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: Smokescreen

Name: Smokescreen
Allegiance: Autobot
Function: Diversionary Tactician
Sub-Group: NA
"A look can be deceiving; a touch can be lethal."

Whether Smokescreen is engaged in raging battle or a friendly conversation, an ulterior purpose usually exists. Job is to lead enemy astray. Sneaky, but charming and affable. Considered most devious yet most trusted of all Autobot warriors. In car mode, emits thick smoke from tailpipe. In robot mode, shoots missiles that wreak havoc on enemy aircraft radar and guidance systems. Electro-disruptor rifle shorts out electrical targets.

I recently picked up the reissue Smokescreen at Toys R Us because it was on clearance for a paltry $6.98 instead of over $20. The figure looks decent and is virtually identical to Autobot cars like Jazz or Prowl. I certainly like the reissue's color scheme better than the Alternator incarnation's.

Vehicle Mode:
Smokescreen is some sort of race car. I'm not sure if he's supposed to be a rally car or what, but it looks pretty good. The sticker instructions want you to put an Autobot insignia over the "38" on the hood (that apparently wasn't there on the original), and I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Due to the differing colors, the fault lines in Smokescreen's vehicle mode are very obvious and the stickers that show up through the rear windshield are pretty loud. There's a lot of die-cast parts in the vehicle mode and the figure has some weight to it despite being fairly small. The best trait about this mode is definitely the paintjob though. The red, white, and blue combine well and it feels subdued and appropriate instead of deafening you like Alternator Smokescreen's.

Robot Mode:
The figure's robot mode is pretty much identical to the other Autobot cars and also similar in the general scheme to the current Alternators line. The missile launchers have had their firing mechanisms removed, apparently due to safety concerns. Unlike many, I'm not going to complain about this, mainly because I'm not a non-functioning member of society that fails to understand that Hasbro is a toy company and has to comply with US toy safety laws. They still look good anyway and I wouldn't fire them anyway since I tend to keep my reissues in their pretty boxes. Smokescreen has a fine range of articulation in the arms, but that's the only place. Would've been neat if the head could move some way, but the legs not moving don't really bother me so much since most of the G1 figures are like that. The robot mode looks as good on display as the vehicle mode.

Transformation: 9 - Takara had a good formula down with these and it's been imitated and improved with the Alternators figures.
Durability: 7 - I could see some parts having paint chipping or getting really loose, but my main complaint are all the stickers. The adhesive on them is awful and they tend to either peel on their own or get bunched up in the transformation.
Fun: 8 - Not much in the way of articulation, but it looks good and could be fun for sentimental attachments.
Price: 10 - Definitely a bargain for me at just under $7. Around the same price you'd have paid for this figure when it was originally released almost 20 years ago.
Summary: 8 - A worthwhile addition to any G1 collection if you can find it on reduced price at Toys R Us.