The Energon Pub

william-james88 wrote:
It also totally takes away from the idea of robots in disguise and the idea of transforming. To me, a robot head should not be obviously seen in robot mode, but thats just me.

Yes it totally takes away the point of Megatron disguising himself as a uh... Cybertronian space ship.


Yeah


I agree with you about the issue when thier supposed to be a earth vehicle but it's dumb when your talking about a fictional alien's look.

william-james88 wrote:
Prime?

Slag me and my lack of proofreading I was trying to say prime and movie Megatron never meant to refer to Optimus.

william-james88 wrote:

Nemesis Maximo wrote: I mean really, how egotistical do you have to be to transform into a larger version of your own head, and how do I get a membership to that club?

I can think of a few other bots who probably have membership:

Okay technically, Rodimus doesn't transform into the RodPod, so that's not quite the same. Close, but no cigar. But Megatron there certainly counts. In fact, he takes it one step further by not only transforming into a larger version of his own head, he ALSO has an even larger version of his own head as his personal flagship. The only way he could be any more narcissistic is if his regular head also happens to transform into a smaller version of himself, which in turn was also able to detach it's own head.









Headception.

Deadput wrote:

william-james88 wrote:
It also totally takes away from the idea of robots in disguise and the idea of transforming. To me, a robot head should not be obviously seen in robot mode, but thats just me.

Yes it totally takes away the point of Megatron disguising himself as a uh... Cybertronian space ship.


Yeah


I agree with you about the issue when thier supposed to be a earth vehicle but it's dumb when your talking about a fictional alien's look.

william-james88 wrote:
Prime?

Slag me and my lack of proofreading I was trying to say prime and movie Megatron never meant to refer to Optimus.

Except when you look at the first leader class megatron, all he has to hide his face is that little bit of plastic that looks like an after thought. That is just lazy engineering that could of been resolved with a little bit of work.

In a sense, it reminds me of the weak point you're supposed to aim for in video games when fighting bosses.

I like Fallen and 2007 Meg's altforms cos i like alien-looking spacecrafts like that rather than the usual generic blocky types. And as for the visible head on Megatron? He's not supposed to be in disguise anyway by that point (it's only really by the third movie when he turns into a truck that he's truly requiring a proper earth disguise and that makes sense in his story because of his retreating at end of RotF), the alt-form is more just him turning his body into something better for fast travel. The flap just might be there to protect his face I guess. Hell, I dunno. I prefer them having some kind of mobile alt-form than say...turning into a tape deck that just sits there and needs to be transported by somebody else but maybe that's just me.

The first rule of Transformers is you hide your head in your alt mode, no matter how realistic or unrealistic said alt mode is.

Not a bad list, though I think context should be taken into consideration. Megatron's alt modes don't look recognizable, but only because you're trying to compare him to Earth vehicles. In the case of TFA, his leader class version was an Earth helicopter, and it was pretty cool. But his Voyager version was his Cybertronian mode. Makes good sense. The alt mode from the 1st film also makes perfect sense, as it represents Megatron' strengths as a leader of an army of invaders/conquerors. Just because it doesn't resemble anything on Earth doesn't make it a bad alt mode. He just never scanned an Earth vehicle, due to crashing before the modern age even evolved, or simply because he didn't want to. Same goes for Prime Megatron, maybe he just wanted to keep his badass vehicle mode. Another thing I want to say about this mold (or even the Voyager version) is that it would make a near-perfect mold for a G2 comics-accurate Jhiaxus. As for Armada Overload, I'm gonna guess you are either not a fan of Armada, or at the very least didn't get into it when it 1st came out, as Overload's alt mode is very easy to tell, and I believe him carrying Jetfire while being attached to Prime is even part of the instructions (thus explaining the alt mode). He also transforms into shoulder cannons for either super-mode Prime or Jet Convoy.

You know who's got a wack alt mode? Emerging Shockblast. The tank mode is serviceable, but the "satellite" mode is basically him doing a jumping jack.

Nemesis Maximo wrote:You know who's got a wack alt mode? Emerging Shockblast. The tank mode is serviceable, but the "satellite" mode is basically him doing a jumping jack.

Personally, It's the other way around. The tank mode is an aftertought but the satellite mode is awesome and perfect.

By your yoga pose logic, hundreds of transformers and Gobots are just basically this:

I'm just glad I only own 2 of these molds, and both of them are part of my son's collection.

BH Megatron because I promised at one point to buy him the next matching pair of OP and Meg at retail, which happened to be during Beast Hunters.

The other is Overload, which is totally justified if you already have OP, Jetfire, wrist-shiv Megatron and Tidal Wave.

Personally, I like this list and find it to be pretty accurate. Thanks for addressing Gunrunner. I know that, technically, his alt mode includes the jet. That said, he isn't even a bomb or landing gear or anything. And if we're being completely honest, the jet actually looks better without him attached underneath.

Since so many people aren't happy with the hate for Megatron, let me give them more fuel to their rage. Here is another Megs that suffers from a "you only say indistinguishable cause it doesn't look like something from earth" mode. It just looks like a random mish-mash chimera creature. (Yes, I know that's basically what it was in the show. But if you ask a child to tell you what it is, he'll just shrug. At least the child might guess spaceship for some of the other Megatrons on this list.)




As a side note, what about doing a Most Indistinguishable Robot Modes? I've got a perfect one for you right here. If you haven't seen the show, then you have no clue what was going on with this guy.

william-james88 wrote:

Nemesis Maximo wrote: I mean really, how egotistical do you have to be to transform into a larger version of your own head, and how do I get a membership to that club?

I can think of a few other bots who probably have membership:

Oi! You! Don't make fun of Rodders! He even has a cool and pretty distinguished alt mode too!

Lucky Logician wrote:Personally, I like this list and find it to be pretty accurate. Thanks for addressing Gunrunner. I know that, technically, his alt mode includes the jet. That said, he isn't even a bomb or landing gear or anything. And if we're being completely honest, the jet actually looks better without him attached underneath.

Since so many people aren't happy with the hate for Megatron, let me give them more fuel to their rage. Here is another Megs that suffers from a "you only say indistinguishable cause it doesn't look like something from earth" mode. It just looks like a random mish-mash chimera creature. (Yes, I know that's basically what it was in the show. But if you ask a child to tell you what it is, he'll just shrug. At least the child might guess spaceship for some of the other Megatrons on this list.)

It's clearly a dragon and a werewolf

Rodimus Prime wrote:Not a bad list, though I think context should be taken into consideration. Megatron's alt modes don't look recognizable, but only because you're trying to compare him to Earth vehicles.

Carnivius_Prime wrote:I like Fallen and 2007 Meg's altforms cos i like alien-looking spacecrafts like that rather than the usual generic blocky types. And as for the visible head on Megatron? He's not supposed to be in disguise anyway by that point (...) the alt-form is more just him turning his body into something better for fast travel.

Deadput wrote:I agree with you about the issue when thier supposed to be a earth vehicle but it's dumb when your talking about a fictional alien's look.

Woah woah waoh, wait a minute guys. When does it say I am comparing this to what we expect from earth modes? I am simply talking about lazy looking alt modes that don't look like anything. Some happen to be Cybertronian jets, but so what, we can't expect better than this? The first moments of the Transformers legacy is a shot of cool looking cybertronian jets, the Tetrojets, and they gave a firm idea of how the world of Transformers operated.



Does anyone see their heads peering out? No. Instead we have gorgeous and unique designs that stand out from their robot mode. I really feel that having a robot simply rearanged for a flight mode is lazy in terms of a transformers toy and the legacy of that name. Every entry on this list feels like they are in mid transformation since none of these alt modes look like fully realized vehicles, just an in between mode like Gen Whirl's Gerwalk mode.

That is all I am juging them on. In two weeks, we will see the flipside to these and how a "cybertronian" vehicle can be far more than just the bot mode rearanged but instead a beautiful new vehicle that can be fully appreciated as its own toy. Transformers are supposed to be 2 toys in 1 and none of these on this list fulfill that promise.

Nemesis Maximo wrote:Okay technically, Rodimus doesn't transform into the RodPod, so that's not quite the same. Close, but no cigar.

I was just talking about membership to the ego club, I didnt think you had to transform into your own head, just that it would be one of the ways of admittance, along with having a ship that was a big version of your head.

Lucky Logician wrote:Personally, I like this list and find it to be pretty accurate. Thanks for addressing Gunrunner. I know that, technically, his alt mode includes the jet. That said, he isn't even a bomb or landing gear or anything. And if we're being completely honest, the jet actually looks better without him attached underneath.

Since so many people aren't happy with the hate for Megatron, let me give them more fuel to their rage. Here is another Megs that suffers from a "you only say indistinguishable cause it doesn't look like something from earth" mode. It just looks like a random mish-mash chimera creature. (Yes, I know that's basically what it was in the show. But if you ask a child to tell you what it is, he'll just shrug. At least the child might guess spaceship for some of the other Megatrons on this list.)




As a side note, what about doing a Most Indistinguishable Robot Modes? I've got a perfect one for you right here. If you haven't seen the show, then you have no clue what was going on with this guy.

I do know him, and this is a pretty fun twist to the idea. And wow, I was thinking more vehicles but yeah, that "Megs" totally fits that bill! I still find it odd how the toy and the show model's "dragon mode" doesnt have eyes and back legs. And yeah I completely agree that Gunrunner's alt mode would be better if it was just the jet. But then it wouldnt be a transformer (which then again, he barely is anyway, that was an odd era for Transformers toys).

Nemesis Maximo wrote:Emerging Shockblast

You read that right; Emerging Shockblast. That's what I named my action master.

Autocorrect strikes back.

kurthy wrote:

Nemesis Primal wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:BTW, my personal "honnorable mention":

Gobots ROCK LORDS!

Those aren't indistinguishable. They're obviously rocks. Now if there were a list for USELESS alt modes, you'd be spot on.

Useless? Oh, no. Do you know how many windows I broke because I had a transformer that I could throw around? It had a great job of increasing window/TV repair in the U.S. in the '80s.

I meant useless for whoever turns into it.

william-james88 wrote:Woah woah waoh, wait a minute guys. When does it say I am comparing this to what we expect from earth modes? I am simply talking about lazy looking alt modes that don't look like anything. Some happen to be Cybertronian jets, but so what, we can't expect better than this? The first moments of the Transformers legacy is a shot of cool looking cybertronian jets, the Tetrojets, and they gave a firm idea of how the world of Transformers operated.



Does anyone see their heads peering out? No. Instead we have gorgeous and unique designs that stand out from their robot mode. I really feel that having a robot simply rearanged for a flight mode is lazy in terms of a transformers toy and the legacy of that name. Every entry on this list feels like they are in mid transformation since none of these alt modes look like fully realized vehicles, just an in between mode like Gen Whirl's Gerwalk mode.

I think anim. voyager megs makes it automatically for the sole reason that he doesn't even look like his show counterpart

Hellscream9999 wrote:

william-james88 wrote:Woah woah waoh, wait a minute guys. When does it say I am comparing this to what we expect from earth modes? I am simply talking about lazy looking alt modes that don't look like anything. Some happen to be Cybertronian jets, but so what, we can't expect better than this? The first moments of the Transformers legacy is a shot of cool looking cybertronian jets, the Tetrojets, and they gave a firm idea of how the world of Transformers operated.



Does anyone see their heads peering out? No. Instead we have gorgeous and unique designs that stand out from their robot mode. I really feel that having a robot simply rearanged for a flight mode is lazy in terms of a transformers toy and the legacy of that name. Every entry on this list feels like they are in mid transformation since none of these alt modes look like fully realized vehicles, just an in between mode like Gen Whirl's Gerwalk mode.

I think anim. voyager megs makes it automatically for the sole reason that he doesn't even look like his show counterpart

Will, Cybertron Starscream better make your next list.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Will, Cybertron Starscream better make your next list.

You wont be dissapointed.

Maybe it's nostalgia bias, but I always thought the minicon did a lot of Overload's alt mode, in that it made it look like a giant badass weapon being hauled around (which is essentially what he is). And the fact that he could connect to Armada Prime's trailer was awesome.

Randomus wrote:Overload was a transporter/launcher for Jetfire. (Although I guess you need Jetfire for that to be obvious.)

EDIT: This dude's got pictures!
http://www.darklorddungeon.com.ph/2011/ ... f.html?m=1

Overload is pretty awesome, especially when linked up on Optimus and Jetfire, aka Overkill Optimus mode.

william-james88 wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Will, Cybertron Starscream better make your next list.

You wont be dissapointed.

Still, that Cybertron one and the FoC version, BOTH do have the VHS (visible head syndrome). However, for me, they do work because unless you are looking for it, the head hide kinda camouflage itself in altmode. Kinda cheating over the "no visible head" rule though.

-Kanrabat- wrote:Still, that Cybertron one and the FoC version, BOTH do have the VHS (visible head syndrome). However, for me, they do work because unless you are looking for it, the head hide kinda camouflage itself in altmode. Kinda cheating over the "no visible head" rule though.

Its really not obvious on the galaxy force one. And it is hidden since the designers made sure that it is covered all around and up in the back. Camouflage is a perfect word. They definitely try to hide it, same with Titanium Fallen and RID Megatronus. Those examples are perfectly fine for me, they dont annoy me in the least. I find the FOC seeker a bit mroe annoying since it is central in the plane and right in front of you. Not as bad as BM Blastcharge but not too far off.

But I did already spend 2 lists going over all this. For those who are new to these, Welcome!

Here is the discussion on Worst cases of Visible Head Syndrome

Ad here is the discussion on the best cases.

Micron Legend UM is supposed to be a Shuttle carrier so Jetfire is supposed to load on to those back frame. The old Takara ML box illustrated it.

I've got to disagree with your list, only because ROTF Ravage isn't on there.

the official alt mode for that toy is to roll up in a ball.


I'd also like to comment on the TF Prime unicron. I think that toy is brilliant. If you consider it from the scale of the legion class toys being released at the time. It's the giant mountain at the end of Season 1 that Prime and Megatron battle in front of.




The shins form the sides of the mountain and the 'unicron wing bones' are lightening forks and as you said, the face is there representing the life force of Unicron existing in the living earth.



Add to that the combined mode with the Megatron toy gives one of the closest representations of the possessed Megatron in the series final you will ever find.

That Bot wrote:The first rule of Transformers is you hide your head in your alt mode, no matter how realistic or unrealistic said alt mode is.

The second rule of Transformers is the first rule does not apply to Sky Lynx, heh.



Anyway, I don't have Overload, but I do have the Ultra Magnus redeco, and I think he looks pretty good being towed behind Optimus and carrying Jetfire.


Honestly, I'd put some of the RID15 minicons on this list. Drift's guys turn into... what... chunky frisbees? Huh?