Budget Decepticon Spy.

I said I wanted this guy quite a while back and now I’ve got him! The big, chunky, budget Soundwave from the Authentics line is at last within my grasp!

Is he any good though? That’s what we’re going to find out!

Vehicle mode

Soundwave turns into a heavily armoured car. It’s very nicely detailed and looks properly intimidating. It’s pretty sparse on paint apps but I’m surprised how cohesive this mode looks and how everything pegs together so solidly.

I guess I was underestimating the Authentics line.

For playability, you can attach a radar dish and a gun on the car’s roof. Soundwave can also roll very nicely on all four of his big wheels.

Transformation

Soundwave has an extremely straightforward transformation. In fact, I’m fairly certain some G1 Transformers have this exact transformation. Pull legs out from back, pull arms out from side and fold the hood down on his back.

Yeah, the transformation is definitely a G1 throwback. But since both modes turned out okay, I can’t complain.

Robot mode

Soundwave looks great in robot mode and that’s without taking into account that he’s a budget figure. Honestly, with just a few tweaks, this Soundwave could have been the defacto CHUG Soundwave. As it is, he’s actually still up there just based off of looks alone.

Here comes another pleasant surprise: Soundwave has a lot of posability. His head, shoulders and elbows are all on ball joints. His hips are ball jointed and he has bending knees. His feet are ball jointed as well.

Some of his posability is a bit limited but that’s still way more than I was expecting to get.

Gimmicks

Being big official Transformers with decent complexity sold at really low prices… that’s the Authentics Alpha Transformers schtick. Soundwave here is beyond successful for the goals he was supposed to achieve.

For context, normal Voyagers cost $30 in America these days and RM159.90 in Malaysia. Soundwave and the other Authentics Alpha Transformers have a retail price of $10 in America and RM89.90 in Malaysia. That’s a decent bargain for an Authentic Transformer this size.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I got Soundwave here at more than half off his original price during a seasonal sale. I paid RM30 ($7.50) for him. At that price, everyone who likes chunky robots should get a Soundwave.

Toy or collectible?

Soundwave here sits firmly in the toy category. He’s a bargain Transformer that’ll be a great gift for a kid. Soundwave is a much better gift for a kid than the authentics Titans even though he’s significantly smaller.

However, adult collectors will more than likely get a kick out of how much they’re getting for the price point. Also, if there were no other CHUG Soundwaves out right now, this would be an great stand-in. It’s hard to remember but there was no CHUG Soundwave for almost a full decade.

Closing

What can I say, I think Soundwave here is incredible for the price. He quite decisively blows the other Authentics Transformers out of the water and makes the future of the line look pretty exciting. Definitely give Soundwave here a shot!