Built To Rule - Forest Fox
When I first saw this vehicle, I was pretty less than impressed. It seemed like an odd looking little jeep, and while the overall design was okay, it just didn't make a very big impact with me. It looked fair, but that's about it. Has my opinion changed now that I have it? Well, not really, but a little.
I guess I should cover the figure first, such as it is. I feel almost bad for the Wave 1 rehashes because they look so sub-standard next to the newer molds. This figure is absolutely no exception whatsoever. With the non-O-ring mold and the blocky proportions, these figures look worlds below what Hasbro is now capable of, and it's too bad that they needed to be included in these sets in order for them to fly.
The good news is, according to the Hasbro round table, even though a few non-O-ring figures had to be made to get this project off the table, they don't foresee having to use them for much longer, so we should see a lot more O-ring based figures from these BTR sets in the future.
This figure might have even been salvaged were the detailing and the colors even a little better, but those are pretty sub-standard as well. A bland green and brown color combination combined with the pegs on arms and legs and the Wave 1 mold make this figure pretty much forgettible.
But what about the vehicle? Well, it's less forgettible, but only a little...
The Forest Fox seems to be an okay vehicle. It's a green and brown/black jeep, nothing too exciting, but has a solid foundation.
Upon first look, the military aspect of the jeep is okay. It has a nice assortment of gatling guns and missile launchers and seems angular enough and a decent enough size. But there really isn't anything to it. Similarly to a lot of the 90's vehicles, it just seems like a shell with no real function and no real substance. Not a bad vehicle, per se, but just seems really boring. The oversized wheels add a little oomph, and I do like those twin guns on the front...and the tilting windshields...but overall, the vehicle is just kind of there. But where the first version slumps, it's actually the second version of this vehicle that makes this even remotely worth buying. Mode number two is labelled as a "Transport" and actually looks really neat.
With the walls built up and the nose lopped off, this vehicle has a lot more stylized look to it, and is one I really like a lot more than the ho-hum jeep. It has a seat in front pointing ahead, plus a seat directly behind pointing backwards, and a little room in back for figures to stand. This kind of vehicle is a cool, different Joe vehicle, and like I said, it makes this set more worth buying than the first version OR the figure. Another downside is the cockpit of the vehicle...no matter which version you're looking at. With no inner console, no steering wheel or anything, it just looks strange. Frostbite just kind of sits in there, with nothing to use to control the vehicle. It just looks bizarre.
What it boils down to, is for $12.99, this set stands on the fence. The first mode is okay...the second mode is pretty cool, and the figure just blows chunks. If you like building block toys...if the BTR trademark bumpy surface doesn't bother you...or if, for whatever reason, you really like the Wave 1 Frostbite, then feel free to pick this thing up. Otherwise, think twice. It's a little more expensive, and while the overall design is more appealing than say, the Smokescreen, I'm still not certain it's 100% worth a purchase. It's a nice, larger vehicle to spend some time putting together, and if you don't like the vehicle, you can always tear it down and use it's pieces to beef up the Rock Crusher... :)
Frostbite brings this set down a notch, as does the first mode of the vehicle...but with the second vehicle and the options for customizing, you may want to pick it up.
