We've lost the mechanism which caused the mane to spin - though you can still do that by hand. The flip out missile launchers are gone, replaced by weapons that plug into the mane. Unfortunately on both of mine the lower larger weapons don't fit.
The transformation is very similar to the original - the only major difference being that the robot chest is the underside of the lion without and of the folding up that was on the original.
We still have the extending spring loaded front claws, and the flap out panels from the sides of the wrists into which the larger 2 of the 4 barrelled weapons can be inserted into. Articulation is exactly the same as the original. The matrix chamber door still opens. LC comes with a hand gun which can be assembled into a larger tri barrelled weapon.
Paint job is pretty reliable too. However the eyes on the beast head aren't painted...... oh hang on I'm talking rubbish ! It appears as if the entirety of the front and top of the beast head is hinged, and pressing down on it closes the mouth and reveals the eyes. This is what you get for not reading the instructions !
The only downside is that the lion's right side - what is the back of the robot - has some very obvious screw holes.
So pretty good all in all I think !
Not watched the DVD yet. Come on I've reviewed 10 toys today and I'm not feeling too good !