Perceptor Convex & Perceptor Transformers Generations Titans Return Deluxe Item No.: Asst. B7762 No. C1092 Manufacturer: Hasbro Includes: Tiny head robot, big robot/microscope, sniper rifle, shoulder scope, card Action Feature: Transforms from microscope (and tank) to robot, head to robot Retail: $17.99 Availability: February 2017 (official street date April 2017) Other: Try, try again
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In Transformers: The Movie Perceptor was the stand-in for C-3PO. The movie, if you'll recall, was heavily influenced by Star Wars. Perceptor was one of the few characters to get screen time in season two and season three, as many "original" characters were phased out in favor of the new class. People just love Perceptor - new versions of him show up all the time in slightly different roles. This particular toy is inspired by the original G1 toy and his role as a sniper in IDW's All Hail Megatron comic series, which served as a not-quite-hard reboot of their brand. In addition to being smart, he's also a part-time Wrecker and a member of the crew of The Lost Light, formerly More Than Meets the Eye. I hope this means the toy will be popular, because it's pretty good.

This 1.5-inch Convex is now Perceptor's head. While mostly unpainted, he has a head sculpted to look like a tiny version of the original toy's masked mouth with black and red plastic being joined by 5 moving joints. It's pretty good - but thanks to the microscope alt mode there's not as much need for him to exist as a "driver." He can lay in the area under the scope... but why? He can also sit in the sniper rifle in the "tank mode" for Perceptor. Did I mention the instructions read "Preceptor?" Well, now I did.

The head mode is good, but it drops the sniper scope monocle seen in his sniping days. In this respect, the toy is a little more similar to the original interpretations of the toy.

As a microscope, Perceptor turned out better than expected. There are treads for a tank mode, there are extensive paint operations that resemble the classic stickers you'd see on Microman or Diaclone toys too. The microscope actually works, and this is a shocking development as Hasbro has seemed increasingly allergic to play features on Generations toys. The scope itself can be moved around a bit and you can really focus the lens and zoom in and see tiny things up close. It's a real toy microscope, really, for reals. The silver knob on top of the scope controls the lenses, while the silver dials on the sides are merely decorative.

Deco is pretty great - the colors are good, it looks a lot like previous Perceptor toys and comic/cartoon appearances, and it looks like a real fake microscope. Nobody will be convinced that this is a real scientific instrument, but it's on par with some of the cheap science toys you'll see at the store. Plus it has Autobot symbols, and a gun you can plug in to the back of it via the 5mm ports. I'd say the gun being slung on the back is kind of awkward, as is the instructions' suggestion that the Convex figure be stored on the area under the scope. It's just not a great place for it.

A hidden tank mode is also available, and it's a lot like the original G1 toy's tank mode. There are some hidden fold-out treads and other bits you can move around to get a mode that very vaguely resembles an armored war machine. I can see why they left it out of the instructions, but it's better than whatever the heck they were trying to do with Galvatron in the Universe line, what with its weirdo feet.

You will most likely love Perceptor's robot mode - it's a heck of a lot like the classic toy, only more so. The face resembles the cartoons and comics, the body has more articulation, and there's surprisingly little kibble. Compared to the unpleasantness that was the Reveal the Shield Perceptor [FOTD #536], the Titans Return Perceptor may as well be a Masterpiece Edition. It fits together nicely, it looks good, the colors are right, and I don't hate picking it up and seeing it fold apart in a way that makes me wish I still had my $12.99. The only element that I really loved about the 2011 version was the silver chrome - I normally detest chrome, but it was perfectly deployed there.

The sniper rifle has a bipod on the bottom, and it looks perfectly nice. It seats one Titan Masters robot. The over-the-shoulder "cannon"/scope/whatever is on a nifty fixture that allows it to bend back or slide to the center - it's cool! It's also on the opposite side of the original toy, but the same side as Perceptor's more famous appearances on the screen or printed page. The scope also has a 5mm port on the top, so you may plug in a sniper's scope or other accessory if you wish.

I'd say the new Kup is probably a slight improvement over the 2011 toy, but Perceptor is a great replacement. If you're happy with the Perceptor you already own, you don't need to buy this one - the fate of most toys is to collect dust on the shelf or be stowed in a box. If you're happy with what you have, save your money. But you aren't, because you read toy reviews. This one is way better, and is probably the Perceptor toy you deserved in the first place. Other than the Titan Master gimmick it's the dream G1 toy you probably always wanted. If you see it, get it - it's pretty fantastic.

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