Age of Extinction Deluxe Crosshairs

And now for something I'm amazed I haven't done before - a Transformers movie toy review. Believe it or not, there are some gems within the toy lines of the first three movies. As for the new one just hitting now, Age of Extinction? It'll probably be the same if you can get past the far more simplified designs and transformations. Unsurprisingly, things like Revenge of the Fallen Leader Optimus aren't fun for kids or parents to play with. Now, the Dinobots have gotten many people's attention, but I figured I check out the underdog of the Deluxe figures not named Bumblebee. That of course being Crosshairs the paratrooper!



Crosshairs' alternate mode is a brand new Corvette whose model escapes me. And seems to escape the folks writing up the back of the box, as it's only referred to as a Corvette mode. Lime green, black, and clear comprise his plastic colors...and silver on the hubs is the only paint color that isn't lime green or black. He's very similar to Prime Knock Out in that he features a lot of paint that is used primarily for the vehicle mode and not so much the robot mode. There's a rather cool stripe pattern...that's only on the one side. The other side completely lacks it. At the time of writing this, I have no idea whether that's accurate or not. For features...he rolls. He does something else, but I'll get to that in the robot mode.

So how about a size comparison with two other Corvettes I have kicking around? DOTM Walmart Sidearm Sideswipe and DOTM Quickstrike - I mean, Darksteel.



Actually pretty similar in size to Darksteel, but a little taller than Sideswipe. Let's get to that robot mode.



...What? Okay, okay, onward to the real robot mode.



After a pretty simple transformation, he's a shellformer after all, we get to his robot mode. Most of the car goes into forming his trench coat...as much as solid plastic pieces can, anyway. A pair of PVC flaps plug into his chest to complete the look, and...they can be a little problematic getting into the appropriate slots. Translucent blue for his eyes is the only new color introduced in this mode, sadly. He still retains the very complex, layered look that movie toys are known for, so take it or leave it depending on your tastes. The side panels are on a pair of joints each to assist in getting out of the way. It is a shame nearly all of the paint budget was used up for the car mode, as some of the details in the robot mode could really use to be picked out.

For features, he's got three guns. A pair of smaller pistols that store inside the sides of his trench coat, and a larger gun that pegs onto the side of his leg. This one also stores by pegging into pretty much the same spot underneath in car mode, one of the advertized 13 steps he transforms in. Since the smaller guns have shorter 5 mm pegs, he doesn't hold onto them as well as I might like. Technically, Crosshairs features 19 points of articulation, including universal hips. However, the wrists don't turn easily without the larger gun plugged into his hand for leverage, mostly because they're so small that it's hard to get a good grip. Also, you can cheat and use a transformation joint in his arm as a second elbow. The head is sort of limited because of the collar around his neck. So how about a size comparison?



Hm. He seems to be about the same size as a DOTM Deluxe, as Darksteel demonstrates. That's of course a bit smaller than a ROTF Deluxe like Sideswipe.

So. Do I recommend Crosshairs? Well...that's a tough one. He's a movie toy, so most will automatically hate him because of that and refuse to give him a chance because he's not a dinosaur. If you're one of those people, he's not going to change your mind at all. Otherwise, he may be a shellformer, and his articulation can be a tad awkward to utilize, but there's nothing really wrong with him. I'd pick up Scorn and Slug first before him, but he's worthwhile picking up sooner or later. Unlike Bumblebee.

Great review DA!!

Although it didn't convince me to run out and buy it. LOL!!! I'm not after any movie figs.
I remember when the first movie came out, Bay wanted the TF's to be as little humanistic as possible.
That is why most of them looked so weird and had different style appendages compared to humans.
Still they had legs, arms, torso and a head.

Now we are getting TF's with facial hair (Hound) and this guy styling a trench coat.

I'll pass, I expect he'll just be cannon slaughter in the movie and forgotten once Grimlock and his Boyz hit the scene!

Galvatron wrote:Great review DB!!

Although it didn't convince me to run out and buy it. LOL!!! I'm not after any movie figs.

Oh, I might be able to change that... Scorn is pretty damn awesome. And he will be reviewed, along with Slug and Evasion Mode Optimus. But not right away, I don't want to be stoned for reviewing a string of movie toys. 

Dinobots are the MUST have from the latest movie, everything else is trash including that so called Galvatron, thou I am curious about Lockdown whenever he gets a Generations toy!

I think the only figure i'm after from the AOE line is Dispensor

Galvatron wrote:I think the only figure i'm after from the AOE line is Dispensor

Hm. That's a Takara exclusive, and not one that'll be out right away. Still, you should at least try to mess with a buddy's Scorn. Or maybe just save the dough for the Fans Toys Dinobots in all their shiny, chromed out, die-cast filled glory.

Excuse me, I need to clean up a puddle of drool.

I'm not impressed by that Dinobot combiner, which is kind of why I'm getting the movie Dinobots thou I really hope some point soon we'll see more FOC styled Dinobots from third party, the NOT Swoop is awesome!

SuperOmegaPrime wrote:I'm not impressed by that Dinobot combiner, which is kind of why I'm getting the movie Dinobots thou I really hope some point soon we'll see more FOC styled Dinobots from third party, the NOT Swoop is awesome!

I said Fans Toys, the makers of Quakewave, not TFC Toys... I'm sure Planet X is working on the remaining FOC Dinobots even as we speak.

I'm not getting the NOT MP Dinobots, thou a cartoon short that Hasbro produced has given me an idea for a image!

Having now seen the movie, I can safely say that the pattern being only on the one side of the car mode is in fact inaccurate. Hasbro you lazy buggers you. Ah well, I'm sure Reprolabels will get around to correcting this, and maybe adding some green to the PVC coat pieces that plug into his chest.