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Beast Wars Reviews
Archive |
Phase 2 - Transmetals and Fuzors |
Radiative mutation... |
Last Updated 9/18/00 Page created.
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After several years of success with Beast Wars, Hasbro decided that the line
had peaked and was due for a change to reinvigorate it. That, or they
couldn't leave well enough alone. Opinions may vary. In any case, rather
than regular beasts, we started to get two sub-lines...the freaky Fuzors and
the robotic Transmetals, which had third "battle" modes that were
vehicle-like, but usually not actual vehicles. This split lasted for a
couple of waves before Hasbro decided to change everything again....
It should be noted that almost all of the Deluxe Transmetals from both waves
have been re-released as recolored versions. I have not reviewed them, and
they tend to be hard to find, shipping in smaller numbers.
Fuzors - Wave One
Fuzors - Wave Two
- Basics - Bantor, Buzzclaw, Noctorro and Terragator:
It's hard to say if these were one wave or two, but I'm inclined to say they
were a single wave. Noctorro was kinda weak, but Bantor and Buzzclaw were
great toys...and then Toys R Us had them on clearance for months. They were
almost enough to make me miss Fuzors.
- Deluxes - Torca and Injector: These guys, however,
helped me get over the loss. Torca's so-so, and freaky-boy Injector was just
pretty bad. He's still warming pegs years after his release.
Transmetals - Wave One
Transmetals - Wave Two
- McTransmetals - Dinobot, Blackarachnia and Scorponok:
Three toys destined not to get Transmetal forms instead got McDonalds toy
premium treatment. I ended up kitbashing all three, plus an extra Dinobot
into Grimlock.
- Deluxes - Rattrap, Waspinator, Airazor and Terrorsaur:
As with the Wave Two Fuzors, one could argue these were two waves, but hey.
All four of these are very good toys, so I'm glad they've been reissued more
recently in new colors, although not in large quantity sadly. A recolored Rattrap was Hasbro's first foray into a
chain-exclusive Transformer since the Machine Wars debacle, with a Wal-Mart
exclusive toy.
Toy Tips
- Airazor - Her pontoons can be deployed as shoulder cannons in robot
mode. Also, there's a definite Angel/Demon theme happening with Airazor and
Terrorsaur
- Rattrap - Dinobot or any of his remolds can indeed ride TM Rattrap as
seen in the show. Put his feet on Rattrap's upturned forepaws and balance
Dinobot's backside with Rattrap's exhaust pipes.
- Terrorsaur - Readers eventually sent in nearly a dozen alternate modes,
making this the most flexible toy until BMac Scavenger. With the upcoming
recolor, if you don't already have this six-changer of sorts, get one soon!
- Mega - Scavenger: Originally to be named Inferno, but
I guess the fact that original Inferno ants still clogged the shelves
convinced them to change the name. And soon Scavengers were clogging the
shelves, since he too was shipped solo or along with Wave One Megas.
- Ultras - Depth Charge and Rampage: The first Ultras of
this Phase, and the last.
Toy Tips
- Depth Charge - A decent approximation of the Solar Sail simulation ship
from Tron can be made if you don't like the official spaceship mode.
Additionally, around the trigger area is a nice pilot's seat where a Basic or
small Deluxe can sit.
- Rampage - Using the cannon as a seventh leg helps stability in crab
mode. In tank mode, the robot knees can get in the way of rolling, something
you can fix by pulling the legs out and making them into a pair of cannons
arched over the back.
- Super - Optimal Optimus: After a couple years, Hasbro
decided to risk an even bigger price point, and they introduced the
four-changing Optimal Optimus (since recolored as Primal Prime). Note: for
car and ape modes, you need to shorten the legs by bending a joint hidden
inside the shins. As the chrome tends to weld itself, you will probably need
to apply excessive force the first time. The Primal Prime recolor was also
slightly remolded, including changing the light-up gimmick so that you didn't
have to risk launching the missiles in order to get the missiles to light up.