My review, originally written in 2000. Words in italics are additional comments I've made that weren't in my original review.

---------------------------------------------
Name: MEGATRON
Allegiance: Predacon
Function: Predacon Commander
Beast Mode: Mechanical Dragon
Average Price: 25 AUD (damn that's cheap!) Although it was obscenely rare here... I personally NEVER saw one locally
Note: This toy is not a repaint of Galvatron. (Beast Wars II)


BEAST MODE
This is a very unconventional toy! Although classed as a Transmetal 2, it exhibits features that would make one question its classification. The most unusual feature of this mode is that it's a combination of two breeds of dragon. The sculpting of the head and neck, as well as the long, slender body and tail, resembles an Asian dragon. however, the presence of wings and hind legs resembles a European dragon. So you've really got a sort of Fuzor Transmetal 2 thing happening, much like the other Ultra Transmetal 2, Tigerhawk. The toy is almost entirely metallic red. There are chrome-red parts on the face, neck and wings. The underbelly is accented with metallic yellow and chrome-orange. There are some deep purple accents on the underside of the wings and the actual wings themselves are translucent brown to amber. There are black accents throughout the limbs and lots of metallic yellow and orange on the tail. The eyes are green. Going in concordance with the Transmetal 2 ethos, this toy is asymmetrical, however, the asymmetry is reasonably well balanced. The organic and robotic parts mix with each other quite well, giving the illusion that this is a dragon in a suit of armour. The neck and tail are made of rubber, making it very flexible. A purple switch on the back allows the player to manipulate the neck. Pulling a red switch on the back opens the wings up. Lock this switch to keep the wings extended. This gives a wingspan of 34.5 centimetres The wings itself look rather odd and the hinges have two VTOL-like structures. Standing on its own, the toy looks pretty impressive. With its neck arched over, the toy is already 27 centimetres high, making it two centimetres taller than Optimal Optimus (head height) and Super Fire Convoy. With head and tail fully extended, this toy measures a full forty-four centimetres! There are two missile launchers, one at the base of the tail and one in the mouth. I like the idea of having a missile shoot from his mouth. The major drawback of this toy is that the robot head is painfully visible on the base of the tail. There seems to be no attempt to hide it at all.

TRANSPORT MODE
Bring the legs forward, Flip up feet and pull out wheels. Although not mentioned in the instructions, two panels on the leg flip open to expose the larger wheels. Yay, a half-bummed intermediate mode. Why do they bother??

TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE
Eek gads! I could sneeze better drawings than the scribble they have in this instruction booklet! Release shoulder panels. The left panel on my toy requres excessive force. Grrr. Fold wing section back. Shift the dragon head to the right (that'd be your left, if you're looking onto it face on). Open chest and raise up robot arm. Place arm to the side and close chest. Lower and lock hip halves. Rotate feet 180 degrees. Rotate robot legs and hip section up 180 degrees. Insert pins on wing section onto body. Fold down and lock robot head. Drape tail over back. Lock shoulders onto body.

ROBOT MODE
Height: 18 cm up to head (22 cm up to wing)
There's no major change in colour scheme here. The head is more noticeable (although it's still too noticeable in beast mode). The head is a very, very dark brown (almost black) with orange accents. The eyes are green and the mouth and teeth are white. The mouth looks utterly silly as it's sculpted to make Megatron appear as if he's yelling. Not only that, but the robot teeth are pointed!! On top of the head is a transparent orange visor/helmet. It has some "dragon-esque" decos sculpted in, but best of all is that there's a Predacon insignia moulded on top of it! The chest features an oversized ball. Inside the transparent amber ball is a cockpit with a black seat. Apparently Hasbro initially thought about giving this toy a humanoid "Spark", but decided to abandon it at the last moment in fear that it might confuse some fans. Hey look! It's Bomberman Megatron!! ;-)

Having a dragon head for an arm is just absolutely dorky, but at least the other arm has a hand, unlike the original Ultra Megatron who just had a head and a tail for arms.

SPARK CRYSTAL LOCATION
Under robot chin.

OVERALL
A fairly impressive dragon mode and an okay robot mode (it would look better if it had two arms instead of one). Arguably the best Megatron figure they've released so far.
Actually he's my least favourite of the Leader BW Megatrons now... but still a beautiful beast mode (which I'm totally gonna bring w/ me when I watch the next Hobbit movie later this year )

------------------------------------------------------------