(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 the original RID2015 3-step Bumblebee toy. For a review on the mold itself, read the review of the original RID2015 3-step Bumblebee here.)

    As with his wave-mate Optimus Prime, the (first) 2017 version of 3-step Bumblebee has been changed to more accurately reflect his Activator Combiner toy with its gimmick deployed. The transformation and basic design is the same here, but there's been a couple of major mold changes. The most obvious is that the middle of the shoulders have been overhauled, as well as the back middle portion of the vehicle mode. On the back portion of that vehicle mode, the rear window is smaller, but has a raised port that you can put a Mini-Con Weaponizer or accessory with a similar-sized peg into. It's surrounded by a couple of mechanical details as well, though the biggest mold details added are large extensions made to make the shoulders in robot mode (or back sides of the vehicle) quite wide in both modes. There's lots of power circuitry-like lines on this new wider area, along with rectangular thruster-like details that emphasize Bumblebee has some oomph in alt mode (and they can double as shoulder-blasters in robot mode). The other major mold changes have been made to the front hood/bumper pieces, which become the lower legs in robot mode. They've been completely changed, with the stripe patterns made a bit different on the hood, with no angular bits around the trio of divots on the front hood. The front wheels have been extended out a bit, though not nearly as much as the rear wheels, and there's more of that circuitry detailing around the wheels-- again, like part of the toy has "popped out" a bit, even though that's not the case on this toy. The front bumper is also a bit more fragmented and detailed, as if it's been partially reconfigured as well. In general this makes for a bigger, meaner-looking alt mode, though the shoulders don't compress anymore during transformation, so the vehicle mode doesn't look as solid as it used to, with obvious hollow gaps on those "extended" parts around the rear and front wheels.
    As for the color scheme, it's mostly the same as you'd expect on Bumblebee, with the major change being the addition of light blue on all those circuitry details around the front and back wheels. There's also more of that light blue on the trio of angled divots on the front hood, the headlights, the underside of his thrusters, the faux headlights on his chest, and on the center vent on 'Bee's forehead and on his eyes. Black paint has also been added more to the front hood and on the front bumper, along with higher places on the shoulders. Otherwise, the placement of colors and plastic breakup is basically the same as on the original. The only real change-- very slight-- is that the yellow used for this version of Bumblebee is a more milky, slightly duller shade than the more "solid, pure" yellow used on the original. Personally I think the more solid yellow looked better on 'Bee.
    The first 2017 3-step version of RID2015 Bumblebee has some neat, detailed mold changes that give Bumblebee a more futuristic, "teched-out" look compared to his other versions, and some missile packs on his shoulders in robot mode. In general I feel the robot mode looks a little better than the original, but with slightly less of a transformation and those ugly gaps, the vehicle mode looks a fair bit worse. Overall I'd give the original version a SLIGHT edge over this toy because of the vehicle mode, but they're still both great large, simple toys.
 

Review by Beastbot

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