| Barricade is an unknown character to most Transformers toy collectors, but was known because he was the Decepticon that chased down Bumblebee in the 2007 live-action film that was interrogating LadiesMan217 (aka Spike Witwicky) in search of the artefact that would bring back Megatron to life.
There’s a similar character that was introduced in the comicbooks from the IDW 2005 Continuity and the most recent reboot for 2019. But the later takes inspiration based on the aesthetics and design from the War For Cybertron: Siege assortment of action figures released for 2019. This Barricade though takes both inspirations from the said Live-Action film and an old Micromaster toy! |
Usually, the aesthetics of a law enforcement is taken by an Autobot and only in the film Barricade is known to adapt that form, but in the toys takes the character further being a member of a Special Operations group of Transformers in the latest rebooted comicbook series predating the founding of the Decepticons as a faction.
The War For Cybertron: Siege figure reuses a pre-existing mold that introduces Prowl, Smokescreen, and Bluestreak. But if you’re not into completing these characters reusing the same body why not only choose the best in the four toys that was released as a regular release and as an online exclusive?
They say the figure design is smaller than the other Deluxe Class in scale and the quality is not as impressive as say Sideswipe? But if you’re not a completest and read the comicbooks you don’t need to have everything and just get the best character representing the mold, which IMHO is Barricade.
Arguably, Barricade is sort of a ‘new character’ to Transformers lore despite it was based on a movie character of the same name and aesthetics as a police car. In general fiction that supports the toyline before the release of the Netflix series this figure may have been the best version to ever use this mold. Even though it is a retool of Prowl the use of the same body makes it appear that Barricade is entirely new character that comes with the "HF Siren-Blast Punisher Cannons" and a light bar/ Both blasters can combine and can be mounted over in vehicle mode.
The combination of lavender, purple, white, and black color scheme makes Barricade an interesting figure to have. When I first saw the Prowl figure I was immediately turned off even the most recent one with Bluestreak. I’d rather keep my TF Universe (2008) version of Prowl in that definitive version than get another one that uses this mold that looks better with Barricade despite having a different accessory from Bluestreak that has an extra blaster than a light bar.
Like most Siege figures he has multiple 5 mm post holes to accommodate C.O.M.B.A.T. System accessories and parts. Barricade also features multiple hardpoints to accommodate "Fire Blasts" from the Battle Masters assortment, which can be used to simulate blaster fire or explosions.
Transformation simple and not that difficult though you may take care in handling this figure to avoid having both doors that feature the “Autobot Script” from having scratches or peeling off as some who had this figure mentioned this concern. When you turn this bad boy bot from Ascenticon (precursor of the Decepticons) to Cybertronian made up Police car.
If Prowl is a City Police then Barricade is a Highway Patrol car with black and white colors that complement the purple wheels and windows of the car. It makes it even impressive if the surface is reflective to make the purple wheels appear to” light up” due to be being translucent as the effect appears to make them look that way. The “battle damage” paint application is more evident in car mode than robot mode where you can see it on both sides of the front part of the car.
Though he appears diminutive standing beside other figures of the same Deluxe Class assortment, Barricade stands out more than the previous figures that used this mold due to the colors and the personality of the character if you have read the most recent Transformers comicbook from IDW Publishing.
He maybe rougher on the edges, despite the characterization of corrupt law enforcement from an alien planet, Barricade still have a code of honor. There’s still no denying that the figure still outsell Prowl from the store shelves as one of the reason I had to pick this up to represent the character and it is one of the best Transformers out there that you should not miss out.
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