General Information
Release Date: March 2024
Price Point: $34.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Arm Blasters/Armor x 2, Sword blades x 2, Rifle, Cyber Key
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- CYBERTRON UNIVERSE STARSCREAM ACTION FIGURE: This 7-inch (17.5 cm) Cybertron Universe Starscream toy features deco and detail inspiration from the animated series, Transformers: Cybertron
- 2-IN-1 CONVERTING TRANSFORMERS TOY: Transformers action figure converts from robot toy to jet toy in 26 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: This Cybertron Universe Starscream Transformers figure comes with a blaster, Cyber-Key, and 4 jet wing accessories. Accessories attach to the figure in both modes. The 2 larger jet wing accessories feature flip-out Vertex blades
- 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 Cybertron Universe Starscream 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 Voyager Class Cybertron Universe Starscream action figure! This 7-inch Cybertron Universe Starscream action figure converts between robot and jet modes in 26 steps. Gear up for battle with the included jet wing, blaster, and Cyber-Key accessories that attach in both modes. The Cybertron Universe Starscream figure is inspired by the character from the animated series, Transformers: Cybertron, 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.
Unite your favorite characters from across the world of Transformers robots into your collection with the Transformers Legacy United Deluxe Class G1 Universe Autobot Gears action figure! This 5.5-inch G1 Universe Autobot Gears action figure converts between robot and truck modes in 12 steps. Gear up for battle with the included a blaster accessory that attaches in both modes. The G1 Universe Autobot Gears figure is inspired by the character from the animated series, The Transformers, 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:
The Cybertron series was the third in the "Unicron Trilogy" from the early 2000's. This line was a huge relaunch of the Transformers brand and set up a whole new continuity for fans to enjoy. Starscream was a consistent character throughout the trilogy and this new figure represents how the character appeared in the Cybertron series. This design was heavily inspired by Starscream's appearance as designed by artist Don Figueroa during the "Dreamwave" comic books era.
Packaging:
Starscream is packaged in a box with 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 Starscream sits in features yellow and orange colors, offering nice contrast to the darker outer box. On the left side is a box referencing the "Cybertron Universe" with Starscream's name under it. The Legacy United logo is under artwork of Starscream'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 Starscream in both modes calling out an 26 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. Since the first wave of "Legacy United" I have been thrilled by this (it's the little things sometimes...).
Accessories:
Starscream includes an assortment of accessories, one of which I was very surprised to see:
- Arm Armor: Taking a cue from the G1 Starscream design, this version of the character has arm weapons that look like large armor pieces with small blaster barrels at the end. These are each separate pieces from the arms, attaching to the 5mm ports on the shoulders. Inspired the the animation and toy designs from the Cybertron series, this pieces is angled but thick at the same time with a small wing on the side. The front features a small barrel with an end that can fit a Blast Effect. These pieces are silver plastic with red paint applications.
- Swords: More accurately, these accessories are sword blades that connect to the Arm Armor discussed above. Each of these pieces connects to the inside of the Arm Armor and feature designs based on the blades used by the character in the Cybertron series. Each is made of translucent purple plastic with no paint applications. Unlike the spring loaded swords on Cybertron Starscream, these blades swing out by manually being swung out.
- Rifle: The rifle is based on an unused design from Galaxy Force with a barrel that resembles the missile included with the figure that was released in the toy line. This piece is completely made of translucent purple plastic. It features a 5mm peg at the back and a barrel tip that can accommodate Blast Effects.
- Cyber Key: The Cybertron toy line had a line-wide gimmick where a "Cyber Key" would be inserted into a slot in a figure activating an action feature. Starscream actually includes a small reproduction of the Cyber Key he had in that toy line. This key is purely decorative however. It fits into a slot behind Starscream's head but it doesn't actually activate any features. This piece is beautifully sculpted, replicating the look of the original key down to a Decepticon symbol sculpted into the middle. This piece is made of translucent purple plastic with no paint applications.
Robot Mode:
Starscream's robot mode is intended to represent a version of the character with a Cybertronian alt-mode instead of his classic F-14 jet mode (and this is an alt-universe version of the character anyhow). That said, a lot of design elements on this figure harken right back to the original Starscream design. These include:
- Head: The head design is very G1 featuring two "vent" sections flanking the head, a crest in the center and a face with a "chin strap" piece at the bottom.
- Rocket Launchers: Flanking the head are two sections that (to me at least) always looked like rocket launchers. These are callbacks to the columns that would flank the Seeker heads in G1.
- Arms: Each arm features an armor piece with a blaster at the end. This is a direct callback to G1 Starscream's Null Ray blasters. The sides of these sections also feature small wings, which kind of act as a visual nod to the wings that sat on the back of the G1 Seekers.
- Cockpit: The cockpit section from the vehicle mode forms a good chunk of the torso in this mode. The G1 Seekers also featured a good chunk of the cockpit sections on their torsos.
There are some details here that also directly reference the original Cybertron Starscream design. This includes the angled shape of the cockpit section on his torso, cone shaped thrusters on top of his shoulders, twin blasters that flank the cockpit (which sadly do not swing up) and his very thick armor on the arms and legs. Overall the sculpt on this figure is fantastic!
Starscream is made up of silver, dark blue (like, really dark, almost black) and translucent purple plastic. Paint colors on this figure include red, silver and gold. Red makes up most of the paint detail on parts like the arms and torso. He looks really good though he is "missing" a couple paint applications if the figure were to be totally show accurate. Specifically there should be some gold on the arms and some red on the legs and forearms.
There are twenty six points of articulation on this figure which definitely exceeds the original Cybertron version of this character. Surprisingly this includes waist articulation even though the cockpit makes up a good chunk of the torso. There is one other interesting design decision that I am very impressed by. Each of the shoulder armor pieces can slide outward, allowing the shoulders to have a greater range of articulation! Without this, the ability to swing the arms outward would be a limited. I really love this touch. There are nine 5mm ports on this figure including three on each arm (including the fists), one on each leg and one on the back. You can use the one on the back as weapons storage, but interestingly enough there is a small tab on the rifle that you can use to attach to the horizontal slots on his back to store the rifle horizontally. As mentioned above, each sword blade swings out manually from his Arm Armor and the Cyber Key can fit into the slot behind his head.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the Arm Armor, Cyber Key and Rifle and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the back panel out, swing the robot head back into the chest, then swing the panel back in place.
- Swing the two panels behind the robot head section up and connect them together in the middle.
- On each foot swing the heel pieces forward.
- Swing the panels on the back of the lower legs out.
- Under each foot, swing out the pointy parts (these make up the front of the vehicle).
- Point the feet down.
- Swing out the lower part of each forearm, rotate the fists around, then swing the panels back into place.
- Swing each forearm/elbow section back, then rotate the sections around and swing the forearms up.
- Swing the section with the robot head and arms up.
- Rotate the arms so the cone shaped thrusters point back.
- Connect the 5mm ports on the silver part of the forearms to the pegs on the chest section.
- Swing each leg out to the side, then rotate it so the insides of the legs face forward.
- Swing the lower legs in so they cover up the thighs. A couple other things happen as you push them together. The pointed sections from the feet push together to form the nosecone of the jet mode and the knee armor tabs into the shoulder armor.
- On the bottom of the jet mode connect the two panels from the lower robot legs.
- Reattach the Arm Armor pieces to the sides.
- The Cyber Key can fit into the slot in the back.
- The rifle can either be attached to one of the 5mm ports under the vehicle or you can flip it upside down and attach the horizontal "fins" on the back to the tabs under the central "fin" section at the back of the vehicle.
Vehicle Mode:
Starscream's vehicle mode is kind of a compromise between the "Tetrajet" look of the G1 Seekers and a more traditional jet fighter (albeit with an extreme scifi design). The result is a roughly triangular vehicle that looks very cool. I remember the first time seeing Don Figueroa's "War Within" designs and instantly loving them. This vehicle mode shows that his base designs were gorgeous both in robot and vehicle modes and that Takara did a great job later adapting these into toys and animation. This vehicle mode is full of awesome detailing including large vents on the sides and now the blasters on his chest are pointing forward!
There are three 5mm ports in this mode, two on the bottom and one in back (unless you remove the sides of the vehicle which free up another two). You can connect Blast Effects to the four weapons pointing forward.
This mode mostly shows off silver plastic but thanks to the way the cockpit is centered and the triangular section in the back we get more splashes of red paint which contrasts very nicely against the silver. I would have liked to see a bit of paint on the small blasters flanking the cockpit. They look a bit plain otherwise, but it's not a huge deal.
Final Thoughts:
Cybertron Universe Starscream is a really cool update of the original figure. If you already own the Cybertron or Galaxy Force versions of the character you are pretty much set unless you've been wanting more articulation. If so, then this figure will do the trick but keep in mind it has none of the Cyber Key action features of the original. That said, I'm happy they included the Key as an accessory that can attach to the figure. Recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt in both modes.
- Represents the character from the animation very well.
- Including the Cyber Key was a great idea even if it does not activate any action features.
- Excellent articulation.
Cons:
- The deco could have used a few more paint apps such as the red on the legs from the animation model.
- I do miss the Cyber Key/Action Feature play pattern. It's awesome we got the Key, but it does not actually activate anything.
