging into one large robot with interchangeable limbs has gone from strength to strength. Thus, in 1988 the Seacons make their debut as the seventh such team. Unlike the previous teams, the Seacons take things that little bit further.

Capitalising on the success of animal-mode Transformers in previous years, the Seacon team consists of a set of marine creatures. It seems like the marine theme is an excuse to utilise a colour scheme that assuredly contains hallucinogenic properties. Oddly this year, there is no Autobot counterpart team to the Seacons. But fans of the Special Teams certainly have cause to rejoice: The Seacon team features six members!

Overbite, designation SE1 on the packaging, assumes the form of what the instructions charitably refer to as a “monster”. Actually, it looks a lot like a shark with arms and legs. In fact, the Marvel UK comics do depict the character as a (limbless) mechanical shark. But they also call the character Jawbreaker. So what do they know?

All plastic, cast in purple, pink and aquamarine green, Overbite features a surprising amount of articulation. The jaw is hinged, as are the arms, hips, knees and ankles. Of course, actual sharks do not possess arms, hips, knees and ankles so any sense of realism with Overbite is completely lost at sea.

Inserting the “Jawbreaker” cannon into Overbite’s chin forms the “Attack Monster” mode. This, however, renders the jaw useless, so Overbite cannot shoot ‘n’ chew at the same time. The cannon can also be used, along with the included connector, tripod rifle and weapon stand base, to help Overbite form its “Stand-Up Weapon” mode. It’s a free standing weapon, suitable for larger Decepticons to hide behind.

Overbite’s robot mode, following the standard Special Teams template, is almost completely static save for rotating shoulders and bending elbows. The jawbreaker cannon and/or the tripod rifle can be used as handheld weapons.

The robot mode shares the same colour scheme as the monster mode, but the included labels can be applied to add detail to the design. Like most other labels from 1987-1988, the labels are without any coating and so are prone to losing their ink to greasy fingers.

Another warning is that the paint on the robot’s face will be damaged by continual reinsertion of the robot head into the weapon connector.

Overbite is almost one step forward, two steps back compared to other Special Team mini-robots. The additional weapon mode is a nice evolution of the concept, but charm of the alternate mode is completely undone by the presence of arms and legs. Unless you’re an avid collector of the Special Teams, then this is best avoided.

[grahamthomson]

Seawing



The second member of the Seacon team, Seawing (SE2), takes flight under the waves as a turquoise, black and grey robotic manta ray. A manta ray with legs, that is. It’s a very stylised look, with the wing span forming a near perfect half-circle. Seawing is certainly the sleekest looking Seacon.

Seawing comes complete with two “venom laser” weapons and the three-piece weapon stand. The venom lasers can each be mounted under a wing to form Seawing’s Attack Mode. The lasers can then be snapped together and inserted directly into Seawing’s nose as the manta ray makes its transition into weapon form.

While Seawing’s robot mode is much of a muchness compared to the rest of the team, it is worth noting that it is the only Special Teams mini-robot to feature actual separated legs.

With single-plane rotation at the shoulders, Seawing can aim and hold either the two venom lasers or a combination of those and the tripod rifle part of the weapon stand.

Seawing’s colour scheme remains the same in robot mode, with just a splash of yellow paint across the robot’s visor. A set of labels adds further detail. As with other Transformers of the time, the labels lack any coating and are prone to losing their ink with continued handling.

With its more complementary colour scheme and less absurd looking monster and robot modes, Seawing is a personal favourite of the team; recommended to those looking to try just one Seacon instead of the entire set.

[grahamthomson]

Nautilator



Nautilator, a particularly creepy looking Seacon, is perhaps the most realistic looking of the set. Well, as realistic as a toy robotic lobster can get, to be fair.

Sharing the same turquoise, grey and black colour scheme as Seawing, Nautilator has the right number of legs and claws just about where they should be. Oh no, no over-evolved fish monsters here.

Unfortunately the legs are completely static. But the claws can swing up and down. All told, it’s one of the most sinister alternate forms of all the Transformers so far.

Like the other Seacon mini-robots, Nautilator can form an intermediate free-standing weapon mode. Essentially the included Triple Crusher Cannon slots into the lobster’s back end. A welcome change from lemon butter, certainly.

Nautilator’s robot mode is incredibly back-heavy, with the lobster’s head, legs and claws folded up behind the robot’s shoulders. The robot head sits far too far back and doesn’t align with the rest of the body.

The robot is nicely proportioned, though it’s a shame that the robot mode arms are not at all accommodated in the lobster mode.

Nautilator can wield the Triple Crusher Cannon and/or the Tripod Rifle in either hand. Aside from rotating shoulders, there is no other articulation in robot mode.

For the dedicated Seacon collector it should be noted that poor Nautilator does not come as part of the [1988] Piranacon giftset and would need to be purchased separately. But in Japan Nautilator is included. Something fishy is going on, for sure.

Thanks to Nautilator’s more modest colour scheme and a noticeably more recognisable lobster mode, this scuttling little Seacon is recommended.

[grahamthomson]

Skalor



Skalor is one ugly son of a fish! In monster mode, the combination of turquoise, light pink and dark magenta coupled with a hideous fish-head and scaled body make this one catch that should be thrown back into the sea.

Like Overbite, Skalor’s alternate mode is painfully ruined by the addition of arms and legs. And the similarities with Overbite don’t end there: the two Seacons share the exact-same articulation and transformation sequences.

Assembling the included accessories helps Skalor form its free-standing weapon mode.

Skalor’s robot mode, as wide as it is tall, is a burly pink thug of a robot. The Dual Crustation Rifles can either be held separately or snapped together to be held in one hand.

The robot mode follows the same template as Overbite, and so features the same level of articulation.

Skalor is a distasteful addition to the Seacon team, and it’s a pity that Nautilator is omitted from the Seacon giftset when it could have taken the place of this monstrosity.

[grahamthomson]

Tentakil



The fifth of the Seacon mini-robots (the designation “SE5″ on the package drops a huge clue) is Tentakil, an evil pink and turquoise squid-stroke-octopus.

Unlike its team-mates, Tentakil’s monster mode has legs that sort of make sense. Clearly the toy designers needed a way to stop the Seacons falling over in monster mode, but prior to Tentakil, they all seemed a little on the superfluous side. The clever thing about Tentakil is that the bottom pair of tentacles take the shape of “legs” allowing it to stand quite steadily.

Whereas Skalor is out and out ugly, Tentakil is just as grotesque but strangely charming as well. Maybe it’s the lips. The monster mode can be weaponised by mounting the pair of Dual Slime Lasers against the sides of the head.

Just like the other Seacon mini-robots, Tentakil can form a free standing weapon mode when combined with all its accessories. Of the set, this is the best looking weapon.

Tentakil’s robot mode, while severely limited in the articulation department, is nicely proportioned and the monster mode appendages all fold away neatly. Those Slime Lasers can be wielded in this mode.

One point of interest: the package illustration showing an artist’s impression of Tentakil’s robot mode seems to depict the character as a female, right down to the full and shapely lips on the robot’s face. Could Tentakil have been planned as the first female Decepticon? The toy itself is as typically genderless as any other Transformer.

Tentakil is one of the better Seacon mini-robots. The monster mode is nicely detailed and the robot mode is the best of the bunch. Grab this one if possible.

[grahamthomson]

Snaptrap



Snaptrap is the leader of the Seacons, the most expensive of the team and the one that, quite literally, holds the entire group together.

Despite being a Seacon, Snaptrap assumes the form of a turtle; a reptile that spends more time out of the sea than in it. The other Seacons can breathe underwater, but Snaptrap can’t.

Snaptrap is coloured primarily in pink and turquoise in monster mode. A pair of chrome silver blades extrude from the rear of the turtle shell.

In this mode, Snaptrap sports remarkable articulation with jointed shoulders and knees on all four legs, an opening/closing jaw and a neck that can swing up and down.

Snaptrap is armed with reciprocal retracting/extending dual “sonic shell” cannons that are activated by the pink switch on the turtle’s back. The black laser rifle (or “semi-automatic atom-smasher rifle, as described in the package’s Tech Specs) can be mounted on the top of the shell.

Snaptrap may be a plodder, but he can certainly pack some heat.

While Snaptrap is the first and only Special Teams “leader” to not feature an intermediate “ramp/repair bay” mode, the turtle’s action feature more than makes up for this omission.

For its size, Snaptrap features a relatively simple and intuitive transformation. The robot’s hands do actually automatically emerge from the turtle legs during transformation.

The turtle’s shell can become a shield which fits in either of the square female connectors in Snaptrap’s shoulders. With the mini-robot Seacons able to form weapons with square male connectors, there are a few possibilities for arming Snaptrap further.

The black laser rifle can be held in either hand, as can a strange ghost-like seaweed-shaped pink sword.

Snaptrap’s robot mode adds dark magenta into the mix which complements the pinks and turquoises quite nicely.

As to be expected from the most expensive of the group Snaptrap is the best of the Seacons. More than that, it is the best non-vehicle mode Decepticon released thus far. Lovers of evil, colour co-ordinated turtles should snap this Transformer up without question.

[blueshift]

I've got to say, I never really thought of Tentakil's legs as tentacles too, even though that makes sense. Probably because of their different colour. I wonder how he'd look if his legs were tentacle-colour?

[The Doctor]

Like a nightmare from beyond the dark recesses of mankind's bum.

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

Where's the Piranacon review ?

[Shockprowl]

I've just asked that in the other thread! Thought I'd missed it. Come on, Tomo! Last have it!!

[Stomski]

Anyone elses Seacons come with string tieing them up and not the usual twisty ties?

[Philip Ayres]

They're all like that. Twist ties are a thing of the past for most toys now (I'm told Leader Starscream has them)

[Hero]

String is the new thing now. My Generations Wave 1 had them instead of twisty ties. I kinda miss them.

Liking the black background on these toy photos. How do you do it Graham?

===KEN

[Stomski]

Finally opened my Seacons and checked that all accessories are present, whoop.

Now I have a question... It seems as thought fom G's reviews that the Seacons themselves are not that great, scoring only 16/30 total. And yet people seemed to have got pretty excited by the reissue.

Why is this? Is G reviewing based on modern standards and as such a 1988 toy scoring ~50% is actually pretty good. Should the score be boosted on account of the fact these toys combine? Or is it all nostalgia over-egging our emotions towards them?

[Philip Ayres]

It could be because the seacons have had a poor time with reissues over the years: either bits intentionally missing or poor colours and a huge wait from when they were first shown.

Or it's pleasure at actaully getting a combiner reissue that isn't Bruticus!

Yes they're not great robots compared with (say) the Energon combiners. But they're good for the time and beat any other Scramble City combiner easily with their weapons modes. There's beast mode articulation on most and some funky designs.

I love my set and am looking forward to reviewing them in a few weeks time.

[grahamthomson]

Aug 13, 2010 9:24:55 GMT Stomski said:

Now I have a question... It seems as thought fom G's reviews that the Seacons themselves are not that great, scoring only 16/30 total. And yet people seemed to have got pretty excited by the reissue.

Why is this? Is G reviewing based on modern standards and as such a 1988 toy scoring ~50% is actually pretty good. Should the score be boosted on account of the fact these toys combine? Or is it all nostalgia over-egging our emotions towards them?

I try to judge the Transformers I review as objectively as possible. The 5-star scale I use is certainly not based on modern standards... I always review a toy as if "of the its time" as it wouldn't be very fair to judge a 1988 toy against something that was designed many years afterwards.

One day I might explain exactly how the 5-star rating is applied to my reviews. But for now...

... Seacons: average Transformers in terms of features and designs, but, yeah, there's a certain charm to them that's responsible for all the excitement surrounding their reissue!

[Philip Ayres]

I've asked elsewhere but I need a favour: Has anyone got an original set of Seacons to hand? What colour is Snaptrap's shell and head? The blue of Skalor and Tentakil's robot arms or the blue/green of Overbite, Seawing & Nautilator.

[Philip Ayres]

Phil's Seacon reviews can be found here