To answer the question of "Why the Takara release?", because it felt like Hasbro did everything they could to keep them from coming to Australia (at least that's what it felt like). See, Hasbro's releases were tied to box set exclusives. Fastlane (going by the name Fastclash), was found in the Chaos on Velocitron box set (A Toys R Us US Exclusive). Pounce was found in the Siege on Cybertron set (an exclusive to the online distributor Big Bad Toy Store, though was later released in other places for some international markets), and the two flyers were a Walgreens exclusive. None of which got an Australian release, which became rather frustrating when pictures of them going on sale for dirt cheep went around cause online stores were trying to sell a product no one over there wanted anymore. With the message of Hasbro's middle finger well received, Takara was a suitable replacement. Anyway, onto the figures themselves.
I'll start in robot mode this time because the flaws of the alternate modes will become more apparent there. The gimmick they inherit from their G1 counterparts is that they look the same... clearly, someone wasn't trying very hard that day, and someone was barely trying at all this time. With the exception of a chest symbol and the kibble needed for their alt modes to work, the intention is for them to look the same, which they do... if you look at them directly from the front and ignore things like the black panels on the sides of Cloudraker shins, the wheels and spoiler on Fastlane, the completely different shape of Pounce and Wingspan's shins, the barely visible dog legs behind on Pounce's back and the small tints of purple on Wingspan's shins. Apart from that, totally the same until you look at them from any other angle and the already weak illusion is completely destroyed. Like I said, someone was clearly not trying very hard when they developed these updated designs.
In terms of the look of them though, they're ok. Nothing spectacular. They do fall into the category of "G1 but with knees" though in terms of the looks department. While that might not be a bad thing for some, it feels underdone when you consider other figures in the Titans Return/ Takara Legends toylines that worked to go above and beyond that. Titans Return Hot Rod, Topspin and Twin twist, along with the Decepticon Targetmasters to name a few. The deco on all four of them is solid, and thanks to Takara's love of not cutting back on the paint, nothing feels underdone. In fact, some of it feels overdone, such as the Autobot clones' hands, and Pounce's butt flap being painted just for the sake of it, which I do appreciate. Honestly, the only problems I have with the robot modes is the engineering.
Something that gets even worse when you go to their alternate modes. To give a quick rundown of them, Fastlane is what can be loosely described as a car, Cloudraker is something that can be described as a plane, Pounce is a wolf with similar mass placement issues as Sixshot, and Wingspan is an awkward but passable bird. Honestly the Decepticon Clones get off easy with this because the need for them to share parts really hinders the Autobot clones. G1 accurate? Yes, but sacrificing G1 accuracy has helped some figures before, to give another Titans Return example, Broadside and his new robot mode. Fastlane honestly reminds me of a line in the first Bayformers film about the definition of half a car, all he is in car mode is a robot laying on his back with four wheels and a useless spoiler, even before the Titan Master integration. Cloudraker by comparison is a bit better, and can pass off as a spaceplane, though due to the small wingspan and speed killing air walls that make up what will become the robot mode crotch, flying around while in a planet's atmosphere is probably going to be next to impossible, further reinforced once again by Titan Master integration.
Before looking over Pounce and Wingspan, I might as well address that elephant in the room, the Titan Master integration. Like with Power of the Primes' Legends Class figures, all Legends Class Titans Return figures had integration with the Titans Masters, and by extension due to shared engineering, Prime Masters. While the integration is seamless for the Decepticon clones, just sit them on the backs, the Autobot clones required a bit more work. By lifting up the panel that has their faction symbol and alt mode icon, you can make a seat for the Titan Masters. Unfortunately, it kills their lack of aerodynamics even more and just looks forced on. It's on the level of Roadtrap and Battleslash's integration, there for the sake of saying it's there.
Going to the Decepticon Clones' Beast Modes, they're solid. Not spectacular, but solid. Like the Autobot clones, they don't really do much to hide their robot modes, but they do at least get the message across of what they're supposed to be in a far clearer way. While the proportions are off due to robot kibble, Pounce is still clearly a wolf, while Wingspan is still clearly a bird. While I would expect more from them if they were bigger, at the Legends Class size, they're fine. The only problem with all four of them is that they don't impress me. They exist more as a way of saying "Look, we did it, we made new versions of the Clones", but there's nothing on top of that. If these were general release (or at the very least not locked behind box sets that didn't even come to all countries), I wouldn't have as much of a problem with them as I do, especially because in both the Velocitron and Cybertron box sets, there were four other characters included. They would still feel like throwaways, but the blow wouldn't be as hard. There are, however, better Legends Class figures to get with your money. Come Saturday, one day early, I'll be looking at two potential ones for your money, as Saturday is a fitting day to review one of them. Come Saturday will be the review of Titans Return Brawn and Power of the Primes Outback, and come Wednesday, we finish of the Kingdom Hearts Marathon with Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance.
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