TFP Megatron is a figure that'll be hard to nail right because of the different details or how variable the accuracy can be. I do have the original TFP version of Megatron from back in 2012, but I couldn't review it because of the bad sharpie paint I used on it. Before the Darkness version of Megatron, there was the Final Battle version that has the best colors yet has a right arm that should have been remolded or come with a regular right arm. This version of Megatron has the chrome and isn't inaccurate, but I wanted it because I think it'd look better than the one I have. Plus it finally lets me make use out of the line even more. He's even a Siege Netflix figure of his own thanks to the partners he has. Now let's take a look at what this version of the Dark Energon addict has to offer!
Here is the entire set out of the package. You have the core figure, three sprue kits for the Arms Microns, and three crystal pieces in different shapes. There were also stickers but I chose to not apply them to the figure. Maybe I'll give him the Autobot insignia, but when you look at the toy and see details that don't look all that good on the toy, like those tribal tattoos around the legs and forearms, it's best not to apply them on. I will apply the stickers on the Arms Microns, but we'll see.
Here are the two Arms Microns assembled. The process was a lot easier than I originally anticipated, as they're quite easy to follow as well as assemble. Also helps me get into stuff like the Flame Toys figures as well as any Super Sentai Mini-Plas (that is unless Hasbro wants to make better versions of them for Power Rangers). For those unaware, Arms Micron is the Japanese take on the Transformers Prime toyline that replaced most of the paint apps and weapons in favor of stickers and model kits for the weapons. As you can see, one is opaque while the other is translucent.
This is Gora II, so named as he was a new, slightly bigger version of the original Gora that came with a Deluxe Megatron in the Arms Micron line. This guy is a robotic gorilla that somewhat resembles Animated Lugnut, which is a win in my book because of how cool Lugnut is. His only articulation is in the arms, and his transformation into the fusion cannon is pretty cool. Seeing the Arms go around what were the legs while the head hides itself to reveal the 5mm post is pretty sweet. Said fusion cannon may not be 100% screen-accurate, but it at least looks alright for what it is compared to the one that the Hasbro version came with.
And this is Hades, who is a demon bat that looks so friggin' cool! He has a good amount of articulation for the head, wings, and even the legs, allowing him to either look perched or in flight (which works well when combined with Megatron). The only thing I don't like is the lack of a secure connection for the top part of the head, and the 5mm does look funny on the cranium. Beyond that, he's a nice little figure, and the scythe mode looks pretty cool despite looking more appropriate for a Unicron version of Megatron. Hasbro, where's our Unitron/Megacron?!
Here we have Megatron in his jet mode. Design-wise, it looks very accurate to the TV show as the figure is basically parts of the robot rearranged to make a spaceship. It does the job fine and looks refined as a toy. The exposed head is accurate and carried over from Movie Megatron since Prime was basically the Movies and Animated combined. That being said, the deco is not as incoherent; the chrome, dark gray, black, and purple all make for a rather inaccurate take on the vehicle mode's coloring. Had it just been the dark gray with small black bits here and there I'd be fine with it but it reminds me too much of the random chrome from Henkei and Age of Extinction. One other thing I wish the toy did better was to make what will become the inner part of the chest look less frail.
The fusion cannon can be placed on the top and complete the look of the jet mode. Does look uninteresting on its own unless I give it some added details or nicer stickers.
The two Microns combined make for a rather unaerodynamic jet mode addition but that's Arms Micron for you. Hades slightly doesn't match the same purple tint that Megatron's clear purple plastic has.
Transformation for this guy is actually pretty good. I like how the wings turn into the legs as well as how the front and back of the jets comes together in robot mode. The arms tab better than I remember with this copy but the back of the pelvis needs to be more secure. The robot mode look accurate to Megatron's CGI model in terms of design. From the elements of Movie Megatron with the spiky look and the gun handles on his legs with a bit of a CGI Animated influence to him, this is undeniably TFP Megs. The proportions match the show, and the backpack, despite having the face cover halves on the back, looks fine nonetheless (they were easy to remove on the Hasbro version but this one doesn't seem to budge. Once again, the colors don't match how they look to the cartoon; the dark gray looks perfect and would also compliment the purple arms had it not been for the unnecessary black or chrome. That being said, it looks better here than in the jet mode. Gora II's cannon mode looks bulkier than the real one from the cartoon but looks fine in hand.
Head sculpt looks accurate but has the details of the sculpt obscured somewhat by the chrome. Also annoying is that the back of the head doesn't have it. His articulation is good but somewhat hampered, with a head on a ball-joint that is limited due to the sculpt, shoulders that move front and back as well as in and out on ball joints (the stems that hold the balls are at an angle btw), and the forearms weirdly swivel but not above where the elbow bends. Hips move front and back as well as in and out, swivel at the thigh, bend at the knee, and hinge at the ankles while the feet are slanted for a more naturalistic stance.
Since we covered Gora II, the other Arms Micron can be mounted on his arm...and weigh his arm down because it's not tight enough. Alternatively, it can turn into a pair of wings for him. Despite being non-existent in the show, I gotta admit it looks awesome!
In terms of other uses, this is the Hasbro one. He has a much more uniform look that better matches the show at the cost of having a dull light gray and a weird brown that looks awful. The fusion cannon is oversized and weighs his arm down. At least he had the blade but it doesn't lock-in. Had it gotten better weapons and gray, this would be the best version of the mold in terms of Hasbro's uses.
This is Dark Energon Megatron, who looks very slick and makes the weapon look decent. The colors are just as crazy as on the Takara version but at least he makes it work well with the Shadow-Blade homage. He came in a set of BigBadToyStore-exclusive Dark Energon figures that were given cool repaints.
This is Takara's Final Battle Megatron, who looks nearly perfect thanks to his deco as well as the hands and feet not having the crappy light brown plastic....except that he comes with a right forearm that is meant to mimic the Prime arm he used to hold the Dark Star Saber yet is not remolded to look like it. Had it been swappable for this mold or be a new piece that goes over the right arm, that'd be fine enough; hope you love painting over the arm! So close yet so far...
And finally, we have Sharkticon Megatron from Beast Hunters! He looks awesome with the Sharkticon homage and the heavy amount of retooling applied onto the toy. Things like the fins, jagged legs and shoulders, and Sharkticon chest make him wicked. Instead of the fusion cannon, he has another Mechtech-esque weapon that becomes a hand-held weapon (arm-mounting it looks goofy) and is able to turn into the Tartarex Warp Sword (or the less cool-sounding Sharktooth Spear). He may not be a Unicron-possessed Megatron but he looks awesome nonetheless!
For a comparison with a prior version of the mold and another figure in the same size range, here he is with Optimus Prime and my old TFP Megatron. The scale between both Prime and Megs is fine even though Megatron should be taller. As for the other Megatron, that is my old Hasbro Megatron who has been sharpied with a gray marker on the body and purple on the body...which was stupid on my part for not using a silver sharpie. Overall, this Arms Micron Megatron is a brilliant set that puts him on par with the current WFC Trilogy Voyagers as he has transforming weapon partners that are comparable to the Battlemasters. He may not be 100% accurate and require stickers, but as a Hasbro Pulse exclusive, he goes nicely for my collection and pops nicely. Definitely get him since he's $29.99 (10 dollars less than the WFC Voyagers!)
Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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