Dave's Playskool Go-Bots Rant

     Silverbolt II

     First new toy to come out as a Go-Bot in this line (previously Big
Adventures Transformers), as Hasbro finds a way to keep the trademark alive
again.  I initially spotted the repackaged Aero-Bot (renamed frmo Aerobot),
then played a hunch and checked the very top shelf.  Yep, someone had tried
to hide Silverbolt for later.  Note: the front of the package says
Silverbolt, but the bio note says Silverbolt III.

CAPSULE

     Silverbolt II: A significant remold of Aerobot, although with the same
transformation.  Looks a bit better and less garish in both modes, although
the head is a tad weird.  Recommended.  $14.83 at Wal-Mart (well, it wasn't
in the computer, so they believed me when I quoted that price...mighta been
$14.96 or $14.76).


RANT

GO-BOT: SILVERBOLT II

SILVERBOLT is a hotshot Bot who likes to fly high and you can send him
soaring by changing him into a super-sonic jet transport.  With two massive
engines and mighty wings, he's ready for anything adventure brings!

     On the bottom of the package are pictures of upcoming new regular-sized
Go-Bots: Prowl-Bot (Speedbot remold), Fire-Bot (Red Alert colored version of
Prowl-Bot), Aero-Bot II (Speedbot recolor) and Strong-Bot (Wedge-ish
design).  The other four new ones are on the bottom of the new Aero-Bot
packaging.  The back of the package claims "GO-BOT TRANSFORMERS are specially
designed for preschoolers with little hands and big dreams."  Despite this,
the lady at the checkout did not assume I was buying it for someone else.
}->  

     Vehicle Mode: 11.5" (29cm) wingspan, 6.5" (16cm) long.  Primarily gray
(NOT chrome as seen in some prototypes) with yellow and pink trim (plus pink
Go-Bot Autobot symbol on the nose), green windows, gold-tan underside bits
and red tailfins.  As with Aerobot, the cockpit is the trigger for most of
the sounds.  The underside bits are identical in mold to Aerobot, while the
upper parts (top of cockpit, wings, top of fuselage and stabilizers) are all
new.  It's worth noting that the new mold lacks any suggestion of weapons
(Aerobot has molded cannons and missiles on his wings).  The overall look is
much less garish than Aerobot's, even counting the yellow and pink.  It rolls
along nicely on its little landing gear wheels (better on a rough surface
like paper).  Pressing the cockpit in this mode generates a jet thrust noise
identical to Aerobot's and a red LED flashing in the green cockpit.

     Transformation: Very simple, identical to Aerobot's.  However, while the
arms peg nicely onto the wings in transformation to jet mode for Aerobot,
they seem to be misaligned on Silverbolt.  It stays in vehicle mode fine
without the pegging, but it's a bit annoying.
     When a button next to Silverbolt's head is released, he says one of two
phrases: "Transformation complete!" or "Go-Bots, transformation complete!"
Might just be "Go-Bot", the sound is just distorted enough I can't tell for
sure if there's an S there.  The voice is distinct from Aerobot's.

     Robot Mode: 6.5" (17cm) tall, 11" (28cm) wingspan with the wings lifted
up.  The joints ratchet reasonably well on the wings, so they stay up better
than on Aerobot (well, my Aerobot, anyway).  Same poseability as Aerobot:
arms can raise from the sides, there's a swivel above the elbow so the arms
can be posed a bit, and the hips are ratcheting universal joints.  There are
no hands, instead spinning jet fans.  Robot mode has a lot more dark red in
it and less pink, plus dark gray arms.  The head is an odd helmet with green
visor that lights up red when Silverbolt talks.
     Silverbolt has a new set of phrases which is similar to Aerobot's but
not identical.  It uses the same sort of mix and match system, with a library
of a dozen words assembled into phrases like "Air Rescue!" or "Complete
Go-Bot Power!" (that one's a little creepy).  It also says "Go-go-Go-Bots!"
I don't really feel like cataloging them all, suffice to say it's deep enough
that you don't get repeats very often.  

     Overall: It's a solid design, in more ways than one.  And I like the
colors and general look of Silverbolt II better than Aerobot's scheme.  Worth
getting even if you're 32 rather than 3.  }->

     Dave Van Domelen, "Go-Bot Power Uber Alles!"