Cyberworld Soundwave

Prelude: Soundwave might not be the biggest name in Transformers, but he is certainly in the top 10 and due to appear in any new Transformers line sooner or later. Cyberworld reintroduces him as a tentacled menace from the depths of the ocean and gives him a fancy crown, too. Why? Because he is superior, that’s why! So here is Deep Sea Explorer Soundwave from Cyberworld’s Energon Surge line. Let’s say go!

Robot Mode: Let us start by saying that Soundwave is big, really big. He’s roughly as tall as Masterpiece Soundwave, actually, so… really big. Of course he is nowhere near as intricate or detailed, but still: he’s big. As big as Cyberworld Grimlock, with whom he shares a few characteristics, but more on that later. Suffice to say: Soundwave is big.

The look is classic Soundwave. He even has speakers molded into his shoulders and lower legs, from which he fires of sound waves in the cartoon (see below). Some details are different from your average Soundwave, of course. Said details being the tentacles he sports on both his arms, three shorter ones on his left arm, two much longer ones on his right. The tentacles are purple, the three shorter ones made of transparent plastic, just like the crown he wears. The crown is removable and glows in the dark, by the way. The tentacles, on the other hand, are not removable, or at least not without removing the whole arm.

Despite it not being mentioned or even hinted at in the instructions, Soundwave’s lower arms are detachable, using the same plug-system as Cyberworld Grimlock. Also part of said system, the pretty large module hanging off his back, the cockpit of his alternate mode. The standard configuration is for the cockpit to be on the back, but you can put it as a huge claw on either arm and put one of the arms on the back instead. Personally I like it when the arm with the two longer tentacles is on the back, because that’s a cool visual, but to each his own.

Now Soundwave’s whole gig is that he can use his long tentacles to capture Cyber Changer figures and then imprison them inside his cockpit module, too. The tentacles are fully articulate and can wrap around any smaller figure with ease and the cockpit module opens up like a huge claw (or mouth). The three shorter tentacles can rotate like a propeller. So basically, a lot of stuff you can do here. Also, you can have him swap arms with Grimlock, too. 

Now the figure has some downsides, too. First of all, it’s clearly a made-for-kids toy and its articulation is quite limited. No elbow joints, the head cannot turn, and neither can the waist. We’re probably lucky he’s got knees, as they are not needed for the transformation. Also, both the lower legs and forearms are hollow. 

So bottom line for the robot mode: he’s clearly Soundwave, he’s big, he offers a lot of play value with his tentacles and interchangeability with Grimlock, but he could definitely do with a few more joints (elbows should have been the minimum).

Alternate Mode: Soundwave has had many alternate modes over the years, but for the first time (that I can recall, at least) he transforms into a seagoing alternate mode. The transformation is very simple, he simply folds his hip and leg forward, an automorph feature than folds in the arms and head, and the result is… well… something. Probably intended to be a submarine resembling a mechanical squid or some such? 

Most of the work is done by the cockpit here, as it’s the only part of this vehicle that doesn’t look like a slightly contorted robot. Without enough space to seat a Cyber Changer and the look of a mechanical beast, this part of the vehicle mode works best. The rest… well, it’s there, let’s leave it at that. With the tentacles trailing behind it, it does resemble a mechanical squid a bit, but from most angles it’s still quite clearly a folded-up robot. 

So bottom line: it’s a vehicle mode, looking like it does in the cartoon. And I do like to see more Transformers with naval alternate modes. 

Remarks: As of this writing Soundwave has made but a single appearance in the Cyberworld cartoon, attacking Wheeljack and Elita-1 on the water and almost killing them. How did he end up in Cyberworld and endowed with glowy tentacles? No idea yet, but we will probably find out sooner or later.

Much like Scourge, Soundwave’s positive aspects are that he is definitely a lot of fun. The tentacles are fun (Dark of the Moon Soundwave wishes he had tentacles like that!), the cockpit-claw-thing is fun, and switching out his limbs with Grimlock is fun, too. That said, he also has quite a few limitations in terms of articulation and the alternate mode isn’t all that great, either, I must say.

So bottom line: it’s a fun toy and fits well into the Cyberworld line, which I still adore. It’s definitely not a figure for Masterpiece collectors or the likes, though.

Rating: C+