General Information:
Release Year: July 2007
Retailer: General release (Wal-Mart, Target, Toys 'R' Us etc.)
Price: $6.99 (Depending on retailer)
Accessories: Earphone/Weapon

Images:

• On Card (Front)
• On Card (Back)
• MP3 Player Mode
• With Booster X10 (MP3 player modes)
• Robot Mode
• Robot Mode (Side)
• Robot Mode (Back)
• Robot Mode (Close up)
• With Booster X10 (Robot modes)

Tech Specs:
Most of the other REAL GEAR ROBOTS focus on covering their tracks, but NIGHT BEAT 7 makes it his job to expose them to the light. Using sophisticated reality-search software, he constantly scans the world around him for evidence that a DECEPTICON has been at work. He’s trained in finding the most obscure evidence from the faint time particle trail left by MEANTIME, to the sonic leftovers of the mischievous BOOSTER X10.

Packaging:
Nightbeat 7 is a carded figure, with the "Real Gear Robots" logo in a semi-circle around the edge of the bubble interior. Like all Real Gear figures, he has three words naming the function of the character. In this case his function is more of an indicator of his personality "Seeking the beat". A small note on the front indicates "Not a working music player". The background uses the silver, metal look of the movie logo with the Autobot symbol behind it. There is no package art, just a photo of the figure. On the back right above the tech specs is the following text: "Congratulations on purchasing this fine Real Gear Robots product! You've uncovered one of the most closely held secrets on Earth, known only to very few humans. The power of the Allspark has been unleashed, and machines all over the world have come alive. Unlock their secrets and join the battle!" It's kind of neat since tis is akin to the type of message you would find in a manual when you purchase an electronic device (minus the stuff about your device coming to life of course).

Expanding the Real Gear Robots line are a couple of redeco figures. Taking the Laserbeak-esque Booster X10, Hasbro avoided the obvious redeco of gold and black (inspired by Buzzsaw) and instead went with something different: an Autobot named Night Beat 7. For a detailed look at the sculpt, check out Booster X10's review. This review will focus on the changes made to the figure for this review.

MP3 Player Mode:
G1 fans will recognize the name Nightbeat as one of the more popular Generation One characters from the Marvel comics series. He has recently begun to be featured again in IDW's comic book series. Using his name is a nice bit of homage to that character.

To differentiate Night Beat 7 from Booster X10 as much as possible, he is cast in translucent blue, light blue and light grey plastic. The translucent blue plastic replaces the translucent orange on the Booster X10 figure. In this form that makes up a bulk of what you're seeing on the front. The screen is translucent blue and the control pad is cast in the light blue and grey colors. Metallic blue paint is used on the translucent blue plastic on the front, simulating the metallic colors used on real life music players such as the iPod. The edges of the player are painted with metallic silver, again a touch that harkens to real life music players. Turning the player around you'll see more of the light blue color on the back as well as metallic blue on the section that folds out to change into the tail feathers.

The buttons on the front of the player are cast in grey plastic with light blue plastic in between them. The headphone piece is cast in grey and metallic blue plastic. The rubbery piece that would hook onto your ear is cast in grey plastic as well. Metallic silver paint is used on details from the end of the cannon barrel to the middle. At the very center is an Autobot symbol painted in red.

Overall I like the paint job for this form. It reminds me a lot of a metallic blue iPod mini that I owned a couple years back.

Robot Mode:
Most of the plastic swaps from the MP3 player mode carry over here. The translucent orange plastic on Booster X10 become translucent blue on Night Beat 7. Since the colors are more concentrated, the blue looks a lot deeper on the mechanical feathers in this form. His neck and head are cast in light blue plastic and his legs are light grey.

A good trend in the Transformers line is the use of different color schemes with redecos. His neck and head are mostly painted metallic silver. Metallic blue is used on details along the edges of the neck, the small details on top and his eyes. On top of the head is an Autobot symbol painted in red. I found it interesting that the symbol is smaller than the one on Booster X10's head. Another detail that differs from Booster X10 is the tail where the edge is painted metallic silver. The front ends of the wings are painted metallic silver as well.

The metallic colors used on this figure really enhance its appearance. Booster X10 mostly used flat colors, so this guy offers a good contrast.

Final thoughts:
Night Beat 7 is nothing amazingly special, so how much you want him will depend on if you're really into redecos and if you want another Autobot on the side of your movie figures. Recommended if you fit these criteria.