The Energon Pub

News Credits: 5749 · Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:03 am

YouTube member peuagh has uploaded a video review of the latest upgrade set from Headrobots, Blood the Dark Warrior. This set provides two new head sculpts for ROTF/HFTD Voyager Bludgeon, a more menacing skull, and a version closer to what we've seen from the IDW comics with no bottom jaw. The set also comes with two chrome plated swords to replace the soft rubbery ones that originally came with the figure. Review embedded below:

Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:14 am

It actually came out pretty well. Was a bit iffy about buying it at first but it actually looks much better than I imagined.

News Credits: 1 · Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:45 am

Even if you don't like the head, the price is worth it for the swords.

The swords he comes with are lame.

Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:16 am

Question; Are they still planning on doing the Blood upgrade for the deluxe figure as featured with the Gyro preview way back?

News Credits: 2 · Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:23 am

Covenant wrote:Question; Are they still planning on doing the Blood upgrade for the deluxe figure as featured with the Gyro preview way back?

^^^
This is what I'm waiting for!

Hopefully someone will post a pictorial review of this version, I can't be bothered with video (though at 8 minutes 36 seconds) this is a bit more manageable than usual, but I am a fundamentalist on my opposition of video reviews).

News Credits: 5749 · Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:30 am

NemesisMonkeySupreme wrote:
Covenant wrote:Question; Are they still planning on doing the Blood upgrade for the deluxe figure as featured with the Gyro preview way back?

^^^
This is what I'm waiting for!

Hopefully someone will post a pictorial review of this version, I can't be bothered with video (though at 8 minutes 36 seconds) this is a bit more manageable than usual, but I am a fundamentalist on my opposition of video reviews).

Last I heard they were still planning to release the Deluxe Bludgeon kit as an injection mold mass production set, unlike the exclusive Gyro resin set that came out earlier.

Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:10 am

NemesisMonkeySupreme wrote:
Covenant wrote:Question; Are they still planning on doing the Blood upgrade for the deluxe figure as featured with the Gyro preview way back?

^^^
This is what I'm waiting for!

Hopefully someone will post a pictorial review of this version, I can't be bothered with video (though at 8 minutes 36 seconds) this is a bit more manageable than usual, but I am a fundamentalist on my opposition of video reviews).

Whats wrong, does the video on your computer keep buffering ??? That would make me hate reviews too.

I usually watch reviews when I have the toy in my hands. I use them as online instruction manuals for complex tranformations. Let someone else do the hard part for me of figuring out how to transform it without breaking it.

News Credits: 2 · Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:26 am

Rated X wrote:
NemesisMonkeySupreme wrote:
Covenant wrote:Question; Are they still planning on doing the Blood upgrade for the deluxe figure as featured with the Gyro preview way back?

^^^
This is what I'm waiting for!

Hopefully someone will post a pictorial review of this version, I can't be bothered with video (though at 8 minutes 36 seconds) this is a bit more manageable than usual, but I am a fundamentalist on my opposition of video reviews).

Whats wrong, does the video on your computer keep buffering ??? That would make me hate reviews too.

I usually watch reviews when I have the toy in my hands. I use them as online instruction manuals for complex tranformations. Let someone else do the hard part for me of figuring out how to transform it without breaking it.

Colour me reactionary, but I use the instructions for the figure (and if purchased without them just about every instruction sheet is available online, officially or unofficially).

RE: Video reviews and why I "hate" them.

Short answer: It's a personal preference.

Long answer: I am anti-video review because they are often over long, have poor images and/or lack photographic detail and most often seem like the lazy way to do a review (set up a camera and prattle on for a while as you record mostly images of your hands obscuring the toy). A well-written, well-photographed review allows you to quickly and succinctly find what you what need from it — be it a full review or some images to help you decide whether or not to purchase an item. It's a time thing as well. If I only what to see/read a specific detail about a figure I can spend a few seconds get what i want and be done with it. That's not possible with a YouTube (or almost any) video. Unfortunately, it's far easier to hit record and upload to YouTube than to set-up a photo shoot and write out a review (it seems to me that most video reviews are off-the-cuff as opposed to having a script) and then post to a website or blog. It's also easier to link/embed a video review than to fairly present a photographic/written review without redirecting traffic from the original item.

News Credits: 11 · Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:39 am

I don't really care for the head, although the flipping gimmick is cool. I'm just fine with the original one. But this may be worth it for the swords. However, being they're chromed, won't they scratch easily as you remove or insert them into the scabbard?

Edit: Actually, after actually watching the review, I'm impressed. The removable handle/barrel that fits onto the small gun for storage just did it. That and I'm less worried about the swords getting scratched. I also like how the head just snaps on, that's ingenious if you ask me. I may just pick this up the next time I have some extra TF money.

News Credits: 19 · Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:48 am

Haven't the time for video reviews but I got my Blood kit yesterday and I love it. RotF Voyager Bludgeon was already my most favorite Decepticon toy of all time and even though I didn't hate the head it did seem a bit blob-like and with a bland face. The new head and helmet looks a hell of a lot better and I like the choice of faces (I'm using the skull as his main face and the more cybernetic one as his 'battlemask'). The helmet does come off a bit during transformation due to the feature but it's not a problem and can easily fit back on without trouble.

The swords too make the figure look far more impressive and I've transformed him a few times with them and not yet had any chrome come off them but I am careful with it. The tank mode sure looks better with a green tank barrel too.

It's been my first purchase of an unofficial Transformer product and I'm really happy with it. Ok I had to wait a while but given how much it's improved a figure I already loved to bits it was totally worth it.

Now I can put him with my sorta 'movie/classics' inspired Carnivac repaint of Cybertron Snarl to have that Marvel UK comics reunion.

News Credits: 11 · Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:58 am

Here's another review that's a little more succinct:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK-OYarSaCA&feature=player_embedded#!

One of the main concerns is that the gun barrel was a little loose on the sword handle for this guy, which is a bit concerning. But Peaugh's seemed fine, so perhaps it was an isolated problem.

News Credits: 6 · Thu Sep 01, 2011 1:15 pm

Were did my comment go? I posted a comment here....hmmm, an error maybe? It wasn't removed, nothing explicit or bashing at all.
My question was, Even though I wouldn't be interested, are they doing a repainted version for Bonzaitron do you think? I mean, I don't like the figure, but it would be cool, especially if you use the skull for bludgeon, and the Noh' mask mode for Bonzaitron, or the other way around, depends on your preferences I guess, but still, would make that rapaint look cooler.

News Credits: 1 · Thu Sep 01, 2011 2:14 pm

I just received mine. The head sits a little looser than what I'm comfortable w/ but it's not a bad set. The head even turns around for the alternate facing...but you already know that from watching video I'm betting (no, I didn't watch it). Weapons are really slick.

News Credits: 11 · Thu Sep 01, 2011 4:20 pm

Yeah, almost certainly gonna get this when I ship my next PoL. Between this and the Maketoys G2 Prime Trailer set including a sword for Drift, all I'll need is a sword for Vector Prime to rid my collection of Floppy Sword Syndrome forever!

News Credits: 6 · Fri Sep 02, 2011 10:17 am

Just noticed myself in the Credits. Thanks for that!
Why do I never notice these things? :BANG_HEAD:

Fri Sep 02, 2011 12:36 pm

kirbenvost wrote:Here's another review that's a little more succinct:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KK-OYarSaCA&feature=player_embedded#!

One of the main concerns is that the gun barrel was a little loose on the sword handle for this guy, which is a bit concerning. But Peaugh's seemed fine, so perhaps it was an isolated problem.

Actually, my only complaint with this set is that my gun barrel has the same issue as that guy's. It sits on the sword handle with no tension at all, i.e. nothing holding it in place. Granted, he's going to be displayed in robot mode, so it shouldn't be a problem.

-Eric-