The Energon Pub

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

Emerje wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:Nightprowler says never say never.

It's weird that Hasbro will readily pull out designs of figures that have never been released before, but pass over fan favorite decos for no apparent reason. Emerje

To date, Nightprowler is the weirdest choice I've seen from HasTak in recent times.

I find the recent Walmart exclusive G2 items to be as odd. That Grimlock especially since G2 Grimmock means something very different for fans.

Not really impressed by most of these, especially Roid-Rage Windblade. I kinda like Tigerhawk, though. It makes me regret selling off my original.

Eskeep28 wrote:At this point I have to ask. Why is anyone who already collects transformers figures interested in these updated releases? The majority of sculpts are atrocious when compared to the originals. This Tigerhawk is a joke. I didn't think hasbro could put the bar lower than the new BW Megatron but they did.
I understand kids would like this, but you can get the original Tigerhwak on eBay for $40.

Is...this a joke?

I grew up with BW and loved the original Megatron as well as the dragon Megatron toys, but the updated figures utterly blow them out the water. The originals will always hold nostalgic value but I can't understand someone saying they are objectively better than the newer versions (for anything other than sentiment, anyway).

I never owned the original Tigerhawk but this updated version looks pretty amazing for show-accuracy, if nothing else.

The reverse Gatling end to the rocket launchers appear absent from the photos of Tigerhawk? Would have been nice to have those with some blast effects.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:(and the constant snarling thing really grates on me).

The same was true of Magmatron.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:But they made a new TM2 Megatron. Which is both BW Megatron's worst design and the inferior Dragon design of the two of them.

You mean David Kaye's favorite Megatron design?

Emerje wrote:Incidentally, Takara Tomy is pretty content with considering Encore Big Convoy (particularly the blue repaint) a Generations stand in and I'm alright with that.

Emerje

One can even still find the Encore available at some places.

william-james88 wrote:I find the recent Walmart exclusive G2 items to be as odd. That Grimlock especially since G2 Grimmock means something very different for fans.

It's simple, really. The theme of the line is simply "unreleased G2" rather than "traditional G2".

Sabrblade wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:(and the constant snarling thing really grates on me).

The same was true of Magmatron.

Much like with the dire Mainframe dub. Those design choices really showcased how Takara didn't get the Beast Era. How different it was supposed to be to what came before.

Sabrblade wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:But they made a new TM2 Megatron. Which is both BW Megatron's worst design and the inferior Dragon design of the two of them.

You mean David Kaye's favorite Megatron design?

Show model? Fine. The floppy armed toy design? Awful. TM 1 Megatron is objectively the character's best and most coherent aesthetic design in the whole Beast Era. Probably, a highlight of the entire line.

TITAN TIDAL WAVE

Rtron wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:I really hope that Tidal Wave is titan class, even if the color scheme is from the show and not the game.

Yes, it's Titan Class.

On another note, I'm really bummed by the discussion and dissapointment on social media with the lack of G1. There was a complaint that the generations line had little variety and now that we finally have it I see so many Debbie Downers.

Really? That's a shame. I don't use social media except for a twitter account where I follow a handful of fandom big names, so I never really have any idea about the reception at large these things get. Except maybe when I venture into tfw's comments. At least here people seem to have liked it! There really was a bit for everyone here, except G1, but there's G1 in every other wave, and they're sort of running out of G1 stuff to do anyway.

Everyone here seens positive so I'm glad for that. Le'ts celebrate all versions of the franchise, instead of just the first years.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:(and the constant snarling thing really grates on me).

The same was true of Magmatron.

Much like with the dire Mainframe dub. Those design choices really showcased how Takara didn't get the Beast Era. How different it was supposed to be to what came before.

Hehe, You could say the same about some of the fandom at the time.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:But they made a new TM2 Megatron. Which is both BW Megatron's worst design and the inferior Dragon design of the two of them.

You mean David Kaye's favorite Megatron design?

Show model? Fine. The floppy armed toy design? Awful.

Good thing the Legacy version made it fully articulated and able to hold up its own weight with ball joints, like Quickstrike's tail arm.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:TM 1 Megatron is objectively the character's best and most coherent aesthetic design in the whole Beast Era. Probably, a highlight of the entire line.

Until it inevitably disintegrates.

Sabrblade wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:TM 1 Megatron is objectively the character's best and most coherent aesthetic design in the whole Beast Era. Probably, a highlight of the entire line.

Until it inevitably disintegrates.

That's a mean thing to say, especially since it's not entirely true. It's only the Hasbro version that has that problem, the Takara version and Armada Predacon don't have that issue (and you know it).

Sabrblade wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:(and the constant snarling thing really grates on me).

The same was true of Magmatron.

Much like with the dire Mainframe dub. Those design choices really showcased how Takara didn't get the Beast Era. How different it was supposed to be to what came before.

Hehe, You could say the same about some of the fandom at the time.

As the internet wasn't a thing as it is now. I was largely oblivious to the "Geewun/Trukk not Munky" fanbase. Now the Internet is a thing, I still am. In most media IP, I tend to just roll my eyes at the entrenched, head in the sand fanbases. Those afraid of change. I've always been one to champion plot progression and not catering to nostalgia.

Sabrblade wrote:Good thing the Legacy version made it fully articulated and able to hold up its own weight with ball joints, like Quickstrike's tail arm

Which they really should have done at the time. But hindsight is 20/20.

Sabrblade wrote:

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:TM 1 Megatron is objectively the character's best and most coherent aesthetic design in the whole Beast Era. Probably, a highlight of the entire line.

Until it inevitably disintegrates.

The pitfall of the (Hasbro release) of the figure. Which is why many were looking with great interest to the recent BW anniversary as the return of the Transmetals. Fixing the GPS. Instead we got Season One designs with less endearing Beast Modes.

william-james88 wrote:On the poster we can see Magmatron highlighted in the centre. The commander class gives Hasbro extra budget to accomodate a toy requiring 3 separate alt modes combining. And speaking of 3 separate alt modes combining, we also have our first look at titan class Tidal Wave on the same poster. We can see that it is in Armada colours. Also, we do see the repacked leader class Armada Galvatron below it, so that could hint at an interaction between the toys.

Just curious, can we get a source where Hasbro themselves confirmed Tidal Wave is The Titan, and Magmatron is the CC?

o.supreme wrote:

william-james88 wrote:On the poster we can see Magmatron highlighted in the centre. The commander class gives Hasbro extra budget to accomodate a toy requiring 3 separate alt modes combining. And speaking of 3 separate alt modes combining, we also have our first look at titan class Tidal Wave on the same poster. We can see that it is in Armada colours. Also, we do see the repacked leader class Armada Galvatron below it, so that could hint at an interaction between the toys.

Just curious, can we get a source where Hasbro themselves confirmed Tidal Wave is The Titan, and Magmatron is the CC?

A titan Magmatron would never make sense.

o.supreme wrote:

william-james88 wrote:On the poster we can see Magmatron highlighted in the centre. The commander class gives Hasbro extra budget to accomodate a toy requiring 3 separate alt modes combining. And speaking of 3 separate alt modes combining, we also have our first look at titan class Tidal Wave on the same poster. We can see that it is in Armada colours. Also, we do see the repacked leader class Armada Galvatron below it, so that could hint at an interaction between the toys.

Just curious, can we get a source where Hasbro themselves confirmed Tidal Wave is The Titan, and Magmatron is the CC?

Hasbro hasn't even acknowledged that the two even exist. When they unveiled the poster, they paid no attention to the very obvious Magmatron and Tidal Wave shown on the poster, pretending like the two weren't even there.

I'd think Beast Wars II Galvatron has good chances of being made just because he's called Galvatron. Generations Big Convoy feels a bit redundant? Like, I don't know if it could be that much better than the original, a western release of the show colors reissue could probably do the trick just as well.

Rtron wrote: Generations Big Convoy feels a bit redundant? Like, I don't know if it could be that much better than the original, a western release of the show colors reissue could probably do the trick just as well.

The same redundancy issue could have been made for Lio Convoy. But we've had ..four new releases over the last few years? (two regular, two MP). They are ultimately "Primes". Which often trumps any notions of redundancy or common sense.

Personally, I think it is the bigger beasts that legitimately could be improved with new designs. Polar Claw, (Elephant) Ironhide, Big Convoy etc If for no other reason than those altmodes weren't exactly filled with articulation. Although in Ironhide's case, the Bot Mode needs some substantial work too.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:

Rtron wrote: Generations Big Convoy feels a bit redundant? Like, I don't know if it could be that much better than the original, a western release of the show colors reissue could probably do the trick just as well.

The same redundancy issue could have been made for Lio Convoy. But we've had ..four new releases over the last few years? (two regular, two MP). They are ultimately "Primes". Which often trumps any notions of redundancy or common sense.

Personally, I think it is the bigger beasts that legitimately could be improved with new designs. Polar Claw, (Elephant) Ironhide, Big Convoy etc If for no other reason than those altmodes weren't exactly filled with articulation. Although in Ironhide's case, the Bot Mode needs some substantial work too.

I don't think Lio Convoy is necessarily an equivalent case, as the original toy was pretty wonky, looks-wise. And it did have less articulation.

They both only had a one season show. So equal exposure, really. If Lio didn't have the blue "Prime head", I doubt there would have been an MP or Legacy figure. No matter how wonky the OG figure was.

AllNewSuperRobot wrote:They both only had a one season show. So equal exposure, really. If Lio didn't have the blue "Prime head", I doubt there would have been an MP or Legacy figure. No matter how wonky the OG figure was.

Lio Convoy is simply more popular than Big Convoy.

A new Big Convoy would definitely be a funner toy to play with. The original looks good on a shelf, but the panels are such a pain to work around. A Legacy version would do the same as Kingdom Beast Megatron and make the panels more manageable through some extra folding.

Emerje

Emerje wrote:A new Big Convoy would definitely be a funner toy to play with. The original looks good on a shelf, but the panels are such a pain to work around. A Legacy version would do the same as Kingdom Beast Megatron and make the panels more manageable through some extra folding.

Emerje

In a similar vein to Elephant Ironhide. Who looks good in Beast Mode. Standing still. From a distance. But is a complete mess otherwise.

Oh and in a moment. All the talk of Nacelle, brought the figure to my attention. So I picked one up for my Seeker-mad friend. So I clicked on Amazon.com, as I have with exclusives before. Everything went ok and then I later checked Amazon.co.uk for something else. Only to notice that Nacelle is available there too. That's a first. I didn't think to check

Nemesis has a really nice alt mode. I think she and I-ark-onus really came out nicely.

Powerlinx Hot shot arrived today, and I've noticed a few very minor problems as I was transforming him that aren't on the standard retail version. The shoulder pads don't clip into the pegs on his torso very well, the visor is a lot more loose and tends to flop up and down on its own, and the rear of the car that becomes the robot's backpack has a tendency to pop off its hinges. Either way, while not perfect I like him just fine, and Jolt is a lot of fun to mess around with. I don't know at this point if I'll hold on to my standard retail Hot Shot or sell him on Ebay.

Munkky wrote:Powerlinx Hot shot arrived today, and I've noticed a few very minor problems as I was transforming him that aren't on the standard retail version. The shoulder pads don't clip into the pegs on his torso very well, the visor is a lot more loose and tends to flop up and down on its own, and the rear of the car that becomes the robot's backpack has a tendency to pop off its hinges. Either way, while not perfect I like him just fine, and Jolt is a lot of fun to mess around with. I don't know at this point if I'll hold on to my standard retail Hot Shot or sell him on Ebay.

All those problems sound just like the ones that my standard retail Hot Shot has.

Sabrblade wrote:

Munkky wrote:Powerlinx Hot shot arrived today, and I've noticed a few very minor problems as I was transforming him that aren't on the standard retail version. The shoulder pads don't clip into the pegs on his torso very well, the visor is a lot more loose and tends to flop up and down on its own, and the rear of the car that becomes the robot's backpack has a tendency to pop off its hinges. Either way, while not perfect I like him just fine, and Jolt is a lot of fun to mess around with. I don't know at this point if I'll hold on to my standard retail Hot Shot or sell him on Ebay.

All those problems sound just like the ones that my standard retail Hot Shot has.

Really? I must have got lucky with mine then, because it hasn't suffered from any of these issues, I'm only just noticing them now on the Powerlinx version. These problems aren't enough for me to regret buying the figure or anything, it's still very nice, and seeing as I currently have no versions of Hot Rod/Rodimus in my collection, I may have Powerlinx Hot Shot as something of a stand-in for Hot Rod for the time being.

Munkky wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Munkky wrote:Powerlinx Hot shot arrived today, and I've noticed a few very minor problems as I was transforming him that aren't on the standard retail version. The shoulder pads don't clip into the pegs on his torso very well, the visor is a lot more loose and tends to flop up and down on its own, and the rear of the car that becomes the robot's backpack has a tendency to pop off its hinges. Either way, while not perfect I like him just fine, and Jolt is a lot of fun to mess around with. I don't know at this point if I'll hold on to my standard retail Hot Shot or sell him on Ebay.

All those problems sound just like the ones that my standard retail Hot Shot has.

Really? I must have got lucky with mine then, because it hasn't suffered from any of these issues, I'm only just noticing them now on the Powerlinx version. These problems aren't enough for me to regret buying the figure or anything, it's still very nice, and seeing as I currently have no versions of Hot Rod/Rodimus in my collection, I may have Powerlinx Hot Shot as something of a stand-in for Hot Rod for the time being.

Or maybe we both just happened to get lemons with our respective toys.