Transformers: Titans Return Octane

 

 

For starters, I understand that copyrighted names are a thing, and that is a legal issue. But there is no way on earth I will refer to this figure by the name on its package, which is a nonsensical “Octone”. This is not a matter of adding the faction prefix, which became a thing during the 2007 live action movie toy line; this is not a kneejerk response to something like “Decepticon Octane”. The box says “Octone,” and we know it’s not a typo but rather what Hasbro named this figure, mainly because of a copyright issue. But I’m not saying “Octone”.

Octane is the last of the triple changers released between the Generations and Titans Return lines, giving us a full set of all six originals in the same size since the G1 days. This mold has been used a couple times already as Optimus Prime, trying to provide an updated G2 or Laser Optimus Prime, while also, like wave mate Blitzwing, allowing for a current gimmick version of a required character. Debate has taken place as to whether Prime or Octane is the original intended character for this mold, and I think that the Prime and Megatron versions of Octane and Blitzwing are the secondary, coincidental reuses, not the primary ones. Whatevs. Hasbro needed to get Prime and Megatron into this toy line, and they did; and while I don’t own either of those reuses, the molds they employ seem perfectly adequate for the characters, so all around it comes out as a win for the company. Octane is the Decepticon refueler, a fairly unglamorous designation that I always felt put him in that same class of character as Long Haul and his materials transport title. The Decepticon ranks boasted some real interesting titles, and then also the most mundane of things, like fueler here, that the Autobots didn’t seem to have. Nevertheless, every army needs a supply line, no matter how far from the glory that may be.

 

Octane’s robot mode strikes a balance between really interesting and really plain. Essentially light grey with some purple parts, there isn’t much too really look at on the toy, but that kind of suits the character, really. Octane’s alt modes are a fuel truck and more or less a passenger airplane, a far cry from the more interesting or exciting sets of triple changer modes, such as Blitzwing’s tank and fighter plane combo. The airplane wings stick off the robot back, giving that awesome silhouette of a winged robot, always one of my favorite looks. The figure has the hollow forearms and legs, both necessary for transformation, but as this was avoided on other triple changers in the line, like Blitzwing and Astrotrain and Broadside, it is a little disappointing here. I don’t mind hollow forearms, as they are usually that way so that hands can fold up inside of them, but the legs being so empty does bother me mainly because it impacts balance and standing. The nose parts of the plane mode fold up into the legs, so again, their hollowness is functional. But Octane feels light, feels thin as a result. While the other triple changers are all sturdy and solid, Octane is the one that seems fragile. Or, perhaps, the solid nature of the other Titans Return triple changers just makes Octane seem more waifish. No matter, Octane doesn’t feel like he’s going to break or anything like that, and as a group he doesn’t look out of place or different with the other two Decepticons. Once again the torso is a solid block of plastic, so there’s no waist movement to be had. The robot mode is clean and efficient, with the aforementioned wings being the only real ornamentation. Octane wields two weapons: one a blaster rifle that is meant to be his G1 rifle, and the requisite sled blaster that a Titanmaster can sit in. Octane’s has three pegs, so the weapon can be attached to the figure and both alt modes in different ways. It’s a double barreled affair that I find works well underslung in hand, 

like Blaine’s Ol’ Painless in Predator. Carried underhand like this, it seems like it could be a flamethrower or some kind of chemical sprayer, and so for me at least, adds this idea that Octane isn’t necessarily carrying fuel in his tanker truck mode but rather hazardous or potentially hazardous materials.

As is pretty much expected by now, Titanmaster Murk provides an excellent face for Octane. This entire line has done an outstanding job with face sculpts, and while that is probably something that I shouldn’t feel needs to be pointed out, I am impressed time and again with the work done in this area. The faces are always sharp and detailed, and even relatively generic faces have details or sculpting that displays a level of quality. Since Octane’s face is just a humanoid face without any visors or faceplates or anything special, it may not be the most interesting of the line, but it is rendered with quality, and so looks good despite its plainness.

Much like Blitzwing, Octane is subject to some pretty demanding part alignment; unlike Blitzwing, this alignment issue surfaces with the tanker truck mode. The tailfin of the jet needs to be positioned just right in order for the arms/shoulders to plug together to form the cab of the truck, and it can be a bit frustrating to get the parts all lined up, particularly before realizing that the alignment is the issue. Otherwise, it just seems like the pieces won’t connect for some reason. It’s not really a problem, but it can be frustrating if you’re playing with Octane and not giving this step your full attention; you find yourself squeezing and pressing plastic parts that should clearly . . . clearly . . . be lining up easily, only to find that the tailfin part is ever so slightly too high or not flush enough with the body of the figure. A little frustrating. Truck mode is good, and it looks like a tanker truck, for whatever that may mean to you. The jet wings, as they did on the 2008 Deluxe “Tankor” fold under the truck body, but for the most part they do not impede rolling, which is good. I have no issues with the truck mode, other than it is just a tanker truck, so there isn’t a whole lot to say about it. The weapons can be plugged on to the sides, but they don’t look good that way. Those metallic foil stickers run the length of the tank, and are alright, the general concerns about them notwithstanding. Overall, truck mode is a winner, but isn’t really spectacular. An Octane problem, as his alt modes are so pedestrian, and nothing thrilling: a Decepticon triple changing version of a Protectobot, perhaps.

The jet mode of this mold have gotten flak online for the clearly visible truck parts folded alongside the fuselage, but there isn’t really anyplace else for them to go. It is sort of a truck that sprouted wings, but, as has been said four million times in these pages already, the more you ask a transforming toy to do, the weaker it will do all things. As a commercial type airplane, Octane’s third mode is pretty great, seeing as the real world vehicle is not exactly glamorous or anything. The Titanmaster sits in the same cockpit arrangement that the truck mode provides, and is the general, middle of the vehicle translucent covered seat. Nothing special; again, an Octane problem. Overall the jet mode evokes a large cargo transport, consistent with Octane’s role on the Decepticon team. Once the tabs are aligned, the jet is solid and looks good. Again, the stickers are a concern for the future, but I think they may work the best, generally speaking, on Octane, better than on either Blitzwing or Broadside. Maybe the ones on Octane are applied better or are of better quality, I don’t know. But they look best on him, and are the smoothest on him, and are in places on this toy that aren’t really going to get a lot of handling, so should be less likely to peel or get damaged.

In general, Octane is a better figure than Blitzwing, but I think the real mystery is why anyone would think that this is a good mold for an Optimus Prime. I know, Laser Prime; and I know, they had to get a Prime in the line somehow. But where the Blitzwing mold does work as Megatron, this one is too slender to suit Prime. Regardless, as Octane, this is a really, really good figure. All three modes work, both alt modes work very well, and the figure is done exceedingly well, a slight surprise for a character that really never gets any attention. Nothing about him is spectacular, but Titans Return Octane is a great example of what a Transformer really can be. Neither alt mode is sexy, but they absolutely work, with each other and with the robot mode. Both alt modes are fully formed, not like Broadside’s jet more or Astrotrain’s train mode. Nothing sacrifices for the benefit of any other mode. Robot mode is solid and has an interesting transformation step or two. Once more, the Titanmaster gimmick doesn’t get in the way of a quality, “Classics” style update of a G1 toy, and is fairly faithful to that original. Octane is a total win of a figure.