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: Thundercracker

Name: Thundercracker
Allegiance: Decepticon
Function: Aerial Warrior
Sub-Group: Earth Planet

This loyal DECEPTICON works under the command of STARSCREAM for the recovery of the Planet Key on Earth. THUNDERCRACKER believes that the most effective way to defeat an enemy is to terrorize and demoralize him before attacking. The mere sound of his focused sonic booms - audible for more than 200 miles - is enough to frighten many other TRANSFORMERS.

Thundercracker was the only Deluxe-sized Cybertron figure that interested me in the waves we've seen so far because he looked very much like a G2 Cyberjet. In many respects, this figure is basically a larger Cyberjet, but it lacks much of the charm the G2 figures had.

Vehicle Mode:
Thundercracker is a jet in a style one would expect to see in our world, which makes sense since he's stationed on Earth with Starscream. This mode looks fine and can launch a missile from the fuselage when the figure's key is inserted. I don't like this gimmick as it's too much like the Minicon feature gimmick of Armada and there's nowhere to store the key when you don't want the missile launcher out. The way this figure is most like a Cyberjet is that it looks good from above, but the robot mode is very poorly hidden below. This isn't really an issue for me, but it's worth mentioning. Overall, I like the jet mode, but could do without the gimmick.

Robot Mode:
Longtime readers of my reviews (do I have any fans?) should be familiar with my aversion to figures that don't have hands. I really thought Thundercracker's missile launcher wasn't actually his forearm when I bought the figure. I was very wrong and the whole left arm is this unwieldy missile launcher that can only be activated by inserting the figure's key. It's lame, it makes for awkward poses, and it's not something easily overlooked like the missile launchers on the Cyberjets. Their missile launchers did cause them to only have one "hand," but at least the things weren't almost as tall as they were and ruined their articulation. Thundercracker's head is also unable to move up or down and the whole figure really reminds me more of an Armada figure than Energon.

Transformation: 7 - Pretty much the same as a Cyberjet.
Durability: 8 - The figure is pretty solid, but I worry about losing the key.
Fun: 7 - Ok jet mode, but the robot mode is rather awkward.
Price: 7 - It's Deluxe sized, but reminds me of the crap that defined the Armada line more than the excellent Energon line.
Summary: 7 - Slightly below mediocre. I wouldn't recommend it.