The Energon Pub

[--B--]

Always enjoy Prime reviews, especialy since he doesn't show the full transformation, I want to see both modes, and figure out the transformation myself.

Pretty spot on Teletran 1 and Prime voices, too.

This makes me pretty much sold on the Hasbro version, it's not spectacular enough to warrant the 175+ for the Takomy one.

[epicvoiceguy]

''Thanks a lot, Hot Rod, thanks a lot...cost me a season...''

Hot coffee through nose = ouch...

LMAO!!! Sorry about that.

[Mykltron]

Any chance you could get better volume on Prime's voice in future?

[epicvoiceguy]

Any chance you could get better volume on Prime's voice in future?

Should be an easy fix. Didn't realize it was low until after it was rendered and uploaded. Sorry.

[PrymeStriker]

G1 OUTBACK
Deco: 7 out of 10
Articulation: 5 out of 10
Alternate Form: 9 out of 10
Robot Form: 8 out of 10
Overall: 8 out of 10

I personally think that Outback is pretty good for a G1 toy. It's a good retool of Brawn, and I give it my applause.

[blurrprime]

TFA Activators Snow Bumblebee

[blurrprime]

[chrisc4]

hey everyone peaugh has reviewed dotm megsy!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dfc_w0HiQQ

[fenrir72]

After nearly 20 years of searching.............Menasor is one!

I'll be doing a review of the gestalt only and not the individual 'cons that make him up.

Here's his high detailed artwork courtesy of Studio Ox



Menasor

function: Super warrior

Components:

Motormaster Kenworth tractor trailer
Deadend Porche
Wildrider Ferrari
Dragstrip F1 Race car
Breakdown Lamborghini Countach


1 Menasor mask



1 "roller car"/chest plate (Motormaster's poor mans version of Roller)
1 hip guard




1 ionizing sword
1 cyclone gun
2 fists


2 foot pads

Various angles


front


back

The Review:

Megatron's answer to the Autobots' supremacy of the road, the Stuntrons/Stunticons were a wild bunch of Sunday drivers. Armed with anti-gravity generators which allowed them to do incredible "stunts" and force field reinforced armor, they all but totaled the Autobots in Key to Vector Sigma and the Pearl of Bahudin episodes. Heck even Optimus and the gang "cosplayed" him in Masquerade.

Screeching back to reality though, the detailed rendition of Studio Ox just barely reflects the figure's true appearance in toy form.



Motormaster makes up the main torso and head. A mask covers the head to create the Menasor persona. Connect the "Roller car" to the chest and the black hip guard we get.............nearly 90% of Menasor.

The other Stunticons makes up his arms and feet. But given the "scramble" gimmick of the figure, there are no permanent assignments for the cars. (Though nominally, Dragstrip makes up the R arm while Deadend the L arm while Wildrider and Breakdown does the legs)


this is the Studio Ox formation

while this one


the toy catalog formation

Both of which are...................slaggin' unstable! though the latter is more stable than the former. I tried the formation rendered in the gift set (courtesy of Botch the Crab)



which surprisingly was the most stable so go figure

Overall, the figure won't win awards with poseability, 'cause he is a literal brick! Detail wise, well he is very detailed, even for his time, the component cars' are easily recognizable from their real life counterparts (back then copyright wasn't probably that strict). It would have been better though if Takara used rubber tires instead of plastic (like Gobots' "Puzzler"). Now that would have made him awesome!

Rating:

In a scale of 1 out of 5, Objectively, I'd give him a 3.5. Why? Well, he is a literal box with arms and legs. Just that. Seeing how the japanese rendered him in a more humanoid form makes you wish it was better. But then again those were the 80's...........we weren't as demanding as we are now.

Fan mode wise, I'd give him a 4.9( arrgh! just the effort to find a complete and near mint Motormaster is enough to drive you nuts!)

Just wanting to share and hope you liked my review.

[fenrir72]

This review will be focusing on one of my fave gestalts. Superion! Does the mold hold up compared to the latest version ( Superlink's Superion Maximus)?


Superion

Function: Super Warrior

Components:

Air raid=F-15 Eagle
Fire flight=F-4 Phantom
Skydive=F-16 Fighting Falcon
Slingshot=Harrier Jumpjet
Silverbolt=Concord SST


Superion helmet (with added gold and blue visor high lights)


Chest plate and hip guard


Electrostatic rifle and 2 fists

and
2 feet pads

Note: You can use Silverbolt's "launch pad"(not pictured) as a sort of shield if you will for me lee attacks.

Various angles



full front


close up front


Side


Back



Studio Ox line art

Looks awesome right? The art I mean . Well, sometimes the artists at Studio Ox did let their imagination get a way with their rendering of the guy. Though an awesome toy in his own right, he is not without his flaws.........

The Review:

Optimus Primes answer to challenge Megatron on his supremacy in the skies, these former cargo/transport ships(depends on which continuity) are one of the many fan faves of the G1 gestalt teams. The eternal opponent of Menasor, Superion always seems to get his @ss kicked by the former (except on the Cosmic Rust episode). Personality wise, according to his bio, he as not so much different from psycho Menasor. Though a good bot at the core, his programed simply to either Protect humans or destroy the Decepticons, and in the comics, he did more damage to the former.

Now back to the figure. Utilizing the scramble gimmick, Superion is composed of Silverbolt who makes up the torso and head. Add the helmet,chest plate and hip guard and you get 90% of Superion done.

He comes with chrome and a die-cast under carriage. My version though, being the USA iteration, has the spring launcher gimmick gutted.

The rest of his appendages is made up of the four smaller jets. Their placements owing to the "scramble gimmick" can be just about anywhere. Though nominally Fireflight and Airraid make up his arms.


As stated I follow this pattern.............looks more kick@ss

The aforementioned limbs have die-cast parts with an oddity in Slingshot's design, the front landing gear folds in a different manner.

He also shares a similarity with Predaking and Piranacon with his fists being solid and not hollow.

And now the flaws :'(..........he is so d@mn frickin' unstable. Whereas Menasor, after experimenting with certain combinations is quite stable, Superion keeps on slouching forward. And the placement of his hip guard makes his thighs look too long. (IIRC Crazydevy released a new lengthened chest plate that gives a more proportioned illusion.)

*Special mention to the the limb/jets' hip sigil /decals. They are mis positioned, minor design flaws that reprolabels' version corrected.

Is his Superlink version any better? No sirreee! Afterburners' nose cone keeps on dislodging. ( It seems all Superions are flawed ).

Does the mold stand the test of time? Well if you grew up with G1, maybe, for nostalgic reasons but imho, it may be 50/ 50 for our younger collectors. This guy is not only a brick, but a fragile brick! Heck, I'm so afraid that I might pull out his legs. :'(.

Rating:

Even as a ogling fan, in a scale of 1 out of 5, I'm giving him a 3.9. And I'm being generous at that. His slaggin' legs are like too floppy/ fragile. Sure Silverbolt can interact with Metroplex but.................on an objective side, I'm giving him a pass of 3.5 (okay, it was the 80's and the aesthetics then are quite different from now.

I hope this review will be help give the latest generation of fans some idea on what the first gen combiners looked like and felt like.

[fenrir72]

This review will focus on the Defensor gestalt and not the individual 'bots.

Defensor

function: Super warrior/protector

Components:

Hot spot/ Hot zone Fuso Fire Engine
Groove Police Honda "goldwing" motorcycle
First Aid Toyota Light Ace Ambulance
Blades Bell I helicopter
Streetwise Nissan police car

Accessories:

? head (where's his head?)


2 part/piece chest plate


1 hip guard

and
2 "fire ball" canons
2 fists


2 foot parts

Various angles:



Front


Back


Left and right arms


his legs

So where's his head? More in the review


The Review:

The implied counter balance to Bruticus, Defensor made his first and only official appearance in Season 2 in B.O.T.. The component parts did show up in Bruticus Revenge doing what they do best, rescue people.
We saw more of him in Season #3 though imho, he didn't get the respect and fan loving that Superion received :'(

Now on to the figure. Like the previous Scramble gestalts, he is composed of the leader who makes up the head and torso. In this case, it's Hotspot. But a peculiar difference is that Defensors' head is incorporated into his body unlike the others who have to wear a mask or helmet. This kind of reminds me of G1 Inferno.



It also allows his head to have a 180 degree articulation.
*Note: The blue optics and gold highlights are just enhancements I added.

Add the two piece chest guard and hip guard and voila! 90% Defensor. He doesn't have any die-cast parts btw

(first versions had it on the red part thighie.)

Being a "scramble" gestalt, you can mix and match the limb placements. Though nominally, Blades takes the right arm, First Aid the left and so on.



Studio Ox rendered him in a much more "proportional" form

And he actually looks like this:


Full body shot

Surprisingly, he is verrrrrrrrrrrrrry stable. Either position of the limbs and still very stable. Like a brick . This stability is what make him a fave of mine. He doesn't at all flop or slouch. His weight is just right, not too heavy that will cause a limb to fall.

Based on the description I made, expect a very limited articulation concentrated on just the head/neck and shoulder connection. But for it's time, having a neck articulation is like groundbreaking. The only 'bots that had the feature IIRC was Shockwave,Jetfire and Omega Supreme (all came from different companies and not Takara).

So how do I rate him? Does he stand up to todays standard? I give him a 5 out of 5. Proportional form design. Very little kibble and not slouching. Kudos for the neck articulation. Honorable mention to his "interaction with Metroplex.

Miscellaneous

There is a KO version of Defensor. It is based on the first pressing with die-cast parts. So be on your guard unless you really are after the KO. The version I have on the other hand is a mix version, Hotspot is the USA non metal version I acquired more than a decade ago. The limbs on the other hand are recent acquisitions whereas all are the Euro Classics versions (as in no rub symbols). Also, only Groove and Streetwise retained their die-cast parts.

I hope you'll all find this review helpful in acquiring Defensor.

[blurrprime]

[epicvoiceguy]

Optimus Prime FINALLY gets to review... HIMSELF!!! Leave a comment about his awesomeness on the video and win the chance to get the figure for free! More reviews coming!!!

[Flux Convoy]

I'm really looking forward to getting the United version. There are things that look great on this release too though.

[epicvoiceguy]

I like the blue sword with the united version better. This one just came with my case of 4. I am stuck with him so might as well get a video review out of it. Personally, I don't like the toy as much Optimus does.

[Flux Convoy]

I actually like the orange/yellow sword but the United blue/clear is more of an homage to the original figure. That combined with the deco and Takara/Tomy have a clear winner to me.

[epicvoiceguy]

yeah, like an idiot, i FINALLY figured out why michael bay had prime with an orange sword after seeing this one. lol.

[Dread_Wing]

I always assumed it was a reference to G1 Prime's orange energy axe from More than meets the eye part 2?

[Jelze Bunnycat]

I always assumed it was a reference to G1 Prime's orange energy axe from More than meets the eye part 2?

Could be, but the movie influences are too numerous to ignore.

[epicvoiceguy]

I always assumed it was a reference to G1 Prime's orange energy axe from More than meets the eye part 2?

That's what I thought too, but now I'm not so sure.

[adamassc]

I imagine it might be difficult to transform some of the newer toys with those gloves on. Also, he failed to point out that this Prime has a matrix in his chest. I think a lot of people aren't paying that much attention or something.

[epicvoiceguy]

I imagine it might be difficult to transform some of the newer toys with those gloves on. Also, he failed to point out that this Prime has a matrix in his chest. I think a lot of people aren't paying that much attention or something.

well, technically speaking, this was a "quickie" review. prime was obviously so overwhelmed with his own awesomeness that he failed to mention it. but as his "producer," (:P) we were pressed for time.

[dirk2243]

I love how possable this Prime is. That alone is awesome. Although I think a voyager would have made it perfect. And a Trailer?

[epicvoiceguy]

I love how possable this Prime is. That alone is awesome. Although I think a voyager would have made it perfect. And a Trailer?

There will be a 3rd party trailer.

[DJLazer]

i really like the vehicle mode of laser prime.