The Energon Pub

Seibertron's own Counterpunch has started a series of articles on how we, Transformers fans "have it good".

This series of articles will focus on what was good about certain toy lines of figures, focusing on the positive, rather than the negative.

In his second article, Counterpunch discusses all that was good and right with the Micron Legend/Armada series.

The title alone brings with it a tide of discontent, disappointment, and overall dislike. Arguing for the high points in this line is like playing Devil’s Advocate. Childish, lacking articulation, and gimmick heavy, Armada is the whipping boy of modern Transformers lines. I have to admit, after being taken in by RiD, I was certainly taken back by Armada. Many of my early purchases of this line were actually due to boredom or just to buy something ‘fun’ (I was working a miserable, exhausting job as nighttime security for my University…). Needless to say, my first take on the toys, like many people who see them today for the first time, was not necessarily positive.

Interestingly enough, the line started to sell really well. Not only that, but there was a lot of hype and excitement around the series, much like Animated is causing today. There were people who were unhappy with this new series, but for the most part, those folks were able to get by on the new and exciting reissue G1 toys that were appearing from Takara. Hard to believe in a way, but Armada got less popular with collectors as time went by, where as most series toys seem to see a slow but steady gain in popularity.

Why take another look at this series? Do we really dislike these toys to the degree that popular opinion would suggest? I don’t think so... We all know the bad, I’m going to review some things which might just change your mind, well, that or have to justify to your girlfriend and/or wife why you are spending $40 on a Mini-con.

To read the rest of Counterpunch's article, please click here.
Please feel free to add your comments and thoughts on the topic in Counterpunch's original thread. Please remember that we are trying to keep these discussions positive, in relation to the articles.

I hate Armada

mini cons are the worst idea ever

I wished the had gone the headmaster/targetmaster route instead

Some Mini-cons turned into guns. A couple turned into heads, too. They were also viable transforming toys in their own right, and generally completely interchangeable. If little Timmy lost his Jolt, he could stick on one of the 3-pack chaps as a replacement. The only place that got replacement heads for Headmasters was Japan, and going by their prices now I don't think they sold many.

Armada had some highs and lows for me. Yes, Hot Shot was terrible and Smokescreen wasn't much better, but guys like Tidal Wave and Megatron with details galore and action features up the arse made it all worthwhile. Actually, it was guys like Megatron that made me feel larger figures like Prime and Unicron were really uninspired. They were just big chunks of stuff.

-Nick

Armada

Well, with all this negativity around Armada, may I say that I've still have all but Smokescreen (his remold) and Sideswipe. Which I actually had but sold almost all of armada, then a year rebought the stuff again .

I've sold 50% of my RID because I was bored with the predacons and the 3 car brothers.

I really like armada, for it's simple transformations, there are some minicons that are good, the navy team, or those guys with big guns.
I'm practically the only one who likes Armada Hotshot, he has something funny. + I really like the ps2 game and he's in it, so I'll never sell him.

I do find a lot of dislikes. Starscream should have full shoulder movement, Skywarp should've had a Starscream or Thundercracker face.
Unicron lacks weapons etc. etc. But Overload, Jetfire (Zanzibar :p) and Tidalwave are very cool. Bendy Prime should've have a Voyager sized version, the big one really sucks.

For the record, I like G1 reissués (not vintage), I like the whole Unicron Trilogy (Superlink Megatron ) I really like Classics, I'm going to like Animated. I don't like Binaltech/Alternators and Masterpieces.

enough spam,

Actually, I like Armada. I have mostly micron legend stuff, with the exception of Jetfire and OFTCC MegaZarak.

I still collect some of the minicons, they are as close to targetmasters as you can get.

RID was a sham. With a few new toys, the rest of them were recyled beast war toys, and machine wars.

Never was a great line, and was exepnsive when TF2000 came out.

i love armarda hot shot, i have the powerlinx version and its great