Transformers Generations Titans Return Deluxe
Item No.: Asst. B7762 No. B7026 Manufacturer:Hasbro Includes:Tiny head robot, big robot/vehicle, boat nose, gun Action Feature:Transforms from head to robot Retail:$14.99 Availability: July 2016 Other: Better than you might have guessed
The soul of pretty much any Transformers toy line is at its deluxe price point, and Titans Return is no exception. Bringing back a mix of classic "Headmasters" character while also introducing characters who were not previously able to pop their heads off, I have to say, I'm pretty impressed. Sure Blurr may have a better paint job in the Japanese release that costs twice much, but I've got this one right now.
This 1.5-inch robot is named Hyperfire, a sideways nod to Blurr's original Targetmaster buddy Haywire. He's based on Stylor - and shares parts with the new Titans Return Stylor you'll no doubt receive with your Chromedome in wave 2. The little guy has a lot more paint than other companion figures, with silver shoulders and black legs. I have no idea why - the deco could probably have gone a long way elsewhere. It's one of the nicer little heads so far, but the paint budget going somewhere you're likely to never see it is a bizarre choice. As a head, he plops right on Blurr's shoulders. As a pilot, he fits nicely in the car's driver seat. You win either way.
The head mode is great! A surprise to me was that the little hood ornament on the noggin is actually extendable - you can pull it up if you like, bringing it closer to the look of the original cartoon model. Sure, the colors are a little off and gosh there is so much blue, but it's unmistakably Blurr.
His vehicle is better than you might think. The coloring resembles the original toy, and the model combines bits of the cartoon with the plaything. A bit of the roof is cracked open - you can see (and fold down) the seat, but what really shocked me was the inclusion of honest-to-goodness tiny wheels on the bottom. I did not see that coming at all. It rolls fairly well, plus for some reason there are two little pegs on the sides so other Titans can ride along on it. I don't know why you would want to do this, but you can - it's kinda fun. If I were a wee lad, I think I'd really enjoy this - sort of like the Battle Beasts had little optional clips to put figures on the sides. For the curious, you can put the barely 6-inch long vehicle on Ultra Magnus [FOTD #1,200] truck mode.
Transformation is more complex than I thought it would be. The figure has opening legs (like from Combiner Wars) and bits that fold back behind the arms to reveal hands. The front "hood" area of the car can be removed completely, or stored on the figure's back. The driver's compartment opens up and you can swipe the driver out to become the figure's head. If you pop off that front section of the car, it can also serve as a little vehicle for your tiny Titan Masters - the gun plugs in too, so it's like a little starfighter. It's all a lot of fun - Hasbro gives you a lot more toy than usual with this piece.
As a robot? Fantastic. I should kick off by saying that Nightbeat's blue plastic is a perfect match for this body, if you're so inclined. If you're not, Hyperfire is an ever more perfect match. The hands fit the 5mm blaster perfectly, and the articulation is surplus to requirements. You have swivel wrists even though such a thing is not at all required for transformation - what a lovely bonus! Blurr's retractable antenna is awesome, and while he's sort of bland - as in, too much blue - it's not too far removed from the original toy. Having the option of wearing the car kibble as a backpack or a shield is great, and the 18 points of articulation are all quite nice given the pricing concerns lately. Heck, even the interior of the car is completely detailed - you'll see all sorts of things in there bringing it to life, even though you may never actually look at it. Hasbro and TakaraTomy did a fantastic job making Blurr. As of my writing this I have the Japanese one on pre-order and am no longer sure I still need it - I'm very happy with this one - but we shall see.
As the first Titans Return Deluxe toy I've played with - after the Masters, Leaders, and a Voyager - I can say I really do love how this turned out. When Combiner Wars first hit, I said to myself "Man these are great, but I wonder if I'll still love them in two or three years?" I'm still digging those Combiner Wars toys, and I can't imagine not feeling the same way about Blurr later. Getting the car nose on the backpack is a little tough, but every other.shtmlect about transformation, play, and display is good - and any quibbles you have with the deco will probably be solved by the Japanese release. If you're on a budget, or impatient, get the US one on sight. If you must simply have the most cartoony and visually splendid version, go for Japan. Either one is going to be a lot of fun.
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