Chromia's vehicle mode
is a motorcycle, and it's a very solid mode. There's a few slightly-telling
connecting plastic pieces near the front, but otherwise there's no robot
mode extras visible whatsoever, and the proportions on the motorcycle are
fantastic. The mold detailing is particularly fantastic, with incredibly
small and intricate technical detailing on such things as the "engine parts"
near the main body of this mode and on the wheel rims. The overall color
scheme of dark blue, black, and gray/silver is pretty nice, if not spectacular--
mostly because it's a pretty darn nice shade of blue she's got on her.
(A few more paint apps on the black body pieces could've gone a long way,
though. She also has a piece that's obviously meant to be a license plate
near the back end, but it's not painted at all.) My one problem with this
mode that isn't just a minor quibble is that her main body parts have a
bit of trouble all lining up exactly and fitting in together in this mode,
sadly enough-- the tabs aren't quite long/deep enough to hold everything
in REALLY well. The "Cyberglyphics" on her main body are nice touches,
though, and help her fit in more with her "sisters" in vehicle mode. The
headlight is also clear, which looks pretty nice. She has the requisite
kickstand, and the headlight piece can also rotate a bit, which is unexpected.
What's really cool is that the piece that serves as her stand in robot
mode attaches--quite firmly-- to the rear of this mode to give her a LOT
of vehicle mode firepower, with two pretty big (albeit non-firing) gatling
guns not attached to her. Talk about prepped for battle!
As for Chromia's robot
mode, well... it's one of those modes where you're either gonna hate it
or love it on first sight. It's one of those robot mode that really stretches
the concept of what a Transformer's robot mode should look like. She's
got a unicycle wheel, no stomach at all (just two bars connecting her chest
to her... sternum?), and the front of the motorcycle sticking out of her
pelvis, which curves around in an interesting manner to down to her wheel-foot.
The aforementioned machine-gun piece used in vehicle mode becomes a stand
in this mode so you don't need to constantly prop her up (it's impossible
to get her to stand by herself without it), and clips in fairly well, though
not quite as solidly as it does in vehicle mode. I do quite like the asymmetrical-ness
of her robot mode arms-- it makes her look more unique compared to her
sisters-- with one arm being fairly small and "normal" while the one has
a HUGE (proportionally) missile launcher made out of the seat of her motorcycle
mode. There are two panels of her vehicle mode that just hang off her lower
arms, but otherwise she has no "extras" here in the traditional sense.
I think the tire behind her head and shoulder pads actually complement
the mode and make her look more unique. Chromia's head sculpt is well-detailed,
and identical to her sisters', but it's honestly a bit freaky. It's a bit
feminine in a way I can't quite describe, but it also looks kinda evil
and skull-like at the same time. Creepy. As far as articulation goes, Chromia
can move at the neck (at two points), shoulders (at two points), elbows
(at two points on the right arm, one on the left), and her body can move
up and down a bit where it connects to the motorcycle headlight/wheel assemblange
that makes up her lower body. Her lower wheel can also move up and down
a fair amount to make it look like she's riding "faster" or "slower", as
well.
Chromia is a very....
interesting... Transformer. Her vehicle mode is great-- almost flawless--
but her robot mode is so incredibly unique that it may turn off many Transfans
immediately, and I can't entirely blame them. I did wish she had a bit
more of an actual stomach, at least. Still, I hestiate to call it "lazy",
given how intuitive parts of her transformation are, such as how her chest
comes together. If you're looking for something very different when it
comes to Transformers, give Chromia a try. Otherwise, avoid at all costs.
Review by Beastbot