Transformers: Generations: Titans Return Legends Wave 2 (Laserbeak, Ravage, Rumble)
There are a few things I need to say about the Titans Return line.
First off, the trading cards. Hasbro made a big deal that they were doing real trading cards and not just a picture with no meaningful back. I guess they tried, but in the then end, they failed miserably. The cards suck. There are only four ratings instead of the eight that nearly all other tech specs have had for 30 years (when we’ve actually had tech specs). There is no quote or function, and the only bio is a couple lines on the back of the package, they didn’t even bother to put it on the card. Hasbro fails again. What else is new?
Secondly, what the fuck is it with Hasbro that they need to focus on only one theme at a time? Why are we getting Targetmasters and Powermasters as Headmasters? It makes no sense. Worse yet, the two Targetmaster converts, Blurr and Scourge, both have awful paint jobs (or I should say, barely any paint jobs at all). They put all the work into the real Headmasters and just mailed it in on the Targetmasters that they shouldn’t have been doing in the first place. As usual, they half ass everything, just like with Combiner Wars, where they ended the line without doing Terrorcons, Predacons, Seacons, Monster Pretenders, G2 Protectobots, and G2 Constructicons (in both colors). I mean, they still could do those as box sets next year, but I’m not going to hold my breath.
Thirdly, the Titan Masters. Why can’t they be consistent? Apeface, Brawn, Nightbeat, and Terri-Bull are named for the actual characters they are the heads for instead of the actual heads they represent. Clobber and Skytread could theoretically be the Headmasters for Grimlock and Flywheels. This makes no sense. Pick one way of doing it. It would make far more sense to name them for the Headmaster and not the character they partner with, as we are only getting the Headmaster. Related to that, it really sucks that we aren’t going to get any real versions of the Headmaster Juniors or Headmaster Horrorcons.
Finally, the Headmasters are freaking tiny. G1 Headmasters were way better than these, and had the ratings meter on the chest gimmick that they didn’t even try to reproduce. Another thing that sucks is that the heads of the Headmasters are articulated. This makes it so that the larger robot heads are articulated, but also makes it hard when plugging them in to Titan Masters vehicles. G1 Headmasters were so much better, but that’s true of most G1 toys.
Anyway, on to the review.
Laserbeak
You can read my review of Buzzsaw here. Laserbeak is a straight repaint of Buzzsaw. This toy is just as deplorable, only in different colors.
Ravage
Read my review of Stripes here. Ravage is a repaint of Stripes with a new head. The head mold is okay, but does nothing to improve an otherwise lackluster toy.
Rumble
Read my review of Rewind here. Rumble (who should be called Frenzy, because Frenzy is red and Rumble is blue) is a repaint of Rewind with a new head. He has some new art on his chest to make him look like Rumble, and his head mode is really well done, but like Rewind, he’s just okay.
Overall: This might be the worst wave of toys Hasbro has ever released. Rumble is at best passable, but barely. Laserbeak and Ravage are just as awful as Buzzsaw and Stripes.
Thanks for reading!
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In my opinion, the cartoon is the only place Rumble and Frenzy’s colors are correct. Frenzy is red and Rumble is blue. FIRRIB! 🙂
I’m actually reasonably pleased with these in comparison to the tape originals. Nice to see them find a tape alternative and to have the extra mode. I do miss the Ravage side missiles though for the jaguar mode. You are wrong on the colours. Only in the naff cartoon was Frenzy incorrectly coloured red. G1 Frenzy in the superior comics (and I think toyline) was always blue and Rumble was red.