Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock

Sunday, February 1st, 2015 6:01AM CST

Categories: Toy News, Reviews, Site Articles
Posted by: Va'al Views: 40,087

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Why not have some more Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers reviews for the weekend? Thanks to fellow Seibertron.com member Fires_Of_Inferno, Canada-dweller with easier access to the figures for now, we take a look at Dinobot leader Grimlock in his brick form, including some thoughts and size comparisons - check it out below!

Fires_Of_Inferno wrote:I have been asked to post my review of Battle Changers Grimlock here. So I shall!

I was surprised to find Kre-O Battle Changers Grimlock at my local Toys R' Us during my Boxing Day toy store rampage.

Grimlock was released in Canada in late 2014, although they are listed as not being available until Spring 2015. Hasbro seems to be doing some wacky things with their release dates when Canada and the UK get releases BEFORE the US does. Grimlock is an 82 piece set who's colours more match the Age of Extinction toy than the G1 toy. This doesn't bother me as much as I thought it would. He stands roughly 10cm (4in) tall in dino mode, and there's no storage for his weapon, unless you want to stick it in his tiny dino hands (which I do).

Grimlock transforms exactly as you'd expect him to. The head and sides of the dino mode are attached to the same spinal component and all fold back and down. His lower portion swings forward to form legs and feet, and the dino legs twist at the knee to form his robot arms. Pretty standard in terms of a recognizable G1 accurate Grimlock transformation!

His robot mode stands just shy of 9cm (3 1/2 inches), and looks exactly how a Kre-O Grimlock should! Again, the colour looks more like AoE Grimlocks' colours, but that doesn't bother me one bit. The helmet actually bothers me a little more with the fact that, instead of using a new helmet design, they use one of the generic Kre-O helmet designs. I guess I can't be TOO mad at that since it still looks like the guy, though.

The face and torso have tampographed details while the sword, shoulders, and the grey pieces on the sides of the shins have stickers. They're alright stickers, I was honestly reluctant to put them on at first, because I thought he'd look better with them off, but nah, he looks better this way! The articulation is surprisingly awesome! I wish all regular Transformers were as bendy as him!

In relation to other Kre-O figures, I'd say he's the right size! They come up to about thigh level to him. I'm one of those nut bars who like things to be a certain scale to each other, and I think this scale works for Kre-O Grimlock!

I saw Optimus, Bumblebee, and Starscream at the Toys R' Us as well. I knew Grimlock was also going to be released with them, but I didn't see him until after I started digging. He was buried in the back of the shelf. Good thing I found him or I might have had to settle for getting one of the ones I was less enthusiastic for. First world problem averted!

Pick him up when you see him. After seeing Bumblebee and Optimus, I'd say this one is definitely the winner of the first wave. Hopefully there'll be more releases after this. I'd love to see Megatron given the same treatment!

Credit(s): Fires_Of_Inferno

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Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1645411)
Posted by Sabrblade on February 1st, 2015 @ 8:29am CST

If gold is the color of royalty, then him Grimlock king!

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1645422)
Posted by Noideaforaname on February 1st, 2015 @ 8:52am CST

Slapping that SEIBERTRON.COM on someone's pic review? *smh*

The scale-junky in me wants to see them do BIG Transformers out of these. Don't really need giant versions of figures I already have.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Really? I was thinking that these would be released closer to the TV debut of the RID cartoon. I'm surprised these were supposed to be out soon.

Err, I think we're getting confused. From my perspective, anything unreleased is "NEW." There haven't been any new Kre-O stuff here, the US, since AoE premiered. These Battle Chargers, by the sounds of things, were *supposed* to have been released here months ago. Since they haven't, I'm making a general statement about all unreleased-in-the-US/"new" Kre-O.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1645478)
Posted by Va'al on February 1st, 2015 @ 12:07pm CST

Noideaforaname wrote:Slapping that SEIBERTRON.COM on someone's pic review? *smh*

It wasn't intentional, but I've been arguing with my connection since Thursday - so there it stays for now. [-(

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651228)
Posted by LOST Cybertronian on February 14th, 2015 @ 2:56pm CST

The Kre-O display at Toy Fair 2015 was small but not without its own reveals. We get a nice look at the Kreon Warriors and Sideswipe Roadway Rundown set. Also on display at Toy Fair 2015 were new Kre-O sets including Battle Changers Drift, Blitzwing, Hound and Shockwave. Blitzwing and Drift are triple changers.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651249)
Posted by Noideaforaname on February 14th, 2015 @ 3:14pm CST

No pics of the Bumblebee and Optimus combiners?

Blitzwing coming with 3 heads sure is handy since I have a regular custom Blitswing that'd love a crazy face. But a metallic gold helmet? Odd.

Looks like they combined just about every Drift into that one. Colors/chest based on MtMtE, triple changer like Movie, minions like RiD.

And those "Warriors" are getting a second wave. Too bad most of them are repeat characters. Looks like some of them have hair. Uh...

Kreon are going weird and totally away from what got people hooked on.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651330)
Posted by Zeedust on February 14th, 2015 @ 5:11pm CST

Noideaforaname wrote:Looks like they combined just about every Drift into that one. Colors/chest based on MtMtE, triple changer like Movie, minions like RiD.

I think the only one they missed is Shattered Glass Drift, and since he's a FunPub character who never appeared in anything anyway, and trying to include him would probably make things confusing, I can see why they skipped him.

I'm just surprised they picked Drift, with those modes I'd have expected Springer.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651420)
Posted by Editor on February 14th, 2015 @ 7:21pm CST

I was hope for an announcement for at least one more line of micro-changers with the new combiner characters, Alpha Bravo, Rook, Offroad and such to mash into our existing Kre-o combiners.

That said trying to push an 8th guy onto Superion may be hard.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651462)
Posted by ScottyP on February 14th, 2015 @ 8:57pm CST

Noideaforaname wrote:No pics of the Bumblebee and Optimus combiners?

Hmm, weird, thought I had sent those through. Sorry about that! The connection in there was a bit rough.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651463)
Posted by Va'al on February 14th, 2015 @ 8:59pm CST

ScottyP wrote:
Noideaforaname wrote:No pics of the Bumblebee and Optimus combiners?

Hmm, weird, thought I had sent those through. Sorry about that! The connection in there was a bit rough.

We got some in the later galleries though!

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... als/32225/

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651468)
Posted by ScottyP on February 14th, 2015 @ 9:10pm CST

Va'al wrote:
ScottyP wrote:
Noideaforaname wrote:No pics of the Bumblebee and Optimus combiners?

Hmm, weird, thought I had sent those through. Sorry about that! The connection in there was a bit rough.

We got some in the later galleries though!

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... als/32225/

Ah, there it is! http://www.seibertron.com/events/fullsi ... &image=110

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651469)
Posted by SW's SilverHammer on February 14th, 2015 @ 9:12pm CST

ScottyP wrote:
Va'al wrote:
ScottyP wrote:
Noideaforaname wrote:No pics of the Bumblebee and Optimus combiners?

Hmm, weird, thought I had sent those through. Sorry about that! The connection in there was a bit rough.

We got some in the later galleries though!

http://www.seibertron.com/transformers/ ... als/32225/

Ah, there it is! http://www.seibertron.com/events/fullsi ... &image=110

That's just dumb, but i kinda like it :lol:

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651490)
Posted by Noideaforaname on February 14th, 2015 @ 9:59pm CST

Yeeeess!
I think this if my favorite reveal. It's just plain absurd, the kind of thing people joke about, but I got a list of Kreons that could use those very same helmets (which won't be used in combined mode), so inexplicably it's both a stupid novelty and a highly useful set.

Now the trouble is can I even find it.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651550)
Posted by Editor on February 15th, 2015 @ 12:49am CST

3 out of 4 of those heads on Bumblebees limbs seem to be in a great deal of pain..... But that one leg is having a blast.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651580)
Posted by Va'al on February 15th, 2015 @ 6:59am CST

Editor wrote:3 out of 4 of those heads on Bumblebees limbs seem to be in a great deal of pain..... But that one leg is having a blast.

You have any idea how hard it is for me not to imagine them screaming with pain/joy every time I look at the image, now..?

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651582)
Posted by Va'al on February 15th, 2015 @ 7:10am CST

It isn't over yet! For all the Kre-O fans out there, Seibertron.com has uploaded a gallery showcasing the new direction that the line is going into revealed by Hasbro at Toy Fair 2015, from Battle Changers, to Warriors, to the disturbingly amusing Bumblebee and Optimus Prime combiners - check them all out by clicking on any of the images below.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651587)
Posted by RAcast on February 15th, 2015 @ 7:31am CST

Noideaforaname wrote:
Yeeeess!
I think this if my favorite reveal. It's just plain absurd, the kind of thing people joke about, but I got a list of Kreons that could use those very same helmets (which won't be used in combined mode), so inexplicably it's both a stupid novelty and a highly useful set.

Now the trouble is can I even find it.

Holy crap, what is even this? :lol:

I saw the Optimus made out of tiny Optimii before I noticed the GIGANTIC Bumblebee with little screaming heads for limbs! #-o

To be fair...it is Bumblebee...

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651612)
Posted by dragons on February 15th, 2015 @ 9:02am CST

RAcast wrote:
Noideaforaname wrote:
Yeeeess!
I think this if my favorite reveal. It's just plain absurd, the kind of thing people joke about, but I got a list of Kreons that could use those very same helmets (which won't be used in combined mode), so inexplicably it's both a stupid novelty and a highly useful set.

Now the trouble is can I even find it.

Holy crap, what is even this? I saw the Optimus made out of tiny Optimii before I noticed the GIGANTIC Bumblebee with little screaming heads for limbs!

To be fair...it is Bumblebee...

funny thing is hasbro beat us fans to it none of us fans would have thought to make to make combiner out of all movie bumblebees that are on shelfs :APPLAUSE:

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1651643)
Posted by Editor on February 15th, 2015 @ 10:29am CST

Va'al wrote:
Editor wrote:3 out of 4 of those heads on Bumblebees limbs seem to be in a great deal of pain..... But that one leg is having a blast.

You have any idea how hard it is for me not to imagine them screaming with pain/joy every time I look at the image, now..?

You good Sir.
Are welcome.

So to quickly review this piece:
:-?

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1652211)
Posted by chuckdawg1999 on February 16th, 2015 @ 4:45pm CST

Va'al wrote:
Editor wrote:3 out of 4 of those heads on Bumblebees limbs seem to be in a great deal of pain..... But that one leg is having a blast.

You have any idea how hard it is for me not to imagine them screaming with pain/joy every time I look at the image, now..?

Me too. It's cracking me up, it's like it's saying "Heeey I'm a leg!"

Those Battle changers look really good. The two I have were solid builds and fun to transform back and forth. One complaint I have from them is I wish there were a few more locking points in vehicle mode. I think Drift will have those, at least I hope it will.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1652267)
Posted by Editor on February 16th, 2015 @ 6:56pm CST

No Chuck, he's saying "Heeey i'm a leg!!!... o"

In all seriousness, I picked up a few more warrior packs, and may review opening those in the thread I made for the first few packs.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1652371)
Posted by chuckdawg1999 on February 17th, 2015 @ 1:54am CST

Editor wrote:No Chuck, he's saying "Heeey i'm a leg!!!... o"

In all seriousness, I picked up a few more warrior packs, and may review opening those in the thread I made for the first few packs.

LOL! Bless your soul in buying those Warrior figures. I gave up on blind bag Kre-O when it became legit blind bagged. Thankfully it looks like Joe is done so I don't have to worry about missing Zartan and Buzzer, just Zartan... On a positive note, Battle Changers!

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1652473)
Posted by Editor on February 17th, 2015 @ 11:28am CST

Hey at least you had a chance at those Joe Kreons.
TRU Canada only brought in the first wave of sets and series 1 and 2 of the character packs.

It sucks that they have dropped the codes, as I ended up buying way too many AOE2 packs just to get Skalor so I could finally build my King Poseidon (never cared for the name Piranacon for that gestalt.)

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653194)
Posted by Va'al on February 19th, 2015 @ 9:41am CST

Catching up on some post-Toy Fair news, we have confirmation of Kre-O Transformers Warriors blind packs appearing at - for now - Canadian Toys'R'Us stores. Fellow users Editor and Samsonator both confirm the purchase, and have shared images with us of these themed Kreon minifigure reimaginings of established Transformers characters. Check some out below!

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653205)
Posted by Fires_Of_Inferno on February 19th, 2015 @ 9:57am CST

Hah. I spotted these last week when I picked up Strongarm from Toys r' Us. Didn't think they hadn't been spotted yet though! Didn't bother buying any since I think they look stupid.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653215)
Posted by Rated X on February 19th, 2015 @ 10:11am CST

Fires_Of_Inferno wrote:Hah. I spotted these last week when I picked up Strongarm from Toys r' Us. Didn't think they hadn't been spotted yet though! Didn't bother buying any since I think they look stupid.

Yeah I dont get why anybody likes kreo anyways. I dont even get what the target audience is supposed to be. Too small for little kids, too dumb for big kids. Whos left ? Hasbro's target audience IS kids right ?

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653221)
Posted by Sabrblade on February 19th, 2015 @ 10:19am CST

Rated X wrote:
Fires_Of_Inferno wrote:Hah. I spotted these last week when I picked up Strongarm from Toys r' Us. Didn't think they hadn't been spotted yet though! Didn't bother buying any since I think they look stupid.

Yeah I dont get why anybody likes kreo anyways. I dont even get what the target audience is supposed to be. Too small for little kids, too dumb for big kids. Whos left ? Hasbro's target audience IS kids right ?

Lego appeals to all ages, so why should Kre-O be any different?

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653225)
Posted by Fires_Of_Inferno on February 19th, 2015 @ 10:25am CST

Sabrblade wrote:
Rated X wrote:
Fires_Of_Inferno wrote:Hah. I spotted these last week when I picked up Strongarm from Toys r' Us. Didn't think they hadn't been spotted yet though! Didn't bother buying any since I think they look stupid.

Yeah I dont get why anybody likes kreo anyways. I dont even get what the target audience is supposed to be. Too small for little kids, too dumb for big kids. Whos left ? Hasbro's target audience IS kids right ?
Lego appeals to all ages, so why should Kre-O be any different?

Oh don't get me wrong, *I* love Kre-O!

See? That's all mine!

I just think that the cowboy/ninja/pirate looking Kre-O's look dumb.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653226)
Posted by Sabrblade on February 19th, 2015 @ 10:28am CST

Fires_Of_Inferno wrote:I just think that the cowboy/ninja/pirate looking Kre-O's look dumb.

Hasbro's just having a little fun.

In fact, that's pretty much the answer for a lot of the more goofy stuff done by the brand.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653231)
Posted by Noideaforaname on February 19th, 2015 @ 10:40am CST

I wouldn't mind grabbing some of these. They're the kind of silly, radical new takes you just don't see in Transformers.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653233)
Posted by Samsonator on February 19th, 2015 @ 10:45am CST

See, when I first saw the images of these, I thought they were silly, but ultimately not worth the time. I bought a couple on a whim, just because they were there, and I really like them. Sure they're just another way for Hasbro to get some mileage out of parts they created for other Kre-O lines (D&D, for instance) but the paintwork is pretty solid and they're fun little reimaginings. I will be getting more.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653243)
Posted by Editor on February 19th, 2015 @ 11:05am CST

I honestly thought, that if i grabbed a couple at least I might get a few extra pieces that could come in handy, but after opening a couple, as silly as the idea is, it's not all that different from the Timelines stuff that was already done, so they are growing on me.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653246)
Posted by Fires_Of_Inferno on February 19th, 2015 @ 11:24am CST

Now that I think more about it, the extra parts WOULD be nice for customizations...

It's not like I don't like goofy stuff in Transformers either too. I mean, I already like the RiD character Bisk! With Clampdown coming a close second.

Still, it's hard to get over how dumb Optimus looks in a cowboy hat.... however hilarious it is.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653288)
Posted by Editor on February 19th, 2015 @ 1:00pm CST

Fires_Of_Inferno wrote:Still, it's hard to get over how dumb Optimus looks in a cowboy hat.... however hilarious it is.

IMO It's the cowboy hat that makes the piece, awesome if you think of it as Ramrod Prime, for the Sabre Rider fans out there.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Evfuc5LCftc[/youtube] :-B

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653301)
Posted by zodconvoy on February 19th, 2015 @ 1:20pm CST

Fires_Of_Inferno wrote:Still, it's hard to get over how dumb Optimus looks in a cowboy hat.... however hilarious it is.

Dare you to say that to his face.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653350)
Posted by Sabrblade on February 19th, 2015 @ 2:46pm CST

Fires_Of_Inferno wrote:Still, it's hard to get over how dumb Optimus looks in a cowboy hat.... however hilarious it is.

In a way, the idea makes perfect sense considering how it was a childhood dream of Peter Cullen's to be a cowboy.

This Cowboy Optimus can kinda be seen as a way of honoring Cullen's dream.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653390)
Posted by Editor on February 19th, 2015 @ 4:00pm CST

Sabrblade wrote:
This Cowboy Optimus can kinda be seen as a way of honoring Cullen's dream.

Damn it Sabr, now I might end up looking for a suitable Cullen head in the other Kreons for that double I have.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1653512)
Posted by chuckdawg1999 on February 19th, 2015 @ 10:36pm CST

Editor wrote:
Sabrblade wrote:
This Cowboy Optimus can kinda be seen as a way of honoring Cullen's dream.

Damn it Sabr, now I might end up looking for a suitable Cullen head in the other Kreons for that double I have.

I would put money on TFCC or maybe Hasbro doing a Peter Cullen Kreon at some point before he dies.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1661315)
Posted by Va'al on March 10th, 2015 @ 12:53pm CDT

Quietly keeping up with all the other Transformers toy releases, the Kre-O section for our robots appears to have another couple of sets available come May 2015. Via web store Entertainment Earth, we have an image of two new boxes featuring Jazz and Ratchet, under the Small Cube monicker, available to pre-order as a single wave for $23.99 or a case for $47.99 - check out the image mirrored below!

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1661319)
Posted by Editor on March 10th, 2015 @ 1:19pm CDT

That is interesting.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1661321)
Posted by Noideaforaname on March 10th, 2015 @ 1:26pm CDT

New packaging, old product. And it seems they removed the robot modes. Watch as these actually get released outside Asia, but none of the cool new stuff...

(admittedly I'd be a lot more interested if it was Wheeljack or someone else I missed)

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1661358)
Posted by Fires_Of_Inferno on March 10th, 2015 @ 2:50pm CDT

Noideaforaname wrote:New packaging, old product. And it seems they removed the robot modes. Watch as these actually get released outside Asia, but none of the cool new stuff...

(admittedly I'd be a lot more interested if it was Wheeljack or someone else I missed)

*BW Megatron voice* "New packaging, same product! Loser!"

So I decided to make myself a Kre-O Skullgrin in and out of his pretender shell.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1661388)
Posted by craggy on March 10th, 2015 @ 3:37pm CDT

looks like you get a lot of Kreons for your money.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1665863)
Posted by Stuartmaximus on March 23rd, 2015 @ 10:46am CDT

I seriously want that Battle Changer Blitzwing! any idea when it'll be out in the UK?

pity no Battle Changer Metroplex, Omega Supreme, Scorponok, Trypticon & Fortress Maximus

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1672057)
Posted by william-james88 on April 6th, 2015 @ 7:47pm CDT

To promote the new Kre-O Transformer warriors, which feature our favourite characters in eclectic getups, Kre-O teamed up with Stoopid Buddy Studios for a cute promotion. This video, found on the Official Transformers youtube channel, features Samurai Optimus Prime disguised as aTruck Hibachi Chef.

Enjoy:

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1672061)
Posted by Sabrblade on April 6th, 2015 @ 8:05pm CDT

Everything is Awesome about that video.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1672079)
Posted by no-one on April 6th, 2015 @ 9:01pm CDT

Well, that was silly fun.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1672110)
Posted by MaverickPrime on April 6th, 2015 @ 9:51pm CDT

Thanks a lot for posting this man, now I gotta get one :BANG_HEAD:

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1672115)
Posted by william-james88 on April 6th, 2015 @ 10:14pm CDT

MaverickPrime wrote:Thanks a lot for posting this man, now I gotta get one

When I saw it, I just couldnt resist. Its even more awesome how its actually a video from Hasbro instead of a fan made one. Some of those marketting people know how to have a fun time.

Re: Pictorial Review - Kre-O Transformers Battle Changers Grimlock (1672135)
Posted by RAcast on April 6th, 2015 @ 10:38pm CDT