General Information:
Release Date: July 2019
Price Point: $34.99 (In a box of 10 Micromasters)
Retailer: Target Exclusive
Accessories: None
Official images and text below in italics are from Target.com:
- BUILD THE ULTIMATE BATTLEFIELD: The Generations War for Cybertron trilogy introduces an expansive ecosystem of collectible figures and weapon accessories. (Each sold separately. Subject to availability)
- EXCITING 10pk WITH CLASSIC MICROMASTER COMBINATION: This 10pk includes 5 teams of Micromaster toys that convert and combine to form weapon modes!
- CLASSIC G1-INSPIRED CHARACTERS: Adult fans nostalgic for the original Transformers animation and kids discovering classic characters for the first time can share and experience exciting play patterns across generations
- AWESOME CONVERSION: Each figure in this Micromaster 10pk features simple conversion to micro vehicle modes. For kids and adults 8 years old and up!
- COMPATIBLE WEAPON MODE WORKS WITH ALL OTHER FIGURES: War for Cybertron: Siege figures have multiple weapon ports that enable fans to attach the weapon mode of Micromaster figures
- Build the ultimate battlefield with Transformers War for Cybertron: Siege collectible figures, featuring classic G1 characters. (Each figure sold separately. Subject to availability). 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 Micromaster figures - sentient bots that become weapons!
Micromaster figures combine to form weapons to equip other Siege figures (sold separately)!
- WFC-S58 Ricon and Irontread form Dual-Port Scrapgrinder
- WFC-S59 Road-Police and Wheel Blaze form Powershot Plasma Cannon
- WFC-S60 Overair and Ground Shaker form Ultra-Sonic Shredder Blade
- WFC-S61 Slyhopper and Nightflight form Dual-Edged Soundbreaker Sword
- WFC-S62 Cratermaker and Fireline form Gravatronic Rubblemaker Cannon
- Includes 10 Transformers Generations War for Cybertron: Siege Micromaster figures and instructions.
- Figure scale: 1.5 inches
- Ages 8 and up
- Warning: Choking Hazard - Small parts. Not for children under 3 years.
-Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.
As part of the burst of new products at Target in late July/early August 2019, Target carried an exclusive ten pack of Micromaster figures. A majority of this set featured redecos and retools of previously released figures. Two of the figures in the pack (Irontread and Ricon) were redecos of the Off-Road Patrol, which was not readily available online (via Amazon) until about two weeks after this set was released. Instead of featuring the "missing members" of the previously released patrols, many of these figures represented characters who originally came with transforming bases in Generation One or Japanese exclusive Micromaster homages.
Fireline is a Decepticon in this set, but he is actually a homage to an Autobot from the Japanese version of the G1 Battle Patrol. The Japanese version of the Autobot known as Big Shot (later renamed "Topshot" for Siege) featured a different deco than its counterparts outside Japan. To help even out this versus set, Hasbro decided to make this figure a Decepticon.
Fireline is an interesting redeco/retool, featuring the body and vehicle mode of Topshot from the Battle Patrol while featuring the head of Red Heat from the Rescue Patrol. It is an interesting design choice that makes this figure unique among the Micromasters released in Siege thus far. This review will focus on the changes made to the figure for this release.
Packaging:
The Micromaster 10 Pack is packaged in a box with a large window in the front. This allows you to see all ten Micromasters inside. The Micromasters are packaged in robot mode and roughly divided between Autobots and Decepticons. The left side says "Autobots" while the right says "Decepticons", but Ground Shaker and Overair (both Autobots) are near the "Decepticon side" while Nightflight is on the "Autobot side". The "Siege" logo is located towards the bottom and the side of course has the "Generations" logo along with a vertical Transformers logo on the right.
The back of the box features each Micromaster in both modes along with the number of steps to transform them. It also shows off each pair's combined weapon mode, but does not name them (they are however named in the official product description above). In the lower right hand corner is Red Alert holding the "Dual-Port Scrapgrinder" formed by Irontread and Ricon.
Robot Mode:
As mentioned above, this is a unique combination of parts. On the surface this looks like a redeco of Topshot from the Battle Patrol but it also features the head of Red Heat from the Rescue Patrol. Since Fireline is essentially a new character this works out perfectly.
The deco on this figure uses G1 Gunlift's deco as its foundation. Most of the plastic is brown and black, with brown making up the arms and lower legs. Green paint is used on the head, torso and lower legs to provide detailing and contrast. The shade of green is much lighter than the more military-themed green on Gunlift, but that actually helps the color pop visually and I like it. Like Gunlift, his waist area and face are both painted red and there is a bit of silver on the lower legs. The deco on this figure looks great, but I do wish the wheels had been painted black to further match G1 Gunlift.
There are seven points of articulation on this figure, but be careful with the hip ball joint connection. Move the legs too much and they have a tendency to pop off. They snap back on easily enough, but this can be especially frustrating during transformation.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the heel pieces out.
- Swing the lower legs over the back of the thighs and tuck the heel pieces into the corresponding slots under the cannon.
- Push the robot arms up and in to form the sides of the vehicle.
Vehicle Mode:
Like Topshot, Fireline is a mobile artillery cannon. In this form he looks just like Topshot, down to having what looks like a shortened cannon barrel.
The colors from the robot mode carry over here, with brown making up most of the bottom of the vehicle. The turret section is painted the same green as the robot mode torso and the cannon itself is black. A small Decepticon symbol is stamped onto the top of the turret. Like the robot mode, this color scheme is borrowed from Gunlift and it looks great. The green and brown go together but contrast against one another beautifully. Also kudos for painting the windows and the panels in front of them. Tiny details like that really help complete the look of a figure this size.
The cannon still has a small attachment point in the front for Blast Effects and the turret can turn around in a full circle. Technically you can attach a Blast Effect to the back of the turret to make it look like he is being hit with firepower from an enemy (or like he is rocketing across the battlefield!).
Transformation to Weapon Mode (Starting in Vehicle mode):
- Swing the main cannon up. This serves as the main grip for larger figures.
- Attach Cratermaker in his weapon mode to the port in the back of the vehicle.
Weapon Mode:
Fireline is not really much of a weapon by himself. He forms the back of the "Gravatronic Rubblemaker Cannon" and its handle and that's about it.
The Gravatronic Rubblemaker Cannon itself is a rather sleek looking weapon for something made out of two military vehicles. It is jus tone long, rectangular piece, looking like a cool scifi weapon. The ends formed by Cratermaker's feet allow you to attach Blast Effects, which looks super cool.
Final Thoughts:
It really amazes me that we are now in an age were Japanese exclusive Micromasters as obscure as Gunlift are getting homages in a main line toy. This figure is awesome both conceptually and visually. Sure he doesn't have a "standalone" weapon mode, but since you're getting the set that includes Cratermaker it's no big deal. I do recommend this entire boxed set since it is a lot of fun all in one package. It is also quite a bargain since ten Micromasters would normally cost you about $50 USD at retail.
Pros:
- Unique combination of parts from both Topshot and Red Heat.
- Beautiful deco.
- Fun homage to G1 Gunlift.
Cons:
- Robot legs pop off easily at the hips.
- Does not have its own distinct weapon mode.
