TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

Robot Mode:
Alternate Mode:
Box Art:
Technical Specifications:
STR
INT
SPD
END
RNK
CRG
FPR
SKL

Sir Auros' review of: TRU Reissue Prowl

Name: Prowl
Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Military Strategist
Sub-Group: (if applicable)
"Logic is the ultimate weapon."

Prowl will keep at a task for as long as it takes. Strives to find reason and logic in everything. A listener, not a talker. Has most sophisticated logic center of all Autobots. Able to analyze and advise on complex combat situations almost instantaneously. Fires wire-guided missiles and high-corrosive acid pellets. The unexpected can often scramble his circuits.

I recently picked up the reissue Prowl along with Jazz once the prices dropped from $35 USD to $20 and, like Jazz, I'm pleased with my purchase. I'd always had a casual interest in the Datsun figures from the early line and thought Prowl was the more interesting of the two, so I chose him instead of Bluestreak. This figure has some absolutely terrible stickers. The front turn signal stickers wouldn't stay on at all and the "Turbo" stickers for his legs would always come off with transformations. I really like the figure overall though and think it's probably the best (out of all I've ever actually played with) of the '84 Autobot cars.

Vehicle Mode:
Prowl's vehicle mode (though a Datsun HIGHWAY PATROL CAR) is a bit more credible than Jazz' and really looks uber-snazzy. Other than the faults in the body of the car, it's an excellent alt-mode that hides the robot within very well. Since there are no real flaws with this mode as I see it, I'm finding myself without a whole lot to talk about. I just really love the aesthetics of this figure in this mode and think that every element comes together to create an awesome figure.

Robot Mode:
Prowl's robot mode is pretty cool, but it does have some changes that many will find irritating. Like Jazz, the gun and missiles are black instead of chrome, and I personally like that, but the main issue is that his shoulder missile launchers no longer function. I guess the missiles were too small and sharp to be allowed, under current toy safety laws, to be fired from the figure, so the launching mechanism's been removed. While I think it would have been neat to use the launchers the way they were originally designed, I do understand, unlike many hordes of whiney fanboys, Hasbro is a toy company and this figure is a toy and thus has to follow toy safety laws. The missiles look fine enough just sitting there anyway and Hasbro really can't be blamed. I've found that Prowl's arms aren't as articulated as Jazz' and that his feet seem a little less solid, but man does he look good. Looks as awesome in robot mode as he does in car mode and I ultimately have no complaints.

Transformation: 8 - Didn't have to look at the instructions, but he has a fairly clever transformation that we can still see in use today. Arms under hood, swivelling legs, etc.
Durability: 7 - Seems fairly solid, but has a lot of stickers that either won't stay on or seem like they will wear off eventually. The arms and the hips come to mind for eventual wear...
Fun: 9 - Solid figure with loads of fun.
Price: 9 - $20 is quite reasonable and knowing how good the figure is, I'd be tempted at $35 too.
Summary: 10 - Easily my favorite of the early Autobot cars.