The Energon Pub

O.K., this is simple
Just post who you think has the most useless alt mode and why.
If you want to defend someone’s alt mode, feel free

I’ll start

Reflector: Six giant killer robots turn into one hand-held camera?!
‘nuff said.

Actually, it's three robots. As toys they're Spectro, Viewfinder and Spyglass.

Personally, I think an MP3 player (Booster whatever the hell number they put at the end) is a pretty useless alt mode (though I did like the Laserbeak homage of the fig).

G1 Megatron, he can't fire unless someone holds him and pulls his trigger 'nuff said.

Soundwave and Reflector are spys and are actully able to function on their own in alt mode. Being small hand held objects that can record and photograph enemy headquarters is actully verry fitting to their jobs.

most useless alt mode in TF history?

Id vote for Botanica, but i give her some leeway as she suffers from being a bit part BW character and a scientist.

Although considering Jetfire, Perceptor, and Ratchet, being a scientist is no excuse for not kicking butt.

(haa anyone else seen Perceptor as a lascannon? ouch!)

Botanica was a Plant but not a non-moving sitting rooted in the ground soaking up the soil plant. She's an alien plant life form that is more like an Animal than a plant.

Of course I was never really too sure watching the series what mode was the Plant and what mode was her robot mode. They both looked like humanoid forms and both were Plant like. (being green and all)

The original plant mode was nice when she first landed on Cybertron but after she got reformatted it looked like both modes were the same just with a slight change in texture. (probly why she never got a toy.)

Cerebros. I don't know if the toy has it, but in Rebirth pt 3, he transforms into a computer console. That sits there in the middle of nowhere, blinking lights at people. That, or a giant head that needs a giant body to do anything.

At least G1 Megs was able to hover and fire himself on the odd occasion in the toon.

Saber Prime wrote:G1 Megatron, he can't fire unless someone holds him and pulls his trigger 'nuff said.

In the comic he was able to fire himself and also fly away on occasion.
I'd have to review the cartoon for more, I do seem to remember him being knocked out of someone's hand and him being demanded to being picked up. I kind of thought that was silly.

Saber Prime wrote:Botanica was a Plant but not a non-moving sitting rooted in the ground soaking up the soil plant. She's an alien plant life form that is more like an Animal than a plant.

Of course I was never really too sure watching the series what mode was the Plant and what mode was her robot mode. They both looked like humanoid forms and both were Plant like. (being green and all)

The original plant mode was nice when she first landed on Cybertron but after she got reformatted it looked like both modes were the same just with a slight change in texture. (probly why she never got a toy.)

There's quite a bit of different between Botanica's robot and plant modes, other than texture. I actually preferred the plant mode over robot...she's still sucks, but at least she looked half way decent.

Robot -



Plant -

Saber Prime wrote:The original plant mode was nice when she first landed on Cybertron but after she got reformatted it looked like both modes were the same just with a slight change in texture. (probly why she never got a toy.)

The fact that it would probably have been physically impossible to design may also have been a factor.

How about Scrounge, from the comics? He transformed into a wheel.

megatron

useless when alone

Z3ROhour wrote:megatron

useless when alone

Doesn't he also transform into a giant turret cannon? Or is that only Galvatron?

Just Galvatron. Megatron's just got the Walther mode, Galvatron turns into a laser pistol and self-propelled cannon.

If you're talking about Megatron's Base Mode that's formed by his accessorys that's only on the toy. He never used that in the cartoon.

Oh and the Pictures don't really prove anything other than the textures are different. Look at them, they both have a head, that high collar neck thing, 2 arms, and a dress. The only major difference other than texture is that the lower arms are split up the the elbow in plant mode. I guess that could be what you were refering to but it's not that significant a difference.

What about some of the Micron Legends Minicons?

The star Sabre was fairly useless without a bot to hold it...

Surely this would totally depend on the situation.

Saber Prime wrote:If you're talking about Megatron's Base Mode that's formed by his accessorys that's only on the toy. He never used that in the cartoon.

Ehh.. *sighs* Just 'cos it was never in the 'toon, doesn't mean it didn't exist.
But either way, it was hardly an alternate mode, since Megs himself wasn't even part of it.

Beast Wars Air Hammer. When you're a half-headhammer shark half-bird, you're pretty useless.

Why, 'cause you can swim, fly, and have nasty sharp pointy claws and teeth?

Blurrz wrote:Beast Wars Air Hammer. When you're a half-headhammer shark half-bird, you're pretty useless.

First... Nice sig, me likey.

Second... What exactly is useless about being about to attack from air AND sea? And he does it without cheating and just being a flying shark. (Yeah I'm looking at you Sky-byte.)

I think Perceptor was ueless, he was just smart. Besides, have you ever seen a red and blue microcsope..wait, what if he turned into a sniper rifle..O.o...


Airhammer was a weird fuzor, but it was pactical.
Doesn't tht means he needs gills and luns that work in and ot of water....meh, he's a robot, he'll deal.

Sherade wrote:I think Perceptor was ueless, he was just smart. Besides, have you ever seen a red and blue microcsope..wait, what if he turned into a sniper rifle..O.o...


Airhammer was a weird fuzor, but it was pactical.
Doesn't tht means he needs gills and luns that work in and ot of water....meh, he's a robot, he'll deal.

Well yes if he was not a robot he would need both gills and lungs.

Allso with Percepter's alt mode. He acts like a Teliscope looking at things in the sky but really he's a microscope. He should only be able to see things under his lense. If you look the other way everything would be smaller.

Not only is Percepter useless he allso isn't useing his alt mode correctly.

ok the worst one????...hobocon- like he f***in tfs into a box

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2gY3mjtyew

nuff said

How about Cybertron Laserbeak? That guy has a one time use then he's dead. That's the down side to transforming into a bomb.

And lets toss all the McDonald's toys in there.

Anyone hungry?

I am!

What's for dinner?

Robots!

tyler1451 wrote:ok the worst one????...hobocon- like he f***in tfs into a box

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2gY3mjtyew

nuff said

I meant REAL transformers.

Primus!!! Who the hell was he "disguised" to hide from!

I say Punch/Counterpunch. Not his Vehicle mode, but his Decepticon mode. You'd think Galvatron, and maybe Cyclonus would notice that Counterpunch is only seen when they are fighting with the Autobots. and then Punch is seen nearby.