Transformers Cybertron Clocker & Brakedown GTS review

Remember when Scout Class Transformers used to be the cheapest options you could get from the line without going into Legends or Minicon territory? Yes, getting some of these smaller figures was a real treat compared to the authentics that only get worse over the years. Scout figures are not only decently poseable but also include the line-wide Cyber Key gimmick, something that makes them just as worthwhile as the Deluxe-onwards line. An aspect like that makes the Cybertron series one of thr best main toylines we've had of all time. What makes Cybertron very special is the introduction of other Transformers colonies, with one of the locations known as Velocitron the Speed Planet. Best known for its racing motif and seemingly endless roads, it added a whole other world both similar and different from Cybertron, even popping up in other franchises like Cyberverse, where it crumbled into rust from a plague that took even Blurr's life. Back in the Unicron Trilogy, Velocitron gave us characters such as Override, Clocker, and Brakedown, the latter two getting the review focus this time around.

Here we have our two Scouts together. Clocker represents a souped up convertible coupe while Brakedown GTS is a Cybertronic dragster. Both cars do just what they need to do at a small scale like this: roll nicely and be cool vehicles. At this small scale, I doubt we can get a figure that could comfortably ride in either toy. Still, I do like that their wheels are clear, almost gives them a futuristic look that makes perfect sense given the Cybertron chapter of the Unicron Trilogy takes place in 2030, and the real world currently is about as samey right now as it was when the show first aired.

Only Clocker is able to use his Cyber Key gimmick in vehicle mode, though you have to flip the barrels of the gun out. Still neat, and another reminder that toys this small at least still got to be like their larger counterparts.

Here we have Hasbro Clocker next to Takara's Skids. For some backstory, I won Skids in an auction thinking it would be cool to own a Galaxy Force version. However, the seller may have claimed the figure was "open package", but complete doesn't mean missing the back panels for the legs! Anyways, owning both versions gives me an opportunity to compare slightly different shades of colors on the whites, teals, and oranges, in addition to a having some orange parts painted white on Hasbro vs Takara molding them in white plastic only. The Hasbro version does get extra points by painting the exhaust ports silver as well as adding an Autobot insignia.

Transformation is kind of similar to the G1 Stunticons, though his legs are able to transform without sliding rails while the arms straighten out rather than pull out. The robot mode also has some of these similarities, especially with the back kibble and the proportions, though he thankfully has to only work on his own instead of combining with another robot. The color scheme vaguely reminds me of Dion, and with how much he idolizes Hot Shot, who had his Universe 2008 figure redecoed into the G1 characters one could say that's some stretching yet truthful foreshadowing. 

With his gun in hand, his articulation consists of swivels at the neck and waist, ball joints at the shoulders and hips, and hinges for the elbows and knees.

Since I own the Takara version, we can see how much they each try the "similar yet different" approach of where paint is used and what parts get to be molded in a specific color. 

As far as more interesting reuses of the mold are concerned, Swerve is based on a preliminary render of the character, which makes me wish this was the color scheme we got because of how awesome the red looks on him. Yeah, the Autobot insignia lacks subtlety, but I always get a kick out of a red sports car like this.

Cheetor was one of two repaints we got using this mold in the Dawn of Future's Past set from BotCon 2006. His head was retooled to match the character proper...

...and it only makes sense we would have Tigatron, who manages to look older than Cheetor in the face likely thanks to the deco applied. And they both use the same head sculpt. What's amusing is both of them have a precursor to their beast mode eyes visible on the chests in addition to having Cyber Keys themed after the Golden Disk.

Clocker was later repainted for the 2007 Movie toyline as a Target exclusive, like with all Scout Class figures we reused from Energon and Cybertron. His paint job is now real-world based, though he vaguely reminds me of the blue version of Deep Cover. Certainly not as flashy as the prior versions of the mold, but it works for him in a niche way. Ironically, this figure would be repackaged as a Walmart exclusive in a 2-pack with a darker version of Hardtop, also transitioning from Target to Walmart.

Transforming Brakedown GTS is a little more involved than with Clocker, mainly because of the unique altmode design requiring we make some proportions that are a little more on the extreme side, because the arms in the robot mode are almost like a reverse Popeye! The oversized shoulders and puny forearms are some of the most unusual ways to prove he skipped arm day, but the figure otherwise works fine as it should for a scout. Now, I need to mention that the character never looked like this in the cartoon, as it was just a Hasbro-exclusive repaint meant to homage G1 Kup. I honestly missed when we used to do tributes like that, compared to nowadays where we would do slightly, slightly, slightly different versions of the G1/evergreen cast since 2018's Cyberverse with a barely rotating cast depending on what Hasbro feels like including alongside the usual mainstays. In fact, the altmode is said to be a nod to Kup's look in The War Within, which is reminiscent of how Energon Inferno looked somewhat like Ironhide in that same comic series. In addition to the color scheme, I love the various paint apps included on this figure, proving that even the smallest of figures got as much love as their larger counterparts (if we ignore the underpainted Legends of Cybertron that is lmao but hey do they have Cyber Key gimmicks like Brakedown and Clocker?).

His articulation is the same as Clocker's, though the elbows and knees are now ball jointed. His Cyber Key gimmick is now usable in robot mode, which sucks that it couldn't work in alt mode because I find a car working like a joust performer would make sense if that was something Brakedown would do against the Decepticons at rapid speeds. Here, it's a bit unwieldy but hey at least the color scheme fits the mold even better when we put him next to SS86 Kup.

As for the sole other version of the mold, this is how Brakedown appeared in the cartoon. The color scheme is still good, though now the color palette is more reminiscent of Sky Shadow if he was a good guy. The colors on the Takara version aren't as nice, but it lacks an Autobot insignia since he technically isn't part of the team.

Overall, these two make for good figures to the line. Sure, they may not be anything like the Leaders or something like Hot Shot, Starscream, or Cybertron Defense Scattorshot, but they still remind me of a time when Transformers toys could cost $7 and still be worth the pocket money. I wouldn't say you should get these two ASAP compared to the other characters (unlike an even better Scout Class figure like Armorhide), but I recommend you get these two over anything we get at a similar price point in the current mainlines.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐ and a half out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ for both