Toys Review - Seige Micromasters (Wave 1)

[BigTransformerTrev]

MICROMASTERS - Visper, Stormm Cloud, Flak, Topshot, Swindler, Roadhandler
Series - Siege
Size/class - Micromaster
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 1
Released here - Not Yet
Approximate Size - 6cm
Allegiance - Various
Alt-mode - Various
Main Features/Gimmicks - Combine into weapons

ROBOT MODES

Flak is so unchanged from his G1 incarnation that I had to look twice to make sure it was a new figure. Topshot also represents his G1 heritage well. Visper has a nice amount of detail and looks quite good. Storm Cloud is odd as in he is the only figure out of this entire wave of Micromasters that has elbows, yet at the same time he lacks hands. An odd trade off. Swindler had shoulders that put Ultra Magnus to shame, and its hard with the lack of elbows to position his arms anywhere but down that doesn’t cause him to fall over. Roadhandler looks quite decent. Both suffer from having massive holes in their chests which are required for the weapon mode.

Vehicle Modes

Once again Flak looks very much like he did in G1, though with some cooler details on his missile ports. Topshot has lost a bit of length from his turret but this is made up for by being able to swivel the gun up and from side to side with a great degree of control than the G1 toy allowed. Both Visper and Storm Cloud are both very faithful to their G1 origins, while adding a bit of extra detail to their jet forms that one would expect after a 30 year hiatus.
Swindler still resembles a Delorian, which is great for us of the generation that grew up on Back to the Future movies. Once again, Roadhandler looks decent as well.

Weapons Mode

Topshot becomes the back half with his turret becoming the gun peg, with Flak making up the front to become an oversized missile gun. Looks a bit odd being held by a Deluxe Sized figure, but would suit a Voyager sized bot well. The Decepticons become a quite decent looking sword, nicely balanced and well proportioned. The Race Car Patrol weapon is pretty weak. The only slightly redeeming feature is that they are the only pair that can swap spots, so either character can become the top or bottom half. You can chop and change between teams to a very limited extent.


Worth Getting?

Yup! A cheap price point, an outing for G1 characters we haven’t seen in 30 years, very faithful to their origins and now with combined weapon modes. There are a few drawbacks sure: little articulation and the legs come off really easily on all figures. However these are small quibbles. I heartily recommend picking these guys up.

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT THESE MICROMASTERS AND TONS MORE PICS, CHECK OUT MY FULL REVIEW ON MY BLOG HERE

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[Maruten]

I haven't picked up the -ndlers yet, but the other four are so good. Especially Storm Cloud and his elbows.

[GoktimusPrime]

↑Fake sighting. I got my Micromasters from Kings Comics but saw the tag at Kmart

[Autocon]

Poor topshot, looks like he really got shafted.

The comparison pic just doesnt look right :/ now you cant unsee it

[GoktimusPrime]

Top Shot is by far the bottom shot of this lot. I find it bizarre that the heel spur/roof panels are grey for no apparent reason and makes them stick out like sore thumbs in the vehicle mode. I also don't know why the wheels aren't black. And if Top Shot is gang moulded with parts for Flak (instead of being all done as a whole assortment lot), then at least make the wheels grey like Flak's.

But really, these toys are pretty expensive for what they are (I'm talking about standard RRP, not the more expensive indie prices I paid). $20 is about the same as the price for a G1 Micromaster Patrol adjusted for inflation, only that the G1 sets gave us four Micromasters, not two. So given that they've cut the number of Micromasters down by half, and even given the additional cost of superior articulation, surely they can chuck in a few things like black wheels. And moulding the roof panels in the same brown would've come at no extra cost since they're already using that plastic. That design choice really seems weird.

[dirge]

Big Shot is as Gok says, the weakest of this first wave.

But while they’re not cheap I’m overall happy with these guys. As a fan of Micromasters since 1989, I’m aware the G1 versions are now that old the plastics can be brittle. Having a poseable Roadhandler (And others) with new plastic is worth it for me.

Whether these represent good value for a kid with no memory of the G1 toys? Yeah I’m not so sure. Good little toys but expensive.