Phil's
Energon Megatron, Galvatron & TRU Meagtron,
Superlink Galvatron & Galvatron General
and
Botcon Megatron
Review


Megatron

Megatron's vehicle mode is a big white & black jet accompanied by a replica of the Armada Megatron tank that mounts between the wings. The tank has the sound effects for the toy and also handles the missile firing capability. Other than that it's just a bit of plastic for now. The jet has several green cannons - there's two mounted on each wing, one at the end and one projecting forward from the base Four Minicon ports allow the jet to hold the tank on it's back, and an extra 2 are provided on top the wings (YES ! - not on the bottom of the wings) for whichever Minicon you'd like to use. There are 3 deliberate holes for Energon weapons I've found, 2 of them (like Jetfire) either side of the nose. The jet features fold down landing gear.

The Hyper mode is a splitting the wings in a Star Wars X-Wing style effect. Hmmmm.

TF: Rotate the wings upside down, bend the engines down behind the jet to form the legs and slide the landing gear to reveal the feet. Arms drop down from sides of the body and the head folds back atop the chest

Robot: well if you can't see G1 Galvatron here's you're blind. The two big green cannons fold over the shoulders - for more of a Galvatron effect these should have been orange. The tank can now be locked onto wrist as the robot's missile launcher. It also serves as a hilt for Megatron's sword which is housed inside the neck of the jet down his back. Sadly the Sword doesn't have it's own 5mm peg handle - something that would greatly improve the toy. He's got an articulated neck, shoulders - fore and back as well as to the sides, elbows, hips - as shoulders and knees.

Verdict: looks nice, especially as robot. But after Shockblast last week this isn't really doing too much for me.


Energon Galvatron

As very much expected Megatron returned repainted as Galvatron. White becomes purple or silver - the silver may be painted - while the black becomes grey (on the tank & legs) or stays the same and the green becomes a more Galvatron orange.

Released in the US this leader class toy never got anywhere near the UK.


Superlink Galvatron

Now here's where it gets *slightly* complicated.....

When Megatron was released in Japan as Galvatron (Superlink toy number SD-07) he wasn't the version released as leader class in the US! The toy had been shrunk down to Ultra class - at Y2980 he was the same price as Scorponok, Shock Wave (Tidal Wave), Sprung (Bulkhead) and Landmine. Everything on the larger toy was there, just smaller (with the exception of the Minicon hardpoints which remained the same size of course !)

Superlink Galvatron was *then* later released in as Megatron a 2 pack exclusive to Toys R Us with Optimus Prime (deluxe).

For my money this is the better version of the Megatron molds. It's soooo much better. Hasbro Energon Megatron made you think he was too big and bulky and somehow lacking in features for his size - the more compact Takara mold is a lot better, feels a nicer toy, feels better value for money. If a toy can be smaller without loosing anything then it should have been that size all along.


Galvatron General

Galvatron General is toy SD-20

I have a confession: I bought this toy because I wanted the fab lilac Cruellock tail/sword thing which is packed with it as an extra. But as I had an Energon Megs I thought this was also an ideal opportunity to try the smaller mode.

Purple chested (different lighter purple to that used on Energon Galvatron) with black and silver elsewhere he looks very G1 Galvatrony. The yellow energon looks nice - orange would have been perfect though.

Very happy with him. If you get one of the Energon/Superlink Galvatrons go for this one


Botcon Megatron

The smaller Megatron returns as the heroic Decepticon leader in the 2008 Shattered Glass set. He's got a grey/black body with orange highlights and dark blue Energon.

This toy doesn't feel a huge deviation from the original so I'd not recommend hunting it down.


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