Well this didn’t take long, did it? The first wave Masters of the Universe (MOTU) Origins- essentially a revamp of the original toy line for a new generation of kids as much as old collectors- has promptly given us one of the most iconic characters from MOTU, if not one of the most iconic toys of the 80s. The mighty Battle Cat. But is He-Man's trusted steed (sort of) an impressive beast or a scared little cringer of a toy?
Right off the bat (or slightly damaged box in my case) this is one big kitty. Closer in scale to the MOTU Classics battle cat than the 80s original, you can’t say you don’t get much pussy to the pound. The head comes about to eye-level with a MOTU origins figure, so a mounted He-Man definitely towers over the rest of your Origins collection. And I would certainly rate the sculpt of this tiger alongside the classics version. Granted, paint details are thin on the ground bar the necessary white teeth and yellow stripes- and frankly, Mattel should’ve just left the eyes blank rather than the weird, beady little pupils- but the actual sculpt is very impressive. Fur detail all over, great big threatening teeth and a snarling face, and that’s before you put the armour on. Then it becomes the 80s icon we all know. The design of the headpiece and saddle are essentially the same, just a bit bigger but in the same dark poppy red but with a gloss coat on some of the horns- I guess for contrast, not that you’ll notice it much. However, the helmet has painted eyes- properly done I might add- and are an excellent addition. But it does beg the question why couldn’t the eyes of the actual head of Battle Cat have been painted like this too? I know some kids like to do the mental gymnastics of convincing themselves Battle Cat without the armour is a default Cringer (he ain’t), and that might have been Mattel’s intention, but shouldn’t Cringer also have feline eyes instead of what looks like someone took a sharpie, made two little dabs and went “that’ll do"? The saddle secures around the body via a strap that locks onto a small peg. By the feel of it, I wouldn’t unfasten too much if I were you. The helmet, like on every Battle Cat before it, fits over the head and holds on by friction. Although this helmet gets a little loose when you tilt the head right back.
Articulation is a mixed bag. The head can tilt right up at the base of the neck if the helmet is off, but still a decent amount with it on. When the head is drawn down to its default position, the head can tilt left and right at the end of the neck, and the jaw can pivot wide open but only slightly closed due to the large teeth blocking a full closure. The tail can pivot up and down- right up with the saddle off- and completely rotates at the base of the joint. The front legs can come forward, almost at 90 degrees while the back legs do the same but in the opposite direction. There’s a hinged joint at the knees (do cats have knees?) on all four legs that allow a near 90 degree bend and can completely rotate at the joint, if you’re inclined to go with the Cringer idea and go for a tripped over something pose. Sadly, that’s where the articulation ends. The feet are part of the lower leg sculpt and can’t be moved, which is a shame when al the bipedal figures in the Origins line have great ankle articulation and that certainly would of put this toy on par with the Classics cat. You can still set the legs in a walking pose just fine but there’s so many poses this figure could of done had ankle joints been included.
In summation, Battle Cat is a toy that embodies the pros and cons of the Origins line. You have a well sculpted toy that pays strong homage its 80s predecessor and is an impressive size for what it cost- especially during a time when vehicles/mounts cost a small fortune (hello Star Wars)- and the size alone makes this toy an instant upgrade for your He-Man. But, the eyes on the tiger head was a waste of two dabs of black paint, and the lack of ankle movement stops a pretty good toy becoming a great one. Battle Cat is still a worthwhile addition to your origins collection if you’re only ever gonna display him standing to attention or it’s for playing then the static paws aren’t going to ruin a six year old’s birthday. If only its legs were as articulated as the other Origins figures, then this might have been the quintessential Battle Cat.
Company: Mattel
Price paid: £24.99
Bought from: Amazon
Age: 6+
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