Studio Series 86 Springer vs Legacy United Soundwave: Who's the Better Excuse of a Modern Day Leader Class???

Something that's been bothering me lately is Hasbro's tendency to use smaller figures with slightly better engineering or part count than they normally have to justify their higher price tags in a certain size class. Granted, it's been a thing we've seen before in lines such as the RID 2001 series with the Mega Class Predacon 3-pack featuring the redecos of Transmetal II Basics, but the difference was they did this to give fans an easier way to get them in one swoop at $15. If they were put out nowadays, they'd share the same price you'd normally find on eBay aftermarket prices. The practice done nowadays is very hit or miss; for example, Studio Series 86 Hot Rod works well as a Voyager because he has a fairly intricate transformation, has very few hollow spaces, includes uncommon points of articulation such as butterfly joints and finger articulation, and comes with a plethora of accessories. Meanwhile, the same line and size class's Ironhide falls short because even with a chunkier robot design, his engineering is not that much different from the Siege version, he only comes with two guns, a few areas remain somewhat hollow, (though not to the extent as the Siege version), and it is only slightly shorter in height than the Siege version. 2024 is definitely a year where fans are starting to get their wake-up call in questioning Hasbro's approach in justifying what are essentially Voyagers with Benefits, especially now where said Voyagers are reused from earlier toys with varying degrees of alterations. Studio Series 86 Springer clashes with Legacy United Soundwave as we're about to discuss which of the two will be granted the class of Leader.

Let's take a look at the two figures individually first. Springer's car mode is already the strongest of the two vehicles modes. As far as new tooling is concerned, the front section and the middle roof area received the most amount of changes, with the latter section having the light green components on hinges that can be angled depending on the mode Springer is in. The new wheels on the front are pinned on and filled in, though the back ones are still snap-on and remain with small holes on the rims. The back is functionally the same as the vehicle mode, which is fine for the vehicle mode at least (more discussion on this later down the review article). All of Springer's weapons can be placed around the rooftop thanks to the new tabs added for this version of the mold specifically. Again, we'll talk about those later as we go along.

For a car mode comparison, I find that both of them have comparable appearances. The Siege version was perfectly fine, and I feel a similar way to the SS86 version. The cockpits being differently molded colors is also noteworthy, though I half-expected it to be opaque; that being said, the green paint meshes worse with the molded plastic here than with the Siege version.

As for the helicopter mode, this is where I would have loved to see some additional tooling applied to the figure; the wheels remain exposed in this mode, which is inaccurate to the cartoon and was something one would hope Hasbro could fix for a supposed Leader Class figure. Of note, there is a new propellor blade made up from one of his two swords, but the blades are not designed to have them face the opposite direction from one another). Hasbro could have engineered some method in making them look proper.

Comparing the two helicopter modes leaves me feeling how even with the new tooling, one would hope Hasbro could make their Leader Class version of Springer feel more like it has an enhanced budget. I'm certain Hasbro could have found some method of adding additional parts to make the helicopter mode more convincing, even if it would be a difficult task or compromise the look.

Robot modes are where the differences start to become more apparent. Other than the vehicle parts I already covered, we have a new version of Springer's head closer to the cartoon, shoulder pylons that splay out to the sides, articulated hands, a new midriff, and hips and thighs with less detail on them. The forearms, lower legs, and possibly any of the structural components remain the same. I think the coloring is nicer on SS86 Springer, along with the changes from the thighs up, but it makes one wonder why the lower legs remain the same. It's fine from the front, but would it hurt them to add some covers for the backs? Not to mention how after the Wreck-N-Rule version had the tighter ankles, we're back to them being loose here.

Going over the accessories, Springer's propellor blades double as a green sword, but he also has a proper one with silver paint, and the sculpt work is closer to how it appeared to the cartoon; both replace the twin swords from the Siege version. He retains the blasters from the Siege version in addition to a new blaster sculpted similarly to the one Magnus used to fight the Junkions. 

We're not done yet, as in addition to those, he also has a hammer stolen from Thor based on the one from the Wreck-N-Rule collection exclusive to Amazon. It's something that was never in the movie but it is a nice accessory...in theory; there is an empty space meant for a Wrecker insignia, but Hasbro neglected to add it. I also wish it was painted to better match the hammer rather than look toyish as it is. He also comes with the missile used against Devastator where he recites how he wished he had better things to do than die. I wonder if the aforementioned better things to do tonight happen to include getting rid of the yellow paint on the missile. Oh and he has a forearm-mounted blaster, though it's underslung, requires opening that stabilizer fin for the helicopter altmode, and can be seen as negligible. So overall, Springer TRIES to be a Leader Class figure with the added budget, though I know there is room for improvement.

As for Soundwave, we get a reissue of the once highly sought-after Netflix figure, though there are a few differences worth discussing. Altmode wise, what was previously silver is now a light gray to match the gray plastic better, the trim around the tape door is gold instead of silver, the white outline and eyes on the Decepticon insignia is thicker, and that's about it. I do wish they could have added the red dot on the rec/batt light, which amusingly has a slightly different font. I am annoyed that Hasbro added the serial numbers on the front of the tape deck mode, but let's see if the gray plastics won't yellow like on Netflix.

Robot mode transformation is the same for both figures, with there being no new additions whatsoever in terms of tooling. I kind of wish we could have found a way to make the legs transform without utilizing a waist swivel or having the robot shins face the inside of the tape deck mode. I appreciate that the red trimming around the forearms is added, and you can see what I mean about the yellowing on the Netflix version compared to the new copy. A weird aspect about the Legacy version would be how there is a slight A-stance that is permanent when the legs are straightened, a result from using the Dramatic Capture Series version that has the ridges within the hip joints. Maybe Takara added better plastic for the unpaintable parts so they won't yellow, though only time will tell. Still, I wish Hasbro could fill in any hollow parts, add panels to the forearm gaps whenever you transform the hands, add finger articulation, or at least something to make the budget feel more worthwhile.

There are a few differences in regards to the accessories, mostly in the deco thanks to the red trim added on. We get the same third gun from the Siege version, and you can see just how nasty the yellowed plastic looks. Let's hope the same doesn't happen to Legacy United or the DCS one.

Now for the tape comparisons, we have Buzzsaw instead of Laserbeak, finally completing the G1 Cassette team associated with Soundwave. He is a redeco of Netflix Laserbeak, and it's great to see them color the beak yellow along with replacing hte silver trim around the wings with gold. I'm amazed it took HasTak long enough to make Buzzsaw given all the opportunities with Soundblaster and even the Legacy 2022 version of Siege Soundwave. Hell, even the Core Class Soundblaster has a tease with a non-transforming Buzzsaw.

Ravage is where the differences are negligible. What was gray plastic on the original Netflix version is now black, and the teeth are painted on. Would have been cool to see another panther, but I guess this is probably great for the few of you with a DCS Soundwave and want this as Takara excluded it from their Soundwave.

Rumble has went from cartoon-accuracy to toy-accuracy, albeit not being named as Frenzy. I personally like the toy colors more since they compliment SS86 Frenzy better, but it would have been cooler if we got an Enemy instead. It could be argued that the added budget goes directly to the Core Class figure and the Micromaster set, but it makes me wonder why Soundwave couldn't have any quality of life improvements beyond the altered deco?

To wrap things up, here we have Springer and Soundwave with their accessories lined up. I know it's not easy to classify the cassette partners as such, but they really feel like they're there as an excuse to not retool Soundwave and improve him further. Springer wasn't 100% perfect but he came off like the designers really wanted to make the SS86 version to be the definitive CHUG-scale Springer of their collection in spite of the lingering flaws. If Hasbro wanted to put out the Netflix Soundwave out, then they should have reissued him along with improving the joints. A new mold would have been great, but I bet SS86 will add that because Hasbro refuses to let the damn 86 movie go. So who won this review? Springer: slightly superior. Soundwave: definitely inferior.

SS86 Springer ranking: ⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Legacy United Soundwave ranking: ⭐⭐ and a half out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐