(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 Cybertron Defense Red Alert. For a review on the mold itself, read the review of Cybertron Defense Red Alert here.)

    Universe 2.0 continues its schtick of homaging formerly teeny toys with big repaints with Countdown here, who was originally a moon buggy Micromaster. The colors are mostly the same as on the G1 version, being red and white with some dark blue added to help vary things a bit more given the large size of this toy. The dark blue really works well, particularly in vehicle mode, and contrasts very well with the white and red. A dark transparent blue is used fo the transparent bits, and looks quite nice against the gray and white. Making the white almost solely reserved for the rocket-missile was a very good decision as well, as it makes it look more like a space rocket-- appropriate, given Countdown's history. His heavy treads and armored plating on the main vehicle even make it so he wouldn't look out-of-place on some remote moon or asteroid, so all things considered this was an ingenious choice to repaint the mold into Countdown. Countdown's color scheme also allows for several paint apps, mainly of the silver and dark navy blue variety. Suffice it to say this definitely isn't one of the toy's weakness, as no patch of plastic is particularly barren, save for the rear gray part of the rocket.
    No mold changes have been made to Universe 2.0 Countdown.
    Universe 2.0 Countdown is a pretty nice repaint of a dynamite mold, and a great obscure homage to boot. If you don't have any version of this mold, get this toy or the original Red Alert version-- either color scheme looks equally good, IMO. If money is no object, though, then spring for Botcon 2006 exclusive Megatron instead, though, as I like that color scheme a little better than this one.

Review by Beastbot

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