General Information:
Release Date: May 2015
Price Point: $9.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General (Toys R Us, Target, Wal-Mart etc.)
Accessories: None
Official images and text below in italics are from Amazon.com:
Convert, arm and attack with all the Transformers action you can handle. Warpath is a fierce Autobot tank commander who blasts his enemies with his mighty cannon. This Warpath figure looks just like him and he’ll be a match for any Decepticon who tries to take him on. He converts fast from robot mode to rumbling tank mode, and no enemy can hope to escape him. Keep converting him back and forth so he can handle whatever his foes dish out. Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.
While not as well known as characters like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee, the Autobot known as Warpath is definitely one of the most memorable from the original G1 cartoon series. First, he was an Autobot tank in vehicle form, and there simply weren't many of those back in the day. He also had a freaking turret sticking out of his chest, but the thing that made Warpath most memorable was his personality. Speaking with a series of enthusiastic phrases like "Blam!" and "Pow!" while he gleefully fired his weapons made him quite distinct among his lower key comrades.
In the G1 toy line, Warpath was a Mini-Bot, a set of smaller figures with relatively simple transformations. Many years later, he would again appear as a "Legends" class figure (different than today's definition of the term) in the "Universe 2.0" segment. Years later he would get his due as a Deluxe figure in "Generations". He even worked his way into the KRE-O line!
Now as part of "Combiner Wars", Warpath is back. This time out he's a "Legends" class figure, which means something different than it did years ago. Instead of being a very small, simple "Legion" style figure, this class sits somewhere between a Legion Class figure and the old Scout Class. In this case Warpath is a retool and redeco of the Legends Class Megatron from 2013. It's an appropriate choice since that sculpt's alternate mode is a tank. Like "Combiner Wars" Windcharger, Warpath isn't really meant to "combine" with anyone, though creative uses of his 5mm fist holes can allow him to attach to other figures.
This review will focus on the changes made to this sculpt for this release. Check out my review of Legends Class Megatron for details on this sculpt.
Packaging:
Warpath is packaged in a blister set against a rectangular backing card. The card features a large segment of Warpath's package art in the front with a black bar and the modern "Transformers" logo over the black bar. The "Combiner Wars" logo is in smaller letters at the top. The back features multiple languages and a brief bio of the character with photos of the toy in both modes. Included in the packaging (set behind the figure) is a collector card featuring a full view of Warpath's packaging art. Similar in style to the first wave of "Combiner Wars" Deluxe figures, this card has no bio information on the back but rather a segment of the Autobot symbol.
Robot Mode:
When this figure was first revealed I confess I had mixed feelings about it. I'm a fan of the "Mini-Bots" from G1 and I feel that for the most part they all deserve their own unique sculpts, especially if their G1 counterparts were unique sculpts to begin with. That said, Warpath has had several releases with unique sculpts so it's not like fans are lacking in choices when it comes to this character in toy form. I think one thing that I felt I would miss is Warpath's cannon being built into his chest, a unique feature that helped define the character's look for years. All that said, much of this trepidation melted away once I had the figure in my hand.
Warpath utilizes the body of Legends Class Megatron, but the head sculpt is all new. The head is round in back and his "helmet" section is curved along with the mouthplate. His mouthplate has distinct lines etched into it that look almost like vents. These were key details of his head design in his other incarnations. I also find it cool that the back of his head is still designed to look as if it was the cover for the hatch leading into the tank in vehicle mode (even though it no longer serves that function). The head is distinct enough that you kind of forget the rest of the figure was designed to be Megatron. It also helps that this base sculpt is not considered a definitive form for Megatron, giving the designers a tad more freedom in utilizing this sculpt. Indeed, some of the main design elements including the wide chest, thick arms and the treads on his lower legs all suggest the rough and tough character that is Warpath. His cannon may not be on his chest, but it's still there attached to his right arm.
This figure is cast in dark red and silver plastic. The red makes up most of the figure, though a surprising amount of silver is used to make up the back. Other silver parts include the waist, forearms and feet. Dark red paint is used on the chest and arms and some silver paint is used on the knees. You'll also find a small line of silver around the eyes (which are painted blue). A small bit of gold is used on the mid-body section between the chest and the waist. For those curious, this is a carry over from his G1 counterpart who had a sticker with a line of gold detailing. Bits of black are used on the mechanical details on the chest plate. Right in the center of the chest is a red and silver tampographed Autobot symbol. The deco looks great and uses signature Warpath colors. Between the head sculpt and the colors there's no way to really mistake this character for anyone else but Warpath.
All twelve articulation points on this figure are nice and tight. I'm including the ability of his cannon to be turned around here. The fist holes are also still nice and tight as well, allowing him to hold 5mm peg weapons.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Swing the lower legs out to the sides. This unfolds the legs and essentially creates the panels that will form the sides of the tank mode.
- Push each robot foot down.
- Swing each of the arms forward.
- Rotate the chest panel around.
- Swing the robot arms in, turning the cannon and forearms to form the turret section of the tank.
- Swing the side panels in to complete the tank mode.
Vehicle Mode:
The last couple of times Warpath was released in a "Transformers" toy line he became a more futuristic "H" style tank with two treads sticking out in front and two in the back. Here he is more of a traditional tank where the entire body of the tank appears to be one piece. No retooling was done for this mode, so it's the same tank mode as Megatron. Still, Warpath has been a tank much longer than Megatron and the mode suits the character perfectly.
This mode mostly shows off the red plastic with some silver peeking out in the front and sides. Silver is used on the back and treads while dark red paint can be found on the turret. This mode could definitely have used one or two more deco applications, mostly around the front or the top of the turret which is mostly a sea of red. That said, he doesn't look bad at all and most importantly he's instantly recognizable as Warpath.
All the 5mm ports in this mode are still nice and tight, allowing you to attach extra weapons to the figure. The turret also still holds up nicely.
Final Thoughts:
I'm a total sucker for new versions of Mini-Bots in a small scale, so this figure already appealed to me right out of the package. After reviewing it and photographing it, I have to say I like it even more! This Warpath won't be everyone's cup of tea, especially since he doesn't have the "cannon in chest" feature, but the good thing is those other Warpath figures are still out there on the secondary market, so you have options. In my book this is a really cool version of Warpath to add to your collection.
