TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

Robot Mode:

Alternate Mode:

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Box Art:

Blackjack's review: Cryo-Scourge

Name: Cryo Scourge
Allegiance: Decepticon, the Jungle Planet
Function: Warrior
Subgroup: Jungle Planet
Alternate mode: Dragon

To provide more toys at the end of the Cybertron line (to plug in the gap between Cybertron and the Movie), Hasbro repainted nearly all of the first and second wave of the Cybertron line, releasing them with MiniCon repaints from Armada, as well as the Alternators and Classic lines. As you might have well guessed, repaints are less attractive compared to the new Classics and Alternators mold. Therefore, Cryo Scourge, a repaint of Scourge which they didn't bother to give a new name to, stuck shelf warning at my local Walmart alongside Metroplex, Crumplezone and Nemesis Breaker. I was not interested in TFs at this time.

Then came the movie. Suitably impressed, I went and picked up my first Transformer--Power Up. Later I got Speed Dial and Starscream. In the few months that follow, I collected almost the entire Deluxe toys and the comics. Not bothered by the Titan reprints (hey, that was 24 years ago.) I fell in love with the Transformers. After watching the Cybertron VCDs, I was curious and bought Crumplezone (yup. The original release) and Cryo Scourge.

An example of bad merchandising, Cryo's bio contradicts the TV show. In the TV show he later became a good guy. Horrors. In this bio, it says he is mutated by space cold and turned into this new form. Of course, this mutation could happen after the TV series ended. Honestly, I can never stand bad guys who turn good in films. (Good guys who turn evil though... That's another matter. I like Darth Vader. And Nova Prime.)

Anyway, enough about me. Scourge's history then. Scourge has appeared in Generation 1 as the recreated form of Thundercracker, a herald of Unicron. He leads an army of Sweeps, generic soldiers identical to him. Scourge is famous for his large bat-like wings, claws, and... beard. Okay, moving on... The G1 Scourge would get a second Targetmaster toy, with Fracas. The next Scourge, from BW, is a toy-only Transmetal 2 locust. Well, he appeared in IDW's Beast Wars books actually. Next up, CR's Black Convoy is dubbed Scourge in English. Therefore, that was the first Scourge to be an evil Prime. The next Scourge, this one, is also a twisted leader, the evil (but honorable) king of the Jungle Planet. Later, due to the nagging of his human 'little sister', Scourge became good. Disgusting. There are also rumours of a Classics 2.0 Scourge, but not sure if this is confirmed. Probably true, as we have Galvatron and Cyclonus, hmmm?

ALTERNATE MODE
Scourge transforms into a mechanical ice dragon. By the looks of it, he's some sort of Transmetal 2. Maybe... I never saw a Transmetal 2 toy in the flesh, only pictures and photographs. Regardless, when I saw RiD Cryotek's art, it hit me that Cryo Scourge is done in honor of him. Personally I would have preferred a Hun-Grrr reference, but I'll take what I can get.

Scourge has a spiked head, and the head is quite well sculpted. Actually, his body is very detailed, with numerous sculpted detailing, resembling what pictures I have seen of Transmetal twos. However, it does make the beast mode looks to busy and mechanical.

Scourge's frontal shoulder spikes are beautifully molded, with spikes and detailed mechanics. This completely makes up for the lack of wings. No wings, unlike a certain dragon, Yessssss......

Scourge's claws (transmetal claws according to Hasbro's website) are now moulded in translucent blue plastic, symbolizing the icy death he is bringing to the Autobots. The limbs are very poseable, especially the dorsal ones, they have ankle joints, yea!

The tail is the huge disappointment. Unlike the huge whip like tail we see in the animated show, Scourge's tail is a stiff brick, with only a single joint in the middle to move it. Actually Scourge looks better displayed WITHOUT the tail. The point where the tail connects with the arse is also moulded in icy blue.

Little kibble is seen, other than the back of the robot mode head on the neck. There is a button on the back, press it to create some freaky dragon sounds. Well, maybe not too realistic, but it lights up the dragon head with red lights. This should be blue, as Scourge is now a creature of ice, not fire. But then...

Insert the jungle Cyber Key included and the Generation 1 transformation sound effect kicks in and you get the...

'HYDRA' MODE
Yes, the box labels Scourge as a triple changer. Don't make me kill you, Scourge. Actually, the Cyber Key causes two smaller dragon heads to pop out from the shoulders, and looks cool, really. The heads are also accessible in robot mode, hanging from the shoulder.

That's all folks. After a Transformation that ends up suspiciously alike with G1 Wierdwolf and Animated Snarl, you get the robot mode.

ROBOT MODE
Badass! Robot mode actually manages to look very nice. Well, due to the poseability anyway, especially on the lower part of the body. Poseability is the name o' the game with Scourge.

The elbows, frankly, suck. They don't bend all the way, not too poseable, but then at least they can move. Scourge's shoulders are impressively done, with the sculpted designs working good in both modes. Colouring is also very impressive, with white and light blue and aquamarine blending excellently. Just watch out for white paint wear on the tips of the shoulder spikes.

Scourge's legs has an ankle joint, enabling him to pose very excellently, (is that a word?) and the clear icy plastic on the beast claws adds to the icy frosty feeling it delivers. Ice ice baby...

Scourge's axe weapon is too long, and the tip, that folds out, breaks easily. Mine does. Oh, and the tiny piece that sticks in Scourge's fist falls off from the axe easily, meaning Scourge can't pose too well with the axe. Therefore, the axe has been delegated into my accessories box, where few ever come out... Stuff there include Salvage's truck bed, Movie Starscream's missiles, more than half a dozen Cyber Keys, Animated Prowl's traffic light, Legends Jazz...

Head sculpt actually resembles G1 Blaster from the back, but from the front it looks like the Animated thing. And the yellow eyes are quite cool. And, to emphasize again, the ankle joint is rather unusual for a Transformer, especially since some legs are bricks anyway. Need an example? Payload. The Strongarm mold. Armorhide. Sky Shadow...

Anyways, that's the robot mode in general. Love him, but not the axe. Burn and melt the ice axe. He has two cannons... Er... hydra heads... Why does he need the axe? Please Hasbro... Make a Hungrrr redeco of the LOC mold...

DURABILITY 6/10 the axe is easily broken, but who cases?
PRICE 4/10 Not what I expected from an Ultra class, but alas, I can't stand shelf warmers. It's a weakness.
FUN 9/10 good poseability=hours of fun.
TRANSFORMATION 1/10 easy for such a big toy.
OVERALL 6/10 a great toy, but not warranting a second purchase he you have the original Scourge.