General Information
Release Date: October 2024
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Blasters x 2
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:
- CYBERVERSE UNIVERSE SLIPSTREAM ACTION FIGURE: This 5.5-inch (14 cm) Cyberverse Universe Slipstream toy features deco and detail inspiration from the Transformers: Cyberverse animated series
- 2-IN-1 CONVERTING TRANSFORMERS TOY: Transformers action figure converts from robot toy to jet toy in 15 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: This Cyberverse Universe Slipstream Transformers figure comes with 2 blaster accessories that attach in both robot and jet modes
- 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 Cyberverse Universe Slipstream 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 Cyberverse Universe Slipstream action figure! This 5.5-inch Cyberverse Universe Slipstream action figure converts between robot and jet modes in 15 steps. Gear up for battle with the included blaster accessories that also attach in robot and jet modes. The Cyberverse Universe Slipstream figure is inspired by the character from the Transformers: Cyberverse 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 2008 Animated cartoon there was a storyline where Starscream's personality broke out into a group of individual Seekers. One "aspect" of his personality became Slipstream. Years later the character would appear in the Cyberverse series (getting an Ultra Class and a Warrior Class figure in the process). This year a version of the character appeared in Transformers One as a member of the High Guard. Now she has joined the Generations line in Legacy United. This figure is a redeco and retool of Windblade. This review will focus on the changes made to the figure for this release.
Packaging:
Slipstream 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 Slipstream sits in features yellow and orange colors, offering nice contrast to the darker outer box. On the left side is a box referencing the "Cyberverse Universe" with Slipstream's name under it. The Legacy United logo is under artwork of her vehicle form. The left side of the box (if you are facing it) features Slipstream's robot mode art.
The back of the box shows Slipstream in both modes calling out an 15 step transformation. 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.
Accessories:
The sword accessory originally included with Windblade has been replaced by two blasters. These blasters are based on the ones seen on the G1 Seekers such as Starscream. The weapons are identical, featuring a rectangular section in the back with three "fins" on them. The weapon barrel narrows to the cone shaped front end. Each blaster features a 5mm peg on the bottom towards the back. The front end is designed to fit Blast Effects. The blasters are made of translucent blue plastic and they are painted with shiny black paint except for the connection points in the front and bottom.
Robot Mode:
Over the last six plus years Transformers fans have really enjoyed figures featuring significant retooling (such as the recent Transformers One Megatron with Whirlwing set). Slipstream however is more of a traditional retool. She uses the Legacy Windblade figure and replaces its head and gives it a new deco. The new head sculpt is a classic Seeker head design featuring a "helmet" with a central crest flanked by to rectangular sections and vent-like sections on the sides. The face is a bit more narrow than you typically see on other seekers but overall the head sculpt is instantly identifiable as a traditional Seeker head.
Slipstream's colors are absolutely gorgeous. She is made up of purple, metallic lavender and black plastic. The lavender color in particular is really beautiful. On toip of that we have metallic teal, black, purple, silver and red paint. The teal color is used heavily on the legs and wings and it looks amazing. The colors on this figure really pop.
There are twenty eight points of articulation on this figure. She exceeds the standard 20-ish points because her wings can move back slightly and swing up and down, allowing her arms to move back a bit for dynamic poses. The figure has ten 5mm ports: two on each wing, one on each shoulder armor piece, one on each forearm and two on the bottom of each foot. Slipstream does not have a sword accessory like Windblade. Instead she has the two Seeker-style plasters. Unfortunately, she has no attachment points on the sides of her arms, so you cannot achieve the traditional Seeker appearance. You can attach the weapons to the ports on the shoulder armor, but then articulation (and appearance) wind up looking rather awkward. Attaching it the forearms looks less awkward but not by much. She can, of course, hold the weapons in her fists but to me I think a bit of the elegance of the Seeker design is lost by having to do this.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Push the shoulder armor pieces down.
- Swing the wings down so they are pointed out to the sides.
- Swing the panels on the back out, revealing the halves of the nosecone.
- Swing the nosecone halves out.
- Swing the back piece over the robot head. There are tabs on this section that fit into the slots on either side of the robot head.
- Push the halves of the nosecone section together.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Swing the panels on the back of the lower legs up and push them into the thighs.
- On either side of each foot, swing up the vertical and horizontal stabilizer fins.
- Swing the front of each lower leg up, then push the legs together.
- Push the wings in, using the tabs on the inner edge of each wing to connect to the main body.
- Straighten out the arms and attach the hands to the pegs on the leg sections.
- The blasters can be attached to the wings.
Vehicle Mode:
Slipstream's vehicle mode sculpt is the same as Windblade's. Aside from the weapons there are no tooling changes visible. This is important to note because the deco is so dramatically different from Windblade's that the vehicle mode still manages to look distinct even without any retooled parts.
Slipstream's robot mode parts carry over into this mode, but this time out the metallic teal colors from the legs wind up making up the back of the vehicle and the ends of the wings. The lavender color is used for the vertical and horizontal stabilizers in the back and a section in the middle. Purple, black and silver colors make up the wings and the front of the vehicle. The cockpit cover is made of translucent blue plastic with black lines painted on it. The robot mode was already beautiful, but these colors being so condensed in this form is really striking.
Final Thoughts:
As redecos go this figure is absolutely gorgeous. The colors are all eye catching and they match up with previous versions of this character. My only reservation has to do with the weapons. The new weapon pieces are great, but the way they attach to the arms is awkward. I wish the shoulder armor pieces had been retooled with ports on the sides. I still like this figure a lot, but the weapon issue knocks it down a peg from Windblade. Recommended with reservations.
Pros:
- The deco is beautiful and different enough from Windblade that he figure looks distinct despite the only retooling being the head.
- Good articulation.
- Straight forward transformation that is fun and not fiddly.
Cons:
- The weapon issue is my main reservation about this figure.
