Toy Review - GEN FOC Sideswipe

[UltraMarginal]

Series - Generations
Sub-line - Fall of Cybertron
Size/class - Deluxe
Wave - 3
New/remould/redeco - Remoulded Jazz
Released here - February 2013 (globally Dec 2012)
Approximate Retail Price - 25-30 Au$
Approximate Size - 14cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Cybertronian car
Main Features/Gimmicks - none
Main Colours - Red, white, black
Main Accessories - gun



Hey kids, just a quick review of this guy for the moment.

this mold is an interesting one being the same base toy as FOC Jazz who had a pretty mediocre reception, but with most of the external panels getting a remold and also a new head.

The standout of this figure is the massive gun that comes with it. it's got a very basic extension gimmick. and looks similar to one of the guns in the game I think.
The downside of the gun is the 5mm peg is too far back and so when it's on sideswipes hand it looks like he's holding a gun rather than having a gun growing out of his arm. I'm yet to find a configuration that's particularly satisfactory.

My other big gripe with the figure comes from the transformation. The upper arms don't clip onto the flat tabs on the inside of the door panels. the slot is just too high up, as a result the vehicle mode doesn't form properly and is a bit gappy.

I didn't mind the Jazz, at least mine tabbed together nicely unlike this guy. I'm looking forward to seeing if I can make the gun look better on one of the other FOC toys.

Overall, it's OK, not great, not terrible. but unless you're collecting FOC or are a sideswipe completest, probably not worth getting till it's on sale, assuming it ever turns up in Australia.

I'll put up some photos later.

[GoktimusPrime]

Yeah, this mould isn't working as well on Sideswipe as it did on Jazz (and Jazz was only ever mediocre at best). The gun doesn't do much for me. The gimmick is just... nothing. I'd rather they'd dispense with it and do something better. The gun is also so big that it looks absurd when attached to the vehicle. I'd much rather a smaller and simpler weapon like Jazz's pistol; it works. Sideswipe's gun is just big and gimmicky for its own sake. It's not nearly as terrible as Kickback's gun, but it doesn't appeal to me as being particularly good either.

As UltraMarginal said, it's not terrible, but it's not good either. Only recommended if you're a FoC or Sideswipe completist, and even then try to get it under RRP.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

Bah! That sucks fellas. I like the design of SS in the game, but when I saw he was a re= panelled Jazz I thought I'd wait and see as I was terribly disappointed by him. Nuts.

[Bidoofdude]

I would have preferred they add some kind of flip thing and separate the headlight thingies so they can flip up or something in robot mode, for a thinned chested look.

[BigTransformerTrev]

As UltraMarginal said, it's not terrible, but it's not good either. Only recommended if you're a FoC or Sideswipe completist, and even then try to get it under RRP.

I got mine as part of the 5 offered as a group from BBTS so overall it worked out to be a little cheaper than retail. But like others have said here, instead of improving on the Jazz mold it is actually a bit worse, and Jazz wasn't my FOC highlight to begin with.

Bring out the next installment from High Moon Studios so we can get some better toys for that!

[UltraMarginal]

I've since figured out how to get the arms to tab in for vehicle mode, there is a lot of pressure but they stay tabbed in.

I like it more now, though the gun is still a little over the top size wise.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

I caved an bought one today. Sadly just beacuse the gun is the PathBlaster from the game. Sad huh?

Gotta say that the vehicle mode looks better than I expected. Theer are fewer major gaps in it over Jazz, who I though was the poorest of the original figures. The robot mode is still ghastly though. I think it is mainly due to the big gap around his neck area.

the skinny legs, fat forearms and pointy out chest is not right for SS. I realise that jazz has a larger chest than SS and SS's should be flat and that I think is my major issue. they should have allowed the bonnet to go flatter against his body.

the size of the gun is ludicrous though. If you plug it on to the side of the car, the wheels don't touch the ground. What i find odd is the chamber on the side of the gun can be spun around, and it makes a click noise due to a tab that rubs against the nubs, but that's all it does. Due to the positioning of the chamber it's rather tricky to turn as well. A fairly pointless gimmick.

The gun is so huge it probably would only look good with a leader figure and there aren't any leader size FOC figs. I'd have rather had a smaller gun that looks like this one, without the extending barrel and spinning chamber. I'd also have liked it if the port for the gun on the roof was further back, then I could pretend is some booster pack with a gun on it, but right at the front it looks ridiculous. I can't even get my Roadblasters on with this..