General Information
Release Date: October 2023
Price Point: $77.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: Target Exclusive with a limited number sold on Hasbro Pulse (US), Toys 'R' Us Exclusive (Canada)
Accessories: Rocket launcher/hammer, alternate head (Autotrooper), Swords x 2, Blasters x 2, Alternate Head, White horns x 2, Grey horns x 2 (G2 Cybertronian), Null Rays x 2 (Seeker), Axe, Mace, Tail/Sword, Allicon head (Quintesson Trooper)
Official images and text in italics are from Target.com: Prepare for an epic battle between the strongest Transformers robot troops with the Troop Builder Multipack! This pack includes 4 Transformers action figures: Decepticon Seeker, Quintesson Trooper, G1 Universe Cybertronian Trooper, and Animated Universe Autotrooper. Each figure converts from robot to their classic alt modes in 14-27 steps. Gear up your figures for combat with the character-inspired weapon accessories and the 3 included alternate heads for the Quintesson Trooper, G2 Universe Cybertronian Trooper, and Aniamted Universe Autotrooper figures. You've probably heard the buzz, but Bumblebee is kind of a big deal. And now the bodacious bot is making his mark with a line of some of the most buzzworthy Bumblebee products for fans of all ages. Buzzworthy Bumblebee figures feature collectible special packaging themed to fit the Buzzworthy Bumblebee line. Collect more Buzzworthy Bumblebee figures, only at Target (each sold separately, subject to availability).
Includes: 4 figures, 9 accessories, 3 alternate heads, and instructions.
- BUZZWORTHY BUMBLEBEE: The Buzzworthy Bumblebee collection features some of the most buzzworthy Transformers action figures for boys, girls, and fans of all ages, only at Target
- BUILD THE BATTLE: Assemble your strongest troops for battle with the Troop Builder Multipack! Includes Decepticon Seeker, Quintesson Trooper, G2 Universe Cybertronian Trooper, and Animated Universe Autotrooper
- AWESOME ALT MODES: Each figure converts between robot to alt mode in 14-27 steps. Includes alternate heads for Quintesson Trooper, G2 Universe Cybertronian Trooper, and Animated Universe Autotrooper figures
- GEAR UP FOR COMBAT: Comes with 2 Null Rays, 2 swords, 2 cannons, blaster, axe, and mace weapon accessories that attach to the Transformers figures in both modes
- BUMBLEBEE-THEMED PACKAGING: This Transformers multipack features special Buzzworthy Bumblebee collectible packaging. These Transformers toys make great gifts for boys, girls, and fans of all ages
- Ages 8 and up
- Warning: Choking Hazard - Small parts may be generated. Not for children under 3 years.
Background:
One of the most unique features of the Transformers line in the 80's was the fact that each character was a unique being. The tech specs on G1 toy packaging gave fans a look into the character's personalities and abilities, something that was fairly uncommon at the time among action figures. As the years went along Transformers characters having unique personalities and identities became a critical part of the toy line. However, G1 did often feature generic background characters who were often used as cannon fodder in battle scenes. However, it was rare for the Transformers toy line to have figures that would be considered "Troop Builders" (unlike say, G.I. Joe which had generic Cobra troopers or Star Wars which had Stormtroopers). In 2023 Hasbro decided to go all in on the troop building concept by releasing a troop builder 4-pack as part of the Target exclusive Buzzworthy Bumblebee toy line! This 4-Pack was designed to encourage fans to purchase multiple copies. These figures were generic troops, but a few also featured alternate heads to create different versions of those characters which is frankly a brilliant move from a marketing perspective.
This set included four figures: Autotrooper, G2 Cybertronian, Seeker and Quintesson Trooper. This review will cover the Decepticon Seeker, which was one of the first "troop builder" characters ever shown in the G1 cartoon. This is not the first time these "Troop Builder" Seekers have been made into figures. For instance, the "purple Seeker" was turned into Botcon 2013 Hotlink and in Siege a set of Seekers was released that included Acide Storm, Ion Storm and Nova Storm.
This figure is a straight up redeco of the figure that began its life as Earthrise Starscream. It would go on to be used as Earthrise Skywarp and Thundercracker before being retooled into the Dirge and Ramjet 2-Pack and then Earthrise Thrust. More recently the figure appeared on shelves as Cloudcover. This review will focus on the changes made to the figure for this release.
Packaging:
The Troop Builder figures are packaged in a long, rectangular box. The background color uses the standard "Buzzworthy Bumblebee" yellow. Off to the left is stock art of Bumblebee, Optimus Prime and Megatron while the middle is mostly taken up by a artwork featuring the four characters inside. Each name is called out underneath: "Decepticon Seeker", "Quintesson Trooper", "G2 Universe Cybertronian Trooper" and "Animated Universe Autotrooper". The right side has the Generations logo and the vertical Transformers logo in black. The back features each figure in both modes calling out the number of their transformation steps. For the figures that include alternate heads, a small window shows off each alt-head. Overall this is beautiful and striking packaging.
Accessories:
When the G1 cartoon models were created the artists streamlined and elongated the weapons that came with the action figure to create the now iconic "Null Rays". Generally the term "Null Ray" was associated with Starscream and the other Seekers had different weapons (according to their tech specs anyhow), however the official product description of this set mentions Null Rays specifically. Like the G1 cartoon Null Rays, the weapons actually extend beyond his arms in length. Each measures 3 inches (about 7.62 centimeters) long. The top section is a rectangular box with small fins coming out on three sides (likely inspired by the button you pressed on the original G1 toy to launch his missiles). The middle to lower section is a series of cylinders with a tip that flares out and then narrows to a point. It is a classic design that is instantly recognizable.
The Null Rays are cast in the same blue-lavender plastic as the Seeker himself. Each features a 5mm peg towards the top that allows you to attach it to any 5mm port. The tip of each weapon can accommodate Blast Effects that are packaged with some Generations figures.
The Decepticon Seeker is the only figure in this set that does not feature an alternate head which is hardly surprising as the Seekers in G1 all shared a common head design.
Robot Mode:
Generic Seekers were seen in some of the earliest G1 episodes including "More than Meets the Eye" Part 1. In reality the animators just needed filler characters and painted them random colors, but in time many of these Seekers would gain identities of their own as noted above in the background section. This Seeker uses the same sculpt as Starscream with no major changes to the sculpt. Instead, this figure is just a redeco.
The Decepticon Seeker is mostly made up of a blue-lavender, black and translucent orange plastic. The blue-lavender makes up a lot of the figure including the wings, the chest plate and the legs. In my photos the lavender is a bit lost and it looks more blue, so take it from me that in person it has more of a purple tinge to it. Black is used for smaller sections like the head, forearms and the feet. There is a lot of silver paint on the top half of the body. It's used on the robot face and on the chest and pelvic area. There is also some on the knee armor and feet. Black is used on the chest and lower legs. The eyes are painted red, keeping with the G1 cartoon convention of having red eyes for Decepticons and blue eyes for Autobots. A tiny bit of blue paint can be seen on the chest where it is used to paint lines going across the cockpit window. Each of the wings feature red and white "L" shaped stripes and purple Decepticon symbols. Overall this is a good looking deco. Sure it's a bit more blue than the generic Seekers seen in G1 but as a background character on your toy shelf it will look great.
For the most part the twenty two points of articulation on this figure feel about as tight as they do on my copy of Earthrise Starscream. The only exceptions are the knee joints, which are fine, but feel a tad more loose than I would have expected. The figure can still be posed without an issue. The weapon attachment points are still nice and tight, so no worries there.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the Null Rays and set them aside for now.
- Push the two halves of the feet together.
- Rotate the stabilizer fins on the ankles back, tabbing them into the sides of the lower legs.
- Swing out the horizontal stabilizer fins.
- Swing the top of each forearm forward and swing the fists up.
- Swing the lower arm sections over the middle section of each arm.
- Swing the top panels from the forearms down.
- Swing the upper half of the body back, leaving the front torso plate in place.
- Swing the nosecone up over the robot head.
- Rotate the nosecone section up, then rotate it around.
- Swing up the nosecone section, snapping it into place in between the air vents.
- Swing the arms inward.
- Swing the section with the wings and nosecone down, clipping it the torso's front panel.
- Swing the waist panel up.
- Swing the front panels of each lower leg forward.
- Swing the lower legs up over the thighs, then swing the front panels of the lower legs back into place.
- Push the lower legs together, then tab them into the top half of the body.
- Swing the wings back.
- Attach the Null Rays to the wings.
Vehicle Mode:
There have been no changes to the sculpt in vehicle mode. In previous details I completely missed an error on this sculpt. The hinge on that the right wing connects to is missing a line detail that you do see on the left side hinge. This is present on previous versions of this figure and the error continues to show here. This is not a huge deal and it helps illustrate that this is a straight up redeco. That said, I will say that after a few transformations I have not had the issue with the waist panel crack that I had on Starscream so let's hope that continues to be the case!
This mode mostly shows off the blue-lavender color. We also get a good look at the translucent orange plastic on the cockpit. His vertical stabilizer fins are black. Some silver paint shows in the front and you get a real good look at the red and white stripes on the wings along with the purple Decepticon symbols. Overall the vehicle mode looks great and its kind of lack of a distinctive color scheme helps sell it as a Troop Builder.
Final Thoughts:
For me personally this figure is probably the least exciting out of the four in this Troop Builder boxed set. That does not, however, mean that it is a bad figure. We've just seen the Seeker sculpt quite a few times already. That said, I'm glad this is part of the set and the Earthrise style Seekers needed a Troop Builder. This figure looks cool and is fun to play with and I'm happy it is part of this set.
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt and detailing.
- Represents a Troop Builder character on the Voyager Class scale.
- Excellent articulation.
- Fun play value.
Cons:
- Some fans may not be crazy about the Classics Starscream engineering being partly recycled (to me it's no big deal).
- No landing gear in vehicle mode.
