Armada Red Alert

with Longarm

Series: Armada
Allegiance: Autobot
Categories: Maxcon
Year: 2002

All life is precious.
Red Alert is a valued doctor and science officer who has saved the lives of many Autobots. His quest to save lives has led him to find new ways to repair damaged circuitry. He has risked his life many times to retrieve wounded comrades during battles. An old friend of Optimus Prime, Red Alert was once a fierce and heroic fighter, until he was seriously wounded in battle and saw the preciousness of all life. But will this new battle reawaken his warrior's heart?

Robot Mode: Red Alert is a tall robot who looks somewhat misshapen because of his boxy chest and spidnly legs, but he is surprisingly posable and all-around versatile. His robot form offers multiple gimmicks. Such as the different tools he can use for a hand (underlining his function as a medic), the over-the-shoulder missile launcher which he can also use as a hand weapon, and the disc launcher in his chest. His looks have a classic touch to it and he's an all-around good robot.

Alternate Mode: Transforming into an SUV-type rescue vehicle, Red Alert gives a decent showing as a vehicle, too. Almost all of the gimmicks he can use in robot mode are also accessible in vehicle mode, giving him a wide range of play value. The car could maybe have been a bit more realistic-looking, but overall nothing to complain about.

Partners / Add-Ons: Red Alert comes with Longarm, a small crane that transforms into a robot. Longarm can activate the missile and disc launcher gimmicks of Red Alert and ride on his side in both robot and vehicle mode.

Remarks: I didn't expect much from Red Alert, but I was pleasantly surprised. Red Alert is not spectacular or special, but a very decent, all-around good toy. His large number of gimmicks doesn't ruin the rest of him, which is seldom, and apart from his slightly misshapen look in robot mode there really is nothing to complain about.

Rating: B