General Information:
Release Date: November 2022
Price Point: $33.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth etc.)
Accessories: Blaster/rocket pack
Official images and text below in italics are from Hasbro Pulse:
Harness the power of Energon with the Transformers: Legacy Voyager Predacon Inferno robot toy! Inferno lives to serve his colony and is relentlessly loyal to his queen.
Universes collide! Transformers: Legacy brings together fan-favorite characters from across the Transformers multiverse. Figures feature deco inspired by their universe with an updated Generations design. In honor of the almost 40-year legacy of Transformers entertainment, the fandoms come together from across the Transformers multiverse, all in one toy line. Transformers: Legacy action figures are great kids’ toys and exciting collectibles for fans of all ages.
- Includes: figure, accessory, and instructions.
- BEAST WARS -INSPIRED DESIGN: This Transformers: Legacy 7-inch Predacon Inferno robot toy is inspired by the animated series, Beast Wars: Transformers, updated with a Generations-style design
- UNIVERSES COLLIDE: Universes collide with Transformers: Legacy! This epic line of Transformers toys brings together fan-favorite characters from across the Transformers multiverse
- 2 EPIC MODES: Action figure converts from robot to fire ant mode in 26 steps. Features articulated mandibles, robot mode jaw, and realistic fire ant textures
- HARNESS THE POWER OF ENERGON: Gear up with the most powerful substance on Cybertron: Energon! This Predacon Inferno figure comes with a blaster accessory that attaches with both modes
- SCAN THE CODE: Scan the code on each package to reveal character tech specs from across the multiverse! Collect other Legacy figures to reveal their character tech specs (each sold separately, subject to availability)
- Ages 8 and up
Background:
In the Beast Wars Transformers episode "Spider's Game", Transformers fans were introduced to Inferno. At the time, the name had mainly referred to the G1 Autobot who transformed into a fire truck. In Beast Wars however the character was a raging maniac loyal only to Megatron who he referred to as his "Queen". This character became a fan favorite so he was an obvious choice to get an update in Legacy!
Packaging:
Inferno is packaged in a standard open window Legacy box. It has all the purple and blue tones of the Legacy packaging with the huge Legacy logo in front, on top and off to the left side. Since Inferno is packaged in robot mode the main box art in front shows him in his beast mode. The right side of the box shows him in robot mode. The other side features artwork showing Megatron, Dragstrip, Iguanus, Skywarp and Kickback. The back of the box features Inferno in both modes calling out his 26 step transformation. Inferno's name is specifically called out as "Predacon Inferno", distinguishing him from G1 Inferno who saw a release in Kingdom. The box also has a QR Code on it that you can scan to see Inferno's tech specs. I have added those specs to the gallery at the bottom of this review.
Accessories:
One of Inferno's iconic features from both the original Beast Wars action figure and the television show was a thruster pack built into his posterior. For the purposes of this release, the designers decided to make this piece into Inferno's weapon. This weapon has four thrusters which can also double as blaster barrels. Even better? The weapon is designed to allow you to attach other weapons to it. The sides have 5mm ports and there are 5mm pegs on the bottom and the back. You don't even need to necessarily use Legacy weapons to make a larger blaster. You can attach any weapons with 5mm pegs, offering up some fun play value. The ends of the weapon barrels can also fit Blast Effects which is always a plus!
The rocket pack/weapon is made of translucent red plastic. The middle section of the weapon is painted gunmetal grey and it looks great. I do wish Inferno came with the flamethrower weapon he was seen using in the show, but I'll take this as a substitute.
Robot Mode:
I remember thinking in the 90's that the original Beast Wars Inferno figure was perfect. For its time, the sculpt was fantastic and did a great job representing the character, but I have to say this new sculpt blows that one away. The designers clearly took the animation model from the show and used that as the foundation of this sculpt. You can see this in key features of the sculpt including:
- The head sculpt is spot on, featuring a distinctive pair of narrow eyes, pointed cones on top of the head, "horns" flanking the mouth, a triangular chin and super sharp looking teeth. The head sculpt is spot on and I absolutely love it. The head is made up mostly of translucent red plastic and in a bit of a homage to the Beast Wars era of figures, the metallic silver/blue paint on the head is painted so that a bit of the translucent plastic is exposed in the back, allowing for light piping in the eyes. The head also has another wonderful feature: the top half of the head can swing back, opening the mouth wide, replicating an expression the character would often adopt in the show!
- The texture on the "skin" sections looks bumpy and organic. The designers even sculpted in raised "spikes" on the chest that are also present on the animation model from the series.
- Like the animation model the arms have sharp looking points on the top of the shoulders that look organic but a layer of armor on top of the biceps. Instead of regular hands, he has claws.
- The legs have several ant-based features on them including what looks like ant legs folded up against the lower legs and spurs sticking out the sides of the lower legs.
- Inferno's posterior has a four "rotor blades" on it. On the television show they spun when he flew. There are three large blades and one smaller one that tucks away in beast mode. While the "spinning" mechanism of the 90's Inferno figure is absent, these blades do spin, you just have to manually push them.
This sculpt is darn near perfect. I'm really stunned by how much I loved the look of this figure right out of the package, and kudos to all those involved in its design! The only design choice that keeps this from being perfect are the way the ant legs stick out in this mode. Really, this cannot be helped given the limitations of the price point and frankly each leg can be moved so it is out of the way. Also, given the giant ant head that makes up the torso, the legs are somehow appropriate to see sticking out on the body.
Inferno is mostly made up of red plastic with other parts made up of black, brown, translucent blue and translucent red plastic. Paint colors on the figure include metallic blue, purple and black. One of my favorite details is the purple Predacon symbol on his right side shoulder. Under certain light the symbol almost blends into the paint on the shoulder area and then appears again, which is somewhat reminiscent of how faction symbols appeared in the cartoon. The deco on this figure is outstanding and really does a smashing job of representing the character from the show.
There are a whopping twenty nine points of articulation on this figure. That includes six in each arm and seven in each leg (I'm counting the heel pieces). I am also counting the ability of the rear propellers to spin. Technically you can also count the ability of each propeller to move on a hinge so if you add those in he would have thirty three points of articulation! Each claw hand has a 5mm opening allowing him to hold any weapon with a 5mm peg. I was very appreciative that the claw hands actually hold weapons firmly without them just falling out. He also has 5mm ports on the sides of his lower legs to attach extra weapons. The weapon also attaches to his back so you can replicate his "flight mode" from the TV show.
Transformation to Beast Mode:
- Detach the weapon and set it aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the forearms up over the biceps.
- Swing the chest up a bit.
- Swing open the halves of the chest and swing out the ant mandibles.
- Swing the ant head over the robot head, then swing the halves of the beast mode head together.
- Swing the antennae forward.
- Swing each arm back.
- Rotate the ant legs back.
- Swing each heel piece up into the feet.
- Swing each foot back against the back of the lower legs.
- Swing the lower legs up on the knee joint.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Swing the robot arms in, tucking them into the opening where the ant head was. There are small openings in that section that claws will fit into.
- Rotate the smallest propeller blade up.
- Move the other propeller blades down over the legs. Attach them to the legs (using the ports on the sides of the lower legs and connect them to each other.
- Swing the rear most ant legs back and adjust the ant legs so the beast mode can stand.
- The weapon can attach to the port on the back of the ant mode.
Beast Mode:
Like many of the beast modes in Kingdom, the designers decided to go for a more realistic beast form than the stylized ones shown in the cartoon. The result is a pretty creepy looking ant! From the rough texture of the ant's exoskeleton to the large ant eyes to the sharp looking mandibles in the front, I absolutely love the look of this beast mode. Only a bit of the robot legs peek out in the back, but I'm willing to handwave that away considering how strong the rest of this mode is.
The red and brown plastic colors make up most of this mode. Some light blue plastic is used for the mandibles. Interestingly, the red on the head is much brighter than the rest of the figure, which appears to use a darker red plastic. Metallic purple paint is used in the middle and what appears to be a light brushing of a dark color is used on the back, giving it some additional visual texture. I do wish the head was a bit darker to match the rest of the figure, but it is not a huge deal.
The original Inferno toy had a very large and imposing looking beast mode but it had one very critical issue: it could not stand. The figure relied entirely on ball joints to hold the weight of the beast mode up on the legs and it didn't work, causing the figure to flop onto its belly instead. This time out, the designers gave this mode some serious thought and instead made sure the legs could hold up the figure and the result is a beast mode that can stand on all six feet without flopping onto the ground and I'm super happy about this! It may seem like a simple thing, but sometimes the most basic things can be very important in a figure like this.
If you want to be generous, this mode has twelve points of articulation. That's mostly focused in the legs, of course but you can also move the antennae and the mandibles individually. There is a 5mm port on the top of the beast mode, allowing you to attach his weapon since there is no way to store the weapon in this mode.
Final Thoughts:
I've been really excited about this figure since it was first revealed, and I am happy to say it has lived up to all my expectations. He looks absolutely fantastic in both modes and the transformation is interesting and unique. Highly recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt in both modes.
- Good articulation and play value.
- The beast mode can stand!
- Little touches like the jaw articulation really show an attention to detail that you don't always see outside of Masterpiece.
- Nice deco.
- Fun and unique transformation.
Cons:
- I do wish Inferno included his flamethrower weapon.
