Pre-orders have opened for the exclusive Transformers Ultimate Gift Set which, by the way, if anybody was planning on giving me for a Christmas gift then you can forget about it because I'll probably be ordering it for myself (I have an easy time buying gifts for myself because I always know just what I want). The set, originally billed as a Wal-Mart exclusive (but apparently now has a wider availability?), includes two legion-class and two deluxe-class figures that make use of molds previously seen in the Reveal the Shield line.

Legion-class Thundercracker (redeco'd RtS Starscream) and Motormaster (redeco'd RtS Optimus) were both previously available single-carded as imports but this marks the first time that they'll be sold domestically. "Combat Hero" Optimus Prime is a redeco of the G2-inspired Optimus Prime and is possibly the only one out of the set that I feel a little iffy about. Finally, "Jazz V2" is a redeco of Special Ops Jazz, whom I missed picking up when RtS was at retail.

The Transformers Ultimate Gift Set is a fairly solid set. The two legion-class figures are very nice molds and both feature weapons not available in their original RtS release (see the vehicle modes for a look at Thundercracker's guns and Motormouth's sword). The deluxe Optimus is also a cool mold and I half-expect that the colors might grow on me. At any rate, the set is a great opportunity to pick up the molds if you missed the Reveal the Shield line at retail. Plus the US$40 price tag is more or less in keeping with the current retail prices for these figures.

[ Pre-order at Big Bad Toy Store ]