The Energon Pub

I have a few categories



Best Value: Kingdom Ultra Magnus. You get 3 forms (Including non-armored form) and a beefy robot.

Best Redesign or new design: Kingdom Optimus Primal. This is a amazing version of the original Optimus Primal gorilla. I would love to see how they would do his Transmetal form. (Not Optimal version)


Favorite Character: Rattrap... The Core Class figures are really small and he should have a deluxe sized form. But i have always loved Rattraps' personality. Gets in trouble, has several snarky comments and is still a valuable soldier when he needs to be. The A Better Mousetrap really shows how skilled he is.

Kingdom Beast Wars



Day 27- The whole of season one Beast Wars. Believe it or not, I didn't open mine until Tigatron was announced to be coming soon, around mid-October. As with Shattered Glass, there are favorites within favorites.

Yes, I 2nd the Beast Wars cast. I think they will become the centerpiece of my displayed collection for a while. I'm only missing Airazor, but I like keeping my display balanced so I'll get her when Terrorsaur arrives.

But yeah, Hasbro knocked the BW section of Kingdom out of the park.

G1 Aerialbot Giftset Superion



Day 28 - I thought I would save my absolute favorite pick for the last day, but I messed around with them today (it's a Christmas gift) and I couldn't resist. As I've said a few times in this thread, it's all about the emotion. Playing with these guys again after so many years conjured up a lot of memories - from childhood and early adulthood. There's just something about the Aerialbots and Stunticons that the others just don't have.

I've had the box for almost 25 years. Somewhere in there I sold off the Aerialbots, but i've never been able to part with the box - it was always easier to replace the toys than the package they came in.

Anyway, this set is itself an Aerialbot Giftset complete down to the instructions and tech specs, not just five loose Aerailbots. Labels applied, in very very nice condition. Merry Christmas to me, and Merry Christmas to you.

Netflix Cheetor

Cheetor has gotten his share of criticism, but I like him overall, and the Netflix deco really pops. I certainly had plenty of fun posing him for pictures.

Tuned Agent wrote:Netflix Cheetor

Cheetor has gotten his share of criticism, but I like him overall, and the Netflix deco really pops. I certainly had plenty of fun posing him for pictures.

20211224_164342.jpg

I struggled mightily with which Cheetor to use in my WFC collection, and ultimately went with the normal version for reasons, but it was close!

Titans Return Overlord




Day 29 - Who amongst us isn't an Overlord fan? I'm sure there's somebody, but you can't deny a few years ago he captivated the fandom. I've been considering getting the Legends version as well because they can combine, but I haven't pulled the trigger. Yet.

Would you believe I paid 20 bucks for this guy?

I liked that overlord, he was pretty good. I did end up selling mine to a fellow fan who wanted 1 real bad. I think Overlord deserves a true update, in commander class, with all the trimmings, especially both Giga and Mega.

Kingdom Rattrap



Day 30 - The one Generations scaled known character to receive a Core Class figure to date does an excellent job representing the character and is just an all around cool toy. I probably should have bought another as a backup, but good luck finding him now.

Rodimus Prime wrote:I liked that overlord, he was pretty good. I did end up selling mine to a fellow fan who wanted 1 real bad. I think Overlord deserves a true update, in commander class, with all the trimmings, especially both Giga and Mega.

I could certainly go for that.

Tuned Agent wrote:Netflix Cheetor

Cheetor has gotten his share of criticism, but I like him overall, and the Netflix deco really pops. I certainly had plenty of fun posing him for pictures.

20211224_164342.jpg

this one still baffles me, he wasn't well liked, but for the life of me I can't see why. He is a really fun figure

sol magnus wrote:

Tuned Agent wrote:Netflix Cheetor

Cheetor has gotten his share of criticism, but I like him overall, and the Netflix deco really pops. I certainly had plenty of fun posing him for pictures.

The attachment 20211224_164342.jpg is no longer available

I struggled mightily with which Cheetor to use in my WFC collection, and ultimately went with the normal version for reasons, but it was close!

Both versions certainly have their advantages. I like the colors on the Netflix deco more, but the normal version has a better deco layout overall.

sol magnus wrote:As I've said a few times in this thread, it's all about the emotion.

I couldn't agree more. My favorite TF of the year (which I'm saving for later) isn't my favorite because it's necessarily the best, but because playing around with it the first time made me feel like a kid again.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:

Tuned Agent wrote:Netflix Cheetor

Cheetor has gotten his share of criticism, but I like him overall, and the Netflix deco really pops. I certainly had plenty of fun posing him for pictures.

The attachment 20211224_164342.jpg is no longer available

this one still baffles me, he wasn't well liked, but for the life of me I can't see why. He is a really fun figure

I've got a few issues with him (like how thin the hinges at the base of his cheetah head/neck are, scares me every time I transform him), but I do think he gets more hate than he deserves. I especially like the butterfly-esque joints in his shoulders, it gives his arms some dynamic poseability.

Anyway, for today's figure:

Kingdom core class Soundwave

I debated whether or not to get this guy, but I'm glad I did. He works great for a legion scale collection, and also as a mini-me with Siege Soundwave.

Kingdom Road Rage and Tracks



Day 31 - So we're getting down to the wire. I definitely am running out of days, not toys. But that's the game. I'm going out on a limb and saying I love Road Rage and Tracks. No, they aren't perfect, but no figure is. Yes, my Tracks does have one loose leg. Par for the course. But they look the part and work well enough. Tracks is one of the ones I had as a kid, and Road Rage is the one on the back of the box! How many of us imagined having a red Tracks? I know I did, and now I don't have to (well, I already didn't have to because I have the Masterpiece, but that's beside the point!)

BTW - My Tracks has a 10 Firepower because I couldn't decide which weapons to use - Stock or Upgrade so why not both.

this guy is trying really hard to be one of my favorites this year. Not sure if he quite makes the Top cut, but I am enjoying him quite a bit for no real good reason. His Fusion story is also really really fun for me, he and Tigerhawk are their own breed.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:this guy is trying really hard to be one of my favorites this year. Not sure if he quite makes the Top cut, but I am enjoying him quite a bit for no real good reason. His Fusion story is also really really fun for me, he and Tigerhawk are their own breed.

I still have to open mine. I just would rather have had Pipes first, but I don't think it's going to happen.

Kindgom Beast Wars Megatron



Day 32 - With only three days left I'm having trouble with who the last favorites are going to be, so figures are getting beat out at this point. Of all the Beast Wars figures in Kingdom I had to choose from, Rattrap and Megatron are the top two. I really, really like Air Razor Dinobot, and Optimus Primal. I was surprised that as anticipated as I was for him, Tigatron didn't make the cut. If it wasn't Megatron, it would have been Air Razor - and for a reason I don't commonly cite: The engineering is pretty dope for a Deluxe.

As it is, Megatron is a great update to the original figure in modern form. I haven't purchased any upgrade kits for him, but he doesn't 'need' anything. I'll probably get the one mimicking the Masterpiece with the gun and the toothbrush for kicks, but I don't feel like I need it.

Netflix Bumblebee

While not quite my favorite of the year, Bee comes very, very close. He just has so much going for him; nice robot mode, good articulation, cool accessories. But it's his alt mode that steals the show. The VW is virtually perfect, with the glossy metallic paint it's slathered in giving it the look of a real car's paint job, as well as a very "premium" feel. Outside of the partsforming, it's just one of those figures I honestly don't know how I'd realistically improve on. I'm even in the minority in really liking the autobrand on his foot. He's just a very, very good figure, and one of my favorites of the year for sure.

Selects Seacons

I don't have pics because mine are currently packed up. My favorites for today are the Seacons as a group. I like the torso mode for Snaptrap, and the individual limb-bots are all really colorful and well-sculpted. Well except for Tentakil, he's colorful and faithful to the G1 figure, but otherwise he kinda sux. And the combined mode just looks awesome. Definitely up there as my favorite combiner, probably behind UW Ruination (tomorrow's pick.)

Tuned Agent wrote:Netflix Bumblebee

...

If I had gotten him in 2021, I would totally have him on the list.

Rodimus Prime wrote:Selects Seacons

...

Now you're getting to my 'Top Regrets of 2021' list. LOL I didn't get them, and I should have. I'm still kicking myself - and not because of the price (although that hurts), but because I had them as a kid. I always get the updates of figures I received as gifts and several of them are on this list.

I'll throw Kingdom Pipes in as my last, and most favorite purchase of 2021. Oddly enough Pipes lucked completely into this slot by me finding him but not Slammer in stores the week before Christmas and not having any other/smaller new arrivals. Our family took our first ever (and long overdue) real family vacation last week and spent Christmas in the Virgin Islands. We brought our inflatable tree decoration from our front lawn as our tree for Christmas morning and 1 small present for each of the family, Pipes was mine. I still haven't opened him yet, but the memories made on the trip will always be in part associated with Pipes, and for that he will remain a favorite for years to come.

sol magnus wrote:

Tuned Agent wrote:Netflix Bumblebee

...

If I had gotten him in 2021, I would totally have him on the list.

Rodimus Prime wrote:Selects Seacons

...

Now you're getting to my 'Top Regrets of 2021' list. LOL I didn't get them, and I should have. I'm still kicking myself - and not because of the price (although that hurts), but because I had them as a kid. I always get the updates of figures I received as gifts and several of them are on this list.

Yeah I missed out on them in 2020 and when Pulse rereleased 4 of them earlier this year I was all over it. I don't understand why they didn't rerelease the last 2, but I didn't mind overpaying a bit for them because they were my favorite combiner when I was young as well.

Titans Return Tasrgetmasters



Day 33 - I got all three of these guys for prices you wouldn't believe. The Targetmasters were all purchased during Siege, so ignore them. These guys are cool, but I'm more happy with them because of the pittance I paid for them. LOL

One day left, and I saved the doozy for last.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:I'll throw Kingdom Pipes in as my last, and most favorite purchase of 2021. Oddly enough Pipes lucked completely into this slot by me finding him but not Slammer in stores the week before Christmas and not having any other/smaller new arrivals. Our family took our first ever (and long overdue) real family vacation last week and spent Christmas in the Virgin Islands. We brought our inflatable tree decoration from our front lawn as our tree for Christmas morning and 1 small present for each of the family, Pipes was mine. I still haven't opened him yet, but the memories made on the trip will always be in part associated with Pipes, and for that he will remain a favorite for years to come.

I wish I had a Pipes. Get ready for a shout out tomorrow, my good man!

Rodimus Prime wrote:Now you're getting to my 'Top Regrets of 2021' list. LOL I didn't get them, and I should have. I'm still kicking myself - and not because of the price (although that hurts), but because I had them as a kid. I always get the updates of figures I received as gifts and several of them are on this list.Yeah I missed out on them in 2020 and when Pulse rereleased 4 of them earlier this year I was all over it. I don't understand why they didn't rerelease the last 2, but I didn't mind overpaying a bit for them because they were my favorite combiner when I was young as well.

Now, my favorite combiner already made the list, but the Seacons were awesome. I loved the targetmaster gimmick, too.

Kingdom Dinobot and Waspinator

Dinobot boasts one of my favorite transformations of the year. The way his torso completely unfurls to form a variety of raptor bits is truly impressive. I'd rank his headsculpt as one of the year's best as well. He may not be perfect, but he's one of my favorites.

Now, this was originally going to be only about Dinobot, but I just picked up Waspinator, and since I'm running out of days, I had to fit him in somewhere. Even though I've only fiddled with him for a few hours, he's already making a case for my favorite figure from Kingdom. He's just so expressive.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:I'll throw Kingdom Pipes in as my last, and most favorite purchase of 2021. Oddly enough Pipes lucked completely into this slot by me finding him but not Slammer in stores the week before Christmas and not having any other/smaller new arrivals. Our family took our first ever (and long overdue) real family vacation last week and spent Christmas in the Virgin Islands. We brought our inflatable tree decoration from our front lawn as our tree for Christmas morning and 1 small present for each of the family, Pipes was mine. I still haven't opened him yet, but the memories made on the trip will always be in part associated with Pipes, and for that he will remain a favorite for years to come.

This is so wholesome. The best figures truly are the ones we make memories with.

Titans Return Fortress Maximus and Siege Cog



Day 34 - The final day and the final pick, since I couldn't get Blaster in hand before the clock ticks down on 2021. I found a great deal on Fortress Maximus, which then prompted me to find a Cog, which I was able to acquire from fellow Seibertron.com member TF-fan kev777, who had one to spare from his collection. A hearty thank you goes out to him for allowing me to check one more box.

Back when Siege was out, I didn't initally get the Weaponizers, not because I didn't like them, but because I KNEW I would want the Titans that go with them. The only one I didn't get was Metroplex, and I actually had an opportunity to get even him...but I hesitated to pull the trigger on it was lost. If I can find him at a decent price complete I'll probably pick him up at some point, too.

I spent a lot of money on Transformers (and other toys) this year, and am definitely planning on slowing things down for 2022. A lot of these guys were collection fillers closng gaps from Siege through Kingdom. I had a lot of fun, and got a lot of cool figures that I missed because I was collection Masterpiece at the time of their release. I also got a lot of the newest stuff, which I think shows we're in kind of a collecting renaissance with todays products. Anyway, on to 2022 and hopefully a Blaster in short order!

Nice, glad he made it there all safe and sound.

I saved my best for last. (Where I live it's still 2021. ) This is the figure/set I wanted for 5 years and finally this year I got him.

Unite Warriors Baldigus/Ruination.



I loved them in RiD/CR and I think this is the best representation of the Combaticon set. I don't care for the Onslaught torso mold, but for this set I made an exception.