Aiakos is the final member of the Hades squad to get the
spotlight, and as the Gaihawk impersonator, it is a fitting end to the set. A
remold of the outstanding Minos, Aiakos brings back all of the excellent
aspects of that figure and fixes one incredible drawback.
The robot mode for Aiakos is virtually identical to Minos,
save for some differences in molding. The legs on Aiakos, for instance, have a
totally different set of details, different kneecaps and calf details. There
are some different details on the chest and such, but again, the figure is
identical to Minos in all major respects. The dominant color is pink, but a
somewhat muted pink, “hot” in its shade but cool in its intensity. It looks
very nice. This is one of those figures that looks like the color will be much
brighter in images online, but in hand, the color is distinctive but not
overbearing. (my totally non-scientific conclusion is that Aiakos is a lighter,
less intense shade of Titans Return Misfire.
– mr) Aiakos’ Breastmaster partner is a little hawk, reminiscent of Laserbeak,
but it really seems to be the weakest of the six little partners. The hawk mode
is alright, but the blaster mode is weak and the chest plate form is just not
very good cosmetically speaking. While the other chest plates add an armored
look to the larger figure, or add some depth to the toy, Aiakos’ looks like a
block strapped to the chest, and it compromises the otherwise sleek and slender
profile of the figure. This sort of also happened with Minos, but Minos’
partner is slightly curved, and so encompasses the chest of the large robot
better; Aiakos’ is just a square, without any curving or bending, so it sits
flat on the chest instead of wrapping around. No one would walk past this toy
because of a tiny plastic animal that is totally ancillary, but for a toy that
does so much right, this is a rare stumble. 
The jet mode, by virtue of a new nose and wings, seems
totally different from that on Minos, and looks much more unique than the
remolded robot mode. This jet also has twin tail fins, unlike the single one
Minos has. The biggest improvement in the figure is on display in jet mode, and
that has to do with the maddening and terrifying way the jet nose flips and
twists from behind the robot back to the front of the vehicle. As addressed
with Minos, the clearance here is exceptionally tight, but on Aiakos, there is
more room, and so the step is much less teeth-grindingly difficult. At first,
it was believed that this step was easier simply because the twist step had
been discovered, but no, there is actually a slightly larger amount of room to
execute the maneuver in, thanks to the exhaust ports hanging below the cockpit
being shaped differently on this figure. Otherwise, all of the same things can
be said about the jet mode of Aiakos that were said about the jet mode of
Minos. It looks sleek and deadly in a different way, but nonetheless so. Aiakos
comes with a different set of hands for the combined Hades, these with fingers
terminating in flat tips with holes, and so when they are folded up they look
like rocket pods. These pods can be wielded by the robot (which is great,
because Breastmaster partners notwithstanding, the figures in this set are
really woefully armed. –mr), but can also be mounted underneath the wings,
giving the jet mode a really muscular weapon array. They are a little too long
for the robot to hold in a good-looking fashion, but they absolutely do spice
up the jet mode. 
Aiakos also comes with a pair of long blasters and a large,
blocky part that is certainly intended to be a weapon of some sort as well.
These parts combine to form a blaster for Hades, and are apparently, if
official images are to be believed, intended to augment Hypnos’ vehicle mode.
It would seem that purchasing the set in order of release would have allowed
Hypnos to be armored up with weapons, the lack of which was actually a
criticism that was had of Hypnos when that figure was reviewed. The complaint
essentially was that the tank mode specifically was kind of empty looking, due
to a lack anything featured on the tanks’ rear section. Seems rather strange
that a different figure in a set would provide the parts needed to fill out a
different figure, but that’s what the case is here. The parts themselves don’t
work too well on Aiakos, as they are all larger pieces that don’t really mesh
well with the slender robot or sleek vehicle mode.
The Hades team has been one great figure after another, and
even the remolds feel exciting. As much praise was heaped upon Hypnos, it is
fair to assume that Aiakos would be eligible for it as well, and Aiakos does
deserve a lot of praise. One aspect of this figure that truly stands out is the
face sculpt. The sculpt is clear and sharp, and very expressive. On first
glance, it’s sort of “just” a robot face; but given a little time, Aiakos has a
sly grin and a visage that oozes character. It presents a good contrast to
other faces on the team, such as Hypnos and Cerberus, which are rather plain
and standard, and the stellar robotic and menacing faces of figures like
Thanatos and Minos. Aiakos’ face bears a resemblance to Rhadamanthus’, with its
cool sneer and general disposition. As a general statement, robotic-looking faces
are always preferred, and face plates beat actual mouths any day. But, when
done well, faces like Aiakos’ are very characterful, and that really works
here. He is bug-eyed, or maybe the intention is something more like old school
flight googles, fitting a fast aerial character.
As a result of the color being vibrant and light, the
plastic of this figure looks a little bit flimsy. It feels the same as the
plastic of all the other figures on the team, but it looks thin. This is due to the color choice. Aiakos doesn’t look
fragile or cheap, though. This may be a strange comparison, but it’s the same
general thing that happened with the Onslaught in the G2 Bruticus boxed set,
where a change in plastic color made it seem as though there was a change in plastic
quality. For a mold that contains such a nail-biter of a transformation step as
this one and its cockpit rotation, although far better handled on this version
than with the initial one, the appearance of thinner, frailer plastic can be a
real cause for concern. All is well, however, as Aiakos is nice and sturdy. The
color is a little odd though, again not a real bold pink, but just kind of
weird. It is distinctive and all of that, but it seems like it should be a
little out of place with the rest of the team. 
It is somewhat rare that a repaint of a figure is able to
feel so exciting, but Aiakos manages that. Maybe it’s because Minos was such a
hit that the reuse benefits from the sustained positive feeling, but if one
experienced Aiakos first, and found it enjoyable, then certainly one would
maintain that enthusiasm for Minos. This is just a quality figure, well
designed, well executed, well done all around. The fixed nature of the
transformation, thanks again to a redesign of parts to complete the cosmetics
of the jet mode rather than a desire to fix the step in the transformation,
allows for Aiakos to be more of an idle transformation, the kind that is
desired while watching TV or something, than Minos, which honestly adds so much
value to this figure. It is definitely a figure that would be of value on your
shelves, and it also means that you’re one step closer to Hades.
Foreshadowing.
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