Toy
name: B.A.T. 3.2 Assortment: Valor vs. Venom
Wave 5 Price: MSRP $7.99 Availability: October 2004
Now,
I hope everyone won't jump on me at once, but this version of the B.A.T. really
doesn't do a whole lot for me, honestly. It's not that bad...I like the fact
that the figure is tall and lanky, and very robotic...but there are certain
features that just fall flat. His squished head...non-swivel arms...scrawny
mold. He just doesn't seem nearly as threatening as the newer version, even
if he is quite a bit taller. Not only that, but we've already gotten countless
repaints and re-releases for this figure already...sure, next year is the arrival
of the B.A.T.-related theme (supposedly) but this version of the tall B.A.T.
certainly doesn't do anything that any of the previous versions didn't. I suppose
if you still feel the need to army build even MORE of these figures you now
have a chance, but personally, I'm not sure why.
Figure Mold
Since the years
that this figure has been released, I've grown slowly less and less enamored
with the look of the mold. He is a tall figure, which is neat, considering he's
an android, but besides his height, there is absolutely nothing intimdating
about him, I don't think. He's tall and scrawny, and looks like a single gunshot
will break him right apart.
His head sculpt
seems squashed in a way...it's not rounded or in proportion, which is fine for
a non-human figure, except his head just doesn't look cool, I don't think. Especially
not compared to the newer version. His torso is extremely short and squat and
his tiny arms and legs look barely able to hold his metallic frame.
I do like some
of the robotic detailing of his arms and torso, but the odd rounded belt and
boot trimming just doesn't work for me real well, not to mention the lack of
a swivel arm anywhere. Yeah, this sculpt of the B.A.T. really falls pretty flat
for me...I'm not sure if it's mostly because of the newer version (which I LOVE)
or what, but for whatever reason, I'm just not a huge fan of this mold.
Paint Applications/Color Choices
It looks to
me like Hasbro used the Wave 7/Army builder version as a template, using the
new sculpt mold, but adding a more classic black/yellow B.A.T. theme for the
paint deco. It's a neat idea, but, hey...it's been done. TWICE. I'm not so sure
we need a THIRD black/yellow B.A.T. thrown into the mix here. Also considering
the fact that next year we're pretty sure to get almost flooded with new B.A.T.
figures, I almost wish Hasbro would concentrate on the humans this time around
to get us some more cool characters and not emotionless, non-motivated machines.
Differences
between this figure and the other two black/yellow B.A.T.s are there, but somewhat
minimal. The yellow/silver colors are reversed in some places (most notably
the boots) and there are some added yellow details on the torso. His "eyes"
are back to red instead of the yellow they'd been.
Still, even
with the differences, are they enough to be worth a new purchase?
Accessories
Like the paint
apps, been there, done that. It's a decent assortment of his removable arm-weapons,
but not interesting enough really to comment on. They fit well as they have,
and give him a virtual arsenal of attacks, but nothing that really wows me.
Final Comments
Yeah, I think
this version of the B.A.T. has grown a little stale. I still really like the
VvV sculpt one, but not so much this version...it just seems "clunky".
Still, I guess those folks who feel the need to supplement their armies with
android troopers will find some comfort here. I'm not one of those people, really,
so I don't feel a need for this figure.
However, I do
really like the other B.A.T. in this pack...I like it enough to recommend this
pack in it's entirety, even though this figure isn't all that impressive to
me. Considering they are both army builders, I'd say go ahead and buy a few
if you're so inclined, but mostly for the other B.A.T. pack-in, not necessarily
for this one.
Now,
I hope everyone won't jump on me at once, but this version of the B.A.T. really
doesn't do a whole lot for me, honestly. It's not that bad...I like the fact
that the figure is tall and lanky, and very robotic...but there are certain
features that just fall flat. His squished head...non-swivel arms...scrawny
mold. He just doesn't seem nearly as threatening as the newer version, even
if he is quite a bit taller. Not only that, but we've already gotten countless
repaints and re-releases for this figure already...sure, next year is the arrival
of the B.A.T.-related theme (supposedly) but this version of the tall B.A.T.
certainly doesn't do anything that any of the previous versions didn't. I suppose
if you still feel the need to army build even MORE of these figures you now
have a chance, but personally, I'm not sure why.
