Post by Shockprowl on May 10, 2015 13:57:59 GMT
I could start this review with my customary 'AAAARRRGH's which I use to express over-excitement of one kind or another.
And I will!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOLY COW!!!!! HE'S HERE!!! I ordered this chap in November last year! Quite a wait. But I'd rather wait for a great figure than be disappointed by a rushed one. So well done X-Transbots for sticking to ya guns on that. And thank you to Omegalock for a speedy dispatch.
So, Apollyon. Third Party Masterpiece Megatron. The gaping festering puss-oozing wound in all Masterpiece collector's collections. On the one hand I can't believe more 3P companies haven't tried to do one before. But on the other hand when you think of the complexities of making a hand-gun into a Megatron figure that has all the modern MP Cartoony goodness... well it must be a daunting undertaking. Which maybe is why Takara haven't tried it. But, I'm sorry, it's gross Bulldozer-Syndrome! To keep us collectors gasping for SUCH AN IMPORTANT CHARACTER. I cannot believe Takara haven't done a new MP Megatron! IT'S MEGATRON FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!! You can't NOT-HAVE Megatron!!! So, screw 'em, hit me X-Transbots!
Before moving onto Apollyon himself, let us just take a moment to remember 'The Transformers' Megatron from 1984. They turned a hand-gun into a robot worthy of leadership of the baddie faction. What a simultaneously brilliant yet bonkers idea. It worked because the figure was such a genius design. I remember my Dad and my engineer Uncle at the time being genuinely impressed with the design. It's quite a piece of work. How the heck would you repeat that AND make it good enough to fit into the modern Masterpiece aesthetic? You call X-Transbots, evidently!
Apollyon is SUPERB, Cyber-friends. He is ASTONISHING. Yes I know I'm prone to getting over excited, but really chaps, he's another Quakewave. He's just monstrously magnificent.
ROBOT MODE.
Just titanic Masterpiece aesthetic goodness. He is Megatron. He's as Meagtrony as you could get. The figure feels solid, chaps. He feels well put together. Apparently the shoulders can be loose. Mine came with what I assume is the 'fixer kit' I've heard about. Mine doesn't need it (not yet anyway). There's no problem I can find with the shoulders (although he has yet to face Optimus Prime in battle). The paint is lovely, shinny. The colours are spot on, right amount of red here and there. The all-important head/face sculpt is wonderful. This guy looks evil, 'pissed-off I'm going to kill you now' evil. At first glance I wasn't convinced about the black mascara around his eyes, but after looking at him more, I now think it brings out the eyes perfectly (bit of a Shockprowl/Apollyon bromance going on here). He can achieve all the poses I've tried so far. Shooting in different positions. Looking down disapprovingly at minions. Standing menacingly. I currently have him in a 'Superman hands on hips' pose. He's looking slightly upwards at the horizon, the horizon of his future conquests. He's not even bothering to look at his enemies! He doesn't have to. He is Megatron.
There is minor kibble here and there. His lower legs in particular have a lot going on in robot mode. But he's a hand-gun-former! What do you expect?! I think they've done a good job in keeping it under control, whilst still giving us a Sunbow Megatron.
Height-wise he's spot on. Exactly the same height, bulk, feel, as MP-10, which is what you want. He's the same weight (after a very scientific 'hand-weigh' test) as MP-10.
His fusion cannon looks perfect. Exactly the right size compared with the robot. Not tried the electronics yet.
Awwwwww, he's just fantastic, chaps. Quakewave is afraid, and I need to change my underpants.
TRANSFORMATION
Freak me, it's a bit of a chore to be honest. But please keep in mind I'm rubbish at transforming Transformers these days, and I am prone to The Fear. It's a tough transformation, but there's some nice moves in there, and everything fits together well, eventually. And again, they've turned a Sunbow/MP style Megatron into a hand-gun! THEY'VE TURNED A SUNBOW MEGATRON INTO A HAND-GUN!!!!!! It's gonna be tricky.
GUN-MODE
Do not take this outside folks! It looks over-sized, but not drastically so! It's actually pretty pleasing if you like that sort of thing! I've only had a quick 'SWAT' around the house, but oh yeah, this is one beefy murder pistol, especially with the pistol's bits-and-pieces on. Feels good in the hand. Apollyon's gun mode is disturbingly satisfying!
ACCESSORIES
You trip over yourself because of all the stuff he comes with! The usual Movie things, wrecking ball, key to Vector Sigma is nice, and I LOVE the clone control helmet! Really fun inclusion, and fits nicely over Apollyon's head. Gonna have a lot of fun with that. And of course the gun-mode barrel/stock assemble to form his CANNON-OF-DEATH, which is G1 orgasmic.
OVERALL
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. After so long. The wound is stitched. My void is filled! I can heal now, Cyber-friends!!! Mind (and by mind I mean 'collecting O.C.D.') and body can heal.
This IS the Masterpiece-style Megatron we've been waiting for for so long. WELL DONE X-TRANSBOTS. I defy Takara to do better. I don't see how you could do better. And Apollyon's design is only rivaled by how well put together he is. This is a high quality 3P figure. I don't know if I'll end up having to 'fix' his shoulders or not, apparently that is a weak point, but so far so good for me.
I'm so pleased. I'm moved. Oh thank God. I just feel a weight has been lifted from my collecting shoulders. I love him.
Now. Time to fight MP-10. One shall stand one shall... etc etc.
And I will!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HOLY COW!!!!! HE'S HERE!!! I ordered this chap in November last year! Quite a wait. But I'd rather wait for a great figure than be disappointed by a rushed one. So well done X-Transbots for sticking to ya guns on that. And thank you to Omegalock for a speedy dispatch.
So, Apollyon. Third Party Masterpiece Megatron. The gaping festering puss-oozing wound in all Masterpiece collector's collections. On the one hand I can't believe more 3P companies haven't tried to do one before. But on the other hand when you think of the complexities of making a hand-gun into a Megatron figure that has all the modern MP Cartoony goodness... well it must be a daunting undertaking. Which maybe is why Takara haven't tried it. But, I'm sorry, it's gross Bulldozer-Syndrome! To keep us collectors gasping for SUCH AN IMPORTANT CHARACTER. I cannot believe Takara haven't done a new MP Megatron! IT'S MEGATRON FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!! You can't NOT-HAVE Megatron!!! So, screw 'em, hit me X-Transbots!
Before moving onto Apollyon himself, let us just take a moment to remember 'The Transformers' Megatron from 1984. They turned a hand-gun into a robot worthy of leadership of the baddie faction. What a simultaneously brilliant yet bonkers idea. It worked because the figure was such a genius design. I remember my Dad and my engineer Uncle at the time being genuinely impressed with the design. It's quite a piece of work. How the heck would you repeat that AND make it good enough to fit into the modern Masterpiece aesthetic? You call X-Transbots, evidently!
Apollyon is SUPERB, Cyber-friends. He is ASTONISHING. Yes I know I'm prone to getting over excited, but really chaps, he's another Quakewave. He's just monstrously magnificent.
ROBOT MODE.
Just titanic Masterpiece aesthetic goodness. He is Megatron. He's as Meagtrony as you could get. The figure feels solid, chaps. He feels well put together. Apparently the shoulders can be loose. Mine came with what I assume is the 'fixer kit' I've heard about. Mine doesn't need it (not yet anyway). There's no problem I can find with the shoulders (although he has yet to face Optimus Prime in battle). The paint is lovely, shinny. The colours are spot on, right amount of red here and there. The all-important head/face sculpt is wonderful. This guy looks evil, 'pissed-off I'm going to kill you now' evil. At first glance I wasn't convinced about the black mascara around his eyes, but after looking at him more, I now think it brings out the eyes perfectly (bit of a Shockprowl/Apollyon bromance going on here). He can achieve all the poses I've tried so far. Shooting in different positions. Looking down disapprovingly at minions. Standing menacingly. I currently have him in a 'Superman hands on hips' pose. He's looking slightly upwards at the horizon, the horizon of his future conquests. He's not even bothering to look at his enemies! He doesn't have to. He is Megatron.
There is minor kibble here and there. His lower legs in particular have a lot going on in robot mode. But he's a hand-gun-former! What do you expect?! I think they've done a good job in keeping it under control, whilst still giving us a Sunbow Megatron.
Height-wise he's spot on. Exactly the same height, bulk, feel, as MP-10, which is what you want. He's the same weight (after a very scientific 'hand-weigh' test) as MP-10.
His fusion cannon looks perfect. Exactly the right size compared with the robot. Not tried the electronics yet.
Awwwwww, he's just fantastic, chaps. Quakewave is afraid, and I need to change my underpants.
TRANSFORMATION
Freak me, it's a bit of a chore to be honest. But please keep in mind I'm rubbish at transforming Transformers these days, and I am prone to The Fear. It's a tough transformation, but there's some nice moves in there, and everything fits together well, eventually. And again, they've turned a Sunbow/MP style Megatron into a hand-gun! THEY'VE TURNED A SUNBOW MEGATRON INTO A HAND-GUN!!!!!! It's gonna be tricky.
GUN-MODE
Do not take this outside folks! It looks over-sized, but not drastically so! It's actually pretty pleasing if you like that sort of thing! I've only had a quick 'SWAT' around the house, but oh yeah, this is one beefy murder pistol, especially with the pistol's bits-and-pieces on. Feels good in the hand. Apollyon's gun mode is disturbingly satisfying!
ACCESSORIES
You trip over yourself because of all the stuff he comes with! The usual Movie things, wrecking ball, key to Vector Sigma is nice, and I LOVE the clone control helmet! Really fun inclusion, and fits nicely over Apollyon's head. Gonna have a lot of fun with that. And of course the gun-mode barrel/stock assemble to form his CANNON-OF-DEATH, which is G1 orgasmic.
OVERALL
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. After so long. The wound is stitched. My void is filled! I can heal now, Cyber-friends!!! Mind (and by mind I mean 'collecting O.C.D.') and body can heal.
This IS the Masterpiece-style Megatron we've been waiting for for so long. WELL DONE X-TRANSBOTS. I defy Takara to do better. I don't see how you could do better. And Apollyon's design is only rivaled by how well put together he is. This is a high quality 3P figure. I don't know if I'll end up having to 'fix' his shoulders or not, apparently that is a weak point, but so far so good for me.
I'm so pleased. I'm moved. Oh thank God. I just feel a weight has been lifted from my collecting shoulders. I love him.
Now. Time to fight MP-10. One shall stand one shall... etc etc.
