Transformers Arms Micron AM-19 Gaia Unicron Review MyFigureCollection.net
As a foreword on this review; I must note that I am using old photos I took of this figure when I got it because this figure has become damaged since then and I am no longer able to take photos of it due to a stress mark fracture in the "face" of the volcano mode (which is a major part of the transformation of this figure). I will highlight this in a photo, so you can see what happened and why I can no longer transform and properly photograph this figure. I apologize in advance for the lower quality of the photos because of this.
For this review, I will be taking a look at another Japanese exclusive Transformers figure. This is also from the Arms Micron series, as with my last TF review (Jet Vehicon General). This is AM-19, Gaia Unicron.
(Each photo can be clicked on to give a full-size view of the image, even if the image itself doesn't display. Some of these will be smaller; due to them being older ones I took when I got the figure instead of new ones; as for the aforementioned reason).
In the package:
Again the Japanese Arms Micron figure line does what the US Prime series can't do: Release a figure that people want. First it was Voyager Breakdown, then Jet-type Vehicon and now the figure of this review; Gaia Unicron!
In the package Unicron comes in robot mode. As Unicron doesn't really have a legitimate alt mode (as shown in the TV series), the front of the box shows his toy 'capturing' Optimus Prime (more on this later). Also he's labeled as a Decepticon, which is by no means accurate (sure he's evil but he's no Decepticon).
A quick history lesson on this Unicron:
For those who don't know Gaia Unicron is the version of Unicron from the Transformers: Prime TV series (Arms Micron in Japan). He was defeated a long time ago by Primus and the original 13 Primes, after which he went into stasis and floated through space, eventually winding up around the Sun and, over time, gathered rock and debris around him...which culminated in the Earth forming around him and Unicron himself losing his physical form (to some degree) and transcending that form to become Earth's core (which, as Optimus Prime said in the series, was not comprised of magma as Earth's scientists thought; which is not right because they think it's molten iron, but anyway...)
After the aligning of the planets Unicron was reawakened and came out of stasis and after a failed attempt by Megatron to become Unicron's herald he joined forces with Optimus to defeat Unicron (and his mini-Rock Lord body minions) with brute force and eventually with the power of the Matrix; leading to Optimus losing his memories and the Orion Pax storyline of Season 2 as well as Unicron himself not being destroyed but rather returning to stasis.
Later on Unicron comes back (in the "Predacons Rising" movie) and takes possession of Megatron's dead body; reviving him in the process and going to Cybertron in order to destroy Primus; his arch enemy; who is the core of Cybertron. He raises an army of undead Predacons and attempts to destroy Primus, but gets distracted en-route by another force he wishes to destroy: The Allspark. He is tricked by Optimus Prime into thinking he has the Allspark in his grasp, but instead is captured by the container that formerly held the Allspark; entrapping him in the container and simultaneously freeing Megatron and deactivating the Predacons he summoned.
Comparison shot on the box:
While Unicron is a rather thin figure, his has huge horns mounted on his shoulders; making him hard to package...which is the reason for this picture. Unicron's box, while the same width and height as a normal Voyager-class sized figure's box; is actually considerably thicker (depth) due to the horns being folded back and the various other things (i.e. Micron/Mini-Con on sprew pegs) that he has in the box with him.
All of the parts:
Unicron comes with an unusual amount of paperwork, given that he really only needs instructions and the sticker sheet. There's also a catalog, some kind of warning-type sheet about connecting his arm to the 'capture' mode, and a QR code sheet for some kind of promo from Tomy. Also, as you can see, he comes with two sprew pegs: One for the Micron/Mini-Con (Bog) and one for the little colored plastics that go on his 'capture' mode.
He also comes packaged with his alternate arms pose, leading to him having half-arms. This is the only time I will photograph this mode as I really hate it.
Bog (Micron, Beast Mode):
As with all "Arms Micron" series Microns, Bog needs to be assembled from parts and have stickers applied. Fortunately there are only two, one for the Decepticon symbol under the clear plastic dome and one for the optic in beast mode. My guess is that he transforms into a mole, but I'm not entirely sure. Either way he's pretty solid and works well.
Unicron, Robot Mode:
This is the actual form shown in the show; his robot mode. It's very accurate and looks right with the Micron attached as his 'hook' arm. However he doesn't have the option to have actual hands; an optional feature he did have in the show. There's no parts that remove from the arms to have them (much to my disappointment). He does have a great color scheme; much better than that terrible one shown on this site's actual article for Gaia Unicron (here: item/121923 ).
However the chromed parts do make me worry; there is a distinct possibility of having flaking paint in the future in the gold chromed areas.
Vehicle Mode:
In the loosest sense of the term; this is his alternate mode. I think it's a vehicle of some type, though it has no wheels to be a car nor proper wings to be a jet. But this is how the instructions show him, so I'm guessing that this is supposed to be a vehicle. The Micron is shown attaching to the undercarriage in the front, which does help the look a bit more but still doesn't justify it as any type of actual working vehicle.
Volcano mode:
This picture shows what the face looked like prior to the stress crack developing. Again, this is the reason for the older photos being used for this review.
I feel that this is the more proper alt mode as it looks like something that Earth Unicron (as his name implies, Gaia Unicron) would become: A volcano/mountain. Also, in the TV series, Dark Energon (Unicron's blood) came out of a volcano just before Unicron's 3-episode main arc trilogy started, but then again that mountain didn't have a face on it either.
That being said, he does have a face on his back of his robot mode (now on the front of the volcano) and it shows here; making also for a nice Unicron head replacement for the bigger Armada-bodied Unicron figure...
As a head for Transformers: Armada Unicron:
(As I don't have that version of Unicron, I'm using someone else's photo).
The Micron, while not shown in this mode, does work well behind the volcano to give it some support as it tends to want to fall backwards quite easily.
Capture Mode:
This is the weirdest mode for Unicron as, when not holding someone, it looks like he's doing a hand-stand. In actuality, it's more like he's splitting his legs in half and using them as hands. Despite the weird pose, the capture mode consists of 3 pieces: The main body, the head/wing/horns and the Micron. Each piece attaches to the combined mode.
Combined with/Capturing Optimus Prime:
I'm not really sure why they made him combine with Optimus (or anybody for that matter), but alas they did it. As far as I know it only works with the RID Voyager-sized mold of Optimus (I don't have the First Edition Voyager-sized Optimus to try it on) and it's way too big for the deluxe-sized version. Although they suggest using AM-01 Optimus for it (the Japanese Arms Micron Optimus figure), I only have the US version.
Unicron attaches surprisingly well to Optimus, plugging in on the shoulders and also connecting the front to form a solid fit. Optimus now holds Bog as a weapon as well.
Combined with/Capturing Megatron:
While making only slightly more sense than combining with Optimus, this mode is a bit trickier. While Megatron fits inside him the way the instructions show; in order to connect Unicron's leg armor (shoulder pads) to Megatron's shoulders you have to push it in really hard. Initially I was afraid of breaking him; but it seems much worse than it really is, in fact.
It's also really hard to stand Megatron up in this mode as it almost seems a bit short, but it can be done though with some difficulty. Also Megatron's hand-holes are too big to hold Bog, so I attached him to the cannon as a weapon instead. The instructions are very vague about where the Micron goes in the combined mode; so it's pretty much up to where he will fit. Again, it's also vague because the Japanese Megatron figure from Arms Micron has a Micron for a cannon instead of the US version I used for this review; which has a solid non-transforming weapon.
Combined with Sharkticon Megatron:
As this was the most recent photo I took of Unicron (which was still from months ago); I was able to transform him one last time months ago when I got Sharkticon Megatron. He has not been transformed since, because of the stress mark on the right side of the photo (where the chest/torso plate hangs down with the 3 purple pieces on it...there is a crack in the hinge that is nearly broken completely off right now).
Since I have the the re-molded Sharkticon Megatron figure from the US and Arms Micron Gaia Unicron; I combined them together. Even though this is not an official combination; it does showcase how the combined/capturing mode for Gaia Unicron works with other figures as well.
Because Unicron attached to the old Megatron's shoulder pads; this time he just kind of half-asses his way onto Megatron thanks to the shoulder pad retool on Sharkticon Megatron. But the two transforming pegs on Sharkticon Megatron do fit into the slots on Unicron; so it still works. Also the new molding on Sharkticon Megatron does not interfere with the combination at all. My only complaint is the colors...they clash something awful.
There was another version of Unicron released as an exclusive that might look better combined with this particular Megatron figure. This was a black repaint of Gaia Unicron called "Nightmare Unicron"; seen here:
As I do not have that version of Unicron (this is someone else's photo, btw); this is the best I can do. I also am not sure if this works with Optimus Prime's retool; Ultra Magnus, though I suspect it does not due to Ultra Magnus' high shoulder pads getting in the way.
Overall:
Unicron is a nice figure and is actually very complex; as I wouldn't have guessed from the pictures. Also I do love that he comes with optional 'Blendtron' symbols (the Unicron faction from "Beast Wars" in Japan) and those can be used instead of the Decepticon symbols (speaking that he is not a Decepticon at all).
That being said, I can't recommend the figure at all. He really doesn't have an alt mode that makes any lick of sense nor does his capture mode work that well either, with the figures it's supposed to be used on or any others. Also with the possibility of flaking gold paint, it's hard to say how he'll hold up over time...but I can say that my figure already has a crack in the plastic; so it's very brittle and not recommended for repeated transforming for sure!
If you love Unicron (or just want a funny face for Armada Unicron) he works but I can't recommend him by any means otherwise...especially since he's an import and costs more than a normal US Voyager-class figure of the same size.
Not recommended unless you really want it. Play value; but very limited at best; better for display only.
Again, I apologize for the lower quality of this review; but I simply could not retake the photos for this particular review because of the figure's damage. I could only use the photos I took when I got the figure...the review is new; but the photos are old, unfortunately. I almost always take photos of figures when I get them; which was a good thing in this case as I would not be able to review this figure otherwise.
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