AOE Dinobot Snarl

Presenting the Snarl from the Transformers Age of Extinction - AOE - toyline.

AKA the Dinobot that probably seemed least menacing in dinosaur mode that he wasn't included in the movie and was instead replaced by two raptor looking Dinobots - Scorn and Slash.

But then history has never been kind to Snarl. As we've discussed before, his name was co-opted by Slag in other toy-lines of the Transformers simply because "Slag" somehow over the years ended up being a derogatory term for women.

Probably simply because Dinobot Snarl transforms into a tranquil Stegosaurus - which is usually looked upon as prey for T-Rex's.

Which is a great injustice to the legacy of the Dinobot Snarl if you were to ask us.


It was the solar-empowered Snarl after all who stood toe-to-toe against the mighty Grimlock when, despite being outnumbered, Snarl and Swoop were sent to rescue Optimus Prime from Grimlock, Slag and Sludge who had sided with Megatron. Snarl's tail blow was so mighty that Grimlock had to be saved by Optimus Prime and would have died had Optimus not interfered.

But yeah, Snarl also knocked Swoop from the sky - we never said he was smart.

He're that epic battle:

Yes eventually both Snarl and Swoop would have been dead, but they acquitted themselves really well.

The Transformers Age of Extinction Snarl's blister pack reads: "SNARL lives up to his name. If you see him smile, it usually means he's about to turn you into a pile of scrap metal. The thrill of battle is the only thing that makes him happy."

WHAT'S TO LIKE ABOUT THE TF AGE OF EXTINCTION DINOBOT SNARL?

Okay. Let's talk about something we're iffy about first. People may either like or hate the use of translucent parts for Dinobot Snarl.

And we actually didn't like it to begin with.

But then we remembered that "Hey! Of all the Dinobots, he's the only one who's theoretically solar powered!" No other Dinobot makes that claim (Not to mean that he can't operate without sunlight, but that he is stronger in sunlight).

Theoretically, Snarl is the strongest of the Dinobots. (Eat that Grimlock). It is also theorized that because of this strength, Snarl was left behind with Blaster to protect the wounded in the battle of Autobot city (Transformers The Movie) rather than travel into space where his strength would be diminished in the battle against Unicron.

Maybe that's why no one wants him around - he kicked Grimlock's ass. 

So yes, FIRST: Bring on the transluscent plates. We love them and their nod to the G1 Snarl.

SECOND: AOE Dinobot Snarl's blister pack refers to a "Smile."  We thought this was weird because none of the Dinobots we've reviewed has faces. Hell some of them barely had eyes, just medieval helmets.  We didn't see it either till we shot him under lights, then we saw it - needle teeth. AOE Dinobot Snarl was sneering at us:

THIRD: If you can get past the creepy smile, do take a moment to appreciate all that beautiful detailing that went ito his torso.

FOURTH: AOE Dinobot Snarl's robot mode is a fine tribute to his G1 roots. Like his G1 version, his "wings" are from his tail - we should note by the way that Snarl is the only non-flying Dinobot that has "wings" that don't come from his torso - and his head ends up in his leg area.

AOE Dinobot Snarl comes armed with a very cruel spiked club and a hand-axe but the two can be combined and it looks better that way:

FIFTH: AOE Dinobot Snarl knows how to use that wicked hand-axe:

Yes, the Age of Extinction Dinobot Snarl can kneel:

Not that he ever would. Especially to Grimlock :)

SIXTH: AOE Dinobot Snarl has a wonderful dinosaur mode:

SEVENTH: Unlike the other Dinobots, AOE Snarl's weapons integrate well into his dinosaur mode - although it's sometimes looks like he has a mutated extra set of solar panels up top.

WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THE TF AGE OF EXTINCTION DINOBOT SNARL?

FIRST: Hey!!!! Green with translucent Green-parts? It's the Green-Lantern Dinobot! All we have to do is fit him a ring and emboss a logo on his chest. It's like all those translucent parts are being generated by a hidden power ring. OR! that staff is his power ring. Yeah! A rod like weapon converting his willpower into energy.

SECOND: In their desire to ensure that AOE Dinobot Snarl needed to transform in 15 steps because Hasbro thinks that everyone who collects Transformers toys are morons, they decided to freeze Snarl's wrists in an awkward 90 degree angle from his forearm. Snarl's articulation is surprisingly high - despite all those wings - but posing him was super limited because his wrist look really weird.

And when AOE Dinobot Snarl transforms into a Stegosaur, the wrists dont fold into those huge cavernous forearm holes which is the only really weird looking part about his Stegosaur look.



THIRD: Unlike most of the other Dinobots, AOE Snarl cannot twist at the waist.

This particular AOE Dinobot Snarl was purchased at retail from Toy Kingdom in SM Megamall here in the Philippines for PhP 899.75 (Roughly US$ 19.99). He is available on Amazon for US$ 32.07 (Roughly PhP 1,443.15 plus shipping).

Definitely looking for the recolored version, but otherwise, a fine tribute to the G1 Dinobot Snarl.