Thursday, June 13, 2024

Summer of Retools

This week, the TF team has been rolling out various exclusives and Legacy United wave 4, culminating in this afternoon's preorders going live. 

Amusingly (to me), this entire slate of releases is composed of repaints or retools, save for one. Even so, it's (again, to me) a great lineup:

-Core class Geocron: I prefer this to Bouldercrash. The purple highlights are great, and I love the creepy new head sculpt. Also, he has the best name of the new infernac toys (with Shard not far behind). 

-Core class Energon Galvatron: I would have preferred a black crown deco and silver face, but otherwise this looks great. I'm really happy that we got both decos for this mold, and hope for more Energon representation in the future.

-Deluxe class Slipstream: I'm excited to finally get my first Slipstream. The Cyberverse universe Windblade mold is pretty good, and I appreciate the new tooling. The deco look great. 

-Deluxe class Quake: I was initially disappointed to learn this would be a Skullgrin retool, since his tank mode is very wonky, but I was impressed with how "normal" of a tank they were able to achieve with Quake. I'm also surprised that the targetmasters are new molds.

-Deluxe class Optimus Prime: this is the G1-toy influenced design, like a smaller, cheaper Missing Link in concept. It's very impressive for a deluxe, and I love that we are getting two deluxe Primes w/Matrix accessories this year (the other being SS-112). I'm quite happy to get this version over the more expensive ML release, even if ML does some things better.

-Voyager class Metalhawk: not a pure refresh, Metalhawk has an updated deco that I will likely take advantage of. An interesting move, akin to Legacy Galvatron but involving plastic color changes rather than paint op changes.

-Voyager class Animated Motormaster: based directly on the Botcon version, this is a great redeco of the very good Legacy Animated Optimus mold. The colors are about as good as can be and I'm ok with the new head.

-Leader class Armada Galvatron: in concept, I'm pretty excited, but we now see that there is a new, screaming face mold and my more cream color rather than white. The face I don't mind too much, but I'd rather the white be corrected. That said, I love that two of the three UT Galvatron designs appear in a single wave! I do hope that Cybertron Mega/Galvatron gets revisited soon. 

Saturday, February 24, 2024

Generations: Prime (Actual Product May Vary)

Just a few days after the big Studio Series 2025 info drop, we now have the same for the next mainline iteration of Generations, which is supposedly called Prime. It'll be a fitting name, as it seems we are finally getting a toyline that focuses on the Thirteen Primes. Yes, we had Power of the Primes, but the Thirteen were included there more in spirit than in any real sense.

Also, it seems that this line will forego the inclusion of any kind of themed partsformer characters, such as the weaponizers or fossilizers. I'd imagine that this is due to roster concerns, since we are apparently continuing to get "normal" characters alongside members of the Thirteen. 

One other thing to keep in mind is that Vector Prime should be kicking off this whole range of the Thirteen by being a Legacy United release, according to listings we've had for a while.

-Deluxe Solus Prime: Solus gets her first normal toy release. She'll be expected to include her hammer, and I really hope she is a unique mold and not based on another female TF's tooling. That said, I think ai expect a motorcycle alt mode, simply because that's the most common mode for deluxe female TFs (I think).

-Deluxe Air Raid: as with the Constructions, the Aerialbots appear to be back! Air Raid is always my favorite, so I'll probably get him. Also, it's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since the last set was released. I actually never got a complete set of CW Aerialbots (in the G1 colors, anyway), so I may actually go in for the whole set this time.

-Deluxe Fire flight: probably my second favorite Aerialbot. I wonder if he will be a proper Phantom this time or remain a retool of Slingshot.

-Deluxe Animated Wasp: ah, the first entry that I'm truly excited about. I've waited since 2009 or so for a true Wasp figure. I'd still be up for the concept to be executed across other continuities, like the movies, Prime, etc. I do hope that Wasp has a unique head mold, and it'd be fun later on to get a 2-pack with BB and Wasp in swapped colors in reference to that one episode.

-Deluxe Alchemist Prime: this guy has been more or less identified as Maccadam over the past decade or so. I do kind of wish that he was a voyager, and if they lean into the Cyberverse design I imagine he will turn into a truck, which is a boring choice for such a character. Hopefully this figure is surprisingly good.

-Deluxe Crasher package refresh: I actually did see Velocitron wave 2 deluxes at one of my local Walmarts, and even bought Crasher, but I was never overly excited by her and had plenty of the Mirage mold, so I returned her. However, that wave absolutely needs a refresh, so I'm happy to see it here.

-Deluxe Swindle: some theorize that this will be Animated Swindle and this not telling of a new Bruticus, but Wasp has an "Animated" adjective, so considering we now know that Devastator and Superion are in the works, what exactly is there to suggest that they aren't also revisiting Bruticus? 

-Deluxe Micronus Prime: I'm a bit surprised that they aren't saving this guy for core class, but I imagine he'll be a small deluxe, possibly with a large accessory like the bubble his Prime universe version is usually shown with. I also hope this leads to minicons in the core class.

-Deluxe Venom: another one I'm really excited about! Venom is easily the best of the "deluxe" Insecticons, and I love cicadas. I'm pretty happy that he will be in the mainline, as the others (save the previously released Ransack) are relegated to the Mayhem capsule.

-Deluxe Sky Dive: my least favorite Aerialbot in terms of robot design and personality, Slingshot does have the cool Harrier alt mode going for him. Also, it looks like Skydive is the only Aerialbot limb left off this list, which contrasts with how only one Combaticon is included (not unlike the first two waves of Combiner Wars).

-Voyager Prima: it's about time we got a figure of this guy. A retool of the leader TR Black Shadow mold was planned for Power of the Primes, but then shelved, so I'm glad he'll get a chance to shine. I hope he does look mostly like his Covenant of the Primes art, as that is his most distinct appearance, and I love the Matrix-bearing Star Saber weapon. He needs to have a lot of silver paint, and I hope he has a flying alt mode.

-Voyager Armada Red Alert: this was the obvious next Armada Autobot choice since Hot Shot and Optimus are already done. I'm glad he's a voyager; the Cybertron designs are good, but I always appreciated how the Armada design was like Archer's take on a more RiD Car Bros-type transformation (and Cybertron Smokescreen later would have the same kind of feel). 

-Voyager Rescue Bots Heat Wave: I'd kind of had this idea that the four main rescue bots might all get done as deluxes (as Chase is), so I'm glad to see that they are willing to make them more varied. Heatwave is honestly my least favorite of the four, but he is still a great character, and like all of them has deserved a more faithful rendition for a long time now. With this line being so focused on the Primes, some wonder if RB Heatwave will also be a torso core for Nexus Prime, but I think Hasbro is probably more concerned with making him a faithful RB representation. Plus, Timelines Heatwave was a retool of the Energon equivalent of Onslaught, so if we are getting new Combaticons AND if they actually want to make Nexus a full-fledged combiner, I can see his torso coming from Onslaught instead (I still don't understand how we didn't get a new Nexus Prime from Combiner Wars). I greatly look forward to Blades and Boulder, who I imagine would be a deluxe and voyager, respectively. 

-Voyager RID Skybyte: Finally! While I used to own a TMII Cybershark (a mess of a mold) and I passed on T30 Skybyte (too many compromises in the design along with too few improvements), I do enjoy the character and have no plans to sell off my Botcon 2010 version. Still, between the RID resurgence we are seeing and the recent passing voice actor Peter Spellos, it's very appropriate that Skybyte gets another chance to shine. One thing I did like about the T30 toy was the shark head actually serving as the robot chest, which made much more sense than in hanging off the lower back in bot mode, so I hope that stays, but I worry that the current adherence to show-accuracy may not allow for that one major improvement. Regardless, I'm really looking forward to this guy and I hope we catch wind of a new RiD Megatron to join him sooner than later. 

-Voyager Alpha Trion: Well, this is interesting. Not a surprise, as Alpha Trion has been part of the 13 for a while now, but we already have a pretty-much perfect G1 iteration from the Legacy 2-pack; there's a distinct chance that this could just be a rerelease of that Scourge retool (after all, while it was easy to acquire, that set was an exclusive set). On the other hand, we could also be dealing with either a retool of Thundertron OR Vector Prime, with either one making plenty of people happy. And again, we could get a totally new mold that is more in-line with the Covenant of Primus artwork. I suppose my least favorite option would be a Vector Prime retool. That was a great idea in 2007, but I want the pantheon of the 13 to look as distinct as possible from each other, and unless United Vector Prime gets some very heavy retooling, this idea won't allow for that. 

-Voyager Flatline: FINALLY! Flatline is one of the greatest concepts to come from IDW, and it's a shame he hasn't already gotten a toy or otherwise seen more of a spotlight. Granted, it's incredibly likely that this toy will be an Armada Red Alert retool and thus not a hearse, but the Deceptions finally getting their creepy medic will be a great boon.

-Leader The Fallen: this also has the potential to be great. I've (and other's have) been wanting a better non-movie The Fallen since the release of the Titanium figure (which was great for the standards of that line). Like most, I'm hoping for a design that is closer to his War Within: The Dark Ages appearance, with the tank mode shown in the More Than Meets The Eye profile books. I'm also a fan of his RiD 2015 appearance, and the Covenant of Primus design (which was also used for IDW) isn't the worst either, so I wouldn't mind if some elements from these other forms made it into the toy. Ultimately, though, I definitely want it to most resemble the DW version, and I hope it's a large leader class toy as well (think SS86 Dinobots, as he should be able to take on Grimlock). This will likely be the big showpiece of all the releases thus far leaked, and I'm very excited for it. 

-Leader G2 Grimlock: I'm a bit suprised that we are going to get yet another repaint as the original SS86 deco is getting a package refresh next year, and we have the 40th/Comic version this year, but I'm going to assume that this will be the actually-released G2 blue deco. Which, honestly, is as boring as the yellow/blue tiger deco is weird. I don't think I'll go for this, but I'm glad for those that are interested. 

-Leader Onyx Prime: Onyx is a bit of a weird one, with a fuzor-like robot mode (winged centaur) and an altmode I don't think we've ever seen, even though it'll be some kind of "beast" since he's the progenitor of beast-formers. I hope this toy actually gets to represent Onyx himself, as he became effectively a non-character in IDW for reasons I'll leave out here in case anyone's unaware. This has the potential to be another showpiece, and I hope it's at least as amazing at Legacy TMII Megatron. 

And that's it! For now, anyway. 

Clearly, some of the Thirteen remain unlisted: 

-Nexus Prime: I already discussed him a bit. I really hope he isn't based on the Covenant of Primus design; it's a boring pile of parts. He definitely need to be a combiner. 

-Amalgamous Prime: being the progenitor of a race that barely gets fictional representation (the Shifters), I expect him to either be a multi-changer or rewritten to be the progenitor of the "-izer" type characters/toys, like Weaponizers, Fossilizers, etc. and be able to break apart himself. 

-Quintus Prime: the remaining Prime I'm most excited about. There's a chance that this could be made female to reference TLK Quintessa, but then Solus Prime is supposed to be the progenitor of females, so maybe not. Either way I hope this turns out nicely.

-Liege Maximo: Some hope for the G2 incarnation as a Titan class toy, but I find that unlikely. At the same time, I don't think Disney will be too fond of LM being too close to Loki in appearance, so I suspect we will get something a bit between the two. I figure he will be at least voyager class, but preferably leader class (maybe even commander).


Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Studio Series 2025 (Actual Product May Vary)

 So, JTPrime unleashed what is presumably 90% of the Studio Series 2025 lineup last night. No commander class was listed, so maybe there will not be one, or more likely he just couldn't get the info on it yet. 

I just wanted to do a rundown of the list, as it's a pretty interesting mix with a few surprises!

First is deluxe class "A-level" TF One B-127. I'm still not solid on what is meant by A-level, but most know that TF One is the new CG animated movie set on Cybertron. I don't care too much for the B-127 designation being carried over from the 2018 movie, but I am interested to see what the designs will look like for the new film.

Another A-level release is deluxe class "DEV" Optimus Prime. Speculation says this is a Devastation video game reference, and some think that it may therefore be a cel-shaded repaint of the upcoming Legacy deluxe Optimus. We'll see, it could be something totally different.

Double Punch (another deluxe) we already know will be an RotB Scorponok repaint. The SS-107 got released in purple, which was supposed to be Double Punch's colors according to concept art, which also showed a red Sandstorm variant. Not sure what this repaint will look like, but I hope it is the green deco that SS-107 was intended to have.

Next up is deluxe Hatchet, of which we've already seen a render. He looked a bit rough, and I didn't buy the other SS Dreads, so I'll likely pass on this.

Deluxe MV6 Bumblebee: not exactly sure what this will be. We could be entering the era of SS revisions, as 2018 VW BB was first released through SS, or it could be the Camaro design from the film's ending that isn't the same as the RotB design. I could really go for a new VW mold, as the original SS mold is not great nor very accurate.

SS86 Preceptor package refresh: I can think of better choices for a PR, but whatever

Deluxe class TF One Starscream: kind of weird to get a deluxe Starscream after he has consistently been a voyager for years now, I'm interested to see the design regardless.

Deluxe class Que: Finally! Wheeljaq never got a domestic release, so it's about time he gets an SS showing. I hope it's a good take.

Deluxe class SS86 Bonecrusher: So, they're finally doing it! People have been asking for an SS86 Devastator for years now, and we are finally getting one. As you'll see down the list, other Constructicons show up across both deluxe and voyager price points. It is a bit curious that Bonecrusher and (spoiler) Scavenger are deluxes, as this presumably means that Devastator will overall be smaller than the Combiner Wars version, but we'll see how it shakes out. I'm assuming that the forearms/fists, which are traditionally add-ons to Bonecrusher and Scavenger, will be included with someone else, maybe a leader class Long Haul (some even anticipate a commander-class set including Long Haul, Hook and the various combiner accessories).

Deluxe class SS86 Jazz package refresh: like many others, I am not really sure why Jazz gets a PR when we know that a more toon-accurate version is coming via the autobot 5-pack. He's certainly the best choice from the initial SS86 wave (Blurr and Kup shelfwarmed for a long time), but he wasn't exactly rare, either. 

Deluxe class SS86 Scavenger: see my entry above for Bonecrusher. I've always preferred Scavenger to Bonecrusher (backhoes are cool), so I kind of hope he gets released first. 

Deluxe class WFC Autobot Solider: This is a High Moon/Gamer Edition release, and I don't know exactly what they'll do here, as they could make a dedicated mold for the in-game fodder models, or it could just be a slight retool of an existing figure. Hopefully it turns out to be a compelling offering, as most of the GE deluxes so far haven't been so. 

Deluxe TF4 Widow Maker: this is an interesting one. Widow Maker is an Age of Extinction concept art character, often thought to be the precursor for what became Stinger. While this may just be a rehash of Stinger (which was is in the first SS wave), it certainly won't be an exact recreation of Widow Maker's concept art appearance for what are hopefully clear reasons. Despite its less than retail-friendly features, the design could be easily modified. I do find it weird that a pretty great Widow Maker custom, primarily based on SS-107 Scorponok, just appeared online the other day, and there is a halfway-decent chance that we could get something like that in an official format next year. 

Voyager class WFC Skywarp: I'm one of those that is actually looking forward to owning Gamer Edition Starscream, and as always, Skywarp is just a better-looking Starscream, so I'll happily pick this up, especially if it comes with some better weapons. 

Voyager class TF7 Optimus Prime package refresh: I totally looked over this listing until now! Is SS-102 actually getting a mass-retail release? I hope so, with how difficult it was to obtain. I can't believe that this isn't getting talked about more. 

Voyager class WFC Ironhide: I've wanted a High Moon Ironhide since 2010, but I'm glad he gets to be released as a voyager rather than being stuck as a deluxe as he would have been in the initial Generations lineup. Granted, I don't expect this voyager to be tall, based on Gamer Edition Optimus and Megatron. 

Voyager class TF One Sentinel Prime: I'm intrigued, if only because it's so rare for us to get a Sentinel Prime. I wasn't impressed by the Titans Return version being a weird pretool for Astrotrain, and I foolishly skipped SS DotM Sentinel (he should get a package refresh), so I wonder how this version will turn out. Glad it's not a deluxe, at any rate. 

Voyager class WFC Thundercracker: less exciting than Skywarp, but yes I'll get him to complete the trio. Not sure that I'll sell off my original deluxes as that is one of the better FoC Generations molds. 

Voyager class SS86 Scrapper: see below.

Voyager class SS86 Mixmaster: I'll just discuss both of these here. I already kind of talked about Devastator under the Bonecrusher listing, but it's hard to miss that both voyager class Constructicons are the legs. This makes sense it we are trying to keep relatively human proportions for Devastator, but I do still expect that the combiner thighs will somehow be separate from these voyager components. Of the two, I prefer Scrapper, in part because he's the leader, but I'm also anticipating now having a Scrapper with elbows, so that's a plus. I also hope Mixmaster has a more traditional headsculpt than the CW version (as cool as that one looked, it didn't seem accurate to the original toy or cartoon) and that more will be done with his mixing barrel in robot mode. 

Leader Class TF7 Apelinq: SS-106 Primal was one of my favorite 2023 releases, so I'm very happy that we are getting the most reasonable option for reusing the mold. I expect that most of the weapon accessories for Primal will be be dropped in favor of removable armor/blades for Apelinq's gorilla mode, but I'm also interested to see what they do with the robot mode. Maybe he will even come with an extra faceplate head that can be given to Primal? 

Leader class TF4 Optimus Prime: I guess this could either be the evasion OR knight design, right? Most suppose it'll be the latter, which I agree with. I am pretty happy with the TLK Voyager, but it definitely had room for improvement. I'm expecting/hoping for something like SS-106 Primal here - a robot that is still mostly voyager-sized, but comes with plenty of weapons - shield and sword are a must, but a gun would help as well, and possibly even removable knight upgrade gauntlets. I hope he doesn't overshadow Galvatron!

And finally, two leader class package refreshes: DotM Shockwave (not a bad choice - it came out 4 years ago and I don't remember it being incredibly common) and...wait for it...SS86 Grimlock! Yes, despite the original release definitely being a shelfwarmer and now getting three repaints (SG, G2/Toxitron, and Comic/40th Anniversary), SS86 Grimlock is returning to mass retail. Presumably Swoop will be released by this fall, so it makes sense to get the normal Grimlock release back into rotation so people late to the party can round out their collection for a reasonable price. I kind of hope that this release dispenses with the Wheelie figure and includes at least one of the Comic/40th edition swords; I'd be ok with them leaving the crown out. I suppose I'm a bit put out that, in order to get sword for Grimlock, Slag, and Sludge I need to buy the Comic/40th edition, which I don't really care for otherwise. I suppose my suggestion has a shot if only because it'll be released in 2025, unlike the 40th edition which is releasing this year sometime. 

So what's missing? As noted, the commander class is absent. Also, we're only seeing one new leader mold here (and that's making an assumption that the TLK voyager isn't getting retooled for TF4 Optimus) and two new leader releases total. Last year saw 3 new leader SS molds - Snarl, Scourge and Primal - along with continued shipments of Sludge and the Fallen (and maybe more Coronation Starscreams). I'm not sure if Long Haul is a safer bet as a stand-alone leader or as part of a Commander-ish 2-pack with Hook, but if any of the SS86 Constructicons will be notably larger, it'd probably be Long Haul, following suit with the CW version. At the same time, we are getting 2 mass-retail leader package refreshes, so I don't know if those "replace" a new release in Hasbro's mind, so maybe AoE Optimus and Apelinq really are all we are getting in this size class that's new for 2025. 

And what if the commander class isn't a Hook/Long Haul set? We're supposedly getting Commander SS86 Optimus this year, and we got SS86 Magnus last year. I suppose it's time for an SS Decepticon Commander, but aside from the Devastator Torso Kit, I'm not sure what you'd want to do. If it's G1, it ostensibly needs to be from TFTM (the biggest stretch of that has been Snarl) and I don't think we have any big TFTM Decepticons aside from Devastator except MAYBE a new take on Galvatron that comes with a bunch of stuff. I know people never shut up about a commander class DotM Devcon, but I just don't see that one happening. I'd love a new take on 2007 Megatron, but commander would be overkill for that design; it could be done effectively as a leader. I think there are a lot more Autobot options for commander, so that's probably what will happen if the Torso Kit doesn't pan out. 

Also, where are the core class releases? I really want to see RotF Ravage in core class, though I'd like BB Ravage to be finally gone from shelves first. There are more tapes to be done (is Ratbat in TFTM? I hope so), and we still need the AoE Steeljaw that was teased (?). Also, is it weird that the wiki has core class Ratchet, Wheelie, DotM Laserbeak and Blue Rumble as 2022 releases? I didn't see Spike until late December 2022, and the others I mentioned were definitely 2023 releases, with the Arcee/Freezer wave not really showing up until May 2023. Anyhow, I'm sure there are plenty more releases to do that I'm not thinking of. A core class 2007 Scorponok would be great - my favorite toy for him was the 2007/8 legends class, but it has a broken GPS stinger. They could even just release that mold with better plastic and I'd take it. 2007 Frenzy, of course. A better bird mode DotM Laserbeak would be great. RotF Wheelie for sure, and possibly Brains. Maybe even some kind of Reedman release? 

Who knows, maybe we'll have a decent chunk of 2025 "Legacy" leaks soon. But for now, there is plenty to chew on here. 



Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Shake on It: Haslab RiD Omega Prime

 They said it couldn't be done...literally. 

So, after months of "omega level" hints, a 40th anniversary focus, and Evan's proclamation that Optimus Prime would never need a Haslab release, the 4th Transformers Haslab project is revealed to be none other than Robots in Disguise Omega Prime!

There was really only one other major contender for what this would be - Primus. It could have fit the hint due to the Omega Lock feature from the Cybertron show/toyline, served as a counterpart for Haslab Unicron (which, barely, just got a sort of rerelease last month), and of course Cybertron itself would be a fitting 40th anniversary tribute. 

Instead, we see that the team has used the logic of focusing Optimus Prime but also a character/toy from the midpoint of the franchise's history that is seen as something of a "grail" figure that many have sought after since its release in 2001. 

That last part - I can certainly understand that. While I actually did see RiD Optimus (not Magnus) himself on the shelf of at a rural Walmart sometime in 2003, this was after I'd already acquired both bots from an eBay purchase that was one of my first as a collector (not the very first - that honor went to RiD Storm Jet) that was also a local meetup to hand off the item. Once I had the toys in my possession, pulling off the Omega Prime combination was a sight to behold, but also not a terrifically fun end product. Rarely capable of achieving any other stance than straight up, and even then only on a rough surface, and including more than a few unstable connection points (especially the Bluebolts weapon), Omega Prime was certainly a contrast to the much more toyetic Armada Optimus Prime supermode that I purchased a few months later. 

I also can see what Primus/Cybertron wasn't pursued (at least not yet) - Unicron was incredibly expensive and only succeeded in earning backers with a very generous time extension and added bonuses. I never seriously considered being able to purchase one, even though I would have enjoyed having it. On the other hand, Victory Saber, which the Omega Prime set is very similar to, was much more successful in comparison and thus a proven model. RiD, as a series, also hits sort of a sweet spot between something as obscure in the west as the JG1 lines like Victory and more popular domestic lines of the 2000s like Armada. As such, I expect Omega Prime to exceed Victory Saber's success, but maybe I'm off base. Also in regards to Primus, I suppose there might be some question as to what he should look like, as his only existing (normal) toy is the Cybertron release, but it differs from the very popular Don War Within concept art, which also received its own Ultimate Guide coloring that was a bit in-line with G1 Optimus, while the Cybertron version has a more unique deco. Then there's the matter of the planet mode, and how it has had an even greater variety in aesthetic depiction. And, of course, making something comparable to Haslab Unicron - even if it were a bit smaller, as how Cybertron Primus is a bit smaller in bot mode than Armada Unicron - might still result in an even higher price point than Unicron's nearly 600 2019 dollars. 

On the matter of the project selection, I'll finally add that I'm kind of grateful for Omega Prime due to the condition of my RiD/Universe originals. Again, I have second-hand copies of RiD Optimus and Magnus that I got in 2003; I then later (the same year?) received the Universe redeco of Magnus as a gift; I kind of preferred its darker coloration. At any rate, like with everyone else, the tires on my RiD Optimus split, but then much later, the chromed plastic that makes up the ball joint socket on the super mode head cracked, making the super mode for Optimus defunct. On top of that, one of my two Magnuses (can't remember which one) has suffered from some yellowing due to my poor display practices many years ago. And as I mentioned earlier, both figures and their combination were not well known for sturdiness and stability; Magnus doesn't even have real feet. With all this in mind, I definitely welcome a replacement for my originals that will (presumably) avoid some of the engineering pitfalls of the older design. 

So, back to the matter at hand:


Ahem.

Let's start with Optimus's core robot mode, which looks wonderful, even better than the original: 


     What I like most here is how much the torso has been improved. The torso on the original toy looked cool and it helped set RiD Optimus apart from the G1/G2 designs, but it was very clearly just a plate of shapes intended to invoke a torso while also echoing the G1 chest windows. This version, with the window pecs being articulated/transformable, makes Optimus feel much more like a transformer than he did before. Evan also pointed out how the gauntlets now slide back to provide clearance for the hands, which is a nice touch. While not seen in this image, he does include the little wheel pistol. However, I am not certain that the antennae rotate, which would be one point of disappointment. 


     Next up is the Mega Robot mode, which I'm actually pretty fond of. It's the only reason the supermode boots have the blue warhead molding, and while they do make for outsized shoulder pads, it's a nice way to take the already cool core robot and give it something extra. It also retains a lot of the blue, which the supermode doesn't really do. I'm especially hopeful that the connections for the shoulder pads are secure, as I remember them easily swinging around on my original. 


     Here's the base mode, looking just as good (?) as on the older toy. This has always been pretty weak for a superarmor base mode, but I have always like the comm tower look it has. It sounds like the connections will be more secure for this mold, which again was a problem for the older toy. Some great improvements include Titanmaster seating on the ladder and blast effects compatibility on the nozzles and "missiles." I do wish it included some more blue effects parts, even possibly some specifically shaped like water (even a recolor of the one included with SS86 Scourge might work), but I suppose most will use Kingdom Rodimus's parts. 


     Truck mode! Our first Optimus as a fire truck, this is of course why this Optimus has a red-dominated deco. The truck looks good, and I like the change of the cab's shape to give it some angularity versus the curvature of the original. Again, I hope things hold together better here, as the old toy had a habit of the tire panels not locking in place.  

     And finally for Optimus, we arrive at the super mode. I think this has always been the most unique super mode for Optimus, the one that most changes his look versus the core robot and also looking the least like the visual concept of Optimus, and this has become more true over the years since the bend has moved away from the kind of reinvention that was prevalent in the 2000s. Once more, I appreciate that I'll be able to not just replace my broken original copy, but upgrade it. I do wish we got a shot of it with the ladder cannon deployed, but that will come sooner or later. I really do appreciate the size increase and the removable Matrix, as previously RiD Optimus's Matrix was one of the least interesting versions of the concept. 


Moving on to Ultra Magnus, I'll take a moment to appreciate that we have now finally gotten a good commander-sized Magnus revealed! Sorry, I just couldn't get excited over SS-86 Magnus omitting the core robot. Of course, RiD Magnus never had an inner/core robot mode and is instead really tall single robot, albeit one that is a partsformer. I really love the improvements given to Magnus; he now looks like he'll be stable and posable; he finally has real feet! I also like the more dynamic wings. One of his best new features, however, has been the addition of a matrix chamber AND his own copy of the matrix. 


     The truck mode looks exactly as it should. Still possessing the capability to carry three deluxe cars, I hope that means that Prowl and X-Brawn are planned along with the Sideburn we know is coming. The Bluebolts weapon system looks great up top. Speaking of which:


     Yes indeed, they made Bluebolts into a transformer! I initially thought it would be a core class targetmaster; it's a deluxe weaponizer! He looks very good; I really enjoy the gun barrels serving as his hands. The new head sculpt looks sharp and is reminiscent of Optimus, which is amusing. 


Here's the weapon mode. I don't know if Bluebolts can anymore form the two long rifle configurations; they weren't shown, but since he breaks apart maybe it's possible. It also looks like the missiles were dispensed with to allow for more blast effect ports, which I won't complain about too much. Overall, Bluebolts's new functionality is a great new feature and helps add value to the set.





Here we can see how the three robots (excepting the core mode for Optimus) stack up to each other and also with Deathsaurus's alt mode. Bluebolts is a bit taller than Siege Hound at the head, whereas Optimus and Magnus are the same height at the head. If you set Optimus's armor aside, however, we can form...


     ...Omega Prime! While not the first Optimus Prime combiner - that being God Ginrai/Apex Armor Powermaster Optimus Prime - Omega Prime was the first "modern" example and of course featured full articulation and the like. It also set off a string of successive Optimus combiners, with the Armada, Energon (three different kinds, in this case) and Cyberton each having their own unique takes, some times with not just one extra robot but two, and the specifically Armada-originated Optimus/Jetfire combination would reemerge before the end of the decade during Revenge of the Fallen. Probably due to the size and more premium feel of the detailing and engineering, Omega Prime has pretty much always been seen as the ne plus ultra of the archetype. As I detailed above, though, the original Omega Prime is nowhere near as stable or playable as some of the other Optimus combiners, with pretty much all of the Unicron Trilogy examples being superior in this regard, and hopefully this will be something that changes with the new edition of Omega Prime. 
      As for the figure itself, I firstly love that the handshake function is still present. This was always a neat aspect of the original, and while I've never watched the show, the fact that it was represented on screen adds to the appeal. The subsequent inversion of the forearms is a great example of partsforming/combining, and even the molded Autobot symbols on the Omega forearms have been improved with better positioning and more standard proportions/shaping.
     I do agree with others' assessments that the torso feels long/the hips are low, but I'm not sure if that could have been avoided without more significantly changing how the combination works. I do think it's interesting that they've removed Magnus's hips/upper thighs from the torso, which cleans that area up a bit, and allowed them to replace it with an abdominal piece that recalls more of a traditional Optimus ab-grill. As with Magnus, the wings look much better this time around (and I hope that the jetpack is blast effect-compatible). 




     I really like these comparison shots, as you can see how big Omega Prime is now compared to both the original and to Haslab Victory Saber. Also, I enjoy some of the design parallels with Victory Saber - the added height from boots, the over-the-shoulder cannons and the wings. I've always considered Victory Saber as a sort of space-PMOP, so it makes some sense that these parallels would exist.



     Two stretch goals have been introduced, with the first being the Matrix Blade that unlocks at 13,000 backers (10,000 is the minimum needed to fund the base figure set). I was honestly a bit shocked when they brought this out, initially assuming that it was just one of the original Takara swords included as a prop, sort of a "hey, if you still have this from yesteryear, the new one can use it too!" situation, but no - this is a brand new tooling and it's huge. Literally just under two feet long, this will definitely be the largest TF accessory I will own assuming it gets funded. It's like they've wanted to outdo themselves each time for the past three Haslabs - The V-Lock Cannon was pretty huge, and then they boasted about how much bigger the Living Metal Destroying Cannon was by comparison...and now there's this! All three of these, notably, have been stretch goal items, and while fans initially really disliked that for Victory Saber (and I agree that the V-Lock Cannon is a more critical component for Victory Saber than these other weapons are for Deathsaurus or Omega Prime), but in both prior cases it really didn't end up mattering, since the weapons have always been the first stretch goal tier, making them the most likely to be unlocked. And, of course, all tiers have been unlocked in both prior projects anyway. 



     The second tier stretch goal, unlocked at 16,000 backers, is a pair of display bases, both of which can combine into a single platform. This is intended to represent the Global Space Bridge road system from the cartoon, and while in some respects I think it's a bit visually underwhelming compared to Victory Saber's base, I do appreciate that it, like Deathsaurus's base, represents a real object. Also, the simple fact that two bases are included is great since this set includes two large-scale robots, whereas Victory Leo didn't really warrant his own unique base in the same way that Ultra Magnus does. Also, the combined platform makes for a good alt mode display base, something that wasn't needed in the same way for Victory Saber and Deathsaurus, as neither of them turned into ground vehicles. 

     As with every other Haslab, this set is controversial, though for some unique reasons this time. Unicron made sense as a Haslab just because of the scale and cost being untenable for normal retail, and both Victory Saber and Deathsaurus will sold on the notion that their design, features and scale would be compromised under normal retail price points. For example, both were originally considered for Power of the Primes leader class, and while those older leaders were larger than more recent offerings, they still wouldn't have captured these toys the way the Haslab projects have. Deathsaurus was later considered for an SS86 Grimlock retool, which made some sense considering their design similarities, but he would have been too small to really square off with Victory Saber. 
     Many of the complaints focus on the fact that this set includes an Optimus Prime, especially with Evan's "no Optimus Haslabs" comments in the background. I do think Evan was right that a Generation 1 Optimus would never need the Haslab model to justify production of a special release, but RiD Optimus is kind of niche. His only previous toy aside from the original was the Titanium Series toy (which was actually pretty neat), and even it was released way back in 2007 in a pretty unpopular toyline and of course not in a more typical scale. Even the RiD Optimus and Megatron Robot Heroes figurine set was cancelled. RiD, as a series, has suffered a bit from not having its cartoon be available for easy viewing since its original airing and also from its fairly small character roster, which meant that there weren't a ton of characters/toys to revisit in the first place. Sky-byte and Scourge have really been the most successful in setting a legacy, with both getting a few new toys over the years and remaining popular characters. As such, I don't know that a RiD Optimus was going to be as likely to get a normal retail release as compared to Optimus - though I will say that the willingness to do Magmatron at normal retail throws a wrench in this logic, at least a bit. Even so, it would be difficult to achieve the same level of execution as the Haslab project through normal retail. Yes, both RiD Optimus and Magnus could, with some level of feature pruning, have been done in the Commander class. But both would be part of Legacy (or its future equivalent), not the new SS86 Commander class - meaning that we would be looking at least a year delay between getting one and then the other. People have already not been too happy about this approach with Legacy Armada Megatron/Tidal Wave and any putative Armada Jetfire or Overload that will hopefully be released to combine with Armada Optimus. In the case of Haslab RiD Omega Prime, none of this is now a concern. 
     I'll make a similar argument here for Omega Prime that I did for Victory Saber - the Haslab offering allows for feature-completeness. I just brought up Legacy Armada Optimus Prime. He's a wonderful figure, my figure of the year for 2023 and probably the best retail Commander class toy. And yet, he doesn't include a mini-con, and again, Jetfire and Overload are nowhere in sight - at least for now. If Star Saber won the PotP fan choice contest, we wouldn't have Victory Leo/Saber and also I'm sure the brainmaster function would be gone, or at best just replaced by the Titans Return headmaster system. In no possible world does a retail Deathsaurus reach the size of the Haslab while also including so many accessories. I would be really interested to see what a retail neo-RiD Omega Prime would look like, just for curiosity's sake, but I'm also glad that corners weren't cut. I don't consider the lack of spring-loaded gimmicks or electronics to be a negative, and aside from those things, the Haslab does everything the original did and more - and it does it better. 
     Also, a note about pricing. $250 is a lot of money. Even the newer $200 price for Legacy titans has put me off from purchasing Cybertron Metroplex and Nemesis despite liking both - though Tidal Wave is appealing enough for me to buy it outright. However, a Haslab purchase can't be perfectly compared to a Titan class. It makes a lot more sense to compare this with Haslab Victory Saber, as the sets have a lot of similarities. However, Victory saber was a set that essentially broke down into a older-style leader class (or maybe a shorter Commander class) in Star Saber and a newer-style leader class in Victory Leo, along with some pretty decent accessories - V-Lock Cannon, two micromasters, a large shield, display base, and blast effects. It, along with Deathsaurus, came in a bit shy of $200. This also helped them feel like a bit of a value compared to the newer Titan price point, but now Omega Prime is $250. However, everything in this set is big. The core Optimus bot mode is enormous compared to any modern leader figure, to the point that people dislike Velocitron Scourge being too small by comparison. The super mode is bigger than Victory Saber, and Magnus is just a bit shorter. Bluebolts is a full-sized deluxe. Omega Prime himself is again bigger than Victory Saber, and all components are larger than the originals. This is more like getting two commanders and a deluxe, which would be about $205 before taxes at retail. Throw in the enormous sword and both display bases, and you can begin to see why this creeped up to $250. I was a bit hesitant after seeing the color renders, but after seeing the size comparisons, I was sold. 

     Other objections I've seen are simply chalked up to disinterest, or in some cases, stranger reasons. I've seen a fair number of posts with abnormally strong vitriol for this project, all in spite of its backing progress, which at the time of this edit has just recently crossed the 50% mark a little more than 24 hours after going live. I sympathize with anyone who is upset because they like the set and can't afford it, but I can't shake the impression that some people in that position are then taking their displeasure and using it to fuel undue criticism. I was never going to be able to justify purchasing Haslab Unicron, but I never wanted to it to fail or thought it was a bad project. I am happier that the recent projects have been much cheaper, but can also understand why, after two projects in a row at less than $200 we suddenly get a new one at $250 (this may be compounded by folks who just preordered Titan Tidal Wave a few weeks ago, even though they will be charged for it later in the year compared to the mid-March change for Omega Prime). It also seems like a lot of younger fans are the ones behind some of the negative feedback, and again I partly blame that on RiD's lack of legacy versus Beast Wars/Machines, and the Unicron Trilogy. Older fans who were around at the time (mind, I got into collecting proper about halfway into Armada, early enough for RiD to still be on shelves in some places but after the line proper had concluded) have rightly upheld the line's role in reinvigorating the brand after the less than stellar showing of Beast Machines, while simultaneously continuing the return to vehicles that Beast Machines began. For me at the time, RiD was a nice counterpart to Armada, offering detailed, highly articulated contemporary takes on G1 aesthetics that went in a very different direction from Armada, which was also a neo-G1 in its own distinct way. I imagine that RiD Optimus/Omega Prime was something of a revelation, being the first new take on Optimus Prime - all other versions were either the G1 character or the new, distinct character of Optimus Primal - and done with incredible style. 

     Lastly, I have to admit that this project, with the near-certainty of its funding goal in sight, certainly begs for more RiD representation in Legacy. I was eager to get Velocitron Scourge despite the inaccurate deco (to me it was close enough), and while I like Tow-Line, I've not purchased him since he's not a major character to me. We could easily get a RiD Sideways from the Arcee/Road Rocket mold even if it's been used many times, and it seems like we are getting a Road Pig from the Crashbar mold, so an Axer repaint could be done there as well. More prominently, we know we are getting Sideburn from Shadow Striker, and of course we'd want Prowl and X-Brawn to complement him and help fill out Magnus's trailer. Also, we now have a growing list of missing rivals, with Leo Prime, Magmatron and Omega Prime missing BWII Galvatron, Big Convoy and Gigatron/RiD Megatron respectively. Of these, I think I'm most anticipating a BWII Galvatron. I really enjoy my original (which I got from eBay in 2009 or so), but I'm sure that it would fall victim to GPS if I messed with it too much; I think he could be successfully done at leader scale. RiD Megatron I have more doubts over, as dropping features has been a common theme with modern updates, so I wonder if Megatron would retain all 6 or 10 modes. I would say that leader class could work for him as well, but I'm not sure, and I've seen a lot of posts saying either commander or Haslab would work best. A lot of folks now want a newer, larger G2 Laser Optimus mold so that we can have a RiD Scourge that scales better with Haslab Omega Prime. I don't fault people for this, but I already now own the Legacy Laser Optimus mold three times over (and would absolutely buy SG Optimus and G2 Magnus versions as well), so I'm not really sure if I want this. I do think those that want the RiD trainbots are being too optimistic, as much as I enjoy those designs. A better mold for Skybyte would be nice. 

To summarize, I haven't backed Omega Prime yet (I'm now finally posting on day 3), but I plan to. I have now doubt that the set will meet all of its goals and I'll be excited for it to arrive next year. 















  



Friday, January 5, 2024

2023: Best Transformers

Per usual, this is a bit late. 2023 was kind of an expensive and frustrating year as a TF collector! As such, I won't be including any entries that I couldn't find, whether online or on shelves. Also, while I received Legacy United Thundertron before 2024, it's intended to be a 2024 release and I'll consider it in my next end-of-year assessment. As I've done before, I'll break this down by line and size class: 

Studio Series:

-Core class: The only one I couldn't find was SS86 Frenzy (Red), and while I do have Rumble, I still haven't opened it, so I won't speak to this particular version of this cassette mold. 

I'd say the best is Freezer. I know he doesn't have a true alt mode, but he's pretty much a mega-targetmaster, and I enjoy the quad-pod turret mode most of all. I will say that Novakane has the edge with the crazy name and also locking in to Scourge's truck mode better than Freezer, but I think I like Freezer's look better with his somewhat darker deco. 

Runner-up is probably Noah. Even more of an action figure than Freezer, there is something strangely appealing about him. He's just a lot of fun to fiddle with. More fun than Arcee, who is ok but not amazing.  

-Deluxe: I totally passed on the Gamer BB and Barricade molds for now, along with Brawn. The latter is certainly easier to find, and I'll probably get it at some point, but it doesn't scream "buy me!" at $25 right now. 

Best is SS-100 Bumblebee. Having most of the older movie-series molds (except stuff from AoE), the only SS BBs I had purchased was the TLK/BB movie 2-pack, so finally buying a new-mold movie BB was nice, especially since it's such a better mold than the VW from the BB movie. It does a great job of balancing the look of the character against a solid transformation, and aesthetically the blend of the 2018 robot design with the old Camaro alt mode works pretty well. 

Runners-up: a tie between Airrazor and Mirage. I had low expectations for both, with Airrazor being a reiteration of the Kingdom toy and Mirage looking like a kibble-laden mess, but in hand both of these are just great. Airrazor IS like the Kingdom toy, but it just looks and feels better, and it's cool that we get a robot mode despite the movie not having one. I do hate that the falcon mode isn't accurate to the film, but the concept art design is cool so I'll take it. Mirage is a bit of a shell former and I will say that the leg movement is more restricted than I'd like, but while the bot mode isn't an exact match to the movie model, I kind of prefer it since it looks like it really transforms. The transformation has some tough points, but is enjoyable nonetheless, and of course the Porsche mode is one of the best SS car modes. He looks great with Noah as well. 

-Voyager: I did not ever pick up Cheetor nor Battletrap. I did see them a few times, but they didn't hang around like the Rhinox/Megatron wave has. 

Best is probably Gamer Edition Optimus. I even wrote him his own review post back in May. He's certainly the best of the GE toys for now, and mostly for really capturing the proportions of the game model while also having a lot of functionality - he's very playable for a "collector" line toy. The arm gimmick allows for a lot of flexibility and creativity with his two weapons, especially thanks to the multiple components of the axe.. 

Runners-up are Gamer Edition Megatron and RotB Optimus Prime. I have Rhinox, and while he's cool, he is a bit dull compared to these two, both visually and functionally. Megatron is much better/more fun than people led me to believe, though I absolutely had to perform the knee modification to make this true. I think I do like it better than the 2010 deluxe figure, though I understand why some still prefer it to the 2023 voyager. I feel fortunate to have snagged an Optimus at retail, and while he is a step back from SS-38 Optimus in complexity, he is a step up in stability, playability, and improved likeness/proportions. I also really like the weapons, though the blast port on the gun is really restricted by the tiny blade. 

-Leader: I did not preorder Snarl and have yet to find him at retail, but I'll absolutely be picking him up as I plan to complete the SS86 dinobots and I have the previous three releases. I did manage to finally get SS DotM Optimus Prime through the Buzzworthy reissue this year, but I'm not really going to count reissues here. 

The best has to be RotB Optimus Primal. People really ragged on this figure for being so small, and I definitely get that, but he looked great in the release images and completely wowed me in-hand. He is the best Optimus Primal figure ever released, with a wonderful transformation and fun weapon options. I'm very excited that the new SS-109 Megatron seems to follow a similar design pattern. 

The only real runner-up option is Scourge, and I actually really like him. Like with Airrazor, I know he is not accurate to the final movie model, but I appreciate that the toy (as with Mirage) looks like it actually transforms, especially since the final model ended up having such a generic body design. The Freezer/Novakane compatibility is terrific, and the accessories work pretty well. He's overall an interesting meld of previous Scourges in terms of design influence while also echoing the Fallen. 

-Commander - sorry, I am not buying a large, expensive Ultra Magnus that does not include the inner cab robot. I'm looking forward to what they do with SS Commander class in the future, but for now count me out. 


Legacy: This was the year of Legacy: Evolution, which is the second iteration of the line, with the third part, United, already shipping out at the tail end of 2023. Honestly, Evolution was terribly hampered by shipping issues in large part, but otherwise is probably a stronger showing than year one of Legacy. 

-Core class: dominated this year by the core Dinobots/Volcanicus combiner, the only other new releases have been kind of tough to find and I still need to get them (Soundblaster, Nemesis Prime and Thundercracker; all repaints from Kingdom). 

The best absolutely is Swoop. I actually like core Swoop even better than his PotP deluxe toy, and really helps me look forward to his upcoming SS86 leader class toy. 

The Runner-up is Scarr, the new Dinobot added to serve as a sixth combiner component. Technically an older character introduced years ago in IDW comics, Scarr now receives an actual dinosaur mode and becomes part of Volcanicus. Scarr works better than most of the others due to the designers having the freedom to more or less tailor his design to the core class, rather than trying to simplify designs from larger toys while also shoehorning in Monstructor/Dinoking-based combination modes. Scarr's arm mode really doesn't compromise him at all (something that Swoop also benefits from), and based on hints, I think we can look forward to a larger Scarr in the future!

-Deluxe: Ugh, this is where we start to run into issues. I have literally NEVER seen Brakedown, Needlenose or any of wave 3 once, ever. I kind of gave up on the Legacy Stunticons, so missing Brakedown wasn't too big of a deal, and Needlenose didn't really grab my attention anyway. Thankfully, I was able to find Hot Shot at Wal-mart ONCE and then Scraphook a few months later at Gamestop - again, ONCE. Finding wave 2 was no problem (can still be done currently if you are persistent), same with wave 4. 

The best deluxe would be either Prowl or Shrapnel, and it really is hard to choose between them. Prowl is about as good of an Animated reintroduction as possible, and Shrapnel is simple but just so much fun to fiddle with and feels so solid, along with being better than his retool buddy Bombshell. 

Runner-up: there's a lot. Definitely the G2 Cybertronian Trooper from the Troop Builder set, who took a surprisingly fun Skullgrin mold from 2022 and made it even better. I would also put Bombshell here. I was disappointed in him being a retool, but Shrapnel is such a good base mold that it make up for it. I'll also throw in the Toxitron line's G2 Laser Cycle; I love the Legacy Prime Arcee mold, and I did pick up Velocitron Road Rocket, but this deco is superior to either of those releases. I do wish the clear plastic could have been a louder/less-realistic color to fit the subline's theme and help it visually compete even more with its mold-mates, but that's ok. I wish I could say anything about wave 3, as I'm sure Devcon would have ended up here as well. 

-Voyager: I think this might be the line's weakest price point, especially considering that voyagers are $35 anymore. 

I'm going to say that Nemesis Leo Prime is the best. It's a mold unique to Evolution, and while the heroic version is great and I initially thought the dark redeco was dull, in-hand the graphite-like grey is beautiful, and the sparing use of teal is kind of a nice touch. The mold has some issues, but not many. It also greatly benefits from using one of the narrow blast effects from the SS-86 dead Autobots set as a beam saber blade, and come with an extra combinable pistol set that the original release lacks.

Runner-up: I'll call this a tie between heroic Leo Prime and Selects Antagony. While the Antagony/Inferno mold is originally from year one Legacy, I don't think I found it until 2023. It's a great mold, not as good as Tarantulas but very nearly so, and the Antagony version really pops in black and purple. The bonus transmetal Scavenger head is a nice bonus and is my preferred way to display the figure. And of course, Leo Prime is just about as good as Nemesis Leo, and visually makes a nice companion with Victory Saber. I didn't receive the Miner Megatron and Senator Ratbat set until the other day, but they are worth a shout-out as well, with both probably being the best versions of their molds.

-Leader: As with Studio Series, the leader class is really where the franchise is shining bright for the past year or more. I did not purchase Transmetal II Megatron until 2024 and he did get an Evolution repackage, so I'm going to include him in the running here.

...and indeed, TMII Megatron is my best Legacy leader for 2023. I've already written and entire post about him, so I won't belabor my enthusiasm, but I'll say he certainly exceeded expectations and I'm greatly looking forward to his counterpart in Legacy United Tigerhawk.

Runners-up: I'll say here that Armada Megatron and Toxitron have tied. I was really excited for Skyquake, and he is still really nice, but the less than supportive heels and wonky torso transformation dampened my appreciation and have allowed me to not jump to order Dreadwing (who can't be found anywhere anyway). Armada Megatron has some flaws (I've received, but have yet to install, a shoulder upgrade kit) but looks wonderful and has those beautiful, beautiful knees. Toxitron is probably my favorite version of the Legacy Laser Optimus mold, though I would totally buy it a fourth time in eHobby G2 Magnus colors. 

-Commander/Titan/Haslab:

I only have 2 of the 4 offerings here, not having purchased Titan Nemesis (yet?) and not being interested in the Titan Guardian Robot. Between the two, Commander Armada Optimus is my favorite. He improves on the original in almost every way, and is easily the best of the new Armada updates so far (even compared to Tidal Wave, who looks great). I'll say more about him below, but yes he edges out Deathsaurus by a bit. 

Runners-up: I guess it has to be Deathsaurus! And he really is good (and better be). I like him more than Victory Saber, despite my fondness for supermode combinations. He's pretty big, has great accessory options (though he is lacking the normal rifle of the original toy) and both chestmasters are much more fun/interesting than I anticipated. The throne puts that of Coronation Starscream to shame (TMII Megatron looks great next to it, by the way), and the dragon mode has great presence. 

 

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Timing (Legacy Evolution Scarr)

 For once, I actually found something new on shelves the very day that first sightings were reported - in fact, I even found Scarr before I saw a reported sighting. 

Ever since their unveiling last September, I haven't been the most enthused about the Legacy Evolution core class combining Dinobots. Of the first two, Slug/Slag looked fine, but Sludge definitely had some weirdness, albeit creative weirdness, about him. I think I did see both in store maybe twice, but passed at the time. Grimlock did not wow me either, especially with how his big lower legs bulk up the rear of the dino mode. Most recently, Swoop and Scarr (or Skar) were shown off, with Swoop looking pretty uncompromised and Scarr looking pretty good considering the limitations of the size/design and the fact that we don't really have a baseline comparison for him.

So I managed to pick up Grimlock a couple of weeks ago and actually liked him pretty well. The leg mode has this ancient totem/architecture-like charm to it, and you can even get a decent targetmaster mode out of him, which is also possible for Scarr (you can even use him as a shield for toys with forearm ports). The dino mode is still kind of rough, but not too bad from the front and the bot mode is pretty good, with is only real problems being a lack of elbows and sword and also the weirdness of his wings being upside down. 

I found Scarr last night, completely unexpectedly (no Swoop) and grabbed him. As a toy, he's pretty good, better than Grimlock in that his dino mode is mostly uncompromised (not that you'd compare it to anything; I just mean that it pretty much looks like an ankylosaur should). The armored back is cool and separates to form the bulk of the limbs for the robot. Unlike Grimlock, who's a leg for Volcanicus, Scarr comes with a Monstructor/Dinoking-like fist gun that also doubles as the dino mode's clubbed tail. It's clever, but there's a part of me that wishes he could become the complete dino without a combiner component. Grimlock almost does the same thing, with his tail tip becoming his double-barreled "rifle," but it's explicitly part of Grimlock himself and could actually be left off of Volcanicus altogether without causing any problems. I hope that if Scarr does eventually get a leader mold to go with the SS86 Dinobots that a better solution will be found, even if it's just making the club into a mace/hammer for Scarr's bot mode. 

I already mentioned Dinoking; the designers have been about as transparent as possible that Legacy Volcanicus will be retooled into Dinoking, down to the various Dinobots all matching positions with their Dinoking counterparts. Since Gairyu is the only Dinoking component without an Autobot counterpart, Hasbro took an existing "Dinobot" character from IDW in Scarr/Skar (who, amusingly, never got a dino mode himself despite being responsible for their ability to scan new altmodes in the field) and designed his bot mode to fit the look of an ankylosaur alt mode. The alt mode even has a few design touches from Gairyu, though not as much as I thought (which makes sense; Scarr has a robotic ankylosaur altmode, while Gairyu is really a robotic "monster" altmode wearing an organic ankylosaur pretender shell with weapon backpack). 

Scarr is a neat toy, even if it's yet another reminder of what we can't get for our money anymore, being slighly more expensive that deluxes were about 10 years ago when the price was bumped to $15, and then gradually to the present cost of $25. The core class is most equivalent to the Dark of the Moon/Prime Cyberverse commanders (and later the Generations "legends"), and while I honestly don't remember their exact cost, it wasn't the current $12 core class MSRP. Of all the 5 revealed core Dinobots, he's certainly the most unique in being a new character and might be worth adding to your collection for that alone, even if you aren't interested in getting all six. If you have any of the new G1 core class toys introduced in Kingdom, he'll go well with them. And, of course, if you are collecting Volcanicus, he's an indispensable component, unless you want Volcanicus to have two Swoop arms.  

Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Review Update

 So I'm on a bit of a roll lately, thanks to a little bit of downtime recently. I had planned for a Legacy Transmetal II Megatron review post back in January, but only just got around to finishing/posting it today, and did the same for a SSGE-03 Optimus review that I started last week. Anyone who's been aware of this blog for a long time knows that back around 2010 or so, I made some pages for posting mini-reviews, categorized mainly by sub-series within the franchise. Just to help these newer reviews not get lost in the mix, I've decided to start adding summaries and links to the new reviews to the appropriate mini-review page, and to make it more obvious, these entries will be added at the top of each page. 

As a side note, for the SSGE-03 Optimus review, I stuck to my old guns and posted it on the page for G1-based reviews, as I've always seen the War for/Fall of Cybertron games as a G1 take, not really part of the "Aligned"/TF Prime/Rid 2015 continuity. I already have an old mini-review of Generation FoC Starscream on the G1 page anyway, so it's not like this is a new shift. TMII Megatron goes on the Beast Wars-based page, which I guess would be obvious, despite being from Legacy, a toyline that is still ultimately G1-focused. 

I also just wanted to note that it's been a LONG time since I added anything to the mini-review pages...the most recent thing being Combiner Wars Optimus Prime! Yikes. 

This isn't anything major, but it's fun to have a little update once in a while.