Sunstorm w/ Activators Autobot Ratchet (Animated) [Target Exclusive]

Set Price: $25 U.S.

(NOTE: The Activators class Autobot Ratchet pack-in is the exact same as the regular release.)
 

Sunstorm
Vehicle ModeRobot Mode
Allegiance: Decepticon
Size: Voyager
Difficulty of Transformation: Medium
Color Scheme: Bright yellowish orange, dull red, chalky white, and some transparent red and black
Rating: 7.2

(NOTE: Because this is a repaint, this is not a full-blown review. This mainly covers any changes made to the mold and the color scheme, and merely compares it to Animated Voyager Starscream. For a review on the mold itself, read the review of Animated Voyager Starscream here.)

    Sunstorm here is an homage to the somewhat recently-named yellow "Seeker" in G1 who made a background appearance now and then. In Animated, though, he's more than just background cameo character-- he's a bonafide suck-up Starscream clone! The color scheme follows Sunstorm's fairly closely, with a bright yellowish orange being a main color and white being a main accent color. More dull red is used on Animated Sunstorm than on the previous Sunstorm redecoes, however (if it was used at all on those previous repaints). I like the addition of more red, as this is a rather loud color scheme, and using more of a darker color helps to tone it down slightly. It still is rather loud, though, all things considered. I do like the transparent cherry red, though-- particularly on the cockpit, where it's outlined in white paint. Sunstorm has some rather major paint app QA issues, however. Usually you can find a Transformer figure now and then that has bad paint, but from reports on the web it's apparently quite hard to find a Sunstorm that DOESN'T have bad paint. The lines are uneven or "off" slightly, and there isn't a thick enough coat of paint on the figure in regards to the white and dark red paint-- the orange "shows through" a little, particularly on the former. It's a real shame, as it makes the figure look a bit amateurish and messy.
    No mold changes have been made to Animated Sunstorm.
    Sunstorm is a nice enough homage to the obscure G1 Seeker of the same name, but the loud color scheme, combined with the sloppy paint apps, and medicore mold make this a pick-up only for Seeker fans or fans of the character-- particularly if you already have Activators Ratchet. Easily my least favorite of this mold's color schemes.



Sunstorm w/ Autobot Ratchet Character Bio:
Yet another clone of Starscream has appeared on Earth to threaten the Autobots. Sunstorm is a cackling madman, determined to destroy everything in his path. He is also a living power battery, absorbing any energy directed at him, from sunlight to high-powered lasers. Only Ratchet has the scientific know-how to develop a device capable of defeating such a powerful new enemy.
GALACTIC POWERS AND ABILTIES:
- Absorbs energy to use as powerful laser blasts
- Can generate blinding flashes of light
- Fastest clone of Starscream

Review by Beastbot

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