-Submitted by: Steevy Maximus Name: Shockblast
Allegiance: Decepticon
By design or simple coincidence, the Transformer line of 2004 was packed with homages, toys designed to evoke classic characters, and was also the 20th Anniversary of the line.
Shockblast has recieved quite a bit of focus since his unveiling early in 2004 by Toyfare magazine, but none so much as people complaining about finding this release. Due to a mass overproduction of wave 1 of Energon megas, resulting in Mirage being even harder to locate, wave 3 never really appeared in number at retail, as such Shockblast and his wavemate Cliffjumper never appeared in number until later 2004 when they were repackaged in 'Powerlinx Battles' packaging. After the packaging change, I found him several times, but like other summer releases, his original black packaging will probably end up a collector's piece.
Shockblast is obviously designed after the classic G1 character, Shockwave. But due to issues in regards to trademarks, Hasbro could not use the original name, substituting a decent alternative.
Packaging/Inserts: I was fortunate enough to find a black box Shockblast at retail, as such, he shares a basic design with all of the other black box Energon releases. Amusingly, his front box art is swapped compared to the toy (the gun arm is right, rather than left), but is correct on one of the side panels.
He has also appeared in greater appundance in the red 'Powerlinx Battles' design, which is basically the same as my black box except for the large amount of red inherit in the design. He is still packaged with the second catalog/comic, which, like Universe, features toys that have been present on the shelves for the better part of the year.
Vehicle mode(s): One attempt made by Hasbro was to revive the triple changer concept in the Energon Decepticons. Shockblast is a bit more successful in this respect than Mirage, but Scorponok is still the best triple changer the line has had since G1.
Shockblast suffers from 'indistinct vehicle mode' that afflicted many G1 toys. He is packaged in 'tank' mode (which Hasbro at times has considered the default alt mode), which is basically nothing more than Shockblast's legs pegged together and twisted to the side, with his smaller arm arced over his head. It works in a sense, but I feel the 'satallite mode' is the proper alt mode
Shockblast's satallite mode is basically his tank styled upper body and his legs spread from behind. Whereas Hasbro merely added tracks to Shockblast for his tank mode, here there are several panels which open to reveal solar collectors. Overall, his alt modes are Shockblast's weakest features. The satallite (sometimes referred to as base mode by Hasbro) mode is the stronger of the two possible modes, though neither are all that great.
Tranformation: Fairly basic with a couple of tricky bits. Transformation pretty much extends to flipping down the legs, twisting the waist, and folding around the arms. Really basic.
Gimmicks: As with any Mega sized Transformer, Shockblast features an electronics box in is left arm (his cannon arm), as well as a projectile launcher. Strangely, Hasbro has chosen NOT to put batteries in with the figures, which I find odd as they do on the GI Joe releases. And GI Joe doesn't sell at the rate Transformers do!
One prop is the blaster arm which features extending blades which when pulled all the way back launch the projectile. While I'm not a fan of hefty gimmicks, the effect of the fully exposed blades is really nice.
Robot mode: This is basically the reason anybody really wanted Shockblast this badly. From the monacle, to the broad chest, to the purple, to the big gun arm, this toy was designed with Shockwave in mind. To that extent, the toy succeeds, but not without issues.
The most glaring issue with the toy is the blaster arm itself. Due to the entire range of gimmicks being focused on this one area, you are left with a huge arm that lacks any sort of possability and is heavy enough to hinder balance in some poses. I find this a particularly sore issue as I KNOW Hasbro can make sound boxes smaller than this, even with the projectile, the appendage is far too big than it could have been.
Besides the gimmick arm, Shockblast really doesn't have all that much possability. His legs are ratchet joints, which don't allow minor movement. I'll grant he does have some nice 'theory' joints, but these larger joints disable many.
On the plus side, he does look cool, the colors work well (even the green, which I applaud the use of as it creates a consistancy with other early Energon Decepticons), and I like his other arm, which has a usable claw hand and a shield/cannon combo.
Overall: After getting the toy (and letting the coolness wear off), I don't think he is really worth all the hype that continues on the various Transformers boards. I am not unhappy with my purchase, but I certainly would not pay more that $25 for this toy. When compared to other Energon megas (particularly fellow Decepticon Mirage), he comes up short in a number of areas. His indistinct alt modes, compromised design for gimmick purposes, and general robot design seem to make him more at home in the Armada line than Energon. This is a step back from Mirage, and even mega Autobots like Ironhide and Cliffjumper.
Perhaps more than any release of the line, Shockblast plays on the homage factor of a favorite character to compensate for a generally weak design. His memorable run on the Energon cartoon will almost guarantee interest from fans and kids alike.
Basically, Shockblast is a good toy, but not a great toy. On his own merits, I can only give the toy a C, though like Downshift, when the homage and character elements are factored in, I would say a grade of B+ is attained. Hasbro set out to update Shockwave, and they did it well, even if the toy itself is not all that spectacular.
As far as finding him, I had great luck at smaller chains like Kmart and Shopko, but Shockblast will be given a new deco as Sixshot, making the mold availabe into early next year. If you just want the mold, I would wait for Sixshot as fans in general have not responded to the colorset and at the approximate time of his release, I expect Sixshot to be available for some time.
Submitted By: SndWve2002
Name: Shockblast
Faction: Decepticon
Retail $19.99 US
OK...first Energon review thought i would get my foot in the door
On to Shockblast or Shockwave if you wish
I'll start with his Alt mode since thats how he was packaged. The colorsceme is purple/grey with some green for the gun. His mode being a 'tank' is definately futuristic, but there are some things that kinda fall short. His rear treads barely seem attached and are rather flimsy for a bot this size. Yeah, his head is visible...not to the extent of Ironhide, but it is still there. Also, his legs are only somewhat convincing as a front track. If you look at him long enough, you realize this mode looks like someone laying down while twisting their body. Shockblast has 2 sounds that i know of in this mode. One is a ....rather odd sounding sattellite 'gurgle' when the button controlling his deployable array is moved. The second sound (a large sounding explosion) comes in when that button is slid far enough forward to release the missle.
Shockblast's energon port is right behing the gun on the main weapon body. Not the greatest looking mode but its acceptable.
Tank to Robot:
*Rotate body at waist 90 degrees
*Pull rear tread assembly down and rearward from body
*bend hips and legs towards the waist
*Pull feet apart, turn 90 degrees and fan the front and rear parst apart
*collapse tread assembly onto back creating a backpack and so the little tab fits into the slot
*Extend arms from body and rotate head
Robot Mode: This is where he truly lives up to his somewhat namesake. The colorscheme is the same as before. Although smaller than others from his size class he makes up for it in his weaponry. Good articulation...knees, hips, the arm without the cannon, and especially the head. My only complaint is the cannon arm. Its large and immoble (only movement is at the shoulder). plus its just long enough not to allow him to have it straight down. Flipping out 2 pannels on his back pack gives him a 'supermode'....its a set or reflective gold pannels that show over his upper chest. The claw on his right arm can grip things and if the gun array is raises one minicon post is present. His cannon arm has 2 holes for other energon weaponry. The mode is a great homage to a old character.
At this point in time I'm going to save the ....*snicker* base mode for a later add on review.
All in all I give Shockblast a 8 out of 10. great homage. great bot mode....but the Alt mode needs a little more support and something should have been done more with the gun arm. A definate buy for anyone who loves all these throwbacks from the past brought fresh and new to today
'Till all are one or till I've bought them all'
Sndwve2002 |
| Cartoon Overview
Shockblast exploded onto the scene in Transformers Energon when he broke out of his prison cell and immediatly killed his jailer, grabbed a would be rescuer as a shield, and proceeded to blow away anything between him and freedom. Among the Decepticons, he was especially ruthless and bloodthirsty... er, oil-thirsty?
Shockblast's first achievement was using his orbital gun platform mode to destroy and cripple several Energon towers, allowing the Decepticons to approach Cybertron without fear of its protective Energon grid. In the process, Shockblast critically injured Tidal Wave, leading to the latter's resurrection as Mirage, and he also killed his former jailers, including an Autobot named Wing Dagger.
During the Autobot's assault on Unicron, Optimus Prime faced off against Shockblast and was critically injured when Shockblast destroyed his original supermode limbs, along with parts of Optimus' own arms and legs within the limbs at the time. Shockblast made the fatal mistake of leaving Optimus for dead, though, which allowed Wing Dagger, reborn as Wing Saber, to find Optimus and merge with him. The new Wing Optimus made short work of the Decepticons, including Shockblast.
After Unicron and the Decepticons were sucked into the rift that opened following this battle, Shockblast was again captured by Wingsaber. He escaped, though, when Megatron came for Inferno. Shockblast resented the fact his rescue was only a "bonus" and soon enough made a play for power - he tried to interface himself into Unicron in Megatron's place. He failed, instead getting a direct hit of Unicron cells that warped him into a larger, even more violent form of himself. After fighting with Optimus Supreme, the merged form of Optimus Prime and Omega Supreme, he regained his senses long enough to recognise Unicron as the true threat - and get crushed into dirt by the planet sized Transformer's mighty fist. |
