Transformers Movie 2 Voyager Figures Review

Transformers Voyager Figures Review

The Transformers Voyager Figures Review takes us back to Christmas 2009, when Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen had cinemas rumbling and Hasbro’s mid-sized “Voyager Class” robots were topping wish lists across the UK. Bigger than Deluxe, more affordable than Leader, the Voyagers were the sweet spot: detailed sculpts, satisfying transformations, and shelf presence that made them feel like “the real deal” straight out of the box. No surprise, then, that they roared onto the Top 10 Christmas Toys 2009 list.

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Why Voyager Class hit the sweet spot

In the Transformers hierarchy, scale matters. Deluxe figures deliver variety; Leaders bring lights, sounds, and heft. Voyagers sit in the goldilocks zone. In 2009 they typically stood around 6–7 inches tall in robot mode, packed in more engineering than Deluxes, and still slid under the psychological price barrier for parents. Crucially, they were large enough to look impressive battling across the carpet, yet compact enough to transform quickly without a 40-minute manual and a postgraduate degree in plastic origami.

That balance of size, complexity, and price made the class a perfect “main present” or a headline gift from grandparents who wanted something cinematic without breaking the bank.

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What you got in the box

• One fully transformable Voyager Class figure tied to the 2009 movie line (think fan favourites like Optimus Prime, Megatron, Starscream, Ironhide or a Decepticon bruiser).
• A weapon or two (arm cannons, missile launchers, blades) that often integrated into both modes.
• Clear, picture-led instructions with step numbers — essential for younger fans.
• Movie-style detailing: metallic paint apps, molded panel lines, and recognisable alt modes (trucks, jets, tanks).

Packaging doubled as a mini display plinth for collectors, but it was also practical: figures were secured without a thousand twist ties, so Christmas-morning freedom arrived fast.

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Transformation: the 2009 magic trick

Transformation is where Voyagers earned their stripes. Conversions were typically 20–30 steps — enough to feel clever, not frustrating. Tabs locked with an audible click; panels lined up cleanly; and engineering tricks (automorph linkages, folding backpacks, rotating noses on jets) delivered that “ohhh!” moment every time the alt mode snapped into place. Repeat play stayed high because kids discovered micro-steps they’d missed on the first attempt, making subsequent transformations smoother and more satisfying.

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Why kids loved them

First, the scale. A Voyager Optimus towering over a Deluxe Bumblebee looked right, and a Voyager Starscream absolutely dominated dogfight reenactments. Second, durability. These were built for action scenes: knees ratcheted, shoulders held poses, and soft-tip missiles took the sting out of Decepticon justice. Third, play pattern. Robots battled, converted to vehicles for a chase, then rolled or flew into the next scene. That loop never got old.

And, of course, the movie connection mattered. Kids could point at the screen and say, “I’ve got that one,” then race home to recreate the forest fight in glorious carpet-fibre IMAX.

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Parents’ perspective

In 2009 most UK retailers positioned Voyagers in the £19.99–£24.99 range — a sensible middle ground compared with pricey electronic toys. The figures were screen-free, battery-free, and jam-packed with mechanical play value. Parents appreciated the learning angle too: following multistep instructions, spatial reasoning, and the gentle resilience that comes from trying a step again when a panel doesn’t quite line up.

Yes, a few sculpts carried movie-era “spiky” aesthetics that could look busy next to classic G1. But once kids understood how pieces tucked away, silhouettes cleaned up nicely and figures stood strong on shelves.

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The Christmas 2009 scene

With the film fresh in minds, aisles were stacked with Autobots and Decepticons. Voyagers sat at eye level, and staff demoed transformations all day long. Some characters moved faster than others — the big names always do — which meant December shoppers quickly learned the annual lesson: grab the favourites early. Our planning guides like When to Buy Christmas Toys still preach the same truth today.

Importantly, the class worked brilliantly as a “build a squad” gift plan: a main Voyager plus a supporting Deluxe or two made a cinematic play set without needing a giant base or electronics.

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Standout figures & what made them pop

• The heroic truck: The lead Autobot mould offered a dense, rewarding conversion with convincing truck mode lines and heroic proportions in robot mode.
• The snarling jet: A Decepticon air ace brought broad wings, ankle rockers for wide stances, and a transformation that tucked kibble cleverly along the spine.
• The tank bruiser: Tracks locked firm, turrets elevated, and the robot mode sold “unstoppable” with big, clicky shoulders.
• The weapons expert: Twin forearm cannons or clip-on rockets doubled play options and made blast-effect whoosh noises (made by the child, the best kind).

Even when a mould had quirks — an exposed backpack here, a fiddly forearm tab there — kids forgave them instantly once the figure struck a dynamic pose and held it.

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How they compared with other 2009 hits

It was a stacked year. Bakugan brought magnet-snap surprises; GX Racers delivered daredevil stunts; Go Go Pets Hamsters charmed the nation; and LEGO Games: Minotaurus reinvented family night. Voyagers answered a different brief: cinematic action you command with your hands. Where Bakugan was about strategy and collections, Transformers were about characters, poses, and that film-to-floor magic. They served a slightly older bracket too, hitting the 6–12 sweet spot with crossover appeal for teens who’d “accidentally” borrow a sibling’s bot for the windowsill.

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Play ideas beyond the obvious

• Scene remix: Pick three locations in the house (kitchen table = city, hallway = bridge, sofa = mountain). Move the battle through each, transforming as you go.
• Time trials: Start in truck or jet mode; set a timer; transform to robot; strike a pose. Repeat to beat your PB without forcing parts.
• Squad drafting: One child drafts Autobots, another drafts Decepticons. Alternate turns choosing figures and accessories, then write a “mission brief.”

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Care, fixes and longevity

Voyagers were tough, but a few best practices kept them minty. Teach gentle pressure on tabs, align double-hinges before snapping, and store missiles in a small zip bag inside the box to avoid the common “one rocket short” mystery. A damp cloth handled fingerprints; a tiny screwdriver tightened a loose knee if a screw backed out after heavy play. With that care, figures moved from playthings to display pieces as kids grew.

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Collector notes (for 2025 eyes)

Movie-era Voyagers have a healthy nostalgia market. Complete, unyellowed figures with weapons intact can fetch solid prices; boxed examples climb further. Paint wear on metallic edges is the usual culprit, but it’s also honest patina from hundreds of transformations — the very proof these toys did their job. If you’re hunting, check elbow pins, hip ratchets, and jet nosecones for alignment. If you’re selling, crisp instructions and undamaged bubbles make listings pop.

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Parents’ FAQs

What age are they best for? The sweet spot is 6–12. Younger fans can enjoy them with help; older fans will display them proudly.

How long does transformation take? Once learned, 2–5 minutes. First time through the manual, allow 10–15 and expect a couple of “aha!” moments.

Do they mix with other lines? Absolutely. Voyagers scale nicely with Deluxe figures for crowd scenes and with Leader figures as centre-piece bosses.

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Price & value in 2009

At roughly twenty quid, a Voyager felt substantial without tipping into “only one present this year” territory. Families often paired one Voyager with a stocking-friendly Deluxe or role-play mask. For bargain hunters, January yielded excellent deals; keep an eye on our evergreen tips in Christmas Toy Deals for the modern equivalent.

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Final thoughts

As this Transformers Voyager Figures Review shows, Hasbro nailed the balance in 2009. These figures looked cinematic, transformed cleverly, survived enthusiastic battles, and didn’t demand batteries or screens. They anchored countless Christmas mornings and sparked just as many living-room trilogies. If you’re revisiting the line in 2025 — to collect, to gift, or to hand down — you’ll find the magic still clicks into place the moment panel A slots into tab B and a truck’s cab becomes a hero’s chest.

Dig deeper into the year’s lineup on our Top 10 Christmas Toys 2009 page, explore more from the brand on Hasbro Christmas Toys, and browse evergreen picks in Must-Have Christmas Toys and Most Popular Christmas Toys. Planning ahead? Our Best Christmas Toys 2025 guide keeps you one step ahead of the toy-aisle stampede.

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