I hope you guys aren’t getting tired of Transformers. I try to mix my reviews up a bit so that you don’t have to read about the same toy line constantly, but I also wanted to get this guy out of the way before more show up.
Of course it also helps that this Vehicon is a damned good toy. When it comes to which line is better between Transformers Prime First Edition and Robots in Disguise, I usually side with the First Edition. I do like the RiD figures I’ve picked up so far, but the FE line just seems to have more advanced engineering, articulation, and even character designs in a couple cases. But without a doubt I can definitely say that the RiD Vehicon blows the FE version away.
If you haven’t been keeping up with the Transformers Prime cartoon, Vehicons are the nameless and seemingly unending soldiers that Megatron has at his command. There are hints that each Vehicon is their own unique personality and not just mindless drones, but the show really hasn’t focused on one long enough for the watchers to see any sort of persona or grand gesture of individuality before being blown up by Autobots and even Decepticons.
This gives the writers on the show a large chunk of plot to mine for ideas, but sadly it doesn’t seem they’re interested in going down that road yet. Personally I’d love to see a Vehicon defect to the Autobot’s side. Not only would this give us the interesting perspective of a Decepticon soldier, but it could also clear up a lot of the confusion as to just how individual these characters are.
Enough about plot, let’s look at the toy! As you’d expect, this figure is a damned good representation of the robots we see on the show. But what’s even more striking to me is how much better he looks than his First Edition counterpart. Sure both figures have the same general shape, but the RiD version isn’t hampered with all that boxy kibble.
The sad thing is, the FE figure isn’t a bad toy. It’s just his abundance of kibble coupled with an overly complicated transformation sap away the fun and enjoyment you should be getting. The RiD figure solves all these problems with a pretty unique and well engineered transformation. Instead of storing the top part of the car behind the robot, like the FE does, they made the whole top of the car fold up and form the figure’s shins. This gives the figure strong looking legs while getting rid of the overabundant kibble issue. Pure genius, and one of the few RiD engineering feats that surpass the First Edition line. Continue to page 2…
Great review.
I think the only downside to this toy is how heavily scalped he is as an army builder. You see them sold for $25+ on ebay! Fortunately it seems there’s a case with 2 vehicons to it (only one Bumblebee to a case? MADNESS!) which should help people get more of these guys.
And yes, I prefer this mold to the FE one. My only regret is what you mention about the extra clear windows on the FE mold, but you can’t get everything now, can you?
Great review, as per usual!
Now, let’s see if I can find one of these guys. Considering how long it took the Prime RID Soundwave to get to England, these should start showing up just before Christmas.
Looking at them side by side in person, I like the other one more. His face is cuter. 😛
I like the fact that at first glance, there does seem to be some re-use of parts between FE and RID, but a closer look reveals this is not the case. which may be good if you’re buying every TF out there, but if you pick & choose, like me, you almost feel like you’re missing out on something. Regardless, I still like the RID version.
I usually try and transform these without using the instructions the first time, and the legs were giving me the most trouble, forcing me to look up how they were done. Switching back to vehicle mode was easier after I knew the trick.
I’m probably stating the obvious, but RID Vehicon’s gun does clip onto his forearm and you flip his back into the arm to simulate the hand morphing into weapon thing they do on the show. With the large gun, it doesn’t look a whole lot different than when he’s holding it, but it was a thoughtful inclusion for variety’s sake. I don’t have First Edition, which I imagine pulls it off a bit more convincingly.
Pretty well done and cleverly designed figure at a time when unfortunate budget cutbacks are making some current and upcoming deluxe designs seem rather lImited. Glad to see guys like Vehicon and Ratchet overcome that. Hoping the eventual return of G1 style Generations benefit from the solutions we’re seeing in Prime toys.