Toy Review - GEN FOC Starscream

[Jim_jim]

Series - Generations
Sub-line - Fall of Cybertron
Size/class - deluxe
Wave - 3
New/remould/redeco - New
Released here - February 2013 (globally Dec 2012)
Approximate Retail Price - 25-30 Au$
Approximate Size - 14cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode - Cybertronian jet
Main Features/Gimmicks - none
Main Colours - Red, grey, blue
Main Accessories - two-piece gun

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/tftoys/gen34.jpg


https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/15275_10152287295570046_1544056668_n.jpg
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/556748_10152287295695046_1973357684_n.jpg
If you like Starscreem, you will get this toy. Otherwise, it would be an option. At least, for me it is. The transformation is too easy, just like Legend class, the hands are too big. The only good thing about it is the weapon. Man, I cannot imagine a Starscreem looks like that. It looks really nice on the top, but it is a thick and bulky figure.

Think twice before you are getting it.

[SharkyMcShark]

While as a rule I generally hate easy transformations I'm willing to make an exception for the Cyberjet style transformation.

I've got two of these on order with TFsource - where did you get yours?

[Jim_jim]

Got it from HK. It' already been released there.

[SharkyMcShark]

So mine finally arrived today. No pics as my camera is in the shop at the moment :(

Comes packaged in robot mode, and I'm pleased to say that for the first time in a very long time everything is joints wise is tight right out of the box. There is a pleasing amount of sculpted detail on the figure - the mini intakes on the underside of the wings and detail on the torso behind the cockpit are particularly pleasing. While not a bad thing at all, it's not really what I'd call 'Starscream red' - that red is a lot brighter and slightly more orangey than this (having compared it to an MP3, MP11 and an Energon Energon Starscream I have laying around). Again, not a bad thing at all. I've not played much of FOC and played through WFC once two and a half years ago so I can't really speak to game accuracy.

Poseability is fantastic especially compared to the original Classics Seeker mold - the shoulders don't get impeded by the wings, it has wrist, shoulder and thigh swivels, and it has actual useful ankle joints that allow for a range of fantastic posing. Maybe I've been watching a bit much Battlestar Galactica, but the way that the intakes 'strap' over the shoulders give it the appearance of a pilot in a flight suit. Overall, a fantastic robot mode.

Transformation is basically the Cyberjet scheme - cockpit flips 180 degrees up (although theres some nice folding/unfolding of panels involved instead of it just being a standard pin joint), legs go under the fuselage and arms fold up and go between the legs. Bit simplistic, but it works here.

The vehicle mode is also largely excellent. The legs are really chunky so the rear end gets a bit large, but then this isn't really meant to be a representation of an Earthen atmospheric fighter so it gets away with it really. Same goes for landing gear - there is none, but it's not a big deal (and I infinitely prefer none to molded in place landing gear like on the Classics Seeker mold). While the robot mode is more or less as tall as previous figures (well compared to the Energon Energon Starscream I had laying about) the it folds up into a noticeable smaller vehicle.

The weapons are decent. I'm not really a fan of massive chunky weapons but it sort of works here. I have heard from other places that the holes are too small for the 5mm handles and have shown stress marks on other samples. They were very tight on mine, but no stress marks as yet for me, so handle with care.

I wish I could say that this is the best deluxe in a long while, but honestly since the disappointment that was Revenge of the Fallen's toyline I've more or less given up on that size class. I can however say that this is the first deluxe in a long time that has convinced me that it was worth buying.

As a toy this trumps the already existing Classics Seeker mold in every way. Bring on the slew of repaints, because I'll be grabbing most of them.

[Bumbleb33]

I opened mine last week, simple fulfilling transformation, plenty of pose-ability for action stances, light piping is awesome, paint detail is good, head sculpt is excellent. Only bad point is the gun is a little weak. He is now my resident deluxe Starscream filling a gap in my collection for a G1 likeness Starscream. Get him if you can.

[Bumbleb33]

As a toy this trumps the already existing Classics Seeker mold in every way. Bring on the slew of repaints, because I'll be grabbing most of them.

I agree. I'd love to see it in green as Acid Storm.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

..light piping is awesome... head sculpt is excellent.
These points, plus plus!

Looks like three of the guns can be joined together to form the standard machine gun. Name escapes me right now, but this one. (http://www.transformersvideogames.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Fall-of-Cybertron-Game-Informer-Preview-04.jpg)

[Defcon]

This mold trumps the classics mold? I hope so as I want to retire that mold, as its been overdone to the point of insanity. I would love a boxset of seekers in a new original mold. I hope they do coneheads as well, but I wonder how they will do this?

[GoktimusPrime]

I can see why people like this toy. :) This is the most impressive Tetrajet Starscream toy thus far. Unlike previous incarnations, it has a far more streamlined jet mode that actually looks like it could actually fly in atmosphere. The sculpting is nice and the colours mostly work well. I really like the weapon on this toy. For some reason, Hasbro has insisted on making all the weapons in this wave gimmick-laden, but Starscream's weapon has the best gimmick of them all... a gimmick that compliments the weapon and toy, rather than detract from it (Ultra Magnus' sword isn't detractive, but it's not as complimentary as Starscream's either). It has a twin gatling gun where both barrels spin -- the gun can then be split into two guns. These guns can be held either in his fists, or mounted on his forearms to give him that G1 look. :)

The transformation is fairly intuitive, and forms a robot mode that has nice G1 homages. My only gripe about the robot mode is how the shoulders don't have anywhere to firmly lock into place - they just hang there. But having said that, their "hang position" isn't too loose either, i.e. the shoulders mostly stay in place on their own. But having some form of lock would have been a lot nicer. The light piping on the eyes works really well, and I like how they made the eyes yellow instead of red (like they are in the game). The yellow offsets against the reds of the body better, and also makes the eyes more G1-accurate considering that the original G1 Starscream toy had yellow eyes (via the sticker).

Is it better than the Classics mould? I don't know if I'd go quite that far. Both moulds have their merits. But this is by far the best toy of the 2nd FoC Wave figures, and I REALLY hope that Hasbro repaints this mould as Skywarp and Thundercracker SOON (I don't want to wait another five years to see them all in retail!) At a glance I think it might be possible to retool the head as a conehead - there's a reasonable amount of space above the head when it folds through the hole behind it. The cone tips may need to fold somehow in jet mode, kiiinda like how movieverse Dirge's conehead does (not necessarily in the same fashion)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/jaam_yum.gif

[BigTransformerTrev]

I really love this figure! By far my fav of all the Fall of Cybertron toys and probably equal favorite with my WFC Optimus from the game-based toys.

If I had any criticisms of this toy it would be that the legs are a little chunky and the guns are a bit big, but this is really just quibbling. Overall I think he is a fantastic figure and very indicitive of how he appears in the game.




As a toy this trumps the already existing Classics Seeker mold in every way. Bring on the slew of repaints, because I'll be grabbing most of them.

I'm pretty sure Takara has already released pictures of a repaint as Skywarp, I hope Hasbro follows suit and does SW and Thundercracker. As for the classics seeker mold, I'd still like to see them do a Sunstorm and a retool for a Slipstream, then they can retire that mold ;)


I can see why people like this toy. :) This is the most impressive Tetrajet Starscream toy thus far. )



It's great that the cybertronian jets we only saw for a few seconds in a few episodes of the original cartoon have so many toys now. I was a bit dissapointed with the Titanium take on them, though I did like the giant Starscream mold from Cybertron, thought that was very streamlined and a great figure!

[GoktimusPrime]

If I had any criticisms of this toy it would be that the legs are a little chunky and the guns are a bit big, but this is really just quibbling. Overall I think he is a fantastic figure and very indicitive of how he appears in the game.
I don't mind the chunkiness since it has that spinning gimmick... no where near as bad as the gatling gimmicks on Voyager Movie TF1 Starscream! (granted not as sophisticated either - it has no missile launchers; but sometimes less is more ;))


I'm pretty sure Takara has already released pictures of a repaint as Skywarp, I hope Hasbro follows suit and does SW and Thundercracker. As for the classics seeker mold, I'd still like to see them do a Sunstorm and a retool for a Slipstream, then they can retire that mold ;)
D'aaaaaawwww - why does Thundercracker always get forgotten?!?
Classics - here's Starscream and Skywarp... (5 years later) oh, here's Generations Thundercracker
Masterpiece - here's Starscream, now here's Skywarp. Oh okay, have Thundercracker (even worse with Hasbro MPs where Thundercracker was never even done under the old MP Seeker mould!)
TF Prime - here's Starscream, here's Skywarp... oh okay, here's Thundercracker, but he's a limited exclusive!

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/forum%20games/leavethundercrackeralone.jpg


It's great that the cybertronian jets we only saw for a few seconds in a few episodes of the original cartoon have so many toys now. I was a bit dissapointed with the Titanium take on them, though I did like the giant Starscream mold from Cybertron, thought that was very streamlined and a great figure!
We saw them a little bit more than that - you had the Rainmakers who were tetrajets too. :) Then they just completely forgot about it, and Starscream became an F15 on ancient Cybertron who flew under his own power from Cybertron to Earth, flew all over Earth, then back to Cybertron with Skyfire! :eek:

Titanium Series toys suck full stop. You can tell they weren't designed by Takara fungineers at all. I do like the Cybertron Starscream design, but I skipped on that super-sized one in favour of the Galaxy Force Voyager mould. The Super Sized one didn't seem any better than the Voyager, just more expensive and with a new hat^crown. :p

[Bidoofdude]

Yeah. TC is basically my fave TF now and I've decided to get quite a few of his namesake.
I might get the MP soon but I'm not too keen. Still awesome.:p:D

[BigTransformerTrev]

We saw them a little bit more than that - you had the Rainmakers who were tetrajets too. :)

Titanium Series toys suck full stop. You can tell they weren't designed by Takara fungineers at all.

Yeah, I was thinking of the episode with the Rainmakers as well as the pilot, that's why I said Episodes (plural ;) ). Though you may be right in regards when I said they were only on for a few seconds :)

I dunno, I think there were quite a few good Titanium figures. I loved the WW figures - think it was the first Cybertonain-altform styled versions of G1 characters the likes of Optimus, Starscream and so on I ever got, and I LOVE my Fallen figure (got him before TF2)! I still would love to get Titanium Prowl, Jetfire & Grimlock!

[GoktimusPrime]

I was talking to someone yesterday about FoC Starscream and it made me realise, Hasbro really should make it a priority to repaint this mould as the Rainmakers for the following reasons:

+ The Rainmakers were always Tetrajets in the G1 cartoon. They never came to Earth and were never reformatted/rebuilt(wateva) as F-15 Eagles. So having them as Tetrajets canonically makes more sense than seeing them as F-15s.

+ Classicsverse already has Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge as toys. There's no (official) Classicsverse toy for the Rainmakers (except Acid Storm). Some collectors (like the one I spoke w/ yesterday) only want to collect one toy of each G1 character, and FoC versions of the 'mainstream' Seekers don't interest them because it's the same character (just with a Cybertronian alt mode). Only people who are interested in getting the same character again in the new alt mode would want to get them in the FoC mould. i.e. people who are more interested in further expanding their Classicsverse collection and have no interest in the game.

If Hasbro repainted FOC Starscream as Sunstorm, Acid Storm and "Blizzard Storm" (or whatever name they choose to give to the blue Rainmaker), G1 fans will finally have G1-accurate toy representations of those characters as they appeared in the G1 cartoon - as Tetrajets, not F-15 Eagles! :D I don't mind if they do Skywarp and Thundercracker too, but I think the Rainmakers should come after them. I would prioritise them above Ramjet, Dirge and Thrust because we never saw them as Tetrajets in the G1 cartoon! (they just appeared on Earth one day as if they'd always been there! :rolleyes:)

[Bidoofdude]

I was talking to someone yesterday about FoC Starscream and it made me realise, Hasbro really should make it a priority to repaint this mould as the Rainmakers for the following reasons:

+ The Rainmakers were always Tetrajets in the G1 cartoon. They never came to Earth and were never reformatted/rebuilt(wateva) as F-15 Eagles. So having them as Tetrajets canonically makes more sense than seeing them as F-15s.

+ Classicsverse already has Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, Ramjet, Thrust and Dirge as toys. There's no (official) Classicsverse toy for the Rainmakers (except Acid Storm). Some collectors (like the one I spoke w/ yesterday) only want to collect one toy of each G1 character, and FoC versions of the 'mainstream' Seekers don't interest them because it's the same character (just with a Cybertronian alt mode). Only people who are interested in getting the same character again in the new alt mode would want to get them in the FoC mould. i.e. people who are more interested in further expanding their Classicsverse collection and have no interest in the game.

If Hasbro repainted FOC Starscream as Sunstorm, Acid Storm and "Blizzard Storm" (or whatever name they choose to give to the blue Rainmaker), G1 fans will finally have G1-accurate toy representations of those characters as they appeared in the G1 cartoon - as Tetrajets, not F-15 Eagles! :D I don't mind if they do Skywarp and Thundercracker too, but I think the Rainmakers should come after them. I would prioritise them above Ramjet, Dirge and Thrust because we never saw them as Tetrajets in the G1 cartoon! (they just appeared on Earth one day as if they'd always been there! :rolleyes:)

Rainmakers would be good in a three-pack similar to the WFC one, especially since they're all just repaints. (like the WFC one):cool:

[Omega Metro]

That hollow bit in the middle of the jet irritates me. Like it MUCH better in robot.

[Bidoofdude]

That hollow bit in the middle of the jet irritates me. Like it MUCH better in robot.

I guess it's game accurate though.
http://media.comicbookmovie.com/images/users/uploads/27311/Transformers%20Fall%20of%20Cybertron%20%20Cliffjum per%20and%20Starscream%20Character%20Bios%20Reveal ed%20(2)__scaled_600.jpg
Sure, the gap's a bit more noticeable but it's as game-accurate as it can be.

[christalcase]

http://i50.tinypic.com/ohsqz6.jpg

http://i47.tinypic.com/169qq6t.jpg

I'm actually fairly disappointed about this toy. It was much simpler than I expected, the transformation was disappointing and boring, it seemed uninspired. The jet mode is just passable, but the obvious head and the chunky legs just plugging in the back feels lazy. It's also not as sleek as you would want it, having weird angles that doesn't feel quite right on a jet. The robot mode is equally disappointing due to how weedy the arms look. However, the thing I hate most is the hollow torso, I hated it on HFTD Terradive and I hate it here. Starscream's hollowness further cheapens the feel. The only redeeming feature is the weapon where the combining feature was cool.

[GoktimusPrime]

Maybe Fagnar1 is talking about the hole just behind the head in jet mode. It's a speed hole... ya know... makes the jet go faster. :p :p
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVV_COOey0E


However, the thing I hate most is the hollow torso, I hated it on HFTD Terradive and I hate it here. Starscream's hollowness further cheapens the feel.
Speed hole!! :p ;) :D

[Omega Metro]

Maybe Fagnar1 is talking about the hole just behind the head in jet mode. It's a speed hole... ya know... makes the jet go faster. :p :p
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVV_COOey0E


Speed hole!! :p ;) :D

I mean the hole just behind the cockpit. With Starscreams head folded down it looks like a seat without a window.:)

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I think it's not bad. Not brilliant and I prefer the classics version over this one. The chunky legs are accurate to the game model though, which is one thing I didn't like about the game model :p

[AJ_Prime]

People either seem to love or hate this figure, personally I think it's fantastic. The aesthetics and game accuracy more than make up for the simple transformation.

It's beautifully designed in my opinion and looks great amongst all the other WFC/FOC figures (bar the deluxe size reduction of FOC figures of course).

I would highly recommend this figure to anyone who is sitting on the fence.

[UltraMarginal]

I voted Only If...

you are looking for a great cybertronian mode Starscream. like many have said, it's the best tetra jet styled seeker mold yet.

it's very accurate in both vehicle and robot mode to the game model. I really like it.

the guns are good representations of the game model for that type of gun, though I personally don't think they suit Starscream.

If you aren't collecting FOC figures or looking for a Tetrajet Starscream then it's not interesting enough just to get for it's engineering or transformation.

[Sutton]

Finally got my mits on this guy today, and I'm really happy with him. Very game accurate, but to the point where it doesn't transfer well to the CHUG shelf (unlike Shockwave or Grimlock, for example). But worth getting if you're a WFC/FOC collector.