Toy Review: Beast Hunters VOY Shockwave

[griffin]

(Please post photos, comments or even a fully comprehensive review - these are just brief details to get you started)

Series - Transformers Prime
Sub-line - Beast Hunters
Size/class - Voyager
New/remould/redeco - new
Wave - 2
Released here - not yet (released globally March 2013)
Approximate Retail Price - $40-50
Approximate Size - 16cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode - Cybertronian Tank
Main Features/Gimmicks - Spinning Cannon, Beast Armour
Main Colours - Purple, grey, bronze, dark pink
Main Accessories - 3x armour, cannon?


http://www.toycollectors.com.au/tftoys/tfpbh11.jpg

[griffin]

Considering how much this character has been hyped up in the last year (since BotCon in April 2012), this toy is worse than a let-down... it should never have been released with such lazy engineering.
Actually, of the four Beast Hunters toys I got on the weekend (Shockwave, DLX Skystalker, Dreadwing, Ratchet), I am getting the impression that Beast Hunters toys were rushed to prepare for the Movie line for next year. None of the new moulds are all that creative, and the modified moulds ruin the various toys we would at least be able to fall back on (for familiarity and the mostly-earthen modes they originally had).

Shockwave pretty much lies on its back and has one arm folded back and one arm (the gun arm) folded up. The head isn't even hidden.
It's like a cross between the Energon Shockwave/blast and TF2 Tank Megatron.
It doesn't even have the "power cable" from the gun to his back like in the cartoon.

As another element of their laziness with this year's line, the Cmdr class version looks to transform exactly the same, which means they aren't creating new transformations, they are just copying existing ones wherever possible. (DLX Dreadwing is almost identical in transformation to the Cmdr Dreadwing/Skyquake toys)
With less details and no gun cable, the Voyager one would be the better looking one... but I wouldn't pay more than $20 for it.

The only redeeming feature of this toy is that the beast armour comes off. If it didn't, this would definitely be a toy to avoid. As it is, and being in the cartoon, it barely scrapes in as a "buy only if really cheap".
Actually, I liked the spinning arm gun gimmick, but that isn't a reason to buy a toy.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a588.jpg

[griffin]

It doesn't even have the "power cable" from the gun to his back like in the cartoon.


Just a correction to this. Looking at the TakaraTomy version, I see that one of the tank treads folds out to plug into the gun-arm... which isn't shown in the Hasbro official image above.

[5FDP]

That's really disappointing. I was actually looking forward to this toy :( From the pictures I have seen, it makes more sense to pick up the Commander Class version as such shortcomings in transformation can be forgiven at that scale, not Voyager.

[Tallestblue]

the arms do bother me, i'm sure with a bit more effort they could have thought of a way around the one arm underneath. But aside from the dodgy transformation I think the robot mode is fantastic. The design reminds me of something from Mospeada,as if Shockwave was somehow infiltrating the Invid.

[ILikeSoundwave]

Overall he is pretty good but he does have some lousy engineering, especially here:
http://s16.postimg.org/4hzi2dwf9/image.jpg

[Seraphim Prime]

I'm going to say I disagree with what the others have been saying about this figure. I love it.

I do think the alt mode is a little boring, but it does its job well, and I think the robot mode is very solid.

[Omega Metro]

Overall he is pretty good but he does have some lousy engineering, especially here:
http://s16.postimg.org/4hzi2dwf9/image.jpg

I have lousy engineering in that area also so know how he feels!:D
But this is a great looking Shockwave IMO. Like other 'toys' in my collection, it would never get transformed more than twice so yeah.:cool:

[ILikeSoundwave]

To me this is one of those figures I was really looking forward to but when I get him he's just not that good and gets old pretty quickly.

[Bumbleb33]

The ratchet in the hips is disappointing as a lot of reviews have pointed out and his alt mode is pretty meh, but with that all being said he is still a great looking Shockwave. Do not pay over retail for him as it is not worth it, but pick him up if you find him at a fair price point, after all its Shockwave and it is only logical to have him in your collection.

[5FDP]

...after all its Shockwave and it is only logical to have him in your collection.

http://images.sodahead.com/polls/001105491/1097290_i_see_what_you_did_there_super_answer_2_xl arge.jpeg

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Booo. What a crap toy.


To me this is one of those figures I was really looking forward to but when I get him he's just not that good and gets old pretty quickly.
I agree here. I picked up the takaratomy Go version, mainly because of the colours.

The only saving grace for this guy is the robot mode. In that it looks good. One shonky ratchet in his hip allows him a floppy leg. Solid feet but no ankles, however this doesn't really detract from his balance all that much. Effective light piping. Clever use of the tank tread as the cannon cable. He has a Sumo challenge mode though :D

Horrible horrible vehicle mode. I find it shocking ;) that they manage to include 20 steps for transformation on the instructions and its still ridiculously hard to see what is going on in some of the pictures. then once he's in vehicle mode it just looks horrid. Unbalanced with one shoulder under and another over. Hand at the front. head turned backwards. Oh My God. I HATE the vehicle mode. It is awful. really really awful.

I have macdonalds toys that have better vehicles than this rubbish. He'll be staying in robot mode for the rest of his life. It hurts my eyes to look at him.

[Sinnertwin]

Anybody buy Shockwave on the strength of his alt-mode?

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Anybody buy Shockwave on the strength of his alt-mode?

There is no strength in the vehicle mode :p It is THAT bad. They might have well made him not Transform. That's how I feel about it. It is just super super lazy.

[5FDP]

You've just convinced me to stick with my FOC Shockwave Tets. Thanks for saving me some money :)

[GoktimusPrime]

The robot mode is nice enough. The cannon-arm is a bit too big and ungainly. The rear treads section really needs something to lock it into place, because when the left tread is attached to the cannon-arm, it makes the whole backpack move when you move the cannon-arm. :( It's almost as if it was only designed to just look nice with little consideration as to how it should play well. :(

The alt mode is incredibly underwhelming. This toy just takes too much of a cue from DotM Shockwave; it would've been nicer if it'd taken more of a cue from G1 Shockwave (like FoC Shockwave; sure he's a jet, but it's a jet inspired by G1 Shockwave's gun mode (so much so that people can make an unofficial gun mode out of it!)). It would've been nicer as say a G1 Shockwave's gun mode inspired tank instead of being a... whatever that thing is that the alt mode is.

I find this toy to be comparable with TFPRiD Megatron. Both toys have those "WTH?!" alt modes, but at least Shockwave doesn't come with the lame TFPRiD gimmick that Megatron has (the sword that can never stay deployed :rolleyes:), nor is he predominantly covered in Hasbro Grey (even the images of the Hasbro version doesn't look as bad as Megatron). And as annoying as the non-locking backpack is, it's not as bad as Megatron's shoulders that poorly lock into place (the easy solution is to just disconnect the tread and play with the robot without it connecting to the cannon-arm). The main advantages that Megatron has over Shockwave is better head articulation and no oversized cannon arm that gets in its own way.

[crankcase76]

As mainly stated above, I got the Japanese version for the colours as the red hasbro one looks like a KO. And the robot mode is great as he will stay that way in my collection due to the absolutely rubbish alt mode.:rolleyes:

[liegeprime]

I have the Hasbro version, well I prefer the red Armor. Feels like a red dragon/snake armor for me. Although Ive seen Gok's metallic painted Takara version - I didn't like the charcoal gray armor coloring, looks dull. Admittedly I haven't tried to transform this guy at all. Im also amused by the cannon arm, which for me is more like his Blender arm - smoothies anyone?:D

It took a bit of effort to stick in the treads to his cannon arm, had to poke it in place. They should've made it easier like a clasp or ballsocket or something. I do like that he appears bulky. I wish they just did the head on a ball and socket coz he can move his head side to side, but not up or down which is a shame :(

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

You've just convinced me to stick with my FOC Shockwave Tets. Thanks for saving me some money :)
Anytime:cool:

it makes the whole backpack move when you move the cannon-arm. :( It's almost as if it was only designed to just look nice with little consideration as to how it should play well. :(

Maybe you got a dud with yours Goki, mine has no issues with the backpack sliding around at all. It is just got a dodgy weak hip ratchet which is bad because whenever he lifts his arm up the hip gives and he is suddenly poiting at the ground on one foot.

Ranty review on my blog with pics (http://tetstoys.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/badly-shockwaved.html)

Lately I have been finding that the arm cannon isn't as cool as I though initially either, it is too large to really do much.

Except make smootheis:D

Thanks Liege ;)

[Bidoofdude]

Got mine today and I like it. It's a good size for a Prime toy.

The transformation is a bit simple, but what exactly can you do? ;)

[GoktimusPrime]

The transformation is a bit simple, but what exactly can you do? ;)
You design the toy first, then let the animators build a cartoon model based off the toy. Overall none of the TF Prime toys are mediocre at best when it comes to engineering and design, which I believe is borne from this whole "show first" approach in an attempt to make to toys more "show accurate." And of course designing Transformers as screen characters is completely counter intuitive to designing them as toys -- you only need to watch the TF Prime Season 1 DVD special features to hear the Hasbro people talk about this (although obviously in a far more diplomatically tactful way :o). Transformers Animated suffered from similar problems (though admittedly Leader Megatron turned out to be a really nice toy; but that was more in spite of the design process rather than because of it); and worse still we had several Transformers who made prominent appearances in the show that were never made as toys (Wasp, Omega Supreme (and the inevitable Lugnut Supreme retool ;)), Constructicons et al.).

TF Prime hasn't been quite so bad -- they're wrapping the show up well ahead of the release of the next TF film which I think is a good move as it will prevent the two lines from potentially "cross competing" with each other's products (which is why the TFA Constructicons were never made; given a choice between them and the ROTF Constructicons the latter won out :(). But there are still several characters that don't have toys -- there's no Deluxe Class Smokescreen in his Binaltech Colours (only a Legion Class that is only available through buying a vehicle); and as far as Hasbro's markets are concerned, there was never any Voyager Class Breakdown, Jet Vehicon or Jet Vehicon General (which if Hasbro did decide to release, I'd rather see being called something else like, "Jet Vehicon Armada" or "Jet Vehicon Elite"; they were never portrayed as ranking officers in the show, merely a special flying corps under Starscream's command). The Voyager Breakdown mould exists - I've no idea why Hasbro didn't release it (I still don't know why Hasbro never bothered to release DOTM DLX Leadfoot, Soundwave or Quejack. :rolleyes: Don't even start me about poor Dino/Mirage... gah).

For the time being Hasbro seems adamant on continuing on this path of prioritising screen designs over toy designs with any franchise that has a screen presence. For the live action films I can understand it... for cartoons not so much. *sigh* Generations seems increasingly influenced by comic book designs, which actually seems to work. For some reason Transformers designed by comic book artists appear easier to "translate" into toys than those designed by screen animators. Maybe because comic designs don't have to be as "rigorous" as screen designs since you only ever see them in static poses, whereas constructing screen designs is more exacting (especially when rendered in 3D/CGI) since you have to see them in motion. <shrugs> :confused:

[Sinnertwin]

..and as far as Hasbro's markets are concerned, there was never any Voyager Class Breakdown, Jet Vehicon or Jet Vehicon General (which if Hasbro did decide to release, I'd rather see being called something else like, "Jet Vehicon Armada" or "Jet Vehicon Elite"; they were never portrayed as ranking officers in the show, merely a special flying corps under Starscream's command).

If it's any consolation, Hasbro are releasing a Jet Vehicon, albeit in Legion class. He'll be available in Wave 4 along with Prowl.

[BigTransformerTrev]

As mainly stated above, I got the Japanese version for the colours as the red hasbro one looks like a KO. And the robot mode is great as he will stay that way in my collection due to the absolutely rubbish alt mode.:rolleyes:

Yep, I did the same and got the Go! Version. The black claws and chest plate might actually be put on him from time to time as some kind of post-apocalyptic scavenger armour, whereas I would have just binned the orange stuff u get with the hasbro version.

Like everyone else has said, great robot - shite alt mode. I mean, we all knew the alt mode wasn't great from watching the cartoon but didn't expect it to be that bad! The arm under the bottom really blows.

Glad I got the Go! Version for the colour scheme, but considering the alt mode still feel like I paid too much.

[kurdt_the_goat]

You design the toy first, then let the animators build a cartoon model based off the toy. Overall none of the TF Prime toys are mediocre at best when it comes to engineering and design, which I believe is borne from this whole "show first" approach in an attempt to make to toys more "show accurate." And of course designing Transformers as screen characters is completely counter intuitive to designing them as toys -- you only need to watch the TF Prime Season 1 DVD special features to hear the Hasbro people talk about this (although obviously in a far more diplomatically tactful way :o). Transformers Animated suffered from similar problems (though admittedly Leader Megatron turned out to be a really nice toy; but that was more in spite of the design process rather than because of it); and worse still we had several Transformers who made prominent appearances in the show that were never made as toys (Wasp, Omega Supreme (and the inevitable Lugnut Supreme retool ;)), Constructicons et al.).

TF Prime hasn't been quite so bad -- they're wrapping the show up well ahead of the release of the next TF film which I think is a good move as it will prevent the two lines from potentially "cross competing" with each other's products (which is why the TFA Constructicons were never made; given a choice between them and the ROTF Constructicons the latter won out :(). But there are still several characters that don't have toys -- there's no Deluxe Class Smokescreen in his Binaltech Colours (only a Legion Class that is only available through buying a vehicle); and as far as Hasbro's markets are concerned, there was never any Voyager Class Breakdown, Jet Vehicon or Jet Vehicon General (which if Hasbro did decide to release, I'd rather see being called something else like, "Jet Vehicon Armada" or "Jet Vehicon Elite"; they were never portrayed as ranking officers in the show, merely a special flying corps under Starscream's command). The Voyager Breakdown mould exists - I've no idea why Hasbro didn't release it (I still don't know why Hasbro never bothered to release DOTM DLX Leadfoot, Soundwave or Quejack. :rolleyes: Don't even start me about poor Dino/Mirage... gah).

For the time being Hasbro seems adamant on continuing on this path of prioritising screen designs over toy designs with any franchise that has a screen presence. For the live action films I can understand it... for cartoons not so much. *sigh* Generations seems increasingly influenced by comic book designs, which actually seems to work. For some reason Transformers designed by comic book artists appear easier to "translate" into toys than those designed by screen animators. Maybe because comic designs don't have to be as "rigorous" as screen designs since you only ever see them in static poses, whereas constructing screen designs is more exacting (especially when rendered in 3D/CGI) since you have to see them in motion. <shrugs> :confused:

I think an animation designer (particularly one who knows his designs will end up as toys) ought to be more than capable of designing a figure with transformation in mind. I think this is why comic artist designs appear easier as you say, because they've simply considered the transformation scheme whereas the animation designers do not (for the most part). At the end of the day it comes down to talent across the board.

For instance, G1 Optimus Prime was a toy first and the animators took liberties, then so many years later some excellent toy designers managed to make essentially the same cab look exactly like the animation model.

I've been wondering recently actually, whether Floro Dery had designed all his movie models with transformation in mind, after seeing how exact TT managed to get MP Hot Rod in appearance, from all angles, in both modes! It seems too incredible that the transformation wasn't considered in the original designs IMO. The toy designer then, had the comparatively simple task of just figuring out what Dery had in mind (presumably without talking to him!)

One thing i will say, it must be horrible for the toy designers who are slapped in the face repeatedly with character designs that haven't considered Transformation at all. I know if i was getting inundated with shitty movie designs like The Fallen, i'd just crap out shitty toys in an afternoon as well. I mean, what more can they do!

That said, sometimes i think some excellent toys come from that challenge - for instance 2007 movie Leader Prime, designed without reference, is awesome and still considered by some to have plus points over the later ROTF toy designed after they knew his screen transformation.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I've been wondering recently actually, whether Floro Dery had designed all his movie models with transformation in mind, after seeing how exact TT managed to get MP Hot Rod in appearance, from all angles, in both modes! It seems too incredible that the transformation wasn't considered in the original designs IMO. The toy designer then, had the comparatively simple task of just figuring out what Dery had in mind (presumably without talking to him!)


Tricky to call this one, I guess you can see the basic transformation in in a way, but then when the transformation is animated, its just all over the shop. After they get out the fish water, Hot Rod Transforms and his arms do a full 360 during change, but that's the only point where it does. IIRC, when he and daniel are racing to Auto city, his arms just fold in at the sides. Arcee certainly doesn't have a particular transformation design...:p

I think with perhaps a good enough budget for the toy, you could start at show characters and make them a toy. look at FE Bulkhead and Optimus. Both wonderful toys that would have been designed on the show first.

[kurdt_the_goat]

Hmm, i was under the impression that Dery designed the characters but didn't animate them? If that's the case i would just say the actual animators didn't know the transfomation scheme he had in mind (probably multiple animators leading to the various ways he transforms in the movie/s3)

[Jinto]

Anyone else find that this guy's cannon arm works it's way out of that bicep swivel joint every few turns?

Aside from that he's pretty neat looking. As has already been established, his hips are atrociously loose. Probably won't bother ever actually transforming him.

[Megatran]

Anyone else find that this guy's cannon arm works it's way out of that bicep swivel joint every few turns?

Nope, the cannon gimmick can spin all day long on my Hasbro Shockwave. In fact, I have to stop my kid nephew from using the gimmick because, well, he just doesn't know when to stop. :p


I display mine without the UGLY red claw-thingy armour in bot mode. Looks more respectable.

[GoktimusPrime]

Mine works just fine too.

[Bidoofdude]

My cannon arm does come off just below the shoulder when I spin it for a while. My left leg on my Shockwave is really floppy now. It's hard to get him to stand sometimes.

[Jinto]

Solution:
http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg12/sean4all/shocks.png (http://s244.photobucket.com/user/sean4all/media/shocks.png.html)

[GoktimusPrime]

A cheaper/easier solution would be to get a refund/exchange. :p
Wait... wouldn't your solution give one Shockwave two right hands? :confused: