U.S. Name: PUZZLER   RM Name: MACHINE PUZZLER

Cartoon First Appearance: Episode #28: Auto-Matic, Season 1, 1984

Comic First Appearance: N/A

Toy Catalog Number: N/A    Gobots Number: N/A

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This is my first Puzzler action figure.  As a kid I had always wanted to own him but just didn't have the finance to purchase it.  Now I'm glad to have him as part of my collection.  I got him on Apr. Xiv, Mmiv for $LXI from Ebay

R-0 Puzzler's motto and tech specifications:  

| Affiliate: renegade | Subgroup: none | Function: -- | Alt. Mode: n/a |

| STR -- | INTL -- | SPD -- | ENDN -- | RNK -- | CRG -- | FRPW -- | SKL -- |

Puzzler's Motto:

Not Applicable.

Puzzler's Bio from the back of the box:

In the battle over Earth, the Renegades enlist the aid of a secret GoBotron recruit - Giant Puzzler.  Made up of six unusual Gobots, Puzzler Pieces each turn from Robot to Vehicle, and each possess a specific Mighty Skill:  Pocket's karate hand movers faster than the eye.  Crossword has the crushing strength of six Gobots.  Tic Tac is the evil mind behind Puzzler's schemes.  Rube's super senses feel the slightest movement.  Zig Zag has the furious speed of a striking snake.  When their powers combine, they become a formidable force.  However, Puzzler has one weakness -- and the Guardians have discovered it.  Should even one Piece be unable to join with the others, the Mighty Strength will fade away.  Each Piece must then rely on his own specific skill to survive.  The Guardians must keep Puzzler from piecing together.  The fate of the Earth depends on it!

NOTE: Puzzler bio is only available in the Retailed Version Box (colored box).  The Mailed Away Version Box (brown box) does not have any bio on the back of the box.

These  images were all photographed and scanned by me.  If you're a Gobot fan, this will definitely bring back some reminiscences.  

NOTE: Images are clearer when viewed with Internet Explorer browser.

- Click on the Thumbnails to view them at a Larger Scale -

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R-1 Puzzler in its Original condition:

1 - Puzzler's Gift set in its original condition.

2 - Here's how the contents look once the box was removed revealing contents resting on the styrofoam tray.

3 - These are all the contents that were included in the box/ package/ card:  "1" red car, "1" yellow car, "1" orange car, "1" white police car, "1" blue car, "1 black car, and above that is "1" instruction sheet.

R-2 Puzzler's Gift Set Box Variations:

Puzzler's gift set came in three variations, the Mailed Away Version and the Regular /Retailed Version.  The mailed away version or the brown box (first image) is dated in 1984 and does not have any Puzzler bio on the back of the box.  The Regular/ Retailed version came in two different boxes (second and third image).  Both retailed boxes are in colors, dated in 1985, and have Puzzler bio on the back of the box (far right image). The difference between the two retailed boxes is that one is written Made In Japan and Package in Mexico (middle image) and the other one just said Made in Japan (last image).  Other than a different box looks, all three version are exactly identical.  You are viewing the review of the Mailed Away Version.

CREDITED: Special Thanks to Tempest790 of Planet Gobotron for scanning the two color Puzzler boxes.

R-3 Pre-Applied Decals/ Stickers: 

Puzzler came with a total of 7 pre-applied stickers.  Here are the stickers break down according to Puzzler's component:  Tic Tac - 3 pre-applied sticker.  One on the chest and two on either side of the front car hood.  Crossword and Jig Saw - each came with 1 pre-applied sticker on the chest.  Pocket - none.  Rube and Zig Zag - each came with 1 pre-applied sticker on the waist.

Sticker Sheet:

Unlike the Transformers, none of the Gobots action figure come with sticker sheet.

Puzzler's Instruction Sheet:

Usually I don't bother putting Stickers Instruction Sheet image for the review, but I'll make an exception to Puzzler since it's his figure is hardly available anywhere and people may need it later on.   The left image is front side and the right image is the back side of the instruction sheet.

NOTE-1: These two images are big so you should be able to read the text finely.  If your internet browser resize these images and you are un-able to read the text or see the image clearly, then you need to copy it and then paste into any one of these graphic softwares such as Microsoft Paint or Photoshop.  

R-4 Puzzler in Combine Mode:

Puzzler is composed of 6 members which consist of Tic Tac (head & body/ red car), Crossword (left arm/ orange car), Pocket (right arm/ yellow car), Jig Saw (waist/ white car), Zig Zag (left leg/ blue car), and Rube (right leg/ black car).  To me, Puzzler is one of the most under rated combiner action figure of his era.  His appearance definitely looks awesome while his articulation is also superb for his time, see R-5 and R-7 for more on articulation.  Furthermore, Puzzler doesn't require additional or supplementary parts to form him such as hand, feet, or head attachment like the Transformers Combiners action figures.  Instead, everything is build within the figure.   Puzzler biggest weakness is the elbow articulation.  Since there is no back stop in the connection, it is hard to make the elbow stay upright or fully extend out without bending on its own.

NOTE-2: Both the Gift Set Instruction sheet and the Individual Card Art show Zig Zag as the left leg while Rube as the right leg.  But on the Mailed Away Art box cover and the Regular/Retail Box Art box cover, it has these two in the reverse direction.

R-5 Detail's Transformation:

So how does Puzzler merge with one another?  Hopefully the image on the left is very helpful.  It is very important that the arm bots are connected properly into Tic Tac to avoid the constantly arm falling off.  The arm peg should be plugged a little bit above Tic Tac wheel and push all the way in (middle image).  If you do it correctly, the arm peg should be hidden and underneath Tic Tac skeleton chest (bottom right image).  If your Puzzler arm peg is visible and above Tic Tac skeleton chest, that mean you are connecting the arm peg just below the side chest metal hinge which is wrong.  Once the arm and body are in place, the siren on Jig Saw serves as a connector to Tic Tac.  Unfortunately this is actually a weakness connection because if you want to lift Puzzler, you would have to lift from the waist, not the body or arm to avoid the split off.  Next, the leg connection.  The head of Zig Zag and Rube are plugged into the feet of Jig Saw to complete the final transformation, top right image.

R-6 Articulation Showing Off:

Can your Transformers Devastator does this: arm split, leg split, elbow bent, or wrist bent?  I think not.  The second image where Puzzler does an unbalance sidekick did not require any additional help.  I was able to make him pose like that without any wall support.  And look, even his left hand didn't touch the ground for support as well.  I must admit, but I was surprise too, ehhee.  First image shows the fully arm extended out, the third image emphasizes his leg split ability, while the last image concentrates on his bent able wrist ability.  Puzzler elbow is bendable, so don't be afraid to put pressure on.  It's only stiff during the first time.

R-7 Puzzler's Box Art:

Here's a closed up shot image of Puzzler original box art.  I usually don't include box/card art in my review but because the Gobots card/ box arts are so rare and hardly any website has them, I decided to put into this review.  Unfortunately, almost all the Gobots' card/box art are cut off due to the bad presentation or arrangement on the card.  It is nearly impossible to find these Gobots Card Arts in any other medium or merchandize as way to get complete drawing since these Gobots arts hardly get produced into other format.  So the only thing we can do as Gobotron fans, is tried to fix these card arts by ourselves.

R-8 Rémy's Puzzler action figure review:

Manufacturer - Tonka/ Bandai.

Line, Series/ Wave: Challenge of the Gobot Line, Series: Unknown.

Year Issue: [1984]   

Made: [Japan] 

Scale: [N/A]

Box or Card Dimension In Inches: [LxWxD]  - Approximately  13 X 9 10/16 X 2 10/16 - Box.

Packaging Method: Mint In Sealed Box.  Contents were packed with the following procedure:

Rest down on the Styrofoam container are: "1" red car, "1" yellow car, "1" orange car, "1" white police car, "1" blue car, "1 black car, and above that is "1" instruction sheet.

Box Special Note: Front Box Appearance: Puzzler box art.  Back Box Appearance: Puzzler box art.

Approximately Dimension In Inches: Height Up To The Head:  7 7/16  Maximum Height: 7 11/16 (back of head hood)  Width from shoulder to shoulder: 4 3/16  Maximum Width: 4 1/2 (lower arm)  Dept: 3

Figure's Stamp/ Fine Print: Everyone except Jig Saw - BANDAI  ©BANDAI 1984, JAPAN.  Jig Saw - © BANDAI, 1984, JAPAN

Figure's Stamp/ Fine Print Location: Tic Tac toy stamp can be found in the inner side of his feet (right feet: BANDAI  ©BANDAI 1984, left feet: JAPAN).  Crossword toy stamp is on the back of his back.  Pocket toy stamp is on the back of his left leg.  Jig Saw toy stamp are found on his front right shoulder joint (©BANDAI 1984), and his front right thigh (Japan).  Zig Zac toy stamp is on the back of his leg (left leg: JAPAN.  right leg: BANDAI  ©BANDAI 1984).  Rube toy stamp is also on the back of his leg too (left leg: BANDAI  ©BANDAI 1984.  right leg: JAPAN)

Transformation Of Difficulty: [Medium]  

Material Durability: [-A] - Pretty durable.

Materials: Die Cast Metal:  Tic Tac - Waist, leg, and upper arm.  Crossword/ Pocket/ Jig Saw - Leg and arm.  Zig Zag/ Rube - Chest and leg.   Chrome Part: Tic Tac - Chest and arm.  Crossword/ Pocket - Headlight.  Jig Saw - Siren plate.  Rube - Front bumper.   Zig Zag - None. Rubber: Wheels (All).  Plastic: Main material (All).  Clear Plastic Window: None (All).

Stability: [A] - Pretty stable.   

Fun Figure: [A] - Combiner team is always fun due to many member.  Could be a little bit more fun if the action figures come with weapon.  But then again, Gobots action figures hardly come with any weapon.

Negative Drawback - None.

Articulations: Head: Cannot be rotated. Shoulder: Can be swung at a 360 degree as well as a180 degree sideway. Arm/ Elbow: Can be rotated at a 360 degree sideway.  Also can be bent at a 90 degree angle too.  Wrist/ Hand: Can be bent at a 270 degree..  Hip/ Waist: Cannot be rotated.   Leg: Cannot be bent.  However, leg can do a full split and can also be rotated at a 90 degree sideway.   Knee: Cannot be bent.  Ankle/ Feet: Cannot be rotated but feet can be bent downward.

Robot's Cartoon looks alike: [A] - Definitely looks like the cartoon.

Vehicle's Cartoon looks alike: [N/A] - Combiner has no alt. mode.

Special Notes: Here is "1" special note that I think you should know:

1 - Always lift Puzzler entire body from the feet and up to avoid the splitting and falling parts.

Overall Grade: [+A] - Although the elbow articulation is the biggest weakness, as a whole and when compared to some of the G1 Transformers combiners such as Devastator, Superion, Menasor, or Bruticus action figures, I still think Puzzler in a way is much better than these guys.

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