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Beast Wars Reviews
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Phase 3 - Transmetal II |
Survival of the Shiniest... |
Last Updated 5/1/01 Tripredacus Agent (TMII
Cheetor recolor) review added.
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As was apparent from the clearance bins, Fuzors didn't really catch on, but
Transmetals sold. Hasbro decided to take the Transmetals and merge in some
of the freakiness of Fuzors as well as the look of the rising-in-popularity
McFarlane toys, to get the asymmetrical Transmetal II line. Just as chromed
up as Transmetals, they generally lacked the third modes. And where
Transmetals had no Basics, TMII did. Packaging usually said Transmetal 2,
because Hasbro decided roman numerals might confuse the kids. So I insist on
Transmetal II. This was the last line before Beast Machines, but not the
last line to carry the Beast Wars logo.
One of the big changes made for TMII was the addition of spark crystals, no
doubt inspired by the glass marble in BWII Galvatron over in Japan. The
sparks were plastic beads with metal backing cut out in the pattern of the
faction symbol.
Wave One
- Basics - Scarem, Sonar and Optimus Minor: Well, no
more third modes, and designs that inspired greater initial enthusiasm than
later on (I went through a phase of really disliking Op Minor).
- Deluxes - Cheetor II, Dinobot II and Ramulus: While
possessing some charm, these guys did somewhat justify the usual hue and cry
that goes up whenever the line changes.
Tripredacus Agent: A Wal-Mart exclusive recolor of TMII
Cheetor, released in mid-2001.
Toy Tips:
- Cheetor - The pegs holding his shoulders in robot mode need to be rotated
up to complete his transformation, this step is not mentioned in the
instructions and helps a LOT with his hunchback appearance.
- Dinobot - The tabs on the sides of his robot chest are meant to be folded
in, a point not really made clear in the instructions. Excessive force is
required. Also, if you want to modify his dino legs, a nail clipper works
well for removing cables and pesky stop-pegs.
- No Megas or larger in this wave.
Wave Two
- Basics - Spittor II, Stinkbomb and Nightglider:
While not great, these had a much less significant "die off" of interest for
me than the first wave
Basics. Note: Spittor's tongue weapon can be stored on a peg hole on the
underside of his beast jaw.
- Deluxes - Scourge, Prowl, Jawbreaker and Iguanus
II: Released in two sub-waves.
Toy Tips:
- Prowl - Excessive force may be required to get his blue "rocket engines"
to stay in place. There was a later recolor that looks even better than the
original.
- Scourge - This guy's got a lot of tips:
- Thanks to James Prentice for this one. When in robot mode, don't close
the abdomen back up. Instead, leave it open flat and swing it up against
Scourge's back. Then fold the wings down over this and flatten them out like
a cape. This gives Scourge more of a backbone, stabilizing his torso. The
wing movement lever ends up looking like someone shoved a shotgun into his
back, though.
- I got a defective Scourge, there's some pieces installed upside down in
mine that render some of the locking tabs useless.
- You can fit both missiles into one hand to create a staff, like
with Cybershark I.
- The mandibles on Scourge's insect head can be swiveled out of the way.
- Jawbreaker - The lower jaw of the beast head is meant to move, but it
takes a lot of force to get it to do this, and you may want to take the head
apart to free bits up first.
- Iguanas II - You need to be sure the beast head clicks firmly into place
in the robot back when transforming the toy, or you won't be able to get the
robot hips to stay shut.
- Megas - Cybershark II and Blackarachnia II: While
Cybershark's still on some shelves, production problems including a loose
"bra" piece delayed Blackarachnia and ended up seriously restricting the
total number to hit shelves. Plus, the slow release played right into the
hands of scalpers, who nabbed a goodly percentage of the run.
Toy Tips:
- Cybershark - There are two versions, the initial batch had very loose
joints, while the second version (identifiable by a .0100 in its code number)
was a bit tighter. Also, the reference to the Japanese BWII Seacons in his
techspec was a deliberate nod to fans.
- Blackarachnia - If you get this and really want to remove the top, you'll
need to carefully carve away the pegs from the back of the chest piece.
It's not really worth the hoo-ha, tho.
- Ultras - Megatron and Tigerhawk: Among the last of
the pre-Beast Machines toys, both continue to show how well the Ultra size
works.
Toy Tips:
- Megatron - Several people reported this simultaneously: there's a place
to store two missiles inside the wings. Basically, the missile goes in tail
first to a slot between the red chrome and purple parts of the wing, and ends
up parallel to the wing "flapping" joint (not the direction of wing
spreading), about a centimeter from the metal rod that holds the red "cog."
In robot mode, the missiles will be tail up.
- Tigerhawk - You can, in fact, put a feather missile in the right hand, so
long as you have the thumb over the notch in the missile. I am informed that
some Tigerhawks have non-rolling wheels on the wings, further messing up the
potential tank mode.