Beast Machines Transformers Toy Review: Longhorn

in 2001, Action Figure Review, Beast Machines, Maximal

Beast Machines Transformers

Longhorn Name: Longhorn
Function: Warrior
Motto: "If you're strong enough, there are no precedents."

Highly intelligent, Longhorn is a warrior philosopher. One of the most powerful Maximals, believes that war is trying but necessary. A talented strategist as well as front-line warrior. Well liked by his comrades for circumspect attitude and admired for tenacity in battle. Often shouts his slogan, "When I see Vehicons, I see red...and when I see red, things get ugly!" before charging fearlessly into battle. Generates paralyzing thunderclaps by stomping on the ground. Reinforced skull and horns release concentrated lightning bolts. Despite serious demeanor, Longhorn takes great joy in battle, especially when goring Vehicons. Considers himself a vegetarian.

Strength: 9  Intelligence:Speed:Endurance: 9
Rank: 5  Courage: 5  Firepower: 7  Skill: 7

Longhorn is a part of the second line of basic Beast Machines toys. With quality harking back to the basics of the Beast Wars line, this toy offers a much better Maximal basic level toy than his predecessor, Buzzsaw.

Beast Mode:
In beast mode, Longhorn is a techno-organic bull. His primary colors are reddish brown and dark yellow with silver and gold accents. Translucent green plastic is used for light piping the bull eyes as well as the underside of his body. The detail and patterns are very distinctive. Probably his most distinctive feature is a nose ring! He even has molded details on his sides resembling ribs.

The way in which the toy is packaged does not do justice to it. From the overhead view, one would think Longhorn is extremely lanky and thin. However, seeing the toy out of the package reveals that he is not thin, just sleek. The upper body of the bull is rather wide and then becomes thinner towards the waist, but then the rear legs are fairly wide.

In beast mode Longhorn as twelve points of articulation. Lift up the small patch of "fur" onhis back and press it to have Longhorn execute a head butt. His beast mode head can also swivel from side to side. The upper part of his left rear leg opens up to reveal his Spark crystal.

Transformation to Robot Mode:
Begin Longhorn's transformation by straightening out his rear legs and folding down the robot foot pieces on both legs. Rotate the lower rear beast mode legs around to form the robot legs. Now swing the beast mode head back a bit and move the translucent green chest piece forward. Fold out the forward beast mode legs to reveal the robot arms. Swing the chest piece back to its original position and lower the beast mode head down to reveal the robot head. Longhorn is now in robot mode!

Robot Mode
In robot mode, Longhorn retains all his colors from the beast mode, but his translucent green is much more prominant. Also, some neon red is used on his horns and face. Because the robot mode now has the added width of his robot shoulders, Longhorn looks like he has much more girth to his form. the detailing is very nice, with a face that resembles Magnaboss's robot head. Another nice detail are his robot mode hands, which are the forward beast mode legs. The designers could have easily cheated and just made his hands "hoove hands",but insteada fist is molded into the pattern and each is carrying a weapon! Longhorn's right hand appears to be holding a short scythe like weapon while his left wields a three bladed weapon. A very nice touch.

As a robot, Longhorn has thirten points of articulation. Unfortunately, because the way the transformation is set up, he does not have waist articulation. Also, the way his beast mode head folds down to reveal his robot mode head leaves a bit of anugly gap between the beast mode head on his chest and his robot head, making the toy look oddly "unfinished".

Overall, Longhorn is a very neat toy at a basic price point. he would be much better if the waist articulation had been worked in and there was no "gap" in robot
mode. B+