Payload vs. Ascentor

Size: Mini-Con (2-pack)
Overall Rating: 4.8
 

Payload
Vehicle ModeRobot Mode
Allegiance: Decepticon, Minicon
Difficulty of Transformation: Very Easy
Color Scheme: Gray, blue, light leafy green, and some silver, yellow, light grayish brown, red, and dull orange
Individual Rating: 4.4

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

    A blue jeep may not be all that realistic, but it that doesn't stop Payload's color scheme from looking fairly cool. The blue is really attractive shade, and the gray makes a nice accent color, as does the light green, and the latter two help Payload to share a "color scheme theme" with his teammates, Kobushi and Scattorbrain. The red-colored twine used for the hauling rope on the front is also a really nice color that catches the light well, too. Payload also shares the same general number of paint apps that the previous versions of this mold did, so no complaints there-- and the silver and yellow really blend in nicely with the blue, as well.
    No mold changes have been made to Payload-- however, like his teammates, he has a Decepticon symbol painted over his molded-in Minicon symbol, which is rather stupid.


Payload Bio:
You'd expect anyone as big and tough as Payload to be pretty dumb, or at least used to relying on his natural strength and endurance to get him through life. Many have made the same mistake, but you underestimate the intelligence of this Mini-Con at your peril. Payload would much rather outwit his opposition than destroy them in a straight fight. He therefore spends his time setting traps and pitfalls for Ascentor, who - while smart - is often distracted by his own thoughts.
Strength: 8.0
Intelligence: 8.5
Speed: 5.0
Endurance: 7.0
Rank: 6.0
Courage: 8.0
Fireblast: 8.0
Skill: 8.5

Ascentor
Vehicle ModeRobot Mode
Allegiance: Autobot, Minicon
Difficulty of Transformation: Very Easy
Color Scheme: Yellow, charcoal black, and some metallic gunmetal gray, black, and dull rusty orange
Individual Rating: 5.1

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

    Ascentor's color scheme definitely far worse than Payload's. He's almost entirely that horrid shade of yellow, and he has fewer paint apps than either of the mold's previous paint jobs to break up all of that icky color. The charcoal black isn't too bad of a color, and neither is the orange and gunmetal gray, but that awful yellow just pretty much negates any other cool colors he has. Although the fact that only his feet are dull orange, and no other part of his body is that color, is a bit of an odd color choice, methinks.
    No mold changes have been made to Ascentor. He does have a new tampographed Autobot symbol on the rear end of his turret, however.


Ascentor Bio:
Unlike Monocle, and Landslide, Ascentor maintained contact with the Mini-Con robots that returned to Cybertron after the Armada Battles. Over the years, he has developed a philosophical give-and-take with the Mini-Con Council of Sages. This ongoing discussion occupies much of his core processor time, causing him to be distracted, and vulnerable to the traps set by payload. However, his years of deep thought have also caused his sensory and motor-control systems to rewrite themselves, giving him what appears to be nearly be a sixth sense when it comes to avoiding pitfalls and sneak attacks.
Strength: 9.0
Intelligence: 7.5
Speed: 8.5
Endurance: 8.0
Rank: 6.0
Courage: 7.5
Fireblast: 4.0
Skill: 9.0

    Payload vs. Ascentor is the worst of the Wave 2 Minicon Vs. Packs. Both are pretty mediocre, uninspired Minicon molds to start out with, and though Payload has a nice color scheme, Ascentor's is rather gag-worthy. Not recommended unless you're a Minicon or Cybertron completist.
 

Review by Beastbot

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