General Information
Release Date: November 2024
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Heater & Tiptop Targetmaster figures
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- G1 UNIVERSE QUAKE ACTION FIGURE: This 5.5-inch (14 cm) Quake action figure toy features deco and detail inspiration from the Transformers G1 animated series
- 2-IN-1 CONVERTING TRANSFORMERS TOY: Transformers action figure converts from robot toy to tank toy in 24 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: This G1 Universe Quake Transformers figure comes with G1 Universe Targetmaster Tiptop toy figure and G1 Universe Targetmaster Heater toy figure
- 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 G1 Universe Quake 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 Deluxe Class G1 Universe Quake action figure! This 5.5-inch G1 Universe Quake action figure converts between robot and tank modes in 24 steps. Gear up for battle with the included Targemaster G1 Universe Tiptop figure and Targetmaster G1 Universe Heater figure. The G1 Universe Quake figure is inspired by the character from the Transformers: Transformers G1 animated series 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:
In the latter days of G1 Hasbro took gimmicks it had introduced in previous years and made the figures a bit smaller and less complicated. Among these "sized down" gimmicks were the Targetmasters. Both the Transformers and the Nebulan Targetmaster partners were smaller than the ones introduced in 1987, but to put a twist on them each figure included two Targetmasters that could combine with each other to form a more powerful weapon. These "dual" Targetmasters included the character Quake who transformed into a tank. Quake last appeared in the Generations toy line in 2017 as a Titan Master, losing his Targetmaster gimmick for the Headmaster inspired "Titan Master" gimmick. Now the character is back in Legacy United as a "dual" Targetmaster once gain!
This figure is a redeco and retool of the Legacy Skullgrin figure so you'll want to check out that review. This review will focus on the changes made to the figure for this release.
Packaging:
Quake is packaged in 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 Quake sits in features yellow and orange colors, offering nice contrast to the darker outer box. On the left side is a box listing the names of Quake, Heater and Tiptop all of whom have the "G1 Universe" descriptor above their names. The Legacy United logo is under artwork of Quake in vehicle form with Heater and Tiptop in robot (or if you prefer, Nebulan) mode. The left side of the box (if you are facing it) features Quake's robot mode art.
The back of the box shows Quake, Heater and Tiptop in both their respective modes calling out an 24 step transformation for Quake. On the upper right is box showing Quake holding both Targetmasters in weapon mode. Oddly, the photographer decided not to combine the two Targetmasters together. Instead, one is held on the top of the fist while the other is under. 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:
Like his G1 counterpart, Quake includes two Targetmaster partners/accessories. Both are like the G1 weapons in that they are static figures with no articulation, featuring only a weapon barrel that swings up and forward from their backs. Each figure had a 5mm peg on the chest and 5mm ports on their backs. Each weapon barrel also has ports for Blast Effects. The weapons can be held as individual weapons or combined into a "super" weapon. These Targetmasters are a lot like their G1 counterparts but they are significantly larger (reference the pictures in the gallery below).
Heater
Heater features very sleek looking armor with shoulder armor that rises as high as the head, combined sword/shield weapons on the sides of the arms and lower legs that flair outwards towards the bottom. This looks just like the G1 version, only upsized. Unlike the original Heater however, this figure is made out of blue plastic instead of red. The designers tried to nod to the original Heater by painting much of the humanoid mode a glossy black with red detailing. It really doesn't bother me but some fans are sticklers for such things. This figure has two barrels to attach Blast Effects in weapon mode.
Tiptop
Tiptop's humanoid mode (I'm assuming he's a Nebulan here) uses all the major sculpt details found on the G1 version of the character. This includes a head with a round helmet and visor eyes. The head is flanked by two rocket launcher pods. His shoulder armor is angled and covers most of his shoulder and the sides of his upper arms. The lower arms each have a rectangular shield piece on them. The legs also have armor pieces on the sides. This figure is made of purple plastic with red and orange paint applications. Like G1 Tiptop this figure only has one barrel in weapon mode.
Technically the tank turret can detach from the back and has a 5mm peg. I do not really consider it a separate weapon but you could certain attach it to different ports on the figure.
Robot Mode:
Quake is a significant retool and redeco of Legacy Skullgrin. When I say significant, I mean there are not a lot of parts left from Skullgrin. Parts like the forearms, feet and some of the hinges may be the same, but almost everything else is different. Here's a rundown of the major changes:
- Head: The head sculpt is based on G1 Quake's with a crest on top in the middle, thin panels sticking up on the sides and helmet pieces that extend forward near the cheeks. The head is grey plastic with gold paint on the face and red on the eyes.
- Torso: The torso panel is all new piece. It features a lot of rectangles and squares with some trapezoid shapes mostly inspired by G1 Quake's torso. This panel is blue with a purple Decepticon symbol in the middle.
- Shoulders: The shoulders are new pieces based on G1 Quake's design including an outline with two horizontal lines on top of one another, a detail also found on G1 Quake.
- Back: The back is made up of the tank turret complete with the cannon barrel sticking up. This is an all new piece made of grey plastic with black paint on the barrel.
- Legs: The parts that make up the thighs and the outer panels of the lower legs are new pieces. The lower legs make the biggest impression as giant tread pieces, a carry over design from G1 Quake.
The G1 Quake action figure was kind of wide looking from the front and the Titans Return version was kind of bulky looking in a different way. This figure however winds up looking rather narrow. A lot of Skullgrin's perceived "bulk" came from his very large "beast" like head, his shoulder armor and waist/hip armor. Here, these parts are heavily streamlined so he reminds me more of how Quake looked in the G1 Marvel Comics where artist Andrew Wildman streamlined his form to look more like a humanoid wearing armor. I'm cool with this as I always enjoyed Wildman's art style. However, this will have some impact on the vehicle mode which I'll cover below.
Quake is made up of blue, grey, black and red-brown plastic. These colors align with those on his G1 and Titans Return counterparts but these shades are much bolder and brighter. Paint colors include red, gold, black and purple. These brighter colors look great and sure, it's not super accurate to G1, but I like to think of this as representing a comic book or animation "version" of Quake, so the bright colors make sense.
There are twenty points of articulation on this figure. This includes four points in each arm and five in each leg. There are eight 5mm ports to attach accessories. This includes two on the back, the shoulders, the legs and his fists. As mentioned above, the Targetmasters can be held individually or combined into a "super" weapon.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the Targetmasters and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing each fist into the forearms.
- Swing the chest plate down.
- Swing section with the robot head, back and arms forward into the opening in the chest.
- Swing the tank barrel forward.
- The arms are both connected to a black piece of plastic. Slide it up.
- Rotate each forearm and elbow section so the open slots on the grey piece face inward.
- Swing the arms in and clip the grey pieces to the black tabs on the piece connected to the arms.
- Connect the forearms together.
- The heel pieces are attached to a black plastic piece. Swing that black piece up.
- Point the robot feet down.
- Bend the legs and swing the front of each tread section out and line them up with the tread details on the lower legs.
- Swing the panels on the legs with the treads up over the thighs.
- Swing the heel pieces back to form the end of the treads.
- Push the lower legs together.
- Swing the robot legs up against the upper body. The tabs on the shoulders should align with slots on the tread sections (near the 5mm ports).
- The Targetmasters can be attached to the top or sides.
Vehicle Mode:
If you read my Skullgrin review, you'll know that I felt like his vehicle mode was a kind of "because we say so" mode. Now, Quake's vehicle mode is definitely a tank. You can't look at it and really mistake it for anything else. That said, it's a really odd looking tank. Most tanks generally have a turret on top of a body that has treads on the sides. Usually tanks have a section in front that extends fairly out in front. However, because of the way this figure transforms, the turret is set very close to the front of the tank. Meanwhile, a chunk of the robot chest sticks out behind the turret which looks rather odd. The turret is also set very high up because it is literally sitting on both the robot torso, arms and legs. You can turn the turret completely around, but then the cannon has to stick up because the robot chest kind of gets in the way. Overall, the vehicle mode just looks awkward. It doesn't even have the excuse that Skullgrin does of being a "Cybertronian Tank". This is clearly intended to be an Earth-based tank but it really doesn't work well from a visual standpoint.
While Quake's vehicle mode may not look great, it's still a fun toy. The turret is able to spin around in a complete circle and the cannon can be moved up and down. There are four 5mm ports in this mode, allowing you to attach the Targetmasters to he sides or the top of the turret. There are no wheels on the bottom so don't go scraping it up!
All the robot mode colors wind up consolidating into the middle of this vehicle where the blue and red-brown colors wind up on top of one another. The treads and turret are grey while the cannon is painted black. The treads have armored sections that are painted red-brown. I may not love the sculpt in this mode but I do think the colors are vibrant and eye catching.
Final Thoughts:
I've always had a big fondness for the "dual" Targetmaster figures. As a kid, I owned them all before I ever got all the larger Targetmasters from 1987. Quake gets some grace from that affection. Sure his vehicle mode is not great, but I dig the robot mode and the Targetmasters are very G1 in design. If you can get past the vehicle mode, I do recommend this figure.
Pros:
- Extensive retooling featuring a bunch of new parts, not just the head.
- Very nice deco.
- The Targetmasters are very cool.
- Good play value.
Cons:
- The vehicle mode is kind of odd and awkward looking.
