Dave's Transformers Rant: G2 Large Tank Megatron Well, got this puppy from Kay Bee via Robert Jung, paid $14 total for it, and it was worth about that much in this reviewer's opinion. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the recent trend towards greater articulation, but this largish chunk of static plastic didn't do a whole lot for me. It has what I've decided to call Megazord Syndrome. Megazords, for those fortunate enough not to have encountered the MMPR toys, are big hollow pieces of plastic with little articulation and big price tags. They might look nice on the shelf, but play value is limited and they take way too big a bite out of your wallet. Now, while Megs has slightly better production values than a MMPR toy (more detail, slightly better plastic, better electronic gimmick), it's still a big chunk of plastic that doesn't move a whole lot. I'll dispense with the techspecs this time, since they're basically the same as the originals (even to the point of giving him the wrong weapons) with bad stats. Tank Mode: Nine inches long (plus two more for barrel extension beyond the front) and four inches wide, it's a respectable tank toy. It holds together well (except for the armor panel for the robot's head, which is supposed to stick up a little) and rolls along in squeaky little plastic wheels. Kelly green and purple aren't exactly camoflage colors, but at least they're not as garish as other G2s of its production year. Although the orange in the stickers is a bit much. The barrel elevates, but the turret is otherwise fixed. The robot's pistol mounts as a machinegun on the turret. Transformation: Virtually identical to that of the Combat Hero Megatron, except the head is springloaded to automatically pop up once the cannon is moved aside, there's panels on the backs of the lower legs to deal with and the shoulders need a little shove to get into position. Oh, and little tiny feet fold down from the lower legs. A side note for annoyance points: unless you're REALLY careful, you'll trigger at least one of his five sounds during transformation. Robot Mode: Shoulders pivot, elbows bend and barrel elevates (and please, no snide innuendo about this, okay?). That's it. The legs are fixed in position like Sky Garry and most of the large late Japanese toys. The waist is fixed. The arms can't swivel. The head doesn't even turn! The cannon extends several inches fore and aft of the robot, which is a bit unwieldy. Too bad there's not a way to stow the cannon on his back. Eleven inches tall including the cannon (10 without), height is about the figure's only real selling point aside from the gimmicks (see below). The cannon is nearly ten inches long, making it hard to find shelf space for him. Gimmicks: Megatron has two main gimmicks. His cannon, and his battery of five sounds which can be made with varying degrees of reliability. The cannon holds four shots (with two spares hidden in his legs) and can fire them about 4-5 feet on a good shot. It's not very reliable and jams easily requiring you tilt it forward to let the missile slide out. It LOOKS a lot cooler than the pneum gun on Combat Hero Megs, but performance isn't up to that level (the airhammer gun can easily fire across a large office, this cannon's lucky to clear your desktop). The five sounds are: "Megatron Attack!" - Triggered in robot mode when you press down on his head, in tank mode when you press down a loose panel under the tank barrel, and during transformation to robot mode automatically. This is the most reliable sound. Sometimes too reliable. "Lock and Load"/"Cannon Firing" - Available in either mode. In theory, when you pull back the spring to load and cock the cannon, it makes one sound, then it makes the other when you press the firing button. However, I have yet to make it do both in a single trial...it either makes one or the other, or neither. The only time it makes both is sometimes when you slip and fail to lock it into position...and then it won't fire the missile right. Whee. "Laser Blast" - If you fiddle with the left arm enough in robot mode, you can generate a wimpy neutron-implosion kind of sound. This sound is not available in tank mode, but can be generated in assault platform mode (see below). "Tank Treads" - The front right wheel, when depressed, starts a long rumbling sound. The wheel is hidden in robot form. The least touchy of the buttons, it compensates for going on for long enough to really be irritating. }-> Alternate Modes: Because this is virtually identical to Combat Hero Megs in transformation, the "assault platform" mode is available here as well. From tank mode, fold down the arms and move them forwards to form a sort of "hover skirt" in the front. Unfortunately, the pistol cannot be faced forwards in this mode because of the way the peg is set up on the right arm. The resulting rolling gun platform has plenty of space for other TFs to ride on, plus you can access all five sounds. The spotlight can even be moved so that it provides a sort of gunner's platform for a Nebulan or "Zoid driver". Anyway, while not worth the $35-40 it went for originally, it's definitely worth the $10 Kay Bee is offering it for on clearance. If you can find it. Dave Van Domelen, "Megatron Attack!" "I am Optimus Prime!" "Spoooon!"