Toy Reviews

Below are Sapphire and Lord Skyfire's reviews on the toys TM Rattrap, Depth Charge, TM Optimus, Season Cheetor and Dinobot, plus short reviews on: Inferno, Season One Optimus and Season One Megatron. All images belong to Skyfire and I.

Beast Wars toys are not hard to come by in South Africa. They're impossible to come by, which is why Sapphire had to purchase her toys while on holiday in England, and even then she had to search the shops of London to find tapes and toys. She still didn't find anything but her English aunt discovered a single Depth Charge toy in a store outside of London (I think). Of course she was over the moon with her wonderful toy and was addicted to them. She surfed the Internet and found a site where she could buy a Transmetal Rattrap - which she did. While in England, her younger cousins gave up their Optimus and Megatron toys (both season one) toys as well as an Inferno to her; they had lost interest in them long ago and were slightly confused as to why their much older female cousin was so desperate to have them! She took home this bundle to South Africa and there they remain, each having their own spot on her shelves and beside table.

She has decided to write reviews on the toys she has (along with some great reviews by Skyfire) and welcomes any other reviews on any un-reviewed Beast Wars toys.

This toy is wonderful. He is not only very detailed, but he comes with all his weapons. He looks just like he does in the TV show in both beast mode, flight mode and robot mode. His colours are correct for the most part and he has on him some shiny silver-gold parts as well. Cyber shark also looks great and attaches itself to his underbelly in beast mode and works as a gun in robot mode. His tail becomes his spear in robot mode and fits in his hand fairly well. He has his 'power pizzas' as Cheetor calls them in the form of yellow disks which fire from the chest in R. mode and from the mouth in B. mode by pushing down the blue fin on his tail.. They can be reloaded easily by lifting the head flap in both modes.

Criticism: He has trouble standing in robot mode so you need to take the remainder of his tail after removing the spear end, bend it at a 90° angle and use it to prop him up. Cyber shark doesn't fit very well in his hand unless his arm is totally outstretched horizontally. He cannot bend his arm while holding the gun. Cyber shark is a little too long.

Transformation: Depth Charge comes with instructions on how to transform him. From beast mode to flight mode it is fairly easy, the only real adjustments are the main fins turning up to becoming wings. They twist and move easily so maneuvering them into position isn't difficult. Robot mode to beast mode is fairly complicated at first but once you figure it out, it's no big deal. I transformed him firstly without instructions, although it took time and the help of my cousins to do it, and then I tried again with the instructions. I got the hang of it after a few tries and he's actually not too hard to transform. The same goes for beast mode to robot mode. Because he moves so freely and he isn't very stiff, you don't have to do much in the way of forcing things to change and move, giving the toy master more confidence when transforming this toy.

DC wasn't ready for his close-up, apparently.

Depth Charge in robot mode

Side-view of our beloved ray-bot

This toy looks good, works well and is a lot of fun. In robot mode he looks almost exactly how he does in the TV show and the same goes for his beast mode. The red parts of his body shine and add style to him and his colors are correct. He has a fully functional vehicle mode and if transformed correctly into this mode, he can move freely on his wheels. He also comes with the delightful extra of his fold out blasters. His tail moves well and becomes a spear in robot mode. Size-wise, he's fairly small (he can fit on one hand) and has that tough-guy look on his face in all his modes. He is fairly detailed in robot mode. My favourite way to have him, though, is in beast mode where he looks most like he did on the show and is easier to play with.

Criticism: He comes without his gun. I read somewhere that this was Hasbro's way of cutting toy costs and leaving the gun out left them with more money which they channeled into giving Rattrap his realistic appearance.

Transformation: Beast mode to vehicle mode is very simple. All you have to do is fold back his front paws which automatically bring forward the little wheels and tuck in his back feet into each rear wheel. You pull the rear wheels down so they are level with the front wheels and fold out the blasters on his back. Robot mode to beast mode is a different story. I'm terrible at transforming these guys so my difficulty in transforming this toy is much to do with my own incapability! Most people I've talked to find him easy to transform and he comes complete with instructions. I'm sure for most people he is, but not for me. It took me an hour to figure him out with instructions and longer to get him back into beast mode (the mode in which he has remained ever since!) Trying to cram everything inside his little beast mode tummy was a nightmare for me, his one arm bending weirdly, the other coming out from seemingly nowhere to hold his rat tail at his rear. Well, I did finally do it and I'm sure most people can, just a warning for those who aren't very good at mechanics: he isn't a piece of cheese to transform.

Rattrap in Beast Mode

RT (vehicle mode) waits for a bus to pass before he drives off. :)

Rattrap is hard to transform and his b. mode looks nicer...

Optimus Primal Transmetal

Optimus Primal Transmetal is amazingly similar to its TV counter-part. The details in Beast Robot, and Flight mode are spectacular.

In beast mode its chest is a shiny blue, which adds a nice metallic touch. His joints all move easily and just look great. In robot mode his chest has furry detail showing his beast form's true nature. His helmet has furry details as well and is nicely done. The face is similar to the shows, but not exact. And in flight mode there really is no extra features to include besides the air board. But it looks just like the show version of Optimus. Also the board has tiny wheels on the bottom so he can ‘surf’. lol

Optimus Primal Transmetal comes with all his weaponry from the TV show. His trusty handgun rests at his side on a hook, like device. And his maces hang on his back ready for use. Also his back plating folds forward to make his double-barreled cannon thingy.

In beast mode he is top heavy. His tiny little legs don’t really do the job of supporting him. Also in flight mode his airboard does not do a good job of supporting his upper body. And his beast mode head can not turn. So if he’s ‘surfing’ it doesn’t look right. He just keeps staring forward. But other then those points there isn’t much to complain about with this toy.

I think this is one of the easiest Beast Wars toy to transform, but I’m pretty good at these things so this might be reserved to the person that handles it. He’s fairly easy though and with practice you should be able to transform him with your eyes closed!

First off, beast mode to flight mode is the simplest transformation. All you do is fold down the rest of his legs, which are hidden behind his thigh. Vertically position them and fit together the two pins that extend from both legs. Finally just fold up the gun, to become the thruster, and there you have it! A surfing gorilla!

Now beast mode to robot mode is a little more complex, but again with some practice its very easy.

First, you open up his forearms and swivel his hands around. Then point the arms backwards, this being the direction the front of his body will soon be. Next, you unhook the side plates around his stomach area. Pull them up and slide the whole back plate, which they are connected, and place on the beast chest. Then you separate the two halves of his main body and fold the beast head down and the robot head up, after which you return the halves together. Next, twist his main body around, matching his waist and legs, with his robot chest. And finally, just fold down the legs from behind his thighs and you're done!

Transmetal Optimus in robot mode

TM Optimus in beast mode

TM Optimus in flight mode

Dinobot

Reviewed by: Lord Skyfire

One of the most loved characters of the Beast Wars series unfortunately gets one of the worst looking toys. In beast mode he looks fairly similar to the TV series version, aside from its chest area. There’s great detail though on the scaly skin of the beast form. His beast mouth opens and closes which is a nice touch. In robot mode he comes with his trusty sword and rotating tail shield.

I really don’t like this toy all too much. I love Dinobot, but this toy just stinks. His robotic form looks nothing like it does on the show. His face is the wrong color, is missing a mouth, and his shoulders are higher than his head. The moving parts don’t move as easy as others, also.

Ok this toy is very easy. You could figure it out without directions and on the first try. I’d say this toy is one of the easiest there is.

First off, fold the legs down from his beast chest and plant them firmly on the ground, while lifting up his tail. Next, slide the beast legs straight up. In an opposite position from where it started. Then position the newly formed arms into place. Next bend the small beast claws up so they appear to be grabbing his shoulders. Finally fold down the beast head to become the chest. There you have it!

Dinobot in robot mode

Dinobot in beast mode

Aside from a few differences, Cheetor is very similar to his TV counter-part. In beast mode his fur details give him a wonderful texture. In robot mode he is very sturdy and looks very similar to the TV version, aside from the face, which lacks detail. He comes with an armament of two guns. One that sits on his bottom as his tail and another fits into his beast mode chest area.

I only have a few problems with Cheetor. In beast mode his hind legs have spikes coming off of them, which is not very cheetah looking… lol. And his upper body area is very bulky, which cheetahs are supposed to have a lean slender body. In robot mode his front legs rest on his back, but they are easily broken off, luckily I have not experienced that, but a friend has. They just snap off so easily. But other than that he’s a cool toy.

This toy is somewhat difficult at first to transform. Since it’s an older toy extra care is needed and some joints don’t flow as easily as the other newer BW toys, Optimus TM, Rattrap TM, etc… But with some practice and directions you can master him. I’d say he’s a moderately easy toy to transform.

First off, fold down the fore legs until they can’t anymore; don’t force them! Second, straighten the back legs out and twist the waist around. Then twist the separate legs to have the blue metallic parts exposed. Next, fold out the little blue feet, which reside in the back of its paws. Now you have him standing up and you’re halfway there. Next, pop out the arms and swivel them forward. Then fold down the waist plate and position the beast head around to face front. Finally flip the mutant head, which seems to be some sort of insect, up to reveal Cheetor’s face!

Cheetor in robot mode

Cheetor in beast mode

The following toys I obtained second-hand and some had pieces missing from them, disallowing me to write an accurate review on them. Therefore I've just written very short reviews on what I think of them.

With battle mask

Without battle mask

In beast mode

Season One Optimus Primal: Great toy. He has missiles that fire pretty far, a mace and two long blades. He's very easy to transform and he looks good in both modes, particularly robot mode. He's fairly large, roughly the same size as Depth Charge and he can stand perfectly well by himself. A collectors item for sure.

Season One Megatron: Also a good toy. He looks fantastic in both modes and stands as well. He is a little more difficult to transform than Optimus but ultimately pretty easy. Unfortunately, I think I'm missing a part or two from him so I cannot elaborate on weapons, although he does have a water squirting tongue in beast mode which becomes his arm in robot mode which is pretty cool. A lovely toy.

Beast mode

Beast mode again...because I didn't feel like transforming him.

Inferno: Out of all the toys I have, he's missing the most parts! He looks pretty much like he does in the show, he is very easy to transform into beast mode and back and despite his large ant bum in robot mode, he stands perfectly well. He's a bit on the flimsy side, his body giving the impression it's been made out of cheap quality plastic but colour wise he's more or less correct, slightly transparent. By pulling apart the flaps that make up his rear (and they pull apart gently) you can open it up into its helicopter mode and if you press a button attached to the central part which is made to look like blasters (which they are in the show) the flaps spin together and looks like helicopter blades. A simple toy.

Inferno in robot mode

Inferno in beast mode

Inferno opens his propeller-butt

Have you got any Beast Wars toys? Would you like to add to my reviews or send in your own? They can be on any toys, including the ones I've already written reviews on. Send them in here stating your name and the toy your reviewing.

Note: All toy reviews are strictly the opinions of the web mistress and/or Beastbot and are not official reviews at all. They are nothing more than a fan's view on the transformer toys.

Beast Wars belongs to Hasbro, Mainframe and Alliance. I am just a fan dedicating a website to the TV series they created. I hold no rights over their characters. All characters belong to them, except the ones I created. The ones I made are copyrighted to me! This website and all my own created images belong to me. Also, I own no rights to the pictures you see on this website except for the ones I created myself. All Beast Wars images are from various websites that I have collected over the years. Should there be a problem, please e-mail me at sapphire15@starplace.com

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