General Information:
Release Date: November 2018
Price Point: $9.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General (Amazon, Target, Wal-Mart etc.)
Accessories: None
Official images and text below in italics are from Amazon.com:
Build the ultimate battlefield with Transformers War for Cybertron Siege figures. Siege plunges fans into the epic fight to survive on the final day of the Autobot and Decepticon battle to control Cybertron. The Decepticon resistance army and the Autobot counter-resistance fighters gear up with the universe's most advanced modular weaponry, including the weapon modes of combined Micromaster figures -- sentient bots that combine to form weapons.
The WFC-S5 Decepticon Air Strike Patrol figures Stormcloud and Visper convert in 7 and 4 easy steps from robot mode to aircraft modes. Their aircraft modes combine to form the Circuitstream Spyblade weapon accessory. Use the weapon mode to equip other Siege figures with larger mission loadouts and use Fire Blasts (not included, sold separately with Battle Masters figures) to simulate blasterfire or explosions firing from the end of the Circuitstream Spy Blade weapon mode. Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.
In 2018 the "Power of the Primes" line finished off the "Prime Wars Trilogy" which had begun with "Combiner Wars". To kick off a whole new G1 inspired series of "Generations" figures, a new line known as "War for Cybertron: Siege" started in late 2018 (with a planned wide release in 2019).
In the past few years, the "Generations" line has been paying homage to Generation One toys and characters in a kind of chronological order. First they went all out with Combiners in "Combiner Wars", then leading to Headmaster homages galore in "Titans Return" and last year's "Power of the Primes" focused on paying homage to Pretenders, and to a lesser degree, Powermasters. Following this pattern, "Siege" brings us homages to Micromasters. These small Transformers had varying origins in G1, but origins aside, these characters were represented as tiny Transformers who transformed into an assortment of vehicles. Whereas they were once packaged in four member "Patrols" (or six member "Squads"), "Siege" uses the Micromasters to fill in the price point previously occupied by the "Legends" class figures, featuring two Micromaster figures in one package.
Packaging:
The "Siege" Micromasters are packaged in a bubble attached to small card. The card features the same dramatic artwork style as larger boxes in the line. This includes a black background fading into a honeycomb pattern behind the figures. The right side features the "Transformers", "Generations" and Takara Tomy logos. The left side features a vertical chyron with an Autobot symbol, the alpha numeric code "WFC-S5" and the names Visper and Storm Cloud printed on it. "Visper" is a deliberate misspelling of the G1 Micromaster name "Whisper" (most likely done for trademark reasons). Storm Cloud's name remains the same as his G1 counterpart. The package art features the two Micromaters in vehicle mode since the figures are packaged in robot mode. The insert inside the bubble has the large "War for Cybertron: Siege" logo on it. It is dramatic and eye catching and I love how it looks on toy store shelves.
The back of the card features both characters in all three modes (robot, vehicle and weapon). It labels Visper as having a four step transform while Storm Cloud has seven. The middle section features Skytread holding the two in their combined weapon mode. Below that is a ton of legal information.
Robot Mode:
Storm Cloud's modern day design borrows most of its design influences from its G1 namesake. These include details like the design of the face (complete with "visor eyes"), the double raised lines on either side of the chest, the circle in the middle of the chest for a screw and even an indentation on the front of the lower legs. I think it is great that the designers paid such careful attention to detail when it came to the original figure.
There are some differences between the G1 version of the character and this one. First, this figure is a bit taller and wider than the original. Also, instead of fists at the end of each arm, this new Storm Cloud has blasters. Now, there is a functional reason for this. The pegs at the end of the forearms are each designed to fit Blast Effects from Battle Master figures. That makes it look like Storm Cloud is firing some powerful weaponry out of his wrists, but it also looks odd since without Blast Effects attached it winds up looking more like someone sliced his hands off and left stubs in their place!
Storm Cloud is cast in purple and black plastic. Both of these colors were the main colors used for G1 Storm Cloud. Silver paint is used for details like the "hands" and chest. Yellow is used on his eyes and face (another detail borrowed from G1 Storm Cloud).
There are eight points of articulation on this figure including two on each arm and leg.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the wings on the back out.
- Swing the robot arms up and back, bending the forearms.
- Swing the legs up, and rotate the legs forward (so the sides of the lower legs face you).
- Swing the lower legs up and connect them to the wings.
- Swing the cockpit section forward.
Vehicle Mode:
Storm Cloud's vehicle mode looks like a futuristic jet fighter. Unlike the G1 version of the character, this vehicle form has two vertical stabilizers instead of one, but like that version of the character he has angled stabilizer fins on either side of the cockpit and blasters on the end of each wing. The jet looks great, but the paint details really help it make it look fantastic.
Silver, black and purple paint are used for detailing on the figure. Silver is used on the cockpit window, the wings and the thrusters on the back. Black is used on the nosecone area and the wings. On either side of the vehicle are purple Decepticon symbols. There is much more paint detail on this figure than I had expected and it looks great.
There are seven attachment points for Blast Effects on this figure. Two on each wing and three in the back. When you connect them they look fantastic and it adds play value to the figure.
Robot Mode:
The G1 Whisper design was always one of my favorites among the Micromasters. In particular I really liked the rocket launchers mounted on either side of his head and the way the wings on his back look almost like a cape or cloak of some sort. This new iteration of the character uses a lot of the same design elements. He has rocket launchers on either side of his head and he has wings on his back similar to G1 Whisper. The chest design also takes inspiration from G1 Whisper, featuring three lines on either side. The middle has an indentation similar to the screw hole on G1 Whisper.
All that said, this design is bulkier and taller than G1 Whisper's. The arms also have some raised details on them not found on G1 Whisper.
This mode mostly shows off black and purple plastic. The face and lower legs have silver paint on them and there is red paint around the waist area. The colors look great and the red really adds a nice contrast to the dark plastic colors.
There are eight points of articulation on this figure. Each arm has a ball joint at the shoulders while each leg has three points. The ball joints at the hips have a tendency to pop off however, but they snap back on easily enough.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Point each foot down.
- Swing the wings down and connect the arms to them.
- Swing the cockpit section forward, tucking the back of the feet under it.
Vehicle Mode:
G1 Whisper looked like a fictional Stealth Fighter. Since this vehicle is meant to be a "pre-Earth" form the fighter winds up looking a bit longer and more angular than G1 Whisper. While the overall look of the vehicle is different, it still evokes the original.
Most of this mode shows off black plastic, with purple in the back. Red paint is used on the wings, cockpit window and stabilizer fins. Decepticon symbols are also worked into the fins. I really love the way the red color pops against the black plastic. This mode looks fantastic.
While Visper does not have attachment points for Blast Effects on the wings, you can flip the head in to reveal a peg to attach one in the back. This makes it look like he is using a powerful burst of energy to propel himself forward and it adds a bit of play value to the figure.
Swing Visper's head back to reveal the peg and use that to connect it to the back of Storm Cloud. Next, swing Storm Cloud's cockpit section up to reveal the handle and you have yourself the "Circuitstream Spyblade".
The idea of Mini-sized jets combining to form a sword is not new. Indeed, this weapon is very reminiscent of the Dark Saber from Armada! Even better, you can connect the "slashing" Blast Effect from Lionizer to the sides of Visper to make it look like the weapon is giving off energy as a Decepticon is using it to slash at an enemy! This is one of my favorite weapons from the Siege line.
Pros:
- Sculpts are a nice callback to the original Air Strike Patrol.
- Lots of attachment points for Blast Effects on Storm Cloud.
- Nice deco on both figures.
- Fun weapon mode.
Cons:
- The lack of hands on Storm Cloud still bother me (perhaps more than they should).
