Review - Generations Scourge

[5FDP]

There's really no comparison between the two IMO -

Thanks for the pic lcz128

There doesn't seem to be a difference between the two in terms of height; Generations Scourge just looks bigger because of his 'shoulder pads'.

I don't understand the hatred for Titaniums. I actually thought they were pretty good - especially Ultra Magnus and Scourge. In fact, I probably still prefer Titanium Scourge over the Generations version as he has an accurate alternate mode when compared to his cartoon self.

[GoktimusPrime]

I don't understand the hatred for Titaniums. I actually thought they were pretty good - especially Ultra Magnus and Scourge. In fact, I probably still prefer Titanium Scourge over the Generations version as he has an accurate alternate mode when compared to his cartoon self.

I find them disappointing to play with. A lot of the joints are stiff and clunky which doesn't allow for smooth spontaneous action poses. Some of them are also limited in articulation. Some of them also have panels that don't have any lock, so they're prone to becoming loose when you transform them back and forth heaps (as is a major part of the play value of a TF toy). The engineering behind them is also rather pedestrian. The paint apps on some of the early figures were also really sloppy. And I don't just mean some QC issue, I mean that actual application of the paints themselves are bad... looks like amateur hand painting.

I find both Cybertron Leader Class Optimus Prime and Voyager Starscream to be better designed interpretations of War Within Prime and Starscream than Titanium Series WWI OP and Starscream. Aside from the more simplistic transformations, you look at things like say the massive gap on the back of Starscream's jet mode where his head and hands are exposed. Lame.

I'm pretty happy with my Scourge, but then I paid a pretty cheap price for him. Not sure how I'd feel if I'd paid full price. Ultra Magnus... I don't have this toy, but I've seen someone else's, and I think the appeal is similar to the reason why I got Titanium Rodimus Prime -- I like the concept. But I don't like the execution. I like the concept of a G1 Rodimus Prime toy who incorporates the trailer into the robot mode. And I think Titanium Ultra Magnus shares the same concept - G1 style cab and trailer which transform into a unified armoured robot mode. But I think the execution of this concept wasn't very well done.

Compare it with say Universe/Henkei Ironhide and Ratchet, which share the same concept in terms of taking G1 figures which had detachable trailers, and incorporating those trailers into a unified robot mode that attempts to look like the G1 robot. IMO HasTak did a much better job with Ironhide and Ratchet compared to what Galoob did with Titanium Rodimus. With Ultra Magnus it's arguably easier to execute because you're not trying to make the trailer "disappear" - which is what they would have had to do with Rodimus, Ironhide and Ratchet.

Anyway, basically my main beef with Titanium Series is their poor play value and sub-par level of engineering (in my opinion).

P.S.: Does anyone remember what the RRP for the 15cm Titanium Series TFs was? IIRC they weren't cheap...

[optimus1]

P.S.: Does anyone remember what the RRP for the 15cm Titanium Series TFs was? IIRC they weren't cheap...

I remember at TRU they ranged from $29.xx to $34.xx

Personally I like WW Prime, G1 Ultra Magnus and Rodimus

GI Joe Megatron on the other hand

[Paulbot]

The evil trio is complete! Galvatron's the weak link now really. This toy looks great with Cyclonus. The updated vehicle mode is great IMO and actually seems like a realistic jet now. The hovercraft mode never really made sense since (besides one of the colouring books) it was usally depicted flying like a boat. The robot mode looks great too, even the fingernails which I wasn't than keen on (since I tend to prefer toy/comic accuracy to anime accuracy) are a nice touch.

[Fonecrusher]

If I may ask where did you guys pick him up? (Obviously besides online) I've looked everywhere and can't seem to find Scourge at retailers anywhere across NSW.

[Vector Prime]

can't seem to find Scourge at retailers anywhere across NSW.

That's because he's not available at retail in Australia yet.

[Omega Supreme]

Love the look of this figure, planning to pick one up for a b'day present to a mate, hopefully I have the strength to actually hand it over

[GoktimusPrime]

Can't wait to get this toy. I've got United Fracas standing all by his lonesome on my Classicsverse Decepticons shelf... just waiting for the day his PrinceScourge will come. <cue.romantic.interlude.music>

[Sutton]

This guy arrived in the post today. Here's my quick thoughts.


First of all, I have to say that I'm not a huge fan of the alt-mode chosen for this guy. Althought the G1 toy's original vehicle mode was a little (a lot) obscure (space hovercraft???), the new mode chosen doesn't really fit the character that well in my opinion. For starters, if not for mass-shrinking, Scourge would be a huge robot - easily able to go toe-to-toe with Broadside this time around, without needing to eat a Matrix first. An army of sweeps of this size would mean the war just got a lot more one-sided. Having said that, it is an interesting aircraft to use, and does manage to maintain a few of the more important cues from the original hovercraft mode, mainly the little telescope thing on his head at the back, as well as the overall colour scheme. I guess this is the biggest sticking point with the altmode for me, because it is a ridiculous colour scheme for a supposed stealth bomber. But it's nice and tight, holds together well, reveals very little robot and stores the gun halves ingeniously.

Transformation to robot mode is overly complex, particularly in reference to the arms - they go through approximately 143 twists, turns, slides and pulls to eventually end up in pretty much the same place they started. The only reason I can see for this is to retain the round barrel/thruster placement on his shoulders like the G1 figure had. Except, those rounded shoulders were never that pronounced, and were not considered an 'essential' part of the robot design. Looking at the various renditions of Scourge here proves this. Certainly not as ubiquitous as Prime's windscreen chest or Megatron's arm mounted cannon. So a lot of hard work for little reward. The rest of the transformation is pretty straight forward and logical, with a neat design for the back, chest and neck.

He certainly sells Scourge well in robot mode, there's no mistaking who this is meant to be. Hasbro has to be absolutely applauded for having the balls to keep his fingernails painted - it's a really neat detail that helps to portray just how creepy this 'tracker' is supposed to be, and hints at the slightly perverse creation and history of the character. The wings make a great cape and add to the 'evil villain' motif. Poseability overall is fantastic and the large Dorito feet give good stability.

The gun(s) included are good, it's nice that they included the ability to separate them, and the use of a 3mm clip to do this adds flexibility with the other RTS and Generations deluxes. What's disappoiting is that they decided not to go ahead and include Fracas. Very little extra plastic would have been needed to do it, and the gun looks very similar to Fracas' gun mode, so not going this way is a little confusing. For now, it looks like Cyclonus is the only Classics toy that will feature a reference to the 'Master' line of toys, which is odd and disappointing. Unless the 'Hardhead' repaint of Warpath takes the brave step of including Duros (very doubtful).

Definitely recommend getting this guy, despite my reservations with the altmode. He certainly displays better alongside Galvatron and Cyclonus, than Kup does alongside Blur and Hot Rod. Go get him.

[griffin]

Toy Review - Scourge

Series - Generations
Sub-line - N/A
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 6
Released here - Expected here April 2011 (released globally January)
Approximate Retail Price - $25-30
Approximate Size - 15cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode - Stealth-bomber
Main Features/Gimmicks - none
Main Colours - Blue, white, grey
Main Accessories - gun