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Toy Reviews

Armada
2003
02/22 - Optimus Prime (SC)
2002
02/10 - Initial Thoughts

Robots in Disguise
2002
06/05 - Scourge
06/05 - Megatron Megabolt
06/05 - Autobot 3 Pack
05/21 - Sideways/Axer
05/14 - Obsidian
05/09 - Storm Jet
03/07 - Bruticus
03/04 - Wave 1 Spychangers
03/02 - Side Burn (repaint)
02/17 - Sky Byte
02/07 - Scourge/X-Brawn
02/07 - Ultra Magnus (basic)
02/07 - Optimus Prime (basic)
01/30 - Prowl (repaint)
01/18 - Skid-Z/Wind Sheer
01/18 - Tow-Line/Skyfire
01/12 - Cryotek
01/05 - Ruination
2001
12/17 - Galvatron
12/14 - Rail Racer
12/14 - Predacon 3-Pack
12/14 - Prowl
12/07 - X-Brawn
12/07 - Side Burn
12/01 - Landfill
11/27 - Omega Prime

Beast Machines
2002
05/09 - Silverbolt
04/13 - Mirage
04/13 - Obsidian
04/13 - Sonic Attack Jet
04/13 - Scavenger
04/04 - NS Cheetor
03/07 - Strika
02/22 - Savage/Noble
02/08 - Blackarachnia
02/06 - Optimus Primal
02/01 - Night Viper
01/24 - Nightscream
01/07 - Thrust
2001
12/23 - Blast Charge
12/15 - Tank Drone
12/07 - Megatron
11/29 - Optimus Primal (BP)
11/23 - Jetstorm
11/23 - Rattrap
11/21 - Buzzsaw
11/21 - Tankor

Dinobots
2002
05/09 - Striker
02/17 - Airraptor
2001
12/18 - Rapticon
12/07 - Triceradon

Beast Wars
2002
05/09 - Optimus Primal (TM)
04/16 - Terrorsaur (TM)
03/14 - B'Boom
03/14 - Transquito
03/06 - Cheetor (TM)
02/25 - Sonar
02/22 - Tigerhawk
02/17 - Blackarachnia (TM2)
02/04 - Cybershark (TM2)
02/04 - Waspinator (repaint)
02/02 - Bantor
02/02 - Optimus Minor
02/02 - Scarem
01/30 - Iguanus (TM2)
01/30 - Ramulus
01/30 - Scourge
01/16 - Rattrap (TM)
01/16 - Cheetor (bootleg)
01/06 - Depth Charge
2001
12/25 - Prowl
12/21 - Megatron (TM)
12/15 - Tarantulas (TM)
12/06 - Megatron (TM2)
12/05 - Rampage
12/01 - Tarantulas (bootleg)
12/01 - Airazor (repaint)
11/27 - Silverbolt
11/26 - Terrorsaur (bootleg)
11/25 - Scorponok
11/25 - Rhinox (repaint)
11/25 - Optimal Optimus
11/24 - Inferno
11/24 - Quickstrike
11/17 - Rattrap (bootleg)
11/17 - Dinobot (repaint)
11/14 - Megatron

Other Lines
2002
05/09 - Sharp Edge
04/30 - Galvatron (BW2)
04/18 - Prowl (MW)
04/16 - Big Convoy
04/04 - Minibot Keychains
02/22 - Starscream & BB
02/13 - Bazooka
02/09 - Mach Kick
02/08 - Stampy
01/16 - Shadow Panther
01/14 - Choro Q Toys

Robots in Disguise - Bruticus

Yes, just for the record, RID contains a repaint/rerelease of Bruticus from G1 and G2 (he's Ruination now), and also a release named Bruticus. The folks at Hasbro just want to confuse us, don't they? Well, G1 fans anyway.

Bruticus is one of the RID releases that was not part of the Car Robots line (along with all spychangers after wave 1 and the jets in the deluxe two packs). Actually he was leftover from the Beast Machines line, though Hasbro apparently didn't want to let the mold go to waste. Maybe they should have finished it before they released the thing, though.

Beast mode is that of a freakish techno-organic cerebros (that three headed dog thing that guards Hades in mythology). He's a big mess of red and black and yellow parts, really. He doesn't look too bad from the sides or the front, but from the top and bottom he's not a pretty sight. You can see right through him. Also his poseability is nearly zero in this mode, though I suppose I should be accustomed to unposeable beast modes, so I won't hold that against him.

His center beast head is big and fat with bat wings for ears (I'm not sure what that's about), and his other two heads are pretty skinny and wimpy. The one on the left (your left, not the left head) has a red thing that folds back to reveal the robot fist and is supposed to be the snout in beast mode. It just ends up obstructing the head. The other head is pretty cool, but it lacks jaw articulation like the other two have.

Transformation is utterly complicated, but I managed to do it without the instructions somehow. I had to look at the pictures on the card a lot (and it doesn't help any that they're so horribly, horribly wrong in a few places). It involves a lot of twisting and flipping and I won't get into it really.

The result is less than satisfying. Robot mode actually looks unfinished or something. There's a big hole in his stomach and his chest panel flips open but serves no purpose otherwise. You'd think they'd stick his spark there, but it's behind his head. This chest panel thing is probably the result of an unfinished or nixed 'Battle for the Spark' gimmick, since all BM toys under that line had some sort of gimmick involving their spark. As it is now, it's just a dumb panel.

Bruticus also has the option of having four arms in robot mode. His rear beast feet unfold to become some extra arms, though they have nothing you could figure to be elbows (unless elbows bend down). It's better just to keep them as backpack.

All in all, well, it's not a horrible toy, but it certainly has its fair share of flaws. One wonders why Hasbro or whoever didn't complete the gimmick or at least improve the mold or something before release. Also given the very limited release of him, finding one on eBay will set you back quite a bit (usually around $20, though I've seen them go as high as $65), and those prices really aren't worth it. I bought mine off ViceGripX, loose for $5, which is about what it's worth, sadly. Carded, I'd say go for the $10 if you can find it, but don't pay any outrageous prices unless you're a completist to the extreme.


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