Transformers: Unite Warriors Menasor (Breakdown, Dead End, Drag Strip, Motormaster, Wildrider)

Breakdown

Please read my previous reviews of this mold: Generations Breakdown, Generations Sunstreaker, Generations Wheeljack, Generations G2 Breakdown, Generations Jumpstream, Unite Warriors Lightspeed, Unite Warriors Wheeljack, Botcon Tigatron, Botcon Ravage, Botcon Counterpunch, Unite Warriors Sunstreaker

Unite Warriors Breakdown uses white plastic versus the more cream colored Hasbro release. White is more cartoon accurate, while the Hasbro one is more accurate to the toy. This is going to be true of most of this set. Other than that in vehicle mode the deco is pretty similar. The main change is the placement of the Decepticon logo on his hood. I prefer the Japanese placement, though again, the Hasbro version may be more accurate to the toy. The strangest change is that they gave him the same hand/foot/gun as Drag Strip. Breakdown’s HFG was designed specifically to connect to his vehicle mode. I prefer the matched sets for the hands and feet, but this toy was designed specifically for that part, so it makes little sense to use a different one. In robot mode he has numerous differences, most notably the white instead of blue on his neck and white verses silver and blue on his chest. I kind of prefer the look of the Japanese one.

Dead End

Please read my previous reviews of this mold: Generations Dead End, Generations Brake-Neck, Generations Streetwise, Generations Prowl, Unite Warriors Streetwise, Generations Smokescreen, Generations G2 Dead End, Generations G2 Brake-Neck, Generations Dust Up, Botcon Bluestreak, Generations Lightspeed, Botcon Unit-3, Unite Warriors Flowspade, Unite Warriors Prowl, Unite Warriors Wildrider (See Below)

Again, Dead End is more animation accurate which means losing the gray side panels and the striping in car mode. In robot mode he gets black shoulders and a gray chest and torso with some other changes as well. I kind of like the red chest on the Hasbro version, but both look great.

Drag Strip

Please read my previous reviews of this mold: Generations Dragstrip, Generations Mirage, Generations G2 Dragstrip, Unite Warriors Mirage

For most of these Hasbro went with a more toy accurate look while Takara went for an animation look. What is odd is that the G1 toy doesn’t have the maroon striping on his sides in vehicle mode. The Hasbro version is not bad looking, but I much prefer the Takara version that is mostly yellow. I can see why they made his shoulders black. In the cartoon, those were wheels (if I remember correctly). I could have lived without that black in robot mode to have had his car mode almost completely yellow. Still looks great in car mode though. In robot mode I don’t know Hasbro got the deco, as Drag Strip is mostly yellow. The Takara version is more accurate, though overall I think I like the Hasbro deco on his robot mode. I know the Hasbro version’s face is accurate to the toy, but on this mold it looks pretty bad. The Takara version’s face has a much better paintjob.

Motormaster

Please read my previous reviews of this mold: Generations Optimus Prime, Generations Motormaster, Generations Battle Core Optimus Prime, Generations G2 Menasor, Botcon Toxitron, Unite Warriors Grand Scourge, Unite Warriors Optimus Prime

Again with Motormaster it’s about toy versus cartoon, but the Takara version with it’s gunmetal plastic and silver looks awesome. The Hasbro version looks fine, but nowhere near as great as the Takara version. Unfortunately, according to TFWiki there are reports of the stomach area breaking. I didn’t know this before buying a used one, but mine is fine. He’s going on a shelf and never transforming again though.

Wildrider

Please read my previous reviews of this mold: Generations Dead End, Generations Brake-Neck, Generations Streetwise, Generations Prowl, Unite Warriors Streetwise, Generations Smokescreen, Generations G2 Dead End, Generations G2 Brake-Neck, Generations Dust Up, Botcon Bluestreak, Generations Lightspeed, Botcon Unit-3, Unite Warriors Flowspade, Unite Warriors Prowl, Unite Warriors Dead End (See Above)

Hasbro phoned in their version of Wildrider (Brake-Neck). They didn’t bother paint his back window. I prefer the paintjob on the Takara version, especially the lighter color windows. As with all the rest it is more cartoon accurate while the Hasbro version is more toy accurate. In robot mode I could go either way. The Hasbro version is more colorful, but the Takara version is great looking too.

Menasor

Please read my previous reviews of this mold: Generations Menasor, Generations G2 Menasor

I still say that head sculpt looks nothing like Menasor at all. I prefer the Takara version of Menasor. The main reason is that he came with all five correct bots. Hasbro does not get off the hook for how badly they screwed up with that IDW garbage just because they gave us Wildrider (Brake-Neck) later. While I like the addition of Blackjack to Menasor for the Hasbro version, that is partly because the Hasbro version’s chest is gray, when it’s supposed to be black. The chest on the Takara version is black, so Blackjack isn’t needed. Also of note, the box art shows Dead End and Wildrider’s weapons on his shoulders as they are in the photo.

Overall: I prefer the Takara version overall, but it’s not like the Hasbro version is bad, just inferior, especially with Offroad included.

Thanks for reading!