Toy Review - DOTM Shockwave

[Vector Prime]

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae21/phuynh1979/P4170010.jpg

When I first saw pics of this guy, I was excited - he looked very cool and was a nice Movie-verse homage to Shockwave.

Now that I have him in hand - yes, he does indeed look very cool in bot mode (but very ordinary in his alt mode - some sort of Cybertronian tank?)

Let's get his alt mode out of the way - I don't display my figures in alt mode, so it doesn't bother me too much how they look, but one does hope that the character transforms into something semi-decent looking.

Shockwave's alt mode is some sort of tank thing with it's cannon offset and sitting on one side (as opposed to in the middle sticking out of a turret like a normal tank) - this is pretty much due to the cannon being mounted on his right arm and although it is removable, doesn't seem to mount on his left arm at all.

Anyways, if you're a fan of Megatron's tank mode from the previous movie, then you'll be a fan of this, but otherwise, it's rather ho-hum... nothing to get excited about.

Now the transformation sequence is fairly straight forward and intuitive with probably an average degree of difficulty.

It is a tad bit fiddly and does require you to tab various pieces into various spots and get things aligned properly (to get to tank mode) but is somewhat satisfying once you get it altogether (but then it all gets let down by the ugliness of the alt mode).

His bot mode is where he shines - he looks awesome in various poses and looks very menacing and will certainly display well on any shelf.

That's not to say that he's not without flaws or shortcomings - his shoulder and arm articulation is somewhat limited and he doesn't have a great degree of rotation in those areas.

His legs and feet are fairly stable and allow for various poses, but his overall poseability gets let down by his lack of upper body articulation.

Nonetheless, he still displays well and I'm prepared to overlook some of his shortcomings purely because he's Shockwave and he does look quite awesome.

I would give this guy 8/10 - only because he is imposing looking and I quite like the look of him, but I reckon most people may be disappointed with him and probably would only give him average marks.

Anyways, that's my 0.02c... thanks for reading.

http://i954.photobucket.com/albums/ae21/phuynh1979/P4170009.jpg

[Vector Prime]

AFAIK, the only other board member that has one of these at the moment is SkyShadow, so perhaps SS can draw himself away from the glorious Lugnut for a brief moment to share his thoughts on DOTM Shocky? :p

[5FDP]

Nice review VP. Kinda disappointing though... I was expecting more from this toy as it was basically my one 'must have' from DOTM based on earlier images. Oh well, I can save up for the next round of Generations :D

[griffin]

Moved this topic here, as per the Reviews Section Description:


Reviews of any Past and Present Transformers (toys, merchandise, comics, cartoons, etc). Movie toys well beyond their release should be posted in the Movie section (they will be moved here later).

This prevents spoilers, especially with certain new major-role characters.

[Vector Prime]

Moved this topic here, as per the Reviews Section Description:



This prevents spoilers, especially with certain new major-role characters.

Ahh... no worries Griff :o

[Vector Prime]

peaugh's review (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF82UXiJQ0E) for those that haven't seen it.

[gdmetro]

Thanks for the review.

Only reason I want this is for a Shockwave stand in- however, Has/Tak hasn't given me much of a choice to really want him- Bayverse aesthetic is just bleh.. but still barely reminiscent of Shockwave- however, the butt ugly alt mode...

I am still undecided on this guy. If I can get him for cheap I might consider a purchase.

[Vector Prime]

Only reason I want this is for a Shockwave stand in

For your Classicsverse shelf? I'd suggest Energon Shockblast for that - it's the closest you can get to a 'classics' Shockwave.

[Sky Shadow]

AFAIK, the only other board member that has one of these at the moment is SkyShadow, so perhaps SS can draw himself away from the glorious Lugnut for a brief moment to share his thoughts on DOTM Shocky? :p

I don't have too much more to say than I did in the other thread (which, for people who haven't read it was:

"Shockwave is great - not as good as Megatron, since Megs actually transforms into a Mack truck (and has a poncho) whereas Shockwave just turns into a... thing (and is poncholess). Shocky's MechTech weapon can be deployed and locked in place and the toy feels good and solid. It seems like Voyagers have been somewhat downscaled for DOTM - they're not as big as previous Voyagers, but still a slight step up from a deluxe. I think Hasbro took the wrong boat with Generations Skullgrin - give this toy an animal-skull head, then add some white and it would be an absolutely perfect 'Classics' Skullgrin in both modes.")

Other good points about this toy include the G1 homage hose, and the fact it and the weapons can be deployed in multiple configurations in both modes. Every moving part has a specific place to lock into in both modes. The asymmetry if the tank turret in vehicle mode is odd and seems lazy, although it might be how he appears in the film, so I can't really argue if it's for the sake of accuracy. I agree with VP's review above - it's a really nice toy - it just feels much closer to a Deluxe than a Voyager and is missing that extra 'wow' factor that would make it something truly special.

My photos can be found here: http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php?p=233952#post233952

[Sky Shadow]

P.S. Great photos, Vector Prime. :cool:

[Paulbot]

Why so they keep giving prominent Movie Decepticons non-Earthen modes? This toy is good but it doesn't fit in with the others. It's so alien in both modes that it feels like it belongs to another line. At least the tank mode ends up being more clear than the Fallen or Megatron's jet modes.

I found transforming Shockwave to be fun and everything rewardingly snapped into place with solid clicks. The toy has nice colours but in robot mode it doesn't look that much like G1 Shockwave. The homage seems slight, but the extra hose and being able to fold up the hand when you plug the mech tech weapon in help it out.

Overall, pretty nice as it's own alien robot/tank figure with bonus points for looking like Shockwave and for (I assume) it's role in the movie.

[Decepticon]

Brilliant! Love everything about this figure. Robot mode is the best I've seen for a while

[GoktimusPrime]

Why so they keep giving prominent Movie Decepticons non-Earthen modes?

I guess to make them less familiar and more "monstrous" to the audience? I agree that I would prefer seeing Earth modes though... but then again, I guess having him stay in a Cybertronian form is in it's own way, a homage to G1 where Shockwave never acquired an Earthen mode either.

[Stompy]

This figure/movie-lore is a waste of a good character.

While the robot mode looks quite nice and menacing and works well with all it's great sculpting and armaments. Not to mention the awesome backpack. The back of the legs are hollow as if it's meant to have batteries and the lids have been lost. The ultra thick rubber hose is way too strong and limits poseability with the cannon on his arm. The head is ok but not keen on the forward swept "ears". I would have also liked wrist rotation as I personally do not like the elbow bend always having the palms face up.

Conversion is easy and is possible to convert witht he hose and weapons attached.

The alt mode is just absolute rubbish. There are gaping holes everywhere and this is not a tank. Cybertronian or not. This is scrap metal taped together. Truly awful. The front "wheels" do not lock on to place and tends to fold back. RUBBISH. Even movie 1 and RotF Megatron has better alt-modes.

Overall this is a great looking botmode. Unfortunately for me, this is meant to be a transformer toy and I got ZERO joy from the alt-mode. Hence this is a big fail.

[Doubledealer]

Yup, I'm with Stompy on this one. After the brilliance of TFA Shockwave (who had FOUR awesome modes, one of which was also a tank) I expected much, much more. Hoping the Legends toy manages to pull off a RotF Ravage and trounce its larger counterpart.

[5FDP]

Hoping the Legends toy manages to pull off a RotF Ravage and trounce its larger counterpart.

That's exactly what I am waiting for.

[Tallestblue]

I love this guy. He seems to be the bastard child of G1 Shockwave and the Invid from Robotech, but I like that look. Would love to see a Leader class version at some point.

[Lord_Zed]

Yeah I'm with the Shockwave fans too, it was Shockwave which for me is instant buy as he is my preferred Decepticon leader of choice. Overall he is a good toy, not quite great, solid in both forms, excellent robot mode, tank mode is meh but at least its solid,

He looks good next to ROTF Voyager Megs, and HFTD Voyager Prime which is what I wanted. I only have two DOTM toys, Shockwave and Sandstorm, but he is definitely the better toy in my mind. I also far prefer him to the floppy mess that is my purple Animated Shockwave, so yeah not perfect but thumbs up, here's hoping for a Generations Shockwave now old one eye is getting some recognition.




While the robot mode looks quite nice and menacing and works well with all
The alt mode is just absolute rubbish. There are gaping holes everywhere and this is not a tank. Cybertronian or not. This is scrap metal taped together. Truly awful. The front "wheels" do not lock on to place and tends to fold back. RUBBISH. Even movie 1 and RotF Megatron has better alt-modes.


The front wheels lock in place, the tabs on the wheel arms lock under the front hull of the tank, on my toy they are very tight and secure in vehicle mode. It ain't pretty but it locks tight.

I so agree with Skyshadows Skullgrin repaint/retool idea too.

[SharkyMcShark]

What I don't understand is that the first ever movie figures with Cybertron alt modes (Prime and Screamer protoforms) were awesome in both modes, so why since then has every Cybertron mode figure just looked very poor? (with maybe the sole exception of voyager crab tank Megatron from ROTF)

[SkyWarp91]

What I don't understand is that the first ever movie figures with Cybertron alt modes (Prime and Screamer protoforms) were awesome in both modes, so why since then has every Cybertron mode figure just looked very poor? (with maybe the sole exception of voyager crab tank Megatron from ROTF)

I guess with Cybertronian modes there's no standard to adhere to with creativity , like for regular TFs the engineering has to be done in a way that makes the robot become the car (or vice versa in some cases). With cybertronian vehicles they can just chuck up whatever they want so long as it has treads/wings/cannons/wheels and call it a TF.

cybertronian figures of any line are a hit and miss - some saw WFC prime as a miss but WFC soundwave as a hit!

[SharkyMcShark]

I think the issue is that the protoforms and WFC figures had alt modes that incoporated an involved transformation, whereas the rest have been like... (sometimes) hide the head, make robot lie or sit down. Somtimes cross arms.

[GoktimusPrime]

What I don't understand is that the first ever movie figures with Cybertron alt modes (Prime and Screamer protoforms) were awesome in both modes, so why since then has every Cybertron mode figure just looked very poor? (with maybe the sole exception of voyager crab tank Megatron from ROTF)
"Awesome" is a fairly subjective descriptor. I personally wouldn't describe movie Cybertronian Optimus Prime and Starscream as "awesome"... they're almost like those freakin' crappy Rock Lords from Machine Men! <shudder>

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Transfan%20Meets/Parramatta%20Meet%20May%2022%202011/th_parrameet20110522_b.jpg
Warpath: (straining) "Hhnnnn!!" *PLOP*

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Transfan%20Meets/Parramatta%20Meet%20May%2022%202011/th_parrameet20110522_c.jpg
Gremlin: *sniff* *munch.munch*

And Starscream's prone to falling apart in robot mode. :(


I think the issue is that the protoforms and WFC figures had alt modes that incoporated an involved transformation, whereas the rest have been like... (sometimes) hide the head, make robot lie or sit down. Somtimes cross arms.
With TF1 and ROTF Megatron I would agree, but I'd give DotM Shockwave a lot more credit than that. His transformation is certainly more complex than "robot lying down to make a tank" Animated Shockwave. I'm personally quite satisfied with DotM Shockwave's engineering -- and the hose is such a neat G1 homage too. :) And he's one of few movie Transformers to sport the same colours as his G1 namesake too... ;)

[yoshi594]

I just got the toy today along with skyhammer. Skyhammer is still boxed for now :).

Only gripe with shockwave is that I can't do emotes with his ears :(, hopefully they make his ears poseable if/when they make the leader class version :D.

[GoktimusPrime]

(o_O) Most Transformers can't physically emote with their faces or heads... and not all Shockwaves have mobile ears. The main reason why the original G1 Shockwave's ears move is because they need to fold down in gun mode; so it's a necessity of design. Heck, when I was a kid I didn't even know Shackwave's ears could move up and down -- at first I kept transforming him to robot mode with the ears down. I accidentally discovered one day that they could move up! :p

I don't have Action Master Shockwave, but I suspect that his ears can't move. Binaltech Shockwave's ears also can't move (and that's the most complex Shockwave toy ever made!). Energon Shockwave's ears can move back, but not forward. Animated Shockwave's ears move because, like 1985 G1 Shockwave, it's part of the transformation. So really... considering that including separate parts (and thus increased costs) for mobile ears wouldn't effect the performance of the toy, I don't see the need for Hasbro to include them.

Besides, as Shockwave would say, emoting is illogical. ;)

[griffin]

Shockwave
Series - Dark of the Moon
Sub-line - Mechtech
Size/class - Voyager
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 2
Released here - May 2011
Approximate Retail Price - $50
Approximate Size - 18cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode - Cybertronian Tank
Main Features/Gimmicks - Electronics, Convertible Mechtech weapon
Main Colours - Purple, grey
Main Accessories - Mechtech weapon

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/tftoys/mt16.jpg

[ITZTRU]

I just got the toy today along with skyhammer. Skyhammer is still boxed for now :).


Where does one find this toy? (Shockwave)

[Vector Prime]

Where does one find this toy? (Shockwave)

I believe the only retail places this guy has been sighted at thus far is David Jones and Toyworld.

[1AZRAEL1]

I believe the only retail places this guy has been sighted at thus far is David Jones and Toyworld.

Neither of which are around me :p (don't want to have to travel too far just to get him :p)

[5FDP]

Apparently he's been sighted at Big W as well.

[SkyWarp91]

PROS:
- Robot mode looks AMAZING, I think it's screen accurate and though the colors are simple - they're so badass. There's so much detail to this guy too
- Relative to DOTM Voyager Megatron Shockwave's is simpler and less worrying as parts are seemingly more stable
- 2 Badass Mechtech weapons, a giganto gun that reminds you of 2007 Megatron's FUSION CANNON and a cool looking forearm blade.
- Articulation is actually very good, Shockwave can facepalm himself!
- The vehicle mode has an impressive feature where the front cybertronian wheels that don't look like they roll actually do roll.

CONS:
- Minor articulation problems. I wish the shoulder joints could have the option to be lowered on an additional swivel joint on the coronal plane. I also wish his neck joint allowed him to look up and it would have been nice to have wrist rotation. ALso would have liked waist articulation on the axial/horizontal axis. THese are minor complaints though.
- This guy looks awesome on the FRONT, on the back it's mostly exposed gaps of transformation which is understandable, again, minor complaint.
- Would have been nice if the hose that connects to Shockwave's gun would be longer, it does limit articulation!
- Not a big fan of the vehicle mode, but eh, it's a Cybertronian vehicle. It does have the two MechTech ports which offers hours of fun putting together different MechTech weapons

OVERALL:
This toy is probably one of the best toys for this year and the Movie Line. You can tell more effort went into the design of this one as opposed to VOyager DOTM Prime. Though there are plenty of minor flaws to this toy, I'm willing to forgive them considering the shift in costs and that this toy has such an amazing presence to it.

[LordCyrusOmega]

Thing of beauty, even if it is Bayverse.
Looks menacing in Robot mode and Alt mode looks good as well. Given that the Cybertron mode of Bayverse toys have been pretty disapointing Shockwave is a far cry from this.
Love everything about him

[tjparkside]

this is a cool re-interpretation of shockwave,worth purchasing!

[Fonecrusher]

This is coming very close to knocking Voyager Megatron off for being best DOTM toy so far. Aboslutely love everything about him, even his alt mode which doesn't get much praise, I really dig.

[LordCyrusOmega]

Cybertron modes for Bayverse have been an epic fail when it comes to toys (except protoform Starscream and Optimus) but Shockwave is just stunning.
Best one so far by a long streak.

[Hursticon]

Awesome figure in both modes, lovely colours and great personalty in the face sculpt. ;):cool:
Backpack assembly is a little fiddly to get everything pegged-up right but apart from that, his transformation is quite intuitive and is rather fun. :)
(Still not sold on the whole Mechtech gimmick though :o)

A great figure, when you can find it, especially at circa $35. :D

[BigTransformerTrev]

This is coming very close to knocking Voyager Megatron off for being best DOTM toy so far. Aboslutely love everything about him, even his alt mode which doesn't get much praise, I really dig.

Any Shockwave that has the pipe/cord/thingie going from his arm to his shoulder gets a big fat YES from me! :D

I didn't mind his alt-form too much. Beats the hell out of TFP's Shockwaves, but it's the robot mode that does it for me. Even to the extent his torso has an abs/ribcage thing going on that makes it look like he pumps cyber-iron at night. :D

Overall, considering what the Bay-verse has done to so many classic characters, Shockwave could have come off a LOT worse. He has a cannon arm and cord (even if it is right instead of left), he has the one eye, he has the grey ear cover thingies and he turns into a big gun thing. Sure, you have to use the term 'thing' more often with this figure than you would usually have to with an awesome figure, but overall he is still very good :)

[GoktimusPrime]

What really risk me with this toy, as well as TF1 and ROTF Megatron (moreso the latter) and the Fallen is that they just utterly FAIL as Robots In Disguise. Cos despite all the flaws with the Bayverse movies, one really cool thing about the live action films was that it made the Transformers feel real and living among us. Cars, trucks, military vehicles, emergency vehicles, appliances, people etc.; anything and anyone could be a Transformer! And one great thing I've enjoyed about the movie toys is getting all these great licensed vehicle alt modes; not generic cars and planes, but actual makes and models of automobiles, aircraft etc. Since then we've seen an explosion in people driving around with Transformers logos on their cars, playing along an international game where any car could be a Transformer. Just the day before yesterday I saw a car here in China with a bumper sticker that had a Decepticon logo and said, "Get away from this car or it will transform." ;)

But toys like Megatron (TF1/ROTF), Shockwave, Soundwave (ROTF) and the Fallen deviate away from what is otherwise a really cool running theme with the live action movie characters and toys. At least TF1 gave us an excuse for why Megatron didn't have an Earthen mode in TF1; but after that they just stopped trying and there would be random Transformers who just didn't have Earth modes. Admittedly Shockwave's Cybertronian alt mode is a big improvement over others; but probably because the alt mode never existed in the film, giving designers more creative freedom to design a relatively better vehicle (whereas TF1/ROTF Megatron's alt modes just look like faecal excrement).

Look at Binaltech Shockwave. Great robot mode that homages the character well, plus he transforms into a Mazda RX-8 w/ body kit. The ability to scan a local form and move about freely in disguise is just more logical. ;) It'd sure beat drilling around underground... that would be a far less efficient and expedient form of movement as opposed to just rolling or flying about on the planet's surface.

[UltraMarginal]

I quite like the robot mode for this guy.

it's an interesting discussion about the realism of alt modes for the films. I too have really enjoyed the "realism" and detail of vehicle alt modes for these movies. I've been frustrated by the non-earthen alt modes where they have appeared but they have always appeared on characters who either haven't yet taken earth form or appear to me to be too arrogant to bother taking an earth form. I found it very interesting that the war weary and tragically damaged megatron did take an earth form for the third movie as he was less self assured and more vunerable than he had been at any prior point in the films.

While "logical" the movie shockwave probably didn't feel a need to take an alt form as by the time he was spending much time in anyones view the decepticons had already started their invasion. Why then would he bother to conceal himself.