The Energon Pub

First off... normally with third party toy reviews, I try to find an existing thread to add to. But there are so many different threads for Hercules, and for each of his component members, that I just gave up! And so welcome to this, yet another Hercules thread!

In what I am sure may take a few of you by surprise (given my stated preference, which hasn't changed, for Maketoys Giant), Yotsuya's Reviews is proud to present an eight part series taking a look at TFC Toys' Hercules! In what also may take a few of you by surprise (given that he and I have not always seen eye to eye on these forums) this series is being written not by me, but as guest reviews provided by my fellow Seibertron.com forum member, Rated X!

And so, I present to you the first part of this series, taking a look at Bonecrusher, a.k.a. Neckbreaker. Enjoy the review, and comments are welcomed!

I laughed, I cried, enjoyed the review. Might need to grab that Repolabel set. Nice work X, Yotsuya. Add me to the list of putting spare parts aside as well. Lately I find myself resisting just buying Giant too. Never could decide who I liked more with these guys.

What spurred you guys to review Herc after all this time if I may ask..

Thanks guys. Im gonna try to knock out a 3rd one tonight. But gotta go to work now....

Gurgintius Maximus wrote:I laughed, I cried, enjoyed the review. Might need to grab that Repolabel set. Nice work X, Yotsuya.

Well, other then the introductory notes at the beginning, and adding my 2¢ at the end, it was pretty much all Rated X. (Well... I guess I also took the materials Rated X supplied for the review and assembled them together... And I suppose I asked him if he'd be interested in the first place...) But anyway, thanks!

Gurgintius Maximus wrote:Lately I find myself resisting just buying Giant too. Never could decide who I liked more with these guys.

Well, unless something over the course of Rated X's reviews somehow drastically changes my mind, I know who I still like more. So if you are thinking of buying Giant, you'll get no argument from me!

Gurgintius Maximus wrote:What spurred you guys to review Herc after all this time if I may ask..

Basically, a combination of things on my end. I had been thinking for a while that it might be fun to have the occasional guest review on my website, especially if it was a toy I might not personally own. And I was reading through one of the latest, "Which one should I buy between Giant and Herc?" threads. And I know that Rated X can be rather opinionated and unafraid to share those opinions. He and I often have different views on things, but that might actually be a good thing when seeking someone else to write a guest review!

So on a whim, I thought I'd ask if he might be interested in writing up a Hercules review for my website. And he was nice enough to say yes. (He even had at least one other idea for another review, so who knows what the future may hold beyond Herc?)

I know Herc's been out a while... but frankly, if you look at my website, it is not always about what is new and hot. (Not that I'd complain if something happened like third party companies started shipping me their products for early reviews to drum up interest... but I think I'd better not hold my breath waiting on that to happen, as I wish to remain amongst the living!) It is more about what is in my collection (or, in this case, what is in Rated X's collection) that I think is cool and worth sharing with the world.

And anyway, in a way, since there are still "Giant or Herc?" threads popping up despite these no longer being the newest and hottest toys out there, I suppose reviews of either set of figures still have relevance to some out there trying to decide which to buy. My personal preferences aside, both are good sets of toys with plusses and minuses, so the more info out there on them, the better!

Rated X wrote:Thanks guys. Im gonna try to knock out a 3rd one tonight.

Rated X has, in fact already given me a second one. I just want to space 'em out a bit, so I probably won't put more then one online per day.

Cool man, keep em coming then! I like reading reviews, even reviews of things I have for some reason so you got an audience in me

Gurgintius Maximus wrote:I like reading reviews, even reviews of things I have for some reason so you got an audience in me.

Awesome! I should have a review up of my own later today! But it's a Hasbro one, so keep an eye out in the Toy Reviews forum for it!

No tanks, Already saw Youtube videos reviews on these toys already.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:No tanks, Already saw Youtube videos reviews on these toys already.

Okay. Thanks for letting us know that this review is useless to you. Obviously I will be shutting down my entire website immediately...?

Tsutsukakushi wrote:No tanks, Already saw Youtube videos reviews on these toys already.

If you want to watch a BBTS sales pitch from some guy who gets free figures to sugarcoat the truth, go ahead and watch youtube. I'm not here to sell s**t. I paid those "3rd party prices" you always talk about, so I have vetted interest to speak the truth.

On a side note, any thread composed by me is not going to be a total snoozefest.

Yotsuyasan wrote:

Tsutsukakushi wrote:No tanks, Already saw Youtube videos reviews on these toys already.

Okay. Thanks for letting us know that this review is useless to you. Obviously I will be shutting down my entire website immediately...?

Its nice to some people can actually get along even though they have different views. Unlike someone else we know.

I have always liked your reviews Yotsuya its helped me really pick and choose my TFs. And Rated X tells it how it is so these reviews really help alot . Thanks guys

Thadicon wrote:

Yotsuyasan wrote:

Tsutsukakushi wrote:No tanks, Already saw Youtube videos reviews on these toys already.

Okay. Thanks for letting us know that this review is useless to you. Obviously I will be shutting down my entire website immediately...?

Its nice to some people can actually get along even though they have different views. Unlike someone else we know.

I have always liked your reviews Yotsuya its helped me really pick and choose my TFs. And Rated X tells it how it is so these reviews really help alot . Thanks guys

Thank you, kind sir. Nice to know I can be helpful to someone!

I guess what stung about Tsutsukakushi comment was how dismissive it was without being at all constructive. Basically, I read it as, "There's no point to what you're doing, because it has already been done." To which, if I'd been feeling less snarky, I might have responded, "So if you feel it has no use to you, don't even bother looking. No need to make a pointless comment."

That was rather what struck me, was the pointlessness of it. I enjoy when people comment on my (or in this case, Rated X's) reviews, even if it would be to vehemently disagree with something in them! Because at least then I know that person read what I've presented, and has an opinion on what I have to say. This, though... Man, it wasn't, "I disagree with your opinion," it was, "There's no point in you even expressing your opinion." Ouch.

So thank you, again, for your response saying that what I provide has been helpful. It is a pleasant counterpoint!

As far as people getting along even when they have different views... Heh... Well, there have certainly been times when Rated X and I have definitely not gotten along. But he at least usually expresses opinions articulately (even the ones I disagree with!) which is part of why I approached him about this. And frankly, it is actually rather pleasant to be working on something constructive with him!

Anyway, I'm working on getting a few reviews up later today. A quick one from myself (which will be posted later in the Toy Reviews forum) and the second part of Rated X's Herc review. So keep an eye out for those!

Nice read keep them coming please! Looking back at pics of the individual bot modes for Herc and Giant, I realize how bad they look compare to today's standards. But game changers these guys were no doubt about that.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:No tanks, Already saw Youtube videos reviews on these toys already.

That's pretty damn rude...

This was a really fun review to read. Certainly the "color commentary" can be a bit in your face, but there are some really good technical aspects of the review as well. Also nice is the use of Reprolabels in the pictures - it's almost like a two-for-one review in a sense.

Looking forward to the next review.

Well, folks, I'm glad some of you are enjoying this series. Here's the second part, looking at Exgraver, a.k.a. Scavenger!



In not entirely related news, while putting this review up on the website, I received an e-mail telling me of the first donation to my Kickstarter campaign! Woo hoo! One dollar down, forty-one more to go! (Anyone curious can find details in my signature...)

Reading those, very nice reviews, Rated X. And Yotsuya, I like your website too. You've got some good stuff there.

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:And Yotsuya, I like your website too. You've got some good stuff there.

Thanks!

Bringing us half way through the individual members of the team, here's the third part of Rated X's guest review!

Nice work on your site. I like the way you crop the pictures and break down my long paragraphs into more distinctive smaller ones. Well the 4th reveiw is in your hands and ive taken pics for the 5th. Ive got a lot to say about that one and it will be done when im feeling "nice". Today is beer day ! Everybody enjoy !

Rated X wrote:...and ive taken pics for the 5th. Ive got a lot to say about that one and it will be done when im feeling "nice".

Ha ha, is it Mixmaster? Not to prejudice your review if it is, but I think I'd have to be feeling "nice" to review that one, too.

Rated X wrote:Today is beer day! Everybody enjoy !

Not a beer fan, myself. But I do have half of a decent milkshake I bought earlier in the fridge that I shall have to finish soon. Also, I should finish my almost empty pitcher of sweet iced tea and brew a new one. Yum!

I had orange juice, then later some iced water.

RK_Striker_JK_5 wrote:I had orange juice, then later some iced water.

Hope you found it all refreshing!

Anyway... Here's the fourth part in this series of reviews!

Yotsuyasan wrote:Anyway... Here's the fourth part in this series of reviews!

Real quick:

1. I know a lot of the copy is boilerplate and applicable to all figures (which is 100% OK), but you have at least one mention of Dr. Crank instead of Heavy Labor in the review. I'll leave you to locate it.

2. Heavy Labor does have waist articulation. It's hindered slightly by the bed in the back and the purple piece that hides his waist screws in the front, but his waist does have movement.

Otherwise, I'm really enjoying X's reviews. Nice collaboration, guys!

megatronus wrote:1. I know a lot of the copy is boilerplate and applicable to all figures (which is 100% OK), but you have at least one mention of Dr. Crank instead of Heavy Labor in the review. I'll leave you to locate it.

Whoops! That's embarrassing that both he didn't catch it while writing it, and I didn't catch it while putting the review online. Anyway, fixed. Thanks for pointing it out!

megatronus wrote:2. Heavy Labor does have waist articulation. It's hindered slightly by the bed in the back and the purple piece that hides his waist screws in the front, but his waist does have movement.

I'll wait on Rated X to let me know how and if he might wish to amend that one.

Ah, Heavy Labor. He's my... least-favorite of the team. Way too bulky, the hips problem is a bad engineering flaw.

megatronus wrote:

Yotsuyasan wrote:Anyway... Here's the fourth part in this series of reviews!

Real quick:

1. I know a lot of the copy is boilerplate and applicable to all figures (which is 100% OK), but you have at least one mention of Dr. Crank instead of Heavy Labor in the review. I'll leave you to locate it.

2. Heavy Labor does have waist articulation. It's hindered slightly by the bed in the back and the purple piece that hides his waist screws in the front, but his waist does have movement.

Otherwise, I'm really enjoying X's reviews. Nice collaboration, guys!

Lol, thanks for pointing it out. I do a lot of copy and paste for the stuff that applies to all the figures. Hopefully Yotsuya can fix it for me. I was tipsy when I wrote it. I didn't know Heavy Labor even Had waist articulation. Maybe Yotsuya can fix that too. I find the fact that I didn't even realize it due to the hindrances humorous. Glad your enjoying the reviews. He has number #5 already and Im shooting # 6 tonight.