Hunt for the Decepticons Terradive

Robot Mode: Most Transformer figures who transform into airplanes fall into two categories: Those where the cockpit becomes the chest and those where the cockpit flips onto the back. Now recently we’ve seen some more interesting designs in terms of jetformers, such as Dirge where the cockpit becomes the arm or Breakaway where the head emerges from the cockpit. Now Terradive is another interesting variation. While he basically follows the standard cockpit-as-chest design, the nose of the jet reverses and angles upwards, ending right under (or rather in front of) his chin. Also, Terradive doesn’t have the jet wings on his back, but rather on his legs. What’s jutting out from behind his back are the rear fins. Finally his arms are formed from the jet’s thrusters. The closest resemblance design-wise is probably G2 Smokescreen or Energon Starscream, though his paint job strongly reminds me of G2 Hooligan.

The bottom line is, Terradive is a very interesting design. Usually jetformers are not the slimmest figures in robot mode, but Terradive is an exception. From certain angles it’d actually be hard to figure out what he transforms into, he’s very slim and lean. Posability is quite good, though my Terradive tends to lose his left leg at the hip (very loose ball joint) when I try to bend his (very tight) knee joint. Don’t think that’s a general problem, though.

The standard weapon for a jetformer is usually an arm cannon of some sort. Terradive, though, deviates from the norm once again and carries a spear as a weapon. The spear can open up into a trident with the middle ‘spike’ being a barrel, probably meant to be an energy weapon of some sort. Very nicely done. Thanks to his posability and his open hands Terradive can hold his spear/trident in all sorts of poses, very pleasing to the eye. I’m actually considering buying a second Terradive, just so I can pose two of them on either side of a doorway and have them deny entrance by crossing their spears.

The only slight downside Terradive has is that he is put together a bit loosely. Pretty much everything does snap into place and fasten somewhere, but the big wings on the legs tend to come loose and the grey panel on his back doesn’t fasten to anything. It’s not a big thing, but one does need to handle him with a bit of care. Apart from that, though: A very interesting, well-made and cool-looking robot mode.

Alternate Mode: I am a big fan of jetfighters with forward-swept wings, so Terradive’s jet design greatly appeals to me. I don’t know how many orange and black jetfighters are out there, but the colors look good and the jet as a whole looks very well put together. It does have a bit of an undercarriage (but which jetformer doesn’t?), especially when the spear is stored underneath, but it’s a lot better than on many other jetformers and doesn’t warrant any point deduction. A functioning landing gear is also present.

Not really that much more I can say here. A good, pretty much flawless jet mode. Realistic-looking, solid, and nifty. Getting there requires one of the more complicated transformation processes I’ve seen in Deluxe figures, though. Oh, but Terradive is capable of an intermediate Gerwalk configuration, once again giving the Robotech people reason to sue. Isn’t it grand?

Remarks: The name Terradive has been around since the twilight days of G1, but it has never been used for anyone really important, usually just for toyline-only characters that never appeared in any accompanying medium. This newest Terradive is no exception. Nominally he’s part of the Movie-continuity, but don’t expect him to ever pop up on the screen. He might have a chance at a background spot in a comic, but I wouldn’t hold my breath there, either.

Lack of in-media appearances aside, Terradive is a great figure. We’ve seen a lot of great Decepticon air warriors over the years and Terradive continues that tradition. He has a neat jet mode, a superb robot mode, a unique weapon, and a cool look overall. The design might be a bit wobbly in certain areas, but that’s hardly a show-stopper. So the bottom line is: Recommended to all fans of jetformers and good figures in general.

Rating: A-