Toy Review - Titan Returns Leader Blaster

[Handsprime]

Series - Generations
Sub-line - Titans Return
Size/class - Leader
New/remould/redeco - new
Wave - 1
Released here - (sorta) July 2016
Approximate Retail Price - $80
Approximate Size - 23cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-modes - Boombox/Base
Main Features/Gimmicks - compatible with Titan Masters and Legends tapes
Main Colours - Red, Yellow and Grey
Main Accessories - Rifle, spotlight/rocket-sled, Twincast Titan Master

Robot Mode
http://i.imgur.com/nLzpL9u.jpg?1
In robot Mode, Blaster looks amazing. He has good articulation and he looks very similar to his G1 appearance. He is poseable, but he tends to be a bit heavy if you have a "tape deck" inside of him.
http://i.imgur.com/KSJxvpn.jpg?1

Gimmicks
http://i.imgur.com/pz0dqxQ.jpg?1
Speaking of that, his main gimmick is the tape decks inside of him. Although I don't have any with me, he can fit the Spotlight/Rocket-sled thing inside him. The gimmick works well and feels like a modern day version of what Blaster/Soundwave did back in the 80's.
http://i.imgur.com/yCYMV8b.jpg?1
His other gimmick of cause is with the Titan masters. You pull his helmet pack to place the Titan masters in.
http://i.imgur.com/Sfv3SnT.jpg?1
I love how Twincast looks like a mini Blaster

Boombox Mode
http://i.imgur.com/mbA6BWV.jpg?1
His boombox mode looks very nice actually, wouldn't mind playing some of my tunes off it. Oh wait it's a toy I forgot. I don't know what Hasbro are advertising this as, but it looks nice.

City mode
http://i.imgur.com/oYciQhw.jpg?1
As you can tell he transforms into a Heavy Metal concert and is able to play death metal. OK he can't actually do that but the base mode does look nice. If you're not a fan of it don't worry as it doesn't affect any of his other modes in anyway.

Transformation
Transformation isn't the most complex, but it isn't simple either, it's at the right spot for a toy like this.

Overall
I like him, he's a great Blaster and will fit perfectly in my collection. If you can find him I recommend picking him up!

[reillyd]

In robot mode, TR Blaster is awesome. He finally has the articulation he deserved. But the boombox mode looks awful, and nothing like the original toy (or indeed, an actual boombox). I prefer the original G1 toy, and looks far cooler in non-robot mode

[philby]

I can't believe you have a dj controller setup behind Blaster and you didn't include any photos of him spinning some fresh beats :D


But the boombox mode looks awful, and nothing like the original toy (or indeed, an actual boombox). I prefer the original G1 toy, and looks far cooler in non-robot mode

in what way? big speakers on the ends, check. handle, check. tape deck in middle, check. :confused:

[GoktimusPrime]

The boombox mode looks disappointing with the gaps. I like how the helmet makes the head look G1 toy (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/f/fe/G1_Blaster_toy.jpg) and Don Perlin (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/9/93/BlasterUS17.jpg) accurate, but disappointed that the Titan Master head underneath doesn't resemble Blaster's head design from the G1 cartoon (http://static7.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_small/1/11002/232792-116947-blaster.jpg)/non-Perlin comic art (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/0/0f/Marvel77-Blaster.jpg). Seems like a wasted opportunity.

[Batfan007]

The boombox mode looks disappointing with the gaps. I like how the helmet makes the head look G1 toy (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/f/fe/G1_Blaster_toy.jpg) and Don Perlin (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/9/93/BlasterUS17.jpg) accurate, but disappointed that the Titan Master head underneath doesn't resemble Blaster's head design from the G1 cartoon (http://static7.comicvine.com/uploads/scale_small/1/11002/232792-116947-blaster.jpg)/non-Perlin comic art (http://tfwiki.net/mediawiki/images2/0/0f/Marvel77-Blaster.jpg). Seems like a wasted opportunity.

I agree, but the differences are why I'm happy with two g1 blasters AND TR blaster. Best of both worlds. And his g1 alt mode still looks way better imo.

[reillyd]

I can't believe you have a dj controller setup behind Blaster and you didn't include any photos of him spinning some fresh beats :D



in what way? big speakers on the ends, check. handle, check. tape deck in middle, check. :confused:

Have a look at Blaster in robot mode, and you'll see what the speakers SHOULD have looked like. Those speakers aren't actually used in tape deck mode, instead you've got a giant black circle that doesn't really look like a proper speaker either.

[Handsprime]

I can't believe you have a dj controller setup behind Blaster and you didn't include any photos of him spinning some fresh beats :D



You know what? I should've included a photo of him spinning those decks

https://scontent-syd1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13912370_830529597049099_3200251373776830494_n.jpg ?oh=b8bc6c7bb21e1eaac368530f0411ffd0&oe=5823BFD4

[philby]

that's better haha. what music you into? do you have a soundcloud?

[Handsprime]

that's better haha. what music you into? do you have a soundcloud?

Yep (https://soundcloud.com/lindsay-hands). You can guess what my music taste is based on that.

[philby]

Yep (https://soundcloud.com/lindsay-hands). You can guess what my music taste is based on that.

cool, checking it out :)

[shockNwave]

I just don't see how Blaster's city mode can be called a city. Calling it a base or music stage would be more accurate.

[GoktimusPrime]

Picked this baby up for $60 at the Myer sale. I did see the LG Broadcast (http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/lineup/detail/tflegend868521.html) in Tokyo which looked nicer, especially with the properly Twincast coloured head, but wasn't will to pay 8000JPY (AU$100) for it. I wasn't even willing to pay $80 for this version and still ermed and aahed over getting it for $60 but finally caved today. :o I personally don't think it's worth paying $80-100, but $60 is acceptable.

The gaps in the alt mode are disappointing, and the long black tabs inside the lower legs makes mine hard to clip together in tape deck mode. Also, my Twincast doesn't seem to be able to attach onto any of the little pegs for this feet.

Pics:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Titans%20Return/TR_blaster01_zpsk9aahqej.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Titans%20Return/TR_blaster02_zpsu2kdqec1.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Titans%20Return/TR_blaster03_zpsal32hh9x.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Titans%20Return/TR_blaster03a_zpsbkhy2bmh.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Titans%20Return/TR_blaster05_zpssak8mmcs.jpg

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/Titans%20Return/TR_blaster06_zpssmzvrvwi.jpg


I just don't see how Blaster's city mode can be called a city. Calling it a base or music stage would be more accurate.
I'd say because they're marketing it as being able to form part of a city with Fortress Maximus and other Leader Class toys. Urban-Module Mode might be a more apt description, but since they're marketing this for kids Hasbro's just assuming that kids are too stupid to understand words like "Urban Module," which is just insulting to children. :rolleyes: One thing that I miss about G1 is how they weren't afraid to use big words with us, and I often learnt new words by first encountering them from Transformers and then looking them up! Look at the way that the toy bios are written, there's practically no creativity put behind them. :rolleyes:

[prjkt]

received LG Broadcast/Blaster today.

Chose this one over the Hasbro as I wanted to avoid the light grey all over the Hasbro one.

Really well built, well proportioned bot mode. "Base" mode is kinda silly, but would probably work well in tandem with the other TR Leaders and Fort Max.

Boombox mode is not bad, a little gappy, but sticks together well. Partner really likes it, and thinks the "tape deck" component is pretty cool, likes the idea of another bot popping out the front. As do I.

[UltraMarginal]

I finally got around to opening mine last night. I too have the Takara version. I really like the colours and as others have said the robot mode is very solid.

I dig the boombox design, I'm pretty sure I've seen speakers on stereos looking exactly like that with the silver panels protruding over the front.

the 'base' mode is OK. it works better once you have a few more titan masters and their seat weapons plugged into it.

I did also find that several of the titan masters don't quite fit the little pegs. I'm pretty sure the pegs are marginally too big. something that will be tricky to rectify without making them too loose.

I don't mind the helmet design/concept. I just don't get it in this case. especially taking the Takara Titan master into account, it doesn't quite look like blasters face, I'd have much preferred a fixed head that took up the same space that was able to do more than rotate left and right.

[GoktimusPrime]

I don't mind the helmet design/concept. I just don't get it in this case. especially taking the Takara Titan master into account, it doesn't quite look like blasters face, I'd have much preferred a fixed head that took up the same space that was able to do more than rotate left and right.
^My thoughts exactly. I did see Legends Broadcast in Japan a few times, he's a relatively easier LG toy to find, but as nice as the colours are (I especially like how the Titan Master looks like Twincast), I couldn't justify paying 8000JPY ($100) for it. I didn't even want to pay $80 for the local Hasbro version and even at $60 I still errmed and aahed about it until the very last day of the Myer sale. :p $60 is pretty much the most that I was willing to pay for this toy and I'm glad that I didn't pay any more than this. As odd as it sounds, I probably would've jumped on this toy for $80 straight away if it hadn't been a Headmaster.

[vorox4251]

has anyone figured out if the rocket sled-turret thing can be used in robot mode as a weapon of some kind

[GoktimusPrime]

has anyone figured out if the rocket sled-turret thing can be used in robot mode as a weapon of some kind
Nope. The best you might do is lift the handle up and plug it on top, but it looks really weird.

[Gasaraki]

My review of Titans Return Blaster (https://youtu.be/AMmap92XoTI), along with a side-by-side comparison with G1 Blaster:


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v486/iling79/OTCA/Blaster%205.jpg (https://youtu.be/AMmap92XoTI)