Top 5 Best Transformers Line Wide Gimmicks
The Generations line brought the idea of line wide gimmicks to the spotlight like never before as of late. So I thought of looking back at the brand to see what the best examples of a line wide gimmick were.
5. Cyberkey gimmick in Cybertron
There was something truly majestic about the look of those Cybertron keys. And for the most part, they were very well implemented. The fact that a top 10 list of the best Cybertron toys left out some personaly favourites of mine is proof enough that this might be the best toyline to share a line wide gimmick. In terms of non intrusive gimmicks, this is way up there, but the reason why this doesn't score as number 1 is because the gimmick itself doesn't make the toy all that better. Granted, it's because these toys are already incredible as they are but there is no extra elevation brought about by some swords popping out.
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/32/r_darkcrumplezone022.jpg)
Transformers Cybertron Dark Crumplezone (Arm Bullet) Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/32/r_darkcrumplezone037.jpg)
Transformers Cybertron Dark Crumplezone (Arm Bullet) Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/32/r_scattorshot030.jpg)
Transformers Cybertron Cybertron Defense Scattorshot (Backgild) Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/32/r_scattorshot035.jpg)
Transformers Cybertron Cybertron Defense Scattorshot (Backgild) Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/32/r_downshift029.jpg)
Transformers Cybertron Downshift Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/32/r_downshift046.jpg)
Transformers Cybertron Downshift Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/32/r_scourge077.jpg)
Transformers Cybertron Scourge (Flame Convoy) Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/32/r_scourge121.jpg)
Transformers Cybertron Scourge (Flame Convoy) Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/32/r_scourge123.jpg)
Transformers Cybertron Scourge (Flame Convoy) Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/32/r_gfstarscream104.jpg)
Transformers Cybertron Starscream Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/32/r_sideways101.jpg)
Transformers Cybertron Sideways (Noise Maze) Gallery
4. COMBAT System in Siege
While turning 5 mm ports into a weapon gimmick were a thing since the Energon days, Siege took it to a whole new level while having the customizable weapons be parts of characters released at retail. And thanks to the detail in these toys, the 5mm ports seemed much less out of place than when takara attempted this in their arms micron line. Plus what you can do with these weaponizers is really on another level than what Energon let you do with their weapons. You can make a trailer for Optimus out of Cogs!
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/263/r_cog-157.jpg)
Transformers War for Cybertron: SIEGE Cog Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/263/r_cog-136.jpg)
Transformers War for Cybertron: SIEGE Cog Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/263/r_cog-128.jpg)
Transformers War for Cybertron: SIEGE Cog Gallery
3. Minicons in Armada
So, while some of the most poorly designed toys of all time come from this line, I am not going to let some rotten apples spoil the juicy barrel that was minicons. This was the true beginning of line wide gimmicks and ecosystems. G1 had loads of gimmicks at every corner after the first few years but it was always just a few toys and nothing uniform. Armada made Minicons a thing for everyone. Even Megatron's sneak knife attack relies on a Minicon at this side. There was a nice symbiosis between larger transformers and smaller ones. Also, regarding Minicons themselves, while they were small they were very diverse. Both in style, transformations and what they could do. Some had their own gimmicks, like rotating saws, some could combine and some could become targetmasters or headmasters. All while also serving as the same key to unlock special features on larger toys.
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/12/r_demolishor009.jpg)
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/12/r_demolishor014.jpg)
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/12/r_demolishor015.jpg)
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/12/r_blackout020.jpg)
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/12/r_demolishor016.jpg)
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/12/r_megatron048.jpg)
Transformers Armada Megatron Gallery
![Image](http://www.bwtf.com/toyreview-images/armada/unicron/pm5.jpg)
2. Combiners in Combiner Wars
An obvious pick, but no less great. Combiner Wars brought combiners back in a big way. Having all deluxes and voyagers be combiner compatible meant you could do all sorts of mix and matches, more than was even possible in their G1 hay day. Plus, the engineering definitely evolved in 30 years, adding nice articulation to combiners. The fact that their heads were no longer combining ports meant you could have greater diversity in the look of the bots. My personal favourites were the more outlandish and random outputs like Grand Galvatron from Takara. Combining was already one of the most fun concepts from the brand (asdie from transforming of course) so it was great to see the designers have fun with it too.
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/222/r_ultra-prime-012.jpg)
Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Ultra Prime Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/222/r_computron-computron-041.jpg)
Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Computron Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/222/r_g2-superion-068.jpg)
Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Superion Gallery
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/222/r_galvatronus-039.jpg)
Transformers Generations Combiner Wars Galvatronus Gallery
1. Titan Masters in Titans Return
I personally have 0 issues with making everyone a headmaster if that doesn't hurt the overall toy and aesthetic. And for the most part, that was the case. Making everyone a headmaster meant you had extra playability since now every bot gave you an extra small bot to use for your base, or in the vehicle's cockpit. Plus, it gave you the option of switching heads, which could be fun and a blessing to customisers. It also helped give us some cool engineering since new possibilities were opened up by not needing to cover or hide the robot head. And we did get some marvelous molds, like Trigerhappy, Blurr and Kup just to name a few.
![Image](https://static.seibertron.com/images/toys/files/233/r_apeface-091.jpg)
Transformers Titans Return Apeface (Spasma) Gallery