Review – Transformers: Titans Return Roadburn

A retool and redeco of the Titans Return Bumblebee (review here), the Titans Return Roadburn* toy spent more time trapped in its blister prison than I had intended, but only because I was so disappointed in the Bumblebee design. The Bumblebee toy, though, appears to have been a poor example because Roadburn* doesn’t share the same flaws. It’s amazing how loose, weak joints on one toy do not carry over to a toy that is 99% identical.

Vehicle Mode

The Bumblebee review that I posted last year shows the toy’s vehicle mode from several angles, and with this review of the Titans Return Roadburn* toy, you should have no questions at all about what the design looks like in its car mode. As an update to the classic Chase Throttlebot design, Roadburn stands out quite nicely and definitely carries over the squat, beefy look of the original toy car.

Robot Mode

It’s amazing how the toy’s joints being tight and the toy transforming better than that Bumblebee toy completely changed my thoughts on the transformation design. The tighter joints make it easier to transform the toy, with the parts snapping together much better, and now I’m not so disgusted that I instantly dismiss the robot design. I’m still not a fan of those arms — the windows hanging off the forearms seem odd — but I can also say that I’m happier with the toy than I expected. The poseabilty is decent, the look a great upgrade to Chase, and I can appreciate the work Hasbro put into the toy’s design.

Closing Thoughts

After that terrible Titans Return Bumblebee (review here), the Titans Return Roadburn* toy surprised me because I was expecting another loose, frustrating mass of plastic that doesn’t snap together well. Fortunately, I was wrong and Roadburn is way more fun . . . so fun, in fact, it has me wondering how tough it would be to find a better example of Bumblebee so that I can have two great instances of the design and not one fun toy and one unnecessary accident.