The Energon Pub

[Hellscream9999]

I do not want toys that look like they walked off the cartoon screen with simplified details.

Out of curiosity, how would you have felt about toys that looked like they walked off the cartoon screen back when you were a child, before having developed the more adult-minded aesthetic tastes that you have now?

I'm not 7 years old though,

I know. But since I know how you feel about it now as an adult, I'm asking about how you would have felt about it as a kid.

Like, did your younger self like how the Action Masters looked more like the cartoon, or did that matter at all back then?

When I found out about action masters and the tail end of g1 as a little kid, I thought they were dumb as hell

[william-james88]

This argument between those of you happy with Takara's new direction of the Masterpiece line and those of us who want a real-world/detailed cartoon look is frustrating at best. I can't imagine that you guys would be upset with more details from the toys. Were you guys upset that Wheeljack, Prowl, Sideswipe, Optimus Prime, and Bluestreak were a fantastic hybrid between their toys and their cartoon models? I wish I knew how to better explain what it is that I like and that I expect to see more details in a "Masterpiece" figure. Flat, undetailed panels are not what I want.

I get it. But my stance is a bit different though, I just want a toy to look good and for the sacrifices to be for a good cause and have a good result. I just dont see that here. Its like Takara wanted those smooth panels surfaces and knew that they couldnt get that using the alt mode parts so they just cram away all the alt mode bits around the back of the legs and in the back forming a massive backpack full of kibble. I kinda understand that with a toy like Rodimus which is impossible, but Sunstreaker has a ton of alt mode kibble exposed in the cartoon model. So now you end up with double the kibble; robot kibble that needs to be stored in car mode and car kibble that needs to be stored in robot mode. So instead of ending up with a sleek robot mode (flat surfaces or not), you get some flat cartoon like surfaces in some places and stacks of random alt mode kibble in others, totally clashing with the smooth surfaces. You lack a uniformity in the figure.
I mean seriously, this is how an MP should look like













You see how nice clean and elegant they are, like every piece of the alt mode ends up somewhere it belongs like a perfect jigsaw puzzle?

I dont get that from this:



I dont care if he is more poseable, it just means I have more possible poses to showcase all the garbage kibble he has bursting from his body. Thanks!

Sunstreaker here ends up looking like one of the overly complex 3p toys we buy while waiting for Takara to streamline the transformation in a more elegant way. I hated the backpack on Tracks from the start and it was truly the weakest point of the MP line's renaissance. It smells like another Tracks to me.

[Diem]

This argument between those of you happy with Takara's new direction of the Masterpiece line and those of us who want a real-world/detailed cartoon look is frustrating at best. I can't imagine that you guys would be upset with more details from the toys. Were you guys upset that Wheeljack, Prowl, Sideswipe, Optimus Prime, and Bluestreak were a fantastic hybrid between their toys and their cartoon models? I wish I knew how to better explain what it is that I like and that I expect to see more details in a "Masterpiece" figure. Flat, undetailed panels are not what I want.

Speaking on behalf of everyone (and why not) I think that everyone understands the style you're into, and why the less detailed style isn't your bag. And I can agree with it, I'm very fond of each of the figures you mentioned. They're all good figures. It's a style I like too, but it's not a style I like to the exclusion of other styles. Ironhide looks like a character from my favourite cartoon come to life and that's fantastic. Prowl looks like a character from my favourite cartoon come to life then lightly spruced up, and that's fantastic too.

It seems downright odd to dump on a figure that's trying to replicate a cartoon character model as closely as possible for succeeding too well. It might not be your preferred style but it's definitely not wrong or bad, it's doing exactly what it's meant to do. It doesn't make the engineering any less special, it doesn't make the result feel any less like a high grade premium figure, and speaking for myself it certainly doesn't feel like I'm missing out or being cheated because the chunks of plastic don't have extra grooves carved into them or lines sculpted onto them.

[Seibertron]

This argument between those of you happy with Takara's new direction of the Masterpiece line and those of us who want a real-world/detailed cartoon look is frustrating at best. I can't imagine that you guys would be upset with more details from the toys. Were you guys upset that Wheeljack, Prowl, Sideswipe, Optimus Prime, and Bluestreak were a fantastic hybrid between their toys and their cartoon models? I wish I knew how to better explain what it is that I like and that I expect to see more details in a "Masterpiece" figure. Flat, undetailed panels are not what I want.

Speaking on behalf of everyone (and why not) I think that everyone understands the style you're into, and why the less detailed style isn't your bag. And I can agree with it, I'm very fond of each of the figures you mentioned. They're all good figures. It's a style I like too, but it's not a style I like to the exclusion of other styles. Ironhide looks like a character from my favourite cartoon come to life and that's fantastic. Prowl looks like a character from my favourite cartoon come to life then lightly spruced up, and that's fantastic too.

It seems downright odd to dump on a figure that's trying to replicate a cartoon character model as closely as possible for succeeding too well. It might not be your preferred style but it's definitely not wrong or bad, it's doing exactly what it's meant to do. It doesn't make the engineering any less special, it doesn't make the result feel any less like a high grade premium figure, and speaking for myself it certainly doesn't feel like I'm missing out or being cheated because the chunks of plastic don't have extra grooves carved into them or lines sculpted onto them.

I guess in the end i just want consistency within this line. Wheeljack and prowl were the best from this line to date and the further we get from them the more irked i get from the new direction that prefers the simple panels.

Inferno is one of my favorite figures since wheeljack, how can one not love his ladder magic? But my argument with him still stands ... his lower torso was pretty blah with the lack of details, which grapple greatly improved upon.

Consistency. If theyre going the cartoon look like ironhide, then go all in and make that a thing and abandon the more complex toy look. But this wishy washy stuff drives me bonkers.

[Diem]

I guess in the end i just want consistency within this line. Wheeljack and prowl were the best from this line to date and the further we get from them the more irked i get from the new direction that prefers the simple panels.

Inferno is one of my favorite figures since wheeljack, how can one not love his ladder magic? But my argument with him still stands ... his lower torso was pretty blah with the lack of details, which grapple greatly improved upon.

Consistency. If theyre going the cartoon look like ironhide, then go all in and make that a thing and abandon the more complex toy look. But this wishy washy stuff drives me bonkers.

That's very fair. For what it's worth I wish you could get the version of Sunstreaker that you want, and I hope that the Spin-Out theories that are coming out work out to that end.

[Seibertron]

Meant to write "inferno's lower half", not torso.

[Diem]

I dont care if he is more poseable, it just means I have more possible poses to showcase all the garbage kibble he has bursting from his body. Thanks!

Sunstreaker here ends up looking like one of the overly complex 3p toys we buy while waiting for Takara to streamline the transformation in a more elegant way. I hated the backpack on Tracks from the start and it was truly the weakest point of the MP line's renaissance. It smells like another Tracks to me.

I don't get off from my evening job of being devil's advocate for another half-hour so here goes: it's important to remember that whatever 3rd-party designers are doing, Takara designers are doing the same thing with vehicle licensor reps standing over one shoulder, corporate suits over the other, street retail distribution agents eavesdropping loudly and a guy from international Toys R Us HQ crying softly in the corner.

It's worth noting that Tracks hasn't even been tackled by any 3rd-party as far as I know, and that's because you have to stretch physics to the breaking point to fit a head, arms, body, wings and missiles all in the rear half of a not-exactly bulky car. It seems odd to cite the backpack as a particular weakness rather than the lack of substance within the torso, since the backpack was part of his original toy and character model. I'm not saying he's a perfect figure, but I can say that with all honesty I can't think of a way to improve him that wouldn't cause another lapse somewhere else (except for having the missile launchers as a separate accessory, I have no idea why they didn't do that).

For this figure I'll wait till I have it in hand, but from the possible apocrypha I've heard Lamborghini reps die if exposed to water, bright light, or visible panel lines in car mode. It's okay for MP Megatron to explode and reform like confetti but that's a no go here. I'd like to live in a backpackless world too but I'm sure that this is the best that could be done under the above mentioned conditions, given that it's handled by the people who brought us maaaaaaaaaaagic ladder.

[sol magnus]

I dont care if he is more poseable, it just means I have more possible poses to showcase all the garbage kibble he has bursting from his body. Thanks!

Sunstreaker here ends up looking like one of the overly complex 3p toys we buy while waiting for Takara to streamline the transformation in a more elegant way. I hated the backpack on Tracks from the start and it was truly the weakest point of the MP line's renaissance. It smells like another Tracks to me.

I don't get off from my evening job of being devil's advocate for another half-hour so here goes: it's important to remember that whatever 3rd-party designers are doing, Takara designers are doing the same thing with vehicle licensor reps standing over one shoulder, corporate suits over the other, street retail distribution agents eavesdropping loudly and a guy from international Toys R Us HQ crying softly in the corner.

It's worth noting that Tracks hasn't even been tackled by any 3rd-party as far as I know, and that's because you have to stretch physics to the breaking point to fit a head, arms, body, wings and missiles all in the rear half of a not-exactly bulky car. It seems odd to cite the backpack as a particular weakness rather than the lack of substance within the torso, since the backpack was part of his original toy and character model. I'm not saying he's a perfect figure, but I can say that with all honesty I can't think of a way to improve him that wouldn't cause another lapse somewhere else (except for having the missile launchers as a separate accessory, I have no idea why they didn't do that).

For this figure I'll wait till I have it in hand, but from the possible apocrypha I've heard Lamborghini reps die if exposed to water, bright light, or visible panel lines in car mode. It's okay for MP Megatron to explode and reform like confetti but that's a no go here. I'd like to live in a backpackless world too but I'm sure that this is the best that could be done under the above mentioned conditions, given that it's handled by the people who brought us maaaaaaaaaaagic ladder.

Very well said.

[Kurona]

I hope that the Spin-Out theories that are coming out work out to that end.

In all honesty - and I don't really like to say things like this in speculation anymore but - it's pretty much a given. MP figures getting redecoes into their diaclone counterparts is just a fact of life - this line's got more redecoes than Combiner Wars. Just a matter of when and will-it-have-the-toy-head-and-what-other-accessories, really.

[Bumblebee21]

Saw the preorder price at bbts. And like mp-33 and mp-36, I am not buying it now

[Ironhidensh]

Holy shot. BBTS is listing this at 119.99.

[Cyberpath]

BBTS also sells MP Tracks for $80 while HLJ has him for $55 (as of writing this.)

MP Ironhide $90 vs $70.

Delta Magnus $190 vs $131.

But still.. even if you take off $20-30 it's still a lot. Maybe it's a mistake.

[galvatron00]

$119 seems like a bit much. Let's see what TFL comes in at.

[Bumblebee21]

$119 seems like a bit much. Let's see what TFL comes in at.

100. Always at least $20 off price.

I heard that's a placehokder. Price. Guess bbts had mp-22 for 350 one time

[william-james88]

It seems odd to cite the backpack as a particular weakness rather than the lack of substance within the torso, since the backpack was part of his original toy and character model. I'm not saying he's a perfect figure, but I can say that with all honesty I can't think of a way to improve him that wouldn't cause another lapse somewhere else (except for having the missile launchers as a separate accessory, I have no idea why they didn't do that).

For this figure I'll wait till I have it in hand, but from the possible apocrypha I've heard Lamborghini reps die if exposed to water, bright light, or visible panel lines in car mode. It's okay for MP Megatron to explode and reform like confetti but that's a no go here. I'd like to live in a backpackless world too but I'm sure that this is the best that could be done under the above mentioned conditions, given that it's handled by the people who brought us maaaaaaaaaaagic ladder.

Track`s backpack is my shorthand for that whole empty area and how the torso doesnt peg securely with the backpack. I spent $35 on that mold and still felt underwhelmed. The reviews downplayed that area big time. And with the supposed price of Sunstreaker (around the $100 mark) I guess I will never be able to judge for myself if he is really good.

As for your arguments, a wise man once said "I understand it, but I dont have to feel good about it".

[Cyberpath]

Cheem made this neat chart guide, it might help you to pick your ideal MP Sunstreaker.. relating to the cartoon, toy, real car or whatever's your fancy --

⠀

[Diem]

Cheem made this neat chart guide, it might help you to pick your ideal MP Sunstreaker.. relating to the cartoon, toy, real car or whatever's your fancy --
⠀

I guess Cbadube (that's the only way I can interpret that logo) missed the memo that all 3rd-party figures need for their calves to be the same size as their torsos. SOM'UN SKIAPPED LEG DAAAAAAY!!

I also love that for the car mode there's the weird cycle of licensed car, cheapo-reimagining for animation purposes, additional reimagining for 3rd-party purposes, then back to a fully licenses product. It's like the ascent of man if we all decided that monkeys were in vogue again.

[Ironhidensh]

Man, Omniginix Spinout was such a miserable disappointment. One of the single best MP style designs I've seen, but such a complete and total failure of quality.

[Kurona]

In terms of silhouette, MP-39 is far above both third party efforts if only for how much cleaner the legs and chest are put together and look. Unfortunately without added details and clear break-up colours, this guy looks like he came from the same cheese factory as Unite Warriors Drag Strip. Sunsurge has small black patches separating his chest from his torso and his torso from his upper legs; if Sunstreaker had those same black patches, he'd look a thousand times better imo.

[Diem]

In terms of silhouette, MP-39 is far above both third party efforts if only for how much cleaner the legs and chest are put together and look. Unfortunately without added details and clear break-up colours, this guy looks like he came from the same cheese factory as Unite Warriors Drag Strip. Sunsurge has small black patches separating his chest from his torso and his torso from his upper legs; if Sunstreaker had those same black patches, he'd look a thousand times better imo.

If it's any consolation experience has taught me that Takara are just as good at yellow as Hasbro are bad at it. Henkei Sunstreaker looked beautifully sheened and toned, while Universe 2.0 Sunstreaker looked like a slice of American cheese held in front of a lightbulb.

[Ultra Markus]

Cheem made this neat chart guide, it might help you to pick your ideal MP Sunstreaker.. relating to the cartoon, toy, real car or whatever's your fancy --

⠀

the clear winner is takara! by a long shot
not counting the original toy everyone else looks a bit off

[galvatron00]

I'm definitely hoping they end up chroming the spoiler.

[Desslok2201]

I'm hoping that $119 is going to drop.

[galvatron00]

I'm hoping that $119 is going to drop.

I'm hoping for that too.

We all know Reprolabels will have a chrome sticker for it and the red shoulders and other things I'm sure, so I guess it's no big deal.

[Kurona]

Actually, come to think of it... if Lamborghini apparently are so anal about accuracy that they wouldn't allow a chromed spoiler, would that interfere with redeco potential?