Dave's Transformers Rant: Cybertron Mini-Con Wave 3 Sunstorm (Wreckage) vs. Checkpoint (Prowl) Thrust (Scattor) vs. Anti-Blaze (Firebot) Ramjet (Skyboom) vs. Scythe (Makeshift) These are recolors of the Energon Saber Team (itself remolds of the Air Defense Team) and the Emergency Team (which has been recolored twice before this: as Armada Wave 7 and split up among three of the later Universe sets (Sandstorm, Fireflight, and Magna Stampede/Stockade)). http://www.eyrie.org/~dvandom/BW/Energon/Basic1 - Energon Saber Team (originally Recommended) http://www.eyrie.org/~dvandom/BW/Armada/MiniCon5 - Emergency Team (originally Recommended) [Later note, because I've already gotten some emails on this: I am NOT going to keep track of the Japanese Mini-Con recolors. There's just too many of them to be worth my time. So in this and any other Mini-Con review, previous mold use statements refer to the U.S. regular market only. Same thing with name reuse, so I omit BWII Thrust, for instance.] The new teams are the Sky Terror Team (Decepticon recolors of Energon Saber Team) and the unnamed team led by Anti-Blaze. They all have SWAT labels, though, so I'll call them the SWAT Team. The Emergency Team trio got were included with Air Military Team recolors in the three Universe sets mentioned above, in addition to their G1-inspired recolor set. This is the first time the Energon Saber Team has been recoloroed, although the set it was based on was recolored once as well. It's worth noting that the Sky Terror Team's names come from G1 (or neo-G1) "Seeker" jets not currently in use in Cybertron (Starscream and Thundercracker already, Skywarp recolor of TC is planned). Not sure why Sunstorm was used instead of Dirge, it's possible that the BotCon exclusive Buzzclaw recolor by that name was considered sufficient trademark protection and they tapped Sunstorm as a replacement, but I think another toy with that name is coming soon too. Nor has it been all that long since Universe Sunstorm (A-Thrust recolor). CAPSULES All recommendations assume you don't have any previous copies. Notch it down one (recommended to mildly recommended, mildly to neutral) if you have one or more copies. Sunstorm vs. Checkpoint: Sunstorm's good if a little ugly, Checkpoint's also good but has an iffy robot mode. Mildly recommended. $4.76 at Wal-Mart. Thrust vs. Anti-Blaze: Thrust is nifty, Anti-Blaze is interesting if a bit blocky. Recommended. $4.76 at Wal-Mart. Ramjet vs. Scythe: Ramjet has some issues, but Scythe makes up for it. Recommended. $4.76 at Wal-Mart. RANTS Packaging: Note, I'm reviewing them in order of their P/N listings, which skip over two in the sequence from the 0500 ending of Kobushi vs. Landslide to the 0800 ending of Sunstorm vs. Checkpoint. Wonder if the 0600 and 0700 numbers are reserved for some store exclusives? Two twist-ties on Thrust, one on each of the others. A rubber band holds together Checkpoint's and Anti-Blaze's front ends. As before, there's instructions but no map/catalog, making it feel like these are really a subline under different management. The front of each instructions sheet shows the vehicle to robot transformations. The back shows how to make the sword mode of the jets (individual transformation, complete assembly of components) and the weapon mode of the Autobot ones (CD Scattorshot gets to hold the weapons, and they go to the extra effort of showing him in robot mode with Checkpoint, vehicle mode with Anti-Blaze and Scythe). Theme: Where set 1 were Earth-bound, and set 2 were all on Luna, this set all live on the highly doomed moons of Cybertron, where the Mini-Cons settled after the Armada war. Sure, the cartoons aren't really part of the same timeline, but the writers of these bio notes are doing a good job of stitching things together on their own. After Armada, most of the Mini-Cons resettled on the moons and were therefore mostly out of the way for Energon, and can be considered non-natives in Cybertron. Anyway, Anti-Blaze is a junior member of the Mini-Con Council of Sages, who has been forced into battle by the impending doom. Meanwhile, Thrust has taken advantage of the chaos to launch a pro-Decepticon revolt among the Mini-Cons. The Sky Terror Team uses light gray (CCCCCC), very dark purple-brown (330033 or so), dark metallic red (993333, but shiny) and very dark clear purple plastic (663399). The clear purple looks black at first glance. The SWAT Team uses black, carolina blue (6699CC is closest), medium gray (999999) and clear smoky black plastic, and all have "SWAT" followed by a designation (A1, A2, A03) painted on them in white. The package photos do not have the SWAT bits. As with wave 2, I'm making up the Position lines. Set 1: Sunstorm vs. Checkpoint DECEPTICON: SUNSTORM Altmode: Jet (fantasy) Previous Mold Use: Wreckage (Energon) Previous Name Use: Universe, Neo-G1 Team: Sky Terror Position: Agent Provocateur One of the rebel generals most trusted by THRUST, some suspect that SUNSTORM is the true intelligence behind the MINI-CON rebellion against the Council of Sages, and that this sudden uprising may have some deeper purpose to it besides simple chaos. Indeed. SUNSTORM has secretly established contact with a small group of DECEPTICONS in hiding on the surface of CYBERTRON. His intention is to cause enough chaos among the MINI-CON colonies to allow them to be easily conquered by the DECEPTICONS, after which they will joint GALVATRON on the quest for domination of the Universe! STR 9 INT 8 SPD 10 END 9 ENK 9 COUR 8 FRB 6 SKL 9.5 Avg 8.56 Wow, total fanwank stats. How fitting for someone with the Sunstorm name. Packaging Note: "Combines with RAMJET and THRUST to create sword!" Sword is unnamed. I hereby dub it the Dirgesong. Color swaps: Clear yellow except for the tail and inside torso becomes clear dark purple, the clear yellow on the tail and inside torso becomes dark opaque purple, the golden tan becomes slightly silvery light gray. Paint apps: Extensive yellow (FFFF33) on the vehicle upper side, with silver windows and a Decepticon symbol printed on the left tailfin. Orange- red (FF3300) on the arms and eyeslit. Other comments: No mold changes that I can find. The silvery gray plastic feels a tiny bit looser, and I've heard stories of significantly lower quality from some in email, but mine seems fine. Overall: Considering that it's essentially one of the very first Mini-Con designs, it still holds up pretty well. The color choices could be better, though. AUTOBOT: CHECKPOINT Altmode: Prowl car Previous Mold Use: Mini-Con Prowl (Armada twice, Universe) Previous Name Use: Energon K-Mart Exclusive Rodimus recolor Team: SWAT Designation: A2 Position: Spy CHECKPOINT worked as an information specialist and spy for ANTI-BLAZE even before THRUST began his rebellion. His speed and talent for disguise, as well as a cluster of holographic projectors housed on either side of his head make him ideal for infiltrating enemy formations. But his real talent is in his ability to get a read on a subject with minimal contact; CHECKPOINT can make incredibly accurate guesses about an individual's personality and motives after only a few moments of conversation. This talent makes him a dangerous enemy, and a valuable resource to ANTI-BLAZE and the Council of Sages. STR 5 INT 8.5 SPD 7 END 10 RNK 6 COUR 10 FRB 7 SKL 9 Avg 7.81 Packaging note: "Triple changer" Color swaps: White becomes carolina blue, clear blue becomes smoky clear gray, black stays black. Paint apps: Dark red (CC0000) paint on the windows and flashers, plus on the eyeslit in robot mode. Gold metallic headlights, white "SWAT A2" on what becomes the right arm. An Autobot symbol is printed on the hood. Other comments: No mold changes I can find. Quality seems decent. Overall: The robot mode suffers a lot in order to make the fairly good gun mode, and that hasn't changed in this latest incarnation. Set 2: Thrust vs. Anti-Blaze DECEPTICON: THRUST Altmode: Jet (fantasy) Previous Mold Use: Scattor (Energon) Previous Name Use: G1, BMac, Armada (and several Japanese) Team: Sky Terror Position: Fomenter of Chaos For THRUST and his mates on the SKY TERROR TEAM there is no greater joy then to defy the laws of the MINI-CON Council of Sages. The peaceful MINI-CON colonies on the moons of CYBERTRON are more prison than home to THRUST, who thrives on chaos. The appearance of the black hole offered a rare opportunity for him. The Council of Sages' refusal to ask the AUTOBOTS for help made it easy for him to sabotage the ships intended to evacuate the MINI-CON robots, leaving htem all trapped on the increasingly dangerous colonies as the black hole grows ever more powerful. STR 7 INT 5.5 SPD 10+ END 9 RNK 5 COUR 8 FRB 7.5 SKL 8.5 Avg 7.69 (Note: I count 10+ as 11 for purposes of finding the average. His speed gows to eleven.) Packaging note: "Combines with RAMJET and SUNSTORM to create sword!" Color swaps: The topside clear yellow becomes clear purple, the underside clear yellow parts and the nose hinge become dark opaque purple. The golden tan becomes light silvery gray, and the dark blue becomes metallic red. Paint apps: Silver on the cockpit windows, eyes, nosewheel and most of the main wing surface. A dark red that mostly matches the red plastic forms a sort of mirrored K pattern on the leading edges of the wings and the sides of the fuselage. A Decepticon symbol is printed on the left side of the tail. Other comments: The legs are a bit floppy, again with the silvery plastic. No mold changes that I can see. Overall: Generally pretty good. AUTOBOT: ANTI-BLAZE Altmode: Firetruck Previous Mold Use: Mini-Con Firebot (Armada twice, Universe) Previous Name Use: None. Team: SWAT Designator: A03 Position: Politician, Field Commander ANTI-BLAZE, a junior member of the MINI-CON Council of Sages, was among those who argued most passionately against asking OPTIMUS PRIME and his AUTOBOTS for help. he felt that involvement with the larger TRANSFORMERS had brought only grief to the MINI-CON race, though he now regrets his position. He has been forced to make the unpleasant transition from a relatively unknown political figure to a military leader at the front lines as he fights against THRUST and hte other evil MINI-CON rebels. STR 7 INT 8.5 SPD 7.5 END 9 RNK 9 COUR 10 FRB 8.5 SKL 8.5 Avg 8.5 Damn, now THIS storyline needs to be a comicbook miniseries. Packaging note: "Triple changer" Mistransformed slightly in package, his chest slab is flipped down rather than up to conceal the face in vehicle mode. Color swaps: Red becomes medium gray, white becomes carolina blue, clear blue becomes smoky clear, and black stays black. Paint apps: Dark red windows and eyeslit, yellow missile tips on the shoulders, and white "SWAT A03" on the right arm. Not sure why he's A03 and not A3. Autobot symbol printed on the roof to the right of the hose. No paint on the missile tips in weapon mode. Other comments: Lack of paint on the missile tips hurts the weapon mode a lot, although the original's sloppy apps won't win any prizes either. Might be worth breaking out the yellow paint and making them match the robot mode missiles. No mold differences that I can see. Overall: A decent toy, although not the best color scheme seen on the mold. Set 3: Ramjet vs. Scythe DECEPTICON: RAMJET Altmode: Space Shuttle Previous Mold Use: Energon Skyboom Previous Name Use: G1, G2, Universe, Armada/Energon (Tidal Wave's Mini-Con) Team: Sky Terror Position: Space Transport One of the very few MINI-CON robots capable of long-distance spaceflight, RAMJET was recruited early on by THRUST. Relatively unarmed, he's more of a conman than a warrior; before THRUST began his rebellion against the MINI-CON Council of Sages he offered bargain tours of the MINI-CON colonies on the moons of CYBERTRON, often leaving tourists stranded in remote areas. Now, he charges extraordinary fees to robots desperate to escape the black hole only to dump them on the TERRORCON infested surface of CYBERTRON, or worse, into the black hole itself! STR 6 INT 7 SPD 9 END 9 RNK 5 COUR 4 FRB 6 SKL 9.5 Avg 6.94 I suppose the Skill rating represents astrogation and the ability to con a mark. Packaging note: "Combines with SUNSTORM and THRUST to create sword!" Color swaps: Most of the clear yellow becomes opaque dark purple, but the clear yellow on the front end of the vehicle mode becomes clear purple. The golden tan becomes silvery light gray, the dark blue becomes metallic dark red. Paint apps: White and metallic blue on most of the clear purple on top so it's hard to see through any. Silver also on the rear winglets, with a tiny Decepticon symbol painted on the right one. Red-orange paint on the eyeslit. Other comments: No mold differences that I can see. Overall: Again, decent, although the color scheme's a bit odd. AUTOBOT: SCYTHE Altmode: VTOL Plane (V-22 inspired) Previous Mold Use: Mini-Con Makeshift (Armada twice, Universe) Previous Name Use: None. Team: SWAT Designation: A1 Position: Close Combat Warrior Unlike his friend ANTI-BLAZE, SCYTHE is a born fighter. A mobile and heavily armed brawler ready for a battle at a moments' [sic] notice, he never backs down, even from overwhelming odds. SCYTHE has known the freshman politician since before the MINI-CON robots first fled CYBERTRON for Earth millions of years ago. Now the two, together with CHECKPOINT, are brothers-in-arms in the fight against THRUST and his evil MINI-CON rebels. STR 6.5 INT 8.5 SPD 7 END 9 RNK 5 COUR 8.5 FRB 8 SKL 7.5 Avg 7.5 Evil rebels! It IS an odd bit of turnabout, for the Decepticons to be the rebellion. They're usually the tyrants, or criminals, or an equally powerful faction in a war. Rarely are they characterized as rebel scum. Innnnteresting. Packaging note: "Triple changer" Color swaps: White becomes carolina blue, clear blue becomes smoky clear, black stays black. Paint apps: Dark red windows and robot face, yellow on the front of the engine housings, and white "SWAT A1" on what becomes the left leg. The Autobot symbol is printed on the top of the fuselage. Other comments: Blades spin nice and freely. No mold changes. Overall: A good toy. Best of the team. And now for a totally made-up-by-me bio note for the sword. WEAPON: DIRGESONG SWORD Components: Sunstorm, Thrust, Ramjet SUNSTORM chose his confederates carefully, looking forward to the time they would openly join the DECEPTICONS. Combing through records the Council of Sages thought they had kept secret, he found that THRUST and RAMJET had the potential to combine with him into a weapon similar to the legendary STAR SABER, much like a trio of AUTOBOT-inclined MINI-CONS had done during the Energon War. When combined into the Dirgesong Sword, the trio are only moderately powerful as a direct melee weapon. However, they can emit vibrations that demoralize all who oppose their wielder, enabling the weapon to turn the tide of battle far more effectively than a simple cutting implement could ever do. Comments: At least with my figures, the sword holds together pretty well. Sunstorm is a little loose, only holding onto one of the two pegs solidly, but that's enough to keep him from falling off even when I shake hte sword a bit. The colors don't work so well, though, since Sunstorm's yellow paint diverges from the other two pretty strongly, and the clear purple isn't light enough to be obvious, even when held up to the light. Dave Van Domelen, still hasn't seen Scrapmetal in stores.