Remember back in 2013/4 when Soundwave had a Masterpiece figure that was highly sought-after because it would be? And then we had a Hasbro version with a slight few differences here and there as well as a plethora of additional cassettes to help reduce the stress in buying more than one set? Hasbro's approach in releasing Masterpieces back in the day wasn't a particularly easy feat, but fans could easily say they were getting the hang of it during the 2010s with their relaunched branding and revamped packaging. The bold colors, stock images on the front, unique sleeve, and the random katakana are all tropes that made Hasbro's second roll-out of a Masterpiece line more consistent while being a transition from putting their releases in CHUG toylines to straight-up importing Takara releases and putting them up on Hasbro Pulse. Anyways, Soundwave Superior blah blah blah let's see if this figure holds up well in the current market of Masterpiece releases.
Here we have Soundwave in his tape deck mode, which is about what I'd expect from a toy aiming to look like this guy. It's got the two shades of blue, gold and silver paint apps where they need to be, chrome accents for the buttons, a REC/BATT light molded in clear plastic, and speakers with convenient right and left letters molded in place. The front looks just as I'd expect, but the back is slightly messy given how gappy everything is, even if the little silver bit is tabbed in place. Those batteries are now pegged on the outside of the tape deck rather than being put inside the compartment like on the old toy, but they flow well regardless. So as always, the front looks great for Soundwave while the back is a bit rough (unless we talk about the G1 toy). Oh, and that button on the back is for when you need to press down on it to make room for more cassettes inside the torso and then deploy them one by one to revert the interior spacing for one tape only.
The tape deck has the faux volume and power switch, and both are functional for pretend play like on the original. I also like the added sculpted details to represent some of the other mechanical details on the tape player not normally found on the G1 toy; even better is having them painted black.
The port on the left side can use the pile drivers from the Frumble Brothers as a pseudo plug to recreate Soundwave playing footage from the Autobots' plan to need a little Energon and a lot of luck. It's a weird idea but still ingenious regardless.
Of course, what is a G1 Soundwave figure without a tape deck that can open? Yes, Ratbat is placed here for reasons we'll get to in a moment. The gimmick itself is satisfying like on the G1 and WFC Trilogy versions, though the cassettes can be a bit finicky to insert/remove at times.
For a tape player comparison, here he is with his G1 and Netflix WFC Trilogy versions, with the design generally being consistent between all three figures overall. Admittedly, there re a few differences here and there, such as the G1 version actually being the Commemorative Edition with the double-decker Soundblaster door and the Netflix version being wider than the other two look. Netflix Soundwave has a few unusual details that made it more inconsistent with the other two figures, likely owing to the toy being a heavy retool from the Siege version, but it's something you notice when you compare it to the other two toys. I also like that the MP version has a tinted tape door to make the torso feel filled in from the inside, even without cassettes.
Transformation is a more involved version of the original figure, something that I would expect from the line as a whole if I'm being honest. I like the inclusion of locking mechanisms for the legs when they collapse as well as the integration of the shoulder cannon. The complexity is a happy balance between easy to follow yet still involved in making a show-accurate toy. The robot mode itself looks very good, especially with the toy-based dark blue and silver compared to the bright blue and white from the cartoon (or the comic's purple and inconsistent head designs). Another balance we have comes in the form of the sculpted details being decently present without going to the same level as the Siege toys, though the back has a few deviations in accuracy that aren't too out of place given how Masterpieces weren't super-obsessed with being Sunbow-accurate. The only thing I don't like would be is that the parts on the sides of the lower legs could tab in place rather than rest there and depend on the tight hinges or what have you. Oh, and his feet are made out of die-cast, just like on the old toy!
The head sculpt is done marvelously, though the visor is noteworthy for having the toy-accurate yellow coloring rather than the red seen on the Takara version. Yes, this is one of the key differences between this and the Japanese release. Look, this was past the time when Hasbro would strip chrome and shorten smokestacks from their versions of the molds like on 20th anniversary Optimus Prime. Sure, we had Grimlock and Rodimus back to back, with the former keeping his chrome and only having the mandatory sword and shield as well as the crown while the latter had a toy-accurate deco with less chrome (but not entirely stripped of it), so seeing this with the visor (and maybe a few silver parts) being altered is nothing to worry about. Besides, it's not like they'd give him a random green or blue visor. In fact, the yellow represents a bit of Soundwave's history from his own toys, usually having the visor in said color compared to the red. Soundwave's articulation consists of a neck hinge and swivel combo, shoulder rotation, two hinges for outward movement, bicep rotation, double-jointed elbows, wrist rotation, an index finger with two points, a conjoined middle-ring-pinky finger joint at the knuckles only, a waist rotation, swivels for the ball-shaped joints within the waist, ratchets for moving the legs front and back (though below the waist), hinges for moving in and out with the ball-shaped joints, rotation above the knees, ratcheted knees, and ankle pivots as well as slight movement downwards. He can whip out his concussion blaster to blast Autobots down, and it, too, has chrome intact. I should mention my copy has the vac-metal parts chipping due to age, so I may need to fix them.
He also has a Megatron gun mode accessory that is retooled from the one originally from MP-01's version of the item, including a far less brittle hinge and sliding connection for the stock, as well as no PVC materials being used at all. The handle can slide down to extend the grip for its size, but Soundwave can't reach the trigger at all. The aforementioned stock, as well as the scope and silencer, can be removed if you want to have him wield the gun mode without those extremities. Megatron's gun barrel is black instead of silver, but eh.
Soundwave can also use a panel on the tape door to give him a display mode as he tended to do in the cartoon, though no inserts are included for the Hasbro release. Takara did have some, but you'd risk damaging the instruction manual. Alternatively, an empty Energon cube can slide onto the tape door, allowing you to recreate him creating these empty cubes as the Decepticons went through their episodic plot of creating Energon from human sources.
One neat thing I like is that the inner details of the panels include speakers that are neat easter eggs that one wouldn't expect from a part that simply covers the hands in alt mode. It makes me wonder if Soundwave can be able to split apart and have a bunch of speakers around him after drinking Sprite. Okay, as much as I find G1 to be overrated (and Geewunners to be dumbasses), I don't want to compare Soundwave to Drake at this point.
The other accessory we have left is the sensor, used earlier to plug the piledrivers inside, and now can be used for sensing other things if needed for him. Oh, and Soundwave can press his own tape deck button so he can be posed ejecting his minions and giving them whatever operation he sees fit.
Speaking of cassettes, the cases that keep them in place can be used as flattened Energon containers, though Hasbro's versions kept them colorless instead of pink. You can use a Sharpie or dye them, so it doesn't matter if the change was made (granted, people will say that Hasbro shouldn't have changed it in the first place, but it's not going to be the end of the world like, say, they left the silver plastic bare gray).
These six cassettes we have here consist of, from left to right and up to down, Laserbeak, Ravage, Frenzy (stfu about your stupid FIRRIB/RIRFIB debates), Buzzsaw, Ratbat (who has no case because he was never in the set), and Rumble. The tapes themselves have more transformation seams than they did in the G1 toys, but we'll see the comparisons in just a moment.
Laserbeak and Buzzsaw are palette swaps as one would expect, and thankfully are not using the same decals as their G1 toys did. They have the decals representing the starts and ends of their tapes with the 0s and small lines between them, and they also retain the silver paint apps to give them their color breakup.
Here we have Laserbeak next to his G1 and Netflix counterparts. The two toys we got from the left and middle of the photo still look like cassettes, but I don't know about what the Netflix version is going for. That being said, where the spool holes are placed and sized makes them feel like different versions of the media item they turn into, though it mostly has to do with the way they both transform.
Transformation is more involved for both of them, but the notable thing is the transformation of the jetpacks strapped on the back not involving partsforming this time. It thankfully doesn't ruin the toys whatsoever, though I heard the hinges may be fragile. As for the condor modes, they are cartoon accurate thanks to the wing shape, distinct beak coloring, and the simpler details on said wings versus the techy stickers they had on the old toys. Their articulation includes two points at the neck, the middle of the wings, and the rotation at the feet.
The two birds can stand on either of Soundwave's pegs or shoulders, something I kind of wish MP-36 Megatron would have so he can praise Laserbeak and diss Starscream.
Laserbeak's comparison is nothing to write home about too much, as all three toys look good even in spite of a few accuracy deviations. I like that the MP and Netflix versions don't require partsforming.
And here we have Frenzy and Rumble together. If y'all want to fight over FIRRIB/RIRFIB, do so elsewhere. Amusingly, Rumble's blue detailing in the silver looks more like the shade of blue found on Frenzy's G1 toy.
Speaking of, here are some comparisons between Frenzy and the two other main iterations of this character. The Masterpiece version's coloring is in between the darker shade of the G1 toy and the very pale lavender and baby blue of the Studio Series toy, and it's the one that matches the cartoon the best. It can be hard to tell, given how the cartoon tended to have a bluish tint.
Transforming these two is a little more involved than the SS86 versions, using a similar transformation yet with mostly different joints for the neck, limbs, and knees. The robot modes are just as good as what we saw with the Condor duo in terms of cartoon accuracy, with appropriately lean proportions for the legs, somewhat stumpy arms, and a fairly wide torso with a barely noticeable midriff if you pull on said torsos somewhat. The guns can peg on their back as always, completing the look before they're used for shooting Autobots. As for the articulation, the necks are on swivels, the shoulders, upper hips, and ankles are on ball joints, and the elbows, lower hops, and knees are on hinges. Yeah, the hip articulation can be odd.
Of course, we have the two pile drivers meant for the duo, with storage to keep them together as well as slots for the guns to stay in place. If you want, you can display the guns inside Soundwave's feet, though I don't recommend it since they're annoying to keep in place.
Pose the arms as if they're flexing their muscles, fold the hands inside, and attach the weapons to crack the shell and then the nuts inside. And yes, they can extend to recreate the ability they're known for.
The pile drivers can peg on the backpacks if you want, or they can slide on the forearms of Soundwave, an ability never displayed in the cartoon but still looks cool regardless.
Here we have Frenzy next to the G1 toy and the SS86 version. While I prefer the G1 toy colors, said G1 toy definitely looks dated and clunky, especially with how low the forearms are. Meanwhile, the Masterpiece version looks the best, and seeing the size difference between the two toys and the SS86 version is amusing.
Here is Ravage in between his other counterparts. There is a whole lot more silver on the Masterpiece version than on the G1 version, while the Netflix version has its tape detailing all the way at the bottom. At least the Masterpiece version has its spool holes around the same spots as the G1 versions.
Transforming Ravage is very quite involved compared to the other toys, especially given how Ravage is no longer a flat jaguar this time around. It's not difficult to follow, and TakaraTomy did a good job in ensuring we'd get a cartoon-accurate beast out of what is essentially a rectangle. So much so that the articulation at the shoulders, hips, elbows, knees, and paws is impressive to see, though you better make sure he has the nose to complete his face. I missed out on that at first!
Here we have Ravage in-between his G1 toy and the Netflix version, with his design representing a bridge between a flat cat and a house pet that is fed far too many times. I can't saw I have any experience with a cat like that since I own a dog. His missile launchers, despite being integrated within the hips, are still prominent, unlike the ones on the Netflix version.
And for anyone wondering, I do not have a G1 Ratbat, so here we only have the Siege version instead. It's not much of a comparison when one looks more like a tape deck than the other given how one is meant to be a Cybertronian rectangle. I wonder if Hasbro plans to redo Ratbat at some point. I know the Core Class size will be discontinued, so I bet he will be included with another figure to loosely justify making a multi-figure set a Voyager like they are doing with Legacy United Leader Soundwave.
Ratbat's transformation is a little more involved than what we got with the G1 version, with the body and head of the animal folding onto the front of the cassette center. No partsforming like always, so have a look at his unique golden boosters. The wings do have some sculpted details, though they are not painted on. Luckily, there is a lack on the body as well as the inside of the mouth, Meanwhile, there is a slightly different shade of purple for the ears as well as red for the eyes. The Decepticon insignia is vertically flat, though.
Here we have a comparison with the Siege version, which looks quite rough given how smaller the budget of a Micromaster is next to a Masterpiece. Not a fair comparison, but this shows how one was made to be a Masterpiece while another is held back as a budget-friendly 2-pack of a Micromaster.
Let's quickly talk about the way Soundwave's legs work. This isn't mentioned elsewhere but I know Optibotimus brought it up back in 2013 (a time when I wasn't aware of his online drama and believed in his Coke sponsorship crap). Paul said that you can have the legs either work as intended or by having the upper thighs face the outer sides. The intended transformation has the joint exposed, yet you are granted a better range of leg articulation despite it hanging lower. Meanwhile, the front and back leg motion with the alternate transformation is reduced greatly, with the hips instead moving via the ball-like joint.
The outward movement looks more natural with the intended transformation than with the alternate transformation, though the range is equal for both. And yes, the worn-out chrome is bothering me. The only benefit from the alternate leg transformation would be the double-jointed knees gained from using the hinge of the leg transformation. Overall, there is very little reason to have the slits of the hip ratchets hidden away because the alternate thigh transformation results in less range than intended.
As far as reuses are concerned, Soundwave has two Takara iterations of the mold: an original Soundwave with a red visor and only including Laserbeak (with Rumble and Ravage in their own separate set from Frenzy and Buzzsaw), while a Soundblaster repaint came with Ratbat as seen here. His cube, display plate, and gun are clear red, with the second part representing a toy-accurate look. Normally, I'd have an OCD to get a more complete set, but Ratbat coming with Toys R Us Soundwave is a treat I'd never thought would happen. It's almost like he was included the whole time, meaning there are 8 Decepticons in one set!
There was also an unusual repaint made by Hasbro with clear plastic and orange accents, representing the Year of the Goat like many Platinum Edition figures did every year. The cassettes are colored differently, and I honestly find this to be so obscure I don't get the intent of the deco compared to ones like Year of the Horse Optimus Prime and Starscream.
Ravage's main repaint was once part of the Transformers/G.I.Joe line, where he is feeling blue like in the comics with red accents and a spiky collar/chain leash only to be tamed by Baroness, who is not included in this set.
And of course, we have Stripes, who popped up much earlier than the Ravage above. This Autobot cassette is amusing because it is not only a rare instance of a figure like this to be retooled, but also one where Takara never made an MP Blaster whatsoever. Sad.
We have a bot who is red and blue, and his name is Enemy. Seeing the uniqueness of this redeco does make me wish Legacy United Soundwave came with an Enemy repaint rather than another blue Rumble, especially to have a variety of characters using a mold rather than multiples of one character.
As for Ratbat, this is a G.I.Joe recolor that represents his limited-palette deco from the 80s, resulting in an almost neon or vaporwave or glow-in-the-dark look for the character. Very amusing for a repaint like this to contrast the weird Ravage static-figure recolor named Blackcat (who is green) in the same crossover set.
And finally, this is Wingthing. This figure represents the Action Master accessory that came with Soundwave, and this became the second of three Wingthings representing a repainted Ratbat rather than a new mold that turns into a gun. The orange certainly makes him friendlier than Ratbat, and this guy is included in a 4-pack with the previously shown Stripes, Enemy, and Nightstalker, aka the pre-Steeljaw toy that never became Steeljaw because Takara never did a Blaster for some reason.
Here we have a comparison with the G1 and Netflix versions of Soundwave, showcasing that the Masterpiece version's proportions match the cartoon the best among the three. Not saying the original toy nor the Voyager are bad, but the MP definitely prioritized cartoon accuracy in a way that was close without going too far like numerous Masterpieces do today. Soundwave definitely is one of the few characters in my collection that has both a G1 and Generations-era toy to correlate with the Masterpiece iteration, the others being Optimus, Bumblebee, and Megatron. Grimlock, ironically, doesn't have that since I don't have the G1 version. Also, for anyone wondering, you are free to use the G1 tapes with MP Soundwave. Not only that, but the gimmick of storing three of them all at once is possible by using the button on the back to push the inside of the torso to the back. I remember fans complaining that the Masterpiece tapes were the same as the G1 versions, but I don't think it'd be an issue since they'd go out and buy them anyhow so that was pointless on their end.
Overall, this is a very impressive figure, even in the current era of Masterpiece toys. Not only is Soundwave a nicely done toy given how refined he is in addition to the cartoon accuracy balanced out with toy detailing, but we also have a remarkable selection of accessories and tape cassettes to boot. Ratbat isn't included in the Hasbro version. Still, having the entire Pokémon team (ha!), the Megatron gun, an Energon cube, and a display plate for the chest results in a definitive experience for Transformers fans who never got around to getting the Takara sets. I was lucky to get Ratbat since he was originally included with Soundblaster, but good luck getting the Hasbro version for a good price like I did!
Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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