Thanks to Cybertron.ca and Hasbro for providing the toys
Packaging: The new Age of Extinction packaging seems to be more eco friendly this time around from Hasbro. Deluxe price points not only sport smaller card backs but also don't have anymore twist ties of plastic (1992-2011) or paper nature (2011-ongoing). The toys are held down in a similar style found in Japanese toys of smart plastic layering and pressure from the bubble/box itself. The art looks great but it's a shame that the tech spec read out is completely gone and the profile is reduced to a small paragraph (This is not the Canadian release, this is for all of the world including the English only USA packaging)
Alt Mode: While the toy is packaged in robot mode, we will start with the alt mode. Drift is a Bugatti Veyron, one of the fastest street legal cars in the world. Sporting a strong deep blue with a lighter blue for the skirts as well as a red dot on the front grill to simulate the Bugatti logo (which is too small to give full detail). Unlike Cybertron Crosswise of the past (2006) who was also a Bugatti, Drift is the newer Grand Sport Vitesse model (2012) which has a newer racing spoiler and aerodynamic grill. His 2 large swords can be stored under the car, but sadly the 2 smaller dagger included can't be.
Robot Mode: In robot mode drift carries over the same colors but now truly one of his few paint applications; has a very noticable gold face with a Feudal era samurai warrior head sculpt. A lot about this robot mode invokes armor from that early Japanese era. His car doors now folded over to make samurai armor (which was done by folding bamboo back then), his kneepads also sporting the similar feudal style as well as his abs. His sword large swords can be put in his open hands as well as his daggers and due to an interesting twist in his back kibble, he can sword them on the hexagon "minicon like" pegs all the swords and daggers have. An interesting new engineering change is the use of heavy ratchet joints for his elbows, something only really seen in Ultra or Leader Class Transformers toys.
Final thoughts: Paint wise he is lacking as well as he is very small for a Deluxe class toy, but that being said he is one of the more interesting AoE toys. I suggest getting Drift over most of his other AoE wave mates.
Protoman Reviews: AGE OF EXTINCTION DRIFT
Grand knowledge of all things Transformers
[{o}] Till all are One
