TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

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

Kamen's review: Rampage

Name: Rampage
Function: Forming Devastator with fellow Constructicons (although he can't actually do that)
Subgroup: Deluxe Vehicles

The stink of diesel fumes and hot tar follows Rampage wherever he goes. His treads are packed with metal shards from his victims, and the countless scratches covering his chassis are testament to hundreds of brutal battles. He lives to pound his enemies into submission, and thinks of little else. His idea of beauty is the sight of the sun glinting off the raw edges of shredded Autobot armor.

So....Rampage is a Constructicon....and he apparently creates modern art. It’s refreshing to see a Decepticon who’s not just a dumb thug with no prospects. Anyhow, I know nothing else about this version of the character; CGI images haven’t even been released of him. I'm really only interested in him because of his centaur robot mode. We'll see how that worked out.

Alternate Mode:

Rampage’s choice of transport is a yellow bulldozer. He has a big scoop...*cough* Where was I? Right. It’s a compact little machine, but very well detailed, a lot of which is lost with the overall yellow-orange colour. He features real rubber treads--pretty cool. They don’t move, and he does have a set of small wheels that the figure rests on. instead. They actually roll pretty well.

And that’s really all there is to say. His scoop doesn’t move all that much. What does move, however, is the little piece that fits into the fake hydraulics that would move the scoop. This piece just swings freely. It can sort of jam into place, but it comes free again easily.

Rather good, all things considered.

The Hammer

Normally, I’d leave this mode with a shudder and a snide remark, but this bit contains his Mech-Alive gimmick. In this mode, Rampage is essentially a giant pogo-stick...of DOOM. Okay, really, he’s half transformed and looking a bit daft...but look he has working pistons! Ain’t that swell? All joking aside, his gimmick does work extremely well, and I’ll admit that it’s disturbingly fun to jack hop him about. Some of the fun, unfortunately, is stolen by the ginormous slab of kibble hanging off his butt. It doesn’t help that it doesn’t peg securely enough to keep from coming loose during bouts of vigorous hopping.

For a tacked on third mode, this one is surprisingly fun. I really want him to use this in the movie now.

Robot Mode:

As I mentioned, the only reason I was avid about picking this guy up was for his robot mode. Rampage happens to have a unique quadruped configuration. In person, this feat is less impressive than the pictures. Mostly this is because he has a large gap between his front legs and the mass of kibble that unfolded to form his rear legs. The lack of continuity is rather disconcerting. But he can make up for it by having fantastic articulation, right?

Right. Now it’s time for another addition of how invasive gimmicks can screw a figure up. First, his head has pretty good articulation. His arms could use some elbows, but he still manages a large range of motion. The rear legs have two hinge joints plus some extra from the transformation that let them swing to the sides a bit. On the other side, his front legs have movement in two plains at the hips and a swivel joint at the knee. Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, the hopping mode I just praised takes priority. His thighs swing to the sides independently, but move vertically as a unit. Each knee can swivel in a 360, yet a spring keeps them from holding past a 45 degree angle. He does have a cut waste (oops, waist) for whatever that’s worth.

He has very good detail. Really. He’s chock-full of intricate designs and other details that give him a very layered design. I especially like the way his tread-whips thread through the gears on his arms. And the armored panels on his legs look fantastic.

Overall, Rampage is a good idea executed poorly. I think he would have been a lot better if the designers had focused on either the hopping aspect or the centaur aspect. Trying to do both really ruined him.

Marks out of ten for the following:

Transformation: Not too bad. Pegging the scoop struts back onto the treads when returning to vehicle mode is probably the hardest part. 4
Durability: There are lots of little bits flying everywhere. Most things will pop back on with no problems. 8
Fun: Doom Pogo=WIN. Otherwise, he just doesn’t have much in him. 10 (Doom Pogo alone) 5 (Overall)
Price: $12 USD If you have to have him, wait until he’s cheaper. 3
Overall: Rampage is a swell idea with several severe drawbacks. Get him if you need to complete your Constructicons, or like figures with wacky modes. 4