Arise, Wheelimus Prime!
Written: Jul 23 '02 (Updated Jul 23 '02)
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Pros: A nice TF, great addition to the RiD line
Cons: Kinda small for the Deluxe price point
The Bottom Line: Wedge can only serve to bolster your Autobot forces and an example of how cool a Transformer can be when the emphasis is on appearance and playability versus springloaded gimmicks.
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| Nitrous_Prime's Full Review: Hasbro Transformers Robots In Disguise Wedge (Comb... |
When the Takara toy company of Japan set out to create a new Transformers line after rejecting Hasbro's Beast Machines, they decided to create one that capitalized on the nostalgia for the old Generation 1 TFs but utilized the articulation and playability of the newest Beast Warriors. To this end, they created the Car Robots line, featuring a return to the vehicle based glory of the original Autobots and Decepticons. The Car Robots line was imported a year later to America as "Robots in Disguise" to give Hasbro (the American distributers of TFs) time to work on a new, original line after their plans for a Beast Machines follow up were scrapped in response to fan backlash and low ratings/toy sales for BM.
One of the new molds for this line was that of a combining team. Combining teams have been with TFs since nearly the beginning, and Takara decided to make a new one that evoked the image and spirit of the very first TF combiner. I am refering to, of course, the old Decepticon Constructicon Combiner, Devestator.
The new team, while being a nice tip of the hat to Devestator, is not your father's (or older brother's, of for me, my old one) construction combiner. Instead of a lime green color scheme, each Build Team member (there are only four as opposed to the Comstructicons' 6) is a different color. They fight on the side of the Autobots, rather than the evil Decepticons.
Wedge is orange. This, combined with his sculpting, presents a bit of a problem for us old TF fans. If Takara wanted to evoke memories of G1, they succeeded to a certain extent. One look at Wedge conjures flashbacks of Wheelie, the most universally hated Transformer in history, who made his debut in the otherwise exceptional Transformers: The Movie.
Aside from that, he's not a bad little figure (little is right, he's about the size of the Beast Wars' Basic figures but is sold as a $5 more costly Deluxe with his Build Team brothers). In vehicle mode, he's an orange bulldoze with a good amount of detail. The giant Autobot logo on his chest gives away the whole "Robots in Disguise" thing, but it's easilly overlooked. He rolls fine, with wheels hidden under his sculpted and painted treads.
A few quick flips later and you have yourself a midgetty robot. In this mode, he's got quite a bit of articulation, something common in the CR/RiD figures. On piece, though, cuases problems. A left over bit of his vehicle mode snaps onto his back and can be removed and held as a double barreled weapon. The problem lies in that it doesn't hold onto his back well, and comes off easilly, easpecially when moving the arms. Speaking of those, the blades from the bulldozer have become giant shoulder extensions in robot form. They can be a mild annoyance while manipulating the arms, and can cause the figure to become unbalanced if stood with them pointing too far forwards or backwards.
Wedge also serves another function. Another few twists and turns of various body parts (as well as a switching of heads, all contained in his chest) and he serves as the torso section of Landfill, the second Autobot combined robot in RiD. He doesn't look too bad, though his blade shoulders become more annoying in this mode (mostly because they become a bit loose and won't stay still, making it look like Landfill has floppy should pads on or something). A bit blocky, and movement is hard for Landfill, but that's the responsibility of the other members of the team, not Wedge. His job is to stand there and hold the head, and he does this without faultering.
This isn't a bad toy by any means (a bit pricey). His resemblance to Wheelie has made him the butt of many of my play time jokes (yes, I'm almost 20 and still play with my TFs), and a number of thrashings from the Decepticons and occassionally a pot shot or two from the Autobots. However, he still works great as both a stand alone figure and a member of a pretty neat combining team.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 9.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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Epinions.com ID:
Nitrous_Prime
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Member: Brad Lynch
Reviews written: 31
Trusted by: 7 members
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