Nightstick comes packaged in robot mode. He's got black upper arms, grey waist & feet with the rest of the robot cast in purple. This contrasts with the grey and black that formed all of the original version. He hips & shoulders turn, his body bends mid way down and he bends at the elbow absolutely thrashing the previous version of Nightstick in the articulation department.
One of the things I liked about the Headmaster toys was the Headmaster mini robot interacted with the larger robot's vehicle mode while becoming the head for the robot mode. However the Targetmasters need to be in Gun mode to interact with the larger toy in either mode. So: Fold the gun barrel up from behind Nightstick's back so it covers his head pointing up. Fold the feet up onto the front of the legs, then fold the legs up onto the chest.
Nightstick's Gun mode is one long barrel with two shorter ones (sights ?) mounted over the back two fifths of the weapon. There's a handle underneath that's the standard 5mm size so any normal Armadaverse toy should be able to hold him. In fact the handle has a hole in the centre meaning it doubles as a Minicon port - Energon Perceptor could mount him on his arm and several other could transport him in vehicle mode (Firebot)
So: Very decent small robot, great gun. Couldn't ask for more.
Cyclonus' jet mode is instantly recognizable with it's swept forward wings similar to the GI Joe Conquest, G2 Cyberjet Spacecase or Beast Machine Jetstorm (both repainted ad nauseum) Certain elements of the jet mode are a little more squared off than before. The majority of the jet is cast in the same purple plastic as Nightstick, with the same light grey forming the wings, engines and nose which can be extended and retracted. The cockpit is fitted with clear red windows and behind it is a 5mm peg hole for mounting Nightstick as a gun when Cyclonus is in Jet mode. Underneath are three landing gears - 1 under the nose with two towards the rear. I found the two at the rear *VERY* hard to fold down. The engines have a thin horizontal peg which (quite solidly) attaches them to the rest of the jet. If you pull the engine away to the side and swing them forward you can give Cyclonus a conventional wing configuration with large air intakes close to the body.
TF: Remove Nightstick. Pull the engines and wings out to the sides. Pull the top & the bottom of each side of the rear of the jet back and bring together with a very satisfying click to form the lower legs. Fold out the feet and heel spurs. Retract the spike on the nosecone, then fold back from behind the cockpit opening the jet up - if they'd have made this compartment bigger or Nightstick smaller he'd have been able to pilot the jet. Fold the nosecone under the cockpit and close. Turn the revealed head round so it faces down. Swing the engines and wings up onto the sides of the jet body. Extend the engines out approximately 1cm. Turn the entire engine & wing assembly so the wings point down. Fold the wings behind the purple panels they're connected to. Turn the fins out to the sides and fold the hands out.
Cyclonus' robot mode couldn't be mistaken for anything else - a dead on likeness for the cartoon/comic model. The head has the eyes lightpiped in red and rotates at the neck - in fact the back of the head is quite good as a sort of faceless drone. The large purple shoulders rotate with the arms able to swing to the sides inside them. The elbows bend and the forearm rotates bellow the elbow. Only the right hand has a fist hole allowing it to hold Nightstick - but see bellow. The hips are ball jointed, there's a swivel between hip & knee and the knees bend. The only real criticisms I can level is that the shoulders could attach to the body more firmly - but it's still waaaay better than Universe Cheetor or Dinobot - and that the grey used for the upper arms & upper legs bellow the rotational joint is a different grey from the rest of the toy and in particular the grey above the rotational joint on the leg.
Cyclonus has some unexpected extra interaction with Nightstick: As well as being a hand held weapon Nightstick can be attached to Cyclonus' wrist instead of a hand just like the Targetmaster guns in the Headmasters cartoon. Fold either fist back and a tab on the back of Nightstick fits into the now exposed back of the fist. Nightstick can also be used as a jet pack for Cyclonus. I would advise you though when mounting him pointing down not to bend the barrel of the gun forward through the legs !
Overall: Decent jet mode and superb robot together with good mini partner make this a superb release and well worth picking up.
Different. Not better or worse, just different
As with Nightstick some changes are made to the toy for the Henkei version: Both greys are now the same lighter grey, except for the chest sides & wings. The dark purple and the grey chest sides are all now a lilac colour. The wings are chromed purple. The clear plastic in the cockpit is still red but the lightpipe is now pink. The previously silver Decepticon symbol is purple. The chest sides now clip in very securely compared to the Universe version. I'm finding I have trouble getting Nightstick to stay in the holes on Universe Cyclonus' wrists, but both the Universe and Henkei version seem to fit the Henkei version snugly.
Choosing between them: If it comes down to display then it's purely a personal choice between the toy colours on the Universe version and the Cartoon like colours on the Henkei version. If it comes down to how they play with - well the chest sides and the better fitting wrist mounted Targetmaster make the Henkei version the one to go for.
But I will point out there were Multiple Cyclonus style jets in Galvatron's armada so my honest recommendation is this: Buy both. If you can have vastly different coloured Decepticon jets you can have slightly different coloured Cyclonus' troopers. Plus two means you can have one with a Targetmaster on each wrist !
An odd set of colours for the toy, doesn't rock my boat as a new Strafe or a Cyclonus repaint. According to TFWiki.net:
Strafe is an exclusive for members of the Transformers Basecamp web site in Japan, which is itself exclusive to those who own a Transformers-themed Visa credit card. The ordering period for Strafe ran from March 2nd through April 30th in 2009. Though his cardback and bubble placard are new, he comes with Cyclonus's instructions and comic/catalog.For more pictures see http://snakas.web.infoseek.co.jp/classic/gentei_strafe.html.
The Challenge at Cybertron set features new versions of Classics Rodimus (picture), Universe Cyclonus (picture) and Universe Galvatron (picture). All three toys go for a supposedly more cartoon like appearance.
The Challenge of Cybertron set was available in the far east, through toy dealers and given away as prizes at the Auto Assembly 2010 convention. It never received a retail distribution in the west.
For comparison pictures see the 2005 Boards Challenge at Cybertron review thread.
Aside from the toys this set includes a die cast Matrix, originally available with the Japanese exclusive 2002 New Year's Convoy and a brand new comic book story written by Simon Furman and drawn by "Boo" set within the original Transformers: The Movie story.
Reveal The Shield Battle in Space became available in the USA at the end of 2010 and in the UK at the start of 2011. ASDA have it for the cheapest standard price of £19.99 but a recent Tesco sale has seen it reduced to about £15!
I want.
