TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

Robot Mode:

Alternate Mode:

Box Art:

Clay's review of: Megatron

Name: Megatron
Allegiance: Destron
Function: Destron Commander
Sub-Group: NA

Ah, reissue lines. In keeping up with Hasbro's Universe line, Takara has their on line of repaints: Robot Masters. However, Takara does one better: new, tiny molds for all the main characters! And this one of those... a Beast Wars Megatron revisited.

Some overall points: about half the size of the original, no water squirting, no spring loaded pincher, and the tail is now removable to reveal a left hand.

Alternate Mode:
Unlike the dinobots that came before him, Beast Wars Megatron had a tyrannosaur alternate mode that wasn't robotic - it was molded with skin detail to look like a real one instead of a metallic imitation. This carries over in the miniaturized version. The only real problem I've had with him is the tendency for him to fall over unless he's standing almost straight up. Maybe he's trying to impersonate a giraffe or something, because it's a little awkward stance for a t-rex.

Robot Mode:
In robot mode, he maintains a classic Megatron visage: a scowling bucket head. This is easily the frown to end all transformer frowns. In the stead of forearm-mounted rifle of the orginal Megatron, this fellow has a big dinosaur head. It may be somewhat more limited in effective range, but it sure is a lot scarier looking! The left arm maintains the tail-turned-pincher claw, but now it's removable to reveal a left hand. The articulation in this mode is great: he's flexible all around, and his head can even look up and down in addition to the standard left and right. Another spot of interest is the inclusion of a rifle/missle launcher that can be held in his left hand. It's a pretty translucent blue, but there's nowhere to put it in his dino mode, so it's made it to my easily-fired-missles-and-other-loose-parts bag for safe keeping. The last point of note is the change to a Decepticon/Destron symbol on his right shoulder. I suppose Takara wanted to keep the faction fighting down to a simple one-on-one for the Robot Masters line.

Transformation: 4 - He comes packaged in robot mode, so it's pretty simple to turn him back into a tyrannosaur. If you're starting in the dino mode, just pop off the tail and split the back. The rest is pretty straightforward.
Durability: 8 - A solid little toy. Now, what to do with that missle launcher...
Fun: 10 - An evil leader who turns into a big dinosaur! And tiny enough to take with you! What's not to like?
Price: 8 - I got mine online for $20. I'm very satisfied with it, though I should suggest shopping around for anything that can't be bought at a retail store. That's just common sense.
Summary: 9 - I like him. It's nice to have a quality Megatron small enough to tote around in a back pack, cheap enough to actually obtain, and have the improvement of a left hand over the original to warrant getting it. It's a cool little toy, to be sure.