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TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

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Transformers Toy Review Archive (older series, 1984 to date)
Robot Mode:
Alternate Mode:
Box Art:

Sir Auros's review of: Alternators Rollbar

Name: Rollbar
Allegiance: Autobot
"Front wheel drive is for sissies."

Rollbar is a perfect symbol of my lack of willpower, propensity towards buying on impulse, and sad need to buy everything Alternators. It's not that I hate the figure, it's just that I wish I had been able to resist buying it solely because it was new and I have been a completist thus far with this line. The figure is nothing but a repaint of Swindle, and that, coupled with the Hound/Swindle mold being kind of average, had me planning on avoiding this figure. Ultimately, it's not all that bad, but it's not all that great either. It doesn't have the sentimental value that the Hound or Swindle characters would evoke, but it does have the same flaws in the mold. Flaws that are a little harder to overlook when you don't have a figure that serves as a good display piece for being based off a recognizable figure.

Alternate Mode:
The Jeep vehicle mode is undeniably great, but Rollbar is very similar to Swerve as both an uninspired repaint and quality. The shades of orangish-red used on Rollbar do not always match up and the black interior shows through a bit on the side doors. You can't argue with the Jeep Wrangler, but the mismatched plastic colors and visible interiors is crap.

Robot Mode:
If this figure shines in any way, it's in robot mode. The colors actually do look pretty good and the plastics that appear mismatched in the vehicle mode are less noticeable in robot mode since they're spread out all over the body. Like the other Jeeps, Rollbar has an ok amount of articulation, but the arms are stubby and lack a wide range of motion. The legs almost make up for it, as can be seen from the pose I have the figure in for the picture. This mode is the dealbreaker I guess, and if you like how Rollbar looks as a robot, then maybe this figure is worth picking up.

Transformation: 9 - Really pretty simple, and it hides the robot mode as well as the other Alternators.
Durability: 9 - No problems that I can foresee.
Fun: 7 - I'm sorry, but the fun factor for me is influenced by who the character was as well as the articulation. Rollbar reallly doesn't have much of either going for him.
Price: 6 - I kind of feel bad buying this and sending the message that an uninspired repaint is acceptable.
Summary: 6 - The figure has additional faults as well as all of Hound and Swindle's and then also has none of the bonuses.
 
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