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General Information
Release Date: November 2024
Price Point: $74.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: Limited Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Hasbro Pulse and other specialty shops)
Accessories: Blaster (Smallfoot), Blaster and Flag (Pathfinder), Shield (Treds)
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- Expand a collection with special edition figures: the Transformers Generations Selects is a series dedicated to fans with special editions of characters not available in the main line
- GO-BOT GUARDIANS 3 PACK This multipack includes 3 x 5.5" scale action figures: Go-Bot Pathfinder, Go-Bot Smallfoot, and Go-Bot Treds
- Classic transformer conversion: each of the included Transformers figures can be transformed from robot to second mode
- Great accessories: the Transformers 3-pack comes with 4 accessories. The accessories can be attached to the figures in both modes
- MOVABLE TO PLAY AND PRESENT: Transformers figures feature movable heads, arms and legs for action-packed poses
With the Transformers Generations Selects Go-Bot Guardians 3-pack from the deluxe class, your own Transformers figure collection reaches a new level! The Generations Selects adult collectible items present a fan-themed range of the most popular characters. These are special editions that are not found in the main line. This multipack includes the action figures Go-Bot Pathfinder, Go-Bot Smallfoot, and Go-Bot Treds. Go-Bot Pathfinder transforms from robot to spaceship, Go-Bot Smallfoot into a truck and Go-Bot Treds into a tank. They can be posed with the included blaster accessories that can be attached in both modes. Go-Bot Guardians are powerful robots and powerful vehicles that act as a peacekeeping force on the world of Gobotron. TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO as well as all associated brands and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. © 2024 Hasbro
Background:
In the 1980's, the success of Transformers led to legions of transforming robots showing up on toy store shelves. Two of the biggest lines were the Transformers and the Gobots The Gobots was a cartoon and toy series licensed for release in the United States by Tonka between 1983 and 1987. These figures were originally released in Japan as part of the Machine Robo line by Bandai.
In the 90's, Hasbro purchased Tonka and all its intellectual property. This included the Gobots IP. This ownership is rather complex however and for a while, Hasbro seemed reluctant to use it. Takara dipped its toe into this pond in 2004, releasing a set of G1 Mini-Bot sculpts given new colors intended to represent 80's Gobots characters. In more recent times there were some releases here and there like Fracture (a redeco of Classics Mirage) from the 2007 live action movie toy line. More recently, characters like Bug Bite and Road Ranger made appearances in the Generations line, showing a willingness to use the names of Gobots characters and decos based on the 2004 Takara set on modern day sculpts.
In June 2024, Hasbro announced a Generations Legacy United 3-Pack featuring redecos of three previous releases: Kingdom Warpath, Legacy Cosmos and Legacy United Gears as Treds, Pathfinder and Smallfoot respectively. This review will focus on the changes made to the figures for this release. I recommend checking out my original reviews for a more detailed look at each figure except for Warpath. I never got around to reviewing him but I plan to do so soon.
Packaging:
This set is technically a Generations Selects release that also falls under the Legacy United banner so it is packaged in a long, brown cardboard box. The front has artwork of all three characters done in black. To the right are the Legacy United and classic 80's Gobots logos. The figures sit in a (rather underwhelming looking) cardboard tray inside with the accessories taped to the back (so be sure to look carefully for them before tossing the box).
Pathfinder (whose name is now one word versus the original Gobots version which was two words: Path Finder) is a redeco of Legacy Cosmos with no retooling. The biggest color change is the green on Cosmos being replaced with blue. She also has yellow plastic on the legs and head like Cosmos, but the shade is different and a bit stronger. Paint colors on the figure include yellow, blue, red, silver, black and light blue. The yellow is largely used on the top of the arms in a similar pattern to Cosmos, but the color is much lighter than the yellow on the legs and head. The black paint looks almost dark blue and provides detailing on the arms, fist and feet. The torso has a silver background with red and blue rectangles painted on it and a red Autobot symbol in the middle. Perhaps the most interesting deco element is the use of the Guardian faction symbol on the flag accessory. This symbol is an angled grid with a circle (the sun maybe?) rising up behind it. This entire scene is inside a triangle. This symbol has not been used since the 80's so it is very cool seeing it on this figure!
Classic Gobots fans may wonder what these colors have to do with the original Path Finder who was more of a grey with some silver and red. This deco actually traces its origins back to the aforementioned 2004 Takara set. There, the Cosmos sculpt was given a new deco in mostly blue. According to the TFWiki this blue color was originally seen on the prototype for Cosmos in a Takara image from the 80's but I have not been able to find that image for reference. I appreciate that the deco nods to Transformers history while the character's identity pays homage to a Gobots character.
All the joints on my copy of Pathfinder are still nice and tight so no worries about tooling degradation (and on a second release, I would hope not!). You can still use the blaster as a weapon or as the handle for the flag accessory.
In the original Gobots toy line and cartoon Smallfoot changed from a robot to a pickup truck so Gears was the perfect figure to use as the foundation for this redeco. Unlike the other two figures in this set, Smallfoot actually features a retooled head! The design still uses the basic shape of Gears' head (complete with the "M" on the back of the head) but the face in the middle is based on a mixture of the Gobots animation with a visor ever two oval shaped eyes and a "chin piece" wrapping around the lower jaw. The sculpt is very distinct. It also brings the number of alternate sculpts for this figure to three: Legacy United Gears, "Retro G1" Gears and Smallfoot herself. You'll note I'm using one word for the character's name "Smallfoot". The original Gobots version broke out the name into two words "Small Foot" but the official text for this figure lists her name as one word.
When Smallfoot was released as part of the 2004 Takara set, Smallfoot was a combination of orange and red colors. The red color calls back to the original Gobots version of the character while the orange offers some nice contrast. Silver plastic is used for smaller parts such as the elbows and fists. The wheels and weapon are black plastic. The blaster is painted silver except for the two 5mm pegs. In another nod to the Takara 2004 set, her face is painted pink with yellow eyes. Meanwhile the chest has gold painted in the middle. The pink against the red on the head may seem like a bit much, but it actually works well.
All the joints on my copy of this figure are nice and tight and I had no issues with the transformation. For those curious, the torso panel feature is still intact. Lift it up and you'll see mechanical details inside based on the G1 episode "Changing Gears".
The original Gobots Treds transformed from a robot to a tank, making Warpath a natural figure to use as a foundation for this redeco. This also fits nicely because Takara's 2004 set repainted the G1 Warpath sculpt as Treds. I won't go into tons of detail on the Warpath sculpt here (I'm saving that for a dedicated Warpath review) but I will say that the figure is unmistakable the super enthusiastic Autobot with his unique torso featuring the turret of the tank mode and his face which is round with a mouthplate featuring three lines on each side.
The deco on the figure mostly uses dark green and gunmetal grey plastic. Paint colors include red and gunmetal grey and the turret has a tiny Decepticon symbol tampographed on it. The green used is a different shade than the one found on the original Gobots figure which was a very bright green. I prefer the look of this one as it looks more like the darker shades of colors you'd usually see on military vehicles.
From a functional standpoint the joints are all nice and tight on this figure, as are the accessory attachment points. Be warned however, the panel that covers his rear end is held on by small bumps and relies on friction to stay intact. On my copy of Warpath this piece fell off a disappeared a while ago (hence why I have not yet fully reviewed him yet). Now, on Treds this piece has not fallen off but the possibility that it can is inherent in the sculpt so be careful.
Final Thoughts:
This Gobots set is a fun one. I love the homage to the Takara 2004 set and the original Gobots characters. It also helps that each of these sculpts is fun in its own way. The set is not perfect of course. I would have liked to see at least two of the three figures get new head sculpts instead of just one. Other fans would have liked to see colors closer to the original Gobots characters. At $75 the price may seem high but that's basically the cost of three Deluxe Class figures nowadays. That said, it is possible this set may go on sale during the upcoming holiday season so you'll want to keep an eye on the price if you want to pick this up at a discount. Recommended!
Pros:
- Three fun and solid figures.
- The new head on Smallfoot is much appreciated.
- I have a deep affection for the 2004 Takara Mini-Bot/Go-Bots set so any homage to it is cool by me.
Cons:
- I would have liked one more new head sculpt in the set.
- Watch out for the rear plate cover piece on Treds.
