This self-transforming Transformer Megatron is as cool as it’s costly.

Three years later Hasbro transforms itself, dances, drives a automobile, talks and assaults Optimus Prime there’s lastly a villain to struggle. Megatron, chief of the Decepticons, is about to reach. For 1200 {dollars} — US$899 by means of Could 25—her robotic associate Robosen has created what could also be the very best auto-transforming Transformer so far.

Simply to be sure to perceive all the pieces: this bot routinely transforms right into a cool distant managed tank and a large self-extending cannon that may really hearth projectiles – then will get up and says Over 270 traces from authentic Megatron voice actor Frank Welker performing all types of stunts.

Right here, bask within the glory of childhood fantasies made actual:

Did I point out that it additionally responds to a wide range of voice instructions?

I have been enjoying Megatron for half a day now and it is principally… superb. Its 36 servo motors and 118 microchips not solely enable the 21-inch tall robotic to do all types of issues, however it additionally has extra enjoyable gaming options than Optimus. or Dinobot Grimlockbecause of an improved array of weapons, 112 vibrant LEDs, and intriguing new connections to energy the servos.

Once you hearth the fusion cannon completely hooked up to Megatron’s arm, it does not simply rock the black plastic assist: three hinges enable the cannon to shake because it “expenses”, giving it rollbackand the LEDs illuminate its insides delightfully.

The glowing sword and new flail (sure, this bot can really swing a spiked rubber ball on a sequence!) have screw-on pommels, so you possibly can simply insert them into Megatron’s palms and nonetheless safe them.

And when Megatron falls – and this will I am afraid he’ll fall – he is lastly good sufficient to face up on his personal once more.

Robosen even addressed one among my greatest gripes with Optimus: he made Megatron’s leg servos so inflexible that you can go away the bot standing on a shelf when he was turned off in case you needed. And I really like how Megatron talks about Energon manufacturing and the five-LED charging indicator lights up if you plug within the USB-C cable.

The bot’s servos are actually virtually all hidden behind intelligent spring-loaded plastic flaps – and one among them even routinely rotates the Decepticon brand when Megatron exits tank mode.

Nonetheless, as cool as that is, the toy may very well want some extra work earlier than it is launched in Q3, and based mostly on earlier launches, I am not fully positive it would do all that work.

That is the third Robosen bot I’ve tried, with a complicated and barely glitchy app that makes customized programming very tough and creates all types of lag, even in case you’re simply attempting to remotely management a tank. It nonetheless does not offer you entry to all of the joints when creating your individual actions and poses. And its voice command recognition system continues to be mediocre – in additional than half of the instances the bot doesn’t reply correctly.

My check bot additionally had extra elementary issues, similar to an inclination to simply… crash and overlook a few of its settings after turning it again on, or preserve repeating the identical voice line in voice command mode with out my information. The chain really fell aside after the primary 10 hits or in order one of many chain pins was too unfastened. Hopefully a few of them will not make it to full mass manufacturing, however I feel it is price telling you about.

And also you must also know that, like earlier bots, they’re designed completely to be used on easy, onerous flooring: they continuously scrape themselves throughout the ground to stroll, flip, rework and rise up, and most of them do not work. carpet. Whilst you Possibly Driving on the very noisy rubber tracks on slopes or skinny carpet, I used to be unable to activate comfortable surfaces: I obtained caught tightly on one of many rubber tracks whereas attempting to show the tank round on the carpet.

However like Optimus, which had its issues, none of it killed my enthusiasm. This is among the coolest toy traces ever made; I simply need them to get even higher.