TRANSFORMERS TOYS AND MERCHANDISE SECTION

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

Savannahtron's review: Skywarp

Name: Skywarp
Function: Warrior/weapons development.

Skywarp has never been interested in power or conquest. He simply wishes to be left alone in his pursuit of knowledge. He joined the Decepticons because Megatron was willing to give him facilities in which to work, and simply leave him alone. In return, he has produced countless powerful weapons and experimental systems for his comrades. He is personally equipped with mighty weapons that can twist the very fabric of reality into a smear of color and light, or rip mountains apart.

versus

G1 Tech Spec
Skywarp is the sneakiest of all Deceptions. Enjoys playing cruel pranks on fellow Deceptions and appearing out of nowhere to attack Autobots. Not too smart. Would be useless without Megatron’s supervision. Top speed of 1500 mph. Can instantly teleport up to 2.5 miles. Carries heat-seeking missiles and variable-calibre machine guns.

Yet another character that has changed and developed over the years with only a ghost to remind us of the G1’s past.

Alternate mode:

Skywarp is Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor and this is probably one of the best seeker representations as far as a Transformer imitating real life. The sleek black and purple color scheme really suits any Skywarp fan. The only feature that does not fit is the over-sized missiles and launcher protruding from under each wing. A more appropriate set of machine guns/missile launchers would have been the ultimate finishing touch.

Speaking of missile launchers, the three launchers are fused together as a cluster for each side. As you move the rear landing wheel, there is a little lever just behind the launcher that you can leave down for automatic firing. The launchers are extremely sensitive and Skywarp has a tendency to lose his load prematurely, always firing missiles at the wrong time and at the wrong target. Bad Skywarp!

Skywarp’s F-22 Raptor mode is definitely his best side.

Robot mode:

Skywarp is a Wal-Mart exclusive repaint of the Starscream/Thundercracker Movie toy. As a repaint, he gets a little overhaul as far as plastic color used and paint color used. The main colors are black and purple, but we do get a bit of gray on the calves and launchers. The color scheme fits well with what is expected of any Skywarp character, and the figure does a good job representing the movie character version of Starscream (detail oriented only) and translates into a pretty cool Wal-Mart exclusive toy.

When you transform Skywarp from the F-22 raptor mode into bot mode, he has very distinct places as a jet where thing go and thing click into place. This is not the case for robot mode. Things have a certain place to be, but for example, the shoulders look detached from the torso. Skywarp’s poses are limited as well because of the barrel-chested torso and the bulky arms with the tiny calves and feet.

The alternative robot picture tightens the bot up a bit to looks a little more Transformers like for me, but I know there are proponents for the alien looking bots, so I won’t mire this review with bashing on the contempt I have of some of the “looks great in cgi, but translates to epic crap when molded into plastic form” feelings I have. The two camps are 1) love the conceptual changes of what Transformers are supposed to look like and 2) hate the outrageously obnoxious conceptual changes of what Transformers are supposed to look like. Now back to the review.

Remember those massively misplaced missile launchers from the F-22 Raptor? Yeah, about that…they change into Skywarp’s arms, which obviously he has no other purpose than to shoot his 3 digit hands of at people, and when he is not busy, he can scratch his nose with one of the 3 rubbery claws that come out. Not to mention that, but did I say that his shoulders don’t really attach to the torso? Oh, last but not least the arms/hands/missiles are a nuisance when you try to move them because the slightest move will trigger the launch sequence.

Marks out of ten for the following:

Transformation: 7 only because when transforming into the F-22 Raptor, everything works and it is Skywarp’s best mode.
Durability: 4. Robot mode is very flaky.
Fun: 3. Really wish I had not purchased it.
Price: 6. $22 on a Wal-Mart rollback. I should have done a Wal-Mart rack back and not picked this joker up.
Overall: 4. Really a waste of space. Movie fan freaks are probably calling me all sorts of names right about now, but hey, do your own review right? The only redeeming quality of Skywarp for me is the F-22 mode. He rates right up there with Armada slag for me.