General Information
Release Date: July 2024
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Right forearm, Neutron Assault Rifle
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com
- TRANSFORMERS STUDIO SERIES GAMER EDITION: Transformers Studio Series is expanding into the video game universe! These collectible action figures are designed with details from Transformers video games
- 4.5-INCH SCALE BARRICADE: Transformers Studio Series 02 Gamer Edition Barricade action figure for boys and girls is highly articulated for posability and features video game-inspired deco and details
- 2 ICONIC MODES: This Deluxe Class Transformers toy for 8 year old boys and girls features classic conversion between robot and Cybertronian car modes in 15 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: Transformers figure comes with a blaster accessory attaches to the Barricade figure in both modes. Swap out the figure’s hand and attach the blaster as a weapon arm attachment
- REMOVABLE BACKDROP: Removable backdrop displays Barricade figure in the Dark Energon scene. Fans can use the backdrop and pose their figures in the scene with their own style
Bring the epic action from the Transformers video games into your collection with the Transformers Studio Series Deluxe Class 08 Gamer Edition Decepticon Soldier action figure, inspired by the Transformers: War for Cybertron video game! Transformers Studio Series Gamer Edition toys are collectible action figures that feature video game-inspired details and accessories. Convert the Studio Series Transformers action figure from robot to Cybertronian sports car mode in 12 steps and pose the Decepticon Soldier toy in the included Save Zeta Prime removable backdrop scene. Look for more Transformers Studio Series Gamer Edition collectible figures to build a video game-inspired collection (each sold separately, subject to availability)! TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc.
Background:
In 2010, the major multimedia push for Transformers was a video game titled "War for Cybertron" created by High Moon Studios. This game featured the Autobots versus Decepticons during the events of the Cybertronian wars, before they would leave their homeworld for Earth. This game was very popular among fans and the figures based on the game were part of the initial batch of Generations toy sub-line that continues to run over a decade later.
In an effort to expand the scope of the Studio Series line beyond live action movie and 1986 movie toys, the Gamer Series of Studio Series figures was revealed in early March 2023. It may not seem so at first, but this is a natural fit as it was High Moon Studios that created the films and most game companies of larger games are generally considered "studios" nowadays.
Back in 2023 Hasbro released Gamer Edition Barricade. In 2024 a retool and redeco of this figure was released as the "Decepticon Soldier". These were among the generic Decepticons in the game. This review will focus on the (significant) changes made to the Barricade figure for this release.
Packaging:
The Decepticon Trooper is packaged in a standard rectangular Studio Series box. Most of the graphics are very similar to previous Studio Series boxes but there are some variations here and there. The Studio Series logo is not on a blue background. Instead it is on a metallic looking background. The Decepticon Soldier's artwork has the gritty feel of the "War for Cybertron" game and the "War for Cybertron" logo is at the top above the window (and on the top flap). Above the Studio Series logo is a "D-Pad" graphic next to the number "08". The figure sits inside the box with an open window, following Hasbro's "no plastic packaging" rule.
The back of the box looks like a very standard Studio Series box with a red background and images of the figure in both modes calling out a 12 step transformation. He is described as "Gamer Edition Decepticon Soldier" with the text "Save Zeta Prime" (referencing the background included with the figure). Unlike Optimus Prime who has "Big Screen Inspired" on the upper left hand corner, this box says "Video Game Inspired". Towards the bottom the text reads "DECEPTICON SOLDIERS capture the AUTOBOTS and transport them to Kaon prison" in multiple languages.
Accessories:
The Decepticon Soldier includes two accessories:
- Right Forearm: In the "War for Cybertron" game characters generally could transform their arms into weaponry (taking a cue from the first few episodes of the G1 cartoon). I'm kind of stretching the definition of "accessory" a bit since this is just a part of the body that pops off to allow his blaster to be attached. The right forearm is the mirror image of the left forearm (which does not detach). I do appreciate that the forearm can move and transform with the figure without coming off easily. This piece is made up of two shades of grey plastic with a metallic green paint application for a stripe design. The arm itself features a hand with a 5mm port in it. It is important to note that this forearm design is completely different than Barricade's with more of an angled shape and two raised bars on the side.
- Neutron Assault Rifle: The Decepticon Soldier comes with the same weapon as Barricade. This piece is gunmetal grey. It features a 5mm port in the back, allowing it to attach to the Decepticon Soldier's elbow peg. There is a square peg on the bottom that is used to attach to the top of the vehicle mode. The front end looks like it can accommodate a Blast Effect but I tried several and none of them stayed on. I was very disappointed that this weapon does not have a 5mm peg for the Decepticon Soldier to hold in hand, which is a strange ommission especially given that being a retool they had a chance to add this in. Hasbro did state on a recent Hasbro Pulsecast that they will make sure future "Gamer Edition" figures will have 5mm pegs on their weapons but I guess this one was skipped for costing reasons. This is (still) a case where "game accuracy" actually works a bit against the figure's play options.
Robot Mode:
Retools of Transformers toys are nothing new, but it was not until the last six or so years that retools have gone far beyond just replacing a head or a couple parts. The Barricade to Decepticon Soldier retooling is an example of an extensive retool. Almost all the significant parts of this figure have been replaced with new ones. The most obvious parts that remain from Barricade are the pelvic area and the hands. I am also sure most of the joint pieces (such as the pieces that connect the shoulders to the sides of the torso) are the same, but that's about it. I was surprised that even relatively basic parts like the feet and even the thigh pieces are all new. The designs of all these pieces are taken from one of the versions of the Decepticon Soldier in the game, with some of the most distinct details being the head with its "T" shaped eyes/face and the distinctive designs on the chest and arms. Thanks in part to the vehicle mode bits hanging off the legs and back in this mode this figure looks significantly "bulked up" compared to Barricade which adds to its distinctive appearance.
This figure is mostly made up of two shades of grey plastic, with a lighter, metallic grey and a darker gunmetal grey. Taking a cue from the game, most of the painted details are metallic green. The "T" shaped design on the face is painted orange and some metallic purple shows up on the chest as trim detail and a Decepticon symbol.
The joints on this figure all feel just as tight as its predecessor. In a bit of a surprise the retooling has also helped the figure's stability. I commented in my Barricade review that the way the feet are designed you have to fiddle with the figure a bit to get him to stand or pose. In this case there are panels from the vehicle mode that wind up on the back of the lower legs. These also wind up acting as heel pieces, giving this figure some really nice stability. Also, thanks to tabs on the forearm and weapon, you can store either one by using the slot on the back.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- If attached, remove the blaster weapon and set it aside for now and make sure the right forearm is attached.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Rotate the hands around, then swing the top panels on each forearm up and swing the hands in, then swing the panels back in place.
- Push the feet up against the lower legs.
- Push the two lower legs together.
- Rotate the wheel wells attached to the lower legs around and push them in against the lower legs.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Swing the back piece out and swing out the panel that was tucked against the back.
- Push the arms down at the shoulder and connect the slots on the arms to the tabs sticking out of the front wheel wells.
- The tabs on the forearms should fit into corresponding slots on the sides of the thighs.
- Push the panels from the back of the robot legs together, then swing them back and press them into place.
- Swing the back piece up and over the robot head, connecting it to the panels from the robot arms.
- The weapon can be attached to the top of the vehicle.
Vehicle Mode:
Thanks to the significant replacement of parts on this figure the Decepticon Soldier's vehicle mode looks completely different than Barricade's. Barricade looked kind of like a Cybertronian version of a sports car with a cage in front. This vehicle looks more vaguely like an SUV or armored vehicle thanks to the wide front end and raised rear section. The panel lines and details from the robot mode come together really nicely here, making the vehicle look like a series of angled lines that start in the front and then widen as they get to the back of the vehicle. The vehicle looks fantastic and really alien, which fits since this is a Cybertronian mode.
This mode really brings together all the grey parts and the parts that are painted metallic green so you wind up having lines of both colors going from front to back. Metallic purple paint is used for the headlights and some line details on the sides towards the middle. In a nice bit of minute detailing there is a tiny Decepticon symbol on the back of the vehicle. Nice touch, Hasbro!
The Decepticon Trooper only has one attachment point for weapons and that's on the top of the vehicle. Unfortunately the designers decided to make it a square slot for the square peg on the blaster. I am not clear on why they decided to do this instead of using the standard 5mm peg/port option. This would have made this figure more cross compatible with other Generations figures and made the weapon itself more useful across figures.
Final Thoughts:
I loves me a good retool/redeco and the Decepticon Soldier is a perfect example of how to do take one figure and turn it into a different character. I really appreciate how many significant changes were made between Barricade and the Decepticon Soldier. I also appreciate that some (but not all) functionality issues were addressed. Recommended!
Pros:
- Significant chunks of the figure feature all new parts.
- Addresses a couple of the functional issues from Barricade (such as the heels).
- Good deco.
- Intuitive and fun transformation.
Cons:
- The choice to not use the standard 5mm peg/port system for the weapon is confounding.
- It would have been cool if the weapon could fit Blast Effects.
