Sideswipe (WFC)

Sideswipe is an Autobot from the War for Cybertron portion of the Aligned continuity family.

It's like Sideswipe and Smokescreen rolled into one package.

The competitive Sideswipe is always happy to show off his prowess in the heat of battle, and is willing to do whatever it takes to win. He's also a bit of a smart-aleck, and this tends to cheese off his comrades.

Fiction

Toy bios

Sideswipe was once a promising racer who was wanted in half of Cybertron's racing circuits, but his reckless nature cost him his career. He eventually joined the Autobots to try and redeem himself. Deluxe Class Sideswipe

Aligned novels

Sideswipe made his name at the Autobot victory of Kalis, bringing down Bruticus Maximus with Optimus Prime and Jazz. Sideswipe boasted that he tore off Bruticus' head, a claim Alpha Trion considered hyperbole. Optimus did not consider Sideswipe one of his closest comrades but he was often present at their meetings. He concurred with Jazz that fighting Darkened Decepticons was better than fleeing, and he did so when Megatron invaded Teletraan-1 and took the Plasma Energy Chamber. Afterwards he aided in extracting Optimus when he rescued Sentinel Prime from Kaon, and guarded over Jazz and Prowl as they recovered from that adventure. When Optimus returned from Cybertron's core with the Matrix of Leadership, he began Project Generation One, a plan to leave Cybertron as it purged itself of Megatron's poison. Though he understood why Optimus was doing it, it still felt to Sideswipe like they were quitting the war. He continued to accompany Optimus in sabotaging Trypticon and was appointed the Ark's pilot, ensuring it journeyed through the last space bridge, to a spiral galaxy—where the AllSpark was detected nearby. Exodus

Sideswipe was the Ark's pilot when it left Cybertron. After they arrived at Velocitron, he was assigned to Prowl's landing team, and carried out an inspection of the Ark with Ironhide before they went down to the planet, landing just as the Speedia was about to start. Following the subsequent sabotage and crash of the Ark, Sideswipe oversaw attempts to repair the ship. They next headed to Junkion, where Sideswipe found the native Junkion were difficult to work with during the ongoing repairs, and reported that the ship's fuel reservoir was damaged beyond repair. As it became increasingly clear that things on Junkion weren't all that they seemed, Sideswipe and Silverbolt got a wrecked ship working for Optimus, who intended to traverse a nearby space bridge. Sideswipe himself was subsequently part of the ship's crew as it passed through the space bridge, and took them to the tomb of Solus Prime. After Junkion broke apart, Optimus had Sideswipe fly the Ark to the largest piece in order to act as bait for Megatron. Following the battle, Sideswipe again piloted the ship in search of the AllSpark. Exiles

Sideswipe continued to pilot the Ark when the Autobots made contact with the planet Aquatron. Sideswipe and Perceptor frequently got on each other's nerves, as remnants of Cybertron's old caste system still lingered in the Autobots' ranks. As pilot, Sideswipe remained on-board the Ark as Optimus Prime led most of his senior staff down to the planet as part of a delegation meeting with Aquatron's Curator. During the excursion, however, the Nemesis caught up with the Ark, prompting some daredevil flying on Sideswipe's part. He orchestrated a semi-successful counter-strike with the Aerialbots, but their dogfighting ended when the Aquatronians revealed themselves to be vassals of the Quintessons. Concealed weaponry in the planet's artificial rings rendered both the Ark and the Nemesis inert.

With Optimus and the senior officers imprisoned on the planet below, Sideswipe assumed command and coordinated the repair efforts on the ship as well as discussions of a rescue mission. Eventually, Sideswipe feigned the Ark's departure from the planet, only to target and disable the ring weapon as he passed it, then make a sharp turn and head straight back down to the Quintesson city, Hydratron, to rescue his friends. Luckily, the Decepticons had their own mission going on the Nemesis. The Decepticon ship took the brunt of the anti-aircraft fire and crashed before the Ark got within range. Sideswipe had Sunstreaker and a strike team deplane to join forces with the Autobots and Decepticons on the ground as they escaped their cells.

The Autobot/Decepticon alliance became a burden (literally) when Sideswipe tried to fly the Ark out of the flak fire and the grounded Nemesis used clamps to force the Autobot vessel to lift them up as well. It was ultimately Superion who provided enough boost to get both ships back into orbit. When the Quintessons were defeated, Sideswipe and the Ark picked up Optimus Prime and the Autobot mission to find the Allspark continued through space. Retribution

Transformers: The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe

Sideswipe was deployed on Earth alongside Bulkhead and Arcee. The Ultimate Pop-Up Universe

Games

Transformers: War for Cybertron (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)

Weekend at Zeta's

Voice actor: Travis Willingham (English), Luca Sandri (Italian), Patrice Baudrier (French), Carlos López Benedí (Spain-Spanish)

As part of Optimus's plan to rescue Zeta Prime, Sideswipe was imprisoned in Kaon with the other Autobots. Soundwave sent the prisoners for "recycling", but Air Raid rescued them just in time. Optimus, Sideswipe, and Bumblebee then fought their way in and out of the prison in order to save Zeta, to Sideswipe's enjoyment. Despite being teleported into prison again, courtesy of Megatron, Optimus used his energon axe to get them out, leaving Sideswipe impressed. The squad of Autobots freed the captured Air Raid and all the other prisoners, and then, after blasting through more Decepticons and barely making it over a floor under assault, intended to free Zeta Prime as well... but found him being guarded and tortured by Soundwave and his minions. After defeating them, Sideswipe accompanied Optimus and Bumblebee as they brought the deceased Zeta to the High Council, and witnessed Optimus's promotion to Autobot leader. War for Cybertron

Transformers: War for Cybertron (DS)

War for Cybertron - Autobots/Decepticons

Transformers: Cybertron Adventures

After Trypticon attacked Iacon from orbit, Sideswipe was one of the first Autobots able to run recon on the damage and look for survivors. While traveling through the debris he was contacted by Ratchet, who was nearby and in need of help. Sideswipe quickly changed course to chase after the medic, finally finding him damaged from a brief confrontation with Megatron. Later, as Barricade infiltrated Iacon, Sideswipe gave the Decepticon a brief chance to surrender before opening fire. Sideswipe was badly damaged before Barricade fled the scene. Transformers: Cybertron Adventures

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

Voice actor: Travis Willingham (English)

Sideswipe was on the evaluation team for the Autobots' massive starship Ark. When Grimlock went missing during the final preparations for the ship's launch, Sideswipe was repairing Autobot dropships at Autobot headquarters. After reporting to Optimus Prime that he would be able to get the dropship he was working on up and running, Prime sent him to pilot a dropship carrying Cliffjumper and Jazz to the Sea of Rust to go look for Grimlock. He dropped the pair off over some ruins. When they later blew the place up, he was on hand to pick them up in the drop ship. Fall of Cybertron

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark

Voice actor: Travis Willingham (English)

Sideswipe was tasked, alongside Ironhide, with retrieving the Dark Spark before the Decepticons. He and Ironhide followed Shockwave, Soundwave, and Starscream to the Dark Spark's chamber, and, once the Decepticons had unlocked the chamber the Dark Spark was being held in, stole it and locked the Decepticons in the chamber.

Sideswipe and Ironhide then began to make their way to the city's old subway system, where they would meet up with Optimus Prime. Along the way, they were set upon by Insecticons, and eventually separated, before finally meeting Optimus and Bumblebee in the subway. As the others held off the Insecticons, Sideswipe activated the subway system and hailed a train to take them back to Iacon. However, it was revealed that the trains were on a timer, when the train departed after only Bumblebee had boards. As they waited for the next train to arrive, the Autobots were forced to hold off the Insecticons and Starscream (though luckily for them he was also attacked by the Insecticons).

Sideswipe and his comrades successfully boarded the second train once it arrived, and were nearly home free, but unbeknownst to them, Shockwave had rigged the second train and as they were departing, it exploded. Rise of the Dark Spark

Transformers: Battle Tactics

Knock, knock, it's Knuckles.

Sideswipe (WFC) participated in battles against a variety of opponents, both Autobots and Decepticons. Sometimes there were many of him! He was a Super Rare character who first appeared in the "Cybertron: Episode 1" event, and could be recruited by collecting 250 units Cybermetal, 75 units Transmetal, and 10 cores of this character. Transformers: Battle Tactics

Toys

Generations

He peers into your soul. (Hasbro version pictured)

He peers into your wallet. (TakaraTomy version pictured)

• Sideswipe (Deluxe, 2012)
  • Series / number: 1 / 011
  • Japanese ID number: TG10
  • Accessories: "Battle cannon" (Hasbro & TakaraTomy), Pistol (TakaraTomy only)

• Known designers: Aaron Archer (Hasbro), Takashi Kunihiro (TakaraTomy)

Part of the third wave of 2012 Generations Deluxe Class toys, Fall of Cybertron Sideswipe is an extensive retool of Fall of Cybertron Jazz, featuring a mostly new vehicle shell, as well as having a new robot head and weapon. His massive "battle cannon" is modeled after a Path Blaster from Fall of Cybertron, features 5mm posts for the handle and on its side, has a spinning, ratcheting drum, and can extend its barrel. In an undocumented feature, the blaster can mount at an angle onto his vehicle rear, with the back of the blaster sliding into the spoiler. He features 5mm ports for his hands, on his forearms/rear vehicle sides, and on his vehicle roof.

In robot mode, he features a case of faux parts: The centers of his feet are fake wheels (attached to the legs via ratchet joints) that are hidden in the rear section of his vehicle mode, while his real vehicle mode wheels end up on the sides of his chest (partially obscured by panels) and on his forearms.

His stock photography depicts him with blue eyes, but the final product leaves his eyes the same black/dark gray color as his head. Creepy.

The TakaraTomy version of the figure features a metallic red paint job on the entirety of the car and several other extensive detailing changes. The most notable of these include the metallic red paint, War for Cybertron style Autobot lighting effects all throughout the figure, maroon paint surrounding his striping, silver striping instead of white in car mode, metallic gray legs instead of white, and blue painted eyes instead of cold dead unpainted clear gray eyes. The TakaraTomy version also features the smaller pistol included with Jazz that was omitted from the Hasbro release.

The new shell parts involved in the conversion from Jazz have a design flaw. Similar to Jazz, Sideswipe's back consists of two parts connected via hinge joint that are intended to lock into place by pegging into the pelvis. Unlike Jazz however, Sideswipe's back parts do not swivel far enough to be capable of latching onto the pelvis, leaving the instructions impossible and his robot mode unstable.

• More information on Sideswipe at TFU.info

Hero Mashers

Soundwave swiped 'Swipe's sidearm.

• Soundwave (Battle Upgrade, 2014)
  • Pieces: 14
  • Accessories: Missile launcher, missile, shoulder-cannon, blaster/blade, left & right gun pods, "Sideswipe" left forearm

Part of the second wave of "Battle Upgrade" Hero Mashers toys, Sideswipe is represented as a spare left forearm that is included with Soundwave, but does not appear in the line as a complete figure.

Unlike most other "Battle Upgrade" parts, the Sideswipe arm is a new sculpt, rather than a recolor of another figure's limb. Additionally, the arm has a smaller version of the "Path Blaster" cannon as part of the design.

• More information on Hero Mashers Soundwave at TFU.info

Studio Series

No, I'm not that Sideswipe, I'm from the video game you loved playing growing up!

• Gamer Edition Sideswipe (Deluxe Class, 2024)

• Game: War For Cybertron
• Hasbro ID number: +07
• TakaraTomy ID number: SS GE-07
• Accessories: photon burst rifle, spoiler, "Save Zeta Prime" backdrop
• Known designers: Evan Brooks (Hasbro)^[1], Shuhei Umezu (TakaraTomy)^[2]

Studio Series "Gamer Edition Sideswipe" transforms from a game-accurate robot mode into a Cybertronian car. He comes with a Fire Blast effect-compatible photon burst rifle that can store on his back or the roof of the car mode. The storage tab is 5mm-sized, allowing the rifle to be held in a normal manner (though not very securely.) Like the rest of the Gamer Edition figures, his right forearm can be detached to equip the rifle or other Gamer Edition weapons. Unlike most other Gamer Edition figures, you can store the detached arm on his back using the tab on the front of the forearm, though this seems unintentional as it can be a snug fit and isn't mentioned in the instructions.

His spoiler comes separate in the box and attaches via a 5mm port. Said port also allows you to attach the spoiler to the rifle’s 5mm tab as a sort of shield or directly into his arm. Hey, they’re options!

Sideswipe’s entire forearms are made of black plastic painted red, making them susceptible to chipping. His waist rotation is placed oddly high in his torso, resulting in it slightly pushing the chest and back panels outward when used. It can rotate freely otherwise, allowing for the recreation of his spinning melee attack from the game. Whee! (He'll need to borrow Bumblebee or Cliffjumper's sword for it though.) His ankles also have no articulation beyond upwards as a result of transformation, which makes keeping him standing upright when posing dynamically a challenge.

A month after Sideswipe and his wavemates were spotted at retail, Hasbro showcased the figure at WonderCon on March 30, 2024. The figure was immediately available to ship from Amazon, and went up for preorder at other outlets on April 4. He was intentionally packed alongside Bumblebee Sunstreaker, a Cybertronian version of his brother from a different universe.^[2]

Notes

• Sideswipe's model is usable in War for Cybertron multiplayer as the Speedster-type chassis for Scout-class characters. His parts are also available in Fall of Cybertron, now classified as Rogue-type components for the Infiltrator class (although his wheels can also be used by Destroyers).

Foreign names

• Japanese: Sideswipe (サイドスワイプ Saidosuwaipu)
• Mandarin: Héng Pào (横炮, "Horizontal Cannon")
• Russian: Uppercut (Апперкот Apperkot)

References