Review – ZyBots Earthbreaker

Remco’s Zybots of the eighties were simply one more attempt to cash in on the remarkable success of Tonka’s GoBots and Hasbro’s Transformers toys in 1984. I strongly suspect that there were more brands of transforming robot toys in 1984 and 1985 then we’ll ever know, and it’s only by collecting and sharing photos and info online that we’ll ever even have a chance of tracking down a majority of the toys that were released.

Packaging

Fairly simple and straightforward, the Zybots blister cards each show the toy in vehicle mode while the back displays other available designs and the transformation process. These packages aren’t spectacular or even all that attractive, but the Zybots logo is as eightiestastic as we could hope for and deserves to be admired and enjoyed. I feel like I should be watching a TV movie or something with a logo like that; animate it with a lens flare or two and we’re good to go!

Vehicle Mode

This red and yellow bulldozer looks good enough for a $3 cheap transforming robot toy from 1984, and unlike the Bug Bots toy I reviewed a few days ago this one has some paint apps. The silver treads and black blade give the toy a lot more depth than if it were all yellow and red unpainted plastic. And hey, the silver paint isn’t even sloppy and nasty!

Transformation Design

You can check the card back for the step-by-step instructions, but in general anyone who has transformed even the most basic of Hasbro’s 1984 Autobot Mini-Cars can figure out this little Zybots robot’s transformation. The only annoying part is the arms — they stick pretty tight — and I’m actually thinking it’s best to leave the toy in robot mode so that I don’t destroy those arms trying to pop them out of the robot’s body. And no, the head doesn’t move at all. It’s rigid and staring forever forward as if it were a 1978 Chewbacca or Stormtrooper action figure from Kenner.

Robot Mode

The Zybots Earthmover toy — like most of the 1984 transforming robot toys, regardless of manufacturer — has limited articulation with swivels at the arms and . . . well, that pretty much covers it. Fortunately, paint details on the face and stickers on the legs and torso give the toy some extra color and interest, and overall the robot mode is equal to what Hasbro gave us with the 1984 Transformers mini-cars. The plastic quality feels cheap, though, so the toy definitely upholds the expected quality of cheap transforming robot toys from the eighties.

Closing Thoughts

Opening a toy that’s over thirty years old is always a treat, and even when it’s a cheap transforming robot toy like the Zybots Earthmover it’s an enjoyable experience. I was surprised at the amount of detail put into the robot’s sculpt, the painted face details are tight and attractive, and the stickers turn what would have been a two-tone design into a colorful and fun robot.

I’m unsure of whether or not these were designs by Remco or just purchased from a factory in Macau, but either way it’s a decent enough toy from the time and had this been a gift for Christmas of 1984 or 1985 I would have been happy. I cannot suggest you race out and search for these, but if you find any cheap Zybots toys in the wild it would be worth your time to grab one. It’s fun!