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: G2 Grimlock

Name: Grimlock
Function: Dinobot Commander
Sub-Group: Dinobots
First cartoon appearance: S.O.S. Dinobots
"Among the winners, there is no room for the weak."

Grimlock is the most fearsome and powerful Dinobot. Although dedicated to the Autobot cause, he resents authority. He is a valiant warrior, but is also cold and merciless with contempt for the weak, including all humans. He has great strength and his jaws can break almost anything in two. He carries an energy sword and galaxial rocket launcher in Dinobot mode. Other than arrogance and lack of speed, he has no real weaknesses.

The first thing I have to say in this review is, "What is up with his techspecs?" A 3 for courage? Makes no sense at all. Anyway, I've always wanted a Grimlock but it wasn't until the last year that I finally bought one. I ended up settling for this blue G2 version because the gray G1 figures were prohibitively expensive for my budget. I'm not sorry I got this version because the color scheme actually isn't as offensive as one would imagine from pictures and the mold itself is really very good for a G1 figure. I could see a mold like this being reissued for a line like Armada or Energon and put many figures in those lines to shame, but it's more lucrative to reissue the G1 mold at a later date I suppose. As I said, I don't take issue with the color because it's really not as bad as it looks in pictures, and a blue, robotic T-Rex makes about as much sense as a gray, robotic T-Rex.

Vehicle Mode:
Grimlock's T-Rex mode is likely what drew so many kids into the character, but as an adult, I just don't see it as being that great. For a robotic dinosaur, it's pretty good I guess, but it also clings to a perception of dinosaurs that was outdated by the time the figure was released by Hasbro. The big, dumb and awkward aspect of the dinosaur mode seeped into the personality of the character, but that's neither here nor there. I suppose the dinosaur mode was fine for kids at the time the mold was designed, but seeing as how that portrayal of dinosaurs is intensely dated nowadays, this mode doesn't seem so great anymore. The jaws do open and close though, so that redeems just about anything negative about this mode though.

Robot Mode:
Faithful to the comic/cartoon representations of the character (as is the dinosaur mode now that I think about it) and a sweet mold for a figure that was first released by Hasbro in the 1984 G1 assortment. The figure has legs that are separate entities, arms that actually move and a nicely sculpted head. There could be more articulation of course, but that wasn't a big factor during G1 or G2 and as far as I know the only alteration to the mold was the change in color and materials used. There aren't a lot of poses you can put the figure in, but it doesn't matter because it looks awesome no matter what. The robot mode is just about perfect.

Transformation: 8 Simple, but also surprisingly innovative for a G1/G2 figure. Very well designed sequence.
Durability: 8 A tough toy, but the chrome does wear fairly easily over time like many other G2 figures.
Fun: 9 He's Grimlock. The power of the character alone makes him fun, but the mold is strong too and offers good play value.
Price: 4 He's Grimlock. The popularity of the character makes this a popular character and inflates the price to something I kind of think is fairly high. I was able to get this blue G2 version with no accessories included for over $20 and I rarely see either the G1 or G2 gray version go for under $30. The gun accessory seems to be easy to find, but the energy sword usually ends up in parts lots.
Overall: 8 Nice mold, coloring's not that bad, good play value, but a rough price most of the time.