The Energon Pub

[Sabrblade]

Either that, or they didn't want to release one that was nearly identical to hasbro's, since hasbro basically nailed both cartoon looks;

Hasn't stopped Takara before from releasing figures in slightly different yet way more accurate decos.

Yeah, just positing it, but that's why I ultimately agreed with you

Though, because it could have been done, it does still make me wish that we could have seen what a show-accurately colored torso from Takara would have looked like (since the Hasbro torso is only rudimentarily show-accurate rather than Takara's special blend of super-duper show-accurate).

[Hellscream9999]

Either that, or they didn't want to release one that was nearly identical to hasbro's, since hasbro basically nailed both cartoon looks;

Hasn't stopped Takara before from releasing figures in slightly different yet way more accurate decos.

Yeah, just positing it, but that's why I ultimately agreed with you

Though, because it could have been done, it does still make me wish that we could have seen what a show-accurately colored torso from Takara would have looked like (since the Hasbro torso is only rudimentarily show-accurate rather than Takara's special blend of super-duper show-accurate).

Well, I think the hasbro one emulates it more than you are giving it credit for... His knee pads rise nearly to his pelvis, only allowing for a sliver of grey to show through before reaching his purple pelvis guard, the torso captures this perfectly:





And while I agree that TT may have given it 'that special TT touch', they may have also left out a lot of paint apps, to be show accurate as well, a'la defensor and devastator...

[william-james88]

I think Takara just wanted to be completely different from Hasbro in every way possible so as to have two totally different decos on the worldwide market.

[Cobotron]

I think Takara just wanted to be completely different from Hasbro in every way possible so as to have two totally different decos on the worldwide market.

and I thank them for that. Makes it easier on my conscience to DD.

Speaking of clear plastic and paint apps. If Galvatron"s crown points are translucent, is this another case of this new phenomenon of painted clear heads? Like Legends Slipstream.

[ebonyleopard]

Not going to like, I though they would repaint some of the jets as Scourge and the Sweeps and go that route. At least this way introduces some new characters.

[Sabrblade]

Not going to like, I though they would repaint some of the jets as Scourge and the Sweeps and go that route. At least this way introduces some new characters.

None of these characters are new.

Well, this is Roller's first toy, yes. And they're all technically "new" to this line, but all five of these guys come from preexisting fiction (G1, Armada, Prime, and IDW).

[william-james88]

Not going to like, I though they would repaint some of the jets as Scourge and the Sweeps and go that route. At least this way introduces some new characters.

None of these characters are new.

Well, this is Roller's first toy, yes. And they're all technically "new" to this line, but all five of these guys come from preexisting fiction (G1, Armada, Prime, and IDW).

Pretty sure thats what he meant as opposed to having more seekers.

[Sabrblade]

Not going to like, I though they would repaint some of the jets as Scourge and the Sweeps and go that route. At least this way introduces some new characters.

None of these characters are new.

Well, this is Roller's first toy, yes. And they're all technically "new" to this line, but all five of these guys come from preexisting fiction (G1, Armada, Prime, and IDW).

Pretty sure thats what he meant as opposed to having more seekers.

But Seekers would be the same case since they'd all be preexisting characters as well and "new" to this line.

[Hellscream9999]

Not going to like, I though they would repaint some of the jets as Scourge and the Sweeps and go that route. At least this way introduces some new characters.

None of these characters are new.

Well, this is Roller's first toy, yes. And they're all technically "new" to this line, but all five of these guys come from preexisting fiction (G1, Armada, Prime, and IDW).

Pretty sure thats what he meant as opposed to having more seekers.

But Seekers would be the same case since they'd all be preexisting characters as well and "new" to this line.

Let's just agree that we should be using the term 'variety' - this set certainly has that in spades

[william-james88]

Not going to like, I though they would repaint some of the jets as Scourge and the Sweeps and go that route. At least this way introduces some new characters.

None of these characters are new.

Well, this is Roller's first toy, yes. And they're all technically "new" to this line, but all five of these guys come from preexisting fiction (G1, Armada, Prime, and IDW).

Pretty sure thats what he meant as opposed to having more seekers.

But Seekers would be the same case since they'd all be preexisting characters as well and "new" to this line.

Can we at least agree that these characters (aside from Starscream) have been less done to death in terms of existing figures in any line compared to the main seeker trio?

[Gunmetal]

Speaking of clear plastic and paint apps. If Galvatron"s crown points are translucent, is this another case of this new phenomenon of painted clear heads? Like Legends Slipstream.

I don't think they are. I think that's just glare from the lights on silver.

[Wolfman Jake]

I think Takara just wanted to be completely different from Hasbro in every way possible so as to have two totally different decos on the worldwide market.

and I thank them for that. Makes it easier on my conscience to DD.

Speaking of clear plastic and paint apps. If Galvatron"s crown points are translucent, is this another case of this new phenomenon of painted clear heads? Like Legends Slipstream.

I'm double dipping on this mold too, or rather triple dipping, since I've been ordering two of each UW set. Though I've become mostly a fan of show accurate color schemes as possible over the years, I'm really liking this G1 toy-inspired deco for Grand Galvatron. The show accurate deco for Cyclonus has done wonders for the mold in robot and alt mode too. I'm hanging on to my Hasbro release to change things up with a "show accurate" Galvatron torso once in a while. I wish the wait for these sets wasn't so long, but then again, it gives my wallet time to breathe with all the Masterpiece releases coming up at the beginning of 2016.

[Cobotron]

Speaking of clear plastic and paint apps. If Galvatron"s crown points are translucent...

I don't think they are. I think that's just glare from the lights on silver.

Ya. I just took another, closer look. I think your right.

... it gives my wallet time to breathe with all the Masterpiece releases coming up at the beginning of 2016.

Except Ratchet comes out in April too. Wallet =

[fenrir72]

He's here!

[Va'al]

Courtesy of fellow Seibertronian Autobot032, we have the first full look (after the endless TFYuki images) at Takara Tomy Unite Warriors UW-03 Guardian/Defensor in the felzbug review below - and that means we also get to see the Takara-only deluxe Groove figure in-hand! Check it out.

[fenrir72]

Devs been paid for....can't wait

[Rodimus Prime]

What's with the gloves?

Anyway, going by that review, IMO Hasbro wins this one. All the individual Hasbro bots look better, except for Hotspot. I like the sharp blue on Takara's more. As for Groove, they can't really be compared. Takara did a good job with theirs, but Hasbro's Defensor looks better overall. The Takara version is an easy pass for me, I didn't need a full sized Groove. He makes for a skinny leg anyway, and the backpack in robot mode is huge. Just not worth it, as I will be keeping the Protectobots in Defensor mode anyway, and Hasbro's version is more than adequate for that purpose.

[Starsaber468]

Groove looks totally awesome! Plus that alt mode dang that is just awesome its definitely way better than that hasbro legends groove

[Optimizzy]

I love that groove. I think it is a shame that Hasbro isnt jumping at the bit to use it.

But come on guy. Takara may like us but Takara loved our money a great deal more. Deluxe Groove was just a good business decision. They get domestic AND foreign sales that way. I really hope Hasbro gets the mold and can also use it for Afterburner. Im still holding out hope even with Titan Wars heading out sometimes next year.

If no one got Hasbro's defensor I'd say get this just because of Groove but I wouldnt double dip. Even groove isnt worth the heft...in my opinion.

[MemphisR56]

What's with the gloves?

Anyway, going by that review, IMO Hasbro wins this one. All the individual Hasbro bots look better, except for Hotspot. I like the sharp blue on Takara's more. As for Groove, they can't really be compared. Takara did a good job with theirs, but Hasbro's Defensor looks better overall. The Takara version is an easy pass for me, I didn't need a full sized Groove. He makes for a skinny leg anyway, and the backpack in robot mode is huge. Just not worth it, as I will be keeping the Protectobots in Defensor mode anyway, and Hasbro's version is more than adequate for that purpose.

Felzbug's reviews are all like that. He's reviewing in-character... so the gloves are supposed to be the puppet's hands.

...I... I don't mean to be mean here, but I really can't sit through Felzbug's reviews.

[william-james88]

They get domestic AND foreign sales that way.

They only get domestic since he was exclusive to TTMall. So there were no foreign sales being given to Takara. Hasbro Asia did license out the release as they always do but all the foreign sales went to them and not Takara.

[william-james88]

...I... I don't mean to be mean here, but I really can't sit through Felzbug's reviews.

I dont think you're the only one. Is the TF reviewer landscape that competitive that people have to create characters to set themselves apart? Let us know Chuck!

I personally like Thew, who has personality but is just him and not a character. He just says what he likes about the figure and shows you why it's awesome, rather than a more conventional review which simply describes a figure. He also lets you know what frustrates him. It gives a good sense of what is good in a toy and what isnt. What really surprised me was his dissapointment to Generations Leader Megatron. But it helped set my expectations.

[Rodimus Prime]

What's with the gloves?

Felzbug's reviews are all like that. He's reviewing in-character... so the gloves are supposed to be the puppet's hands.

...I... I don't mean to be mean here, but I really can't sit through Felzbug's reviews.

I won't be watching any more of them either. Very annoying.

Will Victorion be a UW release or a regular Hasbro one with all the members sold separately?

[Hellscream9999]

What's with the gloves?

Felzbug's reviews are all like that. He's reviewing in-character... so the gloves are supposed to be the puppet's hands.

...I... I don't mean to be mean here, but I really can't sit through Felzbug's reviews.

I won't be watching any more of them either. Very annoying.

Will Victorion be a UW release or a regular Hasbro one with all the members sold separately?

Not sure if TT will release her (even if they did we probably wouldn't see her until 2017 at the rate that they're going), but, as for hasbro, she will be a boxset released (presumably) alongside the G2 boxsets and will retail for ~$100.

[chuckdawg1999]

How did he get Defensor so early? I just ordered mine off Robot Kingdom and they said December 12th. EVERYONE says December 12th, what's worse is he didn't even submit his own review. If I knew this was coming I would've held off and gotten it with Devastator! *Insert Charlie Brown scream*