Seibertron.com Energon Pub Forums

Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.


Top 5 Transformers Toys whose Hasbro version was better than Takara's

With the new trend for Takara and Hasbro to release the very same toys, I am looking back on the times in the past when the toys were quite different from one another. The reason the unified designs have alarmed several fans is because Takara has been known to have better paint applications and offer a better looking toy. Well, to show that it is not always the case and that Hasbro can definitely deliver on some good looking toys, I have written this list showing five instances where the Hasbro version was the one to get. Come back in two weeks for a list looking at the flip side!

5. Transformers Generations Wheeljack vs United Wheeljack

This is everyone's go to whipping boy and he certainly deserves to be here. For some reason, Takara decided from the mid 2000s to 2010 that their decos would be shinier than Hasbro's. While that worked wonders on some (I LOVE the use of chrome on the seekers for instance), it kind of played against them when fans wanted show accurate colours (like the Animated line). Their version of Generations Wheeljack is that backfire. Sure, more paint apps and a nice shine is great but it should compliment the mold and not take anything away. By going all sparkly the show accurate green became a more of the shiny pine green you would expect to see on toothpaste or breath mint packages. The toy is still fine but it just doesn't look like the Wheeljack we know anymore. You would expect Takara to be the more screen accurate deco and for such a beloved original character, it just doesn't resemble him as we'd expect, definitely not compared to Hasbro's version.




4. Transformers Generations Skrapnel
and Bombshell vs Transformers Adventures Shrapnel and Bombshell

This one is easy to explain. Yes, from a glance Takara might seem better due to more paint apps, especially on Shrapnel's antennas and Bombshell's legs. But then you look at the torso and notice a giant white sticker on there. It's for a mobile app in Japan. Hasbro did this as well on some toys, but only the ones related to the Robots in Disguise show/app, not toys that are supposed to be updates of toys of old like the insecticons. Sure, you could take that sticker off, but then you see the horror: to have the sticker applied, Takara had to remold the chest to give a circular indentation to hold the sticker. So yes, either you keep that sticker there or you are reminded that it is supposed to be there, every time you look at them.








3. Transformers Prime: Robots In Disguise Wheeljack vs Arms Micron Wheeljack

You know, if Takara had not given us the beauty that is Masterpiece Wheeljack, I would have thought they had it in for this guy. How else would you explain how they keep messing up this character's releases. First it was a sparkly minty fresh deco that didn't reference anything and strayed from show accuracy, and now its no paint at all. That's right, the company who we pair with the hope of better paint apps had a whole line where their toys had way less paint apps than Hasbro. Waaaaay less. It's not to say there was no colour. Instead of paint, the toys came with stickers, like old times (yay?). That means that the toys looked as good as your dexterity permitted. The stickers themselves didn't work as well as the paint apps anyway because it was very obvious what was paint and what was a sticker and the stickers had a metallic finish that clashed with the remaining paint apps and the coloured plastic. They looked far more like little kid toys that way. But that was the whole line, so why does Wheeljack get the blunt of it again? Well, the Takara's counterpart came with a little model kit that you would detach from sprues and connect to make a little transformer targetmaster companion. That too needed stickers (and they were very very small). And for vehicle mode interaction, they remolded Wheeljack's vehicle mode to have a bunch of protruding 5 mm holes across what would have been sexy smoother areas. So it looked like your wheeljack had been shot up a bunch.

Who are you and what did you do to Takara?



And let's say you don't want to put the stickers, well...





Here is the Hasbro version with no stickers needed








2. Transformers Voyager Animated Bulkhead vs Takara Animated Ironhide (Bulkhead)

While more paint apps are usually appreciated, it has to make some sense. Takara's voyager Bulkhead (who they call Ironhide) is covered in paint but looks NOTHING like he does in the show. Takara's fuller and shiny paint jobs were hit and miss on this line (Armorhide looks great, for instance) but none had it as bad as Bulkhead/Ironhide. He looks like an egyptian scarab.






1. Hasbro Transformers Masterpiece Starscream Gallery vs Takara Transformers Masterpiece MP-03 Starscream

This is such an easy number 1 pick and I doubt anyone would argue. Let me paint a picture of the situation all those years ago. Fans had finally gotten a Masterpiece Optimus Prime, who was incredible for the time. He was the most show accurate transformable Optimus back then and really looked like he just jumped off the screen. Then you had Ultra Magnus who was just a white prime repaint. He didn't hurt anybody since it was just a redeco of an incredible mold and it did reference a big part of the toy lore, where the Ultra Magnus toy is at the core a white Prime inside an armoured body. And then you had the second original Masterpiece mold and it was to be used for Starscream, one of the most iconic characters of the brand ever. And it looked like this:



Really, that is what Starscream looks like? What show did you watch?! I can give merit to wanting to make the most accurate jet made mode ever, where at least you could call the alt mode a masterpeice, but the colour scheme references nothing. It sure doesn't even resemble the actual colour of the jet it's based on (which ironically, is more in line with the grey traditionally seen on Starscream). So what is this?! Anyways, I will make it short. The mold was released by Hasbro, who gave it deco far closer to his look in the cartoon and the figure sold like hotcakes at Walmart (who had him exclusively). He sold so well that Walmart stocked up big time on the following seeker redeco (only to eventually sell it at a deep discount since they didn't realize that Starscream is a far more popular character).






Honourable mentons: MP Soundwave and MP 10 Optimus Prime

These are very subjective and not as obvious as the other above, and would never make this list, but still important to mention for you to see that Hasbro does have some solid offerings sometimes, even for the Masterpiece line. For Soundwave, what was really great about the Hasbro version wasn't the deco (he didn't have the show accurate eyes) but instead the fact that he came with all his cassettes (issued at the time) and they weren't sold separately, which was the case with Takara. It was a phenomenal deal when it came out. As for Optimus, while I prefer how Takara paints the inside of the trailer, I much prefer his sky blue eyes and the red on the chest of the Hasbro version. It was Hasbro who was more cartoon accurate, but then again, the Hasbro Roller was blue and not grey so it's a mishmash really and a toss up as to which version is preferred by people.

Did that shiny Animated Bulkhead I gave you all those years ago inspired you to make that list?

Also, dat Arms Miron Wheeljack... This is a canvas ripe for some customisations and/or original painting!

Finally, I want that Takara MP "Greenscream"... But it's so, so expensive. The price it go for nowadays is a big fat "nope".

Love the category. I'm suffering from jellybrain though and can't come up with much besides some more recent examples:

shajaki wrote:Love the category. I'm suffering from jellybrain though and can't come up with much besides some more recent examples:

*Pics*

Uh I thought this was the "Hasbro Version's that were Better than Takara's" thread.

Nice Thread WJ ...I think with news of Takara's LG Seaspray he is a worthy mention. I think as far as the Insecticons go Kickback was the only exception. Takara's got it nailed with Shrapnel and Bombshell. That lame gimmick sticker got peeled N trashed and now they both got respectable symbols!

Deadput wrote:

shajaki wrote:Love the category. I'm suffering from jellybrain though and can't come up with much besides some more recent examples:

*Pics*

Uh I thought this was the "Hasbro Version's that were Better than Takara's" thread.

"Jellybrain" indeed.

Still, the Takara copter is boring as hell while the Hasbro one Is definitely more interesting. The cups are no better from one or another. Just different. As for Blitzwing, I have no clue which is which. Still, with CW and TR, went for TOY accuracy while went for SHOW accuracy. So, there is not any "better" here. It just boil down to personal preferences.

Best example is with CW Computron. They are so different from each others that many double dipped to make their own "perfect" version.

how about an honorable mention for literally every purple guy ever. seriously, takara is obsessed with making them all that awful light- purple color instead of a deep, rich color.

megamanfan wrote:how about an honorable mention for literally every purple guy ever. seriously, takara is obsessed with making them all that awful light- purple color instead of a deep, rich color.

I'm a fan of both purple's, so I'm happy with whichever one I get.

kurthy wrote:

megamanfan wrote:how about an honorable mention for literally every purple guy ever. seriously, takara is obsessed with making them all that awful light- purple color instead of a deep, rich color.

I'm a fan of both purple's, so I'm happy with whichever one I get.

I've always thought Hasbro uses too dark a purple & that lavender color Takara uses is a bit too light. Unfortunately, there was no third alternative to get Goldilocks' porridge just right with a shade somewhere in between.

I'd throw in TR Hot Rod vs. Legends Hot Rod. The chest just doesn't work. The clear plastic is very fragile and none of it sits right or looks right. Plus it doesn't help the vehicle mode at all.

I'm surprised the stunticons didn't make the list after the distinct lack of paint everywhere to the point they looked awful.

Hasbro TR trypticon because it’s not $80 more like the legends one

If I had to throw my two cents in I’d say TR brainstorm or even the SDCC version. Cartoon accuracy or not that legends one just doesn’t jive with the mold.


And MP Soundwave. I know people like those red eyes but I certainly dont

kurthy wrote:I'd throw in TR Hot Rod vs. Legends Hot Rod. The chest just doesn't work. The clear plastic is very fragile and none of it sits right or looks right. Plus it doesn't help the vehicle mode at all.

I'm surprised the stunticons didn't make the list after the distinct lack of paint everywhere to the point they looked awful.

I would have agreed with Hot Rod until I got him and the issues just disappeared. The chest isn’t bad in person at all.

kurthy wrote:I'd throw in TR Hot Rod vs. Legends Hot Rod. The chest just doesn't work. The clear plastic is very fragile and none of it sits right or looks right. Plus it doesn't help the vehicle mode at all.

I'm surprised the stunticons didn't make the list after the distinct lack of paint everywhere to the point they looked awful.

The Hot Rods are quite different and each offer something to fans. Takara also comes with a targetmaster, which is important to some. I didnt feel one was outright superior.

As for the stunticons, there is the fact that the combined menasor comes with all the G1 members in a box set from Takara while the Hasbro version had that non G1 member at retail (with an online exclusive breakneck later). I do preffer some stunticons from Hasbro but Takara's motormaster is much nicer looking. In the end, it was a toss up and not something super obvious, unlike the others on the list.

Its just a different paint layout:










Also, remember that grey plastic on dead end which sticks out like a sore thumb on the Hasbro version?



Well Takara fixed that.



Takara's combined Menasor looks perfectly fine (and you got all the right members at once)





Also, Shajaki, I am not sure what you mean. Are you saying the Hasbro Kup is better than Takara's? Thats one of the only 3 Takara counterparts I bought (along with Black Convoy and Blurr) in that line. I do preffer Hasbro's Vortex for how awesome that toy homage is, but Taraka has the extra blades so its a toss up too.

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Deadput wrote:

shajaki wrote:Love the category. I'm suffering from jellybrain though and can't come up with much besides some more recent examples:

*Pics*

Uh I thought this was the "Hasbro Version's that were Better than Takara's" thread.

"Jellybrain" indeed.

Not at all.

Hasbro Vortex is more colorful, and UW's 4 bladed rotor gets in the way.
Blitzwing, Takara and their purples
And Takara's Kup suffers lots from the remolds, making the truck mode gappy. Hotrod is pretty much the same.

shajaki wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:

Deadput wrote:

shajaki wrote:Love the category. I'm suffering from jellybrain though and can't come up with much besides some more recent examples:

*Pics*

Uh I thought this was the "Hasbro Version's that were Better than Takara's" thread.

"Jellybrain" indeed.

Not at all.

Hasbro Vortex is more colorful, and UW's 4 bladed rotor gets in the way.
Blitzwing, Takara and their purples
And Takara's Kup suffers lots from the remolds, making the truck mode gappy. Hotrod is pretty much the same.

Not really. Kup was made into kup and then Orion. The issue wasn’t mold degradation, it was more figure by figure basis. I own both versions of kup they’re both perfectly fine. The issue(that some had) was the outer pieces of his alt mode are flipped with people breaking the toy apart and literally sawing pieces off. Something that doesn’t actually hinder the figure at all but some feel it does while others found this out and just wanted him to look like he was suppose to even though they never noticed it till it was pointed out.

Hasbro's CW Dragstrip was definitely better than Takara's in my opinion. And I understand that Takara was going for show accuracy.

Randomhero wrote:Not really. Kup was made into kup and then Orion. The issue wasn’t mold degradation, it was more figure by figure basis. I own both versions of kup they’re both perfectly fine. The issue(that some had) was the outer pieces of his alt mode are flipped with people breaking the toy apart and literally sawing pieces off. Something that doesn’t actually hinder the figure at all but some feel it does while others found this out and just wanted him to look like he was suppose to even though they never noticed it till it was pointed out.

I actually have no idea what you're talking about. Takara Kup has rounded shoulders and forearms, and when transformed into truck mode, leaves gaps whereas Hasbro's Kup does not. His shoulders and forearms are blocky for a reason.

shajaki wrote:

Randomhero wrote:Not really. Kup was made into kup and then Orion. The issue wasn’t mold degradation, it was more figure by figure basis. I own both versions of kup they’re both perfectly fine. The issue(that some had) was the outer pieces of his alt mode are flipped with people breaking the toy apart and literally sawing pieces off. Something that doesn’t actually hinder the figure at all but some feel it does while others found this out and just wanted him to look like he was suppose to even though they never noticed it till it was pointed out.

I actually have no idea what you're talking about. Takara Kup has rounded shoulders and forearms, and when transformed into truck mode, leaves gaps whereas Hasbro's Kup does not. His shoulders and forearms are blocky for a reason.

I 100% agree with the truck mode being worse than Hasbro's due to the remolding. But dont you find it ends up looking better in robot mode? What about the deco and headsculpt, which one do you find best between the two?

This is a great list! It's so true that when Hasbro and Takara do different takes on toys, Takara does usually hit it out of the park.

One other inclusion to this list could be United vs. Generations Scourge.



Though TT's is shinier, it's wholly unnecessary, and I personally find the consistent blue to be more appealing. I've had both versions, and kept my Hasbro version. Of course, I've also kept my transparent Spawn of Unicron 3-set, too, but that's a whole different boxx of scraplets.

CHUG THrust could also go on this list. I LOVE the subtle color differences of Hasbro's Thrust compared to the TT version.

shajaki wrote:

Randomhero wrote:Not really. Kup was made into kup and then Orion. The issue wasn’t mold degradation, it was more figure by figure basis. I own both versions of kup they’re both perfectly fine. The issue(that some had) was the outer pieces of his alt mode are flipped with people breaking the toy apart and literally sawing pieces off. Something that doesn’t actually hinder the figure at all but some feel it does while others found this out and just wanted him to look like he was suppose to even though they never noticed it till it was pointed out.

I actually have no idea what you're talking about. Takara Kup has rounded shoulders and forearms, and when transformed into truck mode, leaves gaps whereas Hasbro's Kup does not. His shoulders and forearms are blocky for a reason.

I know I have both. What I’m talking about is months after kup was out someone online noticed that the planets on the side of his truck mode that cover the rear wheelwere reversed and it caused a bunch of complaining and expecting takara to fix it. They didn’t and people started breaking and cutting up their toys and claiming it was their OCD when in reality it was a bunch of adults complaining over nothing.

Optimutt wrote:This is a great list! It's so true that when Hasbro and Takara do different takes on toys, Takara does usually hit it out of the park.

One other inclusion to this list could be United vs. Generations Scourge.



Though TT's is shinier, it's wholly unnecessary, and I personally find the consistent blue to be more appealing. I've had both versions, and kept my Hasbro version. Of course, I've also kept my transparent Spawn of Unicron 3-set, too, but that's a whole different boxx of scraplets.

CHUG THrust could also go on this list. I LOVE the subtle color differences of Hasbro's Thrust compared to the TT version.

When it comes to the Seekers the United versions are probably the best of them all

william-james88 wrote:Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.


Top 5 Transformers Toys whose Hasbro version was better than Takara's

With the new trend for Takara and Hasbro to release the very same toys, I am looking back on the times in the past when the toys were quite different from one another. The reason the unified designs have alarmed several fans is because Takara has been known to have better paint applications and offer a better looking toy. Well, to show that it is not always the case and that Hasbro can definitely deliver on some good looking toys, I have written this list showing five instances where the Hasbro version was the one to get. Come back in two weeks for a list looking at the flip side!

5. Transformers Generations Wheeljack vs United Wheeljack

This is everyone's go to whipping boy and he certainly deserves to be here. For some reason, Takara decided from the mid 2000s to 2010 that their decos would be shinier than Hasbro's. While that worked wonders on some (I LOVE the use of chrome on the seekers for instance), it kind of played against them when fans wanted show accurate colours (like the Animated line). Their version of Generations Wheeljack is that backfire. Sure, more paint apps and a nice shine is great but it should compliment the mold and not take anything away. By going all sparkly the show accurate green became a more of the shiny pine green you would expect to see on toothpaste or breath mint packages. The toy is still fine but it just doesn't look like the Wheeljack we know anymore. You would expect Takara to be the more screen accurate deco and for such a beloved original character, it just doesn't resemble him as we'd expect, definitely not compared to Hasbro's version.




4. Transformers Generations Skrapnel
and Bombshell vs Transformers Adventures Shrapnel and Bombshell

This one is easy to explain. Yes, from a glance Takara might seem better due to more paint apps, especially on Shrapnel's antennas and Bombshell's legs. But then you look at the torso and notice a giant white sticker on there. It's for a mobile app in Japan. Hasbro did this as well on some toys, but only the ones related to the Robots in Disguise show/app, not toys that are supposed to be updates of toys of old like the insecticons. Sure, you could take that sticker off, but then you see the horror: to have the sticker applied, Takara had to remold the chest to give a circular indentation to hold the sticker. So yes, either you keep that sticker there or you are reminded that it is supposed to be there, every time you look at them.








3. Transformers Prime: Robots In Disguise Wheeljack vs Arms Micron Wheeljack

You know, if Takara had not given us the beauty that is Masterpiece Wheeljack, I would have thought they had it in for this guy. How else would you explain how they keep messing up this character's releases. First it was a sparkly minty fresh deco that didn't reference anything and strayed from show accuracy, and now its no paint at all. That's right, the company who we pair with the hope of better paint apps had a whole line where their toys had way less paint apps than Hasbro. Waaaaay less. It's not to say there was no colour. Instead of paint, the toys came with stickers, like old times (yay?). That means that the toys looked as good as your dexterity permitted. The stickers themselves didn't work as well as the paint apps anyway because it was very obvious what was paint and what was a sticker and the stickers had a metallic finish that clashed with the remaining paint apps and the coloured plastic. They looked far more like little kid toys that way. But that was the whole line, so why does Wheeljack get the blunt of it again? Well, the Takara's counterpart came with a little model kit that you would detach from sprues and connect to make a little transformer targetmaster companion. That too needed stickers (and they were very very small). And for vehicle mode interaction, they remolded Wheeljack's vehicle mode to have a bunch of protruding 5 mm holes across what would have been sexy smoother areas. So it looked like your wheeljack had been shot up a bunch.

Who are you and what did you do to Takara?



And let's say you don't want to put the stickers, well...





Here is the Hasbro version with no stickers needed








2. Transformers Voyager Animated Bulkhead vs Takara Animated Ironhide (Bulkhead)

While more paint apps are usually appreciated, it has to make some sense. Takara's voyager Bulkhead (who they call Ironhide) is covered in paint but looks NOTHING like he does in the show. Takara's fuller and shiny paint jobs were hit and miss on this line (Armorhide looks great, for instance) but none had it as bad as Bulkhead/Ironhide. He looks like an egyptian scarab.






1. Hasbro Transformers Masterpiece Starscream Gallery vs Takara Transformers Masterpiece MP-03 Starscream

This is such an easy number 1 pick and I doubt anyone would argue. Let me paint a picture of the situation all those years ago. Fans had finally gotten a Masterpiece Optimus Prime, who was incredible for the time. He was the most show accurate transformable Optimus back then and really looked like he just jumped off the screen. Then you had Ultra Magnus who was just a white prime repaint. He didn't hurt anybody since it was just a redeco of an incredible mold and it did reference a big part of the toy lore, where the Ultra Magnus toy is at the core a white Prime inside an armoured body. And then you had the second original Masterpiece mold and it was to be used for Starscream, one of the most iconic characters of the brand ever. And it looked like this:



Really, that is what Starscream looks like? What show did you watch?! I can give merit to wanting to make the most accurate jet made mode ever, where at least you could call the alt mode a masterpeice, but the colour scheme references nothing. It sure doesn't even resemble the actual colour of the jet it's based on (which ironically, is more in line with the grey traditionally seen on Starscream). So what is this?! Anyways, I will make it short. The mold was released by Hasbro, who gave it deco far closer to his look in the cartoon and the figure sold like hotcakes at Walmart (who had him exclusively). He sold so well that Walmart stocked up big time on the following seeker redeco (only to eventually sell it at a deep discount since they didn't realize that Starscream is a far more popular character).






Honourable mentons: MP Soundwave and MP 10 Optimus Prime

These are very subjective and not as obvious as the other above, and would never make this list, but still important to mention for you to see that Hasbro does have some solid offerings sometimes, even for the Masterpiece line. For Soundwave, what was really great about the Hasbro version wasn't the deco (he didn't have the show accurate eyes) but instead the fact that he came with all his cassettes (issued at the time) and they weren't sold separately, which was the case with Takara. It was a phenomenal deal when it came out. As for Optimus, while I prefer how Takara paints the inside of the trailer, I much prefer his sky blue eyes and the red on the chest of the Hasbro version. It was Hasbro who was more cartoon accurate, but then again, the Hasbro Roller was blue and not grey so it's a mishmash really and a toss up as to which version is preferred by people.

You forgot Powerglide. Agree that the remold for the decal is kind off an eyesore but the payback is a different plastic hue. The gray don't look dirty and the (color insert) look nicer. So a give and take. Also the Insectrons aside from the decals are anime accurate (except for not having weapons)

Also, during Energon, fatimus Prime had that ugly mouth but had those awesome SFXfeature. The JP version had a show accurate scheme but no SFX . Same with Landmine. It's always a mix bag but as the JP thrust is on aesthetics..............

and now that takara isnt doing the different stuff anymore and releasing the same product in the same line(POTP) as hasbro
i see a benefit in giving us more options to buy the same product but the drawback is no more special molds(Blastoff) or different articulation like with some figures (UW Devastator)
hopefully i'm wrong though

bvzxa wrote:
When it comes to the Seekers the United versions are probably the best of them all

I agree. Though I dont think there are any bad seekers out there. I love my Henkei Henkei Thrust.

I was gonna riot if Greenscream wasn't #1. Riot averted!