Combiner Wars Prowl

If you’re reading this review, you’re probably well aware of who Prowl is and what he does. However, this toy represents one of Prowl’s biggest changes yet, as he is now an arm or leg for Optimus Maximus. This toy is a retool of Protectobot Streetwise, who is in turn a retool of Stunticon Dead End. I was a little hesitant when I heard that Autobots that previously weren’t combiners were being made into this line, but now that I have one in hand, I’m much more pleased with the final product than I thought I would be.

Prowl comes in the standard blister package, complete with an issue of IDW’s Transformers with him on the cover.

Prowl comes with a gun (the same triple-barreled shotgun as Streetwise, only white) and what becomes either a hand or foot for combiner form.

Prowl stands slightly but still noticeably taller than the average Deluxe Transformer.

From the back you can see the entire front of Prowl’s alt mode just sitting there being kibble.

Prowl has good articulation all around, he can almost do a full 180 at the elbow.

Prowl’s expression is incredibly stoic, even for him. The red on his horns is only painted on the front and not the sides, which is a shame because it would have really improved the look of the toy overall.

However, his old highway patrol logos are spot-on.

I’m not the biggest fan of the included gun, especially since the peg is for some reason slimmed down on two sides and thus is very loose in his hands.

Although he’s not without flaws, Prowl still looks good, especially if you have some Action Bases to get him off the ground. It really helps him pose more dynamically since he doesn’t actually have feet.

While you can have Prowl use the hand/foot as a weapon in robot mode, it really doesn’t look that great.

I like Prowl better with guns that aren’t his own. You can also put them in the peg holes in his shoulders for that Seeker look.

Prowl’s transformation into a police cruiser is pretty intuitive, and the result looks cool and sleek. He doesn’t look nearly as good from below, though.

It’s easiest to get Prowl into leg form from car mode. I feel he’s a little too bulky to work well as a leg, but the option is there.

I definitely like Prowl much better as an arm. I suppose this is what they mean when they say “the long arm of the law”.

While he might be a retool of a retool, this toy is still most definitely Prowl. Even if you don’t particularly care about his new combining features, he’s still a very solid and recognizable rendition of the G1 character. Prowl, along with wavemates Sunstreaker, Mirage, and Ironhide, are just now hitting store shelves at press time, so keep an eye out for him.