Review – Transformers Prime Cyberverse Vehicon

Yesterday I spotted Transformers Prime toys (site sponsor TFSource search, Amazon.com search*) in Wal-Mart and scanned the pegs to see what was available. I had been intending to skip the line after the disappointing Transformers Prime FE Bumblebee (review here), but the Cyberverse Vehicon looked fun enough that I decided to give the toy a shot.

Packaging

Merely adequate. The packaging is perfectly functional, and I like that they show some of the animation artwork on the front of the card, but overall it feels like the packaging design is less about the graphic design and more about “well, we needed something to hold the toy.” If anything it feels like older packaging designs with some font and color changes. I think it’s time for Hasbro to try something dramatically new whenever they get back to creating a new Transformers series package.

Vehicle Mode

Very nice. I prefer the car without the weapon attached, but overall I have to say that I’m a fan of the vehicle mode of this Vehicon and that I can’t wait to get this design in the “Deluxe” size. Sleek and powerful, I like the silver windshield and the pincer-like airdam best, and this design as a “Deluxe” may be one I have to snag a couple of if only because it’s really an attractive car and I’d like to display the toy in both vehicle and robot modes at the same time. This small version is well done which gives me hope that the “Deluxe” will be spectacular.

Robot Mode

Not bad, especially when keeping in mind that this is a “Legion” Cyberverse toy. The robot mode has very little in the way of articulation — ball-jointed hips and shoulders, hinged knees, and an extra hinge at the shoulders (see the pics) — but I didn’t expect a lot of articulation. I also didn’t expect the sculpt to look as good as it does, but maybe it’s just because I was predisposed to like the look of this toy just based on how the Vehicons look in the cartoon.

The paint apps are minimal and unexceptional, but what is there is relatively clean and the toy looks pretty good for the size. Actually, my only complaint with the toy is that it’s not a “Deluxe” class, and that’s hardly fair to this toy because I knew going in exactly what I was getting. I guess I just like the Vehicon design enough that I was impatient and grabbed this the second that I spotted it. Smart, Hasbro, to put this in front of me before a “Deluxe” Vehicon. I doubt I would have even bought this if the “Deluxe” was already in my collection.

Closing Thoughts

There’s nothing innovative or exciting about this Cyberverse Vehicon, but it’s a perfectly decent toy that should make kids quite happy. The transformation is very easy and doesn’t take much effort and the sculpt is quite nice for the size. But if you’re a Transformers collector who doesn’t usually go for the smaller toys I suggest waiting for the “Deluxe” Vehicon.

Philip Reed also grabbed a few Bot Shots toys and hopes to get those opened this weekend. The one he already has is okay, but he likes the concept enough that he grabbed two more as soon as he saw them in the store. Yes, Philip is a geek.