Pricepoint/Vintage: Voyager, 2014.
Modes: Robot and Spacefighter.
Transformation Style: Standard with
Headmaster.
Play Patterns: Robot and aircraft, 5mm
weaponry, Headmaster with Tech Spec Gimmick.
Points of interest: Based on the art of
Nick Roche, first new, mass market Headmaster in yonks.
The Good
Brainstorm's robot mode is basically
fantastic. Visually, he's a nearly ideal representation of the MTMTE
comic version, and looks nice from all angles. The gaps and hollows that so often
afflict Generations are almost unnoticeable. G1 purists will enjoy
the tech spec gimmick in his chest as well. Posability is brilliant,
with 23 joints, the head being noteworthy for being balljointed and
extremely expressive. While ratchet heavy, he has ankle tilts and
excellent balance. The skirt armour is even articulated, and there's
a port for a figure stand. Play value is also high thanks to his two
guns, which can either be duel wielded or left on as shoulder
cannons. The vehicle mode meanwhile
has a certain R-Type/Thunder Force/Star Fox
appeal to it, with an opening cockpit, and front landing gear.
The Bad
Quality control and testing was utterly
abysmal for this toy. The curiously unnamed headmaster pilot has been
the subject of many horror stories where it came apart, leaving its
own head in the socket due to misapplied paint. My example avoided
this, but the spring-loaded tech spec gimmick is on a hair trigger,
the left wrist was loose, and the paintwork sloppy. If possible,
either handle this toy before purchase, or look for a boxed example
where the head is secured with rubber bands, as this supposedly
addresses the headmaster problem.
The Mediocre
Even assuming the pilot does not disassemble
itself, he's not hugely impressive, with some odd
proportions and minimal articulation. He can sit in Brainstorm's
vehicle mode, which is fun, but the area is undetailed. The spaceship
mode is similarly unimpressive, with the robot mode limbs not really
going anywhere. Not to say the form is bad, mind you, I still made
pew-pew noises, but its not that convincing.
The Alternatives
As Brainstorm is unique just now, the
only true alternatives involve G1 toys and third parties. However, if
all you want is a excellent voyager, look at Sandstorm and Springer
from the same line.
The Verdict
Brainstorm is pretty typical of the
Generations line and its voyagers. The robot mode is nigh-perfect,
but the vehicle mode is rough, and there's some definite QC/design
issues going on. While the headmaster gimmick is technically an
advancement, as he gets a decent neck joint out of it, I can't help
but feel this toy would have been better without it. If you like
Brainstorm, you probably won't mind too much, but I don't think you'll be
transforming him much either. As for the rest of us? Well, take a
good hard look first.
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