General Information:
Release Date: September 2024
Price Point: $24.97
Retailer: Walmart Exclusive (with limited quantities on Hasbro Pulse)
Accessories: Blasters x 2, Exhaust pipes x 2, Wheel/Shield
Official images and text below in italics are from Walmart.com:
- STAR RAIDER ROAD PIG ACTION FIGURE: This 5.5-inch (14 cm) Star Raider Road Pig toy features deco and detail inspiration from Transformers lore
- 2-IN-1 CONVERTING TRANSFORMERS TOY: Transformers action figure converts from robot toy to motorcycle toy in 15 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: Star Raider Road Pig Transformers figure has detachable pieces that include 2 saddlebags, tire, 2 exhaust pipes, 2 arms and 2 legs
- 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 Star Raider Road Pig 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 Star Raider Road Pig action figure! This 5.5-inch Star Raider Road Pig action figure converts between robot and motorcycle modes in 15 steps. The figure has detachable pieces that include 2 saddlebags, tire, 2 exhaust pipes, 2 arms, and 2 legs. The Star Raider Road Pig figure is inspired by the character from Transformers lore 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. Includes figure, 9 pieces, and instructions. Figure scale: 5.5 inches. Ages 8 and up Warning: Choking Hazard - Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
Background:
In 1995, the last gasps of the Transformers Generation 2 series were hitting stores. In this era, one line could have multiple gimmicks. One of the gimmicks that year were the Laser Cycles. These characters transformed into motorcycles and in robot mode they featured light up melee weapons. In 2022, one of these characters was updated in Legacy as Walmart Exclusive Road Rocket. Now a couple years later his Decepticon counterpart has been released as a Star Raider. This figure is redeco and retool of Legacy Evolution Crashbar so definitely check out that review before this one.
Packaging:
Road Pig 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 the figure sits in features blue and white. On the left side is a box with the term "Star Raider" and the name Road Pig name under it. The Legacy United logo is under artwork of Road Pig in vehicle mode. The left side of the box (if you are facing it) features Road Pig's robot mode art.
The back of the box shows Road Pig in both modes calling out an 15 step transformation. Under all that is the new 40th Anniversary Transformers logo. These boxes continue to use the much stronger cardboard that has been used for Transformers for about a year now (and I love it!).
Accessories:
Crashbar was a Junkion figure in Legacy Evolution. That meant many of the parts on the figure can detach to form accessories for other figures. This means like Crashbar, Road Pig is a walking pile of accessories. For this section, I'm focusing on the accessories that don't form the core robot.
- Blasters: Road Pig includes two blasters. These are large cannons, each one with a rectangular barrel section and a smaller handle section in the back. Each of these has four 5mm pegs on them so they can be attached to figures in various ways. The front has an opening to attach Blast Effects. Each of these are black plastic with gold paint applications.
- Exhaust Pipes/Mufflers: Crashbar includes two exhaust pipe/muffler accessories. Each has a base with three 5mm pegs that lead to a curved section and ends with a muffler. These pieces are translucent pink plastic, a callback to the light up weapon on G2 Road Pig.
- Wheel/Shield: The rear wheel from the vehicle mode can detach and three blades can be moved out. Just move one out and the other two swing out at the same time. It's a really nice effect. The shield has a 5mm peg on either side, allowing figures to attach it to their arms or fists. Once attached, you can spin it manually which is fun. The wheel piece is made of black plastic.
Robot Mode:
The original Road Pig was a bulky robot who transformed into a Harley-Davidson style motorcycle. In contrast to that, this updated Road Pig uses the same sculpt as Crashbar with a new head so the bulk has been greatly reduced. Still, thanks to Crashbar's design having lots of rectangular and blocky sections, this warrior still looks like he can handle himself in a fight. The new head sculpt is beautifully done. It is an updated version of G2 Road Pig's head complete with thin eyes and mouthplate. Finally, in a design choice that cannot be a coincidence, this Road Pig has three headlights on his chest just like his G2 predecessor.
Using the G2 Road Pig as its inspiration, this figure is made of black, red and translucent red plastic. Paint colors on the figure include silver, gold, black and gunmetal grey. The combination of black, silver and red is one of my absolute favorites when it comes to Transformers decos so this guy fits the bill! I am also very happy that they made the exhaust pipe accessories translucent red (it looks pink in some light) which is a fantastic callback to the original G2 figure. Overall this guy looks great!
There are twenty four points of articulation on this figure. That includes five on each arm and six on each leg. There are ten 5mm ports on this figure. This includes two on the back and two on each arm. There is even one on each side of the torso! Of course this allows you to attach his accessories in various ways. His arms, legs and torso can all be separated from each other and you can use his parts (via 5mm pegs and ports) as armor for other figures. You can also mix and match parts with Deluxe Class Junkion figures to create whole new characters! While playing around with this figure I found that the spikes on his shoulders are just the right size for Blast Effects. Hard points for Blast Effects were a norm during Siege but over the years they have largely disappeared from figures. It's nice to have them on this figure even if they were not intentional.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach all accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- If you have the wheel/shield separated, reattach it to the right leg.
- Push the head down into the chest.
- Rotate the hands so the fingers face outward.
- Swing the forearms up against the shoulders.
- Swing the arms back and connect them together.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Rotate both arms so the wheels face outward.
- On the left foot, swing out the grey handlebar/side view mirror pieces.
- Swing the front of the left foot down, then push it down.
- Swing both wheels down.
- Swing both legs up at the hips.
- Swing each lower leg up over the thighs.
- Rotate the upper body section (which forms the engine in this mode) around. The robot arms attach to the tabs under the front section formed by the left robot leg.
- Attach the exhaust pipe/muffler pieces to the fists so they curve under the vehicle. On each pipe/muffler piece is a tab that should slide into the side of the engine.
- Attach the blasters to the side to form the "saddle bags" for the vehicle.
Vehicle Mode:
Road Pig may not be a Harley-Davidson style bike, but something about the Junkion aesthetic of this vehicle mode works perfectly for the character. In terms of sculpt, this mode is the same as Crashbar with no retooled parts. That works just fine for me however. Not only does the motorcycle look like it is built for rough roads but it also has saddlebags in the back that do start calling back to G2 Road Pig's design.
This mode mostly shows off black plastic with red and translucent red on the sides and lower section. Gold paint is used for the saddlebags and wheels. Silver is found on the seat and engine. Perhaps my absolute favorite details are found on the sides. On one side you'll see the Transformers logo while on the other is the G2 Decepticon symbol. Why such garish details? Because the original G2 Road Pig had them! I love this callback to one of the signature features of G2 decos. It really hits me right in the nostalgia feels!
There are five 5mm ports on either side of the motorcycle mode. I'm not entirely sure you could actually use all of them at the same time, but it does offer a lot of possibilities in terms of the position you can place various weapons. Unfortunately, this vehicle mode is a bit small so having other Deluxe Class figures "ride" on this vehicle mode is a bit ungainly. I tried it with a second Crashbar and he's just too large to sit on this mode properly. A Legends Class figure would probably work best.
Final Thoughts:
I already loved this figure as Crashbar, but using it as a foundation for a G2 character reborn? That is right up my alley! Highly recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt including the new head that pays homage to G2 Road Pig beautifully.
- Excellent deco, especially the G2 symbol and Transformers logo in vehicle mode.
- Good articulation (and the joints are still nice and tight).
- Fun accessories.
- The "mix and match" play pattern is a fun one.
Cons:
- I do wish the size of the figure worked out so that other figures could ride on this one in vehicle mode.
