The Energon Pub

[Tyrannacon]

...but this episode is the best yet.

Adding a bit of Megatron can go a long way.

Quoted for truth. I am biased though, as I worship Megatron.

[D-Maximal_Primal]

I liked the episode, like actually liked it. Megatron made the episode for me and I look forward to what he will bring

[galvatron00]

I liked the episode, like actually liked it. Megatron made the episode for me and I look forward to what he will bring

Same. Megatron galavanting around in an arena was pretty cool.

Definitely gonna have CW Megatron off the shelf tonight!!

Also pushing myself to the upgrade sets..!!

[william-james88]

Definitely gonna have CW Megatron off the shelf tonight!!

I am assuming in alt mode, since thats the only part that matched the cartoon model

All kidding aside, isnt it odd how in this cartoon, Megatron has a gun barrel in the back and a cannon on his forearm with no treads on his legs... and yet turns into a tank?! Where the hell did those parts come from?! I seriously though he was gonna turn into a gun at the end and was hoping for it with glee. I mean all the gun alt mode bits were there and then he transforms and I just....

[galvatron00]

Definitely gonna have CW Megatron off the shelf tonight!!

I am assuming in alt mode, since thats the only part that matched the cartoon model

All kidding aside, isnt it odd how in this cartoon, Megatron has a gun barrel in the back and a cannon on his forearm with no treads on his legs... and yet turns into a tank?! Where the hell did those parts come from?! I seriously though he was gonna turn into a gun at the end and was hoping for it with glee. I mean all the gun alt mode bits were there and then he transforms and I just....*disappointed snip*

He was basically the CW leader Megatron with the X2 Toys kit. I did see the treads on his back though. And I loved it. Just lose all the extra bits while in tank mode. I'm ok with that #PARTSFORMINGSINCE84

[Va'al]

Definitely gonna have CW Megatron off the shelf tonight!!

I am assuming in alt mode, since thats the only part that matched the cartoon model

All kidding aside, isnt it odd how in this cartoon, Megatron has a gun barrel in the back and a cannon on his forearm with no treads on his legs... and yet turns into a tank?! Where the hell did those parts come from?! I seriously though he was gonna turn into a gun at the end and was hoping for it with glee. I mean all the gun alt mode bits were there and then he transforms and I just....*disappointed snip*

He was basically the CW leader Megatron with the X2 Toys kit. And I loved it. Just lose all the extra bits while in tank mode. I'm ok with that #PARTSFORMINGSINCE84

Also, Megatron is entirely* Guido Guidi's work.


*before the animation studio did their thing

[Sunstar]

Windblade said Starscream and the council was willing to use the enigma... he did suggest extreme caution to be exercised.

[padfoo]

Why is Windblade so tall and such a bad ass, seems like she can take anyone! LOL did she just knock Megs on his butt with hardly any effort?

[Mr Skram]

Why is Windblade so tall and such a bad ass, seems like she can take anyone! LOL did she just knock Megs on his butt with hardly any effort?

Yep. And with no real provocation other than Meg scoffing at his lifelong arch rival. Life c'mon girl, you were just fighting Optimus a few hours ago and now you're ferociously going after someone who barely slighted him?

I want it to get better, but I kinda want to see how bad it can get too. It plays out like a little kid's fanfic so far. If they get real ridiculous with it I might enjoy that. Not sure it can be saved at this point.

[Sabrblade]

Why is Windblade so tall and such a bad ass, seems like she can take anyone! LOL did she just knock Megs on his butt with hardly any effort?

Yep. And with no real provocation other than Meg scoffing at his lifelong arch rival. Life c'mon girl, you were just fighting Optimus a few hours ago and now you're ferociously going after someone who barely slighted him?

That's Murderblade for ya.

[karyuudo]

I absolutely loved this episode. Megatron stole the show and Jason Marnocha's voice for him is just awesome. It's nice to see the plot finally moving along.

[halfshell25]

You know, I have to say, this was a genuinely good episode. The characters were written well, there was a satisfying plot for only 5 minutes, and Megatron's voice was surprisingly good. What's an improvement is the overall feel of this episode. Unlike the others, this one is actually fun. I loved Megatron's banter, and the ride into the sunset was appropriately awesome! The background music really set the tone in this episode, and hopefully we'll be getting allot more episodes like this!

[fenrir72]

...but this episode is the best yet.

Adding a bit of Megatron can go a long way.

Quoted for truth. I am biased though, as I worship Megatron.

All Hail Megatron!

[Galactic Prime]

You know, I have to say, this was a genuinely good episode. The characters were written well, there was a satisfying plot for only 5 minutes, and Megatron's voice was surprisingly good. What's an improvement is the overall feel of this episode. Unlike the others, this one is actually fun. I loved Megatron's banter, and the ride into the sunset was appropriately awesome! The background music really set the tone in this episode, and hopefully we'll be getting allot more episodes like this!

Well written? Did you actually watch it? Nothing about this series is well written.

[Noideaforaname]

...but this episode is the best yet.

Adding a bit of Megatron can go a long way.

You can always rely on the villain to salvage a garbage show.

I rather like the peak at a "retired" Megatron, who evidently spends all his newfound freetime simply fighting. No writing memoirs or treatises, no grand schemes or traveling the universe, Megs is just DONE and is happy to spend the rest of his days in the arena.

[fenrir72]

This show still isn't any better. The animation I think was worse in this episode than it's been all along. Megatron's mouth movements made no sense and didn't fit his words.

Windblade is just.... Ugggghhhh.... So terrible.

Megatron was better acted than anyone so far, but his lines are awful. The writer of this show can't write, at ALL, they should find a new job, because writing isn't for them.

I was so looking forward to this series and so hoping it would be on the quality of G.I.Joe Resolute and it simply isn't even close.

We're halfway through the show and we still have no idea WTF is really going on or why things are the way there are.

So much potential, so crappy.

IDW did a better job and their books are almost as bad as the G1 Marvel garbage....

You could do better?

[fenrir72]

the frame rate is crap, the lip sync is all over the place and the story as a whole is so choppy it makes no sense.....

...but this episode is the best yet.

Let's get this straight first. I enjoy any G1 inspired animation over the kaChintastic TFA etc. I don't like the IDW take on TF though it makes for great entertainment this attempt we are seeing.

Now, reality check. This show doesn't have the budget of like...any CGI based movie like that put out by Pixar. So expect less than Pixar level quality.

Second, I was watching the show, all 5 minutes worth. I was not looking at the framerate.

Third. We all knew the story comes in parts, episodic 5 minute parts. Of course it will look disjointed.

[Bronzewolf]

Seibertronians, are you excited? The next episode of the Machinima Combiner Wars series is up, and it's good. Like, properly good. But it's still not without it's faults. Let's break it down:

We open with a dusty Colosseum-style arena. We see what is obviously the Constructicons fighting a mysterious figure, which is revealed to be Megatron himself. He beats them all quickly, and demands another challenger.

Our First Look at Megatron

Prime arrives, saying he's not here to fight, along with Windblade, who wonders why they came all the way out to a desolate planet for Megatron.

Windblade Watches from the Bleachers

Her City-speaker ability is again mentioned, this time by Megatron, driving that point home. Megs also mentioned how he's a big fan of her work (the killing part, that is). He rushes Prime, and Optimus has to engage the former Decepticon leader, with some of the usual mixed-in dialogue about how Prime "is nothing without the war", so on and so forth. It's actually very intriguing, as it points out interesting parts of Prime not previously divulged. This is one of my favorite parts of the series so far.

Just Like the Old Days

Prime has a flashback mid-conversation to the Black-and-white scene we saw in some of the Trailers for the series, when Megatron tells Prime to pull the trigger, and end it. Megs then catches him off-guard with a massive blow. Windblade comes in to try and save him, but Optimus is already back up and fighting.

Float Like A Fireflight, sting like a Bumblebee

The group talks about the Enigma of Combination for a bit, and Megatron learns that the Council is in possession of it.

Then comes one of the strangest and most out of place scenes in the entire series so far.

Windblade rather randomly and unprovoked walks up and sucker-punches Megatron to the ground. She tells him "Enough." (even though Megatron had already stopped fighting for a good few minutes, and he was making no motions to start again) and that Prime's "telling the truth", (even though Megatron hadn't shown any sign of doubt in what Optimus was saying. Heck, he didn't even have time to before he was suddenly beat to the ground.) She then proceeds to deliver almost the exact same line that Prime had just said, not only once but twice, one after another. And the times she says it sound so similar in tone that it almost seems like they accidentally put two takes of the same line in. Not only does she say it, but she says it in front of the constructicons! She literally puts the entirety of Cybertron singlehandedly in danger by saying basically straight to a combiner the one secret combiners shouldn't know! The Constructicons of course transmit this new info to probably all other combiners right away. This scene simply doesn't make sense. It's actually confusing. It's kind of a train wreck, and drags the whole episode down.

Megatron decides to be a part of the team, and the exit the arena. The old Decepticon leader decides to make fun of Prime's old catch phrase, and gives the order to Transform and roll out. The delivery (and Windblade's reaction to it) seem very out of place, especially after that last scene. It would have been better if it was delivered if Megatron had said "I've waited years to say this: Transform and roll out!" or something of the like.

And There They go, off into the Sunset. Headed for Cybertron


So some final thoughts. This is a fairly good episode, but the main problem was the pacing. It's been a problem through the series I haven't touched on yet, but in this episode it's absolutely unavoidable. It rears its ugly head with every change of Pace, feeling, tension, or drama.

Voice acting is good in this one. I'm getting used to Windblade, Prime's good, and Megatron's actor gives a great performance, though I wouldn't peg it as Megatron. Speaking of Megs, one thing of note is that this iteration of the character lacks his arm cannon, even though the designs of the characters seem to be heavily based on G1.

The Animation is especially great in this one. It's surprisingly smooth and fluid and looks really really good. Again, there's the mouth movement issues, but I feel we're going to have to move pass those.

One point that I feel hasn't been touched upon enough is the fact that this is the first time it's referenced or shown that a combiner is actually multiple bots. It seems strange, because up until now it's been implied combiners are one, not many. This really hasn't been explained, and I'd like to know the rules.

So, you've read my opinion, make your own by watching it on Go90, and then share in the comments. Is there anything I missed? Tell us!

[Sabrblade]

Now, reality check. This show doesn't have the budget of like...any CGI based movie like that put out by Pixar. So expect less than Pixar level quality.

Pretty sure no one here in their right mind is expecting Pixar quality animation.

[Takihiko]

Megatron did have his cannon but it was int he final scene just before they transformed and rolled out, I guess he took it off to fight hand to hand in the arena.

[primalxconvoy]

It's up on Youtube for some non-US viewers



Seems to come out on youtube every Tuesday 5PM GMT

Thanks for the link. Being in Japan, this isn't available for me, so I worked some Google search magic to find a third party solution, ahem.

Btw, could some people help me please? Which countries does the YouTube link work in? Does it work on both mobile and/or "desktop"?

I can confirm that it doesn't work for me on Android and PS3 in Japan, using both mobile and desktop user agents. I suspect that it's probably just Japan and China that it doesn't work in, as Takara owns the rights in those territories?

Anyway, did anyone think that Megatron appeared like King Robert talking to Ned Stark from the first season of GOT? I expected Megs to say "All I want to do is leave Cybertron and the Decepticons and go out and (deleted), (deleted) and drink. To hell with them all, Prime!"

[fenrir72]

Now, reality check. This show doesn't have the budget of like...any CGI based movie like that put out by Pixar. So expect less than Pixar level quality.

Pretty sure no one here in their right mind is expecting Pixar quality animation.

You did read the posts I was referring to? Frame rate etc etc are all part of the package in a CGI flick. Whether it be BW Prime or Adventure. Just sit down, watch and be entertained is the gist of my post. Not counting the frame rate or how "limited" the lip synch etc etc. Storywise, the show is just starting, lot's more to know like those movie serials Spielberg and Lucas grew up on.

[X3ROhour]

I think he/she said we're wrong.

[Kurona]

Now, reality check. This show doesn't have the budget of like...any CGI based movie like that put out by Pixar. So expect less than Pixar level quality.

Pretty sure no one here in their right mind is expecting Pixar quality animation.

You did read the posts I was referring to? Frame rate etc etc are all part of the package in a CGI flick. Whether it be BW Prime or Adventure. Just sit down, watch and be entertained is the gist of my post. Not counting the frame rate or how "limited" the lip synch etc etc. Storywise, the show is just starting, lot's more to know like those movie serials Spielberg and Lucas grew up on.

Framerate is a very legitimate thing to argue about when it's slow to the point of being distracting and detrimental to the product. We're not meticulously counting every frame of each second; the frames are so few in number we can literally see them. That's not a good sign.

As for the story 'just starting', the series is about halfway through.

And I think the point of a lot of peoples' complaints here is that they sat down, watched, and expected to be entertained... but weren't.

[Burn]

And I think the point of a lot of peoples' complaints here is that they sat down, watched, and expected to be entertained... but weren't.

Given we're only 25ish minutes in of what is essentially a new series ... it's really only been one full first episode.

People set their expectations too high.