Hands-on: this self-transforming Megatron is as badass as it is expensive

Just to make judge you’re getting it: this bot automatically transforms itself into a badass remote-control vessel pinch a gigantic auto-extending cannon that tin really occurrence projectiles — past stands up and speaks complete 270 phrases from original Megatron sound character Frank Welker while doing each sorts of tricks.

Here, bask successful nan glory of puerility imagination go real:

Did I mention it responds to loads of sound commands, too?

I’ve been playing pinch Megatron for half a time now, and it’s mostly awesome. Not only do its 36 servo motors and 118 microchips fto nan 21-inch gangly bot execute each kinds of routines, but it’s besides sewage much engaging play features than Optimus or nan Dinobot Grimlock, acknowledgment to a amended group of weapons, 112 agleam LEDs, and intriguing caller joints for its servos to actuate.

When you occurrence up nan Fusion Cannon, permanently attached to Megatron’s arm, it doesn’t conscionable plaything a achromatic integrative prop around: 3 joints fto nan cannon shingle arsenic it’s “charging,” giving it recoil, while nan LEDs delightfully ray its innards.

The light-up beard and caller flail (yes, this bot tin really plaything a spiked rubber shot connected a chain!) person twist-off pommels, truthful you tin easy descent them into Megatron’s hands and yet unafraid them arsenic well.

And erstwhile Megatron falls — and it will fall, I’m acrophobic — it’s yet smart capable to guidelines up again each connected its own.

Robosen has moreover addressed 1 of my biggest complaints astir Optimus: it made Megatron’s limb servos stiff capable that you tin optionally time off nan bot opinionated up connected a support erstwhile it’s powered down. And I emotion really Megatron talks astir Energon accumulation and lights up a five-LED charging parameter erstwhile you plug successful nan USB-C cable.

The bot’s servos are now almost each hidden down clever spring-loaded integrative flaps now, excessively — and 1 of them moreover automatically rotates nan Decepticon logo arsenic Megatron emerges from vessel mode.

As cool arsenic it is, though, nan artifact could really usage much activity earlier it ships successful Q3, and based connected erstwhile launches, I’m not wholly assured it’ll get each that activity done.

This is nan 3rd Robosen bot I’ve tried pinch a confusing and somewhat buggy app that makes it really difficult to do civilization programming and creates each sorts of delays moreover if you’re conscionable trying to remote-control nan vessel around. It still doesn’t springiness you entree to each associated erstwhile you’re creating civilization moves and poses. And its sound bid nickname strategy is still mediocre — much than half nan time, nan bot wouldn’t decently respond.

My trial bot had immoderate much basal issues, too, for illustration a inclination to just... autumn complete and hide immoderate of its settings aft powering up again aliases support repeating nan aforesaid sound statement successful sound bid mode without maine asking. The flail really fell isolated aft nan first 10 smacks aliases so, arsenic 1 of its chain-link pins was excessively loose. Some of these hopefully won’t make it to afloat wide production, but I deliberation it’s worthy telling you.

And you should besides cognize that, for illustration erstwhile bots, these are exclusively for usage connected smooth, difficult floors: it’s perpetually scraping parts of itself connected nan level to walk, turn, toggle shape and guidelines up, and astir of it doesn’t activity connected carpet. While you can thrust its very noisy rubber treads up inclines aliases bladed carpet, I couldn’t move connected soft surfaces: I severely snagged 1 of its rubber treads trying to rotation nan vessel astir connected a rug.

But like Optimus, which had its issues, nary of this killed my enthusiasm. This is 1 of nan coolest lines of toys ever made; I conscionable want them to beryllium moreover better.