Customer Reviews

Transformers Universe Deluxe Class Classic Series Action Figure - Autobot Sunstreaker with Electron Pulse Blaster

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

SUNSTREAKER

Sealed in the package, I did not like this toy as much as Prowl. The pictures made it look boring, and the vehicle mode was a little too plain. However, the figure has really grown on me and it is a much better toy than Prowl.

ROBOT MODE

The neatest feature on the robot mode is how the head it deployed. To do so, the front chest piece is rotated down, and a mechanism raises the head. His ears (for lack of better terms) are spring loaded and pop out to the sides when the head raises. I like this robot mode, the lines are clean, articulation is good, and nothing is ready to pop off. His head has a ball joint for full range of movement, even with the mechanism, and he is able to stand quite well. One oddity are the tale pipes located at crotch level, kind of odd placement.


CAR MODE

Following a smooth transformation, Sunstreaker becomes a bright yellow sports car, reminding me of a fictional Lamborghini. Not much here, wheels all roll fine, his weapon stores under the car, and the robot parts are well hidden.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I really like this toy. There is a fun transformation, the weapons stay on the toy, and the license plate reads WE R 84.

Looks great as a car or robot.

Transforming from car to robot was kinda difficult. Robot was well packed in there, instructions were not very clear. Word of advice, like most other transformers, do it slow. Some of the joints were so tight that I thought I was about to break it. Hardest parts to transform were 1) that first opening/loosening the car door to be able to start off the whole transformation, 2) getting out the feet and rotating in the right position and 3) rotating shoulder into right position (complicated joint that snaps/locks into place)

Once I finally finished changing it to robot mode, I love it. Its pretty cool as a robot. Joints make it very poseable. I got it posing like the figure on the back of the package.

Having grown up with G1/G2 Transformers (among the best period ever), I've been less impressed with later generations, as they have become too plastic, too brittle, and in some cases, just plain gaudy. That being said, Sunstreaker was always a favorite of mine which I never grabbed 24 years ago when I had the chance (there are many actually). While this figure is all plastic, and the arms and feet pop out with the slightest resistance, they pop back in much easier and in some cases make it easier to transform him. Still, you don't get the sturdy feeling of the largely metal-based G1/G2 series toys. But, I don't feel as though it will fall apart like some of the others seem to.

As for Sunstreaker's looks, this is a very faithful update of the original based on the current Lamborghini bodystyle (the G1 was an 80's era Countach) and the saturated yellow color scheme is spot on. In robot mode, he is much more detailed and more poseable than the G1 version and his head and face look so much better. Really looking forward to the Sideswipe release in this series (never grabbed him in the 1980s, so I just may have to this time around).

Overall, this will never replace the sturdy quality most of us associate with the G1/G2 series toys, but I'm more impressed with this one than I thought I would be. If anything else, it is nice to finally grab Sunstreaker after a 24 year absence, and my son will one day inherit this with my original G1/G2 series toys when he's a little older.

Sunstreaker is the second Universe Transformer I've bought (the first being Smokescreen), but was one of the first figures released to stores. He also happens to be one of the best, looking good in both forms and being simple yet satisfying to transform.

I'll try to make brief points on this figure:

Negatives:
-The instruction booklet can be hard to follow. For instance, you have to rotate his shoulders all the way around before you can get his tires turned to the inside of his body, which isn't clear since it doesn't look like they would turn that way without breaking. I got the nuances down after one transformation, but for young kids it might take several tries.
-The shoulders can move up and down, but not in or out much. The tires get in the way when you turn them in, and the ball joint barely allows the shoulder to move out. Despite this, you can get decent poses thanks to the bicep swivel.
-His legs are hollow.
-The arm guards (car doors) get loose easily.
-His chest plate (roof) has pointed edges which obscure his "vision" when you have him looking to the side.
-No light piping - his eyes are painted blue.
EDIT: After several transformations, I've noticed that the balljoints on his feet get VERY loose. Add nail polish or acrylic paint to them to tighten them back up.

Positives:
-Easy to pose, stands well and has swivels and joints in helpful places.
-Ball-jointed head.
-GREAT head reveal (moves up as you turn the chest plate).
-Nice looking weapon (tailpipe).
-Uniform color scheme (a bit bland in vehicle mode, though there are nice touches on the roof attachment and tail light panel).
-Fits together and rolls well in vehicle mode.
-"WE R 84" license plate ~_-

Not much more to say, as he's a solid figure that's both fun to play around with and nice to display. Hasbro later reused the mold to make Sideswipe, with some differences (other than red paint) - an extra twist in transformation to make his chest the hood and back the roof, a "SWIPE" license plate, and a different head (with light piping).

I did love the appearance of this transformer. The car mode is pretty cool and the robot form itself, once transformed is very cool. The recommended age is 3 and up by the manufacturer but only because most of the parts will break off while transforming it. I was very disappointed in the all plastic construction. It's appears very cheap and my son who is almost 5 cannot transform it. When we opened it on Christmas it even took myself a long time to transform this sucker. By the time I did, my son wasn't interested in it anymore. The intricate ways you have to force and bend and twist are just way too advanced for a 5 year old. You would have to be 8-9 to really enjoy this. If you don't bend it just right it won't rejoin at certain joints. The back plate that twists comes off easily, the head pops off if it is not positioned just right. I miss the older, sturdier, more durable ones I had as a kid. Don't waste your money on something that won't be fun for a young child.

My 5 years old kid really like this toy even though it's not that easy to switch between the car and robot modes as he needs my help many times - it does require the use of (some) force to move the parts to where they need to go. On the other hand, some removable parts that should stay connected for he most part, sometimes fall off with the slightest touch. Go figure...

There are plenty of better transformers toys out there.

Sunstreaker is the latter of the two Autobot brothers,and was retooled and repainted into Sideswipe.He,like his brother,has an alternate form of a Lambourghini which is painted yellow with a red Autobot symbol.The transformation is the same as his brother's but with a different head.He looks awesome and comes with a rocket pack and an electro pistol.I really like these new molds of the Autobot Brothers and both are awesome.One is cool but if you have both,they truly are great.Both are highly recommended

Ok this toy is a bit tricky to transform but it is worth it this is a perfict representation of the orignial sunstreaker from the classic G1 series. But I wouldn't abuse it to much.