Sunday, May 24, 2015

Transformers: Prime Robots In Disguise Decepticon Rumble Part 1

Cyan or red, make your choice

Even though the animation series was done quite a while back, I still have many figures from "Transformers: Prime" yet to be reviewed on the blog. ^^; While this one, Rumble, is one of them, it's a very unique entry since the character never appearred in the show. ^^


"Transformers: Prime" Robots In Disguise Decepticon Rumble
Production company: Hasbro
Release date: September 2012
Price: US$12.99
Merchandise link

Apart from its "toy-only" nature, this version of Rumble is also unique because it features zero connection with Soundwave. ^^ Everyone remembers Rumble being one of the cassette robots associated with Soundwave from Generation 1, and the same design concept is also present on the Fall of Cybertron version. Ejectable cassettes are replaced by data discs, but Rumble is still Soundwave's minion in that game, alongside his buddies Frenzy, Ravage, and Laserbeak. Even in the second live-action movie, Soundwave as a satellite was shown launching Ravage onto Earth for a spy mission, so even though the whole gang was not there, that "conventional" character connection is somewhat preserved. ^^

In "Transformers: Prime" however, all the old cassette robots are not in, and Soundwave was depicted as a very different character than his original self as well. As a result of that, the show has "no need" for Rumble and his gang it seems, ^^; but that certainly didn't stop this toy version of Rumble to be released. Despite its toy-only nature, it's actually a very fun little figure, which is why I decided to pick him up last year. ^^

For the Takara Tomy's Japanese Arms Micron series, both Rumble (AM-30) and Frenzy (AM-31) were released, and they were designed with a different face as compared to this Hasbro's Robots In Disguise version. Interestingly though, the main color scheme is switched between the two. ^^ Rumble, cyan in this Robots In Disguise version (with red eyes), is red in the Arms Micron series (with blue eyes), while the blue figure from that series is designated as Frenzy (but with red eyes). Since there's no Frenzy from Hasbro, I suppose many fans would get the Arms Micron release to complete the pair, but technically, it's actually not a combination of Frenzy and Rumble, but a pair of Rumbles instead. XD

Red or blue, red and blue, just go with it. ^^



Front view of the blister pack.


A large image of Rumble's 3D model occupies the top section of the package card.


Product label.


(Left) No special name assigned to Rumble's weapon it seems. ^^;
(Right) The product label indicates that the transformation difficult is 2 - Intermediate for the figure.







The figure in vehicle mode can be seen very easily and clearly through the clear shell.


Left and right side views of the blister pack.


Information about Rumble can be seen on the package's left hand side.


Character name and figure classification are shown on the right hand side.


Top and bottom views of the package.


Preview for Sergeant Kup, Shadow Strike Bumblebee, and Airachnid from the same toy line on the bottom of the package.




A brief introduction of the character as well as images of the figure in robot and vehicle modes on the back of the package.


Optimus Prime and his Autobots comrades from the anime series.
This "promo shot" can be seen on "Transformers: Prime" figure packages since 2011, as evidenced from the box of "First Edition" Voyager Class Optimus Prime.






Comparison with the package of Arcee from the same figure series.


The package is carefully cut from its side in order for the content to be removed.


Rumble and his two pile drivers on the plastic tray.






Front view of the plastic tray that houses the vehicle.






Closeup on the details.


Rear view of the tray.




Closeup on the details.


The folded instruction sheet on Rumble's transformation.




Front page of the instruction sheet shows Rumble's car-to-robot mode transformation.




Rear page shows the reverse.


The complete backdrop with the remaining edges of the cut plastic cover removed.


The cardboard label for the top, side and bottom faces of the plastic container.


Straight-out-of-box display of "Transformers: Prime" Robots In Disguise Decepticon Rumble in vehicle mode. ^^

More images of this bright cyan little hatchback in the next posting. ^^

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