Transformers Studio Series Devastator Part 2; Constructacon Rampage: Bonecrusher arguably got off easy

I say arguably because he got turned into a Minesweeper who only existed to be a cool fight for Optimus in the first movie, and die shortly after. I mean, at least he got legs.

Part 2 on the trek to see if Hasbro and Takara really can pull off a large Devastator with reasonably accurate robot modes continues with the introduction of the one combiner part that would make sense on a beast looking Combiner, Rampage. "Promoted from Predacon to Constructacon, your choice on if this is the one from Predaking or the Predacon from Beast Wars. At least this one had more of a presence then Scrapmetal did.

Starting in bulldozer mode, and we're not off to a good start as the Combiner sacrifices are on display here. There are a lot of awkward gaps in the main body of the bulldozer, and unlike Scrapmetal, there's no movement here other than the wheels, making it feel very basic. In terms of functionality, the Combiner Wars Bonecrusher has it beat, but that's likely due to the fact that the scoop on that toy (I don't know construction vehicles), actually needed to move for the sake of the robot mode. Rampage's alt mode does, however, look a lot better then Bonecrusher's does, however that perspective is skewed slightly due to relying on images and videos for comparisons, as I don't own a Combiner Wars Devastator (and this is also being reviewed when I'm out of the house because I was bored, but that's beside the point). The muted red is complimented nicely by the paint, with things like the silver scoop, the blue windows, and the realistic placement of black and silver helping give it more of a presence, compared to CW Bonecrusher's bombardment of lime green. At a good angle, Rampage's bulldozer mode makes for a nice display piece if you don't want him for Devastator, but for those who do...

In a further case of redefining Scramble City, Ravage becomes the left foot of Devastator, and one that looks to be able to support the weight, thanks to a pair of sturdy, but moveable ratchets in the ankle. My only concern as it currently stands though is the connection to Overload, and how strong it will be because it looks to be connected via a sliding rail, and a pair of tabs. The instructions to get to this mode are complicated for what you're actually doing, and it feels like joints mentioned in the instructions aren't actually there. It doesn't make the mode impossible to get to, just frustrating for what the end result turns out to be. The support stand included for Ravage's robot mode, while it can store in the bulldozer mode, can't connect to the foot mode, which is a shame as it would help with covering the gap that is most of the foot, due to it being the treads and scoop of the bulldozer. If there is a way to do it though, let me know.

To the robot mode, and while I like Scrapmetal's robot mode, this just skews too far into the monster direction that it's hard to take it seriously, and the design of the character for the movie is a huge hindrance on the toy itself. It's a shame to an extent because I do like the idea of Transformers that don't have human-like designs, so seeing something like this is at least unique. It makes you wonder what troubles this poor bastard went through to get where he is, what caused him to have these proportions? It looks nasty in the good kind of way, but unfortunately, you can't get any good poses out of him. The tail is stiff and blocky for the sake of Devastator, and the arms are limited to what's in the shoulders in terms of movement, meaning you can't even get a good jumping pose out of him because they can't even reach all the way up. Even moving kibble out of the way, you can't even get a T-pose out of him, he just ends up looking like he wants a hug. You can't even get the tread whips looking good due to their small size, I really wish he came with accessories to make those longer. It's also a shame that they didn't do anything for the scoop and the cockpit, as those are some of the largest pieces of kibble I've ever seen on a Transformer (that isn't their entire alt mode on their backs)


*There would be a screenshot here of where he was in the movie, but I can't find one, nor can I take one, that isn't a blurry mess. He was the one that fought Bumblebee in the final battle, with Bumblebee using Ravage's spine as a weapon against him*


While I can recommend Scrapmetal as a stand-alone toy, the only reasons I can think of to get Rampage is either because you want a somewhat nice looking red Bulldozer, or you want him to be Devastator's foot. He's just not good as a stand-alone Transformer, and I can't help but feel that the source is the biggest part of the problem, it's probably the main reason why most of the toylines adopt a "design toy first, do lore second" approach. I think this type of design could be interesting to revisit later when the combining requirement isn't needed and it can have more movement, but as it stands, for me, it's going to stay as either a bulldozer or a foot.

Transformers War for Cybertron Siege Leader Class Ultra Magnus & Galaxy Upgrade Optimus Prime: Someone remembered the S!

Generations. Plural. A term used to define a collection of individual items or people from a similar time period.

It is no secret that I've had an issue with the current form of the "CHUG" (an overarching fan-made term to describe the collection of toylines not explicitly tied to a media project, the term is an abbreviation of four toylines. Classics, Henkei, Universe and Generations, Generations being what lines like Siege, Prime Wars Trilogy, Thrilling 30, and other lines fall into) bracket of Transformers collection. The reason? The word Generations. It's a plural, meant to mean "more than one of something". But what are the toylines in Generations mostly consisting of? Generation 1 characters with designs either reminiscent of or even a modern copy of their Generation 1 designs. While this isn't a bad thing for characters who don't get releases often, seeing the big faces barely changing in design aesthetic is frustrating, especially when a design from after G1 could fit in very well to the current line.

I would include Optimus's one, but I can't find that one, or a good quality version of his box art that isn't a picture of the box...

Transformers War for Cybertron Siege Voyager Class Megatron: Relax G1 fans, there's no sign of green on this tank

It's just all over the exclusive repaint the mould got.

Baring a few rare exceptions, there are two specific characters you can confidently bank on being a part of any new line of Transformers. Optimus Prime, and Megatron, and though Prime's been trucking along (pun intended) since the beginning with major redesigns rarely happening further then being "some form of red and blue truck" (The only ones that come to mind right away being the Bat from Beast Wars, back when BW Optimus and Megatron were going to be continuations of the G1 characters), and Robots in Disguise 2001, where he was a red fire truck. Megatron on the other hand, due to a lot of people looking down on companies making toy guns look like real guns, has struggled to keep a consistent identity, with alt modes including space jets, a helicopter, a neon Batmobile that can fly, a giant hand, but a more consistent one has been some form of Tank, something that feels like it's been solidified in recent years, thanks to Combiner Wars and Titans Return, along with media like the High Moon Studios games, and the live action movies with Revenge of the Fallen. Siege looks to be continuing the trend, as Megs dons the space tank look once again. Sadly I'm still waiting for that Battlemaster, but how good of a toy is this new space tank?

Transformers Studio Series Devastator Part 1; Constructicon Scrapmetal: Clamps' future after Futurama

In the midst of the kiddified G1 Cyberverse, and the G1 nostalgia pandering Generations line, Hasbro has been putting out a third line that's equally, though debatably, nostalgia pandering, Studio Series, a line dedicated to making sure you'll never forget about the live action movies. This is a line I've been trying to find time to review for a while now as the two I do have, being Blackout and Starscream from the first movie, for whatever one can say about the designs and the inspiration, are good toys, and that's something that parts of the fandom really hate to admit. As much as I really don't like Starscream's look in the movies, I personally like to call him Doritoscream, that Starscream was the best general retail Starscream toy to launch last year. Sorry to G1 purists, that's an objective fact, especially with its main competition being the Power of the Primes Combiner torso and gimmickformers in the Cyberverse line.

Even with a line focused on bringing movieverse characters up to modern toy engineering standards, there are some that I still thought they wouldn't try to do, one of them being a version of Devastator that had individual robot modes, something they only did (to my knowledge) at Legends scale for Revenge of the Fallen. The RotF release of the Constructicons existed to either be just Devastator or just their individual modes. Maybe Combiner Wars was enough of an encouragement that they think they can pull off releasing eight toys between 2019 and 2020, split between Deluxe and Voyager class, with many of them not having individual robot modes, and some looking drastically different between modes (I'm looking at you Mixmaster and your glorified Headmaster mode). I don't know how well this thing is going to turn out, but I figured I'd see where this goes. I have no idea when this will end, all I hope is that it will end with a complete Devastator, unlike Volcanicus and Abominus.

Starting off with Vehicle mode, and with the exception of a few gaps, this is a pretty good digger mode, and the best I've personally owned... but considering as the last Transformer I owned that had a digger for an alt mode was Energon Steamhammer, who's closer to Revenge of the Fallen Demolishor, the comparison is better saved for when we get Studio Series Scavenger. I would say they can't make it worse, but I still remember what those two are supposed to look like in robot mode, and that's part of the reason why I question who thought this would be possible. Back on topic, the colour and detail remind me of the Caterpillar branded construction machines (are those a thing outside of Australia?). I know that's not saying much because the industry standard for these kinds of vehicles seems to be yellow. There isn't much paint on this guy, and while I would have liked some silver on the roof vents and the railing around the back, I don't think this guy needs a lot of paint. It's sparse but applicable. Movement isn't the best though, because while the shovel arm moves exactly the amount it needs to move (for this mode), there's no rotation for the platform for the sake of transformation. That being said, I don't see any reason why it couldn't have been in there because with the exception of the shovel arm itself, the platform isn't connected to the treads, and the platform rotation would only really affect the shoulder/ upper torso assembly. It's a shame that they didn't go the extra mile with the vehicle mode.

To the combined mode and... oh boy... As evident from my previous reviews, both here and on the main site before this one existed, traditional multi-bot combiners tend to follow a strict path of mass distribution. For five bot teams, the leader is the largest, and becomes the central torso, while the four other members become arms or legs. For the original Constructicons, two bots become legs, two bots become arms (with a parts form elbow), and the remaining two members become the chest. For movie Devastator though, it's not that simple. The rear legs (and yes I say rear legs because in the movie he walked on all fours), and torso work almost like G1 Devi, two bots become legs, two become the torso, with the only difference being that Mixmaster becomes the head and neck, something that I'm honestly surprised more combiners don't do because of how hard some leaders find hiding their second heads to be. According to this teaser image in Scrapmetal's instruction book, Devastator is going to be made up of Scrapper and parts of Scavenger (though his main focus is upper torso so I'm not surprised if he also acts as the shoulders), his left arm though is going to consist of two bots alongside Scavenger. Scrapmetal is basically the elbow and left hand of Devastator and... I can see there being some problems in the future. Based on this being the only piece of Devastator I have at the moment, and how the character moved on screen, I'm really hoping the rear legs can support a lot of weight because this is not going to support anything. I wish the digger arm could turn around for this mode so that the scoop itself could act as a third finger for the hand, instead, it just ends up looking like a giant claw arm. It's hard to bring up more about it at the moment because it's just a hand. A fat looking hand, but a hand.

Ok, so the toy's not faithful to the concept, but I like the toy's look a lot better then I do this thing.

Going to robot mode, and considering the quality of the Decepticons at the time, this is one of the most normal looking robots from the movies, and there are enough original ideas for this guy to be a good robot in his own way. Hardware isn't great, nothing but ball joints for articulation here so if you're used to Siege's quality, you're going to be disappointed. As dumb as it sounds, I actually love the hands on this guy, they're basically Clamps' hands (please tell me people still know who that is, and they've seen Futurama). In terms of design choices though, I'm not a fan of the chicken legs, I just can't get anything decent out of them in terms of movement. This is another case where I wish the digger arm could spin because it would be a cool looking scorpion tail like joint, something that I think the Combiner Wars Scavenger could do.