The Transformers Archive Skip to main content / Also skip section headers

[The Transformers Archive - an international fan site]
Please feel free to log in or register.

 
  • transformers forum
  • transformers fandom
  • transformers toys
  • transformers comics
  • transformers cartoon
  • transformers live-action movies

TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

Hover here to pick reviews from this section! ↵
Latest Reviews, Toy Checklists,
Resources & Current Lines
Transformers Toy Review Archive (older series, 1984 to date)
Robot Mode:
Alternate Mode:
Additional Image:
Additional Image:
Box Art:
Technical Specifications:
STR
INT
SPD
END
RNK
CRG
FPR
SKL

Detective Barricade's review: Starscream

Name: Starscream
Function: Air Warrior Supreme
Sub-Group: Animated Voyager class

Galactic Powers and Abilities:
- Fastest vehicle mode of any Decepticon.
- Aerial assault and tactical blitz expert.
- Weapons can shatter metal and disrupt electronics.

Quote: "Power is it’s own justification."

No one really likes Starscream, not even other Decepticons. Who can blame them though? He’ll do whatever it takes to gain control of the Decepticons, even going so far as trying to destroy his commander Megatron. Of course, he’s also nearly as powerful as Megatron, and just as sneaky. He’s the fastest flier there is, and even Optimus Prime would have a hard time beating him in a fight. He’s the best there is at what he does. Even so, he sometimes overrates himself, and that’s why he’s still second in command.

One of the best known Decepticons, Starscream has been mostly known for attempting to overthrow Megatron to become leader of the Decepticons, and always turning into a fast fighter jet. So guess who’s back for Animated? Only this time, he’s more determined, more opportunistic, and more overconfident! Anyway, on to the review!

Alternate Mode:

Starscream turns into a futuristic jet, supposedly based on the Sukhoi Su-47 Berkut. It certainly has the distinctive forward swept wing design, which apparently really does work well in the present. He has a set of three landing gear, one under the cockpit, and one on each of what will be his legs. These aren’t spring-loaded, but hold due to pressure, and can be a real pain to get out. His arms and legs are clearly visible from the underside, but they’re not as cluttering as Movie Voyager Starscream’s robot parts in alternate mode.


In vehicle mode, Starscream’s blasters can flip forward under the fuselage for an “Attack Mode”. From here you load the missiles, which have a neat little “Bullet Bill” (of Super Mario Bros fame) style face, into the blasters and push the triggers on the sides to fire. In robot mode, the blasters can slide forward to open his arm panels.

His main colors include red, black, yellow-orange, and a light blue-purple, similar to Movie Voyager Blackout except a little darker. He also has gold Decepticon symbols on his wings. The colors in robot mode are the same.

Transforming Starscream is almost too easy! First, flip the blasters back and retract the landing gear. Next, open the nozzles to form his feet. Then, gently tug the legs away from the wings, and rotate the lower torso section over to the front. As this happens, several automorphs kick in: the nosecone retracts, the arms rotate out, the head extends back, and the back springs down forming the robot’s back. Lock the torso together. Open the back panels and flip them out. Push the back down under the front landing gear to have it catch. All that’s left is to reposition his limbs. For the legs, rotate the leg forward one click and the knee back one click. Now Starscream is in robot mode!


Robot Mode:

In robot mode, Starscream looks like he just came out of the cartoon! There are of course some differences, such as the blasters being different, the color of his Decepticon symbols, and how his feet form. His overall look is a more stylized Seeker appearance than his past incarnations. And he has one of the largest chins on any Animated figure. His Decepticon symbols are also right-way up in robot mode. His face has his classic overconfident smirk molded on, which benefits from the excellent light piping. He’s also very steady, which means one doesn’t have to fight with any tendency to fall over.

Animated Starscream is possibly the most articulated of any Starscream figure, with the exception of MP Starscream. His head is on a ball joint, which lets him look up, down, left and right a bit. The shoulders are ratchet joints (the “clicking” joints), but due to his wings, they can’t rotate a full 360 degrees. The joint below the shoulder swings in and out, the elbow rotates 360 degrees and bends up and down. His fingers and thumb move in and out a little. His hips can ratchet back and forth, as well as in and out, the thigh rotates 360 degrees, and bends in and out because of transformation. The knees ratchet forward and back. The feet are on ball joints, allowing them to rotate up and down, and side to side. The only spot that could’ve been articulated but wasn’t, were the wrists, forcing Starscream to have his hands in a “Bring it!” position. I don’t see how the waist could have been articulated due to the transformation, so I can’t complain there.


Marks out of ten for the following:

Transformation: 3 – Extremely easy. Slightly harder to get back into vehicle.
Durability: 9 – A few bits pop off, but they’re meant to, so it’s no big deal.
Fun: 10 – He's fun, until he shoots someone in the eye. That's not so fun...
Price: 7 – He's certainly big enough to be a Voyager, and is worth the $20 USD.
Overall: 10 – It’s Starscream! How can you not pick this up?
 
With thanks for long-term support to sponsors: