The Energon Pub

Delta Magnus wrote:Looks nice! Compared to other combiners, how poseable is he?

I don't have any combiners from FP nor MT so I wouldn't know. Comparing Ares to Uranos and Hercules, he's a bit more heavier and feels harder to pose (but poseable)

Compared to MMC, Feral Rex feels more 'intact' than Ares, not sure how to explain this better

gema wrote:Feral Rex feels more 'intact' than Ares

Do you mean Feral Rex is more cohesive or streamlined?

megatronus wrote:

gema wrote:Feral Rex feels more 'intact' than Ares

Do you mean Feral Rex is more cohesive or streamlined?

cohesive, yeap. it's just that, with Ares, there' quite a few parts that kinda moves around and also not peg securely. For instance, the waist swivel is not tight enough and sometime resulting Ares taking 360o turn when posing him. The 2 round parts on the thighs also did't peg securely (on mine, it's one of them). The lion's hind legs are only folded to the back and rely on the tightness of the joints rather than pegs into anything, quite easy to move around trying to pose him. These are just few examples.

Ah, right, I get it. I can deal with that I think.

Really long but I thought this was a good comparison video bwt Ares and Feral Rex

dangit... im at work. now i gotta wait all day to watch these.

thanks for the video posts mooncake

Dear god that was painful to watch. I knew it was going to be bad when he went on the "Detail bad, simple good!" rant with a dash of "BAY SUXX LOLOLOLOL!". I mean, seriously, I'm wondering if these people who complain about figures being "too detailed" are actually neanderthals incapable of processing anything more complex than a box. His comments on the colour were...baffling really. The red on Phobus provides balance to the combined form, avoiding the left and right arms from contrasting too much, and the spot colours to the sculpted detail bring out a lot of the sculpting work that would be lost with simple block colouring.

With the proportions, I think he was trying to dress up the fact that Feral Rex, for all his advantages, has some seriously wonky proportions, notably abnormally long forearms, a tiny upper body and what looks like elephantitis on his lower legs.

As for the stability section...I smell a shill, or at best a clumsy idiot. I'm not sure how the ankles work (I assume they're ball-joints, which are easy to tighten up) but the loose hip ratchets are so easy to fix it's mind-boggling he didn't think of it- JUST TIGHTEN THE GODDAMN SCREWS. Loose joints are an unfortunate reality of toy collecting- I collect Figmas and almost every single one I own has needed some sort of tightening done to the joints. TFC are usually known for very sturdy joints on figures, so I'm wondering if he got a duff sample (which any reviewer should take into consideration with a figure, especially one as large and complex as Ares or Feral Rex- no 2 figures are the same, especially with plastic tolerances).

Overall I'd say he's either a paid shill for MMC (which would sadden me greatly as I do like MMC as a company- I love their stuff, especially their Hearts of Steel Seekers, which I've been meaning to get) or just an idiot.

Delta Magnus wrote:Dear god that was painful to watch. I knew it was going to be bad when he went on the "Detail bad, simple good!" rant with a dash of "BAY SUXX LOLOLOLOL!". I mean, seriously, I'm wondering if these people who complain about figures being "too detailed" are actually neanderthals incapable of processing anything more complex than a box. His comments on the colour were...baffling really. The red on Phobus provides balance to the combined form, avoiding the left and right arms from contrasting too much, and the spot colours to the sculpted detail bring out a lot of the sculpting work that would be lost with simple block colouring.

With the proportions, I think he was trying to dress up the fact that Feral Rex, for all his advantages, has some seriously wonky proportions, notably abnormally long forearms, a tiny upper body and what looks like elephantitis on his lower legs.

As for the stability section...I smell a shill, or at best a clumsy idiot. I'm not sure how the ankles work (I assume they're ball-joints, which are easy to tighten up) but the loose hip ratchets are so easy to fix it's mind-boggling he didn't think of it- JUST TIGHTEN THE GODDAMN SCREWS. Loose joints are an unfortunate reality of toy collecting- I collect Figmas and almost every single one I own has needed some sort of tightening done to the joints. TFC are usually known for very sturdy joints on figures, so I'm wondering if he got a duff sample (which any reviewer should take into consideration with a figure, especially one as large and complex as Ares or Feral Rex- no 2 figures are the same, especially with plastic tolerances).

Overall I'd say he's either a paid shill for MMC (which would sadden me greatly as I do like MMC as a company- I love their stuff, especially their Hearts of Steel Seekers, which I've been meaning to get) or just an idiot.

Wow that's really harsh coming from someone that doesn't have the figures and have nothing to base his bashing on since you know you don't actually own anything. I think you're just in denial man from the way you're attacking someone like that. Dude is an honest reviewer and actually buys all his toys. I thought this was a fair review to post to help people out since he is not sponsored. but hey like what you like, Please do show us your review when you get yours, I'll love to see it.

I also collect Figmas and I've never tighten any joints what so ever. Figma's joints are top notched.

No, I'm not "in denial" I just think he did a dreadful job.

I really don't trust any of the reviews of Ares at the moment because they're all from amateurs. If any of the 3 big professionals (Peaugh, Optibotimus and Vangelus- especially Vangelus) did reviews for him then I'd be listening. But when some amateurish nobody comes along, complains about there being too much detail (which is bollocks) and presents a generally biased, one-sided and shoddy "review" then no, I'm not going to listen to him.

Like I say, it's not even like I hate Feral Rex. Far from it, I think he's a cool figure with a lot of great things about him (weird proprtions and overly simplistic design aside). But no professional reviewers have actually come forth and given a fair analysis of Ares.

Delta Magnus wrote:No, I'm not "in denial" I just think he did a dreadful job.

I really don't trust any of the reviews of Ares at the moment because they're all from amateurs. If any of the 3 big professionals (Peaugh, Optibotimus and Vangelus- especially Vangelus) did reviews for him then I'd be listening. But when some amateurish nobody comes along, complains about there being too much detail (which is bollocks) and presents a generally biased, one-sided and shoddy "review" then no, I'm not going to listen to him.

Like I say, it's not even like I hate Feral Rex. Far from it, I think he's a cool figure with a lot of great things about him (weird proprtions and overly simplistic design aside). But no professional reviewers have actually come forth and given a fair analysis of Ares.

Yea cause none of them likes it. And they won't be getting it. I don't know why you would bash amateur reviewers they are probably the most unbiased opinions you'll get. Anyway whatever good luck to you.

Delta Magnus wrote:Overall I'd say he's either a paid shill for MMC or just an idiot.

That's pretty uncalled for, since he goes way, way out of his way to say this is just his opinion.

Reviewer wrote:A lot of what I am about to say and show in this comparison is my opinion and my personal experience with these two figures. If you have very different opinions or experiences with either of these, that's completely OK. My video here does not automatically invalidate anything you feel or think about Rex or Ares, because again, this is just how things are for me. I am always honest and sincere about my experiences with any figure I review.

That's just the first 30 seconds. He goes on for a full minute to repeat and emphasize that this is just him, and that you're allowed to have strong opinions, too.

Since you don't have either Rex or Ares in hand, and have zero experience with either set, I think you have the right to disagree, but certainly not to object in the violent manner that you have.

i do feel a few of his points were strange...

-ares being overly detailed? am i the only one who thinks that ares clearly has the softer sculpt? and i dont even mean the rivets on rex, just in general he's got a much sharper sculpt. and i dont find the paint apps on ares distracting or busy at all. one thing that bugs me about rex is, divebombs talons being so close to rex's hands make it look like a strange continuation of his hands.

-floppy/loose pieces on ares? sure he has them. but there were just as many little pieces he was fiddling with while posing rex.

everything else was legitimate, and it does heavily weigh on personal taste. on ares i really dont like the back cannons and floppy leg heads. rex's sword and wings are clearly better. i have likes and dislikes on both. however i prefer the proportions on ares, and the neo look. and honestly, for some reason i thought ares was like, a head taller than rex, which was one of my big reasons for choosing him. thats obviously not the case...

neither are perfect. choose the one that suits your needs best

I think he says in the review that Rex has the sharper sculpt; what he means by details are the liberal use of paint apps, I think?

Also, Rex's height is variable (the upper legs extend), and I believe the reviewer had him in one of the taller configurations.

Honestly don't like any of the 3rd party Predakings.

Pretty confident that if HasTak creates a Combiners Wars Predaking, It will be the better sculpted toys.

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Honestly don't like any of the 3rd party Predakings.

Pretty confident that if HasTak creates a Combiners Wars Predaking, It will be the better sculpted toys.

After seeing what we're getting with Menasor/Superion and the general Hastak sculpting with hollow legs on Jetfire, I seriously doubt it.

It seems like the guy who did those comparison videos tends to lean more towards favoring Feral Rex than Ares, which is fine, but I don't think his reviews are as objective as he likes to think.

At 16 minutes 34 seconds of the first video he starts covering the features and gimmicks. He admits it's a "very slight, nit-picky thing" that you have to remove Ares' arm cannon in order to activate the light-up feature, but he does class it as a "downside". Yet in the same minute he finishes this nit-pick he claims that Feral Rex's back cannons are "easier to manage" than Ares' because you have to remove Talon's wings in order to get to them. But it's OK, because the wings "just pop back on". While on Ares, he says "you kinda have to... sorta mess with the wings a bit... just to get them out the way." It's little things like that, the tone of the voice or the words that are used, that can give away a person's true insight.

If he's got a favorite, that's cool, but he shouldn't try to justify it by setting standards which change depending on which figure he's referring to.

Honestly, looking at the combined modes they both look about on par with each other. Feral Rex does have that pretty neat GaoGaiGaresque super-robot look, but I can't help but feel it doesn't entirely work. My main points of contention would be the kinda oversized lower legs (which I think MMC aren't too satisfied with) the slightly too small body, and the upper-arm-to-forearm ratio, which just looks a bit off. That said he still looks great, and his sword is without a doubt my favourite of the 2.

Ares looks a little more proportional and I do prefer the more detailed look. He does have problems though- the sword could be better (I wonder if you could give him Feral Rex's sword?) and the red barrels of the shoulder cannons are a tad distracting (although I reckon that painting them a different colour- gunmetal maybe- would make them look a lot better). The actual shape of the cannons is fine, it's just the red is a bit in your face.

Of course TFC are bound to release an "Honour of Ares" set, which will probably come with a better sword and different cannons, so there is that. If I can learn to use 3D modelling software (can Blender be used for ShapeWays? How do I determine the final size of the model? Where is the best place to learn to use Blender?) I might make him a better sword. I'm thinking something along the lines of Guts's greatsworx from Berserk would suit him well. Only problem is how to make it split into separate weapons...

Tsutsukakushi wrote:Honestly don't like any of the 3rd party Predakings.

Pretty confident that if HasTak creates a Combiners Wars Predaking, It will be the better sculpted toys.

Well ... it'll be cheaper. So there's that.

I'm kind of surprised they're all around the same height.

mooncake623 wrote:

I don't think Feral Rex is properly transformed in the legs. Aren't the arms of Bovis and Fortis supposed to be spun around to the back? Also, isn't the traditional assembly like UT and TFC's here? Why switch Feral Rex? But, really, if only one of the three had come out, I probably would have been happy with it. I even liked UT's for what it is.

mooncake623 wrote:I'm kind of surprised they're all around the same height.

They are pretty close, aren't they? UT's is half a head shorter, it looks like, and I think Feral Rex could have some more thigh extension to be a bit taller.

Ultimately, I think there is enough value to each of them to make purchasers happy.

Agamemnon wrote:

mooncake623 wrote:

I don't think Feral Rex is properly transformed in the legs. Aren't the arms of Bovis and Fortis supposed to be spun around to the back? Also, isn't the traditional assembly like UT and TFC's here? Why switch Feral Rex? But, really, if only one of the three had come out, I probably would have been happy with it. I even liked UT's for what it is.

mooncake623 wrote:I'm kind of surprised they're all around the same height.

They are pretty close, aren't they? UT's is half a head shorter, it looks like, and I think Feral Rex could have some more thigh extension to be a bit taller.

Ultimately, I think there is enough value to each of them to make purchasers happy.

Hmm.. didn't even notice the legs on Feral Rex is transformed wrong. Lol I just found the picture on Facebook it's not mine lol =X

UT's can be had for $250 now! That's a pretty great deal I think.

To be honest, after getting the complete War Lord I feel $250 (dividing it out to $50 per figure) may be just a tad too much. He looks great all together, but I can't say the component parts are much to write home about. I'm usually pretty lenient towards my purchases, but I was pretty disappointed.

IMO, that money's better spent towards either Ares or Feral Rex.

thanks! im one of the few in TFC's predaking camp, and i havent actually gotten any of them since nemean. ill be watching