The chest isn't flat - just mistransformed. The youtube video a page or so back shows the correct deformed chest.
Good grief, that's one ugly looking piece of plastic right there... You would have thought Hasbro would have asked Bay to approve some friendlier looking designs. I really enjoyed the movie, but would I want any of the "stars" on a shelf at home? God no.
Got mine for my b day today and cannot understand the hate for him, he is totally kick ass, great solid figure mode, good joints and some comedy play value in the fact he can flip the bird and dance to ''Whip it good'' which he plays. Dont be down on the guy, his chest splits up nad folds in and although bulky did any one really expect him to transform like the movie ?????
I think the "cheap" look is due to the yellow plastic. I've yet to see yellow plastic look good. If they would have sprung for a light paint job on top of the plastic, he probably would look pretty snazzy. I don't know though. I think if I wanted to plop down $90 on an animatronic toy, it'd probably be that R2-D2 they put out a while back that you can play games with. I'd have much rather seen a Transformer at the $90 price point look incredible than have a couple of gimmicks that are, at best, a major distraction from the main gimmick of a Transformer. Too much went into the electronics here, not enough went into the robot mode engineering. That's not to say I won't ever buy it, but this'll be the first large Transformer where I'll only be tempted once the price comes down. A lot.
But it still looks misproportioned. The car hood takes up his entire upper half. For $90, he should have been sleeker IMO.
QFT The only big difference between this one and the other one are the size and clunkiness. I dont see the point of making him MP size, really. He definitely should have been sleeker, or maybe a Leader and shave off $50. Pass.
I got it, and think it's a fun toy. True, not the greatest, and could have been better. But still fun. And to those that cry 'junk' - if you don't like it, you can just say without making people who did buy it feel stupid. We won't hate you for it.
I enjoy the movie line. That said, I think this Bumblebee is pathetic for thirty dollars. Of course, he costs ninety dollars, but what I said still stands. I despise when Transformers are limited by their terrible gimmicks. Isn't this like, the second movie toy unable to turn its head (after Megatron)? Why should something that costs that much be unable to even turn its head or raise its frigging shoulders? Absurd... And "Whip It" is just trash to me. Needed some Black Flag or Bad Brains. Perhaps if I can get him for thirty dollars, or maybe if I suddenly get rich or something and am not buying G1 Fortress Maximus at the time, then I'll consider it.
I agree with you on the highlighted line. That's why I pretty much universally dislike sounds and lights on tfs, always come at the expense of balanced size, articulation, etc. Even without electronics, too many of the movie figures only had left/right articulation for me (no vertical articulation).
