Transformers Legacy United Leader
Item No.: Asst. F2990 No. F9188 Manufacturer:Hasbro Includes:Soundwave, 3 transforming tapes, 2 pylons, shoulder speaker, battery blaster, laser rifle, backpack blasters Action Feature:Transforms from robot to micro cassette recorder, tapes do tape things, spring-open chest door Retail:$54.99 Availability: October 2024 Other: Soundwave is barely different, but so far, is not discolored - each tape has deco changes
I see some fans saying to skip Legacy UnitedG1 Universe Soundwave, Rumble, Ravage, and Buzzsaw. I disagree. As of now I don't know that a Studio Series 86 version is in the works, and I don't feel anything is inevitable anymore. They may even change scale if they do another Soundwave someday. This one is the 2020 Walmart Netflix Transformers Generations War for Cybertron Trilogy Soundwave with Laserbeak and Ravage [FOTD #2,275] figures with some deco tweaks and a bonus redeco of Hasbro Transformers Studio Series Decepticon Rumble (Blue) [FOTD #2,513]. So that's a $40 boxed set and a $12 Core-class guy for $55, which isn't exactly good but there's no new parts to be found in this set. If you look at it as "Hasbro is making the most out of its existing molds and unmet demand for popular toys," it's a pretty good set. If you want a Studio Series Soundwave, this is obviously not that.
If you don't have any of these molds, this is a good set for $55. If you already have Soundwave from his previous release, it is not sufficiently different... but his tapes are, and then the question becomes "do you want to spend $55 on 3 tapes?" and my answer was "yes."
Soundwave is pretty much the previous toy. He's not identical. The tape deck door is gold (instead of yellow) and this time the hinges are painted gold instead of left clear. The Netflix toy's silver paint is closer to gray this time. And that's pretty much it - it's still the best modern-era Soundwave toy, but it also has vestiges of the Siege toy and could benefit from a complete redesign.
Transformation is easy, but getting the tape mode buttons and legs together didn't quite peg together perfectly. It could be me, or wear and tear on the tooling, but I'd say it's good enough for now. If and when a new mold comes to pass, you will likely have no use for it - but for now, with its weird wrist blasters and lack of internal battery compartments, this is as good as Soundwave gets.
Buzzsaw is why I eventually caved and ordered the set. It's the same as Laserbeak with different paint and plastic colors. Laserbeak's beak is unpainted, Buzzsaw has a gold beak. Laserbeak has a red body, Buzzsaw's is gold. Laserbeak has silver on his wings, Mr. Saw has gold. It's not terribly different but that doesn't matter, any G1 kid had Buzzsaw with their Soundwave and is going to want this one too. Nothing wrong with that - but I wish they sold tape packs. People are hungry for tapes!
Buzzsaw can perch fairly well in grooves on Soundwave's right forearm, but not his left. Go figure. He's cute and sturdy, I'd say "don't pay $55 for him" but I guess I did. So maybe you should too.
Ravage is not a great Ravage, but most of them are struggling to surpass the 1984 original which was a shockingly good toy for its time and is excellent by modern standards. If you don't own a G1 Ravage (or reissue), please get one. You'll be impressed. This toy is the same as the Siege Ravage, with painted silver teeth (a plus) and his gray parts now in black... which is fine. It's not better, it's not worse, but it's different. When it comes to tapes, I can accept different - but the mold wasn't that good in the first place, and I'd love to see Hasbro and Takara-Tomy do another one. I'll pay.
Rumble is Frenzy toy colors. Mostly. It's Studio Series Rumble darkened - and it looks really good. I wish they also made the chest paint in gold instead of silver to better match the original toy, but I assume that was never the goal. This is an all-in-one Soundwave gift package, and as such, here is your vaguely toy-colors cartoon Rumble that will make a lot of fans who aren't hardcore collectors very happy. The robot's articulation is perfectly good, and the backpack guns are now a slightly darker gray color. I'd say it's an improvement. His pylons still slip over his arms, and teh results are a toy that's different but just as good as the one you may have picked up in 2023. I want both, because of course I want both - I like tapes a lot.
I would not recommend buying this set exclusively for the not-Buzzsaw guys, but they all offer something. Rumble looks like the off-model tapes you may have seen in season one. Buzzsaw is an essential 1984 update. Ravage is different enough that he sort of stands out. Soundwave's main draw is he has not yet discolored, as some fans' samples have done.
Long-term collectors know the nostalgia pattern. The toys you had as a kid are sacred, and the things you will always chase - everything after that is replaceable. The 1984 Soundwave is arguably the best ever, the Masterpiece is good, and this Legacy one is fine. It looks like Soundwave, it's a little lumpy, and it doesn't quite behave like the original toy - but it's close. If Hasbro or Takara-Tomy put out Missing Link or Studio Series versions, you might put this one on the chopping block, not because it's bad, but because those evolutionary steps can't wash away your love for the original and probably won't be so good that they'll outshine the new thing, whatever it is. That's no knock on the designers either - you may also have the space ship Siege toy, which is unique and probably worth keeping even when a new tape deck Soundwave gets made. I'd still recommend this figure for now just because Hasbro is rather slow to exploit Soundwave to his fullest, and it may be a few years before we see a from-scratch redesign. And he's good! It's just that we're at a point where we know the main characters will keep coming back.
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