The Energon Pub

When is a transformation fun to you? Quickly? Complex? Partsformers?

I like them reasonably fast. The more complicated are no fun to play with. I do love the Flipchangers, especially Robotmasters Mirage and BW Terrorsaur.

To be honest, if TF's were real, it would make sense to have quick, fluid transformations.

I do love the oversized KO Robotmasters: Wingstun, Wrecker Hook and Air Hunter. The deluxe size suits them. Flipchangers prove that Tf's don't need to have annoyingly complex transformations and can still be well articulated.

ROTF Mixmaster can stay in his truck mode which is a lot cooler anyway than that alien bot mode.

I actually really enjoy complex transformations, so I can revel and marvel at the engineering behind the process.
All parts must fit or be neatly hidden, though, no shellformers (even though I have a soft spot for ROTF Brawn).

HFTD Optimus Prime is the best example of it.
Of course there are exceptions, such as WfC Bumblebee.

for me i love TFA transformations. ^_^ Most are fun, easy and not too complex.

I like complex, but I don't care for fiddly, especially when it comes to lining up a bunch of panels just right...or other 'floating' parts that don't have a fairly apparent place to go or lock in. I like a lot of twists, turns, and folds...I don't like having to use the force to figure out just how a part or panel needs to be positioned.

Sidearm Sideswipe.
Complex, yet at the same time simple.
the incorperated the "Twist" Into it, and the detail is incredable. I like transformers when they are done JUST RIGHT.
Animated Optimus is a good example, even with his "Gravity Shifting" Technology.
I Like almost every single AEC Figure. I like the energon figures the most though. SO MANY COMBINATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love the Automorph in 2007 Leader Optimus.

BeastProwl wrote:Sidearm Sideswipe.

Yes.

BeastProwl wrote:Sidearm Sideswipe.
Complex, yet at the same time simple.
the incorperated the "Twist" Into it, and the detail is incredable. I like transformers when they are done JUST RIGHT.
Animated Optimus is a good example, even with his "Gravity Shifting" Technology.
I Like almost every single AEC Figure. I like the energon figures the most though. SO MANY COMBINATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I ALSO enjoyed the AEC styled transformations. they were not to easy & not too complex. just right in the middle.

THe current wave of Classic styled figures seems to hit me just right. Jazz, Warpath, Kupp, they're all complex enough to be able to have outstanding articulation, yet simple enough to get from one mode to another without having to line up fiddly panels or the like.

Tidalwavex wrote:

BeastProwl wrote:Sidearm Sideswipe.
Complex, yet at the same time simple.
the incorperated the "Twist" Into it, and the detail is incredable. I like transformers when they are done JUST RIGHT.
Animated Optimus is a good example, even with his "Gravity Shifting" Technology.
I Like almost every single AEC Figure. I like the energon figures the most though. SO MANY COMBINATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I ALSO enjoyed the AEC styled transformations. they were not to easy & not too complex. just right in the middle.

Armada seekers are fun to transform. They just are.

I like a transformation that doesn't feel like it's going to break the bloody toy in the process. There is nothing worse than plastic crumbling in your hands as you attempt a transform.

A good example of a great transformation in my books is Classics Mirage. Simple with some twists and folds. I liked to see how fast i could transform him. Once you get it down with some good speed it's very smooth and satisfying.

I love the transformations on all of the Hercules figures. Each on is different and fun.

I like transformations that involves loads of steps. That way it takes more time and get more out of my buck However, most transformations nowadays are only time consuming cos some dammed piece won't line up. And that angers me alot. Everything should fit in without force... Sometimes I can't tell if its a QC fail or an engineering fail .

Firecons. Mindlessly flipping them back and forth again and again and again and again and again...

Leader Classes:
ROTF Optimus.
DOTM Sentinel Prime.
HFTD Starscream.
Animated Bulkhead.

Optimus, really no explanation is needed. He's Masterpiece quality at a price everyone can afford.

Sentinel, he turns from a box on wheels into a robot with jagged edges, smooth lines and all in the same figure. Amazing.

Starscream, he's big, he's hulking, he's mostly accurate and his transformation is easy to master.

Bulkhead, mostly show accurate, has Bill Fagerbakke's voice, and it just works. One of the more complex transformations, from a line notorious for simplicity.

Voyager Classes:
Prime Bulkhead.
Prime Optimus.
DOTM Megatron.
DOTM Ironhide.

Bulkhead, he's show accurate, dare I say adorable, fully poseable minus a waist pivot and his transformation is involving, without being excruciating.

Optimus, rather simple in a lot of ways, straight and to the point. Involving enough to be satisfying.

Megatron, this should be upsized to a Leader Class, like...NOW.

Ironhide, more film accurate than his Leader Class counterpart, complex without being too over the top, yet easy enough to learn in minutes.

Deluxe Classes:
Generations Scourge.
Prime Starscream.
Prime Cliffjumper.
DOTM Que.

Scourge, transforms from a plane unlike his G1 counterpart, yet transforms into the most G1 accurate Scourge, yet. It's amazing.

Starscream, fantastically simple overall, yet the process keeps you busy until the transformation is completed.

Cliffjumper, wow. One of the better Deluxe transformations I've seen. More complex than Starscream's, yet shockingly different outcome like Scourge's.

Que, solid vehicle (and I do mean rock solid, rolls well too.), flip this panel there, turn that one there, fold this over, voila! Robot. And a kick ass robot, too.

Autobot032 wrote:Leader Classes:
DOTM Sentinel Prime.

Sentinel, he turns from a box on wheels into a robot with jagged edges, smooth lines and all in the same figure. Amazing.

Really? That's pretty much my definition of NOT fun. I mean, it does have impressive engineering. A bot with very little kibble forming a solid looking truck, but man, getting those damn panels all lined up and everything together firm and solid is a major pain in the ass!

For me it's not about how complex it is or isn't. I still think Classics voyager Prime is a superb and satisfying design. Also sidearm Sideswipe as he's not very complex (although lining up the doors in car mode is a bit fiddly) but the transformation is very clever. The most complex schemes (MP Hot Rod, RotFl leader Prime) fascinate me and I find them immensely enjoyable if I have 10 minutes to spare. Even something as simple as Classics Seekers is enjoyable because it's well executed.

Windsweeper wrote:To be honest, if TF's were real, it would make sense to have quick, fluid transformations.

They seem to manage quite well in the films.

If I'm playing with my son. Fast and easy transformation are the best since both of us can transform them at the same time to set up the battle field. If we involve complex figures, they usually stay the mode they are.

For me along at a quite night, I don't mind whether it's complex or easy. But I tend not to touch the figures much that I fear I might break them during transformation.

Mykltron wrote:For me it's not about how complex it is or isn't. I still think Classics voyager Prime is a superb and satisfying design. Also sidearm Sideswipe as he's not very complex (although lining up the doors in car mode is a bit fiddly) but the transformation is very clever. The most complex schemes (MP Hot Rod, RotFl leader Prime) fascinate me and I find them immensely enjoyable if I have 10 minutes to spare. Even something as simple as Classics Seekers is enjoyable because it's well executed.

Basically what it boils down to for me is if the majority of time is spent trying to line parts up properly, it's not very fun. I'm cool with it taking 15 minutes or more to transform a figure, such as MP Megatron, but I want to be moving parts throughout that time...not squeezing damn panels together where you get one side in place and the other side pops up, then you get that one set again and the panel on the opposite side of the figure pops out of place...then repeat that process for the next 10 minutes until you end up wanting to line all the panels up against the wall via force and velocity.

Kibble wrote:

Mykltron wrote:For me it's not about how complex it is or isn't. I still think Classics voyager Prime is a superb and satisfying design. Also sidearm Sideswipe as he's not very complex (although lining up the doors in car mode is a bit fiddly) but the transformation is very clever. The most complex schemes (MP Hot Rod, RotFl leader Prime) fascinate me and I find them immensely enjoyable if I have 10 minutes to spare. Even something as simple as Classics Seekers is enjoyable because it's well executed.

Basically what it boils down to for me is if the majority of time is spent trying to line parts up properly, it's not very fun. I'm cool with it taking 15 minutes or more to transform a figure, such as MP Megatron, but I want to be moving parts throughout that time...not squeezing damn panels together where you get one side in place and the other side pops up, then you get that one set again and the panel on the opposite side of the figure pops out of place...then repeat that process for the next 10 minutes until you end up wanting to line all the panels up against the wall via force and velocity.

I totally agree.

For me, fun transformations are generally those that don't require plastic grinding on plastic. So pretty much everything that isn't from the movieverse. Animated ain't the best either.

Kibble wrote:Basically what it boils down to for me is if the majority of time is spent trying to line parts up properly, it's not very fun. I'm cool with it taking 15 minutes or more to transform a figure, such as MP Megatron, but I want to be moving parts throughout that time...not squeezing damn panels together where you get one side in place and the other side pops up, then you get that one set again and the panel on the opposite side of the figure pops out of place...then repeat that process for the next 10 minutes until you end up wanting to line all the panels up against the wall via force and velocity.

Ditto.

Forcing pegs in general is a pain. I hate having to apply so much force to the figure my hands start to ache, especially on pegs that pops out with far greater ease than they go in :/ Never mind when they force other parts out and you repeatedly have to fix them, as you mentioned.