Toy review - PCC Smolder w/ Chopster
Toy Review - Smolder w/ Chopster
Series - Power Core Combiners
Sub-line - 2-pack
Size - Commander w/ Minicon
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 1
Released here - May 2010
Approximate Retail Price - $15-20
Approximate Size - 10cm (Smolder), 5cm (Chopster)
Allegiance - Decepticon
Alt-mode - Fire Rescue vehicle (Smolder), axe/gun/chest-plate (Chopster)
Main Features/Gimmicks - Combiner core (Smolder), weapon/armour (Chopster)
Main Colours - red/black (Smolder), orange/black (Chopster)
Main Accessories - none (Chopster is the accessory)
My Difficulty rating (out of 5) - 2
Stability - good in all modes (Smolder), not so good (Chopster)
Poseability/articulation - Good for both, considering Smolder is the size of a Scout, and Chopster is a Minicon with four modes.
Playability - On its own, play is good as both modes work well and is easy to convert. But with other PCCs, specifically the 5-packs, this toy has extra play value. Although, without drones, the Powerup mode is essentially unusable, wasting a third of this toy if it is the only PCC you buy.
Other Comments - I like the vehicle mode of this one, and it uses the theme of Movie Barricade (Decepticons pretending to be trusted emergency vehicles). Transformation is easy enough to guess, and looks decent in both modes without excessive kibble/deformaties. The Combiner mode (Powerup Mode) is a bit too top-heavy and hunchbacked, and actually looks to be the worst of the first three 2-packs.
The Minicon Chopster is a bit lame, but to be expected for a quad-former. It reminds me of the Gen1 pretenders, with no real alt mode other than what you're told it is (especially if it's lost its accessories). As such, Chopster doesn't really pull off any of its 3 alt-modes, due to skinny limbs that don't interlock, leaving lots of gaps in each mode.
It's meant to be a robot, an axe, a gun, and a chest shield - all based on how you position the legs and arms, but the only thing really making it an axe or a gun is the blades on the legs and the gun-barrel.
Now for the blue pegs - I just don't know why they coloured them bright blue. They spoil the look of every toy in this line so far, and more so on this red one.
They don't need to be made obvious (these aren't big toys with hidden parts and compartments), as every toy has the pegs openly visible. Often in both modes. There is just no where to hide them, to need them coloured so brightly.
Out of the 2 first wave Drone sets, Smolder looks better (to me) with the Aerialbots, as they are just as colourful. The Combaticon drones are a dull colour scheme, making Smolder look out of place in the core.
Pics of the combinations can be seen here.
My Rating (out of 10) - 7.5
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I agree that the blues hurt though. 
I prefer Chopster over Backwind though.
Originally Posted by Deonasis
