[Toy Review] “Onslaught” is a tough-looking retool of “Hot Spot”

Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)

Update: Corrected the retail price, it’s actually SGD $56.90. Thanks to the fan who helped spot the error!

Hasbro sent over the new set of Combaticons, and I’m starting my reviews with Onslaught, leader of them all! He retails for SGD $56.90 in stores, and is an extensive retool of the Protectobot leader Hot Spot, sharing the basic transformation engineering and all.

Packaging

Front of the box. (Onslaught)
Front of the box. (Onslaught)
Back of the box. (Onslaught)
Back of the box. (Onslaught)
Side of the box. (Onslaught)
Side of the box. (Onslaught)

So yes, he comes with the same thin twisty ties, and you can only see one of his guns (he comes with two). But it’s his broad shoulders and emotionless face that really stands out from the box. The artwork on the side of the box also teases the combined form of Bruticus, enticing you to collect all the Combaticons (and honestly, why wouldn’t you?).

Contents

Unboxed. (Onslaught)
Unboxed. (Onslaught)
Robot and guns. (Onslaught)
Robot and guns. (Onslaught)
Bio card. (Onslaught)
Bio card. (Onslaught)
Bio card. (Onslaught)
Bio card. (Onslaught)

As you can see, Onslaught comes with a pair of guns, a bio card (in lieu of a comic), and also his instructions. I like collecting cards so this works better for me than a comic (and really, I’m just going to buy the TPB anyway, loose issues are hard to keep).

Robot Mode

Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)

OK so I first posed Onslaught wielding his guns, and didn’t place them on his back. Canonically (get it, get it, “cannonically?”) I suppose he doesn’t really have weapons, but instead has his turrets on his back when he transforms into robot mode. IMHO he looks better this way, since his arms really stand out. But for comparison, here’s the other version of what he’s supposed to look like.

Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)

I prefer him without his guns attached to the back. They look more like smokestacks that way, and detract from his broad-shouldered look, making him look less imposing than he should be. In fact, it’s kind of distracting. So I’d rather him wield his guns and shoot the Autobots rather than attach them to his back.

Vehicle Mode

Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)
Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)
Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)
Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)
Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)
Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)
Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)
Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)
Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)
Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)
Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)
Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)

His vehicle mode is where he shines, although there certain places where his robot parts could have been more well disguised. He’s a giant anti-aircraft truck, which works just as well since his cannons are liable to just as deadly to land-based vehicles.

Overall

Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Robot mode. (Onslaught)
Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)
Vehicle mode. (Onslaught)

The most important thing about a retool is that it must not look like a retool, ie, it must not look like “oh he was made from another bot.” And that’s the cool thing about Bruticus, because all of his parts look like they were made to fit his alternate mode, rather than being force-fitted to serve some sort of other purpose.

Anyway, what we’re really looking forward to is his combined form! Bruticus looks appropriately intimidating as the Combaticon leader, and sports an equally menacing vehicle mode to boot. His colours all fit, but if you’re really a stickler for the colours then you might not be that happy about the anime accuracy of it all. Still, he needs to be able to look good on his own before he looks good as a team, and it works well that way.

I’ll be doing the other Combaticons over the next few days, so check it out!

Combaticon Toy Reviews

Onslaught

Vortex

Swindle

Brawl

Blast Off

Bruticus

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