Originally written October 2019.
Ahh, Beast Wars. I may have started Transformers with Generation 2, but the late 90’s revival of the franchise is what kept me a fan. At the time, Transformers was almost dead, so the brand was handed over to a team at Kenner, and the animators at Mainframe, who were both free to essentially do whatever they wanted. They put out a successful toyline and TV show that are fondly remembered to this day.
If you’re not familiar with it, here’s the elevator pitch: Centuries after the original war ended, the Autobots and Decepticons have evolved and shrunk into the human-sized Maximals and Predacons. A crew from each faction then winds up stranded on a mysterious Earth-like world, rich in Energon, so they all assume animal alternate modes to protect themselves from the environment (the Energon level is heavy enough to overload them, and biomatter is immune to it). The toyline was out for almost a year before the show even began, though, and, thanks to the show’s expensive CGI, tons of toys were available in the line not featured onscreen.
We might be more familiar with Optimus Primal and Megatron (descendants of the originals, in the show’s story) as a gorilla and a T-Rex, as depicted on the show, and in their larger Ultra-class figures in the line, but these two figures here, which were some of the first releases of the line, predate them, and never made it onto the show. They were sold in a versus set with a minicomic (which I sadly don’t have). These two are Basics, the smallest size class in the line. They’re a bit bigger than the recently-discontinued Legends size class (2021 update: Now coming back, and renamed Core-class), and are around the size of a Star Wars figure in robot mode.
I wanted these two badly as a kid (thanks to them being pictured in the catalog on the back of the packaging of the rest of the line), but never got them (likely due to me only being aware of them long after they were off store shelves). I was able to pick up loose copies at TFcon some years ago, so let’s see what these personal grails are like in person.
Optimus Primal, Beast Mode
This version of Optimus changes into a blue bat, stuck in a gliding pose. His animal parts are impressively intricate, with molded details on his fur, and a well- sculpted face. He’s got zero articulation, though, aside from a movable jaw, a common thing at this size.
Aside from that, the big issue is that he’s blatantly got most of a robot hanging off of his bottom half, with no attempt to hide it, visible from every angle aside from straight up. This was a common problem with toys this size, and was a reality of the engineering. Some hid it better than others.
He’s baby blue, with his robot bits being dark blue. Like so many 90’s action figures, he has monochrome yellow eyes instead of pupils. Shout out to him having painted teeth and a tongue, though, which you don’t see much of these days.
Transformation
They’d phase this out later, but all early Beast Wars basics had these neat spring-loaded transformations, like today’s one-step changers, only actually poseable and good-looking. In Primal’s case, you pull on his tail, and it moves his beast head and torso down. Reposition his limbs, and you’re good. It takes a couple of seconds, involves a lot of pleasant motion, and is just involved enough to make you feel satisfied.
Robot Mode
This guy’s a fusion of Batman and Optimus, 100 per cent, straight up. His headsculpt in particular contains the typical Optimus mouthplate, antennas and forehead vent, but it’s angular, shaped like Batman’s cowl. Combine that with the wings on his back, and you’ve got yourself a tasty homage. Outside of that, he’s got the typical-for-the-time beast head on his chest. He’s also got the same colors, with some painted red stripes on his arms and legs that pop against the blue.
Beast Wars was the first Transformers toyline to have real poseability from the jump (Generation 2 brought it in towards the end), and it’s on full display here. He’s got balljointed shoulders and hips, and a swiveling head, elbows and knees, really satisfying for his size. He does have a stability issue, though, in that his ankle swivels are kind of loose, meaning he can topple over if you’re not careful. I’m not sure if this problem is baked-in, or if it’s a symptom of the figure’s age. You can also balance him on his beast mode tail to help, like I’ve done in a couple photos. Regardless, though, he was among the first of the Really Bendy Robots, and his articulation for his size still holds up today. There’s often reports of balljoints becoming loose and floppy over the years, but whether through good design or luck, that isn’t the case with him (or Megatron), outside of those ankles.
For weapons, two chunks of his wings pop out from their undersides to form a pair of swords, which he can hold really well in his hands.
Different images from across the internet, official and unofficial, show him holding them a bunch of different ways, like blades-in, blades-out, or as a combined boomerang. It’s your world, pick whatever looks best.
No matter the configuration, the swords are really dynamic, and it’s just fun to put him in swordfighting poses, even if he sometimes doesn’t want to stand up.
Megatron, Beast Mode
This version of Megatron changes into a nice-looking big green crocodile. He’s got less obvious robot parts in this form than Optimus, mainly confined to his robot arms and legs trying to tuck into him as best they can. Them being the same colors as his body helps. This is another very well-sculpted alternate mode, with scales, eyes, teeth, and a tongue all molded in. Once again, he’s got almost no poseability except for his jaw. A confession, though: The way he looks when you flap his jaw open amuses me for some reason. He’s just so happy.
Once again, he’s also very well-painted, and they use two shades of swampy green when one would have done it. The flourish of his painted teeth and tongue feel like a luxury. And while his pupils again aren’t painted, they’re nicely sculpted in.
Transformation
Like Optimus, you basically just pull his tail, and the springs do most of the work, leaving you to adjust his arms and legs a bit. It’s quick, simple, satisfying and fun.
Robot Mode
This Megatron’s a muscular, organic-looking robot, thanks to the scale patterns on his body, though his robotic lower legs make it look like he’s got boots on. He’s got a tiny bit of kibble on his lower legs, in the form of his alligator feet, but mostly makes for a clean robot. His head has a nearly-identical sculpt to the larger Beast Wars Megatron, but with the addition of tusks coming out of his mouth.
In terms of build quality, Megs doesn’t have Primal’s stability issues, but has all of the same lovely expressive poseability, with ankles that are more solid. Colors-wise, this mode adds purple to his face, and yellow to his eyes. His tusks aren’t painted, but that’s a luxury at this point.
His accessory is a big freaking gun, made out of his tail. You can stash it on his back on the joint it usually rests on, or pop it off and put it in his hands.
It’s heavy enough to topple him if you’re not careful, but he can still pose nicely with it.
Pairing this weapon against Primal’s always vexed me as a kid. He brought swords, so Megatron brought a big gun. Indiana Jones situations presumably ensued.
Overall
These two were a grail of mine, so I’m a bit biased, but honestly, they’re just good, clean fun. They have excellent sculpts and colors, they’re a snap to transform, have nifty weapons, detailed altmodes, cool design, and are fun to pose and battle. They make great desktop toys, and since they’re a versus set, they work well as one-offs even if you don’t intend to collect any more of the Beast Wars line, though I’ll add that most Beast Wars basics have the same great design and energy as them. I recommend these (or something else) from that era, if you like poseable, fun desk toys, and can find them for good secondary-market prices.
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