Toy Review - DotM Cmdr Decepticon Hatchet

[griffin]

(Please post photos, comments or even a fully comprehensive review - these are just brief details)

Toy Review - Hatchet
Series - Dark of the Moon
Sub-line - Cyberverse
Size/class - Commander
Wave - 3
New/remould/redeco - New
Released here - August 2011
Approximate Retail Price - $15-20
Approximate Size - 10cm
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode - Jet/Gargloyle
Main Features/Gimmicks - Drone weapon
Main Colours - Black, gold
Main Accessories - Drone weapon

[Paulbot]

This is a pretty nice figure but with a few minor flaws.

The robot mode looks really great in it's default pose, but it can't really pose in any other position. The front paws are pretty well fixed as are the rear feet. I like the head scuplt, the tail is nice, the way the jet kibble sits on it's back is pretty good too.

In transforming to jet mode everything goes together well. The legs don't quite hide away enough for my liking though. From above though, it's a great looking jet mode.

I voted "only if" because I mainly purchased it because it's one of the new movie cast... but even that's a bit of a stretch. A car version would be preferred. This toy is also screaming out to be repainted as a "Sky Lynx" so if you're not movie-cast specific, maybe wait and see if there's a repaint.

[Decepticon]

Im expecting this in the mail any day now. (Cant wait for Aussie retailers to sell their existing over supply of Commanders!). Just wish it was deluxe size. Also love to see Crowbar and Guzzle as a deluxe.

[Decepticon]

Well he came today. I think he is a really good figure. It does have a bit of leg kibble under the wings. I like his little fold out missiles that turn into guns. He is actually a pretty well detailed thing (unsure what he's suppose to be in robot mode?!) for his size.

[klystron]

This dude is freakin awesome. As a fussy selective collector, take my word for it.

Have to overlook a few small flaws due to the class size, like the arm kibble under the wings (although rather than just being arms slung underneath, they actually split apart to form the undersides of the aircraft fuselage), and the claws hanging out the back. Those are the biggest two aesthetic issues. His only other let down is his limited articulation, but again probably due to his size.

On the plus side, his jet mode is quite good looking jet and has retractable front landing gear (unfortunately the rear wheels are stuck in place). Everything pegs together nicely.

Beast mode is pretty cool and a refreshing change from robots, birds, and big cats. This is what caught my eye in the shop, and without so much as a second thought, I threw it in the trolley. Rare indeed is it I buy a figure in this manner. The beast design is quite well done for my mind, but there are a few articulation limitations (due mainly to size and transformation). He is still capable of some nice poses and looks awesome perched on my shelf.

I also love the drones that transform into guns. Nifty little gimmick/feature. Not sure why they join together to make a bigger gun/drone though. Or why they can be held by the beast hands (looks a little weird, and are much better placed on his back-wings).

This would be so much better as a deluxe sized figure.
All in all, an awesome figure that I am totally totally pleased with.

[kaiden]

I love it.

Its so much better than Optimus and Megatron and yes, even Powerglide.

Hatchet is what I like to think the lovechild of Ravage and Laserbeak. He's like a big cat with missiles on the side like Ravage but can also fly and has missile drones similar to Laserbeak's laser drones in that episode where laserbeak was chasing hound and cliffjumper?

The thing with his 2 guns combining looks like Rodimus' guns.

biggest flaw is definitely the hind legs and his size. the front claws that stick out the back in alt mode doesn't even bother me.
I agree with klystron that hatchet should be deluxe size.

I would actually like hatchet to be a set of 3 and in the same colours of the Seekers - Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp.