Beast Wars Depth Charge

Series: Beast Wars
Allegiance: Maximal
Categories: Ultra Transmetal
Function: Aquatic Forces Commander
Year: 1998

A magnificent giant soars through the oceans in regal silence. Depth Charge was commissioned by Optimus Primal to act as a first line of defense against Predacon undersea aggressors. Though he would rather study military strategies than execute them, Depth Charge is a dedicated fighter and inspired leader. Nuclear cybershark drone conducts recon missions, doubles as reinforcement in battle, and fires dual proton torpedoes. Intermediate space-cruiser mode can achieve planetary orbit or withstand the deepest oceanic pressures. As a robot, he fires shrapnel grenades from his chest and can maintain a force field for five mega cycles. With unshakable nerves and Energon-cutlass in hand, Depth Charge leads his brave platoon into battle.

Robot Mode: As is the standard for Beast Wars Depth Charge has both good posability and a very strong likeness to his TV character. He does have some problems, though. His posability is somewhat restricted by the manta wings on his back (depending on how you fold them) and he has a huge backpack, which juts out behind him. And while it does wonders for his stability, seeing as you can use the remains of his tailfin as a third leg of sorts, it makes him look strange if viewed from the side. Apart from that he is quite good, though. As weapons he carries a cutlass, his shark drone / missile launcher, and he can launch disks from his chest.

Beast Mode: Depth Charge transforms into a metallic manta ray. This beast mode looks pretty good and, apart from being metal, looks realistic. The wings can even flap up and down like with a real manta and the tail is posable, too. The shark drone can travel seperately or underneath his belly. Like all transmetals Depth Charge has a sort-of vehicle mode, which basically means you fold his wings differently and get a sort-of flight mode. It looks strange, but is identical to the mode seen on TV, so few complaints here.

Remarks: Depth Charge was the mortal enemy of Rampage. A security officer at a Maximal colony Rampage butchered, he dedicated his life to hunting the monster down. Unfortunately his character never really developed beyond that, even to the point where he abandoned a mission to stop Megatron from changing the future in order to kill Rampage.

The toy nicely reflects the character and offers some play value, but not as much as Rampage. Depth Charge is a nice toy, but I'd only recommend him as the counterpart to Rampage, not necessarily on his own.

Rating: B-