RID 2015 Bumblebee

Robot Mode: A new toyline, a new Bumblebee figure (well, one of several). And coming out before the obligatory Optimus Prime figure, too? Bumblebee really has come a long way since 2007, hasn’t he? Anyway, this toy here is clearly meant to be Bumblebee as he’s been portrayed ever since the first live-action movie. Yellow with black stripes, check. Car-wing doors, check. One thing is new, though: after having spent most of the last eight years as a mouthless, bug-eyed guy, Bumblebee has finally regained a human-like face for his RID Warrior-class incarnation.

The robot as such follows the same design aesthetics as the other RID 2.0 toys I’ve seen so far, meaning simplified, streamlined, and more stylized than the Prime toys were. That said, he looks good to me and I like this toy version of him a lot more than most of the Movie and Prime BB toys I’ve seen in recent years. It helps that he comes with a big sword, too. I like sword-wielding Transformers. Is that supposed to be the Star Saber, by the way? It doesn’t look the same, but somewhat similar. Well, we’ll probably have to wait for the TV series for more information here.

Articulation is okay, though a sword-wielding robot should always have twisting wrists, which this toy lacks. Otherwise, though, no complaints. He has a pretty solid stance as well, despite the lack of heel spurs, and though the detailing on the figure is limited, it still looks pretty cool. Bottom line: a good robot mode. Not extraordinary or spectacular, but good.

Alternate Mode: No surprised here, of course Bumblebee transforms into a yellow sports car with black stripes. The resemblance to the various Prime incarnations of Bumblebee’s vehicle mode is present, though the car itself looks a good deal more stylized here than before. Apart from the black stripes the blue headlights are the only painted detail on the car. The windows are semi-transparent, not painted, and the big sword can be stored underneath the car, the hilt slightly visible from the back like a really fancy exhaust. So to sum it up: a good car mode. Nothing more, nothing less.

Remarks: Bumblebee took center stage in the “Predacons Rising” TV movie that tied up the open plot threads (well, some of them) of the Prime TV series, essentially stepping into the leadership position despite having spent most of the series as the funny, beeping kid-relatable character. In the follow-up series Robots in Disguise Bumblebee now leads his own squad of Autobots, apparently guided by the spirit of Optimus Prime, coming to Earth to take care of escaped Decepticon prisoners. We’ll see how he deals with that position and the inevitable return of Optimus Prime as the series progresses, I’m sure.

As far as the toy goes, it’s pretty much exactly what I expected it to be: good, solid, not in any way surprising, but nothing bad about it, either. So the final verdict: not a spectacular new direction for Bumblebee toys, but a semi-fresh take on a character that was very much overexposed these last few years. Recommended to those who don’t have Bumblebee-phobia yet and don’t mind the somewhat simplified RID 2.0 aesthetics.

Rating: B-