Toy Review - JP Masterpiece Soundwave

[griffin]

(Please post comments, photos or even a fully comprehensive review - these are just brief details to start you off)

Soundwave with Condor (Laserbeak)
Series - Masterpiece
Sub-line - none
Size/class - n/a
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - MP-13
Released here - not here (released in Japan January 2013 - delayed a month)
Approximate Retail Price - 16,000yen (about AU$200)
Approximate Size - 23cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode - Portable Cassette Player (Soundwave), Cassette/Condor (Laserbeak)
Main Features/Gimmicks - Holds Cassettes, Ejects Cassettes, Megatron gun, Energon Cube, Wrist gun.
Main Colours - Dark blue, silver, black
Main Accessories - Laserbeak, gun, missile, shoulder cannon, Megatron, wrist gun, Energon Cube (plus two extra Energon Cubes if bought from Amazon.jp)


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[seespotrun]

Overall, a great figure of an iconic character. The accessories go well with other MP figures, too.

Things to watch out for:

• My Laserbeak was very tight initially. It was scary flipping some of the smaller bit.
• The tips of the forefingers are just held in place via friction (and not very much of it), so keep an eye out.

The hip articulation could have been better, but it's like with MP Grimlock's gimmicks---they do take away from the figure, but at the end of the day there's so much awesomeness here that you can easily overlook them.



PS: don't open the energon cube and sniff it.

[5FDP]

Received my MP Soundwave today via RK and I'm in love. What a great figure and excellent representation of my favourite Decepticon.

Paint apps are perfect (unlike other recent entries into the MP line), accessories compliment the figure well, and transformation is about what you'd expect from a MP however faithful to the original toy.

My only concerns are the ones that seespotrun has already stated. The forefinger on mine popped off a couple of times however it is easily put back in place. I can see second-hand ones selling on eBay with the finger missing. Other joints, including Laserbeak, are incredibly tight and you'll second guess yourself on occasion if you’re transforming it right.

I got mine for approx. $170 shipped which if reports are correct, is only $20 more than what the Hasbro version will retail for, so for me it was worth paying the extra and getting it 6 months before a local release.

If you're a fan of Soundwave, get this figure. It's quite simple really.

[KaRNiV8L PRiME]

This will become many people's "grail" in years to come if they miss this and the inevitable hasblow release

[Bidoofdude]

I'm taking the risk and waiting for that Hasbro release.
I'll hopefully have enough money by then.

[stencilator]

Overall, a great figure of an iconic character. The accessories go well with other MP figures, too.

Things to watch out for:

• My Laserbeak was very tight initially. It was scary flipping some of the smaller bit.
• The tips of the forefingers are just held in place via friction (and not very much of it), so keep an eye out.

The hip articulation could have been better, but it's like with MP Grimlock's gimmicks---they do take away from the figure, but at the end of the day there's so much awesomeness here that you can easily overlook them.



PS: don't open the energon cube and sniff it.

I wish I had read this before playing with mine. I thought I was going to break laserbeak and I nearly lost the end of soundwave's index finger under the couch at first touch. That being said, I also sniffed the inside of the energy cube after reading your post.... so curiosity would have been my downfall anyway.

This is my new favorite figure. Now slotted into my collection and fits perfectly. I love it. Bring on more MP tapes.

[Kazza]

I love this figure, nice paint, great accessories, only gripe is soundwave's head is slightly loose, it stays in place fine but doesn't take much for it to nod/drop down.

[5FDP]

Just something else I thought of; it's curious as to why in this day of cost cutting that Takara would decide to package Soundwave in his bot mode when the box could be half the size if he was in tape-deck mode. I could understand if the box had a display window ala TFC reissues, however since it's a blind box, most would remove him from the box and transform him anway. I know I did and I usually keep things MISB.

It will be interesting to see if Hasbro follow suit.

I love this figure, nice paint, great accessories, only gripe is soundwave's head is slightly loose, it stays in place fine but doesn't take much for it to nod/drop down.

Mine doesn't have this issue. I suspect it may be an isolated case unfortunately

[5FDP]

Question for those that have received their MP Soundwave - what would be the best way to position Laserbeak when Soundwave is holding his blaster in his right hand (downward position) and pressing his eject button with his left?

I've got Laserbeak on his left forearm however because of the positioning required to make him press his eject button, Laserbeak is pointing upwards which I'm not 100% happy with. Because of his shoulder cannon, the right shoulder is out of the question and due to limited space in my cabinet, his blaster has to be pointing downwards so the right forearm won't work either.

[GoktimusPrime]

I'm taking the risk and waiting for that Hasbro release.
I'll hopefully have enough money by then.

Looks like your risk will be rewarded. As griffin recently posted, the AU release will retail for $150 - a good price!