This figure was kindly sent over to us to review courtesy of Hasbro UK
Soundwave, as seen in the Transformers: Bumblebee movie was released in late 2021 as part of the Studio Series. He is a Voyager Class figure and is number 83 in the Studio Series line. Soundwave arrives in the usual black packaging with red and sky blue highlighted colour scheme and sporting the Bumblebee movie in the top left of the box.
Round the back of the box, we have details of the Transformation from the Robot form as packaged into the futuristic tank model seen in Bumblebee during the early Cybertron scenes. Inside the box we have Soundwave tied, via elasticated ties, into a backing card with a Cybertron backdrop. Behind this is the unpunched stand as seen on all Studio Series figures with a red plinth complete with movie logo, side panels, and the three-sided diorama backdrop.
As per the movie, the Robot form for Soundwave is routed in the original G1 Transformers. He stands a shade under 7 inches tall and is cast in the usual hard plastic in the base colour for each element of his body. The head and main torso, shoulders and lower legs are in blue while the lower arms and upper legs are a white colour. Paint apps are minimal with the red visor on the helmet as well as a silver mask section. There are then smaller trims around the arms and legs in red or gold and a further gold border around the chest section which also carries the Decepticon logo on the clear plastic window. All the connecting jointed pieces are cast in a gunmetal grey as are the hands.
Soundwave is articulated at all the major joints, 17 points in total, allowing a few posing options. The joints also double up as part of the Transforming process and therefore are a little looser than you would find on a standard action figure. The joints will all hold a pose well enough and support Soundwave fully without any balance issues once posed.
Soundwave's chest cavity opens up, as per the original 1980's toy, by way of a spring-loaded button just above the chest section on the left-hand side near the shoulder. Inside is coloured blue as per the rest of the main body with some decor added in grey and gold across the back wall of the cavity.
Soundwave is armed with his shoulder cannon which is a cast blue hard plastic piece designed to slot into a socket on the rear of the figure. It can be fitted in either the right or left socket and pivots on the arm so the cannon can be raised or lowered.
A further hand blaster weapon, cast in the same gunmetal grey as the joints, is designed to sit into Soundwave's gripping hands - either right or left
The Transformation process is 29 steps in total as laid out in the fold-out two-tone leaflet included in the set. As an older gentleman, I still find these hard to follow particularly without the reference of colour or larger images - but there are plenty of more knowledgeable people out there with useful reference materials and videos if you are struggling.
The vehicle mode is perhaps not as exciting as a car or a plane, and I do struggle with the overall aesthetics when my head is still expecting Soundwave to transform into a Cassette player. The movie doesn't show the transformed mode for Soundwave so it's difficult to warm to the Tank mode without a visual reference.
As per the movie, and as detailed in the instructions, Soundwave does combine with the new Core Class release of Ravage so check out our Ravage review to see the two together.
The Studio Series Soundwave is a nice nod to the original 80's Transformers I know so well while also fitting in with the scale and looks of the movie Studio Series line. Soundwave looks great in robot mode and while I am not a huge fan of the vehicle mode, the transformation is quite neat once you've got your head around the instructions.
You can purchase Soundwave from Hasbro Pulse directly, or at specialist retailers including our affiliate partners at Zavvi.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...