Transformers Toys Generations Legacy Series Leader Blitzwing Triple Changer Action Figure review

 

Welcome folks. I finally got Transformers: Legacy Blitzwing review up and running. Today we will take a look at the triple changer and compare him with Legends Blitzwing. How does he fare? Well, let's get started!

Box

No plastic. That is long done away with this point. So the box comes fairly light but I'm glad the figure and it's contents was in there. Two rifles, a sword and two energon fists his bio claims it to be. And let's not forget the figure himself.

Anyway his bio

https://transformers.hasbro.com/en-us/bios/aoetmdbr#uuffiq

Tank mode 

As you can see the figure comes already transformed into his tank mode. This is also the mode that apparently gave some TF fans nightmares because his cockpit is literally sticking out like a sore thumb. If you look carefully, you can see his head. As for me, I felt if HasTak could had modified this part it would had been "literal perfection." And no I don't mean when it fits a woman. This mode plays decent despite the cockpit protruding outwards. You can move his turret 360 degrees or move the muzzle upwards and redo the 1986 movie scene that some fans have been recreating with Kup. Stick the big hands, guns and swords wherever possible.

Robot mode

Transformation to robot mode was fairly easy. I do admit that I had some trouble on the knees locking in place at first but I got it down eventually. As you can see, he looks like his G1 anime counterpart sans the light purple. His joints are tight, got a waist swivel and he can do some decent posing. The plastic on this guy is fairly heavy as well and not the light type we've been fidgeting with all this time. He does has have some issues raising his arms all the way up. He does have these shoulder flaps that can open though you won't be able to lift his arms up much even with the flaps open. I'm not sure why those energon fists were given for this figure. It is a novelty at best. Why Grandma, what big hands you have? Anyhow, use your imagination here. The translucent hands can be removed as evidence shown above. Still, I guess it was nice that Hastak gave us extra accessories.

Jet fighter mode

This mode was fairly easy to get to as well. I think it does great for the most part had it not been for the extra kibble under the underbelly. I wish you be able to remove some of these parts to make this mode look more outstanding. The energon fists do make a neat looking afterburner though. The landing gear just barely keeps this guy up since the turret is already keeping him up for the most part. 

Team Blitzwing (With Legends Blitzwing)

Jet mode

Like I said earlier, I think had it not been for all that extra baggage Legacy had, Legacy would had easily took this spot. Otherwise, the LG version really isn't that bad. Both can swap weapons and have some extra fun. Anyhow, I forgot to mention that my Legacy copy came with a scratch (last pic). 

Tank mode

Well, despite the phallic looking object sticking out of the Legacy version, I feel the Legacy version resembles a tank more. The LG version just felt off ever since it was released. 

Robot mode

Pick your poison. When it came to robot mode, If I had to choose, it probably be the Legacy version but preferably with the toon colors the LG version has. However, I still like the LG version in comparison to him. His height I feel is intimidating and perfect for a triple changer. I still feel that the LG version holds out fairly well today. Unfortunately, the drawback is that the Legacy version is smaller and pricier too (not counting how much the LG aftermarket goes for today). 

Conclusion:

Honestly, the cockpit sticking out doesn't bother me much at all in tank mode. The Jet mode which is a thing of beauty is just hampered a bit due to all that extra kibble underneath him. He is a pretty easy TF to play with. If you are on the fence or you want to save money, I think your LG/TR version is good enough. But if your goal is a better representation of the triple changer, then by all means, get the Legacy one. He is a solid figure overall. Anyhow, laters. 

Toy Review: Transformers Takara Legends LG57 Octane Aka Octone. Featuring Starscream's ghost (Headmaster) review.

Two weeks to flatten the curve, but wait! That was over a year ago. We are still locked up!

The last of the Decepticon Triple Changers in the LG line looked at today. Let's get started!

So first off, Decepticon is spelled "Desepticon" again. I guess this is the norm for the Japanese Transformers today. The comic featured here is weird again. It actually pays homage to Octane in his limited appearances in the G1 cartoon. He was once possessed by the ghost of Starscream, so he gets possessed in the form of the SS headmaster which is the gimmick for this figure. Additionally, Octane was looking at a female model in the cartoon as well, so that is the theme here where there is female modeling. Some of the girls featured here came from the combiner Megatronia. All I can say is poor SS. Here is the link for the synopsis. 

https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Legends_Comic:_Bonus_Edition_Vol._57

Jet mode

Neat Jet mode. I like the paint Takara used here. You can actually see mini windows right above the metal cage. The cockpit is actually somewhere towards the tail of the figure where you can insert the Headmasters inside. The weapon pegs are on the side, and last but not least, if you flip the flap behind the jet end down, you can do a head on with the Headmasters. It's pretty much where you place them in robot mode. This mode plays really nice as well. I love it.

Tankor mode

Another well done mode. The silver paint really shines in this mode. This mode was fairly easy to transform into from jet mode. I like how it rolls. I really felt like I was playing with a long toy. There are small pegs in this mode where you can stick the headmasters on him so that they don't fall. Also, I did try to recreate the scene where his head stuck out of his truck mode prior to meeting ghost SS. It is a little weird that the windows still stick out. It may have worked on the jet mode, but it does feel a little awkward to have mini-windows stick out in a fueler. I dig that metal cage below it though as well the silver wheels. 

Robot mode

Damaged goods

So what happened here is that as I tried to peg the weapon handle on the bottom, I discovered that the gun was actually melted. It came defective! Darn it! I didn't see it at first when I was playing with it on the alt modes since it requires you to peg the weapon on the side. So I had to use Blitzwing's weapon to show you folks how it could had been had this defect never arose. I doubt Takara be able to do anything now.

With Blitzwing's weapon.

That collar gimmick!

So what triple threat figure is complete without the collar gimmick? For Octane, you push his stomach to reveal the collars. So you pretty much read my analysis of the melted weapon. This was upsetting indeed. Octane is in his G1 cartoon colors so no surprise there. If you do get the Titans Return version, it's based off his G1 toy so depends on what you want. Octane plays nice here though his wings can get in the way of posing with his arms. His joints are tight and I dig his look overall. Easy to transform here from his tankor mode. No waist swivel here once again. For the Takara vs Hasbro comparison look here. 

https://youtu.be/Apgou0paXxs

Here is the anime comparison

https://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/download/file.php?id=43970&mode=view

Starscream's Ghost and Ghost in the machine tribute.

Don't make me do that!

It was so nice to see Takara add this gimmick as a tribute to the episode Starscream's ghost. Octane's shoulder blades, located behind his triceps, can be flipped up to mimic SS's shoulder blades. Scourge is used here as a re-enactment of their encounter in the episode "Ghost in the machine."

The Headmasters

Here you see the close up of both Hm figures given here. They are well painted as usual for Takara figures and I like how they used translucent parts for SS giving him that ghost feel. Both Hm have head swivels for those who are wondering. 

The Triple Changers (Head on!)

"What is the purpose of possessing Astrotrain?"

The pictures explain everything. Octane is the smallest of the three though the differences aren't too drastic. 86 Scourge is the smallest in this pic despite being voyager size. Ironically, AT is the tallest of the three but is the smallest now if you place the Siege/ER version next to them. Darn scale system. SS possessing AT mentioned above happened in Ghost in the machine. 

As a refresher, Blitzwing was meant to be the traitor in Starscream's ghost instead of Octane, but since Octane's figure was more brand new, Octane held the honor of being SS's buddy. 

Conclusion:

Imo, Takara hit a home run with Octane. The alt modes I felt played the best of all the triple changers. The ghost SS gimmick is pretty much what you are paying extra for. The paint is nice. I do prefer it slightly over the Hasbro version. I'm not too big on the stickers concept but the Hasbro version is a nice homage to the G1 toy so no real qualm here really. The only messed up thing here really was my black gun which came melted. Ugh.. Oh well. I live to fight another day. 

"I live again!"