I've come to the conclusion that I like them quite a bit. I got the G2 boxset from amazon. I'd feel less inclined to like them had I bought them individually at $25 a go I think.

As Bruticus, with a little tweaking, I think they look pretty good and the fact that all the parts are contained within is pretty impressive. He can be posed quite well, but sometimes the joints of Onslaught can be weak and he'll slide over.

The team members themselves are better than I thought they be (from reading this thread, I was expecting pretty awful toys). However the cheap thin plastic is instantly noticeable.

Swindle would be my fave, although he is far too large. but nice vehicle mode and the robot mode looks accurate as well.

Vortex is next on my fave list. Great future helicopter mode and his blades spin easily. Shame his weapons aren't little mini-guns though as the blades just look strange. My only complaint would be on one of his knees, the ridging of the knee doesn't connect to the nub that is supposed to provide the clicks, giving him a completely free swinging knee. Its also a shame the blades to move around to his back either. This was the way he was in the game and it was cool. As the toy is, they are in the way of his hand on the arm and don't even look cool as a weapon... I think a clever recolour would make an interesting Ransack. If the blades were on his back.

Brawl is next, mainly due to his sexy tank mode. Although it should have been bigger. I like this as it's also his WFC mode too. His head is nicely sculpted as well. the robot mode is a mess though. Without a doubt the worst of the lot. On mine, the feet are so loose, he can barely stand up. He looks all jumbly and crap from the back because there is just soo mich rubbish hanging off him. It's a bit sad. Good thing I like the tank so much.

Blast off is nice. Both vehicle and robot mode gets the job done, but I don't like the way his shoulder pads can't clip in anywhere. In shuttle mode, I like the many options you have for placing his guns!

Onslaught. Oh Onslaught you poor little fellow. My how you have down graded since the beast you were in WFC... I really liked that mode. this one. Um, yeah, What the Hell?? Vehicle mode is an ABOMNIATION! Bruticus' head just hangs out the back, the arms just fold up the top. Worst of all on mine, no matter how I try the gun just won't clip on to the arms to hide them head OR keep the arms in place. and the gun is a bit small as well. It should have been bigger to cover the HOLE in the back of this mode.

Its just horrible.

Robot mode is quite a bit better though, but I do hate how scrawny his forearms are. Good posing options as a commander style figure due to a slight tilt that can be done at the waist. From the back he is very hollow. Sad. Why can't I plug his cannon on his back Hasbro? this would cover the hole nicely in both vehicle AND robot mode. Plus once again, the cannon should have been bigger. As it is, it is too large for a hand gun and looks stupid. Too small for a shoulder mortar with nowhere to plug. Oh and he should be larger than a deluxe so as to add more bulk to the combined mode. The chest of Brusticus looks a tad skinny to my eye, and it would allow for strengthening of the joints as well, making an altogether sturdier gestalt.

So as individual bots they are hit and miss. none are really great, and all have some positives so they avoid becoming hated toys. But then they are mainly designed to form Bruticus and the individual bots is just a bit of a bonus really.

As it stands, i would only recommend these guys if you get all of them for Brusticus. On their own there are MUCH better figures out there. Even Swindle is merely an acceptable toy. but as Brusticus they look cool and as a group I think they look OK, in both vehicle and robot modes.

So its all or nothing I guess. Considering how these guys are, I'd like to see Hasbro give the combiners another crack, if these guys are considered a concept attempt at modern combiners, I think they have done all right. If they had a more uniform style of vehicle to work with for the next one, I think they could pull it off nicely. *cough*Menosaur*cough* Although I'd still like to see the chest/leader of the group be larger than a deluxe.

Some photos of group shots coz I can.