Got this toy today and it's already loads better than the ROTF Deluxe Class figure.



Sure, it has its drawbacks, much of which is to do with the gimpy looking robot mode - but that's because it's accurate to a stupid screen model*, so I can't fault the toy for that. The shorter plastic treads aren't as nice as the long rubber treads on the ROTF figure, but the pros on this toy far outweigh the cons (whereas the ROTF Deluxe's cons far outweigh any pros).

Okay, this toy isn't nearly as good as Scrapmetal, but that's because it's based on a screen model whereas Scrapmetal really isn't - at least, not as strictly. They've taken a lot more creative liberty with Scrapmetal. Given that this toy is being more slavishly screen accurate, I find it to be quite satisfying. Having said that, the adherence to screen accuracy does make the toy quite weird as the robot is basically a mechanical merman... which is what he was in the movie. A jumping pogo merman. But more importantly, this toy can combine. One of my biggest criticisms against the ROTF Deluxe was that it's a pretty underwhelming toy that doesn't even freakin' combine. Whereas I find SS Rampage to be a satisfactory that that can combine.

In fact, my initial thoughts on ROTF Rampage - posted on 28/5/2009, was:
Quote Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime View Post
Rampage: Like Demolishor, there's a lot of cleverness in the transformation but the end result is disappointing. Hasbro's instructions are also inaccurate with the transformation to robot mode. Boo. Considering that the supposed reason why the Constructicons cannot merge is to make the individual toys better, I am really disappointed. After transforming these Constructicons I thought to myself, "That's it? And you guys don't even merge??!" (o_O) Fail!
10 years later I'm still bitterly disappointed in ROTF Rampage, but I'm surprisingly delighted with SS Rampy. He's simple yet elegant. It works for me.

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*that's credited as "Skipjack" in the ending credits of ROTF