Toy Review - Generations FOC Autobot Jazz

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

Series - Generations
Sub-line - Fall of Cybertron
Size/class - Deluxe
Wave - 1
New/remould/redeco - New
Released here - Should be soon (in Asia - June 2012, US - July 2012)
Approximate Retail Price - $25-$30
Approximate Size - 13cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Cybertonian Racer
Main Features/Gimmicks - none
Main Colours - white, dark blue
Main Accessories - Blaster pistol

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/tftoys/gen21.jpg

Maybe I got a dodgy Jazz, but the small tabs on the arm are very weak and one has already snapped off. The general feel of the transformation reminds me of the ROTF scouts, and the small size adds to that.

Would have been good if they'd included some sort of grappling hook gimmick weapon.

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

Would have been good if they'd included some sort of grappling hook gimmick weapon.

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tru dat! FOC shockwaves weapon that looks like an ingame weapon is a very nice touch.

I was initially nonplussed with this guy but I have to admit he is really growing on me. I like how the gun is a mix of the g1 gun and the g1 missile.

the ratcheting ankles and knees make for some good poseability If you have it posed right the sunken neck head appearance can't really be seen. and he carries over that large chested appearance from the G1 character.

Like all the FOC character I've opened (this one and shockwave) the transformation is fairly simple but there is an elegance that makes it unfrustrating while still keeping it interesting enough. those who actually play with their transformers will enjoy these guys more than the revenge of the fallen toys simply becuse the transformation is quicker.

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

Would have been good if they'd included some sort of grappling hook gimmick weapon.

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Any obvious thing that Hasbro neglects to do ends up as a 3rd party accessory.

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

Maybe I got a dodgy Jazz, but the small tabs on the arm are very weak and one has already snapped off. The general feel of the transformation reminds me of the ROTF scouts, and the small size adds to that.

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Same thing happened to mine. Super glued it back on and it snapped right off again.

Nice toy but something irks me about the head, neck, chest area.

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Originally Posted by UltraMarginal

the ratcheting ankles and knees make for some good poseability...

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Really? I found the ratcheting ankles an annoyance, as they don't allow the ankle to bend forwards at all, which I would much prefer over the way it can move backwards.

Of all the FOC toys I think I was most disappointed with this one. I suspect it's due to me wanting this toy to be so good and it's not. The robot mode has holes in it and the vehicle mode has holes in it too.

I find Jazz to my favourite of the Wave 1 FoC toys... but not necessarily because it's an awesome toy, but because I find the other two more disappointing. Shockwave's not too bad, and I find Optimus Prime to be the most disappointing. The ankles bug me too, as do the shoulders... they need a greater range of movement to strike more dynamic poses.

Woah. Didn't like this one and I'm usually quite forgiving. The elbow tabs broke off and one of them was already broken when I got it! NOT GOOD ENGINEERING. Sorry Hasbro.

The amount of open space in robot mode (neck, belly) and the open area on the rear of the vehicle exposing the hands is just awful. The use of single piece parts instead of sandwiched parts expose all the cost-cutting done. The plastic feels flimsy, the transformation basic. It feels like a KO with it's cheap feeling plastic and "enlarged" scout engineering. I personally feel this is an insult to a fan.

Luckily it's wave mates OP and SW were much much better. Even then, these are a mere shadow to the WfC figures.

Thumbs down. If this was a scout, yes, all it's flaws are acceptable. But for a deluxe and a major character - FAIL.

Gotta say, not too fond of this one, (it takes alot to make me dislike a transformer toy) the plastic feels cheap almost like he's a knock off, he feels flimsy and a little on the small side in robot mode, and then absolutely tiny in vehicle mode, and I'm not fond of how hollow his torso is in robot mode. but at the same time there is some charm to that little "car" and I can't bring myself to fully hate it but it's definately not one of my favourates

I say only get it if you are a completist and you can get it for a good price

also i was just transforming him again and one of those tiny tabs on his forearms to lock them inplace in vehicle mode snapped right off :(

Those tabs are ridiculous. Finding an unbroken loose one is going to be impossible in a few years time.

The more I play with it the more it feels like a Scout to me. It reminds me of the Dead End/Nightbeat and Breakdown/Oilpan toys from ROTF (and similar ones from that era). Flip the legs up, swing the arms back, unfold the back and tab things into place. It's a simple scout-like transformation at a deluxe size (almost).

One positive note. At first I didn't like the fake wheels in robot mode, but looking at Jazz in vehicle mode it's quite plausible that those aren't 'fake' wheels. It's possible that a Cybertronian car actually has six wheels with two located in the centre-rear or the vehicle. Might make the car more stable and manoeuvrable.

I was close to picking up this little fella (literally) yesterday but after reading all of the above, I'm kinda glad that I passed.

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Originally Posted by 5FDP

I was close to picking up this little fella (literally) yesterday but after reading all of the above, I'm kinda glad that I passed.

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Jazz is still the biggest of the wave one FOC deluxes in bot mode, he just has the transformation of a scout.

Personally I don't like the look of his legs and his face. I haven't had the shoulder issues others have had but I only tend to Transform mine a few times before I put them on display so maybe I lucked out. Both him and FoC Optimus come a 2nd to FoC Shockwave in my opinion. Main reason I am glad I have Jazz is I like to have different interpretations from different universes of characters, so he is like about the 10th Jazz I've got - love comparing them to each other :)

Hate the arm transformation, and he feels no bigger or better than some of the movie scouts as stated by others, but he is an aesthetically pleasing toy with lots of character and flair.

I recommend him if you like the character/3d model in teh game, otherwise he is an easy pass.

No tinyjazz?:eek:

I think perhaps I got lucky with mine too, all the tabs and things have remained solid and undamaged despite several transformations. Poor consistency as far as QA goes it appears.

I found the hips a bit narrow, which could have been rectified with a fold out/fold back hip/upper leg movement during transformationlike G1 Sludge (and probably others I can't recall just now).

I've reprolabelled mine (i know, shock! Horror! Right?:p) and it looks heaps better too, with the pink glow-y bits to the wheels and exhaust pipes and tail-lights, as well as some other details where paint apps are sadly lacking.

Overall a good little figure, but I admit, I probably got a tad lucky.;):D

The arm tabs on mine seem fine... for now... I fear now they might break off if I attempt to transform him again. My biggest issue with this figure is: when in car mode, the top part that is meant to cover his head, doesn't slide all the way. Leaving it sticking up. Luckily placing the gun in front of it sort of conceals it from view.

Only reason I'd say to get him would be if you're like me and want the full FoC set.