Transformers Movie 2 Human Alliance - Barricade with Frenzy

To Play and Have Fun

The Human Alliance movie Transformers are intended to be a cut above the standard Deluxe model Transformer - bigger in size with more detail. They somewhat bridge the gap between big highly detailed figures like Optimus and Megatron and the smaller less detailed Deluxe Bumblebees and Barricades. The Human Alliance BB (Transformers Human Alliance - Bumblebee with Sam) is great the Sideswipe (Transformers Human Alliance - Sideswipe w/ Sergeant Epps)... not so much. So I wasn't sure what to expect out of Barricade.



For Kids:

In my opinion this guy makes a great companion piece for Bumblebee as they fought in the first movie. He looks cool as a car and transforms fairly easily into a pretty cool robot. Plus he's got a little Frenzy you can flush down the toilet or whatever.



For Adults:

After the disappointment that was Sideswipe I was a bit worried but was relieved to find that Barricade is a very solid figure. In car mode he looks like the tough Saleen police car with plenty of details like the grill on front police lights and painted license plate. It should be noted he's almost twice the size (maybe a little under) of his deluxe version. All the little painted details like "Police" on the doors and "To punish and enslave" on the back fenders are clean and neat.



Transformation is actually not too bad. After two or three times it's pretty simple pull the sides apart and the legs down. Unfold the legs and pull apart pull the roof/back out flip the head up and rotate the arms. Add several little flips for the details and you're good to go.



Robot mode is where Sideswipe failed but Barricade passes. He looks very close to his move look. There's lots of detail in his face and his jaw actually moves up and down. He arms are impressively massive as they are basically the entire sides of the car but are articulated enough that you can actually get great poses out of him anyway with a ball type shoulder and an elbow that both bends and rotates. He's got a hand on one side and the tire pops forward on the other arm you flip out a bunch of little spikes and he's got a rotating saw type weapon. The legs appear a bit short compared to the rest of the body but he was designed that way. The only failings so to speak are that the legs are attached at something of a 45 degree angle at the hips which makes them a bit tougher to get into dynamic poses and keep him standing and his waist does not rotate. But there's so much you can do with the head and arms that this is somewhat mitigated.



Human Alliance is the name of the line but it's kind of funny for a Decepticon. Anyway he comes with Frenzy who can hide inside Barricade's chest up under the hood sit in the car or ride on his shoulder and man a gun up there. Just like the little humans with the other Alliance figures he's not really the highlight here but some may like the addition.



So while he's not Bumblebee he is miles ahead of Sideswipe. He's fun and cool looking in both car and robot mode for kids and adults alike.

More detail ...