General Information:
Release Date: August 2022
Price Point: $49.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth etc.)
Accessories: Flame/Weapon
Note: This review contains affiliate links to Amazon, BigBadToyStore and Entertainment Earth.
Official images and text below in italics are from Amazon:
- BEAST WARS-INSPIRED DESIGN: This Legacy Series Transformers 8.5-inch Transmetal II Megatron robot toy is inspired by the animated series, Beast Wars: Transformers, updated with a Generations-style design
- UNIVERSES COLLIDE: Universes collide with Transformers: Legacy! This epic line of Transformers toys brings together fan-favorite characters from across the Transformers multiverse
- 2 EPIC MODES: Action figure converts from robot to dragon mode in 33 steps. Comes with a blast effect
- AWESOME DRAGON FEATURES: This Transmetal II Megatron dragon toy features articulating neck, tail and wings for realistic dragon poses. Attach blast effect inside dragon mouth to pose breathing fire
- CODE REVEALS TECH SPECS: Scan the code on each package to reveal character tech specs from across the multiverse! Collect other Legacy figures to reveal their character tech specs (each sold separately, subject to availability)
Harness the power of Energon with the Transformers Legacy Series Leader Transmetal II Megatron robot toy! After fusing his spark with his namesake’s and being thrown into a volcano, Megatron emerges more powerful than ever with a new dragon alt mode. Universes collide! Transformers: Legacy brings together fan-favorite characters from across the Transformers multiverse. Figures feature deco inspired by their universe with an updated Generations design. In honor of the almost 40-year legacy of Transformers entertainment, the fandoms come together from across the Transformers multiverse, all in one toy line. Transformers: Legacy action figures are great kids’ toys and exciting collectibles for fans of all ages. Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro.
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Packaging:
Transmetal 2 Megatron was originally released as part of Legacy. The shape of the box is roughly rectangular with an angled section on the top and left side (if you are facing the box). The background of the box uses shades of purple, blue and black with artwork of a Cybertronian city in the back. To the right is the vertical Transformers logo with the Generations logo above it. The name box on the left side identifies this as Transmetal II Megatron and next to it is a Predacon symbol but it is the wrong symbol! Instead of using the symbol from Beast Wars, it is the Predacon symbol from Transformers: Prime! My guess is Hasbro has a database of symbols and the artist working on the box just selected a file called "Predacon" and did not understand that there was more than one Predacon symbol. In the middle of the box is gorgeous artwork of Megatron in both modes.
The back of the box once again the error on the front of the box with the name box showing Megatron's name with the Prime Predacon symbol next to it. Ah well (again). The back of the box also shows Megatron in both modes calling out a 33 step transformation. It also has the QR code you would have scanned for his tech specs and a pic of him using his flame accessory in beast mode.
A year later, Megatron would be re-released as part of Legacy Evolution. The box art is pretty much the same, except the Cybertronian city in the background is now much closer, so it looks like Megatron is in the city instead of it being far off in the background. Funnily enough, the Evolution box repeats the same mistake with the Predacon symbol as the original version. Go figure.
Accessory:
Megatron includes one accessory, for lack of a better term: a fire club. That sounds odd, but it's accurate. The accessory looks like a brust of flame. It can be attached to the inside of his mouth in beast mode and in robot mode he can hold it in his hand like a flaming club. This piece is made out of a beautiful translucent orange plastic and it looks great.
Robot Mode:
Let's not beat around the bush. Transmetal 2 Megatron is an absolutely gorgeous figure. The sculpt is so choc full of details you really have to stare at the figure to take it all in. His basic silhouette is based on both the animation model from Beast Wars and the original Transmetal 2 Beast Wars figure. He has a very unique head design featuring a "helmet" section with a "pony tail" made in part by the dragon mode's tail. His head still has influence from Megatron's earlier Beast Wars forms but there is more detail and his teeth are now sharp looking. His torso is symmetrical featuring what appear to be organic muscles with dragon claws layered over the chest and an orange orb in the center. His legs look almost symmetrical as they share similar shapes, but there are smaller details which differ from side to side. On the right leg his knee armor looks like it is covered in dragon scales while the left looks more like armor. The left also has a claw that is not present on the right. Of course, one of his most iconic details is the dragon neck and head making up his left arm, a fun callback to the first season of Beast Wars where his T-Rex head formed his right arm. The constant back and forth blending of organic and mechanical looking details on this figure is gorgeous and really something to behold. Of course, one of the most beautiful parts of this figure are the wings, which are shaped to look like parts of a giant flame.
Megatron is mostly made up of orange, gold and translucent orange plastic. The red makes up most of the figure with gold seen on smaller parts like the claws on his chest and the front of the dragon neck. The translucent orange actually comes in two forms. The orb in his chest is a more solid plastic while his wings are made of softer plastic out of necesity due to safety concerns. Paint colors on this figure include purple, gold, gunmetal grey, silver and red. The way the purple is used on this figure is stunning. It is most prominent on the chest, but on other parts it is brushed and/or sprayed on such as on the arms and knees. Gold is used on parts like the claws on his feet and tiny details like the edges of the helmet on either side of his mouth. Could the figure have used a tiny bit more deco? Maybe, but honestly it's darn near perfect so I'm not going to quibble about a dab of paint here and there.
This figure has a stunning forty five points of articulation. This is largely thanks to his dragon neck, tail and wings, which by themselves feature over twenty points of articulation. I was especially happy to see this figure does have waist articulation despite the hip area splitting as part of the transformation. Megatron's right hand features a 5mm port while the dragon head on his left arm features a port inside the dragon mouth to attach his accessory. Unfortunately the position is not adjustable so when you attach it the flame angles downward slightly. That means you cannot point his arm forward to have the fire coming out directly at an enemy. Instead you have to angle the arm. This is probably the only big flaw in this mode.
Transformation to Beast Mode:
- Detach the accessory and set it aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Push the head straight back, then wing it back. Straighten this section out.
- Swing the chest piece down.
- Swing the robot arms up.
- Under each arm is a small panel. Swing them out to the sides.
- Swing the left arm up, then swing it back.
- There is a gold piece at the base of the left arm. Swing it forward.
- Swing the right arm down.
- Swing the right forearm up, connecting the tab on the wrist to the opening on the shoulder.
- Swing the right fist down.
- Swing the right arm in, connecting the large tab on the forearm to the corresponding slot behind where the chest piece was earlier.
- Swing the gold piece at the base of the left arm over the right fist.
- Unfold the dragon arms from the chest panel and swing them out.
- On each beast mode arm, rotate the claws around.
- Rotate the left arm up.
- Swing the pieces that were under the arms up.
- Swing the chest panel up, connecting it to the pieces you moved up in the last step.
- Split the area under the waist and swing each half out.
- Swing the section with the robot head and beast mode tail down.
- Swing the gold panel up.
- Attach the hip sections to the piece in the middle.
- Swing the beast mode torso panel up and press it into place.
- Swing the lower part of the legs forward, then bend them at the knees.
- The flame accessory can fit inside the mouth.
Beast Mode:
Megatron's beast mode is a gorgeous winged dragon. This comes right from his appearance in both the Beast Wars cartoon and toy line. Once again the sculpt and details in this mode are spectacular. Every inch of this figure is covered in details that alternate between organic and mechanical looking sections. Most of the organic looking details look like "skin" with dragon scales. Mechanical parts look like everything from vents to armor to wires. This mode also gives us a good look at details like the claws on his hands and the one at the end of his tail. This sculpt is absolutely gorgeous and there is only one tiny section that some may have an issue with and that would be the base of the neck. There an opening on the sides lets you see a bit of his robot fist, but that's about it. Honestly, it shows how awesome this mode is that I have to nit pick like this to bring up something not-so-great about it!
This mode shows off all the same colors as the robot mode, but now we get a look at the beautiful purple paint details that go from his head, down his neck and along his tail. Other purple details include a beautiful pattern that starts at the top of the wings and then fades into the orange plastic. I absolutely love this deco.
There are thirty nine points of articulation in this mode. Once again a lot of that has to do with the wings, neck and tail having so many segments. I am so glad that the neck and tail have individual segments that can move and it was smart to have each part of the wings able to move individually. This is extraordinary for a beast mode, far exceeding what we normally see in a Transformers action figure.
Final Thoughts:
This figure is absolutely amazing. I am so happy to see a Leader Class figure that lives up to the modern definition of the Class (instead of just being a Voyager with a pile of accessories). This figure is majestic looking, detailed, fun to play with and features a gorgeous deco. I highly recommend this figure (and as I type this he is on sale at Amazon!).
Pros:
- Highly detailed sculpt.
- Beautiful deco.
- The figure is a good size and has a solid feel to it.
Cons:
- I do wish there was a way to position the flame in his beast mode mouth, especially in robot mode.
