Universe Inferno

Series: Universe 2.0
Allegiance: Autobot
Categories: Voyager
Year: 2008

Though search and rescue is his primary function - and one he happens to be very good at - Inferno loves nothing more than a good fight. In fact, he will often abandon his duties or even ignore direct orders, just to go antagonize Decepticons. He especially loves to get up close to his enemies, where the energy-damping field he generates to help suppress fires can eliminate the effectiveness of their weapons. He uses the chemical foam sprayed from his arm cannon to blind opponents as often as he uses it to put out fires.

Robot Mode: Look-wise Universe Inferno is a nice mixture between the original Inferno from G1 and one of my personal favourites, Energon Inferno. He has the same, slightly boxy look as the G1 figure and his head is spot-on for that version also (though my Inferno has a slight case of runny mascara on his right eye). And like the Energon version he carries a big watergun on his arm and lacks a ladder hanging off his back (or anywhere else for that matter). A very nice mixture that makes for a good overall look.

Inferno's posability is standard for the Universe line, meaning pretty good. The only thing that bugs me a little bit is his crotch plate, which always bends forward when Inferno moves his legs. It's just a little thing, though. Inferno also features very nice detailing. Especially his torso is sculpted very nicely. Inferno can shoot a "water blast" missile from the big gun on his arm.

Overall Inferno is a good-looking and nicely-made robot. No complaints.

Alternate Mode: Unsurprisingly Inferno transforms into a fire truck. Not the ladder-carrying kind he was back in G1, but rather the water-cannon-truck he resembled in Energon. And he does it very well. A very good-looking and realistically detailed fire truck. The only slight complaint here is that, if you look at him from above, you can see his robot arms a little. If you twist the wrists so that the sculpted fists aren't visible, though, you barely notice. So no points deduction for that.

All in all one of the most realistic vehicle modes I've seen outside the Alternators. Very nicely done.

Remarks: The first thing that caught my eye when I got Inferno was the "G2 Series" sign on his package. Apparently Inferno is not part of the Classics 2.0 series, but was chosen to represent Generation 2 in the Universe 25th Anniversary line-up. Now don't ask me why. Inferno was a part of Generation 2, yes, but he's certainly not the first Transformer that springs to mind when thinking about G2. Off-hand I could name half a dozen TFs that would be better representatives. But whatever. Inferno is G2. I can live with that.

As a toy Inferno is a solid reinvention of a classic character and offers only one real ground for complaint: He's a bit boring. Don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong about Inferno, but to me he lacks that indefinable something that would have transformed this 'merely' good figure into a great one. Maybe that ladder add-on you can buy from Fan Project to enhance Inferno will give him that little something. We'll see. Still, as I said, a nice, solid figure. Recommended to all Transformers fans.

Rating: B+