Universe 2.0 Bruticus Maximus

Discussion in 'Transformers Feedback & Reviews' started by zephon, Nov 14, 2008.

  1. zephon

    zephon Well-Known Member

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    Has a thread been made on this guy? I can't seem to find the link in the index thread nor 10 pages back.....

    The exact post also appears here:
    Cybertron Philippines Bruticus Maximus Review



    Transformers Universe' Bruticus Maximus is a direct repaint of Energon's Bruticus Maximus. Being a part of the Universe line, he comes packaged in the TF Universe box motif:
    [​IMG]


    The great thing about the Universe version is that they meant this Bruticus Maximus to be a "remake" the G1 Combaticon's Bruticus. This intent begins right off the bat starting with the box itself.
    [​IMG]


    The back of the box shows Bruticus along with the individual Decepticons that make up the combiner. It's noteworthy to say that for this classic remake, all the Combaticons retain their G1 names!
    [​IMG]


    To add to this item's selling strategy, the box designers continuously emphasize the G1 roots of this toy:
    [​IMG]


    I guess the box designers realize that there's a significant market they can target if they keep on flashing the words "Generation 1" on a box packaging:
    [​IMG]


    Anyway, out of the box, the toy comes in a plastic tray reinforced by a cardboard box. All the 'cons are held in place by about a dozen twist ties all over. I find this type of packaging very good as the toy can be returned to MIB status.
    [​IMG]


    The only other paperwork included is the HUGE back-to-back instruction sheet.
    [​IMG]


    Well, so much for the packaging and stuff. Let's see what these toys have to offer:

    Onslaught retains his position as the Combaticons' leader. His alt mode takes the form of an LRM launcher.
    [​IMG]


    The mode isn't without its kibble. The Onslaught's head can be seen from the sides of the vehicle.
    [​IMG]


    The missile battery can also turn around -- thanks to the fact that there are joints there used for his transformation.
    [​IMG]


    This is Onslaught's robot mode. As it is, he doesn't have any hand-held weapons. No problem since his fists accommodate any weapon with the 5mm pegs.
    [​IMG]


    Here's a close-up of Onslaught's features. I find it quite fitting that his head looks like that of a tank commander's wearing a helmet.
    [​IMG]


    As with the "modern" line of toys, this 'con's articulation is quite decent -- he's got knees, elbows, hips, waist, shoulder and neck articulation. All in all, he's a pretty decent 'con that delivers the basic requisites for a "modern" toy.
    [​IMG]


    Just like the original G1 Bruticus, the limbs of Bruticus Maximus can be mixed and matched as well. Although it is quite a pity that Bruticus Maximus only has 3 unique molds (the other 2 being recolors) as compared to the 5 unique molds the G1 version had. With that said, let's start off with the limbs:

    Vortex manages to carry over this G1 alt mode to his classics version -- he's still a helicopter....and his colors aren't too far from his G1 version too.
    [​IMG]


    Being a recolor from the Energon line, his weapons retain their translucent coloring.
    [​IMG]
    Note that I intentionally left out those "Energon Stars" for this review.


    Despite being made up of ball joints and hinge joints, Vortex comes out nice and tight. There are different locks and latches all over to make sure he stays in the mode he's supposed to be in. No QC issues for me here -- he can even support the weight of this weapon on a ball jointed arm.
    [​IMG]


    If Onslaught's head resembles a tank commander's, then Vortex's head resembles the helmed head of a helicopter pilot:
    [​IMG]
    Vortex shares the same mold with the other Combat icon Swindle (Yep, that's right -- Swindle).


    Another Combat icon who managed to retain his G1 alt mode is Brawl. Brawl retains his green tank look in this reissue. Just like all the other limbs, Brawl also gets extra "Energon" weapons.
    [​IMG]


    Even without the add-on guns, Brawl's tank mode is a force to reckon with -- there are 2 guns mounted on a rotating turret. Add to that those small 3-barreled guns on each side of the turret and a couple more on the front hull and you have a total of about 5 weapons on 3 areas of each side of the tank.
    [​IMG]


    In robot mode, almost nothing gets wasted as well. The main guns go to Brawl's forearms and the 3-barreled guns go to his shoulders. Just like Vortex, Brawl is also made up of hinges and ball-joints that peg into place.
    [​IMG]


    I'm also quite pleased with how tight the joints are for Brawl out of the box. As with Vortex, he's also able to hold his Energon weapon with a single ball-jointed arm.
    [​IMG]
    Brawl also shares this mold with the other Combat icon Blast Off.


    I won't bother go into detail with the other 2 Combaticons since they're just recolors of the previous two. Somehow, I can't help but snicker at the thought that Swindle must have conned Blast Off into exchanging alt modes.
    [​IMG]
    Swindle is the helicopter and Blast Off is the tank.


    Grab all 5 Combaticons and combine them to form Bruticus Maximus! No need to open a tackle box full of extra hands, feet and head for this combiner. The pieces needed to form this Gestalt can all be found in the component parts themselves.
    [​IMG]


    Just like the Scramble City Gestalts, the limbs of these "modern" combiners can also be mixed and matched. I'm assembling Bruticus using the configuration in the instruction sheet:
    [​IMG]


    Behold the combined form of the Combaticons!
    [​IMG]
    "I am recolor-ous Bruticus Maximus...." That "maximus" thing in his name sounds sooo Roman....like he's a character out of an Asterix comic...



    Bruticus Maximus' head features closely resemble his G1 version.
    [​IMG]


    There is one major point on Bruticus that one won't find in vintage Gestalts -- it's additional articulation. This Bruticus can bend his knees and twist at the waist.
    [​IMG]


    Unfortunately though, with his default configuration, he still doesn't have any elbows.
    [​IMG]


    I don't really mind that this Bruticus doesn't have proper hands -- he is supposed to be an alien after all. Though amongst the 3 Energon combiners, Bruticus has the appendages that best resemble hands. No need for a hand-held weapon form his either. The "fingers" of those hands resemble cannons on their own.
    [​IMG]


    I have always been a fan of Gestalts. Transformer combiners are unique in that every part of the Gestalt are Transformers themselves (example: Voltron Lions don't transform, Voltes 5 Volt Machines don't transform.... its either the components of the big bot stay as vehicles or as robots prior to combining.). Universe' Bruticus Maximus is a recolor I very much prefer over the original Energon version. This box set does not disappoint -- No QC problems out of the box, great packaging, great recolors. If you're a fan of combiners like me, then this is a MUST buy!
    [​IMG]

    *****

    Addenda:

    I'd like to add some requested pictures:

    On the left we have a pic of Bruticus with "ears" folded. On the right is a pic with Bruticus' "ears" unfolded.
    [​IMG]


    Due to popular request, here we have pictures of the other two limbs of Bruticus Maximus in detail:

    Here is Swindle in helicopter mode:
    [​IMG]


    Here is the helicopter without the add-on "Energon" weapon:
    [​IMG]


    Swindle in robot mode -- the color resembles desert camo more than poop.
    [​IMG]


    Here's a close-up of Swindle's features. It's no different from Vortex's face.
    [​IMG]


    Here's Blast Off in tank mode. It's a mean-looking tank with something like 4 main guns.
    [​IMG]


    Removing the "Energon" weapon makes the tank look more like an anti-aircraft tank than a ground pounder.
    [​IMG]


    Here is Blast Off in robot mode. He's very well-armed in this mode with those forearm cannons.
    [​IMG]


    A close-up of Blast Off's features. Just like Brawl, he also has those guns at the side of his head.
    [​IMG]


    Due to popular demand, I'm also including some mix-and-match limb variations for Bruticus.

    This one has the 2 helicopters forming the feet and the 2 tanks being used as arms. Unlatching the tank treads will allow the knees of Brawl and Blast Off function as Bruticus' elbows.
    [​IMG]


    My issue with this mode is that the 2 helicopters don't make very stable lower appendages for Bruticus. He would either lean back of forward and you would need his knees and waist to balance him.
    [​IMG]


    A personal favorite would be using the 2 tanks as legs and the helicopters as the arms.
    [​IMG]


    The tanks, being bigger, provide a more stable platform for the rest of the torso of Bruticus.
    [​IMG]


    After everything has been said, done and tried, I have to admit that the assymetry of Bruticus has a beauty of its own. With that, I'm sticking to his default configuration.
    [​IMG]

    *****
     
    Last edited: Nov 18, 2008
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  2. a person

    a person Well-Known Member

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    Barricade is one of my all time favorite TF molds and this repaint makes him look even better.
     
  3. Deonasis

    Deonasis Well-Known Member

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    Great review, thanks for the all the details and quality pics :thumbs2:  I cannot wait to get set!

    What is that background in the pics from?
     
  4. TJOmega

    TJOmega The Plastic Addict Content Contributor

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    Whoa wait, did you modify his head? Or is he remolded? He doesn't seem to have the ears of the original and I know he didn't have those antenna.

    ...or did you not just fold the ears out... I forgot they could be folded back
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2008
  5. Pravus Prime

    Pravus Prime Wields Mjolnir!

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    I was wondering if they were going to do something like that, and they seemed to have done a nice job with it graphically as well. As we get figures from other era's, the timescale will tell from which era the figure originally came from. (G2, BW, BM, RiD, etc.)

    As to Bruticus, looks good. I passed on the Energon combiners, but for the right price, I'll pick this one up like I did Classics Devastator.
     
  6. zephon

    zephon Well-Known Member

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    @Omegus Prime: You know what? You're right!!! I completely forgot about the ears! I literally never touched them so I guess they're "unfolded". But they're definitely not modified :)  hmm...in my excitement to get it out of the box I may have skipped something in the instructions.

    @Deonasis: I used a mechanical chain base set on a 4x3 spread.

    Thanks for the great feedback, guys!
     
  7. Gadep

    Gadep Banned

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    damn...onslaught looks like one sexy biatch!

    I gotta say i like brawl and blastoff tons too....always liked that tank mold and those colors look nice...the coptors are ok...not really a fan of the colors they went with...i think this remold of bruticus maximus is tons better over the original......
     
  8. Takara_destron

    Takara_destron Mainly lurking these days

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    Wow, he looks great!
     
  9. QmTablit

    QmTablit BotBot in the what, I said BotBot in the what

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    Still with the translucent appendages, ugh! Why can't they mold proper hands and feet for these guys?

    I passed on Classics Devastator, after seeing Ptitvite's, how can I seriously buy anything else?

    I might bite with this one, but those hands and feet are getting painted, and I might be doing some cutting and shaving.
     
  10. heshanj

    heshanj Banned

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    looks better than the previous pics i saw, thanks a lot for the review...very detailed pics :D 
    nice background too... the first 3 figures were great, and resemble the G1s pretty good... the other 2, well... they look alright too.. blastoff looks decent as a tank and the colors work.. swindle works too, i guess...all in all, a must-buy, for me at least
     
  11. simplygriff

    simplygriff Elitist Dick

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    I dig the individual figures but the combined mode not so much. I can't get past the hands. Thanks for the review!
    -G
     
  12. spamo123

    spamo123 Artist. Contact me.

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    These repaints blow the original out of the water. If I hadn't bought the original and I would definitely pick these up.

    Does anyone know how much these will retail for?
     
  13. General Tekno

    General Tekno Lugnut Supremor & Arkivist

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    He looks more G1 with the antennae folded in. I like it better that way.

    Can we get some shots of Swindle/Blastoff in robot mode? I wouldn't mind seeing their deco and how it differs.
     
  14. DethPike

    DethPike Master of Sinanju

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    There's just enough beer in the world to make me want to buy this thing.

    I was holding onto hope still for like 4 smaller robots that might attach somehow to the Classics 2.0 Silverbolt and Onslaught that we already got, but I guess not. Not a fan of rehash. Great for folks that missed it the first time around, but I'm waiting for some pics of the movie Devastator toy to leak out.

    We need a Classics 2.0 Predaking. 5 robots, all leader class, so the thing is like 2 feet tall when you cobble it all together :) 
     
  15. 0R10N P4X

    0R10N P4X Banned

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    I think I'm going to paint the hands and the feet black or silver.
     
  16. Ravenxl7

    Ravenxl7 W.A.F.F.L.E.O.

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    Thanks for the review :D . I'll definitely be getting this set, though not the Superion set. My Decepticons need some more troops, and I think that the whole Gestalt thing is a more Decepticon kind of thing. It's nice that these sets will be Target exclusives. That way I know I'll be able to get one eventually. I'm still curious about when these will be released. I wouldn't be surprised if they were two of the store exclusives we get next year once the movie line starts up. As for the hands, or lack there of depending on your personal opinion, they don't bother me. These make them look more monstrous and alien. Bruticus will look nice with the rest of my Classics Decepticons. Especially the Classics Devastator repaint I got.

    Edit: Also, add me to the list of people wanting to see pictures of Swindle and Blast-Off in bot-mode. Yeah, they are the same molds as Vortex and Brawl, so not describing them makes sense, but they do have different color schemes, so both alt and bot-mode pics would have been a nice thing.
     
  17. Hound & Mirage

    Hound & Mirage Rapscallion

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    They should totally make a new shuttle-mode Blast Off and jeep Swindle to go with this set. Even if they just sell them as individual basics a year from now as part of a movie line or something, we'd know what to use them for.

    Keep this in mind Hasbro, okay?
     
  18. G1Wheeljack

    G1Wheeljack Well-Known Member

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    Very nice, can't wait for this to hit stores.
     
  19. SPLIT LIP

    SPLIT LIP Be strong enough to be gentle

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  20. shockwave2005

    shockwave2005 Well-Known Member

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    so is the light piping for Bruticus's eyes red as well? I can't tell from the pics.

    And could we possibly get some pics of Blast Off and Swindle in their robot modes? I know they're just recolors, but I am curious how the new decos look in bot mode.