The Energon Pub

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:Much to my annoyance, my Victory Saber had an attempted delivery this morning while I was away, so it didn't get delivered. Now to see what happens next

Same.

My pictorial review is finally done.

Click on the link below to see it:

transformers-haslab-victory-saber-review-with-comparisons-against-the-g1-original--p2151325.php#p2151325

-Kanrabat- wrote:My pictorial review is finally done.

Click on the link below to see it:

transformers-haslab-victory-saber-review-with-comparisons-against-the-g1-original--p2151325.php#p2151325

Thanks you for the review! I'm enjoying my VS more after reading your review, as my missing cannon's handle really bummed me out. However after two days, I'm slowly getting around to it and able to start enjoying it after fixing a few looseness issues and overlooking other QC issues that I can't fix (like the gold chrome). Fortunately, Victory Leo's face flap that many people had trouble with isn't on my copy, it's tight at first, but after a few careful flipping back & forth, it's tightness is now "perfect" (and the black paint held!) and I felt it and everything else can take some abuse during transformation & posing.

I made a long 5mm rod so I can connect the cannon on either side of the hips of both Victory Leo & Star Saber. So at least the cannon is not totally useless. That also made me felt better.

VS costs like a current full-price Titan to me as a Canadian (nearing $300CDN, comparing to the recent Metroplex's Canadian MRSP+tax). Of all the Titans, I only own Devastator, Predaking & The Ark and they all cost me half the price of VS or less. Althought I understand it's a bit of a apple v orange comparison, but money-for-fun-wise, I think VS is far more fun than 2 Arks but not as fun as a single Combiner, though VS is far better looking. So I think, it's an 30% overpriced item IF it's a mass-retail.

What do you guys think? Is the money well-spent as a play/display piece? (i.e. Not meant to make a profit by selling)

So earlier today (the 10th) I got both tracking emails from FedEx for my Victory Sabers, but nothing yet from Pulse. Here's my problem, they're both due on the 16th, which would be fine except for one I paid for the faster shipping. Should I call Pulse on Monday to get my money back on the shipping or wait for them to be delivered?

cloudballoon wrote:VS costs like a current full-price Titan to me as a Canadian (nearing $300CDN, comparing to the recent Metroplex's Canadian MRSP+tax). Of all the Titans, I only own Devastator, Predaking & The Ark and they all cost me half the price of VS or less. Althought I understand it's a bit of a apple v orange comparison, but money-for-fun-wise, I think VS is far more fun than 2 Arks but not as fun as a single Combiner, though VS is far better looking. So I think, it's an 30% overpriced item IF it's a mass-retail.

Also Canadian here.
Ironically, my Legacy Metroplex costed me more than a HASLAB Victory Saber set. Like, around 50$CAN more! That is counting taxes and shipping. Considering that the VS set is basically a deluxe + commander + leader + 2 micromasters, I think I've got WAY more for my money with the VS set than Legacy Metroplex ever will.

Finally got to actually open mine after being away from home all day, and I am glad everything seems to be perfectly fine on my copy. I haven't properly transformed Victory Leo or Star Saber (I did at least fiddle with Holi and Fire) but I still made sure to check all the joints and as many flaps, all a-okay. Phew.

Also I'm really glad the handle for the sword can extend, great for a dual-grip on it but it also means he can hold it in one hand with the hilt facing the "right way".

-Kanrabat- wrote:

cloudballoon wrote:VS costs like a current full-price Titan to me as a Canadian (nearing $300CDN, comparing to the recent Metroplex's Canadian MRSP+tax). Of all the Titans, I only own Devastator, Predaking & The Ark and they all cost me half the price of VS or less. Althought I understand it's a bit of a apple v orange comparison, but money-for-fun-wise, I think VS is far more fun than 2 Arks but not as fun as a single Combiner, though VS is far better looking. So I think, it's an 30% overpriced item IF it's a mass-retail.

Also Canadian here.
Ironically, my Legacy Metroplex costed me more than a HASLAB Victory Saber set. Like, around 50$CAN more! That is counting taxes and shipping. Considering that the VS set is basically a deluxe + commander + leader + 2 micromasters, I think I've got WAY more for my money with the VS set than Legacy Metroplex ever will.

That's the standard calculation I used too when I backed VS. But in hand, because of how closely integrated the Brainmaster, Saber & V-Star are integrated, I don't see them like separate Deluxe/Commander figures. It's more like the package contains a Commander (or Commander Plus) and the Leader Victory Leo.

But I'm thinking less about what size-class figurees the VS got, just the fun factor for the money. And VS is pretty unique from all the G1 fun. It's more like the ROTF/SS OP+Jetfire in its fun factor/play pattern, which I appreciate a LOT.

Heehee...got a shipping notification from Hasbro the day AFTER it arrived.

Finally got to unbox it yesterday, and thankfully no missing handles or unperforated holes. Victory Leo's gold has...not a scratch, but maybe a scuff? It's like a straight line that's not aa shiny as it should be. Also, the Micro Masters seem loose in some spots, and really tight in others. When I backed, I really wanted them to be included, because I wanted to get the most for my money, but they are my least favourite part of the whole package. Other than that, everything seems perfect. Or as perfect as one would expect from Hasbro these days.

Now, unpopular opinion time: I kinda think Commander Jetfire was a better toy cost vs enjoyment wise. Maybe that's because I never watched Victory before this HasLab was announced, and I backed it from a mix of FOMO and the fact he looks cool. Or maybe I'm not enjoying him as much as I should because he was so darned expensive and I'm a little afraid to play with him. I am terrified I'm gonna break something and be mad at myself.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I backed and think it's a neat toy. I just think he didn't quite live up to the hype in my own mind. Maybe messing around with it more will change my mind. So far I've just tried out all the modes, haven't really posed them or anything.

Oh, and remember in one early video, the Haabro team showed the butterfly joint in the shoulders, and people complained it wasn't truly a butterfly joint because you had to unhook the joint? Either Haabro changed that or the guys just mis-spoke, because the shoulder is a full on ratcheting joint.

FedEx has me a little confused. The tracking both says arriving Monday and on the truck out for delivery. Sucks that Hasbro is requiring a signature, I'm rarely available to receive packages. I wonder why some people are just having them dropped off without notice?

Emerje

Emerje wrote:FedEx has me a little confused. The tracking both says arriving Monday and on the truck out for delivery. Sucks that Hasbro is requiring a signature, I'm rarely available to receive packages. I wonder why some people are just having them dropped off without notice?

Emerje

Generally from my experience, if it's on a truck before 6am, its coming that day, unless its Sunday since they don't seem to operate on Sunday, but being December those rules don't necessarily apply now.

mine is arriving tomorrow (monday). as for his arch rival, as of sunday the 11th, the second stretch goal has been reached, and the throne is unlocked (17034 backers)

MeGrimlock78 wrote:Oh, and remember in one early video, the Haabro team showed the butterfly joint in the shoulders, and people complained it wasn't truly a butterfly joint because you had to unhook the joint? Either Haabro changed that or the guys just mis-spoke, because the shoulder is a full on ratcheting joint.

The shoulder joints can butterlfy forward AND back. The one moving the shoulder forward is ratcheted, the one moving backward is not (this is what some people complained about).

Also, both Saber & Victory Saber can do forward ab-crunch. While Saber's is necessary for transformation, VS is not, that's also appreciated.

I feel like the butterfly joint needs to be "unhooked" because otherwise it'd be kinda annoying having it move around while using the ratcheted shoulders.

Much to my immense surprise, Fedex reattempted delivery today, and I was home to sign off on it, so i got the package!

It's a real neat set, I have been messing with it a few hours, and it's fun.

QC wise, mine has the issue where the one nosecone tab is filled in, so I had to gouge it out, not very successfully, but enough for me to be at least satisfied.

AS for the package, it is a great looking team. Victory Leo is my favorite of the group, I love the lion man. Star Saber is real solid, I like how dense he feels. Victory Saber himself is real cool and makes for an impressive display.

really glad I backed the set, it's a nice team. Super excited for Deathsaurus now.

Hellscream9999 wrote:

Emerje wrote:FedEx has me a little confused. The tracking both says arriving Monday and on the truck out for delivery. Sucks that Hasbro is requiring a signature, I'm rarely available to receive packages. I wonder why some people are just having them dropped off without notice?

Emerje

Generally from my experience, if it's on a truck before 6am, its coming that day, unless its Sunday since they don't seem to operate on Sunday, but being December those rules don't necessarily apply now.

Well guess what? The tracking still says Monday but there was a missed delivery tag on my door today.

Emerje

Looking over the massive instruction sheet, unless I'm missing something, I can't seem to find where the sword blade is supposed to be stored in Star Saber's vehicle mode.

Sabrblade wrote:Looking over the massive instruction sheet, unless I'm missing something, I can't seem to find where the sword blade is supposed to be stored in Star Saber's vehicle mode.

I thought it was able to be stored in the leg just like in robot mode?

SpaceEagle wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Looking over the massive instruction sheet, unless I'm missing something, I can't seem to find where the sword blade is supposed to be stored in Star Saber's vehicle mode.

I thought it was able to be stored in the leg just like in robot mode?

Correct. I didn't read the instructions. But I remember in one of HasLab's video showing the blade is stored in an open slot (beside the yellow knee pad) on the outer side of the legs.

Sabrblade wrote:Looking over the massive instruction sheet, unless I'm missing something, I can't seem to find where the sword blade is supposed to be stored in Star Saber's vehicle mode.

I could't figure it out either. G1 win this round for this one.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Looking over the massive instruction sheet, unless I'm missing something, I can't seem to find where the sword blade is supposed to be stored in Star Saber's vehicle mode.

I could't figure it out either. G1 win this round for this one.

There's a hole for it in his shins. It can stay there in vehicle mode.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:Looking over the massive instruction sheet, unless I'm missing something, I can't seem to find where the sword blade is supposed to be stored in Star Saber's vehicle mode.

I could't figure it out either. G1 win this round for this one.

There's a hole for it in his shins. It can stay there in vehicle mode.

Noted. It will be part of the edits of my pictorial review tonight.

Sabrblade wrote:Looking over the massive instruction sheet, unless I'm missing something, I can't seem to find where the sword blade is supposed to be stored in Star Saber's vehicle mode.

Those instructions were made for ants.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Those instructions were made for ants.

Would love to see instruction manuals for us old farts with crappy eyesite. Like large print books.


















Man, getting old sucks....

First-Aid wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Those instructions were made for ants.

Would love to see instruction manuals for us old farts with crappy eyesight. Like large print books. Man, getting old sucks....

Here's an idea for a Top Ten list:
Top ten BEST transformers instructions manuals.