G1 Smokescreen (Commemorative Series)

Prelude: Smokescreen is a remold of G1 Prowl / Bluestreak. It's been a long time since I reviewed Prowl, though, so Smokescreen here gets the full review treatment anyway.

Robot Mode: Many of the early Generatio 1 figures (and re-issues thereof) suffered from a near total lack of posability in robot mode. Smokescreen is actually one of those who fared a little better. He has nearly full arm articulation, able to move them at the shoulders, elbows, and wrists pretty freely. The rest of him is a statue, though. You can move his lower legs a little bit, but that's just because of the transformation requirement and doesn't really allow any dynamic poses.

Lack of posability aside, though, Smokescreen is a beatifully-done figure. Very nicely sculpted, great on the detailing, and just a cool look overall. His weapons are also nothing to sneeze at, a finely sculpted rifle and shoulder-mounted missile launchers. I love shoulder-mounted weapons for some reason. Okay, they restrict Smokescreen's field of vision quite a but, but whatever. He's a robot. He's probably got sensors in his shoulders for that or something. So overall a great figure for looking at, but not so much for playing with.

Alternate Mode: Smokescreen's car mode is, of course, largely the same as Prowl's, but with some changes done to the mold. The police lights are gone and in order to fit its racing car image it's been outfitted with front and rear spoilers. The early G1 figures' emphasis was on a realistic vehicle mode over the robot mode and Smokescreen makes a good showing of that. He's got rubber tires, a very realistic and nicely-detailed exterior, and even an interior of sorts (a single Diaclone-driver figure could presumably take a seat in the middle, which is Smokescreen's crotch).

There is absolutely nothing wrong with Smokescreen's car mode. Some might begrudge the lack of gimmicks in this mode, but back in the day transforming into a vehicle WAS the gimmick. The only thing I don't like so much here is that you've got nowhere to store Smokescreen's weapons. Then again, this was a very common problem with the G1 figures, so one can hardly blame Smokescreen for that. Overall a very good vehicle mode.

Remarks: Smokescreen was among the many characters who just showed up in season 2 of the original Transformers cartoon with no explanation where he came from. He got his own spotlight episode, though, as he took center stage in "The Gambler", where he was forced to work together with an intergalactic gambler in order to save his Autobot comrades. That was his only significant appearance, though, and he faded from view after the end of season 2.

As a figure Smokescreen looks great and, compared to his peers, is actually quite posable. Still, he's more a figure for looking at than playing with and, at the end of the day, he's just a remold of an existing figure. Then again, EVERY early G1 figure was a repaint/remold of an existing figure. Which leaves me in a bit of a jam when it comes to a final rating. I'll go with the same one I gave Prowl. Smokescreen looks a bit better on the detailing front, but Prowl is the more iconic character. Bottom line: A good choice for every G1 fan.

Rating: B+