Toy Review - QUAKE (Legacy)
G1 Universe QUAKE
Series - Generations
Sub-line - Legacy
Hypo-line - United
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - New mould with shared parts (chest, forearms & feet) from Legacy Skullgrin
Wave - Four
Released here - October 2024
Approximate Retail Price - $39.95
Approximate Size - 15cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Sub-Group - Targetmaster
Human Components: G1 Universe Heater & G1 Universe Tiptop (these names are getting silly)
Alt-mode -Leopard 2tank
Main Features/Gimmicks - Double Targetmaster
Main Colours - maroon, blue, grey
TANK MODE:
The tank mode is clearly the weaker mode. Not just because it looks nothing like a Leopard 2 tank, but because it just doesn't look like any sort of functional tank. The turret isn't even complete and it's not clear where the turret ends and the hull begins... the body of the tank just blends into the upper and front parts of a turret... a turret with no sides or rear. The robot arms and chest are clearly visible, as are gaps beneath the back panel where the shoulders are tucked in. The 1988 G1 figure gives us a far more convincing Leopard 2 tank mode despite being such a simple yet elegant figure (Quake was my favourite childhood Targetmaster toy). The barrel also cannot be removed and used as a gun like on the G1 toy (nor can it be swapped out with either Targetmaster figure). Legacy Quake's turret can swivel a few degrees side to side, and the barrel can elevate a few degrees, which is something the G1 toy cannot do. But overall, the tank mode is pretty weak.
For reference, this is what a Leopard 2 tank looks like:
ROBOT MODE:
The sculpting on this robot mode is absolutely gorgeous, especially the head sculpt which is a beautiful rendition of Richard Marcej's artwork from the 1988 G1 figure's card. I do like how Legacy Quake places all of the treads onto the legs instead of spreading them across the inner legs and hips like the G1 figure. The whole toy also blends colours better, mixing in the maroon, blue, grey and black across the torso and arms (whereas the G1 toy pretty much just has a uniformly blue torso with grey arms). I also quite like the golden coloured face with painted red eyes (I'm not a fan of giving non-cartoon Decepticons red eyes, but I must admit that this is an improvement over the G1 toy's yellow eyes and even Marcej's card art's black eyes).
The colours are too bright for my liking. I'm not sure why Hasbro couldn't have gone with a more G1-accurate burgundy and navy blue colour scheme. As much as Titans Return Quake was limited by being a repaint/retool of Hardhead, it did have a much more G1-accurate colour scheme. I don't know of any Transformers sources that feature Quake in cobalt blue and maroon. The Marvel UK comics did give Quake a burgundy chest (with magenta sternum), but the Marvel US comics gave him a more accurate navy blue and burgundy body (and it's not everyday that I compliment Nel Yomtov's shoddy colouring). Quake was azure and magenta in the G2 comics... which is still different from maroon and cobalt. What gives with these colours?! And likely due to gang moulding, Heater is moulded in cobalt blue, meaning that he's a blue gun instead of black. His humanoid mode is painted black to more closely resemble his G1 appearance.
The double Targetmaster gimmick works the same as with G1. The universal 5mm post does allow G1 and Legacy Quake to share weapons, although Legacy Heater and Tiptop are too big to fit into G1 Quake's turret. Legacy Quake's barrel also appears to be blast effect compatible (I've yet to try it).
OVERALL: Colours aside, the robot mode is a clear winner on this toy being an improvement over Titans Return Quake because he just looks like Quake instead of Hardhead dressed up as Quake. The tank mode is a disappointment though. TR Quake still has its strengths over this toy in terms of nicer more G1-accurate colours, as well as a more solid tank mode. Sure, it's Hardhead's tank mode which isn't accurate to G1 Quake, but Legacy Quake's tank mode doesn't look like a Leopard 2 either, and it has gaps! I'd say that Legacy Quake is worth buying if you're looking for a generally more G1-accurate Quake, but if G1 accuracy doesn't bother you in the slightest, then stick with Titans Return. Or better yet, buy mine.
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