Transformers MP Ratbat
& Soundblaster

NoisyDvL5

The upside is that Soundwave is a great toy. He looks fantastic in both modes. He’s well articulated. He’s a ton of fun. The downside is that, unlike Sideswipe & Prime, Soundwave isn’t brightly colored. As I said, he’s a very dark blue and unless we’re in good lighting, he and Soundblaster kinda end up looking a lot like (never have I been so jealous of my collector brethren who grabbed the yellow-visored TRU Soundwave, that would be something).

There are a few fun differences, like the red cassette door to mimic the original toy. The only downside is that is has no faction symbol. That is instead placed on a purple overlay which allows Soundblaster to be cartoon accurate. The purple overlay is a cool touch, but I’m going to need to pick up a spare D-symbol sticker to help Soundblaster stand out. One thing I am happy about is that the original Soundblaster still used Soundwave’s blue stickers. He looked ridiculous! Luckily, Takara let that one nugget slide for the Masterpiece.

I’m not going to go super deep into a Soundblaster review. I’ve already covered that ground pretty thoroughly, so just hit up my Soundwave Review and mentally replace the word blue with black every time it shows up. The accessories are a little difference this go round, mostly in terms of color. The energon cube is red. So is the Megatron alt mode (it looks really slick in clear red too). His standard blaster and the sensor are also carried over from the first release.

But the main accessory, or reason you bought the set possibly, is Ratbat! And, hey another good thing? He’s as well done as the previous cassettes. He fits the alt mode requirements of transforming into a rectangle that fits the classic size. He looks fantastic in his “bot” mode. He can fit the same grooves as Buzzsaw and Laserbeak. His rocketpack is smartly worked into the transformation instead of being a separate piece. He’s everything you would want out of an MP Ratbat, just at a much higher price than you want to pay.

Overall, is Ratbat worth a $160? Not really, but we can’t just overlook the big imported black Transformer behind him. There are two great bots here even if only one is new. For me, the advantage to owning Soundwave and Soundblaster is that I get to display him in both modes. Soundblaster will be a slick looking black cassette player while Soundwave holds down the fort looking iconic in bot mode. And the upside, all six cassettes released so far. I still hold out hope that there’s a cheaper alternative; that Hasbro will get Ratbat out domestically at some point, but for now this was the way to go and I’ll do my best to enjoy double the Soundwave.


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15 thoughts on “Transformers MP Ratbat
& Soundblaster”

  1. I only recall one opportunity to get the original Soundwave, and I passed him up. D’OH!! I didn’t get him until the Action Masters and G2. oy. I did have Ratbat, and to make up for not having Soundwave, I had Mindwipe, who really looked like Ratbat and Soundwave merged. at least to my mind, at any rate.

    I also had several of the later cassettes, like Squawkbox and the Autobots’ Slamdance and Rewind/Steeljaw.
    .
    .
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    I did finally splurge and get both the Voyager class Cyber-tank ‘blasters last week, then went back for Grimlock this week to find he had been discounted as the TF4 movie merch was being stocked, and it took some talking to get a price match for the other two.

    I do have to ask: did they change the 2012-13 Voyager Classic Grimlock mold in the last year? I could swear his legs were more like the G1, not just sliding into position and snapping the kneecap-tail together. the main reason I took him back last year was the one leg wall wouldn’t fit properly so I couldn’t close up his tail.
    TFwiki doesn’t seem to have updated him the last year or two?

    Anywho, still not really liking the “data disc” underlings, esp since Steeljaw was just a wonky mess and refused to cooperate. Buzzsaw was fine, tho?

    1. I don’t know about the Voyager Grimlock. I’ve kinda become a TF-snob and don’t pay much attention outside of the MPs anymore. :$

      1. I don’t collect Transformers anymore but if I did I would only collect the MP line.

        1. It’s expensive, but I look at the retail items Vault has bought and I just feel like “I’ll pay it” yeah.

          Hopefully, Hasbro brings more of the MPs over and it can become a cheaper line for folks to get into.

          1. I kind of wish Hasbro would just make one line and concentrate on it. I would rather have the MP line expand than Prime, Beast Hunters, Movie and Generations,fair enough some of them are good but overall they are not as good as the MP figures.
            Regardless though I just don’t really have enough interest (or money) in Transformers anymore to spend on collecting. I just enjoy the reviews LOL.

  2. I still haven’t managed to pull the trigger on SoundBlaster. I even think that he looks cooler (though not necessarily better) than Soundwave because of that slick black coloring. Like you said, though, as he’s such an expensive toy, I haven’t been able to justify the double-dipping yet. I really want the Ratbat, but I don’t $160 want him. He does look amazing, though. The only nitpick I have on his is that I would have preferred it if the cassette detailing was on his back in bat mode. Something about those parts showing up on the front of his wings bugs me (just a little bit).

    1. I had the opposite on the wings. I kinda like it better in the front, but it’s not exactly accurate, I know.

      Soundblaster was the tipping point for me. If this Bluestreak repaint isn’t significantly different, I’m going to pass on that one. I also think I’m done with the Sideswipe repaints too – though I worry I could get suckered into the last two main ones if I could pair them up with a Powered Convoy repaint (I’ve got it bad).

      But I definitely need to be more selective going forward.

        1. Hey! Thanks for the heads up. I had missed that it had been revealed.

          I was hoping for the Diaclone Blue Bluestreak, so yeah, a completely Silver Bluestreak is a let down. That will be my first pass since snagging Sideswipe.

  3. I had this preordered from BBTS but cancelled at the last minute. As much as I want Ratbat for the collection I just can’t justify the price tag. I might eventually cave and pick him up later but right now I’m okay with not having him.

    Now if they put out Blaster and the Autobot cassettes, then I’ll definitely have to track down RatBlaster just to have a complete set.

  4. I still haven’t popped on any MPs but in this setup. Getting both does mean something. Blaster would be great (Twincast repaint to get one cassette I bet happens) can recreate their final battle (well I hope somebody.doesn’t blow up their Soundwave)

    Still a great review and.pics. Ratbat easily cound be a senator on Earth as on Cybrertron.

    Now if Jazz shows up, gonna get that bad boy asap.

    1. I’m excited to get to Jazz! It has to happen sooner or later!

      And Blaster… yeah, no doubt Twincast would have an important cassette come release time.

  5. Love this figure, though one of his thighs looks a bit misassembled. Haven’t transformed him yet, but I have transformed the original, so I’m content. Love RatBat. Looking forward to a Wingthing repaint with Enemy.

    Then we can get into MP Shattered Glass Sir Soundwave and his cassettes. };D

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