Transformers: Kingdom Core Class Soundwave is Something That Exists

 

The 1984-1986, also 1990, Soundwave toy

I've been wanting an excuse to talk about the modern "core class" Transformers toys for a while. These replaced the rather good Battlemasters, and the often non-good Micromaster twin packs. In terms of overall size and complexity, the Core class is comparable to the old "legends" class last seen in Power of The Primes, although given that they use 3mm fist holes I'd also point at the small toy + micromaster sets circa 2013. Now, I'm predisposed to like Transformers of this type. I like small toys that you can easily fit in a pocket, easily fit in a budget, and easily fidget with on a desk. There is a pleasing simplicity to such things. However, one thing I'm less inclined to like is how the inevitable has happened. Rather than being the domain of small chaps, we had the likes of Optimus Prime right out of the gate. Yes, that was exactly what we needed. Another Prime, another Megatron, and another Starscream to repaint to buggery and back. And within five minutes of Earthrise too. I exaggerate, but not by much. Seeing characters like Iguanus and Spike are a welcome bit of variation, but we've also had two Shockwaves, I have both because I am a sucker, and are in the process of getting new Dinobots. This is not to suggest that these are bad toys, mind you. But with the amount of redundancy going on, one wonders if this is brand consolidation, a lack of imagination, or a just a means of securing trademarks.

What does this mean for Soundwave then? Well it might mean a few things, but he's got his own baggage. Soundwave is subject to exactly the same "daddy, what's a cassette player?" issue Blaster is, please consider this to be a partner piece, but as he's a much more prominent character, he's had a few more tries. What's weird about this presently there is indeed a modern tape version, the mould mate to the Siege "flying brick" iteration, but that seems be locked behind an exclusivity agreement. As it stands, the Core class version may very well be the only easy way to get a "classic" Soundwave in recent years. Other than that, you'd have to track down a Titans Return version, or hope for Studio Series to do a new mould, like they did with Ironhide.

Let's mix things up a bit, and start with the robot mode. This more than anything is the bit they had to get right, and I think the designers probably focused on it. When it comes to a basic likeness, we are in the realms of functionally ideal for the size, although there is a tension here between budget and looks. There's a few avoidable cavities here, like the back of his head. I wonder if he was meant to have a panel for transformation purposes, but it was cut. Soundwave does have both his gun and shoulder launcher, a luxury on a toy this size, if both being hollow too. These also store on his legs, each with a dedicated port, and can actually stay there during conversion, a nice touch. What makes the accessory situation here remarkable though is that the tape door actually opens to reveal a non-converting Laserbeak in tape mode. This is made from the same translucent plastic as the door, but is lavishly painted on one side. Again, more than they needed to do, welcome, but with an obvious cut corner. Articulation meanwhile is adequate to good. There's effective use of ball joints, and while the waist is omitted, he's actually got moving skirt armour, so the buttons don't limit the legs. So, yeah, pretty good robot mode for the price. 

 

 

Putting him into tapedeck mode is where we start running into weaknesses that can't be solely attributed to the budget, and to put this into context, I'm gonna talk about the original 80's version for a bit. Generally speaking, 80's Transformers haven't aged too well in the areas of articulation and conversion. It was early days, the technology wasn't there yet. Once you get into late G2 and the beast era, you start seeing more toys with ball joints and posability as a desired aim, and they hold up. Articulation, transformation, budget and the balance between those three is a solved problem. Soundwave was one of the rare exceptions in that his conversion scheme allowed for some articulation, and if you followed that scheme, and just put joints in the obvious places, you’d have a nicely posable toy. Also, the idea of a tiny Soundwave has already been done. Takara's Smallest Transforming Transformers version shrunk down the toy to a height of two inches with very little functional loss. So, the designers had the advantage of good source material, a previous attempt that took it to the edge, and most importantly, the forgiving requirement that he turn into a box. Behold. 

 

Yes, those are his little tosey-woseys sticking out of the top. Seriously guys. So close, and yet, so far. I don't know what the thought process was here, but I have my suspicions. Here's the thing, if you spin the feet 180 degrees on the ball joint, so heels become toes, the foot sticks out exactly as far to the front as the normal way. It's undetailed, but you are loosing nothing in the ankle by doing this. Was this the original idea? Just have those panels spin around and form the feet?  Did someone decide to make the feet look better at the last moment? Or was something cut in favour of his accessory count? I have no proof, but if someone told me that was the case, I'd believe them. This is a crying shame, because otherwise, it's ideal. The altmode has been harmed so the most forgettable bit of the robot form can look better.

 

My point? Only that Kingdom Core class Soundwave is something that exists. And while he's a bit of a frustrating near miss at times, he has still managed to stay on my desk...