Nostalgia is a messy thing. Looking back on the parts of our youth that brought us joy often brings with it a hefty price tag as we try to re-acquire the bits and bobs that made us happy so long ago. Quite often, once we get the item we desire, we find it…lackluster. Turns out our adult sensibilities expect more than the rounded-off impressions of childhood.
So we start chasing more complex, more involved executions of those items, often at an exponentially increasing cost.
Hasbro knows this well, having some of the longest-running toy IPs in the industry. 40-50-something adults who grew up with the original “G1” Transformers line (those original toys released between 1984 and 1990, but especially the “pre-movie” toys released prior to 1986) are heading into a time in their lives where they have even more disposable income. So Hasbro has been busy.
Take Grimlock as a specific example. We’ve had dozens of interpretations of the character in toy form since the Dinobot was released in 1985. But getting that original toy in good condition today can cost you hundreds. Recently, Hasbro released a $50 Studio Series version that captures the look of the original toy and the character as he appeared in the 1986 “Transformers: The Movie.” It’s one of the most perfect interpretations I’ve seen of Grimlock. It captures the original feel of the toy and gives those of us with nostalgic ties to the figure the rose-colored glasses we need. It’s not a direct interpretation of the old toy we used to have but it’s how we remember it in our minds.
But even then, there are those that want a “more perfect” Grimlock. There’s the Masterpiece version released by Hasbro/Takara-Tomy, a larger figure with copious chrome accents. Sadly, it’s no longer available at retail, making the price shoot up to $400 or more on the aftermarket (the original toy was around $170). There are also countless “third-party” toys (unlicensed, unofficial figures that use different names and designs to skirt IP laws) for hundreds of dollars that offer larger, wilder designs based on various versions of the character.
With a market of fans hungry for the metal-munching T-Rex, it only made sense for Hasbro to team up with Robosen to make the self-proclaimed King of the Autobots the next in their auto-transforming line-up. In development since 2016, Grimlock stands at 15-inches tall, with LEDs, voice-interactivity, over 150 phrases by the 1984 cartoon’s original voice actor, Gregg Berger, and more. Flagship Grimlock is worth way more than a pile of Beryllium Baloney at $1,699.
Watching the videos and poring over the images (sadly, I wasn’t able to get hands-on with Grimlock for this piece), I’m impressed with how closely both T-Rex and robot mode hew to the original designs. The figure is a mix of old-school 80’s clunkiness, with ample dino-kibble hanging off Grimlock when he’s transformed and smooth modern engineering with a sleek robo-dino alt mode.
I’m especially impressed with the transformation sequence. Unlike Robosen’s Optimus Prime, who ends up facing away from you when it converts, Grimlock neatly unpacks his feet and legs from his tail and then pulls himself upright, turning the T-Rex head, arms, and torso into his signature backpack and shoulder wings. It’s just enough like the transformation of the original G1 toy that it makes me grin whenever I watch it. There are several nods to modern transformation techniques as well, with the legs being considerably more compact than the kibble-laden lower legs of the original toy.
Grimlock is fully mobile in both modes (with helpful wheels on his tail in dino mode), though the gawky stompy motion Robosen’s bots make while walking translates much better to the alt mode. There are LEDs aplenty as well. You can change Grimlock’s eyes in both modes to any color you like (for all you red eyes vs. blue eyes fans…now you can have both). The energon sword and rocket launcher accessories also have LEDs, which makes for some spectacular scenes. Oh, and yes, Grimlock does come with a crown.
Speaking of scenes, like Robosen’s other Transformers products, Grimlock comes with a wide variety of pre-programmed actions that can be triggered via voice command or app, including some that work with Robosen Optimus Prime (both the Flagship and Elite versions). It’s especially cool given that the actors from the original 80s series did the voices for both bots. It’s like having an after-school cartoon scene play out right in front of you.
Once you get tired of the pre-programmed bits, you can dig deeper into the app and create your own custom sequences via block-based programming. There are even Easter Eggs like original G1 cartoon music that you can play from the app.
As a collector of all things Transformers, I have to say, the desire to start a new collection with Robosen robots is strong. With solid designs, original-series voice actors recording clips, and interactivity between the various figures, the company makes a strong case for making room on your toy shelf (and in your budget).
Grimlock is currently available for pre-order at HasbroPulse.com for $1,499 ($200 off the MSRP, it’ll be the full $1,699 this fall when it hits retail shelves). You can experience him in all his metal-munching, auto-transforming glory in person this November.
Read the full article here
