TransFormers: Real Gear

AUTOBOTS
	Speed Dial It is somewhat poetic that the first cellphone I bought myself is a TransFormer. This is a prime example of an idea that sounds great, but doesn't work so well in practice. Cellphones aren't really designed with robot-concealing in mind so, whilst Speed Dial makes a reasonably convicing phone (though I wish they'd made the buttons pressable), robot mode looks terrible, and isn't very poseable. The poseability issue is entirely down to the legs - the upper legs are far too short, and also prone to detaching from the lower leg. The lower legs are far too long, comparatively, and the feet are nothing more than fold out panels. Considering the way the cellphone mode is designed, Speed Dial is rarely standing on anything other than two edges, and so he's never stable. Overall appearance-wise, the cyclops look would work better if the face below it was more robotic, and the thin, clawed arms make him look rather like an old tin toy robot. That said, the convincing alternate mode will almost certainly increase the play value for the youngsters these toys are aimed at... unless the children in question are more wrapped up with their real cellphones...
	Spy Shot This is the model that got me interested in the Real Gear line, simply because camera mode looks so good. Even with the visible seams, Spy Shot makes a very convincing miniature digital camera. The lens looks good, there's a flash, zoom buttons, a (completely unusable) viewfinder to supplement the 'LCD display', and even a set of (molded) buttons for navigating menus, and the shutter button clicks in a most satisfying manner. All he's missing, really, is a USB port. Robot mode is an awkward jumble, to be honest, but Spy Shot still manages to look quite cute and functional. What really helps is a decent, fairly robotic face and excellent use of light piping for his eyes. The only let-down, which seems to be common throughout the range, is the claw-hands which don't quite fit an otherwise clever contemporary take on 'Robots In Disguise'. On the upside, Spy Shot's claws are mobile, whereas none of the others' are.
	Longview Another impressive model, though far smaller than I'd expected. It seems that Real Gear has only one size class (essentially 'Scout' in any other recent range), so Longview's alternate mode as a pair of binoculars is probably far too small even for a young child. Even so, his transformation is clever and reasonably satisfying, and his robot mode would probably be the best of the lot, were it not for the strange impression that his legs are the wrong way round. It's all down to the feel, which taper in the wrong direction and don't look quite right. Regardless, he's quite a poseable model, though his feet don't offer the most stable platform for standing. In his alternate form, Longview has a flip-up panel with a sticker pretending to be an LCD display of the view through his lenses, and a set of molded control buttons
	High Score If it weren't for the small scale of the Real Gear line, I'd have to rank this as one of the best - if not the best - in the line. High Score turns into a very well modelled six-button gamepad with dual analogue control sticks. The sticks move, the thumbpad and buttons do not... but it's still a very well-designed model. Transformation is clever, but leaves him with very long arms and incredibly stubby legs (though they do have knee joints!). I'd guess his ape-like proportions are meant to give the impression that he's a brawler... but the horribly edited European bio reveals nothing about his character. While he's quite stable and poseable thanks to ball-jointed heels and large feet, you're left with the abiding impression that he'd prefer to be crouched down and leaning on his knuckles... which is quite possible, but looks rather dopey on a robot. His head reminds me somewhat of Gen 1 Bumblebee... if I find another (and perhaps a second Bumblebee), I may remove the head, repaint it, and make an alternate 'Bee...
DECEPTICONS
	Power Up Of course, the Real Gear robot who disguises himself as a hand-held game console would have to be a Decepticon. So far in this range, Power Up is the only model to have any Automorphing function - separating the lower legs from the body and pulling them down causes the arms and head move into position. Alongside Speed Dial, Power Up is probably the most disappointing robot in the range - molded claw hands, empty lower legs, and a rather silly looking head don't exactly add up to make a fearsome evil presence. On a more positive note, the designers obviously had a good time with his alternate mode - the four coloured buttons on the righthand panel are pressable (but all four buttons are on the same piece of hard plastic, so they don't react quite right to being pushed), and the thumbpad on the lefthand side is also vaguely interactive. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the transformation, the Start and Select buttons are molded and not pressable. I'm in two minds about this one... it's disappointing as a robot, but has a very amusing alternate mode.
	Booster (Or Laserbeak, by any other name) If the Real Gear range was only a little larger, some of them would be in danger of being mistaken for the real thing. Booster isn't quite that good... for some reason the idea of a bright red MP3 player with a red/orange screen doesn't quite jibe... but in terms of style, it's actually quite clever. In its alternate mode, the only letdown is the earpiece, with its flimsy rubber hook. Transformation is simple but agreeable, and the end result is easily the best Laserbeak update anyone could hope for. All it needed was a bit more articulation in the neck and it would be perfect. Obviously, being such an odd shape, it's not that well balanced, and the only thing holding the earpiece in place is a single square peg that plugs into the back of the neck, but this is a very stylish addition to the range.
	Zoom Out This one is another example of why it's so annoying that the European releases get truncated profiles translated into a dozen different languages - all it says is that he likes to edit photos of his enemies into embarassing videos. Camera mode is pretty decent, though - in common with the rest of the range - a little on the small side. While you can look through the viewfinder at the back, the lenses either side are warped plastic, so you can't actually see much of anything. The 'LCD' screen shows an image of Nitro Convoy/Override from the Galaxy Force/Cybertron TV show. Transformation is quite simple, and reminiscent of the old Gen-1 cassettes Rumble and Frenzy, but the robot you're left with is decidedly awkward - short clawed arms protruding from enormous shoulders - and not very steady on his feet in any pose. He's not bad by any standards... but could have been much better.