Cyberverse Arcee

Prelude: Of course a pink girl robot is interested in girly stuff, you know? Hanging out with Dinobots, carrying giant guns, taking on planet-wrecking mercenaries, stuff like that. And while the toyline that accompanied the Cyberverse cartoon was mostly a kid’s line with simplified figure, there were some exceptions. Enter Deluxe Arcee from the Bumblebee Cyberverse Adventures. Let’s say go!

Robot Mode: In a toy line where most figures were very kid-oriented, Arcee stands out in several ways. One, she is probably THE best-articulated figure in the entire line. She cannot tilt her ankles, but otherwise she is as good as any given Legacy Deluxe or Voyager figure and can pose with the best of them. This is even more impressive considering how truly MASSIVE a backpack she has.

Arcee is a shell-former, meaning that almost her entire vehicle mode is an extra shell that hangs on her back (though folded together somewhat). Of the actual robot, only the forearms become a part of the vehicle shell, everything else is just curled up inside. Despite having such a huge backpack, however, Arcee has neither balance problems (thanks to rather long heel spurs) and it doesn’t hinder any poses, either, as the backpack is on a hinge and can thus move out of the way of her legs in more extravagant poses. Very nicely done, I must say.

Look-wise she is Arcee, no doubt about it, and possible the MOST Arcee I have ever seen, including lipstick and mascara. A very good match to the cartoon character, too. For a weapon she carries the same double-barreled blaster as in the show (apparently called “Dual Energon Lazers”) and also has two blast effects for it. The blast effects can also be held in her hands, a call-back to the energy swords many versions of Arcee featured.

So bottom line: an excellent robot. Possibly the best Deluxe robot in the entire Cyberverse line (at least among those I’ve had in hand).

Alternate Mode: As mentioned above, Arcee is a shell-former par excellence. She doesn’t really transform as such, but rather tucks in her legs and unfolds the vehicle shell from her back, done. The resulting car is clearly inspired by Arcee’s original G1 car mode, though with a slightly more blocky aesthetic that fits with the rest of the Cyberverse line. If you turn the car around, you can see pretty much the entire robot on the underside. It works, mind you, but I know some people dislike shell-formers and this one here is definitely a shell-former. Arcee’s two effect parts can be mounted on the back, simulating an afterburner effect, while her weapon can be stored inside the vehicle shell.

So bottom line, a very nice car mode, shell-former and all.

Remarks: Arcee was among the crew of the Ark and spent most of season 1 of the cartoon in stasis lock. Starting with season 2, though, she and Grimlock became an odd couple of gun-happy, thrill-seeking wrecking machines. Among other things they pulverized an asteroid storm, stole from a giant invisible bird, and diverted a swam of dangerous Air Hammers by imitating their calls. Possibly the most fun version of Arcee ever seen in animation.

Side note: Arcee comes with some parts of the Maccadam Build-a-figure, namely the shoulders and the weapon. Later releases of this figure skipped those parts.

Deluxe Arcee (the only Arcee figure in the Cyberverse line apart from a Tiny Turbo Changer) is possibly the best figure of the entire Cyberverse line in my opinion (at least among those I’ve seen or held in hand). She looks like she is supposed to, she is amazingly well-articulated, the huge backpack barely hinders her at all, and while the vehicle mode isn’t exactly a revelation, it’s entirely show accurate and works nicely. If she were a figure from a collector’s line I’d have more complaints, but for a figure from a kids line she is simply amazing. Recommended to all Arcee and Cyberverse fans.

Now we just need the Cadillac Arcee from Earthspark, Hasbro!

Rating: B+

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