General Information:
Release Date: July 2018
Price Point: $7.99 (Varies by retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Target, Walmart, Amazon etc.)
Accessories: None
*Images and text below from BigBadToyStore.com and Amazon.com:
""Picture this: me, on Earth, still cooler than everyone this side of Optimus Prime, but I’ve got zero memories. Now I’m on a mission to recover my memories and discover all of my awesome powers. I’ll have to battle Decepticons, outrun an explosion or two, and be heroic- basically, I’m in for one epic ride across the Cyberverse." -Bumblebee"
Bumblebee runs recon missions as a courageous scout for the heroic Autobots. Convert and attack with Transformers Cyberverse Action Attackers! Change figure from robot to vehicle mode in 6 steps. The last step of conversion automatically activates Bumblebee figure’s signature Sting Shot Action Attack move! Once converted, attack move can be repeated through easy reactivation steps. Look for other Action Attackers figures, each sold separately, to discover the signature attack moves of favorite Cyberverse characters! Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.
In late 2017 it was revealed that a new Transformers cartoon would be replacing "Robots in Disguise". The series focuses on Bumblebee with partial amnesia attempting to regain his memories. A blend of G1 and modern characters combined with a more kid-friendly animation style results in a show that leans more towards a younger audience than even "Robots in Disguise", something which is reflected in the toy line. The toy line was released in countries outside the United States such as Australia around late June 2018. A few weeks later it would be released in North America.
Among the first waves of figures released were the Scout Class figures. Unlike Scout figures of the past such as Firetrap or Arcee these figures are smaller (in general taller than a Legion Class figure but shorter than a One Step Changer). These figures have a robot mode, but do not fully transform into a vehicle form. Instead, they become a part vehicle/part robot "attack" mode.
Packaging:
Scout Class "Cyberverse" figures are packaged on bubble cards. The cards have a new design which takes cues from more recent Transformers packaging. There is still a vertical "Transformers" logo on the right side, above it is a symbol (Autobot or Decepticon based on the character) and the character art is at the top of the packaging with the "Cyberverse" logo under it. Perhaps the most distinctive part of the packaging design are the colors, which utilize yellow and light blue helping them stand out against the black and red colors used for "Generations" packaging on shelves. The back of the packaging features the figure with its action feature called out. In Bumblebee's case it is his the "Sting Shot" feature. There are also of course cosells (Bumblebee's cosells are Starscream, Megatron and Grimlock).
The insert on the packaging notes a recommended age of "6+" which is important to keep in mind with this Class of figure. Contrast that with a "Generations" Deluxe (such as Jazz or Sunstreaker) which have recommended ages of 8+. This age recommendation is more along the lines of "Robots in Disguise" Legion Class figures such as Bisk. This (partly) explains the new play pattern being introduced here, which eschews the traditional "robot to alt mode" play pattern and instead focuses on a partial transformation with an action gimmick.
Robot Mode:
Bumblebee is the feature character in "Cyberverse" so it is no surprise that he is one of the first Scout Class figures released for the line. This time out, the design of the character is a bit of a mash up of different influences. For instance, the head and torso seem to be inspired by G1 Bumblebee. The head has a central crest and small "horns" while the torso has the top of the car mode curving down with the windshield facing down. Meanwhile, the thick shoulders (which are the front halves of the vehicle mode, complete with headlights) and the car door "wings" on his back evoke the "Transformers: Prime" and "Robots in Disguise" versions of the character. The character still looks youthful, but the somewhat bulky (yet sleek) design looks like a more mature version of the character than we saw say, in Generation One.
For those curious about scale, Bumblebee stands at about 3.5 inches (about 9 centimeters), putting him on par with figures from lines like "G.I. Joe" and "Star Wars". This is effectively a new class size that stands between a Legion and One Step Changer in height.
This figure is cast in a light, metallic yellow color and black plastic. His right arm has metallic blue pieces on it that are part of the action feature. His face and elbows are paitned silver. Meanwhile black stripes (inspired by his live action movie counterpart) can be found going down the chest and lower legs. Windows from the "vehicle" form are painted light blue. Meanwhile, the weapon on his right arm is painted black and blue. The finishing touch is a red Autobot symbol on the chest. Overall the deco is nice on t his figure. I personally would have liked to see the car details on his shoulders painted in a bit more, but I understand why they were left unpainted given the price point.
There are four points of articulation on this figure: the hips and the arms. If you want to be generous you can count the knees, but technically that's part of the transformation and the lower legs kind of flop back and forth when you bend them. Raise the right arm to point the weapon and push the tab back and two pieces swing forward that look kind of like stingers. It is a fun little feature that evokes the ability of the live action movie Transformers changing their arms into weapons.
Transformation to "Vehicle" Mode:
- Raise each arm so it is pointed forward.
- Swing the "doors" back.
- Push the lower legs together.
- Rotate the figure at the waist.
- Swing the lower legs back, then push them up.
"Vehicle" Mode:
You will notice I write "Vehicle" above with quotes. That is due to the fact that this is not a true vehicle mode in the traditional sense. Instead it looks more like Bumblebee is in mid-transformation, getting ready to fire his weapon. Whether or not this is a good thing I will leave entirely up to each individual to judge. Just note that this is not a traditional "robot to vehicle" alt-form.
There are no details revealed here that you could not already see in robot mode. That said, the black stripes on the lower legs and chest are a bit closer together so there is more continuity there from a visual perspective. The light blue on his weapon and windows also pops quite a bit in this form.
Bumblebee can still move his arms up and down and you can push the tab back on the right arm to "activate" his weapon. The left fist has a 5mm port for you to attach weapons. He can roll on all four vehicle wheels, which is a nice touch.
Final Thoughts:
For kids who want a fun action feature in a small figure they can just toss in their back packs, this figure is perfect. That said, the action feature in "vehicle" form is no different than the robot mode, so he does not really "need" to transform to use it. I really do not feel a true vehicle mode needed to be sacrificed for this gimmick. Younger kids may like this toy for its action feature and easy conversion, but adult collectors who prefer the likes of "Generations" or "Masterpiece" will want to avoid this figure.
Pros:
- Nice design for the character that takes elements from a couple incarnations.
- Action feature is nice and dramatic.
- Good deco for the figure class.
Cons:
- Partial transform may frustrate some fans.
- Limited articulation (though that is somewhat expected at this price range nowadays).
