This self-transforming Megatron is as bad as it is high-priced

Three years later, Hasbro transforming, dancing, driving, talking and attacking Optimus Prime finally has a villain to fight. Megatron, leader of the Decepticons, will arrive soon. For $1,200 — $899 through May 25 – Its robotics partner Robosen has created perhaps the best auto-conversion transformer to date.

To make sure you get it: this bot automatically transforms for a remotely controlled tank with a giant, automatically extending cannon that can fire missiles – Then he stands up and says over 270 phrases from Megatron’s original voice actor, Frank Welker, as he performs all kinds of tricks.

Here, bask in the glory of a child’s imagination becoming reality:

Did I mention it also responds to tons of voice commands?

I’ve been playing with Megatron for half a day now, mostly Excellent. Its 36 servo motors and 118 microchips allow the 21-inch bot to perform a wide variety of activities, but it also has more engaging play features than Optimus or Dinobot Grimlock, thanks to a better weapon set, 112 dazzling LED lights, and intriguing novel joints for actuating the servos.

When you fire the Fusion Cannon, permanently attached to Megatron’s arm, it not only rotates the black plastic support: the three joints cause the cannon to shake as it “charges,” which gives it recoiland LED diodes pleasantly illuminate its interior.

The glowing sword and novel cejak (yes, this robot can actually swing a spiky rubber ball on a chain!) have detachable heads so they can be easily slipped into Megatron’s hands while still being secured.

And when Megatron falls – and that will be I’m afraid I’ll fall – after all, he’s clever enough to get up on his own again.

Robosen even addressed one of my biggest complaints about Optimus: it made Megatron’s leg servos stiff enough that you can optionally leave the bot standing on a shelf when it’s powered off. I also like how Megatron talks about the production of Energon and lights up the five-LED charging indicator when you connect the USB-C cable.

Nearly all of the bot’s servos are now also hidden behind clever, spring-loaded plastic flaps – and one of them even automatically rotates the Decepticon logo when Megatron exits tank mode.

While it’s a frigid toy, it could really employ more work before it releases in Q3, and based on previous releases, I’m not entirely sure it can do all that work.

This is the third Robosen bot I’ve tried, with a confusing and somewhat buggy app that makes custom programming really arduous and causes all sorts of lags even when you’re trying to remotely control the tank. It still doesn’t provide access to every joint when creating custom movements and positions. And its voice recognition system is still mediocre – the bot did not respond properly in more than half of the cases.

My test bot also had some more basic issues, such as a tendency to… fall over and forget certain settings when powered back on, or repeat the same voice line in voice command mode without me asking. The flail actually fell apart after the first 10 hits because one of its chain link pins was too loose. Hopefully some of these won’t end up in mass production, but I think it’s worth saying.

You should also know that, like previous bots, they can only be used on polished, strenuous floors: they constantly scrape parts of themselves across the floor to walk, turn, transform, and stand up, and most of them don’t work on carpet. While you Power when driving on very loud rubber treads on slopes or on lean carpet, I was unable to turn on cushioned surfaces: I got caught badly on one of the rubber treads when trying to turn the tank on the carpet.

But like Optimus, who had his problems, none of this killed my enthusiasm. This is one of the coolest toy lines ever created; I just want them to be even better.