This is why I love Magic Square! Now we get the best of both worlds! Though I’m torn here as to which version I prefer. I much prefer the toon version of Menasor, likewise Devastator, but looking at these pics, I think I’m favouring the toy version! Can’t wait to get my hands on this!!

 

Hahaha

 

Still uses a faux combiner shell for the entire front of the torso plus the waist & thighs?

I'm out. I like combiners to have more integrated transformations, alas. Happy for everyone who likes him!

 

Do we know if Swindle and Brawl can be swapped? There was never any consistency about which leg was which.

Toy instructions: Swindle right, Brawl left.



Toy leaflet: Swindle left, Brawl right.



Cartoon: Swindle right, Brawl left.



Comic: Swindle left, Brawl right.



Comic: Swindle right, Brawl left.



My preference is Swindle left, Brawl right. I never had the Combaticons as toys in the 80s, and so never saw the instructions then. I didn't care for the cartoon. So my preferred toy Bruticus is the one from the leaflet!

 

That toy version looks an awful lot better to me. Nice. I'm more than happy enough with the one I've got, but it's always nice to see other takes on a character.

 

Liking the toy version. I never liked that his chest appeared to have a shuttle cockpit on it when that same cockpit was clearly still on the arm.

 

That was never not going to be the case, especially at this scale and where toon accuracy is so important. I have no issue with it and hopefully those parts can be given a purpose like with the MS Devastator pants and chest piece forming that drilling machine.

Unlike the awful NA Devastator suit shell.

Either way, I can’t wait for this guy, he looks fantastic in almost every respect!

 

I think, toy for waist down, toon waist up is the way I'm leaning. Like buttholes we all have an opinion

 

So the toy version is only a change in combiner add-on parts— not the individual bots? I don’t ever combine my combiners, and was hoping for redesigned robots that look more like the toys.

 

Has MS done toy figures in the past? all i remember is cartoon ones

 

No, it doesn’t appear that they have. I just don’t see the point of making a faux-parts combiner out of toon-styled individual robots. I want the double-D Brawl and Swindle without the fake Jeep grille loincloth. I want the toy-style chests and Blast Off without feet thrusters. I just want a legitimate toy-style set, not a facade for the combined mode.

The initially-revealed gestalt looks like an unfinished prototype or a Super 7 figure, and the so-called “toy-style” option looks like what I would expect from a finalized toon version. Without the purple-Swindle and bent-tank legs, there’s not much that’s toy-like on this Bruticus.

 

Magic Square combiners come with the parts for both configurations. Great deal and everybody wins  

 

The individual bots aren’t toy-styled. Only the fake combiner parts are. Toy fans don’t win.
The only options are “toon styled” and “slavishly toon styled”.

 

Toy version for me all the way. Love the way he looks with the toy parts. I will say I'm not super thrilled with the way the leg bots look, and how they don't really do much for combined mode but I'm sure it's so he can be as tall as their previous combiners and it's not the end of the world. I do hope that swindle can be turned around tho. Hopefully these release soon because...

 

They've done basically Toon & Studio Ox (which honestly look leagues better than the mess that are toy decos) :-3

 

As a fan whose interest began and remains with the toys, I always thought the Studio Ox designs were far more appealing than the Sunbow ones.

 

So, do we have any idea if this is a second alternate release completely or it comes with both to start with?

 

Oh flick, now I can’t unsee or accepts that... damn, toy version it is then.... proooobably lol  

 

It could be worse....
It could be newage devastator level