Toy Review - Kingdom MEGATRON (BEAST)

[GoktimusPrime]

MEGATRON (BEAST)
Series - Generations
Sub-line - War For Cybertron
Sub-sub-line - Kingdom
Size/class - Leader
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 1
Released here - Yeesss
Approximate Retail Price - $100
Approximate Size - 2dm
Allegiance - Predacon
Alt-mode - Tyrannosaurus Rex
Main Features/Gimmicks - Can hold 5mm post blast effects
Main Colours - purple, violet, magenta
Main Accessories - Rubber ducky (https://tfwiki.net/wiki/Quackles)

PICS

https://i.ibb.co/8PHJ1Gj/kingdom-megatron01.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/1dpsqdP/kingdom-megatron02.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/NFwdG67/kingdom-megatron03.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/pPBkvLs/kingdom-megatron03a.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/drCzRz8/kingdom-megatron05.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/Ykxxq3C/kingdom-megatron06.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/xFn1fZY/kingdom-megatron07.jpg

Beast Mode
Length: 30cm. Height varies depending on pose, but each leg is 14cm long.
The beast mode parts are made from a rubbery flesh-like plastic with a leathery feel.
The gaps in the beast mode don't look as bad IRL as they do in photos, although they are certainly noticeable. They basically exist to allow for articulation in beast mode, particularly on the neck and tail. The lateral neck panels are spring loaded to help maintain inward pressure and minimise the gap.
The detailing on the sculpting is quite impressive, including teeth, tongue, upper palate and jaw muscles.
The green and beige accents on the dorsal and ventral sides is really well done, particularly with the airbrushing.
The head looks small compared to other BW Megatron toys and the cartoon model, although when I compare it with an actual T-Rex skeleton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sue_(dinosaur)#/media/File:FMNH_SUE_Trex.jpg) and this illustration of a T rex based on an existing fossil (https://blog.everythingdinosaur.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/PNSO-Wilson-Tyrannosaurus-rex7.jpg), the length of the head does seem to be proportionately correct. I suspect that the original BW Megatron may have been based on the Jurassic Park T-Rex rather than a real one.

Robot Mode
Height: 19 centimetres up to the top of the head, or 2 decimetres including the top of the backpack kibble.
26 points of articulation.
Magnificently detailed sculpting based on the cartoon model. Predominantly magenta and gunmetal grey robot parts with silver accents.
Dino mouth has a 5mm port to attach a blast effect to.
Much of the dinosaur parts form a backpack which is fairly well compacted. Even the MP (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php/26387-Toy-Review-Masterpiece-Megatron-(BW)?p=609339) is a massive panelformer. The dinosaur hip panels are the bulkiest, but at this price point I think they've done well in minimising the backpack size.
The left fist has a 5mm size hole, although tail part would make it impossible for him to hold most guns, but he should be able to hold melee weapons like a sword. I'll try it out later.
Unfortunately the dinosaur tail component is not removable.
For some odd reason the back of the robot head is completely magenta. Not sure why they didn't mould it in gunmetal grey like the rest of the helmet.
The shoulders are formed from two ventral parts from the dinosaur's throat and groin, as opposed to other BW Megatron toys which form the shoulders from dorsal parts. As a result the shoulders are accented in beige rather than green. There's objectively nothing wrong with this, but it may bother some people in terms of it looking less BW-accurate.

OVERALL
On the whole I would say that this is actually my favourite Beast Megatron toy. I have the original figure, I have the Robot Masters figure and I've handled the MP, but all things considered I think that this toy gives me the biggest bang for my buck. The main drawback are the gaps in the beast mode, but as mentioned before, they don't look as bad IRL as they do in photos. Highly recommended.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/avatars/th_jaam_yum.gif

[Omega Metro]

I have no interest in this what so ever as a Transformer. But as a general T-Rex fan, I love the Dino mode.

[Flukey]

For myself I wont be grabbing it as never got into Beast wars but for my little boy who loves Dinosaurs and Transformers it looks like I'll be having to get it for him as it does look pretty good!

[SharkyMcShark]

This is my most anticipated release for a long time. Where did you get yours Gok?

[Tranceblade]

Approximate Size - 2dm

If you mean 20cm why not just say that, I don't think many people know what a decimetre is.

[GoktimusPrime]

I didn't even notice this at first, but there is a tiny (2mm x 3mm) Predacon insignia tampographed on Megatron's crest!
https://i.ibb.co/hDmPChJ/kingdom-megatron08.jpg


SharkyMcShark: EB Games. :)

If you mean 20cm why not just say that, I don't think many people know what a decimetre is.
It's not that hard to work out, mate. :D
But congratulations on spotting that Easter Egg, which is a reference to me using decimetres in my reviews on Earthrise Cliffjumper (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php/27028-Toy-Review-Earthrise-Cliffjumper) and Gens Selects Hubcap (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php/27476-Toy-Review-HUBCAP-(Generations-Selects)) - but not on my review on Trilogy Bumblebee (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php/27535-Toy-Review-War-for-Cybertron-Trilogy-Bumblebee-(Netflix)) (where I used centimetres) or Bug Bite (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php/27538-Toy-Review-BUG-BITE-(Generations-Selects)) (where I used metres)! :D

I always embed some kind of running gag or in joke in my reviews. Until now I usually have people just PM me saying that they spotted the joke or reference, but hey, cat's out of the bag now. :) See if you can spot any more jokes or references in this review and you too may win the highly coveted No-Prize. :cool:

[Autocon]

Dorothy is that you?

Looks great. Love bot mode, nice n detailed. If i ever got this id need a rubber ducky

[Butcher31]

I appreciate a good decimetre reference. Nice review.

I have the MP version and adore it (the MP Beast Wars figures are my favourite subsection of Transformers toys) but I'll still definitely be getting the Kingdom version as something that I can muck around with and transform in less than 20 minutes.

[Omega Metro]

Dorothy is that you?

Don’t you mean Barney? That’s all I think about when I see this.:D

[Autocon]

Don’t you mean Barney? That’s all I think about when I see this.:D

Ah shes green. Yes barney. Though he has some green... maybe the offspring of the two!

[underbelly]

Great review mate. Where did you buy him from? I've been trying to source on locally here in Adelaide with zero luck :(

[SharkyMcShark]

I'm going to be hyperbolic. 10 years ago, this would easily have slotted into the Masterpiece line (as it was then).

SUMMARY
- A delicious, fun, characterful figure only slightly let down by its engineering.

PROS
- The most characterful beast mode of any main line retail figure, ever. Part of the reason I'm not big into figures with organic beast modes is because they're usually bricks. Not this one. There's a tremendous amount of gorgeous poses you can get this figure into - everything you'd want from a T Rex, this can do. You can tell this was a goal, given the amount of specific engineering that went into this - the beast mode thigh covers are some of the most innovative engineering on a main line figure in a long time. The amount of poseability rivals much more expensive third party efforts like Planet X's Grimlock.
- Both modes are solid, once you get to them.
- Transformation is pretty good too! First few times feels like a bit of a mess, but once you've got it down pat it's reasonably intuitive.
- Great heft! It's a heavy, solid feeling figure.

CONS
- That soft vinyl plastic isn't great, is it? I'm not sure how that's going to hold up long term, and especially the belly panels on the beast mode are a bit difficult to get to stay together in beast mode.
- A classic shellformer. The only things that don't tuck up into backpack on the robot mode are the dino head/throat, the tail, and the lower legs.
- The knees on mine are a bit weak, which prevents posing to an extent in robot mode as the figure is a bit top heavy.

[doublespy]

You can tell this was a goal, given the amount of specific engineering that went into this - the beast mode thigh covers are some of the most innovative engineering on a main line figure in a long time.

I'd started writing my review couple of days ago and was thinking the exact same thing. This even beats the MP Megatron whose main weakness to me is the lack of leg poseability in T rex mode.

Kingdom Megatron and Primal are really like two action figures rolled into one.

[graza78]

Loving this figure.

Does anyone's elbow on the tail arm not go past 45 degrees? There's alot of resistance going past that point.

[SharkyMcShark]

Loving this figure.

Does anyone's elbow on the tail arm not go past 45 degrees? There's alot of resistance going past that point.

I read on TFW that this is a common issue. It will go further if you push it but it's likely to stress the plastic, and you'll need to re tighten the joint somehow.. Fortunately the copy I have didn't get it (in all the elbow is probably a little bit loose).

[graza78]

I read on TFW that this is a common issue. It will go further if you push it but it's likely to stress the plastic, and you'll need to re tighten the joint somehow.. Fortunately the copy I have didn't get it (in all the elbow is probably a little bit loose).

Cheers. The joint moves fine moving in the other direction so not sure whats causing the issue. Its not a big deal :)

[doublespy]

Megatron here, along with Blackarachnia, are imo two examples of design synergy between main line and MP designs, where the main line figures actually improve on some aspects of the respective MP figures.

Beast mode:
I don't know for sure if the T rex mode is more anatomically accurate than the cartoon model, but it feels more realistic to me although with a slight stylized touch to it. The soft rubbery plastic skin looks great with all the molded skin texture, and feels right to me for a dinosaur toy. The gaps don't look nearly as egregious in person as some photos make them look.
https://i.imgur.com/yTmycyHh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/lYt7wKZh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/46SltHwh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/yVkU8P6l.jpg

Articulation in this mode is excellent. The robot mode right arm articulation is pretty much unhindered here, especially the side to side rotation, thanks to the spring-loaded neck panels.
What's most impressive imo is the front to back thigh rotation which the MP figure technically doesn't quite have. It's a clever mechanism that allows the thigh pieces to rotate on a circular track. Megatron to me is just expressive in T rex mode as the MP version.
https://i.imgur.com/LCatvWol.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/iWW3ysNh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/6Y7lUdTh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vTiTOSBh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/axM14l0h.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/T7YbFfTl.jpg

Transformation:
The flow of transformation is the same as the MP figure. More thigh mass gets distributed to the backpack, and obviously it won't be able to collapse as neatly as the MP. But it doesn't look as bad in person, and if the thighs need to end up on the back to give way for better T rex articulation, I'd take it any day of the week.

'Bot mode:
Just like the MP figure, it has great shelf presence. I could've sworn the head sculpt was just slightly tweaked from the MP head, so it has that incredible likeness to the show model.
https://i.imgur.com/dc9HZQKh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/PVPl4Mhl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/j7vP3c5l.jpg

Articulation is quite decent in bot mode. Imo not as good as dino mode as he doesn't have regular arms per se so it's limited here and there. The right arm has a slight butterfly hinge built in which is good for both T rex and robot mode. The left fist has a dedicated up and down hinge presumably for better weapon holding. Neither the front to back nor in and out hinge at the hip is ratcheted, which is disappointing. Good thing though is he has front to back ankle joint as well as ankle rocker, so he's quite well balanced in more dynamic poses and so far I haven't had issue with the hip joint being to loose.
https://i.imgur.com/2badvTqh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/DDULC0ah.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/jPejMKrh.jpg

He's very substantially sized for a modern leader and scales very well with the other Kingdom BW figures.
https://i.imgur.com/12DDbbBh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/w2jfk7ch.jpg

Overall:
Just like the rest of the Kingdom BW figures, Megatron sets out to achieve a few different things than the MP counterpart and does it very well. Imho he's not simply a mini Masterpiece as the phrase gets thrown around quite a bit lately, but a great update to the character with a very well executed T rex mode.

[Butcher31]

I just managed to get hold of one of these elusive leader class toys. I'm very impressed. It's one of the few toys where alt-mode is a lot more fun than robot mode. In fact, I'd say that's the case for all of these Kingdom Beast Wars figures. I like how Doublespy put it, that it's two action figures in one.

It's been mentioned in other posts, but we need to appreciate the engineering on those dino thighs and how pieces from very different parts of the figure come together and are able to move together. It's very clever. They've put them on sliders that run through axial guides around the same axis as the hip pivot. It just comes together so smoothly that it actually moves better in T-rex mode than when the parts are separated. Hats off to the designers there.

Also a shout out to the rubbery plastic used. I know some won't like it but it's a bold move that I think works really well. It does mean that they've almost doubled the part count as a result. Each rubbery part also has a hard plastic part as a skeletal frame for it, which I appreciate. I wouldn't want them to do it on every figure, but it's a really nice change that works for a posable dinosaur and sets it apart from other toys.

I do really enjoy the MP version, but it doesn't have to be a competition. They're both great and I have no regrets in owning both.

[Lint]

Holy crap I was not prepared for how awesome Kingdom Megatron is. If someone broke into my house right now and set it on fire and I had to choose between saving Commander Rodimus and this guy, I'd choose this guy.

PROS

Forgetting that he's a transformer, hands down the best dinosaur toy I own. Just about everything you could ask for in an articulated T-rex.
Transformation was surprisingly neat for a shellformer. Hits that sweet spot of being not overly complicated yet not exactly just sticking pieces of shell together.
Aesthetics are near perfect. He feels resplendent, the colours, moulding, articulation result in absolute swagger and shelf presence. This guy does not look cheap in the slightest. Viva!


CONS

Yeah he's got a big arse kibble backpack but it doesn't interfere much with articulation or balance thanks to his natural heft and large feet. Hey wait, I'm supposed to be writing cons.
No accessories. Forgivable for sure given what you DO get, but still disappointing they didn't throw in a blast effect or something for that T-rex mouth.

[Kyle]

Heard some horror stories about this guy breaking in places. Opened mine and (very carefully) transformed him a few times. Thankfully the left shoulder and the dino hip covers don't look like they're gonna break off yet. A very BEAUTIFUL toy in both modes :)

https://i.ibb.co/t3dZvNY/2021-06-24-10-20-02.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/W2JjRCm/2021-06-24-10-20-21.jpg
https://i.ibb.co/4sCt3GY/2021-06-24-10-20-38.jpg

[SharkyMcShark]

I miss Robot Masters...

[Kyle]

Dino-riders, lol.

https://i.ibb.co/Zd4NG20/2021-06-24-13-44-15.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/NWNckdv/2021-06-24-13-43-59.jpg