Toy Review - RID(2015) Warrior-Class Grimlock

Name – Grimlock
Series – RID (2015)
Size/class - Warrior
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 1
Released here – Not yet
Approximate Retail Price - $17.00US
Approximate Size – 13cm
Allegiance - Dinobot
Alt-mode – Cybertronian T-Rex
Main Features/Gimmicks – Opening Jaws
Main Colours – Green, Black, Gray
Main Accessories – N/A

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...ps82a031e9.jpg


Robot Mode
Looks nothing like G1 or AoE Grimlock, instead he has what can only be described as a teddy-bear face with those ears and facial colouring. The figure itself is decently proportioned and has ok articulation. The Warrior class in this new RID line is smaller than the Deluxe Class of Generations, perhaps only Arcee being comparable in size. His Dino arms hang down from his armpits, making you think a little of IDW Monstructor.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...pse50015d1.jpg


T-Rex Mode
With the spinal ridges and yellow crest, with recolouring this would have made a good Trypticon. If you thought that Animated Grimlock was kiddy then you aint seen nothing yet! He does have a fearsome face and you can make his big jaw open and close by manipulation of a nub on the back of his neck. However then you look down and he has - instead of claws – hands that would not be out of place on a Pixar character. It’s not a bad looking alt-mode – somewhere between Classics and Pretender Grimlock in T-Rex size, but looks more like Godzilla than a Dinobot – especially with the green colouring.

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/...ps82b16642.jpg


Transformation
Interestingly, the instructions are on the back of the card, he does not come with an instructions insert. Not that you need the instructions, its fairly easy and quite a nice little process, but if you buy this for a little kid make sure you don’t throw the backing card out after opening.


Overall
Well I'm not a massive fan of the robot mode much and the Dinosaur mode is better but not great, especially with those hands but that is the way I will display him. The colour scheme is very non-Grimlock but looked at objectively its very strong and the green and black look very good together. Again, this figure is quite small, if you are after a bigger one you would want to buy the very basic Hyper Change Hero version. He provokes a reaction a bit like some of the AoE toys – if it wasn’t supposed to be Grimlock you would probably like it better. The badge on his chest in both modes can be scanned to the relevant app. Ive had a go and it seems to scan fine, but I need to play though a bunch of tutorials with Bbee before I can use big Grim.

So if you are a Grimlock nut like me, or plan on getting all the new RID(2015) figures than this is not a bad one to start with on the whole. If neither you can probably bypass this figure.

I am undecided on this line. Your size comment, smaller than recent Gen deluxes, is a worry in comparison to price. But I like the designs so far and the first wave is already in my POL so I will decide when I've got them in hand.

(But this isn't supposed to be G1 Grimlock, it's another robot/dinosaur also called Grimlock so I don't think that's a reason to knock it. If anyone maybe he's supposed to be the original RID Grimlock who was also Green and Black ;):p )

I love all the RiD Warriors and Grimlock is one of the strongest. You do have to look past G1 Grimlock to dig him though.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...n/grimlock.jpg

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

But this isn't supposed to be G1 Grimlock, it's another robot/dinosaur also called Grimlock so I don't think that's a reason to knock it. If anyone maybe he's supposed to be the original RID Grimlock who was also Green and Black ;):p

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Au contraire - this is since its RID(2015) technically an Aligned-Universe Grimlock so he is supposed to be pretty much the same as Grimlock appeared in Fall of Cybertron since according to Hasbro its all the same universe and continuity (WFC/FOC/Prime/RescueBots/RID/The Covenant of Primus etc) ergo the same character. And FOC Grimlock in style, look and colour scheme was heavily based on the G1 version.

I do take your point though - and hey - I bought him didn't I? ;)

I've often wondered if you count the old Excavator Grimlock from the original RID as a 'Grimlock Grimlock' if you catch my drift, or it was just random use of the name? I'm setting up a Big Grim display in my shed and not sure whether to include him or not. :confused:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

I am undecided on this line. Your size comment, smaller than recent Gen deluxes, is a worry in comparison to price. But I like the designs so far and the first wave is already in my POL so I will decide when I've got them in hand.

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If you have a look in the January Jubilations thread (in the post just above yours) there is a pic of him next to the new deluxe sized Aerielbots - you can see he's at least a good head shorter than Firefly whom he is next to :(.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BigTransformerTrev

Au contraire - this is the Aligned Grimlock so he is supposed to be pretty much the same as Grimlock appeared in Fall of Cybertron since according to Hasbro its all the same universe and continuity (WFC/FOC/Prime/RescueBots/RID/The Covenant of Primus etc) ergo the same character. And FOC Grimlock in style, look and colour scheme was heavily based on the G1 version.

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It will be a cold day in the Pit before I buy into all that "Aligned" rubbish :rolleyes:
(actually I kind of do, long story, but not in the way that I'd say FOC Grimlock ends up becoming this Grimlock) ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BigTransformerTrev

If you have a look in the January Jubilations thread (in the post just above yours) there is a pic of him next to the new deluxe sized Aerielbots - you can see he's at least a good head shorter than Firefly whom he is next to :(.

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Yes I noticed that in your post. I'll have to see them in person to decide.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Paulbot

It will be a cold day in the Pit before I buy into all that "Aligned" rubbish :rolleyes:
(actually I kind of do, long story, but not in the way that I'd say FOC Grimlock ends up becoming this Grimlock) ;)

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Yeah true - there wasn't much of a resemblance between the FOC and TFPrime versions of Soundwave either :rolleyes:

He reminds me of Blot with the dino head on his robot mode like that.

It's part of the Aligned Continuity Family, and not part of the same continuity. For example, the G1 toys, Marvel Comics, Sunbow Cartoon, Ladybird Books, Big Looker Books, Beast Wars, Beast Machines, IDW G1 et al. are all part of the G1 Continuity Family, but they are not all part of the same continuity per se. So we may say that Aligned Grimlock is G1-esque in the War For/Fall of Cybertron and IDW TFP continuities, but the same may not hold true across all Aligned continuities in the Aligned Continuity Family.

Mild cartoon spoiler ahead





Interesting to see that the toy has an Autobot insignia even though Grimlock sports a Decepticon logo in the cartoon.

Thanks for your review Trev, it's helped me decide for now. Don't think I'll get them unless I fall in love with the TV show.

Also 'ME GRIMLOCK IN GREEN MAKE ME GRIMLOCK FEEL BLUE', just made me laugh to much :D Priceless.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mythirax

Thanks for your review Trev, it's helped me decide for now. Don't think I'll get them unless I fall in love with the TV show.

Also 'ME GRIMLOCK IN GREEN MAKE ME GRIMLOCK FEEL BLUE', just made me laugh to much :D Priceless.

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Heh - I write these reviews mainly for enjoyment but glad I was able to both inform and entertain ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bidoofdude

He reminds me of Blot with the dino head on his robot mode like that.

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Blot from Beast Hunters? Totally! Now you've said it I totally see it :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BigTransformerTrev

Au contraire - this is since its RID(2015) technically an Aligned-Universe Grimlock so he is supposed to be pretty much the same as Grimlock appeared in Fall of Cybertron since according to Hasbro its all the same universe and continuity (WFC/FOC/Prime/RescueBots/RID/The Covenant of Primus etc) ergo the same character. And FOC Grimlock in style, look and colour scheme was heavily based on the G1 version.

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You know, I didn't even make that connection until you said it... it's like the cousin of a cousin... it is still family, but it isn't as immediately obvious.

Cartoon Spoilers...

This is supposed to be the same universe as WFC/FOC, and yet this Grimlock is supposed to be a Decepticon.
If it isn't explained in the cartoon as why he turned bad, or was working undercover, it is more proof that this wasn't meant to be part of the Aligned universe, but was shoe-horned into it just to help sell/promote it.

A bit like the WFC game, which for all intents and purposes was initially designed and proposed to be/look like a pre-Gen1 game... but some time after it was started, Hasbro created this new "Aligned Universe" to help sell the game as being part of the TFPrime cartoon (which came out five months after WFC), essentially retconning the game just for short-term marketing gain... but long term retconning pain (with books, comics and the FOC game all trying to explain the differences between WFC and TFPrime). :rolleyes:

I like this guy most in robot mode. He's got a nice bulky, strong guy look to him and a nice colour scheme. Dino form is a bit clunky but I like the way the legs unfold to make most of the beast mode.

Next to Bumblebee and Strongarm he seems a bit too small, feels like this character should be a Voyager size.

Dis-a-ppointing. :( I personally quite like Deluxe Classics Grimlock, but if you're one of the people who dislikes that toy, you are going to absolutely hate RiD2015 Warrior Class Grimlock. There are some neat features to this toy; I like the way that the robot legs and tail section transforms, and the dinosaur^Kaijuu mode looks very Godzilla-esque. I do wish that the Kaijuu hands were more saurian -- he has opposable thumbs! The big gap on the back of the Kaijuu mode looks unsightly too IMHO.

This toy doesn't feel worth paying even $25 for. I voted "Only if cheap."
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22..._shoulders.gif

Funny you mention that Goki, I don't rate Classics Grimlock that much but I absolutely adore RiD Grimlock. In fact, as a Grimlock fan, I rate this as the best deluxe sized Grimlock and top 5 Grimlocks.

My only downer is the colour scheme and face and even that is fairly negligible since I love Lockdown and Animated and AoE Lockdown don't look anything alike.

I'm a fan. Good, posable robot mode, passable dino mode.

All up a fun toy.

Cracked this one open this evening. Awesome little toy and the black and green suits him quite nicely. I can see this repainted as Skullcruncher or Grotesque

Quote:

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Originally Posted by griffin

Cartoon Spoilers...

This is supposed to be the same universe as WFC/FOC, and yet this Grimlock is supposed to be a Decepticon.

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Also a spoiler:
I think this can be explained by the Decepticon logos being applied after the prisoners are captured. Steeljaw said that he destroyed his Decepticon logos because of the tracking chips they contained; suggesting they were applied as part of his incarceration.
Grimlock probably received his logos as part of the same incarceration process.

I'm more interested in why he seems to have lost his memory of why he was imprisoned.

Got this today and am quite pleased with it. Robot mode is perfect and the transformation is great (after I spent a few minutes looking for the instructions that don't exist except for the tiny ones printed on the back of the card). T-Rex mode is a bit too 'kiddy' but is quite cute. But why green?

In "true colours", it's explained that Grimlock's rap sheet was made up of incidents property damage and that must've been considerable to be put into stasis with a shipload of decepticons.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Omega Metro

But why green?

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Why not?

;)