RANT: BW Microverse Playsets

[DAVID G TASHJIAN]

For some reason or another, I decided to get off my arse and go
toy shopping. I really SHOULD have been taking the laundry out to the
dryer, but that's moot now. :-/

I spotted and bought the two new BW Microverse playsets!
(yay! more new BW stuff!) If Dave has already ranted about this, I'm
sorry about being redundant. If nobody else has spotted these guys
that somewhat supports the info I got from one of the local toy-store
workers that these are currently being test marketed.

** critical info:
What: Beast Wars MicroVerse playsets, Arachnid, and Orcanoch
Found where: TRU & Johnny's Toys (check the Micromachines/hotwheels
section)
Cost: $10 each.
scale: as a spider/Whale slightly larger than the Deluxe beasts
in size. The action figures are roughly 1/2" tall and
only bend at the legs (so they can sit).
Should I buy them?: If your'e a maniacal completeist, yes. If you like
soley TFs, don't. If your'e curious about them, pick up the Arachnid.

Quick summary: They are okay. At the $10 a pop mark and slightly
larger than a deluxe beast you can digest the price. If you dislike
micro-playsets from other lines, definately avoid these. Also of note,
these feature the 'energon chip' rubsign! We have symbols people.
Orcanoch: (killer whale) only major flaw is that he looks like he
comes pre-sliced for sandwiches. He essentially transforms into a
tower-like base. Comes with mini Gorilla oppy and Tarantulus.
Arachnid: (purple with orange spider) looks pretty good as a spider, and
has a large abdomen. there is a bit of undercarriage garbage and the
web-trap/radar grids/whatever are almost completely hidden under his
abdomen, or you can spread it out to his sides. (which I thought
looked kind of dumb. two of its legs have ball joints and they come
apart far too easily for my taste. Comes with mini Gator Megs and
Razorbeast.

** Boxes
- art: The boxes artwork features a lot of the soon to be released
characters the quality is a notch or two below the quality of artwork
on the BW cards. This could be expected because it is a mural style
peice, but I admit that this would have gone over better if perhaps
the artist had done a larger more detailed picture, and kenner shrunk
it down. Ah, what do I know? :]
Orcanoch box has easily identifiable Razorwing, Armordillo, the
Shark guy, Razorclaw, and Optimus(who is barely notable because the
cockpit frame that he's in obscures most of his likeness.) an a green
guy I can't ID who has his back turned in the picture.
Arachnid has identifyable Gator Megs, Inferno(ant), Snapper,
another unknown that apparantly has a drill for a hand. and Armordillo
attacking the base with an Orcanoch accessory.

- Back of box: Both feature the same stuff from some of the other
Microvers series (Tonka Tough Trucks, Harley Davidson asst. 1, GI Joe
Extreme, Goosebumps, Orcanoch, and Arachnid.) They also show the
playset expanded with several little markers telling you what is what.

Orcanoch text: The mysterious planet where the Maximals have crashed
contains a number of oceans swarming with single-cell organisims at
the onset of evolution. Within these darkened depths swims the mighty
Orcanoch, a giant Maximal who converts to a heroic mobile battle
station complete with missile launcher cannon, mini-escape pod, and
high-tech defense arsenal. Optimus Primal commands the station in
search of underwater sources of energon and fights off invaders like
Predacon Arachnid, who is desparate to gain access to Orcanoch's
internal secrets.

Arachnid text: Copying the ingenuity of the Maximals, the evil
Predacons created a mobile battle station hidden within a giant
Predacon Arachnid clone! His body opens up to reveal an elevating
missile platform that converts to a mini attack ship, a computerized
command center with positionable laser cannon, and a control area to
repair battle-damaged Predacons. And if enemies approach, the
mechanized legs lash out to capture victims without warning.

** self-containment

They both can become self-contained toys, but Orchanoch took me a
while to figure out where to put everybody. I eventually put
Tarantulus in the command chair and Oppy in the trap-door container,
which left only 3 little bits to stash and they all found homes
easily.
Arachnid's storage is simple: cram everything into the abdomen.
(which you flip out and reveals something like a volcano, it opens up
to reveal the docking bays)

**accessories

There aren;t many loose parts to these guys, but the few that exist
are _tiny_ Like that's a shocker or anything. Also of note to Dave,
painting these guys should keep him busy for a while... The detail on
the mini-figures is pretty bad. you can tell (sort of) who they are,
but that's about it.

**Overall...
Since I normally avoid playsets such as these, (altho a couple from
Mighty Max looked neat/reminded me of a Terrorcon) I'll give Orchanoch
a C, mainly due to the 'whale steak' look and Arachnid a C+ since it
is a bit cooler than the whale.

Hex.
[ From where goofing off was never so much work... ]