General Information
Release Date: January 2025
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Spoiler, Blaster
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- Transformers G2 Universe Breakdown: A 5.5-inch (14 cm) action figure inspired by the Transformers G2 Universe, featuring intricate deco and details.
- 2-in-1 Converting Transformers Toy: This robot-to-sports car converting figure offers 15 steps of transforming action for endless play.
- Accessories Galore: Includes a blaster and spoiler accessory that can be attached in both robot and vehicle modes, enhancing the play experience.
- Articulated for Posability: With articulated head, arms, and legs, this figure can strike dynamic action poses for display or imaginative adventures.
- Universes Collide: Part of the Transformers: Legacy line that brings together beloved characters from across the Transformers universe, offering a nostalgic and collectible experience.
- Collectible Gift for Fans: An ideal gift for Transformers fans and collectors alike, this G2 Universe Breakdown action figure combines playability and display value.
Unite your favorite characters from across the world of Transformers robots into your collection with the Transformers: Legacy Deluxe Class G2 Universe Breakdown action figure! This 5.5-inch G2 Universe Breakdown action figure converts between robot and sports car modes in 15 steps. The included blaster and spoiler accessories attach to the figure in robot and sports car modes. The G2 Universe Breakdown figure is inspired by the character from the Transformers G2 Universe and features articulated head, arms, and legs for awesome action poses. 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.
Background:
In the waning days of Generation 2, an entire line of toys was planned but ultimately scrapped in favor of releasing Beast Wars to revive the franchise. Among the scrapped figures were redecos of the G1 Stunticons. While a few sets of these figures made it into collector hands over the years, only Breakdown was ever released. Even then he was only put out as a Botcon exclusive. These obscure figures were not forgotten however. Years ago, Fun Publications released an exclusive G2 Breakdown as a redeco/retool of the Universe 2.0 Sideswipe figure. After that, Hasbro released G2 themed redecos of the Combiner Wars Stunticons in a boxed set (you can see Breakdown's review here). More recently Hasbro released the G2 inspired Shadow Strip (based on G2 Drag Strip) and G2 Dead End as Wal-Mart exclusives. Adding Legacy United Breakdown to the mix means as of early 2025 we only have two Stunticons to go to have a full modern G2 Menasor!
This figure is a redeco and retool of Legacy Breakdown, which in turn was a retool and redeco of Legacy Wild Rider. Since I have not yet reviewed Legacy Breakdown, I will call out the changes made to the Wild Rider sculpt and deco for this release.
Packaging:
G2 Breakdown is packaged in the standard Legacy box. 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 Breakdown sits in features yellow and orange colors, offering nice contrast to the darker outer box. On the left side is a box referencing the "G2 Universe" with Breakdown's name under it. The Legacy United logo is under artwork of Breakdown's vehicle form. The left side of the box (if you are facing it) features the robot mode art. The back of the box shows Breakdown in both modes calling out an 15 step transformation. Under all that is the new 40th Anniversary Transformers logo.
Accessories:
Breakdown includes the same accessories as the earlier Legacy release:
- Blaster: Unlike the G1 toy which had a weapon that resembled a shortened rifle, Breakdown's G1 animation model had a small blaster. The weapon had a rectangular body with a small barrel in front. You can see this in the episode "Cosmic Rust" when the Stunticons take over a ship. Unlike that weapon however there is no rectangular piece on top of the barrel. The weapon has a 5mm peg at the bottom and on the back. The right side has a 5mm port. Surprisingly, the barrel does not have a connection point for Blast Effects. This piece is made out of teal colored plastic with no paint applications.
- Spoiler: Taking a cue from its G1 predecessor, this figure has a spoiler in vehicle mode. Instead of just being part of the vehicle mode, the spoiler detaches and acts as a blade weapon/accessory in robot mode. The spoiler is wide, coming to a V shaped point in the middle. It features two 5mm pegs to attach to the vehicle mode or to one of Breakdown's hands in robot mode. This piece is also teal plastic with no paint applications.
Robot Mode:
G2 Universe Breakdown represents the third iteration of the base tooling that began with Legacy Wild Rider. Here's what's changed in robot mode:
Head
The head sculpt used on this figure is actually the third head sculpt used on this base tooling and the second time this head has been used. The first release of Legacy Breakdown featured a head sculpt based on the G1 animation model (replacing Wild Rider's head). When the Legacy Evolution Menasor gift set was released, a new head was included in the set representing a stylized version of the "toy head" from the G1 (and thus G2) action figure. Similar to the 80's figure, this head features flat panels on either side and a central crest flanked by panels that are set outward and slight angles. This head shape of course calls back to the shape of the heads on the "Scramble City" Combiners which were generally square or rectangular, allowing them to combine with the team leaders. The head sculpt is beautiful and balances a homage to the past with modern design.
Chest and Waist Panels:
The panels that form the torso section feature detailing based on G1 Breakdown's animation model. I point this out because this is very different than the way the G1 action figure looks. The chest features a raised horizontal rectangle with a vertical design in the middle that looks like car parts. Under that is a series of horizontal lines that resemble a grille on a truck. I'm really glad they did not just try to repaint Wild Rider's body because the two really do not look alike. This sculpt on these parts look great and helps distinguish this figure from Wild Rider.
I'm sure you've already guessed that the rest of this figure uses the same sculpt/designs as Wild Rider, and that's fine. The arms and legs on the Stunticons are fairly generic enough that I'm not going to lose any sleep over the details being the same as Wild Rider's. It also helps that the deco on this figure is very different than Wild Rider which makes the two look very different despite using some of the same parts.
The deco on this figure is very different than what you may expect to see on modern day Transformers figures, and that is part of its charm. The original G2 Breakdown came out in the early 90's and that was a very different time in terms of aesthetics. Pastels, bright colors were all the rage on all sorts of products including some G2 Transformers figures. This figure represents the aesthetic of that time and to some it is terribly garish and to others it is wonderfully garish. Breakdown's primary plastic colors are teal, purple, black and translucent grey plastic. The teal makes up most of the figure with purple making up smaller parts like the head and fists. Paint colors on the figure include blue, purple and silver. My absolute favorite deco is found on the torso. Most of it is painted silver, but right down the middle is a strip of purple paint. This is a callback to the original G2 Breakdown which had a silver torso panel, but a purple piece in the middle that led to the robot head. I love design callbacks like this. It really shows an appreciation for the past.
There are twenty points of articulation on this figure. This includes four in each arm and five in each leg. Each fist has a 5mm port to carry his weapons. The front of his lower legs have 5mm ports too but they are more intended for use when he forms part of Menasor but you can attach armor and weapons to them. He also has a 5mm port on the back of each leg and under each foot.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the blaster and spoiler and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Swing the fists into the forearms.
- On the back, swing the front wheel well pieces up against the hood section in the middle.
- Swing the chest panel forward, swing the robot head back into the chest cavity then swing the panel back in place.
- Swing the front of the car forward and down.
- Swing the windshield piece forward and down.
- On each lower leg, swing the feet up.
- Swing the panels that form the front of the lower legs out.
- Connect the two lower legs together, then swing them forward.
- Swing the panels with the feet on them down so the feet are on the bottom of the car.
- Attach the spoiler to the 5mm ports on the back of the car.
- The blaster stores under the hood.
Vehicle Mode:
Breakdown's sports car mode is mostly the same sculpt as Wild Rider except for the back. The panels that form the back of the vehicle have been replaced with panels that look like a Car Louvre (which were much more common in the past than now, at least in my parts). These panels also have two 5mm ports to attach the spoiler. If you want, you can detach the spoiler and attach weapons instead.
Like the robot mode, the deco in this mode is based on the original G2 Breakdown figure, and it comes close to succeeding. Most of this mode shows off teal and black plastic. The windows are a metallic translucent color that calls back to the metallic painted windows on the original figure. Teal paint is used on these parts and matches the teal plastic pretty well. Purple trim is used on the edges of the vehicle, running from the front, along the sides, over the wheel wells and around the back. The main G2 feature is a giant G2 Decepticon symbol on the hood, created in outline out of black paint. That said, I'm sad that other details were not included. The original figure had the name "Breakdown" in black on one door and on top there was a very retro design that looked like liquid. Were these designs cheesy? Absolutely! But that was part of the charm of G2 and I wish those details were on this figure.
Final Thoughts:
Full disclosure: I'm pretty fanatical about the G2 era. I think the attempt to revive the franchise had some distinct charm to it and many of the designs that came out in that era have yet to be rivaled in their sheer artistic audacity. What that means is if you pay homage to G2 I'm already predisposed to liking what you come up with. This figure is no exception. Am I sad that some details from the original figure are missing? Sure. But overall the figure looks great and it brings us one figure closer to having a modern day G2 Menasor. Recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt in both modes with nice retooling.
- Love the use of the "toy-based" head.
- Good deco that pays homage to another era of Transformers.
- Good articulation.
- Intuitive and fun transformation.
Cons:
- The back pack in robot mode may bother some fans.
- Odd lack of compatibility with Blast Effects.
- I wish the vehicle mode had more of the deco from the original figure.
