LioConvoy is the Cybertron Commander of the Japanese Only series, Beast Wars II.

This toy is release as it is, or as a versus pack with Beast Wars II: Galvatron.

Review

I will review LioConvoy in three categories:

- Sculpt (Form and Color)
- Articulation (Movable Parts and how can it be moved)
- Fun Factor (How did I enjoy it)

Sculpt

Lion mode:

LioConvoy’s alternate mode (as his name suggests) is a lion. Not just any Lion, but a white lion with a golden mane. While in Lion Mode LioConvoy stands around 4.5 inches tall and 10.5 inches long.

The lion’s fur colors is white with a few black shadings darkening its paw while its mane is colored gold. A few red pops out of his body, these are mostly part of the robot body. All in all the red doesn’t destroy the lion look of Lioconvoy’s alternate mode.

In Lion mode, LioConvoy looks great, a great

Robot mode:

LioConvoy’s robot mode stands at around 8 inches, making this one tall mega price point Convoy.

While in robot form, more of the red color appears as it covers LioConvoy’s chest and arms. Its red knees also appears in this form (Though the red knee is seen in Lion mode, it is in Robot Mode that the red knees actually makes an impact.)

The head sculpt of LioConvoy follows the standard Convoy head sculpt complete with yellow eyes and silver faceplate. Removing any doubts that he is a Convoy.

Besides the head, more blue colorings appear around his body but mostly for detailing.

Also as an additional treat, LioConvoy has a Matrix. Though this is not the same Matrix as Optimus Prime had in G1, the Matrix LioConvoy has is only a small part of the Original Autobot Matrix of Leadership. LioConvoy has a small flap over its left chest and if you flip it open the Matrix will be visible, however the paint of the Matrix is blue and looks nothing like the original matrix of leadership.

LioConvoy comes also with two claws that is found on the underside of it Lion forelegs (Robot arms), the claws are not button activated rather they are held in place by two small plastic pieces molded in the lion’s arm. You just need to ease the claws out of those two pieces to get them deployed. (The claw is kinda soft so its easy to bend them out of the Lion’s arm for deployment.)

Attack Modes

Beast Wars II is one of the series of transformer toys that has an attack mode. Attack modes are technically just a modified version of its a transformer’s alternate mode. For LioConvoy it is a lion with cannons deployed from its mane.

Using a button on the lion’s neck, you can unleash both cannons from the top part of the main. While you have to manual pry the cannons on the side of the mane by hand to reveal them.

Looking closely the guns are painted gold with red piping. The missiles also follow the gold color scheme, though the plastic quality renders the gold quite dark.

I saw in LioConvoy’s box that there was another attack mode, it looks pretty weird though:

The Mutated Lion Attack mode!

Articulation

This convoy is very poseable, with double joints for its knees and quite a number of ball joints on its arms. The head can also move but only side ways since its not ball jointed. The waist can also twist (needed in transforming.)

But LioConvoy has a downside, the Lion head is too big and heavy for LioConvoy to do some poses that needs balance. The mane also causes problems since it gets in way of the right arm. All in all if the obnoxious Lion head and mane could be removed when in robot mode, it would have greatly increased the enjoyability of this Convoy.

Fun Factor

LioConvoy is known to his peers as the King of Gimmicks… and he does not disappoint. Using a red button found on the lions head, you can make his mane spin like a cutting blade. There is also a switch on the top of LioConvoy’s Lion face that opens his mouth.

Overall

Lion mode is excellent. Robot mode is alright, though it would have been better if the Lion head didn’t get it the way that much. I’d say its OK. If you’re a Convoy Collector, this would be one of those you need to get since in a way this is NOT Optimus Prime or Optimus Primal but a unique character in the Transformers Universe.

Rating: B+

1 Comment to “TOY REVIEW: BEAST WARS II LIOCONVOY”

1. Olokin — August 23, 2007 @ 11:48 am
   

   Are there any variants of this toy? i may have one. It has a shiny mane. Do you its backstory? I would appreciate if you can shed light on this toy. thank you

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