The Energon Pub

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:15 am

Like many people out there, the idea of a combiner that lacks the full range of transformation seriously bothers me. I do not and likely will not buy into the Hasbro statement regarding engineering difficulties.

My plan was to essentially pass over the supreme sized Devastator in favor of the individual robots. Lack of individual bot modes for the combiner essentially made Devastator just a toy and not a 'Transformers toy' to me.

Now, two facts, both of which have spoilers to them have somewhat altered my perspective on the matter.

The first was the pre-screening at BotCon where we were privy to the combination sequence. What we see in that scene are the six vehicles rolling into view and then the center combiner piece lashing out with metal cords and winching the other Constructicons into the Devastator mode. Those six Constructicons didn't have scenes in individual bot modes.

The second factor that made me reconsider the Devastator combiner relates to the movie adaptation comic and information provided by other fans who have seen the whole film. There are a multitude of Constructicons. There are far more than six. The individual characters we got toys of are apparently viewable during the scenes where Devastator is combined. The toys don't represent individual characters in two different places, they actually seem to be different characters in different places (individuals and the ones that combine).

I've seen the combined toy in person and it's interesting. I definitely need to have one in hand to make a decision, but the biggest problem for me was rationalizing the combiner mode aspects.

If any six ole' Constructicons can form Devastator, as seems to be implied, then in my mind Devastator is the character and his six vehicles are the alt modes (ala Arcee in the film). I think I can live with this and possibly purchase the toy without some nagging feeling of being screwed over design-wise.

I don't know if my rationalization will work for you all who came to a similar early decision on the combined Dev, but at least it's an interesting talking point.

News Credits: 97 · by **Savage** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:21 am

I've pretty much already decided to buy the Devastator combiner and pass on the individual robots. Not that the individual ones aren't very cool in their own right, but Devastator is what I want for my shelf, and I gotta save money somewhere. Who knows, I may still buy one or two of the Constructicons along the way, but money must be saved somewhere.

News Credits: 5 · by **zodconvoy** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:31 am

I'm going to wait to see if they do a G1 colored Devastator first. And you just know as soon as someone (say, Frenzy_Rumble or maybe Jin) spends all that time to make one and some fool spends his mortgage payment on it, Hasbro will announce it as a Walmart exclusive!

News Credits: 905 · by **Mach** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:23 am

I am getting the EZ Legends Devastator set first.... See whether i can get a set when it launch here (Asia) on July 09.
As for supreme Devy, will adopt wait and see strategy... waiting for price drop? :grin:

Who knows i cant resist it when i see it the first time

News Credits: 1 · by **Agent 007** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:47 am

I'm still on the fence about him. While yes it is somewhat accurate to not give the constructacons bot modes he still seems alittle too simplistic. My other gripe is that all the pics we've seen of the toy are him standing I wanted him in all fours and it looks like if I put him there he'll just be staring straight down. I'm still buying some of the individual bots cause long haul and mix look awsome. I might buy the supreame set but the question that really needs to be asked is; is he really worth $100? You saw him in person right CP? How big is he?

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:22 pm

Agent 007 wrote:You saw him in person right CP? How big is he?

He's pretty big, perhaps a bit taller than Armada Unicron, but easily twice as wide.

The two large vehicles are maybe just a bit smaller than a Leader Class vehicle from the AEC lines and are right in line with the size of RotF Leader Class toys.

Three of the smaller vehicles were just a bit larger than an AEC deluxe and one of them was a bit smaller.

The price point seems on par with 2 Ultras and 4 Deluxe toys at today's prices.

(I agree that he's probably somewhat over-priced and will be on shelves still after this Christmas.)

by **Maximus_Blade** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 12:34 pm

Completely understood the new concept of the devastator character. It's difference. But to me this new transformation still does not surpass the awesomeness of the original idea hence I won't enjoy the toy. I'll spend 10 bucks to watch the movie for sure.

News Credits: 12 · by **GuyIncognito** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:07 pm

Cost and size are still the biggest factors for me, so I still intend to buy the Legend class Devastator and pass on the $100 behemoth.

News Credits: 11 · by **Overcracker** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:25 pm

I'm still very much on the fence about it.

I don't mind the fact that they don't have robot modes as much as I mind the price tag.

Still once I've seen it in person I may change my mind.

I am planning on picking up LongHaul , and Scrapper if the designs we've seen for him translate well to a toy. But other than that, most of the Constructicons we've seen, and that are out just do nothing for me.

Judging but what we know about how they combine in the movie, I'd say the Boxset seems to accurately depict that. Even if it is a departure from the Geeewunness we would like.

Still i think once everything is said and done, it might not be that bad of a figure after all.

I am expecting lots of Lights and sounds and maybe a phrase or two.

News Credits: 5 · by **skywarp-2** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:27 pm

I will get him, if nothing else then to pose behind all of my other figures.. but I'll wait till he is on clearance..

good 'Splaining CP! :APPLAUSE:

News Credits: 12 · by **robofreak** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:30 pm

I've been set on getting him since I saw pics. It doesn't bother me that the vehicles don't have alt modes.

It seems as though there are quite a few Constructicons so it is logical that any combination can creat him. I'm interested to see how it looks on screen.

I'm hoping to get him with the Target coupon so I can knock $20 off the price tag.

News Credits: 22 · by **Rodimus Prime** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:42 pm

Well, I won't get it for the most obvious and simple reason.: It's ugly. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGLYYYYYYYYYYY.

The second reason is, I'm not collecting any of the movie toys. I don't have any from the first film and I won't get any from this one. Nothing really against them, I just stopped collecting after Alternators.

Third reason, though I was actually interested in having a 2-foot tall Devastator, I heard there will be a Supreme Deluxe Leader Voyager whatever class coming out in 2010. So that might be worth it. I'm certainly not spending $100 on this one.

News Credits: 3 · by **Giant Purple Griffin** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:30 pm

I'm thinking of him as kind of like a duocon (a la G1 Battletrap and Flywheels)except with 6--a sexacon if you will, lol.

News Credits: 22 · by **Rodimus Prime** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:44 pm

Giant Purple Griffin wrote:a sexacon if you will, lol.

Um...

"Hexacon" or "sixacon" might have been better...

News Credits: 9 · by **Mykltron** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:28 pm

Counterpunch wrote:I do not and likely will not buy into the Hasbro statement regarding engineering difficulties.

Especially seeing as the Legends class one is actually rather good.

So those characters don't appear as robots. Do you think that means they can't transform? Do you think that Cybertron has non-transforming vehicles that are alive? That doesn't sound likely to me. Even if that is the case, non transforming figures don't have a place in my transformers collection. Especially when they cost as much as a regular figure with none of the perks.

by **klarinettmeister** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:36 pm

If he arrives here in Sweden I´ll buy him. But I think he´ll cost about 200$ here in Sweden. :cry:

I bought Optimus Prime. Cost was 799 SEK. That´s 99,85 US$...

by **SonicWave** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 5:12 pm

Meh, still not too excited about the thing. I'll get one for my kid for his birthday.

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:01 pm

Mykltron wrote:Do you think that means they can't transform? Do you think that Cybertron has non-transforming vehicles that are alive? That doesn't sound likely to me. Even if that is the case, non transforming figures don't have a place in my transformers collection. Especially when they cost as much as a regular figure with none of the perks.

In this particular universe they have drone transformers, basically soulless creations which mimic everything about them, so I think it's possible that they have living non-transforming vehicles as well.

I assume you're familiar with Duocons from G1. Like was said before, it could be that Devastator is the actual living thing and that his alt mode is six separate vehicles.

The movie-verse breaks rules. That's just what it does...

News Credits: 217 · by **Diem** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:51 pm

Meh. I don't like construction vehicles.

News Credits: 8 · by **LiKwid** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:02 pm

I like Cp's thoughts on this one.. I might have to wait to see him in person.. I'll keep a little cash on the side just in case I see him. I would like to see a g1 repaint of him though..

News Credits: 3 · by **Giant Purple Griffin** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:04 pm

Rodimus Prime wrote:
Giant Purple Griffin wrote:a sexacon if you will, lol.

Um...

"Hexacon" or "sixacon" might have been better...

You're probably right...

News Credits: 905 · by **Mach** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:28 am

From the attached photo,we can see that the red truck should be Overload. So means that Supreme Devy toy left out Overload.

News Credits: 9 · by **Mykltron** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:32 am

Counterpunch wrote:
Mykltron wrote:Do you think that means they can't transform? Do you think that Cybertron has non-transforming vehicles that are alive? That doesn't sound likely to me. Even if that is the case, non transforming figures don't have a place in my transformers collection. Especially when they cost as much as a regular figure with none of the perks.

In this particular universe they have drone transformers, basically soulless creations which mimic everything about them, so I think it's possible that they have living non-transforming vehicles as well.

I assume you're familiar with Duocons from G1. Like was said before, it could be that Devastator is the actual living thing and that his alt mode is six separate vehicles.

The movie-verse breaks rules. That's just what it does...

That makes sense. And we did originally believe Arcee would form from three separate bikes.

News Credits: 1 · by **No Death for Prowl** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:03 pm

In an ROTF toy line-up that has, so far, seemed pretty bland(slight retools of charactes from the 1st movie and designs for new characters that are more about novelty than great TF toy), Devastator definitely is hard to ignore.

It keeps coming back to the price...he'll be like Ultimate BB where you know you're paying too much, but it'll be such a unique addition to the ol' collection that any justification comes down to "I'll just pass on other figures from the line(which will be easy in this case).

Actually not all that bothered by the inability to transform the individual parts....if I get this guy, I'll keep him in combined mode, so having the ability to transform into robots is not so much something I would utilize, just something that would give seem to justify the price tag and our lofty expecations of a 21st century combiner team.

I keep reading about "waiting for a G1 repaint" of Devastator, but I'm just not sure how good that's actually going to look......

News Credits: 905 · by **Mach** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 9:40 pm

No Death for Prowl wrote:
I keep reading about "waiting for a G1 repaint" of Devastator, but I'm just not sure how good that's actually going to look......

See attached