The Energon Pub

TF's that have alt modes that are quite common and recognizable in our world, like movie Prime's truck. These are REAL disguises, and look Earthen. Mind you Prime's truck *could* look kinda futuristic (or maybe I'm just not used to the flames!) but by and large the disguise is the emphasis for these alt modes since G1.

TF's that have military modes, which are not so common (unless you're in the army). So Brawl, Starscream, Blackout and most Decepticons fit here (along with the Cybertron Defence team). I.e. these alt modes are more powerful than a civilian alt mode, and do not fit in well in civilian environments.

TF's that have futuristic or unrecognizable alt. modes, like futuristic cars or jets, or Cybertronian design. Movie Megs, Primus, Unicron, Sideways, and most of the Armada, Energon and Cybertron line applies here, including Prime's fire engine/spaceship mode.

And of course, BEASTFORMERS!

Which one do you like the most? I must say the first one is the most novel (what started TF's in the first place), the 2nd is pretty cool, but I like the 3rd one the most, because it is the most original and often these guys also have the best aesthetics and play value. But the other two don't come far behind at all.

Out of this criteria, I have to say I like human military forms, particularly the overused jets. 2nd would be the futuristic modes.

I like 1 and 2. I want my transformers to look real - not like someone drew what they think cars etc will look like in the future

1 and 2 are good. Since I started with Beast Wars, I never really liked the transmetal look since the alts no longer looked like real animals. Same applies to my opinions with vehicles--they look better when they can blend in.

Unless, of course, a third category TF looks really awesome (TM2 Megatron)

I like regular looking real vehicle mode.

I like choice #4 - TFs that can maul you in their alternate mode.

1 and 2 cybetron modes suck which is why I don't like a lot of the titanium series toys

Caelus wrote:I like choice #4 - TFs that can maul you in their alternate mode.

are ye referring to beast modes, Caelus? oh yeah, i'm down with these too. "mauling"...heh heh.


(p.s., why the 'con logo? goin' the other side on V2? LOL!)

1 and 2. I NEVER liked fake alt modes of things that do not exist. One of the things that got me into TF's way back in the early '80's was that they turned into real life cars, fighter jets, and other vehicles. I guess that is why I never got into Armada, or Energon. None of them are based on real vehicles. Cybertron too, but my exuces to some were simply that they were "Cybertronian" vehicles, and the series took place on other worlds, so it kind of was okay.

It's also more of a challenge for Hasbro to make robots turn into convincing real life vehicles, and in not doing so, Hasbro "cheats".

The movie line really boosted my interest in TF's heavily because of the super-real toys. Alternators did too, but they were hard to get and are a b*tch to transform some of them on a regular basis.

Classics would be the only exception for some reason. Their alt modes are not real life accurate, but they are close, and they have a nostalgic appeal to them.

The new cartoon toy line does not impress me at all.

I like them all, and Caelus's Number 4 should also be added, Beastformers are great.

I guess if I had to pick 1 it would be the Beast Formers, but from the original 3, I prefer my transformers to look like realistic Earth based vehicles, so 1 and 2 do me well.

Definitely 1 and 2 for me. I like Transformers that transform into something real and recognizable, that if done well, a visitor who didn't know better might even think it's just a realistic model.

It seems to me that by changing into something futuristic, they're in effect cheating because they don't have to think so much about where things fit. What I love about TFs is that when you transform you really admire the engineering that went into thinking which part moves where and how this part becomes that.

That being said, I do like some futuristic modes though. Cyclonus and Rodimus Prime for instance.

Beastwar type creatures... don't know much about that but it seems to me that by transforming into something organic but just a different form the original purpose is lost. They can be cool, but are no different from a whole lot of cool robots you can get in Japan. To me the defining difference is that TFs are Robots in Disguise.

3) From the movie/2010 and Headmasters.

I like the alt modes that aren't vehicles or animals.
Guns, Electronic devices and such. I find these to be the best disguises.

Although Alt modes don't have to be for disguise.
A good alt mode could be used for battle,mobility, communications ect.

Out of the four listed I would pick option number 4.
I like the concept of Technorganic beings. Although mecha animals are pretty cool to.

Anything that reflects a real world design is a winner. It just makes the kid in me wonder if it's actually possible somehow.... Which is why I'm an Alt completist..

I like a bit of all of them.

Though I don't quite care much for Kup and those types of vehicle modes.. like hardhead, etc. I tend to ignore those.

1 and 2 for me.

It's funny....what began as a series about robots in disguise very rarely (to me it seems) focuses on the 'disguise' bit. That's why I suppose to me, blending in with vehicles and objects doesn't quite figure in as much as having a really impressive or futuristicky altmode. This is not to say that I don't enjoy Groups 1 and 2, but when I was a lad some of my favorite characters came from G1's third season. Shockwave's my fave of all time, and I came to like Kup, Hot Rod, Galvatron and Cyclonus because their designs were, to me, very sleek. So I'm gonna throw my chips in with Group 3.

But at the same time, there's nothing like having some poor blue-collar worker find a blue and silver tape deck outside his place of employment and think "hey, cool".... XD

I guess I like Bumblebee's vehicle mode so that would the 1st option?

what about real gears?

Bumblebee-otch wrote:what about real gears?

Yeah and Style. Jazz and Bumblebee are Style.

Futuristic all the way.

I like a bit of all of them, but less of the Beastformers and Cybertronian stuff.

I would say it's more like 6 or 7 types of Transformers.

A. Civilian vehicles
B. Military vehicles
C. Non-vehicular earth stuff; Real Gear etc.
D. Futuristic earth vehicles.
E. Cybertronian, Alien/Space vehicles.
F. Organic: animals, dinosaurs etc.
G. Technorganic: robotic animals

So from that list I'm most partial to A, B, C, and G. Gee-wunner stuff basically.

For me the more everyday the earth mode, the better. I don't like this business of using latest model neon coloured sports cars with giant guns sticking out the sides. I'd prefer a varied mix of new to vintage cars, buses, taxicabs, bin lorries, delivery vans etc.

I'd like to see more of C, but without the mass-shifting. If you transform into a toaster, you're a little guy, that's just something you'll have to deal with. That usually means out-of-scale toys, but one way around that would be providing alt and bot miniatures that would be to scale with the larger vehicle transformers.

I have to say my favorite types have to be the first two. I don't know why, but ever since I was a kid I have always loved the Transformers that turned into cars and trucks and the like. I've never been a huge car guy, but I just love it and probably explains why my Autobots far out number my Decepticons.

I also love the military vehicles, though probably not as much as the every day cars and what not. I'm big into studying military history for school and with it comes a love for the hardware. So with this I really like the military jets and ground vehicles.

Although I don't mind futuristic looking alt modes their really not my thing. As for the beasformers, unless their a Dinobot, Predacon, Terrorcon or something G1 like in appearance their just wrong! No self-respecting Cybertronian should be caught dead or alive transformering into some animal that isn;t even worth being roadkill!

I would have to go with #1 as they are supose to be robots in disguise and shouldnt draw attention. I think the toys also just look better when their Alt mode looks so good that they dont look like they could transform.

1 and 2. I'm from the old school. Never was a fan of the beast masters or machines or whatever. Some Cybertron modes are cool...but some look rushed. Like the designers molded the first thing out of the box...