Universe Cyclonus

[Omega Supreme]

Cyclonus - Universe
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/6729/cyclonuslv4.jpg

Packaging
I got mine Mint but loose so unfortunitly I cannot comment on packaging.

Instructions
The instructions are a folded piece of paper with the usual Decepticon purple theme to them. There is 15 steps in all which are quite easy to follow

NightStick (Target Master)
As with the original G1 Target Masters, the figure is very small and has a very basic transformation, that only requires 3 steps to complete. The overall look of the figure is very nice, with colours that compliment Cyclonus very well. I think he looks excellent in both robot and gun mode, however with this said, I feel his gun mode looks alot better when being held by Cyclonus rather than mounted in vehicle mode.
Rating 7/10

Cyclonus - Robot Mode
I feel this mode is really the highlight of this figure as he looks incredible and does an excellent job of paying homage to Generation 1. There are some small things I feel could be changed to further improve the look of him for example, his legs have two different tones of Grey on them, which looks strange and out of place.
Rating 9/10

Cyclonus - Alt Mode
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/3457/cyclonusjettd6.jpg
His alt mode in my opinion is a big letdown, while it looks ok it just doesn't do it for me. Compared to G1 where he was very sleek looking, he now has a more "boxy" look to him, which becomes even more apparent when his Target Master NightStick is mounted. His legs also do not seem to sit right in this mode and gives the figure a flimsy feel.
Rating 5/10

Some comparisons with G1 Cyclonus
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/1924/cyclonus2jetsph8.jpg
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/4555/cyclonus2botsba5.jpg

Overall
Despite my low opinion of his Jet Mode, I still believe this is one of the best Universe/Classic figures to date. It is a very solid toy, easy to transform and displays great in Robot Mode. I went with the Universe (rather than Henkei) version because I felt the toy accurate colours fit better into my collection.
Final Rating 7/10
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/3176/cyclonusarmadagd1.jpg
Thanks to jaydisc for the figure :)

[STL]

I also think the colour scheme of Nightstick hurts b/c its so dark and blends into the figure which makes it look more of a mess.

[Stompy]

Nightstick on the Cyclonus' alt mode just looks awful as pointed out by Omega. The original G1's alt mode cannot be beat, then again the new robot mode is the best action figure in the TF line.

[STL]

Nightstick on the Cyclonus' alt mode just looks awful as pointed out by Omega. The original G1's alt mode cannot be beat, then again the new robot mode is the best action figure in the TF line.

Whoa, them bold words! Even better than Henkei Prime? Or Hound? Hound is definitely one of this year's highlights.

[Stompy]

That's just with my tastes STL. ;) I just think that Cyclonus' bot mode is a perfect action figure. No backpack, no kibble, very little sign of it transforming. Well articulated and balanced and just feels right. It's something that shouldn't transform, but it does. I love it.

Hound is an incredible figure, definately the highlight of the Universe line. Kibble free alt mode and a really awesome robot mode. Plus comes with my favorite decepticon as well. Definately up there in my top 10 for this year.

Henkei/Classics Prime... the bumper and front wheel on his back in alt mode. Plus the horrendous kibble on his forearms really REALLY spoiled the figure for me.

[STL]

That's just with my tastes STL. ;) I just think that Cyclonus' bot mode is a perfect action figure. No backpack, no kibble, very little sign of it transforming. Well articulated and balanced and just feels right. It's something that shouldn't transform, but it does. I love it.


I see, I see. Makes a lot of sense now. He is indeed very complete from all angles unlike others that have obvious gaps in the back or legs. Excellent observation

[GoktimusPrime]

That jet mode doth look disappointing. Any chance you could bring this toy along on Sunday for us to have a look-see? :)

[Omega Supreme]

That jet mode doth look disappointing. Any chance you could bring this toy along on Sunday for us to have a look-see? :)

Yep no drama's.

[kup]

Nice review, Omega!

I like the look of the jet mode but it does seem that artistically, they have gone with a lot of molded detailing which kind of changes the feel that the G1 jet mode had.

[loophole]

have you tried fitting Universe Nightstick into G1 Cyclonus's hand?

[liegeprime]

have you tried fitting Universe Nightstick into G1 Cyclonus's hand?

I have and it doesnt fit, not sure on the TM cyclonus though as my G1 Cyclonus is that of the earlier issue. It could fit with a little shaving , which is easy enough to do. NIghtstick looks awesome, just my opinion. Wish they'd make more targetmasters newer version. Its like a more useable minicon partner! But then I like minicons - its the only thing I like about TF Armada.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah... if anything I'd say it might fit on a G1 Targetmaster Cyclonus (1987) but also trying to make it compatable with an original G1 Cyclonus (1986) would be too much of a stretch.

Too bad TM Cyclonus is hideously hard to find here since the toy was never released in Australia. (-_-)

[Omega Supreme]

Yeah... if anything I'd say it might fit on a G1 Targetmaster Cyclonus (1987) but also trying to make it compatable with an original G1 Cyclonus (1986) would be too much of a stretch.

Too bad TM Cyclonus is hideously hard to find here since the toy was never released in Australia. (-_-)

Id say it would fit on the G1 TM version of Cyclonus, as I just fitted Nickstick to TM Kup with no problems.

[kup]

Is Cyclonus out in AU yet?

[jaydisc]

Officially sighted today. Yes.

[kup]

Officially sighted today. Yes.

Thanks, I am curious to see it in person. I may buy it too for the Cyclonus and his Armada thing but also because I don't like the creative choice of the Henkei's lilac and chrome.

[GoktimusPrime]

well that was done for show-likeness - same reason why the standard G1 Galvatron reissue was done in that colour. I prefer the darker toy-accurate purple on Universe too.

http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Transformers/galvatroncyclonus_showcolours.jpg

But there appears to be more significant problems with the mould rather than colours from what I'm seeing/reading. Gah.

[kup]

I don't think that Cartoon Cyclonus had purple wing. Also the lilac on the toy seems a tad too bright in pics but I want to see it in person.

Personally I think both Hasbro's and Tak-Tom's version have equally deterring issues even if different in nature but like Universe Galvatron, it may be easier to fix Hasbro's Cyclonus with a bit of paint.

[GoktimusPrime]

I don't think that Cartoon Cyclonus had purple wing.
Yeah, he did (http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/transformers/images/e/ee/Cyclonus_jet.jpg).


Also the lilac on the toy seems a tad too bright in pics but I want to see it in person.
You could say the same thing about the purple on reissue Galvatron and even e-Hobby Astrotrain. The shade of purple (and other colours) on these characters sometimes varied. Look at the two different shades of purple on cartoon Galvatron in the pic in my last post. Compare these different colours of Cyclonus from the cartoon: 1 (http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/transformers/images/a/a4/Cyclonus_tf2.jpg), 2 (http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/transformers/images/5/50/Cyclonus_toon.jpg), 3 (http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/transformers/images/c/c8/Cyclonus_tm.jpg). They pretty make an approximation of a colour like the cartoon - Cyclonus was a lighter purple in the cartoon, thus he is as Henkei.

Also don't forget that Henkei isn't G1 - it's a tribute/homage to G1 and his colours are a homage to G1 cartoon Cyclonus. When I look at Omega Supreme's comparative photos between G1 and Universe Cyclonus the shades of purple aren't exactly the same - Universe looks a bit darker, but it's close. Universe Cyclonus' colours are obviously an homage to his G1 toy/comic colours.

[Omega Supreme]

Having them both in my hands atm, the Universe is actually quite alot darker compared to the G1 version.

[kup]

Yeah, he did (http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/transformers/images/e/ee/Cyclonus_jet.jpg).


Wow! You are very right! For some reason I remembered him with gray wings. I guess I have been reading too much of the comics and watching too little of the cartoon recently :)

[GoktimusPrime]

I guess I have been reading too much of the comics and watching too little of the cartoon recently
I don't blame you. :) :)

[Doubledealer]

Some lovely jubbly pics of Henkei Cyclonus: http://gamu-toys.info/sonota/to/henkei01/henkei01.html

[Wheel-J]

After being spoiled by that, I think I'm gonna be liking cyclonus bot-mode only in particular.

[Tallestblue]

It's an Homage to the Cyclonus Toy(One of my G1 favourites)! I just got that! Gods, I'm stupid. Must be the plastic fumes. But I knew there was a reason I still wanted it over the Henkei version....I hope he's at K-mart tomorrow.