Enjoys: Logic, calling Batman "Detective"
So all of this Dark of the Moon toy review stuff has convinced one of my ad networks that my site is primarily astronomy-related. Which isn’t, like, terrible, but I wonder if I type “Transformer” like 30 times, I can reverse that. Transformer! Action figures! Transformers 3! Toys! Shockwave! Optimus Prime! Megatron! Shokaract! Lord Imperius Delirious!
Anyway.
Man, I want a Shockwave in Leader Class size! Though I don’t rate my chances, even if there were Decepticon Leader Class toys planned. He feels like he fills the same slot as The Fallen‘s Voyager Class toy did, last movie. The Fallen was the big bad but never rated a larger toy, probably because he’s, y’know, a villain who isn’t Megatron.
So this is likely it, regardless.
Also like The Fallen, Shockwave transforms into a Cybertronic vehicle, though Shockwave’s tank mode is a lot less “pile of robot mode parts in awkward sex pose” than The Fallen’s jet-thing. Shockwave compacts into a pretty solid brick with a cannon and a blade on top. Everything pegs and slots together really solidly, too. Lots and lots of pegs and slots. You could smash him repeatedly into a wall and he’d stay together. (It does take a bit of excessive force to get him OUT of tank mode…)
Cybertron's vehicle designers are paid by the surface area.
The only really annoying thing about the tank is the rubber cord that runs from the tank cannon to… somewhere on the tank. It’s supposed to plug somewhere, but the instructions aren’t really helpful about where. It seems like it’s SUPPOSED to plug into the very conspicuous 5mm peghole buried in the dead center of the vehicle, but… Well, the hole is mounted inside a barrel that’s tilted a little to the right, which helps in robot mode, but in vehicle mode it just means the cord’s not gonna want to fit very well. It wants to occupy the same space as the tank body, since the barrel’s angling it into the tank itself. Grar.
Both the cannon and the blade can be removed, but I dunno why anybody’d want to.
Shockwave’s assortment of purples are very pretty and metallic-ish. He’s most beautiful purple logic-ruled emotionless mastermind ever. Which… doesn’t exactly match what we’ve seen of him in promotional renders and the trailers, where he’s basically gunmetal gray like every other Decepticon ever. But I’m pretty okay with the inaccuracy. He’s neat-looking.
EDIT: Oh, hey, apparently Hasbro’s putting up transformation demonstration videos. Here’s Shockwave‘s. Neat.
EDIT 2: And also apparently I’ve been plugging his wire in the wrong place, if the video’s accurate. Hrm.
Must. Have. Purple. Logic. Robot. *drool*
His tank mode reminds me of that arcade game “Metal Slug.” Lol! Have ya found a way to turn him into a Cybertron Lightpost yet? =P
Just bought Voyager Megatron: awesomeness. And Cyberverse Ironhide, too, because he almost looks in-scale real-world style next to Megs.
In closing (to help get ads back on track): Collectors series! Highly possible figures! Robots in disguise! More than meets the eye! You’ve got the touch! You’ve got the power! Peace through tyranny! Ratcheting joint structure! Real launching projectiles! Highly poseable! Based on the cartoon! Based on the hit comic series! Based on the hit block buster of the summer! Nostalgia!
- a_o_t_8.
Soundwave was the lamp post, not Shockwave.
Still looking for Shockwave but were I am it took me a week and a half dozen stores to find a Voyager Megatron amid the Solar Panel Prime’s and Ironhides. Not holding my breath.
Damn, you’re right. =( I seriously need to second guess myself more before posting these days. First I called Graham “Grant” then I call the new DOTM HA figure “Treadshot” when I meant “Thunderhead”… *sigh* the mind; it’s not braining too well.
I think I like where *you’ve* placed the wire better than the “official” placement, nicely tucked in over the tank body rather than sticking way out to the side like that.
after looking over most of the toy catalogs for this film, i am not impressed.
HOWEVER. crappy so not a tank no matter hwat you peopel think otherwise aside… I like his robot mode.
might be my one and only buy for this film’s toyline. <-isnt that sad.
To be fair, it’s no worse a vehicle mode than Energon “We’ll Just Pretend There’s Actually Mass Between These Flimsy Rear Treads” Shockwave.
touche
I really like my DOTM Shockwave without totally loving it. Mostly, it comes very close to filling a void I have for never having the original shockwave. So I appreciate that the design time decided to make him so recognizable. He’s basically G1 Shockwave on
steroidsTitan formula from Arkham Asylum.I like his altmode a lot too. I don’t mind that it’s “Cybertronian” because I feel Shockwave always had Cybertronian alt modes. (unless someone can point out any real examples of giant purple laser cannons. Oh and it only counts if it also existed in 1984.) And I agree, it’s a more satisfying design than Fallen’s or Megatron’s from the first two movies.
The only real downside to him is that he’s one of those figues who really only seems to have one effective pose: brandishing his giant laser. So in that sense he’s not quite as good as Animated Shockwave, the most fun Shockwave ever. But DOTM Shockwave looks more like the original.
I really like the look of his design, but the colors don’t do it for me. If they redecoed him in a lighter bluer purple (and a yellow eye), then I’d buy like three of him. Bring on Leader class, Hasbro!
In some ways I want to get a shockwave, whenever his toy actually shows up here. In other ways, I’m not sure I want him. Those stupid little wheels at the front of his tank mode are such a poor example of mechanical design it really ruins it for me.
Oh well, at least I finally have a deluxe Ratchet.
I prefer to plug the wire into the port on the back of the opposite shoulder.
It’s actually the result of a kickback deal they have with the Cybertronian Painters’ Union.
I went totally crazy for these toys for some reason after never owning a single movie toy. Its nice to actually have a shockwave, they don’t seem to make him too often. Are you going to review the Lowes car/Jimmy Johnson/Transformer with maybe a mullet guy?