Toy review - The Last Knight voyager Nitro

[Magnus]

Series – The Last Knight
Sub-line - Premier Edition
Size/class - Voyager
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 3
Released here – September 2017
Approximate retail price: $59 (Target)
Approximate Size - 18cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode – Fighter plane
Main Features/Gimmicks – Titan Master compatibility; multiple weapons
Main Colours – Grey, black
Main Accessories – Missile pylons


Vehicle mode









Nitro Zeus transforms into a fighter jet. Elements of the design appear to be inspired by the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-5 Tiger II, while the actual on-screen plane was a Saab JAS 39 Gripen.

Much of the toy's surface is unpainted, slightly glossy grey plastic, with some matte black paint on the nose and the trailing edges of the wings and tail.



As with many plane Transformers, the undercarriage is full of visible robot parts. Two white pylons with missiles attach to slots in the undersides of the wings.

The cockpit canopy opens, and the cockpit is capable of fitting a Titan Master.

Transformation

As one might expect, the robot folds out from under the plane body, although there's a twist due to the asymmetry of the arms.

When transforming to robot mode, detaching the legs from the main fuselage can be a bit tricky because one of the retaining tabs is very tight; the leg needs to be twisted down and out ever so slightly for it to come loose.

Robot mode







The robot mode reveals black plastic and glossy black paint, as well as touches of brown and silver paint.

The design first appeared in Age of Extinction as a KSI-built drone, dubbed the 'boss' in Josh Nizzi's concept art.



The box art depicts a four-eyed head in line with the original KSI drone, while on-screen, Nitro Zeus had a head that greatly resembled Shockwave's. The toy seems to be a half-way point between the two, with the general shape of the KSI drone and a single eye and antennae on either side of the head. The light piping doesn't work well unless a light shines directly into the back of the head, but it reveals four other eyes.

Curiously, the head is detachable, and the neck serves as a Titan Master port. It is generally believed (but not, to my knowledge, confirmed by Hasbro or anyone involved with the film's production) that there was intended to be a scene in The Last Knight where Nitro Zeus is decapitated and Cogman transforms into a new head to control Nitro Zeus's body, therefore explaining Sir Edmund Burton's statement that Cogman was a Headmaster. This feature on Nitro Zeus is therefore interpreted as a reference to that scene; the upcoming deluxe-class Cogman is a Headmaster, with Cogman himself being the Headmaster that serves as the full-size deluxe transtector's head.

On my example, the Titan Master port is looser than I'd like. The head tends to wobble if the figure is moved.

The backpack almost looks like it could pass for a jetpack, with the two large boxes topped by what look like intakes evoking engines and the tailfins at the bottom.

Nitro Zeus has what must surely be among the largest knee pads on a Transformer, and his legs have a slightly stumpy appearance as a result. The tops are hinged to allow them to lie flush against his thighs when the knee is bent.

Nitro Zeus isn't short on armament, with a crossbow-esque weapon permanently mounted on his right arm, a large cannon on his left arm, two Gatling-style guns on his shoulders, and the missile pylons from vehicle mode now attached to the packs on his back. Should you wish to give him more weapons, the hands have 5mm holes.

Verdict



Well-armed despite a lack of hand held weapons, and the Titan Master compatibility adds play options if you have Titan Masters. Recommended.