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SpaceEagle wrote:That's a lot more kibble on Wild Rider than I expected, but he does look veeeeerrrrey damn good otherwise. Probably kibble that you can fiddle with to look nicer. Still definitely getting both of these figures.

william-james88 wrote:Having looked at Wild Rider some more, I am not as enthusiastic as before. While what they are doing with Blitzwing goes with their Mini MP mentality they've been touting, they do some really odd choices with the stunticons. Dragstrip had those odd shoulder pylons and now Wild Rider loses the shoulder wheels which are present on the G1 toy and animation model. Since there is very little compromising this figure in theory for him to combine, I have no clue why Hasbro didn't just do a transformation that would have the wheels end up in the proper position. Plus, it would help lessen the back kibble (which aside from the wheels, is accurate to either the toy or the cartoon).
Plus, I hate clear plastic hinges, and that's what Wild Rider has for the car front connecting to the robot.

Yeah, like, I was pretty hyped - Drag Strip was pretty damn clean all things considered, the shoulder pylons didn't bug me in pics and I'm def forgetting they even exist on the figure in-hand. Honestly it even reminds me of Quick Man from the Mega Man series a bit which I find rather fitting.
But...if the 'bots aren't gonna be that integrated into Menasor, I expected a REALLY clean Wild Rider, so this genuinely perplexed me a little. I still think it looks GOOD and the sculpt overall is nicer than the CW version imo, but I'm still hoping that kibble can be fiddled with better. Although....maybe this also sorta maybe not really means that Menasor will have options to make the bots more properly integrated or slapped on to please both sides? Does make me even more curious to see Menasor now...and Motormaster's bot mode too...

william-james88 wrote:

palmcd wrote:"Mini Masterpiece" or not that plane mode is unforgivable and the tank mode. though "screen accurate", is ugly as sin.

Yeah, but that just means the eventual MP from Takara will also be ugly as sin in tank mode.

I'm not so sure. We've seen them do extra parts so we could get both toy accuracy and cartoon accuracy in one figure like with Inferno and Grapple, but we've also seen alternate transformations built into figures like with Sunstreaker. I could see them either using an optional part to make it more realistic or work the cockpit into an optional transformation. Of course there's always option C where only the bot mode is cartoon accurate and the alt modes are realistic like they did with Swerve.

Incidentally TFSource and Sixo did an interesting rundown of Twitter reactions to Blitzwing. Spoiler - It's about as divisive as it is here.

Emerje

sol magnus wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:I mean, it's 2022. How is it that after all these years, I still have to explain the difference between "G1" and "Geewun"?

Because the goalposts get moved a lot, brother.

Indeed. That's why I personally find the term distastefull. But I get how prevalent things are so people use it I'll always refer to the original Transformers as just that, or "OG", original series etc...

I agree there are more level heads here, and am thankful. But some fans ( on social media especially) apply the negative connotation to anyone who even applies any slight praise to anything having to do with the original series.

o.supreme wrote:

sol magnus wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:I mean, it's 2022. How is it that after all these years, I still have to explain the difference between "G1" and "Geewun"?

Because the goalposts get moved a lot, brother.

Indeed. That's why I personally find the term distastefull. But I get how prevalent things are so people use it I'll always refer to the original Transformers as just that, or "OG", original series etc...

I agree there are more level heads here, and am thankful. But some fans ( on social media especially) apply the negative connotation to anyone who even applies any slight praise to anything having to do with the original series.

Yeah, it's supposed to refer to the annoying subset of the fandom that cries foul about anything non-G1 in the brand and/or blindly praises anything that uses G1 designs regardless of how good it actually is.

We on here know Machinima's Prime Wars Trilogy was very mediocre in terms of writing, voice direction, animation, etc., but it received vast critical acclaim on Facebook and YouTube just because the characters looked like the ones from the 1980s.

The Bumblebee movie's opening scene has also been called "the ONLY good part of the movie" because of its use of G1-based designs, when those were just the icing (delicious icing, but still just icing) rather than the cake that was the rest of the movie's main story.

And when Kingdom's first wave was first unveiled, among the usual visitors to various fansites were a sudden bunch of lesser-knowns popping to deride the return of Beast Wars characters in typical "Trukk not Munky" fashion.

Fortunately, these kinds of sentiments seem to die down rather quickly as they come and go, with the majority of forum-dwelling fans such as ourselves appearing to appreciate G1 and other aspects of the brand with much more sensibility and rationality, able to recognize when there are parts of G1 (or any Transformers franchise) that we feel don't measure up as well as they could, or recognize when something does measure up.

First-Aid wrote:

MeGrimlock78 wrote:Can't wait for Wildrider to get retooled as K.I.T.T.!

Normally I'd say this needs to happen, but I want K.I.T.T. to be a voyager class. But I can see it for sure...

I would prefer K.I.T.T. to be a deluxe like Gigawatt.

As I hope they do a K.I.T.T. & K.A.R.R. two pack


on a unrelated side note...
Transformers will always revert to a more G1 aesthetic just like Spider-Man will always revert to a old Blue and Red costume as they're the most iconic versions of the characters.

Sometimes you get a non G1 character usurping their G1 counterpart like Barricade, Knockout & Override but like we saw with Siege/Earthrise Barricade he gained his 'G1' look just like Knockout will with his Legacy toy and likely Override too.

Anything that followed G1 is a short term gimmick that lasts for a few years and they'll always revert to the G1 look and feel, but something always seems to survive from each new interpretation like the aforementioned Barricade, Knockout and heck even Hot Shot from Armada.

Don't believe me read 60s years of Spider-Man and if you're still unconvinced then just look at the reactions for the beginning of the Bumblebee movie compared to the reactions to the transformers from the other movies.

G1/Geeeeeeewuuuuuuun is Transformers.

not starting any arguments, just saying how i see it etc.

First-Aid wrote:

MeGrimlock78 wrote:Can't wait for Wildrider to get retooled as K.I.T.T.!

Normally I'd say this needs to happen, but I want K.I.T.T. to be a voyager class. But I can see it for sure...

Voyager due to complexity and accessories like SS Hotrod?

Regardless, it's sure to be price at one zillion dollars in Canada for reasons. Especially if the thing turn out to be a TrU exclusive.

Sowndwave76 wrote:If we're getting the ER Ironhide mold for SS86, this Blitzwing most definitely could have been in that subline based on the bot mode alone.

Absolutely not. This new Blitzwing barely looks like what we see on screen. The robot mode comes the closest, and the tank mode can pass, but that jet mode is atrocious. The fact that Hasbro actually considers this figure a "mini MP" shows how warped their new design team's view and creation process on the figure was. Not that the ER Ironhide mold should be in SS86 either.

This is my personal opinion, mind you, so don't get all bent out of shape. So far the line has gotten more right than wrong, but they dropped the ball on Blitzwing, especially the jet mode. Focusing just on the robot mode, I think it's still better than both TR and the previous Generations release, so if I find it cheap, I'll probably pick it up for display purposes, but it will barely see tank mode and will never see jet mode. No way is it worth $55.

And if there's a crossover with Knight Rider, why not use the ER Runabout mold? It's already black and the right vehicle model. Just give it a new head and some minor retooling, both for KITT and KARR.

In addition to KITT and KARR, I'd wanna see KARR 2.0 from the 2008 remake series, which could actually transform from a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 KR into a semi-humanoid robot mode. He'd probably need his own new mold, though, much like Maverick and JP93.

Sabrblade wrote:The Bumblebee movie's opening scene has also been called "the ONLY good part of the movie" because of its use of G1-based designs, when those were just the icing (delicious icing, but still just icing) rather than the cake that was the rest of the movie's main story.

I didn't completely agree on everything in this post, but this here is straight fire, you are speaking the truth. Most people's favorite part of the movie had almost no purpose in the movie except for fan service. Even if "Geewunner" as an actual fandom subset is largely a straw man, the blinding G1 nostalgia mindset is absolutely a real thing. (Full disclosure: my fandom tendencies are G1-centric but not exclusive.)

Sabrblade wrote:In addition to KITT and KARR, I'd wanna see KARR 2.0 from the 2008 remake series, which could actually transform from a Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 KR into a semi-humanoid robot mode. He'd probably need his own new mold, though, much like Maverick and JP93.

Might as well do Power Rangers Turbo Team Night Rider while they're at it.

I could see a Deluxe KITT with swappable gimmick parts sold at a crossover Voyager price point.

Emerje

Well, it's as we reported from the beginning, Motormaster will be a cab transforming into a robot with a battle station and both combine to make a frame for the Menasor combiner where the other cars will clip on, to give him that G1 look. We see all that now in this image of the back of the box. It's so G1 that the leg components clip in from behind exposing what's under the car for the leg mode. And we see the head sculpts of Menasor and Motormaster which look proper G1 as well. As people expressed from the beginning, this combiner will not be for everyone but it is going all out for fans who did want that real G1 look. And it is a popular look since 3rd party companies have been giving fans some options. Well now it's Hasbro's turn and you will let us know what you think. One thing's for sure, we at least see exactly where that Commander Price Point comes into play with Motormaster alone becoming a robot the size of a combiner.

These images are from Hasbro's official page on Weibo. We will probably see more of this bad boy later today at the event.

I'm actually impressed, this toy looks awesome. I get that it doesn't fit the standards of a combiner to all, but I don't see it that way. I see it as Hasbro having a clear goal of reproducing the cartoon look in a new toy and acing that mission. And it will be more affordable than any 3p option.

Glorious. Just glorious. I'm as excited for this as I was for Rodimus last year.

I am actually impressed. and hay look, it still has combiner wars ports on it too. looks like on the legs, so maybe you can have some cross play there. defiantly Definitely going to have to get this one

Wait a sec, are those combiner port I see on the legs?

So he'd actually be compatible with the CW system.

william-james88 wrote:Wait a sec, are those combiner port I see on the legs?

So he'd actually be compatible with the CW system.

I immediately noticed that too. Based on where those are actually located in comparison to the torso mode I would say they appear like they could be. But those ports may be a bit smaller too.
I'm definitely intrigued by the possibility

It could be something similar to TT God Bomber. He came with CW ports on his legs, no real reason, but it definitely brought more fun and playability to the toy.

william-james88 wrote:Wait a sec, are those combiner port I see on the legs?

So he'd actually be compatible with the CW system.

I was hoping for that from the start since MM is the weakest part of the old Menasor set. Him I'd be tempted to replace.

Well, having savings was nice for a while, but Legacy Menasor looks shelf worthy....

... I don't mind the way Menasor combines, or even the whole Motormaster just being the cab. However I can't help but feel that the trailer proportions are just... Off for me. it's something Hasbro have a habit of doing, of note Earthrise Prime's trailer.
It's not something that'll bother everyone, but it's just something I'm not keen on.

If it does turn out to be truly CW compatible, then darn ya Hasbro, you got me. I creatively found a way to have 3 Scattershots anyway (I have the single CW release for Modulus, The CW set is "Betatron", and the UW version is the true Computron)

So I could have the Legacy Stunticons be the Autobots in Disguise

A point of persuasion for me is the solid looking hip/pelvis setup for the gestalt. It seems to be an actual oversized pelvis, not just two flimsy hinges covered with a little flap, cut in the shape of a pair of "underoos". This one looks like it's built to put into poses, and HOLD those poses. Which puts it far ahead of most of the CW gestalts.


Seriously, since G1, haven't we all been kind of embarrassed by the Menasor figures? G1 Menasor was tiny, and a study of cartoon IN-accuracy. And CW Menasor - see above, and still cartoon inaccurate. With Legacy, it looks like we may finally be getting a Menasor that won't stink up the joint.

They're just knocking it out of the park with the Stunticons. They were usually my second least favorite combiner team, but now I want them. I also don't mind the way they combine at all. I see it as a very smart way to manage combiner kibble.

The only thing that concerns me is the CW style connecting ports at the 'knees'. While I admit, having cross-line compatibility with CW figures sounds like a neat idea, the ratchets for the knee joints of the CW combiners were notoriously weak. They slide out of position and bend very easily when you put any degree of weight on them, which is one of the primary reasons why the CW combiners are always falling over.

I hope they do something to beef up those hinges/ratchets. Otherwise, for all the other things that would be good about this Legacy Menasor, he could still wind up falling on his face like a Jenga tower whenever you try to pose him.