Transformers Studio Series Starscream review

Despite fanboys remaining butthurt over Starscream's alien design to this day, there's been more success with Movie Starscream's figures than there is with G1 Starscream's figures. There are more Voyager options, a more-functional Deluxe figure, and a Leader Class figure that beats either MP-03 or MP-12 in terms of quality. It sure is delicious irony that the more controversial take of the character gets better treatment than the G1 incarnation. However, a new problem lies ahead for those that already have either the ROTF Voyager Starscream or the HFTD Leader Starscream: is the Studio Series Voyager worth getting? Let's discuss below on today's review!

Here is Starscream's jet mode, this time taking us back to his MV1 deco. He's got a nice deco on the top of the 

Here is Starscream's jet mode next to the Hunt for the Decepticons Leader Class figure on the left and the Dark of the Moon Deluxe Class figure on the right. It's strange to compare this to the other figures in terms of deco since it's got no tattoos on him, but for their sizes, You can say that the Leader is good for a vehicle mode size since F22 Raptors are going to be larger than a semi-truck like Optimus Prime or a car like Bumblebee.

This was something I wanted to make, but here's a deco comparison with the Takara repaints of the other figures I brought in. So from top to bottom, it's the MPM-1 version of Leader Starscream, the Movie Advanced version of DOTM Deluxe Starscream, the Movie the Best version of the ROTF mold, and the Studio Series version of the character. Their takes on the same deco don't have quite the same synergy. The MPM-1 version has its camo in a darker color while the nosecone is brighter, the Movie Advanced version looks less like camo and more like a Rorschach test, the Movie the Best version has a brighter deco, and the Studio Series version's deco is slightly bluer (but not as blue as in the stock photo used).

Who has the better jet mode? Well, the Leader is good for size, though the undercarriage makes the jet look bulky from underneath. The DOTM Deluxe (and by extension the Studio Series Voyager) aren't as bulky as the Leader. The ROTF Voyager does look cleaner but has the hands exposed from the back. At least its wheels roll, so the jet mode functionality is there on that and the Leader. 

Here's a look at the jet that is used in the first movie, and its deco better matches the Movie the Best version, though none of the toys use a gray cockpit (not that it's a bad thing since they help add a bit of color). 

Transforming Starscream is almost the same as the DOTM Deluxe, and I say almost because there have been comments mentioning that this Starscream is an upscaled version of the original Deluxe, yet whereas previous upscaled versions of figures made by Hasbro have felt unworthy of the price tag (Cybertron Supreme Starscream) or don't add anything new (the 2014 Beast Hunters upscaled Deluxes), this figure feels nicer to handle than the Deluxe with the plastic feeling less cheap, and the use of universal joints than ball joints makes the figure feel more professionally made than the Deluxe was. Also, there are two chest pieces that fill in the gaps that were normally present in the original release.

Starscream's robot mode is the same alien take on the Seeker body-type, which as I mentioned still kept purists triggered even to this day, but enough about that. The look of the figure looks like how it should, with the proportions matching those of the CG model, and all the details that normally aren't present on previous figures are either finally now made or they're picked out in some paint apps.

The side profile looks flatter than the wide-body, though that's something the model has (and it also fits with this body design); the backpack does bulk things up better. The legs are digitigrade as on every Movie Starscream figure in history, but they don't really make much of an issue with stability since the feet are long enough to keep him from falling over and the joints are nice and tight. The back does have some molded details that include both the 5mm peg holes included on the DOTM Starscream (despite MechTech not being a thing for this line) and a new 5mm peg hole that is normally used to store the weapon he comes with. A paint wash should make those details stand out more instead of looking like flat plastic.

The face sculpt is sharper than most Starscream figures, yet I do wish the head was shinier since I remember it being more silver than usual. Also, the eyes would greatly benefit from some added paint apps, but the blob red paint makes the eyes bigger than they should be. 

While this Starscream is next to the other figures I included, I'll go over the articulation of the figure. It may seem like it's functionally the same as the Deluxe, but there are a handful of differences that make this figure feel less like it's a straight upscale of the Deluxe. There is a swivel at the head and a secret neck hinge to make the head look up, a joint that the Deluxe never had. At the shoulders, there is a universal joint instead of a ball joint, so the shoulders could move forward and back on one joint and hinge up and down on another joint. There is a bicep swivel whereas the Deluxe had a ball joint on the second elbow joint. There is a double-jointed elbow, and the wrists can fold up nicely due to transformation, but the Deluxe had a double hinge whereas the upper part of the joint on the Voyager is a hinge that feels like a ratchet joint while the lower part of the joint has the wrist on a ball joint. At the hips, Starscream's legs move forward and backward, and they move in and out on universal joints instead of ball joints. The rest of the leg articulation below that is relatively the same, with two joints to bend the digitigrade legs and a lower leg swivel that serves as a form of ankle pivot.

In between both figures, Starscream may be in his MV1 deco, but he at least looks like he transforms similarly to the other toys. I feel that the Leader figure is better suited for a stand-in for a Movie Masterpiece stand-in before we get a proper new mold (especially if you remember this being repainted for the Masterpiece line) while the Deluxe may be good for a kid if you want them to play with the Movie toys but don't want to share your Studio Series display. In case you're wondering, those guns on him are from AOE Crosshairs.

For a closer look between the Studio Series mold and the Dark of the Moon mold, here is a comparison with the Movie Advanced version (credit goes to Ben's World of Transformers as the pic belongs to his review). For those that thought Hasbro used a growth ray on the Movie Advanced figure, that's not the case due to the sculpted details being sharper on the Voyager, the plastic colors being more cohesive on the Voyager (whereas the Deluxe has some brown plastic due to Hasbro wanting to make their figure less monochromatic at the time), some added paint apps to break up the plastic colors, and the use of more robust joints. In case you're wondering, the weapons the Deluxe Starscream has are not the MechTech weapons but instead the axes that the 2014 Beast Hunters Smokescreen came with.

Now here's a robot mode comparison with the ROTF mold in the appropriate color scheme (pic credit goes to Pax Cybertron). So here's where fans that don't have the Studio Series mold may not really want this mold if they have the ROTF Voyager. The mold's already good for today's standards, the articulation's still comparable, and the transformation is unique compared to other Starscreams. That said, there's still a handful of fans that either never got the original mold, no longer owned it over the years, or want to be completionists, and they'd want to give this new Starscream a shot. Either way, both figures are good on their own rights. 

Starscream comes with one accessory due to his size taking more plastic, but he has a missile rack that he can hold with either by attaching it on the 5mm peg hole or by folding the hand up and slotting it in the wrist. The latter method gives the impression that Starscream's forearm deployed the weapon. It's the missile rack well-known for being used in the first movie when he attacked the Hoover Dam as a first warning that the Decepticons were after Megatron and the Allspark. There have been stock photos of the toy that came with a buzzsaw accessory that has since been absent on recent Hasbro images and in the final product. That's likely done to prevent this MV1 deco from making the ROTF repaint somewhat meaningless, so the repaint comes with the buzzsaw accessory.

Speaking of, here is the ROTF repaint of the mold. Aside from the tattoos, the figure comes with darker colors, a more detailed face, a darker cockpit, and a black nosecone, which isn't accurate but likely done to make the repaint a bit more different than the original repaint. Also included is the buzzsaw accessory, which was going to be included with the original version.

It should be noted that if you are searching for the repaint online (or in a store where toy swapping is frequent), be sure to avoid this upsized knockoff of the DOTM Deluxe. THIS is what an oversized toy looks like. It's identical to the original toy, with the only differences being that the tolerances are worse than the original, and as a result of it being a larger version of the Deluxe, the sculpting is worse than before. Hints as to this being the knockoff include the toy being in a TFP-esque packaging and normally found in pictures alongside other knockoff toys found from the Dark of the Moon or Age of Extinction toylines, with group shots including Optimus Prime, Megatron, Ironhide, Skyhammer, and Bumblebee, another upscaled Deluxe.

For a comparison (pic credit goes to Instagram user Transformers Sentinel Evil), here is the official Studio Series ROTF Starscream repaint on the left next to the upscaled knockoff of the DOTM Deluxe. Not only are the colors different from each other, and not only are the molded details more crisp on the Studio Series version, but the heights are not the same, with the official version being a head taller than the knockoff.

Overall, Studio Series Starscream manages to be a great Voyager despite being similar to the Deluxe figure. The figure poses well, has tremendously molded details, and ironically makes the original Deluxe feel like a knockoff. Sure, some paint apps could help make the head or the back stand out, but at least the deco is clean overall. No quality control issues in sight! Sadly, fans that have the ROTF Voyager may not feel that this new mold is worth buying, but for fans that want to get back into collecting the Movie line now that the more iconic characters returned in toy form, this will happily fill in all gaps.

Oh...how it pains me to do this...don't worry, this Starscream wasn't harmed during the making of this review. He'll return for a later day.

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

Transformers Studio Series Optimus Prime review

Whenever there's a new Transformers toyline, an Optimus Prime's always going to be made. That's always something to expect, but sometimes it's always worth knowing if the line's new Optimus Prime would be either good or bad. It's been a common trend since DOTM where we've gotten Primes of different qualities. There were those that would either be amazing (TFP First Edition Prime, Evasion Prime, TLK Prime) or really bad (Weaponizer Prime, AOE First Edition Prime, Titans Return Prime). The Studio Series line gave us a new take of Optimus in his original design that hasn't been seen since 2011, and while initial images made it seem like a weaksauce mold, it turned out to be a lot better than expected. Let's take a look at Studio Series Optimus Prime, based on his appearance in Revenge of the Fallen!

The vehicle mode we have is back to the 2007 Peterbilt alt-mode, albeit with a couple of differences. The toy's colors are darker than normal, which might reference the iconic forest battle where him getting damaged made his colors darker, though they really weren't this dark, especially with the red! Some paint apps do look nice, but then there's a couple of inconsistencies, mainly with how some flame decals on the front aren't complete and the grill remaining a gunmetal gray like the sunshades and most of the gray plastic while the smokestacks were silver (and said smokestacks are unfortunately too short for the alt-mode). The foggy windows are not bad but I'd love to see them look further different from each other since there's not much that distinguishes the windows.

The side of the figure doesn't look too bad either, though it does have the feet exposed on the fifth wheel of the truck. The Evasion Mode Optimus Prime figure didn't look so bad since both the feet and the legs were blue. The legs and feet are colored differently here, and as a result, they don't really blend together well. The rest of the truck at least looks good, design-wise, save for the shortened smokestacks.

Here is the Studio Series Optimus Prime in between the HFTD Battle Blades Optimus Prime (on the left) and the DOTM Deluxe Optimus Prime (on the right). The former is actually a Walmart exclusive repaint made for Dark of the Moon while the latter is part of the Movie Trilogy subline made shortly after the DOTM line ended, although all retailers got was the Optimus figure. Everything else was canceled. I do feel that the HFTD truck mode has the best truck mode while the DOTM mold has the best colors in this comparison, though the Studio Series version does hold up fairly well. And while that version has no painted rims, neither did the other figures when I first got them.

The Movie Trilogy series Optimus Prime's trailer can be used if you want, though it does point upward somewhat, so the front trailer tires don't really touch the ground. There is a trailer for Optimus Prime to use later in the Studio Series line. Still, the smokestacks being longer would have added a bit more presence in the truck than leave it to look smaller than it should be.

Transforming Optimus Prime feels like a combination of the TFP First Edition figure and the AOE Evasion Mode incarnation of Movie Optimus. Between how the windows and chest transform on the former, and the way the legs transform on the latter, it's something that makes this toy stand out from the ROTF Leader Prime transformation normally associated with the Movie version of Optimus. Funny enough, the way the middle wheels transformed was a feature taken from the knockoff version of Evasion Prime, which was referred to as the M01 Commander.

The robot mode we have here doesn't look too bad. I do appreciate how the proportions are an improvement compared to the other Primes made with the same alt-mode The arms look great, the legs are not too thin or overly bulky (though the red parts on the tires and the lower legs are a bit weird), and the figure's generally cleaner in terms of kibble. The only issues I do have are the chest being a bit too stylized and the arms lacking some paint. Still, it's a marked improvement compared to some of the previous Voyager molds.

The side profile looks pretty good, though you could notice how the tires aren't lined up as they should. The back does have a flat but barely transformed backpack, where the headache rack and the rear doors of the cabin hang low along with the gas tanks and toolboxes. It'd be neat to see an attempt at recreating the backpack of the robot mode though.

The face sculpt is very nicely done! While there are some paint apps that should be added, the details molded on the head are nicely done! Especially the eyes, where there is some baby blue to distinguish themselves from the blue of the head and the gunmetal gray of the mouthplate. It's great to see that there's no light piping that obscures the details of the optics, and the paint isn't a big blob of blue paint that makes them look bigger than they are. Major props to Hasbro for that!

While we give Optimus his battle blades, his articulation consists of a ball-jointed neck, shoulders that can swivel 360°, a bicep swivel that also rotates 360°, elbows that hinge, and wrists that swivel. There is a waist swivel, hips that move forward and back, in and out, thighs swivel that are somewhat limited because of the tires, deep bends at the knees, and at the ankles, they hinge backward and forward and pivot decently.

Talking of those blades, these are my favorite part of Studio Series Optimus Prime. They attach under the hands and look amazing, making the illusion that they're deployed from Optimus than being held by him. They're a nice size, the translucent plastic is gorgeous, and they're my favorite take on the blades in the history of Movie Primes. Sure, the MPM version has a slot behind the wrist, but the wrists bent inward a little too much and they look a bit off with the yellow-orange.

After nearly half a decade since the Studio Series line began, this exact version of the mold was finally repainted in the movie-accurate colors for the Takara Tomy Premium Finish Series line. The doors are painted blue on the chest, the chest windows are better detailed, the truck mode looks much nicer. so why am I not a fan of it? Well, it's using the outdated tooling for the figure instead of the SS-32/44 version of the mold with the better-proportioned robot mode. Sure, the truck mode on this one's nicer, but I'm not a fan of how the robot mode looks because it doesn't look as accurate as the later version of the mold. And if the listings are anything to go by, the line will have a repaint of Studio Series Jetfire coming up, which will annoyingly be incompatible with this figure because it lacks the ports and tabs meant for the combination. At least he has the guns and the swords, but that's kind of sad. I guess since I got both versions of SS-32, I can get this guy, too...

For a size comparison, here is Optimus Prime with his Autobot wave mates, Bumblebee and Ratchet. They scale pretty well, with Ratchet reaching up to a part of Optimus's shoulder, and Bumblebee not being as tall as Ratchet, so he scales better with Optimus. This will be a scale we'll take a look at from time to time as we see more MV1-related Autobots.

Here's a comparison between the other Primes I have. DOTM Prime was a good figure, although a bit too short and there was a massive backpack made up from the front of the truck. HFTD Optimus may be more accurate in some parts, the fact that it was a shrunken down ROTF Leader Optimus with some differences may seem like its ambitious, but it doesn't age that well with the articulation and proportions. Those legs look pretty skinny compared to the bulkiness of the torso, and the arms don't look right. Also, this is where the comment on me customizing my HFTD Optimus shows what I meant since I heavily painted my figure to make him more accurate with decent results. Either way, Studio Series Optimus wins in my book!

Before the new figure was announced, I wanted the HFTD Optimus to be the definitive version of the character in my collection, so aside from repainting him, I took the battle blades of a DOTM Voyager knockoff in my collection and added some silver paint to make them look better. That lead to me removing the nubs of where the hooks would attach (since this release had hooks instead of blades) as well as removing the 5mm pegs of the knockoff blades so they can slot into the gap of the forearms. Yeah, the official method made by Studio Series Prime still wins.

Here is Optimus next to his AOE Evasion Mode self (which is the Evolution 2-pack version I customized to look more like M01 Commander) and TLK Premier Edition Voyager (which I also customized with more movie-accurate paint, which explains why the sword looks better). I kind of don't mind the difference in height between the Studio Series and TLK molds, but next to the Evasion Prime, Studio Series Prime does look weird. Maybe a new version of Evasion Prime with a better deco might work later down the line.

There was a hard to find variant of the figure that came with an unmasked head. Personally, I would love to get a hold of that alternate face, but the fact that it was so hard to find made me give up on the quest.

Overall, Studio Series Optimus Prime is a good recreation of the Peterbilt design that hasn't been seen on a Voyager scale since Dark of the Moon. The truck mode looks solid, the transformation is appropriately complex, and the robot mode has some fantastic proportions. The Energon blades are the cherry on top of the cake since they add so many display options with the poses you can pull off. While a retool we'll take a look at later may be superior for the most part, this is still a nicely done Prime that deserves a spot in your collection.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Transformers Studio Series Ratchet review

Ratchet has had more Deluxes than his one Voyager figure, though the previous stabs were not as perfect as one would hope. The ROTF figure didn't have an accurate alt-mode, and the robot mode came with hip kibble that was never present on the CG model. The DOTM figure was better, kibble wise, but it looked too wide, and the wheels were exposed when they should be hidden. Also, the hands looked toyish while the backpack didn't look too appealing. After taking a break from the merchandise spotlight for two movies straight, Ratchet returns for the Studio Series line, this time in his MV1 deco. Is this version of the medical officer worth getting? Let's find out!

Ratchet's vehicle mode is a modified Hummer H2, made for search & rescue in mind. It's got a handful of paint apps and molded details to make him look like what he should be. There's a roof rack on the top with floodlights and a siren, and the grille has the added floodlights, further distinguishing this vehicle mode from a normal Hummer H2. The bumper is gray instead of black; I'm not sure if that's supposed to be like that or not. I do like how the windows are tinted, and the deco on the sides is nicely applied.

But if there is a problem I have with the deco, it's how severely lacking it is. There's a vast majority of green that remains untouched when there should be an attempt to paint the robot mode. The rear bumper of the alt-mode, the steps of the doors, the arches of the vehicle, and some spaces where the tires cover things up should have some black paint, whereas the tools should have some silver paint on them to break up all that green. I can appreciate Hasbro wanting to make Ratchet a taller Deluxe than Bumblebee or Jazz, but perhaps it's time for him to be a Voyager again? Make him slightly bigger, add some new parts, and add more paint on him! It's not that hard to do! Also, I wish the hands weren't exposed in vehicle mode.

Here is the Movie the Best repaint of the DOTM mold. Look at how nicely colored it is with the added paint apps and the used of black to break up a majority of the main plastic color. Even the rims are nicely detailed with a nice, crisp ring of silver paint and a small dot on the nub of the rim. Also, the shade of green may vary on the kind of shade that Ratchet has under different lighting. Perhaps a metallic coat of paint can make Ratchet be a good balance between both releases.

Amusingly, thanks to the hinges added on the sides of the figure, the decals that said "FIRE DEPARTMENT" on the left side of the vehicle mode now say "DEPARTMENT FIRE" on the right. This is likely due to the lack of space for the works on that side.

The version of the DOTM mold I do have is the original release, and next to it, you can argue that there's still some paint apps missing, but at least what's there looks better than the original version. The bumper matches the grille, there is black on the front arches of the alt-mode, and the rear bumper has more black than the Studio Series one.

The vehicle mode is slightly smaller compared to the original, and you can see here what I mean by how there's more black to make the toy look less monochrome on the DOTM mold compared to the Studio Series version. If there is a positive I can give to the Studio Series version, it's the roof rack being one piece in vehicle mode, though that will sadly become a negative in the robot mode.

Transforming Ratchet is similar to the DOTM version, but without some of the nice, tighter joints that version had. The bumper, ball joints, and the torso joints feel softer than the original version. Differences between this and the original are the wheels being on a swivel to add the accurate floodlights on the shoulders, and the backpack isn't as bulky as it was in the DOTM version, though the roof rack remains unbroken.

Ratchet's robot mode isn't as monochrome as his alt-mode, and there are some needed silver paint apps in the face and legs. I also prefer the proportions of this robot mode compared to the original DOTM Deluxe. Despite that, there are still details that need to be a lot more life in them than there is currently. Why can't the arms have some paint to make themselves look less plain? Why is the mouth painted nicely but not the rest of Ratchet's face? Why isn't their any more paint for the legs? The grille I can forgive due to the parts being made from a different plastic material, though a more accurate grille transformation would be welcome.

The side profile of the robot mode does look fairly clean, and more so than the original, although there is a bit of an issue with the roof rack, where it now hangs down like a cape. That also plays an issue with the back of the robot mode where the body is heavily plain, and some color would at least break up the green backpack if he had the roof rack separate.

The face sculpt is detailed nicely yet is missing the extra paint. It's almost reminiscent of the MV1 Voyager's face. Which hey, I guess I kind of find an unintentional homage, but this is the Studio Series line, which should be as accurate as possible. I have a feeling no one wants to have the toy look more like the original Voyager in terms of deco.

If there is something that got to have all the nice silver paint, it's his buzzsaw. It looks pretty nice with all that paint, and you can also see where the blades separate slightly from one another. You can't spin it since it's on a tight 5mm port, so I'd love to have seen an effect piece where it looks like it's spinning, especially for display options.

Ratchet's articulation consists of a swivel on the neck, a ball joint for the shoulders, a bicep swivel and double-jointed elbows below the shoulder. The hips are on ball joints with a thigh swivel, a deep bend at the knee, and a hinge for one point of movement for the leg while the ankles are on ball joints, which is a first for a Deluxe in this wave.

Compared to the DOTM figure, Ratchet's proportions are much leaner in the Studio Series line, the shoulders and knees look better, and the head is also larger than the original version while also removing some of the 5mm ports that the DOTM version had due to it not relying on the MechTech gimmick. That said, DOTM Ratchet at least had less of the green broken up with the black plastic (look at the forearms on that compared to the Studio Series version) and the face is at least painted better.

As mentioned, the roof rack doesn't break up like the original one did, and the backpack does transform differently, but the Studio Series version could ditch the lack of a "cape" on the toy.

Since I mentioned MechTech, the DOTM Ratchet did come with a gun that he can hold in two ways (this way being better for his gun mode. It's also a different kind of weapon compared to the original version since it was not the same kind of sawblade the Studio Series Ratchet has; the gun has a lever to pull so you can deploy a saw that spins before it stops. Ironically, Studio Series Ratchet has a 5mm port on the forearm while the DOTM version does not.

Speaking of, the saw blade is bland gray plastic but at least does spin. Also there is a smaller saw blade on the top of the other one for the Studio Series version.

The toy had a repaint made two waves after the original version of the mold was released, this time in the Dark of the Moon paint scheme. It seems a little too early for it to have been made, but what I find weird is that the white parts are more of a warm gray. Sure, they prevent the toy from yellowing, but they don't really look like that in the movie. Still annoying that there are details that have to be painted by myself, but at least Toyhax came forward with a Reprolabel set. This Ratchet comes with a gun instead of a saw blade, though it'll take more than a different deco and new accessory to make me want to buy this repaint. Maybe on clearance, right?

And here is Ratchet in his Premium Finish release, giving him extra paint apps that the original release should have had as well as a different shade of green. I honestly love this deco much more, and the fact that he feels complete with paint apps that I didn't even have to add is a bonus for me. The price still sucks, and I wish he has his gun, but this may be the best Ratchet we'll get at the Deluxe price. Now if only HasTak can do one for Dark of the Moon.

Ratchet saw ANOTHER repaint in 2022, this time for the 15th anniversary of the first Transformers movie. Packaged with his teammates, this guy does what's basically a lesser take on the Premium Finish version, only with a bit of a more accurate shade of yellow-green on him. It's either the expensive Premium guy or this with more characters and a higher price tag.

And while not based on any movies, NEST Ratchet is done in a similar deco to that of the NEST Bumblebee figure we got back in 2022. While somewhat needless to those who want movie-accuracy, this guy is still cool in a pre-AOE toyline-exclusive repaint way.

Overall, Studio Series Ratchet is a mixed bag for me, given how there are not enough paint apps and how despite being better proportioned it is next to the DOTM mold, its plastic is cheaper, especially when handling the joints. I mentioned that there's some room for improvement for Stinger, but there's way more room for improvement here. Shame too because had this been a Voyager and had some new engineering, I'd recommend it higher. As is, if you never got this toy, try not to pay for more than the regular asking price, and be prepared to have your painting skills ready to add more life to this figure.

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐