The Energon Pub

When a Transformer is packaged in robot mode i feel like i have been "ripped off" so to speak. For me one of the most appealing parts of getting a Transformer is seeing the usualy pretty cool car/plane/whatever then seeing the real prize; the Robot. How do you feel about figures that are packaged in robot mode? I can't wait for Mixmaster and Hoist two pack but i feel most of the fun is already taken out of it by being Robots already. I don't have much to look forward to. Nebular Starscream too. Is it just me that thinks this way? Don't get me wrong the vehicle is (for the most part) great but that is not the real reason you buy it, right? Or am i wrong?

I tend to agree, it's a lot cooler to see a (not so) innocuous vehicle turn into a badass robot. For some figures though, it makes sense to put them in robot mode, as it looks way more impressive or takes up slightly less box space, such as Leaders and MPs.

I don't really care cos (mostly) by the time they reach the UK I've had the chance to examine galleries so I know what I'm getting before I open it. I love the challenge of the first transformation - figuring it out without instructions. Robot mode to alt mode is usually the hardest, especially when you haven't done alt mode to robot mode first so it it comes in robot mode the challenge is that little bit greater. ROTF leader Prime was so much fun!

I like seeing Transformers packaged in robot mode because I can check for poor paint apps before buying!

To be honest, I don't buy figures without knowing anything about them. If I'm going to lay down any amount of money for a hunk o' plastic, I want to know what I'm getting into. Therefore, before buying a Transformer, I'm going to know what the figure looks like in both alt and bot modes from all angles. So I'm not going to be surprised by the basic appearance of the figure in either mode. What I look forward to seeing are the small details I can only appreciate in person and also learning the transformation process. Whether I go from robot to alt or alt to robot makes little difference to me.