Soundwave is the second of the preview figures to be released and has some resemblance to his G1 roots. In this incarnation Soundwave is officially packaged as a triple-changer. However, be warned the 2 alt modes really aren't all that different. More on that point later.
Lets start with the robot mode since that's how he comes packaged. Soundwave does come off as slightly on the stock side. Huge brutish arms and chunky shoulders coupled with big legs definitely make him look like a bit of bruiser. The arms do come off as quite blocky and have been molded as fists. Unlike Soundwave's previous incarnations which made him look like the spy he is supposed to be he does come off as much like a muscular fighter ready to punch you at a moments notice.
There are lots of different colours to compliment the primarily drab grey colour. Navy blue parts coupled with the occasional red, yellow and silver detail highlights are found all over. Also, the transparent blue light-piped areas of the figure definitely add to the look.
There is plenty of detail to be found on the figure including, blades on the arms, solar panels over the shoulders and 3 circular lenses on the chest. Quick note: most official Hasbro stock photos have the chest forward not revealing all of the lenses. It comes packaged with the chest back which makes it look much better.
The robot mode also has a firing 'Ravage' missile. If you have seen the movie Ravage is fired to earth in protoform mode from Soundwave's satellite form. The detailing on the missile is intricate and is intended to indicate it is Ravage. Although if you do store the missile in this mode it just sticks up behind his head and if fired realistically would just fire in the air and land on top of him.
Soundwave does have some posability but his arm movement, in particular the lack of full joints on the elbows and wrists, is severely hampered. You can make his blades look like they are slashing forward but that's about it. The shoulder panels also can limit arm movement. However, there is lots of leg articulation which means you can give him lots of different standing poses.
Overall a very decent robot mode but the lack of arm articulation and the stockiness take away from the feel of the figure.
The transformation is one of the most natural so far for a RotF figure. Not too complicated and intricate but the satellite prongs do feel a bit fragile.
Alt mode time: Satellite mode can be set however you like with the panels in lots of different positions to achieve different looks. In the film he looks very much like a cybertronian shuriken and this look can be achieved here. He is very faithful to the film in this mode and does look like you expect with very little surprises. Primarily grey now with only the translucent light blue sets you in mind of a satellite.
Second alt mode: Cybertronian jet. Well you just move the solar panels back to make something akin to wings and that's it. Not really a necessary alt mode and it doesn't feature in the film. Pretty unnecessary really.
Overall, Soundwave is an average figure. I started out really liking him but then with the newer figures my interest has wained and his blockiness doesn't fit with the rest of the line. I would have preferred a much sleeker, stealth like figure more akin to the G1 Soundwave. The satellite mode does need to be rested against something to display as a satellite and the jet mode is really unnecessary. I like the satellite mode as it is faithful to the movie but the robot mode puts me off.
Scores:
Bot mode: 6/10 - Too stocky to fit in with the figures character and lack of arm posability.
Alt mode: Satellite 9/10 Jet 6/10 - Faithful Satellite representation but pointless Jet.
Transformation: 8/10 - Natural and not too complicated.
Overall: 7/10 - Average figure that shouldn't be your first purchase. This is probably why he was a preview figure.
Lets start with the robot mode since that's how he comes packaged. Soundwave does come off as slightly on the stock side. Huge brutish arms and chunky shoulders coupled with big legs definitely make him look like a bit of bruiser. The arms do come off as quite blocky and have been molded as fists. Unlike Soundwave's previous incarnations which made him look like the spy he is supposed to be he does come off as much like a muscular fighter ready to punch you at a moments notice.
There are lots of different colours to compliment the primarily drab grey colour. Navy blue parts coupled with the occasional red, yellow and silver detail highlights are found all over. Also, the transparent blue light-piped areas of the figure definitely add to the look.
There is plenty of detail to be found on the figure including, blades on the arms, solar panels over the shoulders and 3 circular lenses on the chest. Quick note: most official Hasbro stock photos have the chest forward not revealing all of the lenses. It comes packaged with the chest back which makes it look much better.
The robot mode also has a firing 'Ravage' missile. If you have seen the movie Ravage is fired to earth in protoform mode from Soundwave's satellite form. The detailing on the missile is intricate and is intended to indicate it is Ravage. Although if you do store the missile in this mode it just sticks up behind his head and if fired realistically would just fire in the air and land on top of him.
Soundwave does have some posability but his arm movement, in particular the lack of full joints on the elbows and wrists, is severely hampered. You can make his blades look like they are slashing forward but that's about it. The shoulder panels also can limit arm movement. However, there is lots of leg articulation which means you can give him lots of different standing poses.
Overall a very decent robot mode but the lack of arm articulation and the stockiness take away from the feel of the figure.
The transformation is one of the most natural so far for a RotF figure. Not too complicated and intricate but the satellite prongs do feel a bit fragile.
Alt mode time: Satellite mode can be set however you like with the panels in lots of different positions to achieve different looks. In the film he looks very much like a cybertronian shuriken and this look can be achieved here. He is very faithful to the film in this mode and does look like you expect with very little surprises. Primarily grey now with only the translucent light blue sets you in mind of a satellite.
Second alt mode: Cybertronian jet. Well you just move the solar panels back to make something akin to wings and that's it. Not really a necessary alt mode and it doesn't feature in the film. Pretty unnecessary really.
Overall, Soundwave is an average figure. I started out really liking him but then with the newer figures my interest has wained and his blockiness doesn't fit with the rest of the line. I would have preferred a much sleeker, stealth like figure more akin to the G1 Soundwave. The satellite mode does need to be rested against something to display as a satellite and the jet mode is really unnecessary. I like the satellite mode as it is faithful to the movie but the robot mode puts me off.
Scores:
Bot mode: 6/10 - Too stocky to fit in with the figures character and lack of arm posability.
Alt mode: Satellite 9/10 Jet 6/10 - Faithful Satellite representation but pointless Jet.
Transformation: 8/10 - Natural and not too complicated.
Overall: 7/10 - Average figure that shouldn't be your first purchase. This is probably why he was a preview figure.
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