Back in the days of G1, matching the toys and the character models wasn’t always a high priority. The basic idea was there but technology just wasn’t good enough to make perfect toys. Things are a bit different these days. While they aren’t always exact they are a considerably closer match. On top of that, joint technology allows for much better poseability.
Scourge was one of the transformers created by Unicron during the movie from the discarded bodies of Megatron, Skywarp and the Insecticons. The others being created were Galvatron and Cyclonus. Scourge’s primary function was to lead the Decepticon Sweeps. These were ships that were essentially clones of Scourge in vehicle mode. That sort of makes this figure an army builder, albeit a kind of expensive army builder.
Scourge is the first toy in the Titaniums line to update an old G1 character with modern style technology. Of the four previous Titaniums, 3 were themed around the War Within comic line and one off of G2. Scourge’s wave partner is Optimal Optimus from Beast Wars, a toy that doesn’t necessarily need an updated version but at this scale he’ll fit in nicely scale wise with modern vehicle based Transformers.
Back to Scourge and speaking of fitting in, the Die cast parts on this line will allow Scourge to fit in fairly well with his G1 counterparts, many of which used Die Cast parts in their construction. Scourge actually comes off as a little light in the Die cast department, the nose of his ship mode is the only significant portion of the figure using Die Cast.
There isn’t really more Die Cast revealed in the robot mode either. The nosecone becomes the boots which help add stability, something needed to help support the wings formed by the vehicle mode’s shell. Scourge also has the rather lame honor of being a complete Shell former. The robot mode doesn’t so much transform as it does hide within it’s wings forming a space shipish… thing.
Still, the shell former aspect makes for a pretty nice and pretty accurate robot mode. Unfortunately the robot mode is limited a bit by is stiff chest articulation. The nature of the head’s transformation means Scourge has no neck joint. He also has no waist. His enormous boots also limit his legs a bit as well. The result is that he only has a few decent poses despite a decent amount of arm and leg joints.
Fortunately Scourge’s overall design helps give him a lot of points. Also when you consider he fits in great with the Classics line being released around the time of his release he comes off as a great toy to pick up. It’s just kind of too bad most of the Classics toys are pre-movie based. Scourge’s Cybertron design and origin make him seem a bit off next to Megatron, Starscream, and Skywarp, all of which “died” during the movie. He’s still worth picking up if you don’t mind the continuity error present with pairing him with other Classics Decepticons.






November 1, 2007 at 2:24 pm
RJ:
You could always play around with spacetime like the Marvel comic did, and be perfectly in continuity, at least until a temporal rift devours your bookshelves.
Cordially yours:
Autobus Prime
w/minicon Farebox.