| 12.11.2019 – Power of the Primes may be the last of the Prime Wars Trilogy and it gave something fans has been hoping for since Hasbro introduced their Generations range of figure assortment recreating what could be the modern G1 beyond the CHUG (Classics, Henkei, Universe, and Generations) toyline.
The Dinobots were the major favorites in this last part of the Prime Wars Trilogy and Hasbro delivered in bringing out the all-time favorites to the point that retail was sold out only a few were leftovers in the pegs as clearance before WFC: Siege was released months later. Dinobot Slug is no exception featured in this spotlight! |
You can call him Slag or currently Slug, the Dinobot scene stealer in the Transformers: The Movie from 1986 when the Dinobots stormed the Quintesson Tribunal about to put judgement on Kup and Hot Rod as Slug broke the door and belted out manners before charging to a crowd of Shakticons.
Selected Dinobots were produced after its original run with different colors under the Generations 2 series, but after that the original molds of thetoys were either lost or destroyed. It would take several years before Hasbro would ever produce the Dinobots again that includes reclaiming the names of most characters and trademarks that weren’t used during its hiatus.
From “Slag” to “Slug”
Slag’s name itself was no longer used not because of trademark for what it meant as an example is "Right slag, that one." via dictionaries that means "a loose, promiscuous woman." For the reason they changed the name to Slug finally making its official name.
But for every kid that’s not a parent would still know that it is Slag despite the meaning of the name. There’s no doubt somewhere out there some toy collector or fans is unaware of the reason Slag had not used its original name that Hasbro to keep its current name “Slag” to all related to this character moving forward.
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Carded Packaging
Slug is robot mode in carded packaging with his Dinobot mode in product art while at the bubble on your left you’ll see an image of Volcanicus, the combined form of all five dinobots while you see the product tied up with soft plastic wires that can be easily pulled unlike in the past.
At the back you see the product photos what’s the gimmick and details with description in multilingual languages. This is a Deluxe Class figure that includes special pieces that becomes part of Volcaniucs when you have all five dinobots. Slug can also use that extra piece (more of that later) aside from combining with the other dinobots in the set, which is also the gimmick of this figure.
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Robot Mode
When you remove Slug from the plastic tray inside the bubble you get the instruction manual, bio card, and two accessories. The design of Slug in robot mode takes certain queues from its vintage counterpart as well as elements from other media like comicbooks and animation to bring this dinobot to modern generations aching to get all the dinobots. You can see the side-by-side comparison with the vintage version of Slug originally named Slag.
It was impressive enough how Hasbro and Takara Tomy worked on the engineering of this fan favorite. It is like the original Slag but had more articulation, but since it combines with the other Dinobots he loses the back wings that fold as part of his aesthetics that made this character interesting.
Slug has an annoying tendency to be back-heavy, even with his dedicated heel pieces. But like any modern reproduction of a classic character there are certain sacrifices and logistics to its design. This figure isn’t perfect but it still carries those nostalgic elements of what Slug one of the sought after characters in the Power of the Primes.
Prime Armoring
Slug comes with a Prime armor that turns into one of the fists of Volcanicus, which can also slot in a Prime Master when you remove the translucent plastic that covers. Although the gimmick looks good in the product photos it (Prime Master) tends to fall off as it doesn’t lock properly.
In a weird way, a Titan Master transformed into a head of any Autobot or Decepticon can also slot into the part where the Prime Master fits in. So if you put a Head Master there that means that head can control any Transformer as what the gimmick says with the Prime Master, which double their powers.
But on a serious note it doesn’t do anything to the figure it just makes it look impressive with the Prime Armor attach to the figure at the same time it does look bulky appearing only an extra chest armor gimmick.
Featured Articulation:
● Ball Jointed Shoulder
● Swivel Elbowst
● Rotating Waist
● Hip and Knee Joint
● Limited Head Movement
Transformation
From robot to Triceratops, Slug’s transformation is very basic with some few changes to the engineering with incorporation of a basic ‘mech alive’ gimmick on the back part when you rotate both dinosaur legs as the back heels folds at the same time.
The simplified transformation won’t be a challenge unless you want to be guided by the instruction manual that came with the product. But with every Transformers fan the challenge there is to turn the figure from robot to vehicle or beast mode without the aid of a guide at the same time make sure you don’t man handle it.
Triceratops Mode
Just like the original vintage G1 Slug this figure adapts what came before with the same color schemes and aesthetics. The Triceratops can open and close its mouth while the legs are articulated due to the arms has elbow joints in robot mode. The tail is not articulated and still the same design just like its original counterpart.
There are peg holes in the front legs and on top of the body that can attach the rifle this figure came with it. The Prime Armor/combiner hand can also attach to the top of the body in dino mode, which looks like Slug mimicks the ‘Dino Riders’ weapon attachments, but without a way to put a human pilot as it was no longer available in this figure unlike the vintage version for the Diaclone toys back in the day.
Triceratops Features:
● Prime Master Weapons Can Attach to Peg on Top
● Triceratops Mout can open and close
● Detailed Robotic Triceratops Aethetics
● All for Legs are Articulated
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A Leg or an Arm for Volcanicus
Like all the Combiner Wars figures, Slug can be used as an arm or a leg as the transformation is included in the instruction manual, although this figure is well suited being a leg of that combiner figure. Due to the design queues based from the vintage G1 figure Slug loses the chest compartment in robot mode.
This is replaced by a chest part that becomes the connector to the Voyager Class figure body of a combiner. This can rotate too with sort of a ratchet joint. In the arm mode Slug appears to be long and lanky for the reason it is best for this figure to be a leg than an arm in all the aesthetics design for this.
Overall Slug is not entirely the most sought after dinobot, but it sure is now since it became one of the shelf warmers in Philippine retail that it became one of the figures on clearance along with Dreadwind and Jazz. But this figure gets immediately bought off along with Jazz as most that plan to collect a combining team you need this two.
But Slug is what most collectors need to put together their Volcanicus and even without the other Dinobots it stands as its own character. Definitely, a must have for your growing Autobot troops you need a polite one ready to take down your Decepticon horde and this one’s ready to Slug it out.
Generations: Power of the Primes | Deluxe Class Slug is now on clearance in general retail across Australasia and Southeast Asia. This was acquired at Babes Children's World (FB Group) in Virra Mall in Greenhills now retailed at:
₱ 500.00 PH Pesos | $ 14.41 AUD | $ 9.87 USD **
Product Rating:
Transformation (Difficulty): 1
Aesthetics: 10
Quality: 10
Robot Points: 10
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