Pricepoint/Vintage: Deluxe, 2015.
Modes: Robot, SWAT APC, Arm, and Leg.
Transformation Style: CW deluxe limb,
shellformer.
Play Patterns: Robot and vehicle,
combiner, 5mm weaponry, a pack-in comic in the USA, HULK HANDS.
Points of interest: The singular new
mould in wave 3, replacing Groove, whom is controversially a legends
toy.
The Good
While looking excellent and having all the positives of a CW toy, Rook's
main selling point is HULK HANDS. Rook unusually omits 5mm fist
holes, in exchange for ports that point forward, where you can attach
his claw, or more interestingly, combiner pieces. Yes, he can punch
people with really huge fists, and the good doesn't end there. He
also has 5mm ports on each shoulder, and one on the back, so he can
use all the combiner bits the Protectobots have, while storing the
claw. His articulation is also on the high side for a CW deluxe, as
while he lacks ankles, they do tilt, for a total sixteen joints. The
vehicle mode is similarly fun and visually pleasing. Not only does
the the claw look a lot better in this mode, the combiner piece comes
into its own, benefiting from its own 5mm peg and port to become a
limited turret. Alternatively, and I love this far more than is
sensible, you can use that bumper port and have him punch things at
speed. Limb modes meanwhile look huge and powerful, which retain many
5mm ports.
The Bad
While Rook appears big, its all an
illusion, with big hollows in the legs, and large chunks of vehicle
hanging off him. This also results in a surprisingly small altmode,
with a case of Visible Head Syndrome which can be offset by his
combiner piece.
The Mediocre
While he gets a lot of use from
combiner pieces, the claw he comes with is rather weedy, but that's
it.
The Alternatives
Takara has snubbed Rook in favour of
their own deluxe version of Groove, which is going to be extremely
compelling to G1 purists willing to import an exclusive boxset. Rook
is also being heavily retooled into the better known Hound and Swindle.
The Verdict
It would be very easy to overhype Rook
given the number of remoulds on the Protectobot roster, but that's not the
case. He may be the best overall deluxe so far, rivalling Dead
End/Streetwise for the simple reason of being fun. The play value is
the best of any individual Combiner Wars toy so far, and while visual
flaws do exist, there's they ultimately don't matter. Assuming you
are not a G1 purist rejecting the toy on principle, this a
transformer you need in your collection.
No comments:
Post a Comment