View Poll Results: Worth buying?

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Thread: Toy Review - The Last Knight Barricade (Deluxe)

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    27th Dec 2007
    Location
    Sydney NSW
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    37,637

    Default Toy Review - The Last Knight Barricade (Deluxe)

    Series – The Last Knight
    Sub-series - Premier Edition
    Size/class - Deluxe
    New/remould/redeco - new
    Wave - 1
    Released here – late April 2017
    RRP - $29
    Approximate Size - 12.5cm to top of head, 14cm with shoulder panels fully extended
    Allegiance - Decepticon
    Alt-mode – 2016 Ford Mustang police car
    Main Features/Gimmicks – N/A
    Main Colours – orange blue, white, greys
    Main Accessories – pistol, nightstick, gun belt

    Let me begin by saying that I've approached the TLK line with low expectations, as much of this line hasn't really appealed to me. However Barricade was the one toy which piqued by curiosity, but even then I wasn't expecting to hope for too much from it. But I must admit, this toy has greatly exceeded my jaded expectations and I was actually quite pleasantly surprised. This toy is nicer than it looks. I'll start by looking at the robot mode, since that's the mode that it comes packaged in (in it's oversized space wasting box ).

    ROBOT MODE

    Aesthetically it's a significant departure from the old movie Barricade. Gone are the far more bestial-monstrous designs of the robot mode replaced by a far more humanoid proportioned body (which is more appealing to me). This is going back to the "mecha" style of Transformers which is more orthodox in TF designs (and something which many people have disliked about previous Bayformer designs). The head is still bestial, although evoking a more insectoid design that's similar to what we saw in characters like DotM Crankcase (who looks a lot like Berserker in TLK).

    TLK Barricade forms a far more solid robot mode. It's better balanced and isn't prone to disconnecting at the waist like the original figure does. The toy isn't encumbered by having that ungainly extendable claw gimmick from the 2007 claw, and the absence of having an ejectable Frenzy in the chest means that the upper body is far more compact (although the Frenzy gimmick was pretty neat ). But because this toy isn't slave to any gimmick it can dedicate all of its design and engineering into the core toy itself, which it does quite well.

    The "Serve" and "Protect" mirror-reversed text on the knuckle dusters look funky and along with the more humanoid robot form gives Barricade more of a boxer/brawler look (as opposed to being a robotic gorilla like the original figure). The gun belt can be wrapped around Barricade's left forearm, and the nightstick and pistol may either be holstered on the sides of this thighs or placed in his hands. The nightstick is 5mm thick as is its handle, which means that can be held by the shaft and used as a club weapon (as shown in my photo), or it can be held by the handle and used like a tonfa. I quite like the idea of Barricade being a much more versatile fighter. Able to attack at range with his guns or melee with his tonfa or knuckle dusters. The colours work pretty well on Barricade and remind me of Chase the Police-Bot from Rescue Bots. Barricade features an impressive 19 points of articulation.

    TRANSFORMATION

    There are some really nice features in the transformation which help to make Barricade as least shellformery as possible. The way that some of the panels tuck away and how some of the parts shift is quite clever, intuitive, reasonably challenging and fun. It incorporates some of the nicer elements that we've seen from other recent figures, including Masterpiece. Impressively, the holstered weapons can remain holstered during transformation. Only the gun belt needs to be removed and can be placed on the rear of the vehicle.

    VEHICLE

    A pretty decent look police car. Hasbro have gotten significantly gooder at matching the painted clear plastic colours with that of the painted plastic, which is something that Hasbro have often struggled with. I would prefer to see the red and blue in the strobe rack be brighter, but it doesn't look bad.


    Comparison Pics with 2007 Barricade





    OVERALL

    I was seriously expecting to dislike this toy. At best, I was hoping that I would find it mediocre... if I was lucky. But I didn't hope for anything more than that. This is pretty much how I approach almost all TFs now outside of MPs and CHUGUR. I walk in with low expectations and brace myself for the disappointment, and as such, I usually wait until I find the toy on sale. Seeing these toys online and IRL I thought, "Gee, Hasbro. Thanks for saving me money. These toys look rubbish." But I got impatient with TLK Barricade and paid full quid expecting to feel ripped off about it later.

    But I don't.

    I am actually really impressed with this toy. It has truly exceeded my expectations for a Movieverse Deluxe figure. This is how you silence your critics. Not through words but through actions - by making good products! When I was transforming both the 2007 and TLK Barricades for the comparison pics, it reminded me of when I did the same for MP5 and MP36 -- TLK Barricade honestly feels like the "MP36" to the original Barricade's "MP5." It's that good. The feeling of frustration is replaced with wonder and just genuine fun. If the other Premier Edition toys are as good as Barricade, then I think that fans will be in for a real treat. Highly recommended!


  2. #2
    Join Date
    11th Dec 2012
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    2,916

    Default

    A great looking figure (for a movie toy). The 2007 Barricade was the first Transformer I bought since the 80s and got me back into TF collecting so have have a bit of a soft spot for this 2017 version. Though I no longer collect movie toys, this is definately on my to buy list.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    4th Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    414

    Default

    Never really been into the movie stuff (though I did buy a lot of the AoE deluxes and voyagers). Not interested in Barricade but really like this design. He's my only wave one purchase, I think after the Steelbane and Sqweeks deluxes I'm done with TLK.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    14th Mar 2012
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    1,108

    Default

    Not sold on this, I may be open to getting some of the TLK bots if I get chance to have a play before committing to the buy

    But at this stage I am heavily leaning towards "Gee, Hasbro. Thanks for saving me money. These toys look rubbish."

  5. #5
    FatalityPitt Guest

    Default

    What happens when you get hit by Barricade's left fist? You got served!

    I watched a video review of this guy. I have no plans to buy him because I'm not a fan of the line, but I think he's a really good Transformer.

    He's got great detail on him; like the Protect and Serve knucklebusters, Decepticon symbol on the head, etc. Transformation is also quite simple, and because his design isn't too over the top, he wouldn't look too out of place if you display him with Neo-G1 and other Generations figures. Also, I like how the gun and baton can be stored on the thighs.

    However, I'm not crazy about the multi-barreled ring-shaped weapon (it looks a bit corny), and I think the toy would be a lot cooler if the car roof can detach and plug onto the arm as a riot shield , but that's just my own personal preference.

    He's good, but I don't plan on buying anymore movie toys after the few I already own.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    5th Apr 2008
    Location
    Toyooka
    Posts
    3,229

    Default

    I wonder why his knuckle dusters don't say the old Punish & Enslave?

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