"Generations" Legacy United Chase Toy Review | Ben's World of Transformers

04/03/24

General Information
Release Date: January 2024
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Stormfall Sword, Fan

Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:

RESCUE BOTS UNIVERSE AUTOBOT CHASE ACTION FIGURE: This 5.5-inch (14 cm) Rescue Bots Universe Autobot Chase toy features deco and detail inspiration from the Transformers: Rescue Bots animated series
2-IN-1 CONVERTING TRANSFORMERS TOY: Transformers action figure converts from robot toy to police car toy in 18 steps
AWESOME ACCESSORIES: This Rescue Bots Universe Autobot Chase Transformers figure comes with 2 attachable arm blasters and a 3-piece Energon claw accessory. Accessories attach in both modes
ARTICULATED FOR PLAY AND DISPLAY: Transformers figures feature articulated heads, arms, and legs for action poses
CELEBRATE THE LEGACY: Transformers Legacy United honors 40 years of Transformers animated history! Collect other Legacy: United figures to unite your collection (each sold separately, subject to availability)
GIFT TRANSFORMERS COLLECTIBLES: This Rescue Bots Universe Autobot Chase action figure toy makes a great collectible figure gift for any Transformers fan

Unite your favorite characters from across the world of Transformers robots into your collection with the Transformers Legacy United Deluxe Class Rescue Bots Universe Autobot Chase action figure! This 5.5-inch Rescue Bots Universe Autobot Chase action figure converts between robot and police car modes in 18 steps. Gear up for battle with the included 2 arm blasters and a 3-piece Energon claw accessory. The Rescue Bots Universe Autobot Chase figure is inspired by the character from the Transformers: Rescue Bots animated series and features articulated head, arms, and legs for awesome action poses. Celebrate the last 40 years of Transformers history with Transformers Legacy action figures. Transformers Legacy opens the portal to a whole new universe of -- More Than Meets the Eye -- bringing together every Transformers generation like you’ve never seen before. Collect and combine different characters to create your ideal Legacy lineup. TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. © 2024 Hasbro.

Background:
In 2011 Hasbro launched a new Transformers series aimed at a younger fan base. You can see the first episode here. This cartoon series and toys were called Rescue Bots and was intended to be part of the continuity that began with Transformers: Prime (though there is a lot of nit picking you can do if you wanted to). The toy line featured simplified toys that generally relied on one motion for the transformation focused on a motor skill such as pushing or pulling. In 2017 there was a spin-off series called Rescue Bots Academy.

In the 2020's toy lines such as the Classic Heroes Team have acted as the successors of the Rescue Bots legacy. If you look at that time frame, it has been over a decade since Rescue Bots began meaning many fans who grew up with that series are now at the age targeted by the Generations line. Meanwhile, older fans who appreciated Rescue Bots over the years have been wanting Generations versions of the Rescue Bots characters for years now. The first was Medix, a Walgreens exclusive. Now we have our first mass release Generations figure based on a Rescue Bots character: Chase! Chase was one of four main characters in the Rescue Bots cartoon making him a natural choice to join this toy line.

Packaging:
Chase is packaged in the standard Legacy box design. The box is roughly rectangular with an angle on the top and side. The front features an open window and there is a cardboard hook on top. The graphics are very similar to previous years of Legacy boxes with blue and purple tones. The tray Chase sits in features yellow and orange colors, offering nice contrast to the darker outer box. On the left side is a box referencing the "Rescue Bots Universe" with Chase's name under it. Interestingly, Chase's fellow Rescue Bot turned Generations Autobot Medix does not say "Rescue Bots Universe" on it but I think we can safely assume they are both from that dimension. The Legacy United logo is under artwork of Chase's vehicle form. The left side of the box (if you are facing it) features Chase's robot mode art.

The back of the box shows Chase in both modes calling out an 18 step transformation. Under all that is the new 40th Anniversary Transformers logo. One thing of note with this box: the cardboard is of significantly better quality than the previous two years of Legacy figures. This cardboard feels solid and firm which hopefully means damaged boxes on store shelves and right out of the case will be less likely. I was very pleasantly surprised by this.

Accessories:
Chase includes three main accessories (with one made up of three pieces):

Claw
One of the early Rescue Bots Chase figures included a claw as an accessory. Rescue Bots were centered around emergency operations versus combat, hence Chase not having a blaster or melee weapon. As a nod to that figure, this figure includes a claw accessory. This accessory is made up of three parts, a "glove/base" section that slides over either fist and then two individual pincher claws that attach to it. Each of them have 5mm pegs on them and the "glove/base" section has a 5mm port on top and a 5mm peg on the bottom. These pieces are made of clear plastic painted blue creating a translucent blue effect. The translucent blue is a nod to the older Rescue Bots figure.

Floodlights
Also taking a cue from the Rescue Bots animation and toys, Chase includes two small floodlight accessories. These attach to the sides of the vehicle mode which become the sides of his forearms in robot mode. The two accessories are not mirrors of each other. On the right side the accessory is cone shaped featuring clear plasticc with silver painted over it and translucent red plastic in the front. The other side is more rectangular in shape featuring clear plastic painted silver and translucent blue plastic in front. Each of these features a 5mm peg, allowing you to attach it to any 5mm port on this or other figures. The front of each floodlight is also sized to fit Blast Effects, adding some fun play value.

This figure was recently revealed to be the basis of a retool and redeco as Transformers Prime Universe Cliffjumper. As part of that release, the official photos showed an alternate configuration for his weapon. Take the base of the claw accessory and remove the pincers. Attach one of the flood lights to the 5mm port on the claw base and you wind up with a tri-barreled cannon based on the one associated with Prime Cliffjumper! This is a fun detail and it adds a bit of play value to the figure.

Robot Mode:
This robot mode is largely based on Chase's design in the animated series. The figure features a lot of the details seen in the animation model. Highlights include:

Head: Chase's head design is directly carried over from the animated series. It is very distinctive featuring details like a police shield detail on the top of the head, visor eyes and a large lower jaw piece that makes him look extra serious. On either side of the head are circles with antennae like structures sticking up.
Siren: The siren from the vehicle mode winds up right behind the head in this mode, which is a direct callback to Chase's animation model.
Torso: Chase's torso is made up of the vehicle mode's cabin section. It has a nice boxy look just like the animation model.
Arms: The arms on this figure feature the rear wheels on the vehicle mode near the shoulders and the floodlights attach to the forearms. These details mirror details seen on the animation model.
Legs: Look towards the ankle area and feet on Chase's legs and you'll see details that come right from the animated series. First are the vehicle mode headlights, which wind up in front of his ankles. Then in the front of each foot are horizontal line details that look similar to the ones on Rescue Bots Chase.

This figure's sculpt is fantastic. It looks exactly like what I would expect a Generations version of Chase to look like. I appreciate how the figure largely uses the animated series design but adds details that give it that Generations style.

Chase is made up of dark blue, silver, white and translucent yellow plastic. Smaller bits feature clear plastic like the siren behind the head. Paint details include dark blue, white, metallic blue and silver paint. The color matching between the blue on the chest and the blue plastic on the figure is very well done. I also appreciate smaller details like the gold on the shield above his eyes.

There are twenty points of articulation on this figure. This includes four in each arm and five in each leg. Unfortunately, the upper arm articulation is hampered a bit by the bits of the vehicle mode sticking out to the sides in the back. This mode features nine 5mm ports. This includes three in each arm (yes, I'm including the fists here) and even one on the back. As mentioned above, his claw accessory can slide right over one of his fists.

Transformation to Vehicle Mode:

Detach the claw accessory and set it aside for now.
Straighten out the arms and legs.
Push the heel pieces down on each foot.
Swing the front of the lower leg sections forward.
Swing the dark blue panels on the lower legs down.
Swing the feet back.
Push the headlight sections down.
Rotate the lower leg sections outward.
Swing the chest panel with the Autobot symbol on it forward.
Swing the chest panel up part way so it is above the robot head, then swing the chest panel back down before fitting the piece under the siren lights.
Swing the robot arms up.
Push the legs together at the lower legs and the silver section in the middle (you'll see a tab there).
Swing the arms back and push them in to form the sides of the vehicle.
Swing the sections with the exhaust pipes down.
The claw can be attached to the back of the vehicle.

Vehicle Mode:
Chase's vehicle mode looks like it takes some design cues from a modern day Ford Mustang. The front end features round headlights akin to those you'd see on a Fifth Generation Mustang. The rear lights feature four vertical lines, reminiscent of the three vertical line rear lights on most Mustangs (but they look closest to the modern Sixth Generation Mustang. Of course, this is not a licensed vehicle so a lot of details are unique to this figure including a front bumper that sticks in front with angles on the sides. There is a shield design in the center of the grille, a carry over from the animation model in Rescue Bots. The sides feature ports for the flood lights, another design element from the animated series and of course his siren is mounted on top of the cabin section. There are some fun smaller details including exhaust pipes near the rear wheel wells, a cover on the rear window and more exhaust pipes on the back of the vehicle. This is a cool looking vehicle mode. I appreciate how it straddles the line between paying homage to Rescue Bots while fitting in perfectly with the aesthetic of the Generations line.

There are no color surprises in this mode. Most of the vehicle is either dark blue plastic or paint with white breaking up the middle and lower half of the back section. The windows are translucent yellow, another nod to the original Chase animation model. I do wish the rear lights were painted red but that is a detail that is more often than not left out in modern day Transformers toys so not having this area painted here is no surprise.

Final Thoughts:
Chase was one of my most anticipated figures in Legacy. I absolutely love the idea of Rescue Bots joining the Generations line but this figure is great on its own. I appreciate the attention to detail when paying homage to the Rescue Bots Chase design. I love this figure and highly recommend it.

Pros:

Excellent sculpt in both modes that pays homage to Rescue Bots Chase's design.
Accessory is a nice callback to Rescue Bots Chase.
Good deco.
Very cool looking vehicle mode.

Cons:

I do wish the two pieces with the exhaust pipes could swing back more to allow more shoulder movement in robot mode.
Could use a tad more paint in vehicle mode.

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