Blast Off Series 01 #008 Transformers Generations Deluxe Item No.: Asst. 37986 No. A0176 Manufacturer: Hasbro Includes: Twin blaster pistols Action Feature: Transforms from Cybertronian Rocket Plane to robot Retail: $14.99 Availability: September 2012 Other: Forms the Arm (or Leg) of Bruticus
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While I don't entirely get why you need a Rocket Plane on Cybertron, Blast Off looks pretty cool in purple. Originally a G1 Space Shuttle, this toy is now an intergalactic vehicle in purple (for this release), brown (for SDCC), and also white with purple camo (for the G2 version). You've got lots of choices, and purple with lots of bright yellow is actually a very attractive color scheme if not entirely how the game seems to present it.

While not terrible, the robot mode has a few minor stability problems. The vehicle's massive backside separates into the shoulders, which really don't peg into place and kind of float. There's a lot of articulation and some great deco choices here, plus a swell head sculpt. Problem is, the floaty arms make it less fun to play with than other toys, even though it looks great on a shelf or as the combined Bruticus. The feet look good, the fists hold the weapons just fine, and the figure has a fair amount of personality. It doesn't scream "I'm G1 Blast Off!" but it does work as a nifty toy in its own right. I don't imagine a lot of people are gunning for a dark purple deco, though.

You get two pistols with this guy, both are dark purple plastic with some yellow panels on the sides. They fit in nicely to any of the modes, and aren't bad guns for use with other figures either.

The rocket mode is a rocket, not much of a toy here. Since there are no wheels and launching rockets, it's pretty old-school in that the entire play pattern of the vehicle is picking it up and making your own "whoosh" sounds. It doesn't do anything other than look cool, and there are lots of nice sculpted bits painted silver on the back end of the vehicle. There's a lot of junk under the vehicle, but from the top it looks pretty good and it's definitely different than the bulk of other Decepticon flyers in your toy box.

The transformation is not unpleasant, as things generally fit into place just fine. Except the shoulders. The vehicle works well, the arm is great, and the robot could be better on its own.

it does seem to be built around making a good Bruticus arm. There's a bicep swivel, two thumbs which are fully retractable so it can be either arm, plus there's enough stuff in here to also make it a leg. It's not too hard to figure out how to configure this one, although (like all of these) the instructions could be clearer about the various limbs you can make from this toy. It feels woefully incomplete, would it kill them to put up leg instructions on Hasbro.com? At least it's nicely done.

All by his lonesome, Blast Off is a decent toy. It's packed with moving parts to the point of near frustration, but that also means it's a galaxy apart from the blocky toys of the 1980s. I wouldn't say it's too complicated, but there's certainly a lot more going on here to the point where I would say it may not be the best possible purchase for your kids. But your teenagers will probably dig it, and old crusty bitter farts like me certainly enjoy it as part of a greater whole that is Bruticus.

Additional Images

Additional Combined and Team Fall of Cybertron Bruticus Images

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