Toy Review - Generations FOC Grimlock

[griffin]

(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 - Voyager
Wave - 2
New/remould/redeco - New
Released here - not here yet (released globally December 2012)
Approximate Retail Price - $40-50 (US$20-25 in America)
Approximate Size - 18cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Dinosaur
Main Features/Gimmicks - light-up eyes and mouth, chomping jaws.
Main Colours - Grey, "gold", orange.
Main Accessories - Sword, shield.

NOTE - the original official image is below. The actual Hasbro toy does not have that metallic shine to it. If official photos of the actual toy is released, it will be added here.

[5FDP]

Watched the Kapow! Toys video review last night and now know why most of the promo images are of Grimlock side-on when in dino mode - he looks hollow underneath. I know this is for his transformation to bot mode (the dino head tucks away) but it looks ugly. Also, the transformation seems far too simple for a Voyager toy, a sacrifice made for most toys that require batteries. I may change my opinion of him if I saw one IRL, however for me it's an easy pass.

[Bidoofdude]

Watched the Kapow! Toys video review last night and now know why most of the promo images are of Grimlock side-on when in dino mode - he looks hollow underneath. I know this is for his transformation to bot mode (the dino head tucks away) but it looks ugly. Also, the transformation seems far too simple for a Voyager toy, a sacrifice made for most toys that require batteries. I may change my opinion of him if I saw one IRL, however for me it's an easy pass.

It's quite a shame with the hollowness and again, as you said, the batteries are a sacrifice. I would have been more excited if there was some sort of gold (same shade) that could click in when in dino mode, but maybe a third party company can do that?
I'll still get this regardless as I love Grimlock.
I think it would have been slightly better if they went with the game transformation. i.e. Legs are bulkier and go together to form head (feet are jaws) and tail is more game-like (would have to be shorter) and just goes on the back, instead of going into the torso and not folding into it.
This would have to be sacrificed for the chest glowing in robot mode, as batteries would most likely have had to be put in the legs.
I would be much happier if it went like that.
Just my 2c, for y'all.

[ILikeSoundwave]

Mine should be arriving next week along with Kickback!

[Iriorne]

I think it would have been slightly better if they went with the game transformation.

I thought the game transformation was pretty close to this toy (and the G1 toy, too)? Robot arms --> T-rex feet, robot legs --> tail, T-rex head magically appears out of the chest... in that respect, perhaps the hollow chest is game accurate?

I found this video which has some good background on the FoC Grimlock animation. I noticed that many of the transformation animations in the game were "cheats" - just involving parts shrinking into/expanding out of other parts. Grimlock seems no different, particularly the head/neck and tail which seem to pop out of the body and legs.

I actually miss Grimlock's dino-neck shoulder pauldrons/wings. I assume they were just a design compromise on the original G1 toy, but they helped bulk him up and gave him a cool silhouette.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I actually miss Grimlock's dino-neck shoulder pauldrons/wings. I assume they were just a design compromise on the original G1 toy, but they helped bulk him up and gave him a cool silhouette.

That's true, but considering his size, I suspect they may have been left off as they would have obstructed the player's view of the game more than it needed to be.

[VERT]

Got him just then. Have had a look and a transform. He is simple but the bot mode is a good size and he does look very cool. I may add a little paint to him though.