Shockwave, Ironhide, and Brawl Series 1: Super Bot 007, BP009, BP010 Transformers Bot Shots Battle Game Figure 3-Packs Item No.: Asst. 37973 No. 98733 Manufacturer: Hasbro Includes: 3 figures Action Feature: Spring-loaded transforming figures Retail: $8.99-$13.99 Availability: July 2012 Other: Each mold is sold in at least 2 colors
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Another new pack of Bot Shots offers little new, beyond new color and characters. The engineering is pretty much the same with Shockwave, Ironhide, and Brawl which is both cool and kind of a bummer. Shockwave and Brawl are basically the same body with a few changed parts, while Ironhide is uniquely Ironhide, albeit in what us old-schoolers might call the wrong color. Black? Clear smokey black? Why not red? Phooey. Still, it's not a bad set, especially for $9, and especially because who doesn't want Shockwave?

The set pitches the clear "Super Bot" Ironhide as the selling point, I disagree as two other versions of Ironhide are coming and since all of them are in black, clear smoke black isn't exactly an improvement. The sculpt is good, and the smokey black color gives Ironhide a nifty glow in the right light. His healthy squared-off jaw and steely gaze make him feel like an update of the G1 character in all but color... and alt mode. It's pretty good. I look forward to the recolors, sort of.

Brawl, I don't get. I mean, I got it, but the blue coloring demanded research and my results said that most versions of Brawl-- either from Bruticus or the movieverse-- were greenish or brownish, not bluish. He keeps the same great sculpt as his other releases and as much as I love that crazy robo-stache of his, I don't want to see this character again. These colors remind more more than a little of the Decepticon Scourge (as in, the Sweeps) so that ain't bad. I like how the gold brings out the detail in the face, the red eyes look great here.

Rounding out the set is the reason to buy it: Shockwave! This is the G1 character smooshed up with a movie incarnation, all based on the Brawl/Megatron chassis. The turret, bumper, and head are new, but the rest is shared with those other figures. I'd love to see this tank translated into a Deluxe or Voyager toy, and I actually like this one a whole bunch. The one-eyed purple monster features a shiny gold eye, silver treads, and fairly minimal decoration overall. Hasbro's not wasting nickels on paint here, but the design gets the point across fairly well. The way the light falls on the head makes it seem like it's darker around the eye than it actually is. This is one of my favorite figures in the line, it's way cooler than the clear one and I'd probably shell out just to have gotten this one. And considering my enthusiasm for the other two, I basically did just that.

The set is great for $9 or $10. For $15, skip it.

Troubleshooting Note: As always, there are two screws on each figure's chest. If you tighten these, the trigger is a little jumpier. If you loosen it, it weakens it a bit. Depending on how well the figures do (or don't) spring up, you may want to keep a screwdriver around to adjust them to your liking.

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