| Beast Wars is 25 years in 2021 and that means Hasbro and Takara Tomy is celebrating the series in a subtle way by including some of its iconic characters to the current toyline, namely, War for Cybertron Trilogy’s third series Kingdom. It’s no surprise that these characters have been added or being sneaked into the toyline going as far back to Unicron Trilogy.
In the past, they were never part of the main narrative or just added to bolster the toyline. But in recent years with the last story in the Prime Trilogy, which is Power of the Primes it was Optimus Primal becoming main protagonist. For War for Cybertron: Kingdom, a slew of Beast Era characters have been produced and one of them is the Maximals smelliest rodent, Rattrap! |
The first wave of WFC Kingdom has started appearing in the Philippine retails stores in late January 2021. Majority of the characters being sold out for Core Class includes Rattrap’s latest iteration since the last version was produced all the way back from 2014’s Generations Thrilling Thirty anniversary year.
With Transformers Earthrise streamed in December 2020 there was not much a teaser for Rattrap to be included in the upcoming third series finale. But Dinobot’s reveal in the later part of the sixth episode clearly shows Beast Wars is happening in the world within War for Cybertron Trilogy.
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Packaging | Bubble Carded-Type
The Core Class assortment is what in the past known as Basic, Scout, and Legend Class assortment. Hasbro keeps changing the names of the assortment sounds confusing, but when you look at the past releases it is the same size class. It depends now on the scale of the character/figure included in the series.
Rattrap is included in the first wave along with a more overly complicated, well-detailed, and downsized-for-your-pocket Optimus Prime, a new character named Vertebreak, and the most iconic Maximal Saboteur. With the Deluxe, Voyager, and Leader Class assortments having changes in retail price points the slight changes also on the packaging. The Core Class still retains the carded with plastic bubble packaging just like in the previous series with Siege and Earthrise.
The only changes is the card art, and like every artwork feature it is something to keep if you’re a fan of the works done by these talented masters. Rattrap’s organic rat mode is featured on top of the card bubble and the background features the crashed Ark on top of Mount St. Hilary while the main product is in robot mode.
At the back of the carded packaging features the image of the product in both robot and organic rat mode. Other details feature multi-language warnings for kids 8 years old and product details for country and region where it is distributed.
Robot Mode | Maximal Saboteur
The figure is 3.5 inches tall (almost 4-inch) and has details for this scale based from the original toy and animation model. Rattrap has ball-jointed shoulders, elbows, knees, and down to his rat-like feet. His head is on a swivel that can turn 360 degrees as part of the transformation (more of this below). The figure includes his fusion blaster that can be stored on its back via tab slot. Comparing it to the previous size class related to the current Core Class this Rattrap is slightly smaller than its original Beast Wars Basic Class and previous toyline, which was Power of the Prime Legends Class assortment.
The comparison doesn’t stop there, which also pits it side-by-side with Generations Thrilling Thirty Deluxe Class Rattrap. Scale-wise Core Class Rattrap is suitable scale with the Kingdom characters than the previously released characters. Standing beside Ultra Class Tenth Anniversary Beast Megatron and Optimus Primal makes Rattrap smaller, which is either a good scale or too small for your display.
This depends on your preference and not yet having the current iteration of some of the Beast Wars characters from Kingdom or if you’re already content having the older figures in your display it’s all up to your interest.
Featured Articulation:
- Shoulder Ball-Joints
- Swivel Head
- Ball-Jointed Elbows
- Ball-Jointed Knees
Transformation | Solid Tabbing & Folding Robo-Rat
The designer from both Hasbro and Takara Tomy clearly have innovated from its past creations and has produced some of the best ways to transform their characters from their robot form to their alternate modes. Rattrap’s transformation starts with his arms that tab to the sides of the body of the rat mode.
This is followed with folding of the chest and before that rotating his head to his back and the transformation appears to be complicated, but easily solid with its folding and tabbing its parts to cleanly compact into its alternate mode.
Though, it is not perfect the forearms don’t lock up that much in this copy. But surely, this is a rare case to other figures. You just have to be patient and follow the process that is depicted in the instructions manual included in this figure. But it best to observe and see the flow of transformation as you can find the process better compared to its wave-mate Core Class Optimus Prime.
Beast Mode | Organic Rat-a-stic
The appearance in Rattrap’s organic mode looks more realistic compared to its past iterations though the only comparison you’ll see in the photos (see images included) is the 2014 Generations version that appears cartoonish than realistic. Side-by-side with the vintage Beast Wars Basic Class, Ratrap stands out.
It appears though lack in articulation compared to the Deluxe Class version this Maximal really grows on you. The Fusion Blaster has this piece that you also tab it to its hunch it doesn’t appear spectacular that the designers could have made it just hide the weapon underneath. But with budget constraints Hasbro/TakaraTomy made sure the weapon can still be stored elsewhere externally.
Alternate Beast Features:
- Realistic Rat Mode
- Limited Articulation
- Weapon can be Attached Externally
- Lower Arms can't be tabbed properly
Overall verdict, Rattrap in this scale is great value for your money though if you look back the price point of today used to associate with the Deluxe Class. For those had renewed interest in Beast Wars this is a great figure scale for other characters from the same series appearing on Kingdom.
The only thing that is not flawless is the tabbing of the arms to tuck it underneath its rat mode. The rest is just great and this figure gets immediately sold out for those who grew up in the 1990s and getting the nostalgic factor from seeing Beast Wars, Rattrap is the starter pack to get before hunting down the other members of the Axalon crew.
War For Cybertron Kingdom | Core Class Rattrap is now on available in general retail across Australasia and Southeast Asia. This was acquired at Toy Kingdom during its two-month 10% off in all Hasbro products in SM Makati which is retailed at:
PhP 649.75 Pesos | $ 17.65 AUD | $ 13.37 USD
Product Rating:
Transformation (Difficulty): 2
Aesthetics: 10
Quality: 9
Robot Points: 9.0
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Some of the Product Description Courtesy of TF Wiki
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