TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

Robot Mode:

Alternate Mode:

Box Art:

Sir Auros' review of: Snarl and Sludge

Name: Snarl and Sludge
Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Warriors
Sub-Group: Dinobots

In 2003, before Transformers Universe was out and in full-swing, Walmart had an exclusive Dinobots mini-line of figures that were essentially Universe figures (two went on to become repainted for Universe), so I'm including reviews for two of the three sets here. When I bought my first set (Triceradon and Slapper), I wished that I could have found the Snarl and Sludge set, because Snarl's robot mode looked insanely cool. Sludge, I wasn't so thrilled with, but the set seemed worth it for just Snarl. Now, of course, you can buy Snarl repainted as Autobot Striker under the Universe line, but you'd be paying the same price for that one figure that I paid for two. You sucker.

Alternate Mode:
Snarl, like his G1 namesake, is a Stegosaurus, and Sludge, much unlike his namesake, is a Dimetrodon. Both look good in beast modes, but Sludge's paintjob is kind of out there though. Since nobody has any good idea what dinosaur skin was colored though, I suppose it really doesn't matter. These two have some mobility in their legs, but not much else going for them. Sludge can split his fin in two in some sort of funktastic attack mode…Snarl has nothing but his looks. Of the two, Snarl certainly looks better, and I think he looks better than his Universe repaint too.

Robot Mode:
Snarl's robot mode was the driving force behind me buying these figures, and I really can't extol its virtues enough. He's some sort of badass, headdress-wearing robot. His tail detaches and can be used as some sort of really long gun. When you push on the fins at the larger end of the tail, it splits in three and shows this gorgeous inner gun. Looks like some sort of techno-organic masterpiece. Unfortunately, I can't get it to stay open in this mode without holding it myself. That's a shame too because it really is wonderful sculpting. The head, of course, is also well done and the chest looks good as well. Really, there's nothing I dislike about Snarl's robot mode.

Sludge, on the other hand, feels like a half-assed attempt at turning a dinosaur into a robot. The Dimetrodon head can't seem to stay on straight as his chest, his dinosaur limbs are kind of awkward, his robot limbs look like he's an Autobot version of Calista Flockhart, and his tail is an eyesore in robot mode. Sludge's head also really resembles BW Terrorsaur's for some reason. Unlike Slapper in the other two-pack, Sludge is really a rather worthless addition to this one because of a mediocre beast mode and a really fugly robot mode.

Transformation: 7 - Sludge is ok I guess, but I still have severe problems getting Snarl back into his beast mode from robot mode. I just can't get the legs to synch up right.
Durability: 9 - Ball socket joints here and no small parts to lose.
Fun: 8 - Snarl's pretty cool, but Sludge is just weak.
Price: 9 - $10 is still a great price for two figures, even if one is kind of pathetic.
Summary: 8 - I'd really only recommend this if you can find it somehow but can't find the Universe Autobot Striker figure since it's just a Snarl repaint and Sludge isn't a mandatory addition to anyone's collection.