Beast Wars Rattrap (Transmetal)

Series: Beast Wars
Allegiance: Maximal
Categories: Deluxe Transmetal
Function: Spy
Year: 1998

Following the quantum surge, Rattrap gained the advantage of a meched-out armor shell and a swift dragster vehicle mode. A top-notch soldier, his fellow Maximals rely on his reconnaissance reports to locate enemy outposts. The new hot rod mode has increased his speed and agility on the battlefield, and a powerful, battle-whip blade that he wields while in robot mode has made him a powerful adversary to all Predacons.

Robot Mode: Rattrap's robot mode retains very few elements of his beast mode, only the rathead halves serving as shoulder pieces hint at his alternate form. One of the more singular-looking Maximals, Rattrap has a strangely-shaped head that looks as if his brain is exposed. It looks kind of cool, though. He is also rake-thin (except for his big backpack, of course) and very posable. All in all a very good likeness to his cartoon version, so no complaints. Well, one: In the cartoon he always carried a weapon and demolition charges. It would have been nice to have them included in the toy, as his only weapon here is his whip-like rat-tail.

Beast Mode: Like all Transmetals Rattrap has a beast mode that can be slightly modified into a kind of vehicle. In his case it is a rat that turns into a dragster-like vehicle by folding out wheels and some exhaust pipes. Not much play value in these modes, but they look hilarious and if you've seen the series, especially the scenes where Dinobot rides Dragster-Rattrap into battle, you really can't help but love these modes.

Remarks: Rattrap was my favourite character among the Beast War lineup bar none. Snarky, always complaining, pretty much dissing everyone whenever he could, but when it came down to the nitty gritty he was always right there to lend a hand and save everyone's skidplates. Coming across like an old veteran soldier whose experiences have made him sarcastic and slightly bitter, he certainly livened things up around the Maximal base. His exchanges with Dinobot were legend (especially considering that both had the same voice actor, who was therefore basically arguing with himself). The toy itself is nothing special, but it is a very good translation of the series character, so there was no question about getting him.

Rating: B