The Energon Pub

Legacy Evolution's second wave of core class figures was found at Target earlier this month and now that fans got them in hand, we have reviews coming in from our community. Below are reviews from Thundertron and Chuckdawg1999 for Legacy Grimlock, Thundercracker and Nemesis Prime.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:While it might be surprising to see Grimlock, the Dinobot Leader being used as a leg, I find it refreshing to see how Hasbro can still come up with unique ideas for the Dinobots. Robot and T-Rex modes aren't that great, but they're better than what we got with Sludge. It really feels like leg mode was the priority and everything else came after. If you've ever wanted a pocket Grimlock then this Core Class version just might fit the bill.

william-james88 wrote:

M. Spector wrote:Could the listings for Rock perhaps be the rumored "Energon Monsters" form early Legacy leaks, just repurposed or finally getting there moment?

And man, a new Windblade is great news, I'll prolly be all over that after the crushing disappointment of my TR one

The pretenders from Legacy were the energon monsters.

They were the monster shells with energon weapon compatibility.
Hence Energon Monster.

...no they weren't, the initial leaks had them entirely separate. Core Iguanus and Skullgrin were listed alongside the Core and Deluxe Energon Monster(s) when the entire lineup for the year leaked. It was only after the line was underway that Skullgrin got bumped up in size to replace the Deluxe Energon Monster and Bomb-Burst got added to replace the Core one.

Nemesis Primal wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

M. Spector wrote:Could the listings for Rock perhaps be the rumored "Energon Monsters" form early Legacy leaks, just repurposed or finally getting there moment?

And man, a new Windblade is great news, I'll prolly be all over that after the crushing disappointment of my TR one

The pretenders from Legacy were the energon monsters.

They were the monster shells with energon weapon compatibility.
Hence Energon Monster.

...no they weren't, the initial leaks had them entirely separate. Core Iguanus and Skullgrin were listed alongside the Core and Deluxe Energon Monster(s) when the entire lineup for the year leaked. It was only after the line was underway that Skullgrin got bumped up in size to replace the Deluxe Energon Monster and Bomb-Burst got added to replace the Core one.

Haha, wow, I was way off on that one. Thanks for clearing it up.

Skywarp came with a fork instead of his null-rays.
So I'm disappointed that Thundercracker didn't come with a spoon.

Why there are two videos of Grimlock?

Micktrap397 wrote:Why there are two videos of Grimlock?

My mistake, thanks for pointing it out

Looks like earlier shots of core Grimlock were mis-transformed. They had the dino tail inverted so the wider parts were flared out, making his backside look like the bell of a trumpet. This makes it looks slightly less objectionable. But not enough to make me want the Core dinos. I'll stick with the Leader Studio Series versions, thanks.

DeathReviews wrote:Looks like earlier shots of core Grimlock were mis-transformed. They had the dino tail inverted so the wider parts were flared out, making his backside look like the bell of a trumpet. This makes it looks slightly less objectionable. But not enough to make me want the Core dinos. I'll stick with the Leader Studio Series versions, thanks.

I don't really see how it's one or the other.

Since those Legacy Evolution Core Class wave 2 sightings were not too far from me, I wonder if it is true that perhaps Target just got some of them individually randomly placed in shipments, and not full case packs? I mean I've seen the Voyager Leo Prime & Tarn at about every Target in my area, so I know they are getting full cases. But... Last Sunday I spotted a single core Nemesis on the peg (that wasn't in Target's system), also found a single Core Bomb Burst (Evo PR) at a different store, also wasn't in the system. It would seem odd that each of these stores would have just ONE toy. (I asked employees to check the back, but without the item being in their system, they had no way of knowing ) Scalpers is also a definite possibility, but why would they leave just one toy behind at each store?

Finally got the video up - Menasor coming soon

I managed to find Needlenose at Target today, my first Evolution sighting in stores. still need the cores and voyagers from the wave.

Needlenose is really nice, he's surprisingly very good. His headsculpt is immaculate, like really, it's really damn good. Best headsculpt on a deluxe in a while in my eyes. I also like his size, he has a nice presence to him. Jet mode is pretty nice too.

Transformation wise, I thought I had him easy peasy, but then I couldn't figure something out, looked at the directions, and was surprised by the entire jet half being on a hinge the way it was, it was a fun little thing I was not expecting.

Needlenose is just a box with wings and the bot is just generic crap!

....and mine is set to arrive (along Scraphook) from Walmart.ca in March... MARCH...

-Kanrabat- wrote:Needlenose is just a box with wings and the bot is just generic crap!

....and mine is set to arrive (along Scraphook) from Walmart.ca in March... MARCH...

Just 2 weeks away (I'm getting scraphook too)

I’m going to give Hastak credit and props when they’ve earned it.
I’ve said in multiple posts for what seems like a decently long time now (mainly since the SS86 subline has come out) that they’ve earned my trust. That there have been improvements with decisions, releases, and overall quality. Of course there are exceptions to this, but overall, I think we have been given a lot of great figures in the last few years.

But those Core Dinobots have fallen short… Way short.
And please know I wanted to like them. I was gearing up to buy them.
In fact, I’m still willing to buy the last 2 main characters if they’re good…
I don’t need Volcanicus…
But that Sludge is truly awful… Both modes are terribly bad in appearance.
I honestly would’ve considered buying these guys if even 1 of the 2 modes was good.
And they’re just not. Grimlock’s bot mode is close to alright, but it’s still bad.
I don’t need to be reminded about price point, engineering limitations due to size, design compromises due to the evo-fusion combining gimmick, or the intended consumer age…
I get it. I get it all.
And these are still bad.
In fact, the Volcanicus leg formed by Grimlock isn’t good in terms of appearance.
I will be basically shocked if the completed combined mode looks better than what I’m expecting at this point.

I don’t think I’d buy any of these if they were $5 each…
This may seem harsh, but damn…
I’m always going to call it like I see it.
And while I pretty much love every figure I’ve bought in the last year+,
these Dinobots are garbage.

william-james88 wrote:

-Kanrabat- wrote:Needlenose is just a box with wings and the bot is just generic crap!

....and mine is set to arrive (along Scraphook) from Walmart.ca in March... MARCH...

Just 2 weeks away (I'm getting scraphook too)

Time feel twice as long in winter.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:I managed to find Needlenose at Target today, my first Evolution sighting in stores. still need the cores and voyagers from the wave.

Were there any other deluxes at all? I too saw a single Needlenose at a Target about a week ago. Didn't get it, because all I want is Scraphook from that assortment. Further lending possibility to the theory that some stores are not getting whole cases of these (except Voyagers which are reaching Saturation, at least in my area of CA)

I honestly couldn't tell you who Needlenose but the more I see pics of it the more I'm leaning towards buying it!

Ya know not for nothing, I can't figure out how they transformed Grimlock wrong like there's no way from what I can tell for the legs to fold up "wrong."

Till-all-R1 wrote:I honestly couldn't tell you who Needlenose but the more I see pics of it the more I'm leaning towards buying it!

He's a guy that really knows his "brand".



He's also sometimes Tracks' brothe, apparently because they both have similar slotted helmets.



Emerje

o.supreme wrote:also found a single Core Bomb Burst (Evo PR)

Oh so that repack is still happening and it's in Wave 2? Would have been nice of Hasbro to mention in that stream, I guess now I just have to wait for that to hit saturation so I can actually grab him (and/or for Hasbro to maybe put him on Pulse way after the fact because they're weird about both Core and repacks).

Nemesis Primal wrote:

o.supreme wrote:also found a single Core Bomb Burst (Evo PR)

Oh so that repack is still happening and it's in Wave 2? Would have been nice of Hasbro to mention in that stream, I guess now I just have to wait for that to hit saturation so I can actually grab him (and/or for Hasbro to maybe put him on Pulse way after the fact because they're weird about both Core and repacks).

Apparently it is. I had no idea either. I almost dismissed it as the standard Legacy Core until I looked closer. It was in a picture my daughter sent me. Also if you look closely there's a SS86 Arcee with her head missing.... People never change.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Ya know not for nothing, I can't figure out how they transformed Grimlock wrong like there's no way from what I can tell for the legs to fold up "wrong."

If you can't attach the gun for the tail tip, you're doing it wrong. In this case, twist the hips 180 and raise the legs as far as they go, like in this stock photo:



And good grief, Grimlock's already out? Good thing Slug and Sludge are gonna get repacked, I'd hate to miss them when my Targets get Legacy in, because at this stage I don't know what wave they'll be getting first!

Jelze Bunnycat wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Ya know not for nothing, I can't figure out how they transformed Grimlock wrong like there's no way from what I can tell for the legs to fold up "wrong."

If you can't attach the gun for the tail tip, you're doing it wrong. In this case, twist the hips 180 and raise the legs as far as they go, like in this stock photo:



And good grief, Grimlock's already out? Good thing Slug and Sludge are gonna get repacked, I'd hate to miss them when my Targets get Legacy in, because at this stage I don't know what wave they'll be getting first!

The wave 2 cores were apparently found in one or two Targets on the West Coast.

chuckdawg1999 wrote:The wave 2 cores were apparently found in one or two Targets on the West Coast.

Yeah, the original TFW2005 article stated San Jose CA which is in the South Bay, about 120 miles south west of where I live.

Like I said, earlier this week I found 1 core Legacy Evo Bomb Burst at the Target closest to me (Pictured above), and then a single Nemesis at the Target across town. I checked out about 6 or 7 other locations and nothing. I very much wonder if it truly was an instance that a case of 8 somehow got split up and only 1 item sent to different stores in a "repack" box. (when random items are shipped to retail). Neither item would scan.

Chuck- I know you said in your review you got yours from eBay. Was it from a California seller? The only Core Grimlock I see on eBay at the moment is from Iowa.

o.supreme wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:The wave 2 cores were apparently found in one or two Targets on the West Coast.

Yeah, the original TFW2005 article stated San Jose CA which is in the South Bay, about 120 miles south west of where I live.

Like I said, earlier this week I found 1 core Legacy Evo Bomb Burst at the Target closest to me (Pictured above), and then a single Nemesis at the Target across town. I checked out about 6 or 7 other locations and nothing. I very much wonder if it truly was an instance that a case of 8 somehow got split up and only 1 item sent to different stores in a "repack" box. (when random items are shipped to retail). Neither item would scan.

Chuck- I know you said in your review you got yours from eBay. Was it from a California seller? The only Core Grimlock I see on eBay at the moment is from Iowa.

It's from Arizona, close enough no?