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With the revelation of Transformers: Prime going into its Beast hunters theme for season 3, a lot of the reactions were mixed, split down between a love of the beast theme and a disdain for it that preferred vehicle-based altmodes.

Most of the criticisms for beast altmodes were "the transformations are too boring, with legs forming legs and arms forming arms," or "we wind up with beast heads for hands," or "robot modes have animal kibble hanging off," and such. Whether these kinds of transformations are really a good or bad thing is subjective, but this has me wondering.

What do you consider to have been the BEST beast-based Transformers toy molds that we have received over the years, and WHY?

They can be from any line as long as it's a TF who turns into a Beast Mode.

It can be from any of the following:

• The robotic beasts of the Generation 1-2 lines
• The few beast-based Pretenders (either shell, altmode, or both) also of the Generation 1 line
• The organic/Transmetal/Fuzor/Transmetal 2/Cyborg Beasts/Mutants/Technorganic beasts of the Beast Era lines
• The Megatron/Galvatron mold and whatever other beasts of the Robots in Disguise line
• The BW Transmetal remolds of the Armada line
• The robotic Terrorcon beasts of the Energon line
• The Jungle Planet-native beasts of the Cybertron line
• The new Deluxes of Beast Convoy, Beast Megatron, and Lio Convoy of the RobotMasters line
• The four-legged Decepticon Ravage figure of the Alternators line
• The certain animal-based Mini-Cons and larger figures of the Classics/Universe/Generations lines
• The few very mechanical beasts of the Bay Movie trilogy lines
• The very few but diverse beasts of the Animated line
• The Decepticon-allied Arms Micron beasts of the Japanese Prime toyline
• Any other beast-based toy molds from any other TF toyline not listed here.

To start this off, let me say I was primarily a product of Beast Wars. While I enjoyed transformers and owned G1 toys since I can remember, Beast Wars was the first toy line where I was old enough to do more with them than throw them in the bath tub or bury them in a sandbox.

This being said, I prefer vehicle alt modes. I did like Beast Wars toys (Ultra Optimus Primal was the figure that got me re-interested and collecting), but I just prefer vehicles. I think the Beast Hunters toys will be the first line I am able to resist. They just look kinda cluttered to me. I am anticipating the heck out of the Omega Supreme pictured with the Beast Hunters, though. Anyway, I still have several beast-based favorites.

I'm not sure why, but I really liked a lot of the later "basic" figures for Beast Wars. Transmetals 2 Spittor and Nightglider stick out at the moment. Beast Machines Blackarachnia was really good in my opinion.

I recently acquired Cybertron Deluxe Brimstone and really like his transformation. It's simple, but not the typical for winged alt modes.

This is a great thread Sabr!

I genuinely can't think of a beastformer that doesn't commit one of the three cardinal sins:

1) Beast head for hand/hands
2) Forelegs are arms and/or rear legs are legs
3) Shellforming

But I do have a great love for many figures that do commit them. The Energon bird mold. Longrack. Cutthroat. Quickswitch. Big Convoy. Jetstorm.

Going out on a limb here; might have to agree with Cybertron Brimstone

He's doesn't really commit any of the crimes Diem listed. Neither do the T-Rex Grimlocks........much.

Diem wrote:This is a great thread Sabr!

I genuinely can't think of a beastformer that doesn't commit one of the three cardinal sins:

1) Beast head for hand/hands
2) Forelegs are arms and/or rear legs are legs
3) Shellforming

But I do have a great love for many figures that do commit them. The Energon bird mold. Longrack. Cutthroat. Quickswitch. Big Convoy. Jetstorm.

Cutthrot does none of those things.

-edit- I'm sorta wrong. The wings are connected to his arms. I was thinking about Sinnertwin. Derp.

I only ever owned a couple of figures, most of which have since gone lost.

I currently have a battered Optimus Primal, his Transmetal counterpart in better shape, and an extremely damaged Inferno. Oh, and Magnaboss.


But my favourite was Transmetal Waspinator. I thought the jet mode was pure genius!

I have no idea where he went. He suddenly disappeared from my house along with Dinobot, Rhinox, and organic Waspinator.

I always liked the look of Transmetal Tarantulas, and always regretted never owning a Megatron.

hun-grr doesn't commit any of these "cardinal sins" and there are a few other tfs with beast alt modes that don't. but there are plenty of vehicle mode bots that have similar set patterns to their transformations, so I don't sweat it too much.

Hun-grr's beast legs become his arms.

I gotta give some love to BW Sky Shadow (and his BW Neo Drancron redeco - pictured below). That mold is so articulated, so detailed, and so full of fun weaponry and gimmicks that it's just sick!

Diem wrote:I genuinely can't think of a beastformer that doesn't commit one of the three cardinal sins:

1) Beast head for hand/hands
2) Forelegs are arms and/or rear legs are legs
3) Shellforming

Really, unless done poorly, I don't see either of the first two as a problem (3's probably the greatest evil, but that two can be handled well).

Beast head hands gives the robot mode something unique and creatively different from those with ordinary hands.

And the legs-for-legs pattern generally guarantees a good range of dynamic articulation for the same limbs in both modes and that is far from considered a sin.