SKULLSMASHER
Series – Titans Return
Size/class - Deluxe
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 1
Released here – August 2016
Approximate Retail Price - $29
Approximate Size - 14.3cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode – Mechanical crocodile
Main Features/Gimmicks – Headmaster
Main Colours – Green, Fuschia
Main Accessories – pistol, tail-weapon, Titan Master "Grax"
BEAST MODE
Whereas G1 Skullcruncher was a robotic alligator, Skullsmasher is a robotic crocodile. This is established by significant differences in the head, namely the narrower snout and protruding teeth ('gators have broader snouts and concealed teeth). A really nice surprise with this mode is the head articulation. The beast head sits on a ball and socket joint, allowing an impressive range of neck movement! The tail is also able to slightly move from side to side, which is a pivotal (heh) part of crocodilian aquatic locomotion. Being able to articulate the head downwards allows Skullsmasher to assume the "standing" position that crocodilians use when they just have the top of their heads protruding above water and the rest of their bodies submerged like this. The mechanical aesthetics aside, this is actually one of the most zoologically accurate crocodilian moded Transformers that we've ever had, arguably moreso than croc Megatron (Megalligator) from Beast Wars, as that mode was a generic crocodilian with elements from a croc, 'gator and caiman. Skullsmasher looks more like a definitive crocodile to me than any other kind of crocodilian. See this page on the differences between crocs, 'gators and caimans.
Rather than sitting inside the head as if he's been swallowed, Grax now sits in a compartment accessible from the back of the beast mode. The access port is actually quite well concealed and is made from a soft rubbery plastic so it kinda feels like you're peeling back flesh to open it! And I'm glad that Hasbro were able and willing to use the Grax name.The relocation of the cockpit to the body has allowed HasTak to include greater detailing inside of the beast mode's mouth, including a mechanical looking tongue and ridged upper palate.
TRANSFORMATION
Skullsmasher has some interesting steps in the transformation which allows him to look more streamlined in beast mode but bulked up in robot mode. The inclusion of flip out feet also allows the back to look more slick while granting forward stability for the robot mode (not that it really needs it).
ROBOT MODE
Skullsmasher boasts an impressive eighteen points of articulation!The beast head sits a lot more flush against the robot back compared to Skullcruncher. The tail weapon is no longer a sword but is held like a gun. The Demolecularisation gun (or whatever it's meant to be, the packaging and instructions don't say) can either be attached to the tail weapon or wielded separately. The position of the beast head does tend to make the robot back-heavy, although you can reposition the croc's hind legs on the robot legs to act as de facto heel spurs. So some odd reason, the middle of the visor is raised like a protruding upper nose ridge and is painted gold, visually breaking up the visor and giving Skullsmasher two eyes instead. I have no idea why Hasbro has done this given that Skullcruncher had a single visor eye in the G1 toy, US cartoon, Marvel Comics, Japanese anime - pretty much everywhere up till here - have all had visors. Sticklers for G1 accuracy may want to wait for the TakaraTOMY version.
GRAX
A reasonably close facsimile of G1 Grax with reversed colours (which does look more uniform in head mode) and a broader looking helmet. And for some reason the corners of his mouth are pointing downwards... as if he were illustrated by E.J. Su, or maybe he just watched one of the embarrassingly awkward scenes from a Bayformer film.
↑Yeah, that's the look!
OVERALL
It's too bad that Hasbro lost the rights to use the name "Skullcruncher," but "Skullsmasher" is a close approximation. At least "smash" can be synonymous with "crunch" as opposed to using an irrelevant word like "Furo(s)."I'm really impressed with what they've done with the beast mode, and the robot is also really nice. Highly recommended.
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