The Energon Pub

I bought leader Ironhide at a huge discount. While I was transforming him back and forth (he's got a fun transformation, IMO), I took off the HA weapons from Sentinel and got to compare the two figures. While Ironhide is straightforward and more kiddie-proof, Sentinel is as complex as a regular retail figure comes. Both leader class figures, and while I prefer Sentinel's design, I think I like Ironhide better for his relative simplicity.

Thinking about Animated leaders and Cybertron leaders... They're far more 'playable'. What do you think? Complexity? Playability?

For me one of the biggest offenders has to be RotF Jetfire. I'm in the middle of packing everything up before moving house this month and it took me about three quarters of an hour to get all the panels aligned and solid for his alt mode. The movie figures have generally been more complex when it comes to transformation schemes than what has come before, and in most size classes not just the leaders. That said the DotM line
has been taking it back the other way somewhat. I've generally been finding transformations for DotM toys to be more intuative than the previous lines. I've just got leader Sentinel this week and while aligning the panels at the rear of the alt mode can be a bit fiddly it's nothing compared to Jetfire.

Honestly, the only figure that I don't like for its transformation complexity is ROTF Prime, he just aggravates me trying to get the front packed perfectly, so I just keep him in his robot mode %80 of the time. When it comes to the line in general, I like scale and articulation. Although I know many parents who be these for their kids and then end up taking over an hour to transform Optimus or something, so I think Hasbro needs a balance of something that is both playable and complex. I think the perfect example for me would be the first movie Megatron. Yet as a fan, I want complexity, articulation, and a transformation that will take around five minutes, because I don't want to spend $40 on an over-sized legends class figure, if you know what I mean.

I dunno.

Right now, my two favorite Leader-class figures are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Leader class ROTF Optimus Prime (and its variants) is an outstanding feat of toy engineering. By managing to get a figure that actually transforms into a near-perfect model of the movie version is amazing, and whoever designed that toy should have gotten a raise. Its only significant problems are I still need to get out the instructions from time to time to transform him safely, and he is rather fragile compared to earlier figures.

But Transformers:Cybertron / Galaxy Force Leader Class Optimus is probably one of the best modern takes on Prime. Pleasantly 'chunky', easily transformed, and better articulated than I would have expected for such a thick figure. He's also pretty darn tough, and easier to play around with. And it's the durability that lets him edge out ROTF Prime.

Valandar wrote:I dunno.

Right now, my two favorite Leader-class figures are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Leader class ROTF Optimus Prime (and its variants) is an outstanding feat of toy engineering. By managing to get a figure that actually transforms into a near-perfect model of the movie version is amazing, and whoever designed that toy should have gotten a raise. Its only significant problems are I still need to get out the instructions from time to time to transform him safely, and he is rather fragile compared to earlier figures.

But Transformers:Cybertron / Galaxy Force Leader Class Optimus is probably one of the best modern takes on Prime. Pleasantly 'chunky', easily transformed, and better articulated than I would have expected for such a thick figure. He's also pretty darn tough, and easier to play around with. And it's the durability that lets him edge out ROTF Prime.

Indeed a good example of how playability wins. Cybertron Megatron is also a good example.

Complexity for me, as my figures are mainly for display. The only 2 movie figures I own are RoTF Prime and DotM Ironhide. Love them both, don't plan on transforming either to vehicle. Ironhide has ugly under-chassis baggage and Optimus is just a pain in the ass even with the instructions which I don't have anymore. But poseability is a huge plus for Prime. Ironhide, on the other hand, just stands there looking tough.

I do own RiD Omega Prime (is that considered leader?) and Animated Leader Megatron, which is cool. Also just for display, even though it's much simpler. I have Masterforce Overlord, which I guess can be considered Leader (or maybe Supreme?) and Armada Optimus combined with his trailer.

Also, my MPs Rodimus and Grimlock are standing next to RoTF Prime and G1 Jetfire, and Optimus and Jetfire are a half inch taller than the MPs, which I think makes for perfect scale. And I agree, the design of RoTF Prime might as well make Prime a Masterpiece.

Now, the only Leader Class figure I want and need is DotM Megatron.

The only Leader-sized figure I actually play with (because he's shitloads of fun) is Armada Tidal Wave.

Rodimus Prime wrote:The only Leader-sized figure I actually play with (because he's shitloads of fun) is Armada Tidal Wave.

Tidalwave! I Think I was the only one who wanted him to be MUCH Bigger after playing the Armada game. Seriously, after going over that entire vessel in campaign, I had the toy in front of me, and I compared EVERY DETAIL. Even the little doors you enter through the back are on the toy. For some reason, this added to my tidalwave toy for me. I Frikkin love tidalwave.

BeastProwl wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:The only Leader-sized figure I actually play with (because he's shitloads of fun) is Armada Tidal Wave.

Tidalwave! I Think I was the only one who wanted him to be MUCH Bigger after playing the Armada game. Seriously, after going over that entire vessel in campaign, I had the toy in front of me, and I compared EVERY DETAIL. Even the little doors you enter through the back are on the toy. For some reason, this added to my tidalwave toy for me. I Frikkin love tidalwave.

Yeah, I love the PS2 game as well. I wish Tidal Wave was the size of G1 Fort Max.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

BeastProwl wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:The only Leader-sized figure I actually play with (because he's shitloads of fun) is Armada Tidal Wave.

Tidalwave! I Think I was the only one who wanted him to be MUCH Bigger after playing the Armada game. Seriously, after going over that entire vessel in campaign, I had the toy in front of me, and I compared EVERY DETAIL. Even the little doors you enter through the back are on the toy. For some reason, this added to my tidalwave toy for me. I Frikkin love tidalwave.

Yeah, I love the PS2 game as well. I wish Tidal Wave was the size of G1 Fort Max.

But then again... Armpitmissile!

RhA wrote:But then again... Armpitmissile!

Huge deign flaw that one. A bigger Tidalwave would also have necessitated a bigger (and perhaps more posable) Megatron, which in itself might not have been as bad thing.