Video Review for Rise of the Beasts Transforming Bumblebee and Optimus Primal Masks

We were sent new stock images for two yet to be revealed toys in the Transformers Rise of the Beasts line: Battle Master Optimus Primal and the Weapoinizer Arcee 2 pack. We saw both toys before but these images give us a better look at them, and for Arcee we can see the robot mode. Some say it looks better than the Studio Series version. While that may be the case for the bot mode, it does come at a cost of an alt mode where the fake chest is not hidden in bike mode, resulting in a very awkward looking motorcycle.

Let us know what you think.

FYI the weaponizer figures are deluxe-ish in height compared to Generations, but on the small side. Here's a Cyberverse deluxe for comparison too since I already had Arcee out.

Beast Combiners Arcee and Silverfang is the only ROTB toy I've bought so far (a week ago, Target holiday sale), and I was as pleasantly surprised as the reviewer. Making the armor-bots animals makes it feel like more of a powerup than the unfolding Spark Armor vehicles of Cyberverse, for starters. And her bike mode feels like it's going to be a mess of robo-yoga-ed parts until you click that last tab in and...it's suddenly a solid alt mode!

I'll probably buy every Arcee in this movie line, partly because each one seems to have a different transformation despite all apparently being the same design. And while some may see the hands hanging off the back of and pseudo-kibble chest on top of Weaponizer Arcee's cycle mode as deal breakers that ruin the motorcycle aesthetic, I see exactly what I was considering customizing them into all along: female Junkions! Here's hoping they all clearance in enough quantity to army-build, but I'll probably buy one of each at full price.

But since an out-of-place chest on the newly revealed Arcee did come up, I have to note something about BC ROTB Arcee that might not have come through in the video: This has got to be the most stacked official Arcee toy we've ever gotten. I can't even think of a 3P Arcee with a bust that huge relative to the rest of her body. And considering the color scheme follows the example of her Earthspark design in making her pelvis and thighs the same medium-dark shade of pink to avoid the panty-line effect of her traditional G1 design, presumably to desexualize her a tad from the waist down, giving her a rack that doubles the radius of her torso in 3 out of 4 directions from her midriff adds up to an...interesting design choice.

Certainly not complaining though. HasTak, find ways to reuse ALL of these Arcee molds, preferably in rusty orange and brown so I won't have to repaint them as much.

Hope y'all are ready for a big-ass post.

I ended up finding all of the RotB toys minus the wave 1 single pack deluxes this week, and it was such a joy to see the toy aisles all movie-fied and ready to go (see below).





I myself ended up picking up all 3 Battlemasters, both of the battlemaster/larger figure packs, the voyagers, the Buzzworthy 3 pack, and the Primal mask. I passed on the beast combiner things because I am not really a fan of how unbalanced these ones look, and the price, and I passed on the flex changers for the price too.




Here is a group shot with all of the RotB toys I have so far, including the SS figures



So, let's roll on some thoughts:

Let's start with the individual battlemasters. I think all 3 are great fun. Cheetor makes a nice sword that goes quite well with the mainline deluxe. Rhinox is my favorite, i love his minigun mode. I may need to get more of him, and i am glad that the 2-pack Wheeljack includes another one of him, i have no problems getting that set. Skullcruncher is also pretty awesome, I like how spiky a gun he forms. All 3 are wings, well done there!

The battlemaster 2 packs are also pretty fun. Prime/Chainclaw is a fun set, I like that we have a chainsaw battlemaster at last, and the Prime is a pretty decent toy too. Surprisingly posable for the kids line. The set is a joy, I do love it. the Primal/Arrowstripe set is also pretty neat, a crossbow was a nice weapon choice, and Primal is good and chunky. I think that all Primal needed was head articulation, and this set would probably have been a big winner for me out of all of the toys.

The Primal mask was a bit of an impulse purchase, as the first store i visited only had the masks, and I was uncertain with my area if stuff would be stocked soon. I really like it. It's actually comfy to wear, and the fact that it transforms without anything really being compromised or getting in the way is fun. It's fun! I like it!

The deluxe 3 pack is next, and it is a decent pack. For one thing, $55 for 3 deluxes, essentially $18 per deluxe, is nice, and they are mostly good. Wheeljack for me is pretty nice, I like how posable he is, and he ends up with almost no kibble. Plus he looks good with the Rhinox battlemaster. cheetor is also pretty tight, I like the robot mode a lot, and the Cheetah mode was obviously compromised some for colors and the gut gun, but it's still nice, and I think both wheeljack and Cheetor could be full priced deluxes by themselves. nightbird is the one weak spot, she feels really light and flimsy compared to all the other figures I have bought. She isn't bad, but she feels the weakest of the group, and for now she gets Skullcruncher.

Finally, the voyagers. I got really lucky with these, found 1 of each on the very top of the walmart shelves. they were $34, which kind of hurts after the deluxes, and to be honest, I am not sure either is worth that cost. These feel more like ~$28 voyagers. Prime is good, but he just feels small and compromised in the paint a little more than I'd like for the price. Primal feels chonkier and bigger, but the simple transformation should have allowed for some more paint, and he sorely needs it. He has so much detail, but a lot of it is lost. also, he needed green eyes. These voyagers aren't bad, i enjoy them! they just feel like they needed to be cheaper.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Cute, but, for the whole second half of the video, your masked face is completely blocked, Mike Wazowski style, by the in-video link to another video.

Sabrblade wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:

Cute, but, for the whole second half of the video, your masked face is completely blocked, Mike Wazowski style, by the in-video link to another video.

I'm getting rid of it! Nothing ruins my work!

Once again, lots of Transformers Rise of the Beasts news to get to. We have new images of Scourge and Scorponok toys. For Scourge we have the Titan Changer which we had never seen before and the Beast Combiner set which we now see in better detail. That set comes with a Scorponok toy that becomes armor. And speaking of Scorponok we have an image of the exclusive Weaponizer set. It came out in Japan and on the packaging we have our first look at the CG render of Scorponok. It is in beast mode and according to test screenings Scorponok is a drone like army, as is Freezer.

In other ROTB news, we have some in hand images of deluxe class Mirage.

Enjoy and let us know what you think about all this.

Mirage looks ok. Car mode is very good, can't say I'm excited about the bot mode.

Scorponok is a Target exclusive in the US, right?

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Scorponok is a Target exclusive in the US, right?

yes

I know Titan-Changers tend towards that lanky look, but Scourge raises the bar. I'd say he's modded himself to try out for the 'Con basketball team, but he might be a bigger boon to their cricket team...by turning into the bat.

BC Scourgepinok on the other hand makes me glad I do most of my TF shopping at Target anyway. Coolest Beast Combiner I've seen to date.

Mirage looks very, very basic. It's good and bad at the same time.

TC Scourge looks like a frame from the Distorted Cat meme video.

GIMME ALL THE SCORPIONS! Those looks bad-ass, including that tiny rusty Scourge. Too bad it's a Target exclusive because my local TrU doesn't have a good track record in carrying those.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Mirage looks very, very basic. It's good and bad at the same time.

TC Scourge looks like a frame from the Distorted Cat meme video.

GIMME ALL THE SCORPIONS! Those looks bad-ass, including that tiny rusty Scourge. Too bad it's a Target exclusive because my local TrU doesn't have a good track record in carrying those.

I don't know if the combiner one is exclusive. Just sure about the weaponizer one.

I have a feeling that, if anything, with the big movie push, that Scorponok is going to be over produced and very easy to find.

Emerje

My thoughts on my firsts Rotb Primals.

First the one that have the Targetmaster. He's simple fun but holy crap that poor tiger got a grisly fate...



Next is the Smash Changer. Sure he's a brick, but he's pretty fun overall.



Finally, the one with poor Skullcruncher. I man, how BARBARIC AND METAL this set is! I wish this will be a scene in the movie.

The Scorponok art looks fantastic, and it's also hilarious that he transforms the same way the 07 Scorponok deluxe did.

Mirage looks decent, I am so glad they went with the head from the trailers over that original head, the mouth area doesn't look that good on him. But i am excited for him since he is the only one of the main 5 Autobots i still need.

Looks like we have another connection between Optimus Prime and a white lion coming up in the Transformers Rise of the Beasts line. Below you will see our first look at another upcoming and yet to be revealed toy within the Beast Combiner class which has an animal robot which turns into armor to combine with a deluxe sized bot. This comes just days after we saw the Scourge toy within this class which is also yet to be revealed. The image was posted by Snowman117, an Australian TF fan who found it in a Myer catalog promoting a toy sale sent to their email. The animal here, Lionblade, has the exact same transformation as Snarlsaber, who came with Bumblebee. All these armors are compatible within the same Beast Combiner class.

I love these Beast Combiner figures and would love to get the whole cast in this style. It takes the fun idea that were the the armor figures in Cyberverse and makes them even better. I will love to add them all to the collection. Plus more Lio Convoy call backs are never a bad thing.

OK, that Optimus Prime is my favorite combiner yet. These are interchangeable right? I want to pair the lion with Primal so badly. Maybe they'll do a repaint of the lion in red, yellow or black later on.

Emerje

I do believe that Prime has elbows! All the other figures had limited joints.

Most of these RotB figures seem targeted at the younger tykes, rather than older collectors. I suppose that's where a lot of the money is. But as with Earthspark, I just don't see much (if anything) in the movie line that motivates me to buy. Ah well.

Guess I'll have to wait for the push on these kiddie figures to ebb out before stores replenish the Legacy line and other figures for those of us looking for something a little less childish. That probably means another 6-8 months with unsold Coronation Starscreams and Studio Series 86 Blurr/Kup figures gathering dust on the pegs.

Finally found the Speed Series rereleases! I already have Bee so I planned on getting both Prime and Barricade, but at $9 a piece I ended up just getting Prime. It’s pretty cool! It’s actually Evasion Mode Optimus Prime from Age of Extinction in robot mode (which is why I was interested in it), I’m looking forward to painting it up! The sculpted detail is really nice for a figure of this size.

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:Finally found the Speed Series rereleases! I already have Bee so I planned on getting both Prime and Barricade, but at $9 a piece I ended up just getting Prime. It’s pretty cool! It’s actually Evasion Mode Optimus Prime from Age of Extinction in robot mode (which is why I was interested in it), I’m looking forward to painting it up! The sculpted detail is really nice for a figure of this size.

2C8A0E0E-D904-4775-AB51-EE0E85B39CC2.jpeg

What kind of candy is that in the background?

EvasionModeBumblebee wrote:Finally found the Speed Series rereleases! I already have Bee so I planned on getting both Prime and Barricade, but at $9 a piece I ended up just getting Prime. It’s pretty cool! It’s actually Evasion Mode Optimus Prime from Age of Extinction in robot mode (which is why I was interested in it), I’m looking forward to painting it up! The sculpted detail is really nice for a figure of this size.

2C8A0E0E-D904-4775-AB51-EE0E85B39CC2.jpeg

Where did you find him? Were there others from thar sibline in stores?

chuckdawg1999 wrote:What kind of candy is that in the background?

Air Heads Extremes! These are the only ones I’ve seen so far but supposedly there’s a couple different types of Air Heads with Transformers branding.

william-james88 wrote:
Where did you find him? Were there others from thar sibline in stores?

Found him at a Meijer in Michigan, actually the same one I first found Studio Series wave 1 in all those years ago! The others from the same class were there (Bee, Barricade), but none of the larger Energon Igniters like ROTF Megatron and Orange Ironhide/Battletrap.

Here’s the packaging (Optimus is sitting loose inside since I already opened it)

Might need to get that Lion Optimus, depending on what he looks like with a fuller look at the toy.

I have been enjoying the new toys a lot. They are fun to mess with.

Still waiting for that voyager Primal to appear in any local store.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Still waiting for that voyager Primal to appear in any local store.

Same, along with every other mainline Maximal.

While the US got wave 1 of the Rise of the Beasts Titan Changers, where only Cheetor is new, Canadian Walmarts got wave 2 and skipped wave 1. Further proof that all these toys were ready months ago and all waves are coming in at once. Wave 2 has Scourge and Cheetor, which makes it so that we can share with you a review for both toys. While Scourge doesn't seem to be a toy one would recommend to even a child, the Cheetor toy is good for what it is, which is a very large toy under $20. The Cheetah mode itself is quite impressive for how cohesive it looks with lots of molded details.

I'm continuing to enjoy these figures, a lot. These are good and fun

Both of these Titan Changers looks horrible. But they are for little kids and for heavy play. And they are cheap. So in a sense, they are great.

But that Cheetor shouldn't have a removable tail-weapon. The kid will lose this part instantly.

As for that horrible, horrible Scourge, I really want to buy it and to customise it into a Draugr from Skyrim. A Draugr who can change into a truck. That will be wicked!

Where did you find them, Will?

Time for more ROTB with a video review of that absurd Optimus with a lion acting like a chest-burster:

Walmart had this two sided aisle display outside electronics this morning.




There was more in the toy aisle that's been there for a few weeks. Shame they didn't have any more Battle Masters.

Emerje

You are lucky with your Walmart, Will.

Mine remains Tumbleweed City.

-Kanrabat- wrote:You are lucky with your Walmart, Will.

Mine remains Tumbleweed City.

While I did find them at Walmart, it wasn't in the tf aisle but in that random aisle they use to put overstock.

william-james88 wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:You are lucky with your Walmart, Will.

Mine remains Tumbleweed City.

While I did find them at Walmart, it wasn't in the tf aisle but in that random aisle they use to put overstock.

I'll have to explore my Walmart a bit more then.

The TF aisle at my local Walmart barely have anything since months now. I have to be very lucky to land on anything relevant like I did with the G1 Hounds.

The Cyberverse packaged version of RotB Smash Changer Optimus Prime is on clearance at Target now, certainly making room for the movie version.



Emerje

Not gonna lie, I might want that Beast Mode Prime, for some reason it really sings to me despite the lack of articulation.

I am having a lot of fun with the RotB line so far.

Something rather interesting in the Rise of the Beasts line is how it offers alternatives to the Studio Series line, or vice versa, since all toys are coming out all at once, unlike what was originally planned.

For those curious, we have review for the deluxe Bumblebee which is available in a Target exclusive 3 pack and sold on its own. We also have comparison images between that Bumblebee and the SS 100 ROTB Bumblebee, its counterpart in the Studio Series line. Knowing that both are available individually, which you do you prefer and which would you go for?

We thank Chuckdawg 1999 and Whirlkick for the images and reviews. Chuckdawg's review of Bumblebee also looks at the Flex Changers which was released in the US along with the initial wave of ROTB toys.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Here's a unique look at the Japanese releases of the Flex Changers and Deluxe Class Bumblebee. These are exactly the same as the US releases but with stickers on the packaging for the Japanese market. What is different is the price, both figures shipped cost less than what Deluxe Bumblebee goes for on eBay. Flex Changers Bumblebee is really fun and is the definition of a desk toy. Deluxe Bumblebee, unfortunately, doesn't live up to my expectations and doesn't feel fun in my hands, stick with the Studio Series version.

Studio Series for sure. It isn't perfect, I don't like the legs that much, but it has better scale, is better painted (still annoyed by the lack of symbol on his head) and infinitely better alt mode.

Emerje

The undercarriage under the car mode is D8SGUSTANG.
But the fact that both the SS and main line Bees have a vehicle m9de tha5 are the same size, but the main line Bee is 1.5 times BIGGER than the SS one is pretty impressive.

I may be more interested in getting the main Bee than the SS one. The SS already have some undercarriage in vehicle mode with h8s arms anyway. So might as well get a "proper" deluxe rather than a scout pretending to be a deluxe.

Cool, looks okay if it has a simple transformation and still solid (as in everything sticks in it's place) then it's a a go for me.

Question, will all the movie characters get this "Generations" like mainline release next to the Studio Series?

I noticed Studio Series is overly complicated in transformation and is flimsy, loose torso's and panels that will not peg into place.

I like my bots a little less academic, if the screen accuracy suffers a little because of it no problem. Not going as far as Energon Igniters or Fast Action Battlers, that's way overdoing it + those lines only had 1 scale for all the characters (Bumblebee as big as Constructicon Longhaul etc.).

27 April Trailer 2 guys!

noctorro wrote:Question, will all the movie characters get this "Generations" like mainline release next to the Studio Series?

So far, only the and will have mainline "normal" figure, and Nightbird who is the only villain.

I would have loved to see what a "voyager" Scourge would have been?

Found. Prime, but missing a peck. Hoooray for open boxes :

No one mentioned that PvP has posted his video review of the big Bumblebee Bird Thing.

So, allow me.

Overcracker wrote:Found. Prime, but missing a peck. Hoooray for open boxes :

IMG_5116.jpeg

I'm honestly surprised we aren't seeing more missing heads in the line so far. Heck, I've knocked off Battle Master Cheetor's feet enough times that I wouldn't be surprised if they just fell off and out of the package on their own.

Emerje