Main
Features
 FOTD
 Toy Fair 2023
 SDCC 2023
 Toy Fair 2020
 NYCC 2019
 SDCC 2019
 Toy Fair 2019
 SDCC 2018
 Toy Fair 2018
 HasCon 2017
 SDCC 2017
 Toy Fair 2017
 SDCC 2016
 Toy Fair 2016
 SDCC 2015
 Toy Fair 2015
 SDCC 2014
 C2E2 2014
 Toy Fair 2014
 SDCC 2013
 C2E2 2013
 Toy Fair 2013
 SDCC 2012
 C2E2 2012
 Toy Fair 2012
 NYCC 2011
 SDCC 2011
 Toy Fair 2011
Archives
 Books
 DVD
 Music
 Statues
 Prop Replicas
 Toys
 Video Games
Credits
Contact


This site is part of Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Entertainment Earth affiliate programs. We may earn a commission when you click one of their links.


Related Links:
16bit Tumblr
16bit Twitter
16bit Instagram
ASWN
EE Podcast
Galactic Hunter
Glyos News
OSM News

Mirage Hasbro, 2006

Mirage Review Capsule
Mirage is a new mold inspired by a few toys over the years, most notably the original from nearly 20 years ago. While spindly in robot mode, he has a solid car mode covered in in-jokes and is super-articulated. Recommended, $9.99 and up.

Introduction

As Hasbro announced that the mold for the original Mirage from 1984 is "gone forever," it's fitting the character is getting a little extra love this year in both Classics and Alternators. (And of course, he had a nice Robot Masters remake a few years ago.)

He turns from a car to robot. He has a weapon that is supposedly a gun, but is really just a bunch of car with a handle on it. There are no projectiles with this toy.

Robot

The early pictures of this toy had a lot of fans thinking it would be spindly, awful, fragile, and lame. Thankfully, when you actually play with it, you'll probably forget your first impressions and just enjoy it.

If you remember the original toy, or the TV show, this new toy carries the same basic coloring. You have your blue, you have your white, and you have some rally markings. The colors hold the toy together nicely, and the added rally markings do a lot to add to the detail on the toy. Of course, there's plenty already-- lots of sculpted grooves, fans, and other elements make even the plain boring white areas on the figure really look like someone spent a lot of time working on them to make them just a little bit better.

There's never been a better articulated Mirage, but the Alternators toy comes close. With multiple joints on each limb, articulated wrists, and what can loosely be called articulated feet, this is a heck of a nice figure. He can sit-- yes, sit-- at a table or a chair for once. There's no weird kibble hanging off anywhere except above his head, so if you want him to sit at your desk, he can actually do it. It's pretty surprising as usually, a Transformers figure can barely sit down due to wheels, the hood, or other junk hanging off of the back. So kudos to Hasbro on making a nice clean design.

One word of warning-- his hands aren't the standard size. Since Armada, pretty much all Transformers have been given a fist with a 5mm hole, so you can use the same weapons with toys from the whole line. Mirage's seem to be proprietary, and as such, you aren't going to be able to get him to hold on to your Energon weapons or Mini-Cons at all.

Vehicle

As the words on the package read "Robots In Disguise" it's only sensible that Hasbro bring back something that was missing (but loved) from recent lines, and that's a vehicle that isn't covered in symbols of its affiliation. So no Autobot logos here, folks!

Transformation is pretty easy-- flip the gun off, move around the arms, and in just a few short steps you're done. Unlike some toys, it isn't overly difficult to get everything in place, nor are you likely to have issues stressing certain points to near-breakage.

In vehicle mode, Mirage holds together very well and can roll easily-- someone at Hasbro took care to make sure that the car mode actually worked as a toy car, which is nice considering not all of the cars are always capable of that simple action.

Additional Accessories

Megatron includes a gun, and that's it. It stores in the hood of the car in vehicle mode, or on the back in robot mode.

It's not much of a gun, but it's better than no gun.

Comparisons

For your convenience, here's a look at some new and old toys.

Left: Robot Masters Rieje, Classics Mirage. Center, right: Classics Bumblebee, Mirage, Rodimus.

Packaging, Tech Specs, & Co-Sells

This toy came packaged in the first wave style Transformers Classics deluxe packaging with a few twist-ties. Finding the word "Classic" is a bit like a scavenger hunt-- look on the lower left hand side of the carded front picture for the phrase "Classic Deluxe."

Co-sells on the cardback (and case) include Jetfire, Bumblebee, and Grimlock.

Fin

Mirage is probably on the bottom of most people's lists of most-wanted classic Transformers characters, but this toy turned out fairly well. With lots of nifty easter eggs hidden on the toy and amazing articulation, you should probably snag one if you think you might like such a toy, as many will be available over the coming months.

Reviewed and photographed by Adam Pawlus
Sample purchased at Target in Los Angeles in November 2006
Reviewed on November 19, 2006.

Transformers

 Generations
 Drift
 Thrust
 WFC Optimus Prime

 Classics
 Jetfire
 Megatron
 Mirage
 Starscream
 Toy Checklist

 Titanium
 Toy Checklist

 Alternators
 Shockblast

 Armada
 Nemesis Prime
 Toy Checklist

 Cybertron
 Toy Checklist

 Energon
 Battle Ravage
 Demolishor
 Energon Saber
 Energon Starscream
 Galvatron
 Roadblock
 Skyblast
 Snow Cat
 Starscream
 Strongarm
 Unicron
 Valentines
 Toy Checklist

 Generation One
 Goldbug
 Orion Pax & Dion

 Masterpiece Edition
 Convoy

 Robot Masters
 Air Hunter
 Beast Convoy
 Beast Megatron
 Bound Rogue
 Burning Beast Convoy + DVD
 Doubleface
 G1 Convoy
 G1 Convoy + DVD
 Gigant Bomb
 Psycho Orb
 R-Blade
 Rijie
 Road Rocket
 Smoke Sniper
 Starscream
 Wingstun
 Wrecker Hook
 Black Beast Convoy
 Black Starscream
 Toy Checklist

 Spychangers
 Optimus Prime

 Star Wars
 Darth Vader

 Universe
 Toy Checklist

 Also See:
 TransFormers PVCs
 G.I. Joe
 Other Toys

16bit.com is best not viewed in Apple's Safari browser, we don't know why. All material on this site copyright their respective copyright holders. All materials appear hear for informative and entertainment purposes. 16bit.com is not to be held responsible for anything, ever. Photos taken by the 16bit.com staff. Site design, graphics, writing, and whatnot credited on the credits page. Be cool-- don't steal.
We know where you live and we'll break your friggin' legs.