I want to write about something fun today. And maybe mix up the formula a little, and talk about another guy from Energon, the awkward middle child of the Unicron Trilogy. OK, so a good metric to judge if the Transformers media you are interacting with is Japanese-influenced, is to ask "Does Optimus Prime, or the series equivalent, combine with anything?" If yes, suspect Japan. If the subtitles aren't enough of a hint. When left to their own devices, TakaraTomy often builds a line around a major protagonist combiner with a lot of stock animation. Masterforce did it, as did Victory, the Brave Saga did on the regular, RID 2000, Transformers Go, and of course The Unicron Trilogy. It's not exactly unknown in Western media either, and something like it turns up every few years, but, yeah, it's very much a Japanese tell because it brings in a lot of mecha anime tropes. The big good will have a regular robot mode, then combine with the trailer, for a super mode. And likely one or more support mecha whom do the same thing, often acting as platform shoes. Yes, Ultra Magnus does this also, but it's a lengthy digression; the super mode is his defining mode usually, with the smaller robot being outright ignored at times. It's a fun play pattern, and as Energon, aka Superlink, had a lot of combinations, this was also present. But also featured a notable variant on the concept: it had a few characters that were in no way Optimus or Optimus-adjacent do it too.
Landmine is one such toy, and probably the most distinctive. And I suppose mainly I want to talk how the trailer/super parts are and are not integrated into the toy. As far as the vehicle mode is concerned, the answer is "closely, but not unavoidably". Landmine's full/super altmode is something we don't see very often, possibly the brand's only combat engineer vehicle outside of repaints of this toy. It a big orange half-track thing with a ram upfront, and a winch out the back. I find this to be massively charming, with Mad Max meets Tonka vibes, looking like something International Rescue would call for a tow. It's pretty great, it really is. It's not really armed as such, besides a rear facing missile launcher, but it does look like something that deals will obstructions without slowing down. The super parts are the latter half of the vehicle with the treads, and this is where are the gimmicks are concentrated, like the aforementioned winch and missile, both being spring loaded. Apart from each-other, the two segments are however touch less compelling. Landmine's cab section can roll around on its own, with additional wheels coming into play, but the impression overall is something unfinished with an odd wheelbase. Meanwhile, the super parts do form a base mode, without parts forming, but that does look like what it is: a soundbox with a couple of play gimmicks attached. It's not bad, but it would have benefited from a firing handle or similar. The net effect of all this: Landmine's vehicle is big fun when complete, but you'll feel the absence of the super parts.
Also, I'm not sure how best to work this in, so it's a paragraph by itself: the soundbox. I got myself a little paranoid about the soundbox. I'm not a fan of noisy electronics with their potentially leaky batteries. It's a bit of an Autism thing. When I came to write this, I realised that I'd have to mention such features, and realised I'd never seen these working. Ever. I asked around, suspected the Mandala Effect, got corrected, and finally tried new batteries. After the electronic equivalent of coughing and grumbling, they worked. This actually tries in rather closely with the super robot mode, as these don't actually enable until that is assembled, or otherwise mistransformed. The mechanism requires the turntable of the "trailer" to be in a specific position, so a button can be pressed for a transformation sound effect during assembly. Once you've locked that in place, another button can be pressed for a missile launcher sound. You can't really trigger any of this by accident, which is a plus, but this may be why I got confused about these effects. I even discovered a horn sound effect after photography, tied to the winch in vehicle mode. And furthermore, subsequent releases of this mould, including the Japanese one, omit the soundbox entirely. Maybe that's why I had a hard time finding audio of it. I'm glad the previous owner took care of my example. Moving on...
While the individual robot mode is more convincing than the individual vehicle form, you will likewise be running to the super mode. But let's talk about the individual robot form anyway, before it gets dressed up. More colours come into the mix, with a powerful build, and the ram becoming a set of high-heeled bovver-boots and an armoured codpiece. <awkward pause> The head sculpt is attractive, with lightpiping behind a visor, although there is hollowness towards the back of the torso. Articulation isn't bad, but it is a product of it's time. We're talking big clicky ratchets and a simple neck swivel, with things like a waist joint omitted. The toes are on complicated armatures, which can be a nuisance for transforming, but do give you some added movement there. It's a good look, and in context it's certainly not a brick. It does however lack for accessories and line-wide gimmicks. Landmine does not have a hand weapon, and doesn't have mini-con posts by himself. You can give him an Energon Weapon off an Omnicon, but he is disadvantaged here. The vehicle mode of course had a similar weakness, but far less noticeable in what was fundamentally a big truck. Because of this, you will immediately gravitate towards the super mode, where upon, all is forgiven. The famous " Brute Mode", as termed by fans. Either you love this, or you are wrong. It's not a clever or mechanically interesting thing; you are merely giving Landmine a backpack with daft wings and bigger arms. But, I mean, just look at it.
The claws are simply massive, with two articulated fingers with a scratched metal deco. This would be like being punched by a bulldozer, and the ratchet joints easily take the weight. This guy doesn't need weapons, he just hits people with a lump of industrial machinery as big as they are. And what happens if they keep their distance? Well, he's got the missile launcher, and the winch. He will drag you into range. It's so brutal for an Autobot; he must party with the Dinobots on weekends. Yes, it looks awkward and ungainly, that's half the point. An anvil on legs is coming to beat you up...
In conclusion, Landmine is an example of commitment to the bit. It does the super mode thing so well it inspired a fandom meme. It also deserves some kind of minor award for staying within a contract while subverting it. Malicious Compliance as applied to the Autobot Code. "A military vehicle? Dear me no, Officer. I'm just an off-road tow truck for use in Cybertron." He isn't actually a tank. He's arguably a rescue vehicle. By the standards of the day, he has the bare minimum of actual firepower. He's even in safety orange. But he is also a powerloader on steroids. And also a rare soundbox that I like. Maybe it's just my very specific set of hyper fixations, but that's fun, right?
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