Review – Transformers Sunspot
The Transformers Hunt for the Decepticons* series, a movie-based line, hasn’t exactly attracted much of my attention. I’m really not a fan of the movie characters, but when I saw Sunspot* in the store I just had to grab him. A great-looking jet mode, semi-neat robot mode, and fantastic color choices made this my first (and so far only) purchase in this subline. And even though he’s just a repaint of Transformers Skystalker* I’ve gotta say that I prefer this color design. That yellow and off-white combination look incredible together.
Stealth Jet Mode
First up is Sunspot’s jet mode, a flying wing-like design that looks more a drone than it does a manned jet. Transforming the toy to jet mode isn’t too complicated — and I like how the weapons snap into place on the wings, even if the instructions could have been a lot clearer on that step of the process — but once he’s in jet mode I find he’s just not as much fun as I expected.
Sunspot has a retractable front landing gear and is actually pretty large for a “Scout” toy; his wingspan measures over six inches which makes him a great value when compared to some of the other toys I’ve seen in this class. In fact, playing with Sunspot makes me think I’ve been making a mistake when basically ignoring the “Scouts,” but even then the price point on these feels too high when compared to the more-popular “Deluxe” toys in the line.
Battle Mode
Below you can see Sunspot in what is referred to in the instructions as his “battle mode.” This looks a hell of a lot like the gerwalk mode that the classic Jetfire toy had — see this thread at tfw2005 — and the more I play with Sunspot the more I love this mode.
Robot Mode
For “battle mode” it’s pretty easy to transform Sunspot into his robot mode. The tail section of the body swivels down and forward to reveal the arms as the nosecone swings down to . . . well, “reveal” is the wrong word since you can see Sunspot’s eye even when he’s in jet mode. Actually, that is one of my biggest complaints with the toy, the other two significant complaints being:
- Spring-Loaded Feet. I have no idea why the feet spring straight when you pick the toy up, but every time that you move Sunspot you’ve gotta spread his clawed feet apart — front and back sections — to get him to stand. I cannot find any reason for this feature.
- Balance Problems. Sunspot is back heavy — those massive wings just hang back there — and if you don’t snap the weapons from the wings and mount them on his arms it takes some work to get the toy to stand straight. It’s not impossible to get him to stand, but it is frustrating.
Even with those problems I find that I really like Sunspot. That head and body design is a little too movie-like for my tastes, but the colors and poseability work well to make me overlook how his head isn’t exactly what I wanted to see. And in a surprising change I appear to like this toy better than others do. In his review at 16bit Adam writes:
I wouldn’t say it’s a waste, but of the toys I’ve shelled out money for over the past year it’s one of the least interesting Transformers. Again, it’s not bad, it’s just that so many of the other releases were better that this one stands out as being merely acceptable instead of great, plus when you factor in the price it might not be worth the effort to pick it up.
Maybe I’m just not grabbing the cool toys, but I actually like Sunspot more than I expected to. The jet mode is just okay, but battle mode and robot mode both have a good feel and those colors are great. And even if the color choice is unusual for a stealth jet I’m still happy with the design.
Closing Thoughts
Though he may be a new character (Transformers Wiki) I like the colors and design enough that I would actually like to see Sunspot appear in some comics or fiction. And it’s not just the coloring and style, because even the character’s description gives him some personality that would probably be fun in stories.
Sunspot’s tiny processor can just about fit one thought into it at a time, and more often than not, that thought is how much he loves flying. Unfortunately for the Decepticons, this means he is constantly forgetting his missions, his targets, his timetables and even his current location. Unfortunately for Sunspot himself, it means he has a distinct tendency to fly directly into the hands—or sights—of the Autobots.
If I have one serious complaint to leave with it’s simply that Sunspot makes me think that I may have been too harsh on the Transformers movie toys over the past few years. And that’s a thought I’d rather forget; nothing good can come from these movies, right?
Philip Reed now finds himself wanting the Tokyo exclusive version of this design. Why do the cool exclusives always have to be so damned expensive?
The scout size was the one shining beacon of goodness in the ROTF line.
Skystalker is one of my favorite transformers in the past few years, hence, I love sunspot too.
His hooks can be clipped or pegged, his wings can be posed all over the place, and he looks like Robot Batman if you squint.
I’m also the only person, outside of whoever designed them, that enjoys spring-loaded feet. I think the intention was the it looks like he’s launching into the air, and when he’s “flying” (hand support required), his feet look the part.
Love Love Love this toy.
Fun little guy.
Phil, you hit an interesting point in your review about the Scout Class versus Deluxe Class. I think that is a large part of why they are pushing the Legends class of figures for TF3 and…hmmm, did they even have a Scout Class for movie 3 at Toy Fair?
@DoctorKent – I thought the Scout class was being eliminated entirely from the line. Or is it being replaced with something? Damn, I can’t remember the specifics and Seibertron is down right now so I can’t check.
Scouts and legends are being mashed into the ‘Cyberverse’ subline. So you have slightly larger legends at the lowest pricepoint, and slightly smaller (but much simpler) Scouts at the next pricepoint up. Take a look at the ‘Preview’ movie prime figure, it’s the new scout size. Then there’s going to be little base stations like the old Micromaster trailers, only kinda soulless.
http://www.hasbrotoyshop.com/transformers-dark-of-the-moon
@Phil – yeah, I thought so. I didn’t take any pics of the Hasbro room this year, so I couldn’t check that easily.
The point that you made that I thought was very apt is that there isn’t that much difference between a Scout and a Deluxe (look at the figures – it boils down to an arm joint here and there, maybe a paint app or two), so why have the competition? The new scale gives you something really different in Deluxe versus “Cyberverse scale”.
I like the look of the guy here…though i find spring loaded transformation a bit shitty since those power combiners (what a let down..ugh) but as a support articulation boob oo it’s kinda cool!
I hope the smaller mechtech packs for 10$ will show up here – it seems i have to wade through toy isles soon, soon. Damn Formers – i never wanted to get into them … thanks, Phil.
Adam has a review up of the new Cyberverse Optimus
http://www.16bit.com/fotd/110429-optimus-prime-transformers-cyberverse-dotm.asp
Seems pricey.