The Energon Pub

Starscream GaGa wrote:

SKYWARPED_128 wrote:Even bigger, more expensive versions like HA and Leader class were trumped due to their dependence on child-oriented gimmicks, which made the figs suffer in terms of screen-accuracy and articulation.

You clearly haven't ever gotten your hands on BO Bumblebee, as he has the most articulation and the best on-screen accuracy despite his size and actually good light and sound gimmicks. It's the price that turns people away.

My favourite's Leader Class. I love Leader Class Optimus and Starscream from ROTF so very much and Animated Megatron, Bulkhead and Ultra Magnus are three of the best Animated figures.

About BO BB, you've got a point that he's pretty articulated, but the clear plastic right hand kills some of his screen accuracy for me. I don't quite like his head sculpt, either; IMO the giant crest makes him looks like a rooster. Again, I emphasize that it's my opinion, and everyone's idea of what looks good or even screen accurate is, to a degree, governed by their own tastes.

DOTM Leader class BB looks very promising, though. IIRC, he seems to have toughened up a bit, looking buffer than his previous incarnations. While he's still got the canon arm that I hate, at least it;s molded in solid gray, without the clear plastic hand.

Regarding Leader class generally, I think they'd have been perfect if the space taken up by the batteries, speakers and sound chips were taken out. ROTF Leader OP would look 100% screen accurate if the battery compartment on his back hadn't doubled his depth [the thickness of his torso], and leader class Starscream would have at least a slightly less bloated alt mode without the battery compartment as well. And while I don't own BO BB, I do own both ROTF leader OP and SS. I do love them as they are, but I'd love them more if they did away with the space of the batteries.

Then again, they're kid oriented toys, which means the gimmicks won't be going away, as far as the movie-verse line is concerned.

Personally, I always prefer screen-accuracy over gimmicks, and if Takara were to ever produce Movie Maspterpieces that weren't just repaints of the Hasbro Bayverse toys, I'd buy them all up.

***EDITED FOR TYPOS***

I find larger transformers much more satisfying but if they fall over it's scary! I think voyager gives a nice balance between the two and as they don't have electron gimmicks taking up space that's another plus!

Starscream GaGa wrote:

shadowynne wrote:****caution highly opinionated rant****
just not @#$%^&* leader, keeerist, clunky, lacking in detail, size of a frikken house with gimmicks, giant battery compartments taking up transformation space just so my toy can endlessly drone its name while garrishly flashing in seizure mode... mmmmmmmm yeah i can see how vision impaired people and kids love leader class but not for me. the occaisional leader, fine, unicron sure. but a giant bumble bee? really? i have never owned a leader class that didnt disapoint me and end up on ebay or my trade list.
****end highly opinionated rant****

Leader Class ROTF Optimus Prime and Starscream say otherwise. They are neither clunky, nor gimmicky, nor do they have giant battery compartments and both have highly complex, detailed, transformations that is not effected by gimmicks.

True, but Prime does like to say his name over and over and over and over and over again. The European release just says "Optimus Prime" so it's far more lame. Starscream does something else constantly but I can't remember what. I removed the batteries of both within 20 minutes.

I dont have a favorite size i love all four(scout,delux,voyager and leader)IMO its a perfect blend,
I like to have leader optimus/megatron towering above being surrounded by ther factions on display.
The only gripe i have is that certain cars/planes/tanks should be in a different class.

You left out Legends, Ultra, and Supreme.

Skywarp64 wrote:

Xterminator wrote: Seriously, you find better quality toys packed with a McDonald's Happy Meal than most Legends and Scouts.

I find them too ugly to be displayed with the bigger movieverse toys.

Sentence number 1 is blatantly not true.

Sentence number 2: Hey, guys, wanna hear about something cool? Yeah, it's awesome! It's called a toy! They're aimed towards kids so they can play with them, but other people can collect them for display. Did you know, that those Legends Class ones are so darn playable AND affordable?!

That's fine, all your points are valid in a general sense. It is very good that Hasbro releases simpler toys like legends and fast action battlers. After all, most us collect TFs today because of the pleasant experiences we had with the rudimentary and simple toys from the 80's.

For me in particular, I do not see my movieverse TF collection as a collection of toys. They are a collection of movie replicas. That said, complexity of design, scale and movie accuracy are all that matter. Therefore, there is no place for Legends on my TF shelf.

But if my 4 months-old son were old enough, I would have no problems to buy him some FABs. I'm sure we would have a very nice time playing together...

I guess I can understand that. You're right about movie Legends being inaccurate in general. You should try the Universe 2.0/Cybertron legends some time. They all copy their full sized counterparts' transformations exactly.

If I were to do a top 3 transformers of each size class, Deluxe and Voyager woul be the hardest ones for me to make up my mind over. And in between those 2, I think Deluxe would be the one I would mull over the most, there are just so many good figures in that category. It's also the closest one to the original size class of G1 Optimus Prime.

It all depends so much on the character. Generally, I like deluxe figures best because they take up less space and don't cost an arm and a leg (though prices are increasing). However, there are some figures that need to be represented at a different scale. For example, Optimus and Megatron always seem way too small as deluxes. They need to be voyager at least. So, I don't think there is a best class or size.

voyagers.
generally speaking of coarse: theyre complex but not over done. theyre more posable than deluxes. theyre more detailed than deluxes. theyre cost a little more than deluxes, but less than the bigger ones giving a better "bang for buck" feeling.

however, you cant deny the playability of the big boys. BW optimal optimus and cybertron optimus prime come to mind, as the most fun figures ive ever had the joy of owning.

Scout for cars as they fit nicely with the Diaclones.

I despise most deluxe as the cars are too big and the jets are too small.

I really don't like the legend size.

Deluxe

Deluxe first. Then voyage and scout. I miss scout class.........

paul053 wrote:Deluxe first. Then voyage and scout. I miss scout class.........

There have been some really nice scouts. Man, Hubcap from the movie line is one of my all time favorite TFs.