[REVIEW] Richard's Reviews: Transformers Energon Strongarm

The following review and pictures can be found online here:
http://www.vigilantstudios.net/transformers/energon/tfe_strongarm.html

Strongarm
As one of the toys features in the Energon Volume 1 comic included with the
first wave of Energon toys, Strongarm bears some resemblance to what Hound
and Swindle's illegitimate child might look like. Being one of the Autobot's
Energon handlers also gives him the distinction of having a number of
multi-purpose accessories for himself and his teammates.

Review


Set Includes
Packaged in vehicle mode, Strongarm, along with Skyblast and Battle Ravage,
ushers in the return of the basic-sized Transformers toy. Measuring at 3
3/4" long, 2" tall at the roll bar, and 2 1/2" wide, this Omnicon resembles
a hybrid jeep. Mustard yellow and navy-blue are the primary colors with some
lighter blue highlights and headlights, gray front bumper, and a couple red
dots behind the seats. An Autobot symbol is molded onto the rear driver's
side fender and painted red. Unfortunately, the spaces in between the
symbol's parts were also painted, making it looks like a red blob from a
little distance.

Also included are four red Energon pieces: a chip, cannon, and two blade
halves. The chip can attach to the round peg behind the roll bar over the
Autobot logo. This, according to the pack-in comic book, is where Strongarm
expends Energon to create weapons. The cannon can attach to the peg on the
right rear fender and is able to rotate and be positioned up or down. The
blade halves fit together to form a spare tire that fits on the peg in the
middle of the rear of the vehicle. It can also fir on either hole on the
cannon.


Start-Change-Finish
To transform into robot mode, swing the arms out from underneath and rotate
the head around 180 degrees. Rotate the rear of the vehicle 180 degrees and
fold the roll bar down. Swing the front section forward and flip the
windshield segments up slightly or all the way, if that's to your liking.

Robot Mode
Standing at 4" tall, Strongarm is ready to deal Energon to his Autobot
junkies. He has a wonderful amount of articulation: neck, waist, bending
elbows and knees, and ball-socket shoulders and hips. Due to his design, his
legs are limited in their ability to be posed. However, his shoulders gain
range due to the rotation of the rear wheels to bring out the arms.


Energon
The Energon accessories can be implemented in a few ways in robot mode. The
cannon can be held in either hand or mounted on his shoulder or on top of
his head. The blades, in their combined mode, can be held in either hand for
use as a small shield or placed on top of his head. Additionally, the blade
halves can attach to cannon to form a gigantic, relatively speaking,
hand-held axe. This is seen in the pack-in comic. The chip is only designed
to fit on the same peg as in vehicle mode, however.

Overall
Strongarm is a good, solid toy that can stand on it's own, has good vehicle
and robot modes, and enough accessories to vary play for a while. He's also
not burdened by gimmicks and is a nice price, $6.99 at Toys R Us. It's good
to see basic-sized Transformers again and Strongarm doesn't disappoint.


Final Grade: B+