General Information
Release Date: November 2023
Price Point: $9.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: None
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com
- BUILD THE ULTIMATE BEAST ALLIANCE: Classic Transformers robots and beast robots join forces in an epic alliance! Combine Beast Alliance robot toys with beast weapon figures to gear up for battle (each sold separately, subject to availability)
- BATTLE CHANGERS: 4.5-inch Battle Changers toys convert from robot to alt mode and back. Weaponize the Scourge figure with Beast Alliance Transformers beast weapon and beast armor toys (each sold separately, subject to availability)
- 2 MODES: This brown Transformers Scourge action figure converts from robot to truck mode in 7 steps
- TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE BEASTS: Featuring robot and beast characters inspired by the epic Transformers movie, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts!
- LOOK FOR MORE TRANSFORMERS MOVIE TOYS: Battle Changers kids toys are cross compatible with other Beast Alliance figures. Collect other Beast Alliance toy robots for kids to build the ultimate beast alliance (Each sold separately, subject to availability)
Scourge, the menacing Terrorcon hunter, races after his next target. Classic Transformers robots and beast robots join forces in an epic alliance! Weaponize the Beast Alliance Beast Battle Changer Scourge figure with Beast Alliance beast weapon and beast armor toys to gear up for battle! (Each sold separately, subject to availability.) The battle on Earth is no longer between the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts introduces mysterious factions, the Maximals, the Predacons, and the Terrorcons, in an epic 90s globetrotting adventure. Build the ultimate beast alliance and gear up for battle with Transformers Beast Alliance kids toys inspired by the new Transformers movie, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts! TRANSFORMERS and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. © 2022 Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Licensed by Hasbro.
Background:
The Rise of the Beasts toy line introduced some new figure classifications into the Transformers toy line. Among them are the "Battle Changers". Think of the Battle Changers as a sort of middle ground between a 1-Step Changer and the old Commander Class from the Transformers: Prime "Cyberverse" series. The figures are about 4.5 inches tall (about 11.43 centimeters) and feature simple multi-step transformations from one form to another with limited articulation and no accessories.
One of the last Battle Changers released for the Rise of the Beasts line was Scourge, the evil leader of the Predacons serving the Dark Lord Unicron.
Packaging:
Similar to 1-Step Changers from Cyberverse, Scourge is packaged on a large piece of cardboard that is then folded around the figure to form a kind of half card/half box type package. The graphics on the package are the same (or similar) to those on the rest of the Rise of the Beasts line featuring illustrations that look like some type of ancient temple with stone work and intricate designs that look like ancient carvings. The top right corner features the Rise of the Beasts logo with the vertical Transformers logo underneath. Scourge's box art is found on the upper left hand side of the card. The front flap that wraps around the figure shows the toy in both modes. To the right is the "Beast Alliance" logo found on most of the figures in this line. The bottom has a bar with Unicron's symbol next to Scourge's name. The back of the card shows Scourge in both modes calling out an 7 step transformation with a ton of legal information in various languages underneath. This is some really beautiful packaging and the colors really help it stand out against other figures on shelves.
Background:
Back when the War for Cybertron: Siege line debuted, a new class of figure was added into the mix: Battle Masters. Basically these were a new version of Targetmasters that could not be priced into the cost of other classes of figures, so they were sold on their own. For the most part, Battle Masters eventually fell by the wayside but when the Rise of the Beasts toy line was launched they returned as part of the "Beast Alliance" sub-line.
The Rise of the Beasts Battle Masters mostly took characters from the films and made them into figures with beast and weapon modes. Previous releases include Rhinox, Optimus Primal and Skullcruncher. Airazor was the final Battle Master released for this small sub-line.
Vehicle Mode:
Scourge's vehicle mode in the Rise of the Beasts film was a modified Peterbilt 359 truck. To avoid licensing costs with Peterbilt, the designers made Scourge a generic longnose truck with modifications inspired by those seen in the film. For the most part, the vehicle reflects the look of the on-screen vehicle from the front to the middle, then the back - well, we'll get to that. The front half actually looks cool. The front end of the vehicle has a large cage attached to the front with a shape resembling the Unicron symbol (with an actual Unicron symbol in the middle). On the sides there are two curved smokestacks on either side and above the front wheel wells are small cylinders set horizontally. There are also three layered panels over the windshield windows, another detail carried over from the on-screen design. Where the design looks a bit...odd is the back half. This section basically looks like the robot arms overlapping in between the robot legs with wheels on the sides. They look that way because that's exactly what that section is! There are no extra parts to cover this up (like the Leader Class Scourge) so the back section looks a bit goofy. Given the size class however, I don't see it as a deal breaker.
This figure is made up of metallic olive green, dark grey and lighter grey plastic. The green makes up most of the figure with the dark grey making up parts like the wheels and the lighter grey making up the smokestacks. Dark grey paint is used on parts of the cab's front section including the panels over the windshield windows. The windows themselves are painted bright orange, inspired by the feiry "energy" seen on Scourge in the film.
This mode rolls on six independent wheels, which was a relief to see. Some figures in lower priced tiers have sometimes molded certain wheels in for appearance only and I've always found that kind of a cheap way to go.
Transformation to Robot Mode:
- Swing the smokestacks forward.
- Separate the robot legs and swing them out to the sides. This will separate them from the robot arms.
- Swing the robot arms forward.
- Swing the front grille section of the vehicle down, forming the robot chest.
- Rotate the lower body around.
Robot Mode:
I think it is very easy to dismiss simplified figures aimed at younger fans when it comes to aesthetics. However, Scourge makes a good case for not assuming every simplified figure will be some goofy looking chonk (some are, believe me). This robot mode looks great for a Battle Changer. A lot of Scourge's key design elements are present including his unique head design, the shoulder armor and his asymmetrical arm design with one giant claw on the left and a more "normal" hand on the right. His chest also has designs that look like an exposed rib cage, adding to the character's creepy appearance. The sculpt on this figure is really intricate, with layers of details on virtually every section of this figure. One of the best examples is the chest which looks like it has layers of armor and metal over the "rib cage" details.
The metallic olive and dark grey colors make up most of this mode with some smaller parts made of light grey plastic. These colors are represented largely as plastic colors but paint as well. His eyes are red, contrasting nicely with the darker grey on the head.
There are five points of articulation on this figure. I was a tad disappointed the head could not turn. Instead, it is molded as one piece with the top of the chest. Scourge's main weapon is his two sided blade. This can swing up into his hand to wield in battle.
Final Thoughts:
Battle Changer Scourge is a cool, simplified representation of the character. Sure it could use more articulation but that is not the priority with this figure. This is a simple, easy to transform figure that has some really nice sculpted details and colors. Recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent robot mode sculpt.
- Beautiful colors.
- Cool weapon feature.
Cons:
- Could have used one or two more points of articulation.
