TOY REVIEW
Name: BRUTICUS
Allegiance: Predacon
Function: Predacon Dog
Beast Mode: Technorganic Cerberus
Price: 26 AUD
BEAST MODE
Originally intended to be released as part of the Transformers Beast
Machines: Battle for the Spark line as a Maximal, this toy was instead
released as a Predacon for Robots In Disguise, evidently with its
Spark gimmick removed. Measuring at about 18cm in length, Bruticus is a
mostly red, black and yellow Cerberus. The Cerberus, also spelt as Kerberos
(from the Greek) is a mythological three-headed hound which was said to
have guarded the gates of Hades. This mode is almost completely mechanical
in nature (much like the beast modes of Beast Machines Silverbolt and Night
Slash Cheetor). The only really organic looking parts are the cheeks of
the central dog head. Most of the torso and upper legs are coloured red
with some black accents and are sculpted in a way which resembles Greco-Roman
armour (which is fitting, since the Cerberus comes from Greek mythology).
The rump and lower rear legs are coloured a bright canary yellow, which
really clashes badly with the rest of the toy's colours. The tail is also
yellow, although it becomes marine blue towards the end with metallic sky-blue
tips. The tail ends (there are three tails) resemble cables and are tipped
with an axe, a knife and a drill.
Each head is different. The left head has a black face with a yellow jaw
and tongue. The eyes are lime green and the neck is red and black with
a marine blue blade running along the back of the neck. The major drawback
about this head is that the jaw cannot move and the mouth is permanently
open. The middle head is the largest. It is red with a fur grain running
along the cheeks and the face is mostly black with red accents and blue
eyes. There are two winglike fins running along the back of the neck which
are marine blue with gold accents. The main weakness of this head is that
it has the most limited neck movement. The right head is black with a red
muzzle and a yellow jaw. There is a metallic orange and silver buzzsaw
protruding from the back of the neck as well as a blue spiked armour plating
behind it. There are also two spikes protruding from either cheek. The
main drawback about this head is that the muzzle is a bit too big and tends
to obscure the eyes (which are pink).
TRANSFORMATION TO ROBOT MODE
Detach tail. Unfold left dog head, forming robot arm. Rotate fist and swing
blade into place. Swing throat plating up to form shoulder plate. Pull
right head forward, swing up shoulder plate (spiked) and lift up muzzle.
Swing chest section up 90 degrees. Separate cheeks of the centre head,
forming robot face. Swing robot face down in front of robot head. Open
chest panel. Rotate waist 180 degrees and close chest panel. Swing robot
legs across 180 degrees and rotate lower legs 180 degrees. Spread out rear
legs. Insert tail weapon into right fist.
ROBOT MODE
Although the colour scheme still resembles the Belgian flag, there are
some interesting details to note about the robot mode that were either
not visible or arguably less noticeable in beast mode. First of all, the
head has three faces -- the largest face has batlike wings protruding from
the top and has some doglike features. Another face is also black with
pink eyes and has a more pronounced muzzle. The third head is red with
green eyes and resembles a mechanical bulldog. And because Bruticus' head
is on a ball joint, it can actually spin around to reveal the different
faces Quintesson-style!
The chest plate is blue and resembles a rib-cage. There are two shoulder
plates, one of which has a large spike on it. The left hand wields a large
blue knife and the right holds a weapon which resembles a cat o' nine tails,
only with three whips. However, each whip is tipped with a weapon, as described
above (see tail description). The thighs look like Greco-Roman armour plating,
complete with black buckles and spiked knee pads. The lower legs are black
with the left ankle featuring two sharp spikes and the right ankle has
a "dog collar" sculpted onto it with a yellow chain (although the chain
only has three links and isn't attached to anything).
Furthermore, although it is not mentioned in the instruction booklet, there
are an additional two sets of arms which can be used in robot mode. Simply
unfold and extend the rear dog legs to form another pair of arms. These
arms are an awful canary yellow and have marine blue fists and weapons.
The left hand wields a dagger and the right holds a mace.
Other than the use of canary yellow, the major drawback of this mode is
that there is a big cavity in the gut region. Also, the hip area doesn't
lock on anywhere in particular and feels a bit loose.
SPARK CRYSTAL LOCATION
On the back of the head.
OVERALL
Bruticus is well articulated featuring 17 points of articulation in robot
mode (not including the additional arms). With nightmarish details in sculpt
and structural design, yet enough use of canary yellow to make him look
like a Bird-keteer (ya know, Big Bird's fan club), there, it becomes difficult
to judge this toy. Basically, if you can get over his colourful exhibition
of Belgian patriotism in, Bruticus is actually a reasonably good toy.
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