(NOTE: Because this is a repaint, this is not a full-blown review. This mainly covers any changes made to the mold and the color scheme, and merely compares it to Combiner Wars Dead End. For a review on the mold itself, read the review of Combiner Wars Dead End here.)

    C'mon, you knew they weren't going to create a new head mold for Prowl and not use it again. Rounding out the mass-released versions of the CW Dead End mold is Smokescreen, who, as you'd expect, has colors close to his G1 version. His primary colors are red and blue-- the red is a rather straightforward red, but the blue is a really nice shade of the color, being a milky medium shade with a fair amount of glitter in the mix to make it look semi-metallic. Both colors contrast against each other quite well, with the red showing up more in vehicle mode and the blue in robot mode. There's the usual white "38"s on the sides of the car doors and the front hood, though due to the mold design and breakup, the car door 38s are a bit smaller than usual and more towards the front of the car doors, since the little sliver of plastic in the middle of the car doors is unpaintable. With the exception of that unpaintable bit, there's also curvy white stripes down the sides of the vehicle mode. The major departure from Smokescreen's usual colors is that much of the gray that's usually on his upper arms and upper legs is gone, replaced with more blue or red. Even some small parts like the windows, waist, exhaust pipe, and combiner port are black-- an okay color, but a bit dark against the blue and not as nice as a metallic gray or silver would've looked. It's a shame, since Smokescreen really needs some more paint in robot mode-- he's almost all two colors, with the legs being especially bad, being nearly all-blue except for the kneecaps and wheels. His rear end in car mode is also completely unpainted, and his front bumper almost unpainted except for the red on the top that seems to ignore the mold detailing. At least the silver paint on Smokescreen is used on his shotgun weapon, as well as his face and his wheel hubs. There's also just a touch of yellow on Smokescreen's headcrest to complete his traditional look there.
    Smokescreen has the same "reshelling" done to the mold that Streetwise has, as well as the same headsculpt as Prowl-- however, he has no mold changes specific to this release. This is a shame for the vehicle mode, given that the sirens are still there, even though Smokescreen's supposed to be a non-police sportscar.
    Although this mold is one of my favorites no matter how many times it's released, I have mixed feelings about Smokescreen's paint job. On the one hand, he is certainly more colorful than the other mass-release toys sharing this mold detailing, and the curvy look of the vehicle mode fits a sportscar better. On the other hand, there needed to be some metallic gray or silver in robot mode to break up all that blue and red better-- as it is, despite all the paint on the top of his vehicle mode, Smokescreen still looks bare on the front and back of said vehicle mode as well as on much of his robot mode. The sirens also don't fit his vehicle mode at all. Overall he ranks a little below CW Prowl because of these couple of mold oddities and lack of paint apps in vital areas, despite being more colorful.

Pre-mission psych-screening report by Rung, Autobot Psy-Ops Specialist:
As often as the Autobots rush headlong into conflict, they need more bots like Smokescreen who specialize in getting teammates out of danger. Brave and cunning, he's the Autobot sent into battle when things are at their worst. Smokescreen has crafted an entire arsenal of weapons designed to confound the enemy and save his comrades. His heavy-grenade launcher fires shells that emit magnetic smoke that clings to adversaries, and his shock club disrupts radar and sonar waves while shorting out electrical systems. By the time the enemy gets their senses back, Smokescreen and the Autobots are long gone.
CONCLUSION: Cleared for mission.

HISTORY (extracted from compulsory biographical download):
Smokescreen is one of the most underappreciated Autobots, as his specific talents are usually unleashed in battles that have been already lost. His most heroic moments are covered by the din of battle and hidden by his own smoke. A critical member of the Autobot forces, it's no surprise Smokescreen was chosen as part of the new Combiner team. Forms either the arm or leg of Sky Reign, the new combined form of Sky Lynx.

Review by Beastbot

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