Both that combined devastator and the individual 2009 figures are garbage compared to these new ones. These destroy those in accuracy and combine all in one package.

 

I mean, at least they're not leading with the strongest member of a combiner team, and saving the worst for when the customer is already heavily invested. Because that always feels a little cheeky.

Unless Rampage is actually one of the stronger individuals out of the 8. Which would be a bit yikes.

 

What is the issue with rampage? Seems pretty accurate in both modes AND forms to a Devastator leg.

 

It's so simplistic, which isn't bad by default. But in this case, the monoleg looks terrible from the side, when moving it up towards the body would at least make the side profiile less lumpy. The arms are also really static, and the whips don't come forwards far enough to look natural or useful. I'm not asking for standard arm joints, but inward bending elbows could work nicely with the hinges on the whips to get some nice dynamism to the arms.

Speaking of dynamism, the leg+stand also seem really static, with seemingly few options for lively posing.

 

That cockroach running on the desk

 

Rampage's design is just awkward to adapt in this way. He's supposed to be all flexible and snake-like, so to adapt his robot mode properly then obviously he'd need to have a ton of articulation.

But the toy also has to form part of Devastator, and in this case, an important, load bearing part of the big papa himself. That, by contrast, demands a simpler design with more solid, monolithic parts that can support the weight of the combined form without buckling in a hundred different places.

Combiner gimmick won out on this one, and thus the robot mode is in the shape it's in. It's unfortunate, but that's real life physics, combined with a restrictive toy budget, and a character design most unsuited for this type of multitasking.

 

The Decepticons were designed to be a bit unsightly and I think it worked. When you stand them beside the Autobots there's no real confusing of who the bad guys are. I loved how the designs didn't stay humanoid and the older I get the more I appreciate that and the more terrifying a con is. A pogo stick con can cause a lot of damage the same way demolisher did in China as a two wheeled mega menace. The constructicons were always a group I found perverse because their vehicle modes are to build but their characteristics are to destroy when it comes to Autobots, humans and infrastructure. The cons all looked different too which helped differentiate them easily.

 

Yeah, can't argue with that. Personally, I'm not in on Devastator, so Rampage has to stand on his own single peg.

Now, if they'd led with stronger designs, and I ended up with 5/8 before getting to Rampage, they could pull me in. So thanks to Hasbro for not doing that?

 

Conversely, imagine people having bought 4-5 members of Devy and then seeing this reveal. Would they throw a fit because now they're either "committed" or because now disappointed collectors are \unloading SS Constructicons and the market to get rid of their own falls out?

Hell, how do we know that a future component won't make similar concessions (ex: Scavenger or Mixmaster)

Leading with Rampage, if anything, sends a clear message as to what these figures are going to be. Screen accurate, but making sacrifices to articulation to ensure a stable combiner. If you don't like Rampage, you're getting a clear warning *now* as to what you can expect from the next 6-7 (considering we've seen Scrapmetal)

 

TonTon's review for Scrapmetal is up. Transformation from vehicle to robot is pretty much similar to Combiner War Scavenger.

 

WOH! Pogo-bot looking better than I expected!  

 

Too bad the Rampage have that kibble on his tail and very brick hand articulation
i have mine from rotf (skipjack) but i will bought this one and oversized

 

I never understood rampage until I read on one of the box backs it said "gorgon mode"

That's just baddass.

My whole view of that guy changed after reading that

 

People see him as just a bouncy pogo stick guy but I see him as a snake guy. Much cooler that way IMO.

 

Oh dude!

When you grew up with clash of the titans (the OG) Medusa was cinematic gold...that cheesy stop motion clay shit was mind blowing to me at the time..so when I associated Rampage with her, both being "gorgons" his stock went thru the roof with me.

I'm on the other side with the original toy...I hated how that thing looked in bot mode. The "centaur" mode was a cop out for trying to figure out what to do with all that kibble...the front hydraulic mount never seemed to tab in anywhere..it was a MESS.

I looking forward to this one..and eventually Devestator. Unfortunately...I hate to say it...I honestly think I will pass on all of these and wait for a boxed set or see what the KO'rs do. Spreading out a combiner over what will probably be 2 years of retail searching...and the eventual "were ending THIS line so the tail end you can pick up at Ollie's if you survive the knife fight" type shit is what I'm not interested in.

I would have been happier if they just put "coming soon!" Marks on every studio figure about devestator, and try to release them closer together.

I've been playing this game long enough to know...that one or two of the figures needed for this guy will somehow become stupid to get.

 

You think so? That's a LONG time to wait for something that might not happen. I agree that there's a good chance they will do some sort of box set (maybe with different paint apps?) but if that happens you're talking late 2020 at the earliest, probably 2021. And I'm pretty sure that the majority of the figures are gonna be dope.

 

you know what all the rotf constructicons remind me of? that old trope where like a spirit takes over some construction vehicle and warps into a monstrous form to, like... exact its revenge, or something. like it's a construction vehicle that was given life and is super angry with life or some shit and that anger turns into some sort of monster.

 

Like Fergully meets monster house, I like it but scrapper looks too human for that

 

the pincher-hands, digitigrade legs and... overall face on scrapmetal kinda throw a wrench into the theory, but hey, mix it up a little. especially since long haul's pretty humanoid except for his general fattitude, the face and his weird hands.

 

I mean monstrous looking, long haul has a face in his torso pretty much