General Information
Release Date: October 2023
Price Point: $24.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Right forearm, Neutron Assault Rifle
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com
- TRANSFORMERS STUDIO SERIES GAMER EDITION: Transformers Studio Series is expanding into the video game universe! These collectible action figures are designed with details from Transformers video games
- 4.5-INCH SCALE BARRICADE: Transformers Studio Series 02 Gamer Edition Barricade action figure for boys and girls is highly articulated for posability and features video game-inspired deco and details
- 2 ICONIC MODES: This Deluxe Class Transformers toy for 8 year old boys and girls features classic conversion between robot and Cybertronian car modes in 15 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: Transformers figure comes with a blaster accessory attaches to the Barricade figure in both modes. Swap out the figure’s hand and attach the blaster as a weapon arm attachment
- REMOVABLE BACKDROP: Removable backdrop displays Barricade figure in the Dark Energon scene. Fans can use the backdrop and pose their figures in the scene with their own style
Bring your favorite action-packed moments from the Transformers video games into your collection with the Transformers Studio Series Deluxe Class Gamer Edition Barricade action figure! Barricade assists in a mission to locate an ancient power called Dark Energon. Transformers Studio Series Gamer Edition toys are collectible action figures for 8 year old boys and girls that feature video game-inspired details and accessories. Convert the action figure from robot to Cybertronian car mode in 15 steps and pose the Barricade toy in the included Dark Energon removable backdrop scene. Transformers action figures for boys and girls make great gifts! Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. Hasbro and all related terms are trademarks of Hasbro.
Background:
In 2010, the major multimedia push for Transformers was a video game titled "War for Cybertron" created by High Moon Studios. This game featured the Autobots versus Decepticons during the events of the Cybertronian wars, before they would leave their homeworld for Earth. This game was very popular among fans and the figures based on the game were part of the initial batch of Generations toy sub-line that continues to run over a decade later.
In an effort to expand the scope of the Studio Series line beyond live action movie and 1986 movie toys, the Gamer Series of Studio Series figures was revealed in early March 2023. It may not seem so at first, but this is a natural fit as it was High Moon Studios that created the films and most game companies of larger games are generally considered "studios" nowadays
Packaging:
Optimus Prime is packaged in a standard rectangular Studio Series box. Most of the graphics are very similar to previous Studio Series boxes but there are some variations here and there. The Studio Series logo is not on a blue background. Instead it is on a metallic looking background. Barricade's artwork has the gritty feel of the "War for Cybertron" game and the "War for Cybertron" logo is at the top above the window (and on the actual top flap). Above the Studio Series logo is a "D-Pad" graphic next to the number "02" ("War for Cybertron" Bumblebee is "01"). The figure sits inside the box with an open window, following Hasbro's "no plastic packaging" rule. The artwork covers up most of the figure in an attempt to prevent theft.
The back of the box looks like a very standard Studio Series box with a red background and images of the figure in both modes calling out a 15 step transformation. He is described as "Gamer Edition Barricade" with the text "Dark Energon" (referencing the game). Unlike Optimus Prime who has "Big Screen Inspired" on the upper left hand corner, this box says "Video Game Inspired". Towards the bottom the text reads "Barricade assists in a mission to locate an ancient power called Dark Energon" in multiple languages.
Inside the box Barricade comes with a background you can use to display the figure. This features a dark city scene from the game (or at least, in the style of the game).
Accessories:
Barricade includes two accessories:
- Right Forearm: In the "War for Cybertron" game characters generally could transform their arms into weaponry (taking a cue from the first few episodes of the G1 cartoon). I'm kind of stretching the definition of "accessory" a bit since this is just a part of the body that pops off to allow his blaster to be attached. The right forearm is the mirror image of the left forearm (which does not detach). I do appreciate that the forearm can move and transform with the figure without coming off easily. This piece is made up of two shades of grey plastic with a black paint application for a stripe design (seen in vehicle mode). The arm itself features a hand with a 5mm port in it.
- Neutron Assault Rifle: Barricade's weapon is one from the game known as the Neutron Assault Rifle. In the game the weapon has a rectangular body with several parts attached on the top and bottom with a small barrel in front. This accessory looks like an elongated version of the weapon as see in the game. This weapon is all black plastic with no paint applications. It features a 5mm port in the back, allowing it to attach to Barricade's elbow peg. There is a square peg on the bottom that is used to attach to Barricade in vehicle mode. The front end looks like it can accommodate a Blast Effect but I tried several and none of them stayed on. I was very disappointed that this weapon does not have a 5mm peg for Barricade to hold in hand, which is a bizarre ommission. Hasbro did state on a recent Hasbro Pulsecast that they will make sure future "Gamer Edition" figures will have 5mm pegs on their weapons. This is a case where "game accuracy" actually works a bit against the figure's play options.
Robot Mode:
The "War for Cybertron" game had an interesting design philosophy. Since the game represented characters pre-Earth, they were supposed to be purely Cybertronian in form. At the time the live action Transformers movies were dominating the box office and the designers seemed to say "What if we took live action movie aesthetics but brought them closer to G1?". The combination of those design philosophies resulted in characters that looked G1-ish but had a lot of angular and pointed details that recall designs from the live action films. This figure reflects Barricade's game design very well featuring key details including:
- Head: The head design features a rounded helmet section with pointed eyes, a nose and mouth.
- Arms: Each arm is sleek looking with angles at the shoulders and giant wheels behind the shoulder armor. Each forearm also features three distinct angled lines.
- Torso: The chest has a triangular shape where it is wide at the top and narrows towards the waist. The design on the chest features pointed "windows" on the chest and pointed designs in the middle. In a weird way, the torso looks almost like the face of the Barricade from the live action films.
- Legs: The legs feature angled designs that go from the knee armor down to the feet. The CG model from the game did not have wheels hanging off the legs, but given that this figure needs to transform and can't use "CG magic" to make parts disappear, this is not an issue from an aesthetic point of view.
Overall Barricade is a really good representation of his game model and I'm happy with the sculpt.
Barricade is mostly made up of black, light grey and dark grey plastic. Paint colors on the figure include purple, black, silver and yellow. The paint colors in this mode mostly wind up on the torso, back and lower legs. My favorite details are the purple ones that look like glowing energy as seen in the game. A Decepticon symbol is printed in purple on his chest. Some have pointed out that it is a live action movie symbol versus the more G1 symbols used in the game but it's hardly noticable unless you stare at it. The deco looks good though I can imagine a "premium" version of this which would have the battle damage marks from the game model. The Transformers in the game had a very gritty look while this figure looks like it represents Barricade right after he rolled off the assembly line.
There are sixteen points of articulation on this figure. This may not sound like a lot given most figures average over twenty points nowadays but the shoulder and hip joints are ball joints so the range of motion is good, so no worries there. You do have to play around with his feet a bit to get him to stand properly since he doesn't have good sized heel pieces. The blaster weapon can attach to his right elbow peg or store away on his back by using the small tab on the side of the blaster. Here's where the designers missed an opportunity. The side of the right arm has a tab on it but it is too big to fit into the storage slot on his back. So when you take off the arm there's nowhere to store it. Interestingly, the figure has a 5mm port under each foot, allowing you to use Weaponizer/Fossilizer/Armorizer parts with it.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- If attached, remove the blaster weapon and set it aside for now and make sure the arm is attached.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Rotate the hands around, then swing the top panels on each forearm up and swing the hands in, then swing the panels back in place.
- Rotate each forearm inward so the black stripes are facing outward.
- Push the feet up against the lower legs.
- Push the two lower legs together.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Swing the back piece out and swing out the panel that was tucked against the back.
- Push the arms down at the shoulder and tab in the big tabs on the arms to the slots on the sides of the thighs.
- Push the panels from the back of the robot legs together, then swing them back and press them into place.
- Swing the back piece up and over the robot head, connecting it to the panels from the robot arms.
- The weapon can be attached to the top of the vehicle.
Vehicle Mode:
Barricade's vehicle mode is a very sleek looking Cybertronian car. Like the video game model this figure features an aggressive looking grille in front that sticks upwards almost like fangs. The car starts low then angles upward towards the back. It features sleek curves and angles that give the vehicle a very "scifi" and futuristic appearance (even though technically this form is from the past). I also love the back section featuring several thursters sticking out the back including a round one in the middle that has a distinctive Batmobile style appearance. I really appreciate how much the designers stuck with the game's vehicle design. He looks fantastic!
This mode is where the deco on this figure really shines. The black and silver paint colors form beautiful designs from the front to the back of the vehicle. Purple is used to represent sections that are glowing such as the headlights. Yellow is used on the sides towards the back, offering some nice color contrast against the black paint. I also love the giant purple Decepticon symbol on the hood. It's very bold and striking looking.
Barricade only has one attachment point for weapons and that's on the top of the vehicle. Unfortunately the designers decided to make it a square slot for the square peg on the blaster. I am not clear on why they decided to do this instead of using the standard 5mm peg/port option. This would have made this figure more cross compatible with other Generations figures and made the weapon itself more useful across figures.
Final Thoughts:
Barricade is a fun figure. I actually find it to be a bit of a throwback. He is a bit larger and chunkier than most Generations figures nowadays. I also appreciate that staying close to the game's CG model did not mean having to over complicate his transformation. The figure looks great and is very intuitive. The whole "square peg on the weapon" thing confounds me however and keeps this from being highly recommended. Still, if you can grab this guy he's totally worth adding to your Decepticon forces.
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt in both modes.
- Good deco but it is most striking in vehicle mode.
- Intuitive and fun transformation.
Cons:
- The choice to not use the standard 5mm peg/port system for the weapon is confounding.
- I wish there was a way to store the right forearm when detached in robot mode.
- It would have been cool if the weapon could fit Blast Effects.
