Transformers Legends Godbomber & Perfect Effect PC-18 review

If you thought I was done talking about Ginrai, think again! The Legends line not only retooled Titans Return Powermaster Optimus Prime into a more Masterforce accurate design, but they also took things a few steps further with a wholly new version of Godbomber. For those who were unaware of the series, or at least vaguely aware of when Powermaster Prime toys had what was dubbed Apex Bomber or were upgraded with the Apex Armor, this bot is not a sentient character and is merely a drone that responds to the powers within Ginrai. It can technically be animated with the power of the Headmaster Jrs, but it wouldn't be until the Legends manga where he would be sentient again. That said, it mostly stuck with a fully robotic Ginrai until the dude died and was turned into Victory Leo. Masterforce is unique for the whole idea of using humans as a greater focus in a Transformers than any other franchise (yes, that includes the Movieverse, 80s crybabies), so much so that it ends up being more like a half-tokusatsu, half-mecha anime with a Transformers skin. Hence why things were slightly more traditional with full Cybertronians for Victory. Anyhow, let's see how well Godbomber turned out from the Legends line.

Here we have Godbomber in its alt mode. The design is not entirely nondescript, as it is an armored trailer that almost feels more like a futuristic military truck with the front section and wheel count. From what I can tell, Takara had to whip something up while the Pretenders had sluggish sales in the Japanese market, requiring they make a new toy to go with Super Ginrai. The proportions are a little different from the original, but it maintains the same general idea of "be's a thing on wheels". New to this is the front section opening up for Godbomber's Headmaster to ride inside it, with two more slots for additional riders. If you're familiar with the RID 2001 series, you may recognize the front section loosely resembling Ultra Magnus's vehicle mode, and it's even more apparent when the Japanese version, Car Robots, calls him God Magnus.

Godbomber can be hauled by Super Ginrai via the waist piece's articulated hitch (nah not like that lol), and while it can theoretically turn on said hitch, the swivel is a little tighter than usual while the slot where the piece goes into isn't tight enough (and there are already issues with the retooling applied to Ginrai versus Powermaster Prime). It mostly wobbles around before the connection is undone, even with a proper set up.

The transformation into base mode is more partsformery than the actual transformation into robot mode, though you mostly fold the wings down while removing the legs and tabbing them underneath said wings. The trailer sides could connect to other Leader Class figures for a larger playset, and the front section is opened for those missile pods. The rocket launcher in the middle reveals a seat for the Titan Master to ride in, but this mode sucks. I already joke sometimes about Japanese toy designers trying to squeeze as many modes as humanly possible to make the toy do more than it really could, but at least with something like the Tank Mode in the MMPR Megazord, it took advantage of the wheels on the Triceratops and Sabretooth Tiger as well as the Pteradactyl cannons. And back to regular TF, Powermaster Prime's base mode for the trailer looked well thought out with the ramps and cannon placements, whereas this feels like a first attempt at a fan mode. Now before I move forward, I should mention that this is the special release that comes with Headmaster Jr members Minerva and Cab. You may recognize the former from the Legacy line, while the latter looks almost like Swerve.

Transformation into robot mode is closer to a normal Transformer rather than a partsformer, which is a good thing given how everything just about comes apart on the old toy. I like that the legs are on heavy-duty ratchets that feel sturdier than on the normal TR Leaders, and the only real partsforming we have is just the Headmaster gimmick and the helmet detaching itself from the back of the shoulder cannon. The forearms, however, may as well partsform since they don't want to stay in place that well! They're just too hollow from the inside with no additional connections beyond the 5mm port and part of the side using friction. As for the torso, it's now dependent on several hinges to fold up and keep the front and back of the torso connected before tabbing the arms in place. The connections for those are better than the original version, but it could still be a little more robust. As for the robot mode, it is more refined and dynamic than the old toy, all thanks to the better proportions and not being a complete partsformer. I always like how the design still looks like a normal Transformer despite not functioning like a normal one in the fiction, and the Ultra/God Magnus influence is even stronger here thanks to the wings on the back, the massive forearms, legs that almost go for miles, though the torso is asymmetrical here while we have a shoulder cannon on the left side only. There is far less gray used in this mode than on the old toy, though I don't mind the two-tone blue motif on this figure. That said, I will have to comment on the type of dark blue plastic used on the toy later down the line. The back of the figure looks a bit goofy since you'd think the front of the altmode would be the actual chest, and we already know how I feel about the hollow forearms. Still, the figure looks generally good.

Head sculpt continues the influence for the later God Ultra Magnus design, only black instead of blue (though one of the repaints has a black helmet design). I wish the face was painted silver, especially since I've seen some Titans Return figures had their sculpted details hard to focus without proper paint (Galvatron and Megatron come to mind). Articulation consists of the usual ball-jointed neck, shoulder rotation, ratchets moving in and out, bicep rotation, hinged elbows, wrist rotation, finger and thumb articulation, ratchets for the hips comparable to the Energon Autobots, swivel joints for moving out (and barely any range), ratcheted knees, and ankle pivots. The lack of full outward leg movement hurts the otherwise consistently good articulation of this toy. The sword's blade can slide out from underneath the cannon while the handle detaches from the inside in addition to the rocket tip...problem is, the tighter tolerances of the chrome combined with the tiny peg for the tip on the handle has caused the damn thing to bend before eventually snapping off. Why does it even need a peg if both accessories can slide in with the aid of just friction?

Like all Titans Return Leaders, the helmet comes off to let the Titan Master work normally on its own, though it isn't permanently attached to the rest of the body given how he works as a partsformer regarding the God Armor compared to the other figures.

The original version of the mold has no chrome and instead uses silver paint. Given how Super Ginrai has no chrome to begin with, maybe this would fit better aesthetically? That said, the tolerances are said to be worse than on the 2-pack version. Also, with the Nightbeat head and with the Combiner Wars ports in the thighs to swap in Trickdiamond and Curse Armada Thrust to make an evil version of the design. 

For a robot mode size comparison, he is just a few centimeters taller than Super Ginrai, though, to be fair, that's to be expected given how one has to form parts for the other with proportions much chunkier than the Prime lookalike. I will say that Godbomber's details and overall aesthetics don't look quite as stylized as Ginrai, likely given how the other figure is a heavy retool of an already stylized figure (Combiner Wars Ultra Magnus being based on the IDW comics), though it's not like you're putting, say, Bumblebee Movie Optimus Prime in your WFC Trilogy display.

Now it's time to combine them, with the partsforming mostly serving for the boots and forearms while the torso relies on hinges and opening up the chest of Godbomber. It's a little confusing at first glance, given you have to latch the back of the whole assembly before tabbing the chest in place. Given Godbomber's chest halves house the thighs as well as the upper arms, you no longer have the back as filled in as one would hope. Still, at least you're able to make Ginrai's forearms proportionate by pulling on them a la transformation before wrapping the forearm pieces onto them. The resulting combined mode is absolutely stunning; it's always glorious to see a set-up like this after just having the normal Combiner Wars stuff, and it's almost like the feeling of getting a third-party upgrade kit on an official figure...which is both a blessing and a curse given what I'm about to get into. I already talked about how gorgeous this set looks combined, and while I love seeing a figure not just look aesthetically retooled but also functionally to complement the Godbomber components as Powermaster Prime likely is unable to work with, this set still has stability issues more apparent in this mode. The trailer panels for the legs don't like to stay tabbed in place, and if they slip out easily, then you better watch out for the hinge below the knee joints before they make the toy collapse from its weight. Those joints are still not as tight as they should be, and even after tightening the screws, they could revert back to being loose. On top of that, there aren't enough tabs for the legs to keep them from becoming undone. I also don't like how easy it is for those panels behind the forearms to dislodge if you're not careful while attaching the forearm pieces. And while I said this figure looks pleasing to the eye, the wingspan is comparable to the early Buzz Lightyear toys, while the hollow backpack could have been possible if the torso was able to partsform more. On the plus side, you can see how much this inspired Omega Prime/God Fire Convoy's design, especially with the partsforming working similarly to how Ultra Magnus disassembled into pieces for Optimus (though he combined with regular Optimus and not the Super Mode).

The articulation is the same, but once again, keep in mind that the stability of those hinges below the knees is as unreliable as you'd want them to NOT be for a combined form like this. Thankfully, he can hold a pose if everything is solid and secure, but the shoulder cannon doesn't like to stay upright while the sword, which is now the size of a machete in this mode, doesn't stay in the hand that well given the handle is slightly smaller than 5mm. For anyone wondering about the scale, he's taller than an older Leader Class figure, and it honestly astonishes me given how much taller someone like Sentinel Prime generally is compared to the Leader-sized figures we got starting with the TFP Weaponizers all the way to the Power of the Primes characters. 

If you think we're done with the review, then you thought wrong! The Perfect Effect upgrade kit means we can hopefully improve our experience with Godbomber and, by extension, the whole God Ginrai set! I mostly get DNA Design sets, and you already know those are either kept in their own separate reviews (MPM Ironhide's DOTM cannons, new pieces for Starscream and Barricade) or included within the same review (the massive Optimal Optimus review I did earlier), and this is the first ever upgrade kit I'll be reviewing that belongs to a different company. I know there was an earlier set that replaced the cab with a fully transforming toy, but my friend Ernie never got it, and honestly, I prefer Ginrai going straight into his super robot mode so I can stick with Optimus Prime having more modes (assuming we'll ever get a new Powermaster Optimus Prime). 

Breaking down the set, the forearms can now stay together with the help of some adaptors that tab into both the 5mm port of the inner joint and an additional port found on the forearm. I don't get why Takara never thought of this, given it'll be fine if Godbomber could partsform. In addition, we have new pieces that help bulk up the wings and extend their span slightly, which I'd argue would look better for the combined mode than by themselves as we'll get to for the altmode.

In addition, there is now a huge sword that, near as I can tell, is mostly suited for the original version of Godbomber due to the lack of chrome. He can't hold it, but he can at least store it on the back. Finally, we get giant cannons that look awesome and can be mounted on the forearms. HOWEVER...

...if you want to experience the pain of seeing something snap accidentally on a rare as hell set (or two in this case), then look at what happens when you insert the handles into the holes of the winglets as the instructions say. WHO THE FUCK FORGOT TO CHECK ON THE TOLERANCES OF THEIR ACCESSORIES DURING QUALITY CONTROL?! I don't care if there would be fewer people buying Godbomber because it's an import; a set being charged as much as said import SHOULD NOT let breakages like this happen. I can't get that little nub of a broken piece out of the winglet, and it's either thanks to the port not having enough space for these handles, or said handles don't have enough flexibility to prevent breakage (especially given most Hasbro Transformers have little holes within the handles as a way to help them last longer). It doesn't stop there, because one of the hooks for the already shitty shoulder cannon hinge snapped off while trying to attach said shoulder cannon in altmode. IS GODBOMBER MADE OUT OF THE SAME METALLIC BLUE PLASTIC LEGO USED FOR THEIR BRICKS, OR DID TAKARA NOT THINK TWICE ABOUT REDESIGNING THEIR TABS AND HINGES?! It's already bad seeing stuff like this happen nearly a decade after these came out; imagine the reaction to paying full price for these around the time they first came out.

The vehicle mode uses more weapons this time around, but while the cannons may be effective in this case, the sword has no place where it would look natural compared to the chrome dagger. As for the wing pieces, they may help the rest of the trailer look proportionate; with these pieces, they weigh the wings slightly on the hinges, and they'll flop slightly if you try to straighten them. You're better off not using them for the trailer mode. What I do like is that the forearm pieces go over the Combiner Wars joints to stabilize the ankles and prevent him from toppling back. I wish there was more to be done with the hinges below the knee joints, but hey, I'll take something positive.

The rest of the pieces are clearly meant for God Ginrai, as the wings are now more proportionate this time while the cannons and sword scale better with the larger figure. It just sucks that only the forearm fillers are needed for Godbomber while everything else is either ill-fitting or downright breakable, and the altmode looks even messier and slightly floppy with the added weight. And that brings me back to Godbomber by himself...I hate being so critical of a special release like this. I'll admit I haven't paid as much attention to the reviews back when the GG duo was new, but experiencing these in 2026 makes me relieved I got them for lower prices with Ernie's help. I'll be grateful to buy these from him, and I still think the figures look awesome, but I'm in a position sort of like how I felt about Calibur Optimus Prime. I'm happy to have both figures, and these are the nicest versions of their respective molds. The difference is that the early toys for AOE Optimus Prime generally sucked before they got better with the TLK Voyager and Studio Series Leader, but the Calibur version's removable backpack and shield integration, on top of the weapons, makes it the best version of the 2014 Leader mold when you put those changes with the Armor Knight mods and premium deco we got earlier. With Ginrai, he is generally better than the Powermaster Prime version, yet he's undercooked in the tolerance and foot design, and those issues become more apparent when you combine him with Godbomber, who already has his own stability issues and potential breakage, as I experienced with the one tab. With the Perfect Effect upgrade kit only working for specific modes better than others, plus the handle losing one nub from the poor quality control PE did nothing to prevent while working on the set, it's the final nail in the coffin for the most mixed feelings I've ever had towards a Transformers purchase this year, and I thought I would feel this way with Alien Attack Firage! Now I know how Power Rangers fans felt when they had to combine the Soul of Chogokin Dinozords or the Legacy Thunderzords, only those had the additional problems of die-cast weighing them down or unneeded complications from Zordbuilder ports. I don't think it's that much of a good comparison at all, but when I reviewed Nexus Prime, I had no issues criticizing the mold for how plain the bot mode looked and how awful the altmode was; Alpha Trion was even worse since the designers basically gave up on everything, between the basic engineering and the lousy articulation on a super mediocre mold from an equally mediocre movie. Godbomber isn't as bad as those, because there is less of that scaled-back, corporate-approved BS the current Hasbro regime is doing to Voyagers that cost nearly $50; in fact, being a Takara-initiated release before they went with the brand unification, I can see the passion put in this set, but it comes across like they were trying to pump it out as quickly as possible after Ginrai lost the Masterpiece fan poll and wanted to make A version of the set. If you want to get this set, be ready to find the right price, get the chromed version for better tolerances, and only get the Perfect Effect upgrade kit specifically for God Ginrai since the pieces only work on him. Otherwise, maybe get the KO version of the MPG versions if those fixed any QC issues the first Takara runs had...

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

Marvel Legends DP&W Brown Suit Wolverine & Stan Lee review

Not much correlation can be said between Wolverine and Stan Lee beyond their involvement with the X-Men and Marvel as a whole. Stan Lee once said he wished he got to create James Howlett, while other sources claimed he would have dipped the dude in liquid adamantium. We already know about Wolverine by now, and that goes doubly so for the Hugh Jackman version; the same can be said for Stan Lee, given everyone who's even given a glimpse into the Marvel Universe would be aware of the legend himself. Why are both figures brought together instead of here? Because I want to get closer to the 1,000 milestone as soon as possible, and while I don't want to rush reviews out faster than Disney and WB churn out capeshit flicks, I don't want to wait for a specific Legends figure to be paired up with either character. Let's see how these two generally different figures turned out either way.

Let's go over Logan first, because while I have covered a few DP&W figures, there is no plan to cover the second wave beyond maybe X-23 Blade after this point. That said, this Wolverine is way better than the yellow suit version; for starters, the proportions are much closer to Hugh Jackman's than the previous version ever could. The hips don't slightly stick out while the upper body is at least more ripped than the cosplay ass torso of the other suit. In addition, the shoulders are not undersized compared to the rest of him, and the plastic used is not see-through like the yellow suit was. It's not 100% perfect, given the yellow seen here could be better (and don't get me started on those knees looking bad compared to how they look on-screen), but this is the way we should make figures for the line, let alone versions of Hugh Jackman's Wolverine. The suit's textures are that of the usual MCUfication, though executed even better here than before; maybe it's because this one at least fits Hugh Jackman's Wolverine more than the yellow suit, at least in terms of not being flashy like the suits he wore in the Fox movies; it may even loosely resemble the suit that they teased in The Wolverine, which I don't mind given this works better in live action whereas I prefer the Tiger Stripe costume in the comics and any similar media. Even the lines don't stick out too much because at least the costume is not a case where they have to make it realistic or overly tactile. I do wonder how the suit would look without some of the lines...

Head sculpt is slightly better than the one we got with the yellow suit version, though we still have that fuzzy basketball texture on the yellow area that looks a bit distracting. The articulation consists of a double-ball neck, shoulder rotation, outward arm movement, rotary joints rather than butterfly joints a la McFarlane, bicep rotation, double-jointed elbows, wrist rotation, inward wrist hinges, a diaphragm joint, a waist swivel, ball-jointed hips, thigh rotation, double-jointed knees, and ankles that hinge as well as pivot.

The figure comes with alternate hands with claws retracted: a right fist and a left trigger finger hand. No idea what they couldn't make pairs of both, or replace the trigger fingers with relaxed hands. We also get an alternate neck piece with his bare skin exposed as well as a cowl piece folded away. You might be telling me "hey Quantum Surge, you forgot to put the unmasked head on!", but what if I told you Hasbro cheapened out and NOT GIVE US THE FUCKING HEAD SCULPT! We already have two figures from the DP&W waves with Hugh's unmasked head from the 2020s; what's stopping them from wanting to reuse it again??? Furthermore, since when did this version of Wolverine put his mask on during the montage? Did Hasbro look at that one fan edit where the mask was added in and thought, "phew, that can save us some likeness rights trouble"??? And it sucks too because the Brown Suit version of Wolverine otherwise shits all over the awful yellow suit version, both in terms of articulation and overall proportions. Do Hasbro designers have specific costume preferences and make one worse than the other, knowing their consumer fanbase will eat it up regardless?

Overall, Brown Suit Wolverine is one you should stick with at all times if you want to get a version of the dude in a superhero suit; the lack of an alternate head sucks, especially given how easy it could be to reuse the already existing Logan head and add it here. It's one of those things I'm starting to hate with Hasbro including or excluding specific accessories for figures not everyone may have; we saw this with the Lightning Collection Cogs coming with Zeo Blue's Tonfas 2 years after that figure came out, or Studio Series Optimus Primal coming with the axe meant for ROTB Optimus Prime despite, at the time, being a Target exclusive before it was sold at mass retail less than 2 years later. Here, we have this and the retooled yellow suit Wolverine coming with alternate necks and folded-up cowls but no alternate heads, and they expect people to have a Logan head despite the first version having been impossible to get at most stores in 2024? Even this wave is repeating a similar issue where the Cassandra Nova figure comes with an accessory where she can phase her head through Mr Paradox, but there's no figure for that "quirky English accent guy" in sight (unless you just use the body of a generic suit). Then again, that figure would probably warm pegs longer than this Wolverine could. Again, not perfect, but more deserving of your shelf space than most figures from the movie.

As for Stan Lee, we've seen similar versions of this suited body for so long, and we know about the articulation he comes with, but I want to give some special attention to the likeness: I think this is their best real-world accurate head sculpt of all time; Stan Lee has a very specific look that's hard to mess up compared to the usual actors we've seen in the past and present, and I'd argue their face scan technology did one of Marvel's creators proper respect. I like the elderly smile under his mustache, the rose-tinted glasses, his receding yet still recognizable hairdo; it's almost like I could hear him come to life and talk about the history of the Marvel lore he created or helped create. His accessories mostly consist of a reused MCU Captain America shield with his signature stamped on it and a briefcase that rests in his arms. I wish he had a few more character-specific accessories to fit on this buck as nods to his Marvel resume; some Iron Man or Hulk hands would be great, Mjolnir should fit in his hand without issue (unless you want to display him drunk and failing to lift Thor's hammer), or why not have some Thing feet to slip over his shoes to add some Fantastic Four nods if you want to do more than just Avengers stuff. Also, did you know this figure was intended to be a Build-a-Figure for a pair of MCU 2-packs? One featured Ross and Killmonger, the other Falcon & Winter Soldier (not the show); my only guess as to why the figure was scrapped as a BAF before we got a normal release stems from either any sexual allegations against him or the elder abuse he unfortunately experienced in his last few months alive. Perhaps it was only months after his death that Hasbro felt comfortable releasing the figure on its own to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Marvel as a company.

Here he is with Renew Your Vows Spider-Man, who is inaccurately taller than his creator depending on the version of the character we're talking about. These two tend to be paired up when it comes to showcasing how important Stan Lee's history with Marvel is, especially when they "met" in the 90s Animated series. Also, if you remember SDCC 2007, we had a special version of the webhead who can turn into Stan Lee by putting his clothes over the suit and swapping either the masked head or Peter Parker's with his very own. I tried something similar by swapping the head on the RYV figure, and while it isn't a perfect fit and sits too high, it at least lets me recreate the Civil War scene where Spider-Man steals Captain America's shield. Hate that movie, mixed on the Underoos nickname, love that scene. Honestly, I'm surprised Stan Lee's figure isn't as expensive as I anticipated, and I can only assume it's due to the figure not being that new as a BAF or just how readily available it was when it first came out. Given most listings on eBay range between $20-40, you shouldn't have a problem picking him up. Honestly, it's kind of weird to own action figures of real people rather than live-action actors playing a fictional character; I know we joke about kids begging their parents to buy them a Jack Black action figure for that Minecraft movie because it's a middle-aged fatso, but owning figures of comic creators like Stan or Todd has a different vibe from just getting figures of their creations. Maybe it's because of the context going on; you know there's a line between getting the Jack Black figure for how ridiculous it looks versus getting figures of Todd and Stan because of their legacy for comic book fans. Either way, rest in peace, Stan Lee. It's about to be a whole decade since you left us to reunite with your wife in the heavens above...excelsior...

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Transformers Titans Return Windblade review

Can you believe it's been  a decade since Titans Return happened??? You bet Oprah Winfrey went all out and said "You're a Headmaster, and you're a Headmaster! You're now all Headmasters!" while making that a line wide gimmick from Deluxes to Leaders. Even the Legends had some compatibility as vehicles for them to ride if they already had no other vehicles in their dedicated size class. I don't know if I prefer that over making everyone a Combiner, but at least the retooling was much more effective this way, and we can see that with Windblade. Remember when she used to be marketed heavily in any new media between 2014 to 2020? Then Elita-1 returned just to mostly have beef with Optimus for different reasons depending on what media you're watching. Anyways, the mold Windblade uses for this line originally began as Scourge (who I never got) but was later heavily retooled as Highbrow (who I reviewed 5 years ago). Now I shall see how well she holds up as someone who never got the Thrilling 30 version.

Here we have Windblade in her jet mode. This is a different take from the design we usually see in the IDW comics, with more red and back swept wings reminiscent of Animated Starscream. While she has similar design traits with the VTOL fans as well as the legs on the back, this is generally deviated from the norm given it is also reusing a mold with altmodes mostly fit for male bot designs. The sleeker jet mode for a gal like Windblade is at least consistent with her.

Her cockpit holds the Titan Master known as Scorchfire, who only had the face painted and can also sit in the combined sword set up like some kind of sleigh. 

Both swords tab underneath the wings so you can have her joust at the risk of her wings breaking off. At least the fans can face any direction but they could really use some silver paint. 

For an altmode comparison, here she is with her Cyberverse version, which is slightly closer to the design her altmode usually has in fiction. Specifically it is the Legacy United version. I have no preference for either altmode design, but I like the silver paint for the fans on the more recent toy.

Transformation is very basic, as you have the forearms face forward, straighten the legs with a whole 180, hinge the front section all the way on the back, and shift the spine all the way up. Of course, the transformation ends with the Titan Master gimmick one should expect for the whole line. I love that feature, no doubt thanks to the optional head swapping between different figures and other versions of a specific character (like Voyager Optimus Prime and Legends Ginrai's heads or using the Titans Return Apeface head instead of the Siege version), and it's nice to see it continue even as recent as AOTP Horri-Bull. I don't remember how involved the original Windblade's transformation was, but if the fanbase complained about the engineering then, maybe this might be an overcorrection? At the very least, the robot mode looks good, if thiccer in the right spots according to longtime friend Ernie. I don't mind that since she at least is still feminine in her build in spite of reusing the Scourge/Highbrow engineering. In addition, she doesn't suffer from stability issues thanks to he added bulk in her legs and competent heel spurs. Not even the backpack leans her to the point of toppling over, though she is still hollow in some areas. 

Head sculpt is decent for a Titan Master take on her design, and despite having a robot folded on the back, at least we keep the Japanese influence intact for the most part. Her fan won't come off her head for obvious reasons. Articulation consists of a ball joint for the head and shoulders, bicep rotation, hinged elbows, universal hips, thigh swivels, and hinged knees. Instead of the single purple sword usually associated with her, we can now use the same swords showcased earlier as intended. They can also tab into the thighs for storage.

The Takara Legends version is slightly nicer than the Hasbro version, mostly due to them adding some extra paint apps that the Hasbro version sorely needs. The Titan Master has less black visible, but more importantly, she comes with Targetmaster Pinpointer, who comes with her since we didn't have a new version of G1 Crosshairs until Siege came out. Also, her swords are replaced with a more traditional one similar to the Thrilling 30 version.

For another Windblade comparison, here she is with the Flame Toys and Legacy United versions. I don't have that many versions of her, but it is funny that the Flame Toys version was the first one I got, and we know how that pissed so many people off on Twitter (you know who I'm referring to), and it wasn't until a decade after her debut that I got a transforming version of her to begin with. As for the Titans Return version, she is way better than I thought she'd be. Some of the initial photos always turned me off with how unnecessarily bloated she came across, but then hearing more positive things about her stability and being a heavy retool that almost makes her feel like a new toy won me over. Now I own her and am generally happy with her, though I heard she is pricey in the aftermarket. If you can get her for less than $60, dewit.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐