The Energon Pub

[william-james88]

From day one I formed an opinion and it hasnt changed so far, no matter the amount of pics.
And that is that I love that combined mode. It looks dynamic and easily the most competent at doing fun poses out of all the options out there



However, as I thought from day 1, I do not like those individual animal modes (aside from Rampage). Though Divebomb and Razorclaw look good in robot mode and I would like rampage if he had a face. Still feeling underwhelmed overall due to the individual alt modes.

[Wolfman Jake]

Black Hat, I'm more than willing to call out Hasbro when they legitimately screw up. Poorly designing Trypticon's hip joints such that they self destruct after being used is a screw up. Missing out on doing Apeface and Snapdragon in Titans Return was a screw up. Wave 2 of Power of the Primes drying up within weeks at retail is a screw up. Predaking is not a screw up. That's not shilling or fanboyism. That's being fair, objective, and logical. I don't think you're at all being fair if you're resorting to jokes about platinum plated prostate massagers and calling these designers "incompetent." Get off your high horse.

Missing out doing apeface and snapdragon... it took 6 years after classics to get a retail thundercracker. 12 years to get all the Dinobots. Just because you don’t get it in one line doesn’t mean it will never happen.

I didn't say it would never happen. I'm saying it should have already happened. Titans Return Voyager figures were ALL Triplechanger Headmasters. The only actual triplechanging Headmasters from G1 were Apeface and Snapdragon. In a line were a size class is practically BUILT for their particular gimmick, how could you NOT do them? The mind boggles.

[fenrir72]

https://twitter.com/tcrackergenmon

Coming now? Soon?

[noctorro]

He looks awesome. I like the idea of a part-mid section so that all the individual bots can stay the same size.
Can't wait to get him.

Maybe Takara will add the swords, otherwise I'll just 3d print them myself.

Super Transformers line, just like the rest of the Prime Trilogy.

[Ironhidensh]

From day one I formed an opinion and it hasnt changed so far, no matter the amount of pics.
And that is that I love that combined mode. It looks dynamic and easily the most competent at doing fun poses out of all the options out there



However, as I thought from day 1, I do not like those individual animal modes (aside from Rampage). Though Divebomb and Razorclaw look good in robot mode and I would like rampage if he had a face. Still feeling underwhelmed overall due to the individual alt modes.

Then there is me, and I don't like any of these options. so just like Devastator, I will continue to do without.

Also just like Devastator, if the individual figures had been deluxe sized, this would have been much, much better. I don't understand the need for a Titan Class outside of city bots.

[SpikeyTigertron]

From day one I formed an opinion and it hasnt changed so far, no matter the amount of pics.
And that is that I love that combined mode. It looks dynamic and easily the most competent at doing fun poses out of all the options out there



However, as I thought from day 1, I do not like those individual animal modes (aside from Rampage). Though Divebomb and Razorclaw look good in robot mode and I would like rampage if he had a face. Still feeling underwhelmed overall due to the individual alt modes.

Then there is me, and I don't like any of these options. so just like Devastator, I will continue to do without.

Also just like Devastator, if the individual figures had been deluxe sized, this would have been much, much better. I don't understand the need for a Titan Class outside of city bots.

To each their own. But seeing them all side-by-side.... I think Hasbro’s is the most dynamic and definitely the most affordable (outside the G1 re-issue/platinum set). I also think the Titan does the best job representing his bulking shoulder cannons. And I feel his arm cannon is probably the best balanced (though it felt “small” at first...).

Again with the “devy should/could have been deluxe”... maybe? I know it would have definitely lead to QC issues with Takara’s elbow edits. And even at voyager scale.... some of the engineering choices were a little intimidating (though they could have used a thicker/more durable plastic— though that wouldn’t have worked at deluxe scale).

Again.... a lot of it is trade-offs. Budget constraints, wanting that “big IT item”, to be honest considering how luke warm (over produced?) Tyripticon was.... Predaking may be their “make or break” Titan. We’ll see I guess.

Also to those that keep wanting a (leader) larger Razorclaw.... I will continue to direct your attention to along Haul from Titan Devastaor. At then end of the day.... someone’s going to need that heavy thigh/ratchet assembly.... and Long Haul took the hit for the constructicons. Tantrum and Rampage may have all the back kibble and look a bit like bricks in beast mode.... but they look infinitely more like themselves/dynamic than poor Long Haul.

[ZeroWolf]

I think the issue is though that the hips could have been integrated better if razorclaw was a bigger size. I actually agree though that razorclaw should have been bigger, not just because combiners generally now have a bigger leader but because his alt is fantastic, thus needs to be more of a centre piece.

Now as for them being more deluxe sized well, that would have been fun for scramble city combinations (and with some creativity on my part, I could have recreated gaogaigar with transformers *


*-it would have been a stretch but a bit of imagination and anything is possible

[SpikeyTigertron]

I’m just afraid that if they tried to integrate the Combiner hips into razorclaw, he’d suffer from “hammer pants” or being as the kids say, “THICC”. Would have been interesting to see an exploratory mock/up though.

[william-james88]

I am 100% certain that if they made Razorclaw bigger than the rest, we would simply hear how much of a failure that is on their part.

[AlphaBass]

It would've been awesome to combine the Mastermind top half with the Unique Toys bottom half. I'd be ok with that.

I have G1 Predaking displayed on my desk. (Kinda interesting, btw - I also have G1 Soundwave, and EVERYONE who I talk to recognizes Soundwave, but couldn't pick Predaking out of a fruit bowl, but I digress) Anyway, I'm not gonna lie in that POTP isn't better as far as posability and even having the shoulder cannons.....but I'll stick with G1 for sentimental reasons. Have fun picking up POTPPK, but I'll sit this one out.

BTW, when I picked up my Trypticon at Ollie's, I compared him with the G1 Tryps I've got. More visually impressive, but......still digging G1's city mode. Call me a sentimental fool, I guess.

[AlphaBass]

At least a larger Long Haul could be explained by him being a huge dump truck, like you find at rock quarries. And yes, people would be complaining huge if they made Razorclaw like, say, G1 Silverbolt.

Were there a lot of complaints about Grimlock being the same size of the other POTP Dinobots?

[Lore Keeper]

I think the issue is though that the hips could have been integrated better if razorclaw was a bigger size. I actually agree though that razorclaw should have been bigger, not just because combiners generally now have a bigger leader but because his alt is fantastic, thus needs to be more of a centre piece.

Now as for them being more deluxe sized well, that would have been fun for scramble city combinations (and with some creativity on my part, I could have recreated gaogaigar with transformers *


*-it would have been a stretch but a bit of imagination and anything is possible

I know it was discussed way back when Predaking was first revealed, but somebody made a very good point for why Predaking is Titan class while Volcanicus is standard sized. From a marketing perspective, Titans are a hard sell due to their price. Hasbro/TT were likely banking on Predaking's nostalgia appeal to help sell him. Volcanicus is a new character and therefore less likely to sell units. All that being said, from a collector's standpoint, the opposite makes a lot more sense. The Dinobots are big and would be much better served in Voyager and Leader sizes. Predaking is typically depicted as the same size as Scramble City combiners, and the added playability of being able to swap limbs with them would have been very fun. At the end of the day though, marketing will win out. It's better to get the characters we want in imperfect ways rather than not get them because they're not profitable to make. Annd... that was a bit long. Sorry for rambling.

[Evil Eye]

I am 100% certain that if they made Razorclaw bigger than the rest, we would simply hear how much of a failure that is on their part.

Possibly, but not from me. I'm firmly of the opinion that combiner components should be scaled based on what makes for a functional, solid and good looking combiner, especially given how their scale was in flux even by G1's standards.

(I'd also like to apologize for my earlier outburst. My opinions remain unchanged but I shouldn't have acted the way I did. That was very immature of me.)

[Rodimus Knight]

This just makes me wish we'd gotten the dinobots at this size.

[gothsaurus]

Agreed. Dinobots at this size to match would have been amazing.

Looking at these six in combined mode, Hasbro does seem to have a winner. Not quite perfect... seems like his waist is a little plain and wings a little small, but all in all the best out the batch. The others seem to have proportion issues and the G1 just looks sad in hindsight. Poor chunky little guy.

I'll be hoping for an add on kit with larger wings and a big ole sword. Then this guy will be dolled up to put on the shelf with Devastator.

[o.supreme]

Yeah everyone has their own opinions. I actually wish we could have had the Constructicons at deluxe size so they would scale much better with all the other combiners, and Predaking as the same model (1 voyager and 4 deluxes), as all the others. PotP Predaking looks great, but I'd still take symmetry and consistency over outliers, merely for the sake of being "bigger". CW LioKaiser did this, and while its not a faithful copy of the original, I'm glad for what it is. If some 3P were to make deluxe Leozack and Jagullar that were compatible and a serviceable replacement for Deszaurus, I'd probably get it, but for now, what we have is fine.

[AlphaBass]

Agreed. Dinobots at this size to match would have been amazing.

Looking at these six in combined mode, Hasbro does seem to have a winner. Not quite perfect... seems like his waist is a little plain and wings a little small, but all in all the best out the batch. The others seem to have proportion issues and the G1 just looks sad in hindsight. Poor chunky little guy.

I'll be hoping for an add on kit with larger wings and a big ole sword. Then this guy will be dolled up to put on the shelf with Devastator.

Isn't there already a 3rd party Dinobot combiner at this size? thought the main issue was that it was too heavy to be combined.

[KVO Prime]

The thing that upsets me the most isn't the price tag for what you're getting. It's the price tag for what you're NOT getting. This set is going to take a LOT of parts from 3rd party to make it even look desirable. I can already see the preorders for new feet, spiked hands, swords, wings, and heads. This will be an expensive venture to fix this already expensive piece.

KVO PRIME

[gothsaurus]

O.Supreme, I very much agree with you! I'd have loved a Scramble City style set of deluxe constructicons. (In fact, I hope Hasbro STILL does this later with another line.) If they can find a good way to allow Long Haul and Hook to ALSO attach, I'd love it if every one of them could be an arm or leg. That would be amazing.

But back on Predaking, like it or not Hasbro is having to find ways to save money on big ventures like this. That's why we are getting hollow parts (Jetfire, for instance) and less accessories (like no sword, etc. for Predaking). I'm glad they are still working hard to put these out, knowing small issues like accessories WILL be remedied by 3P.

And for the general public (ie. kids) they won't really know or care that something is missing. Just people who had the original toys 25 years ago will remember that sword.

New fans will just be happy with a giant robot.

[SpikeyTigertron]

What’s wrong with the feet?! Ffs

[Lore Keeper]

O.Supreme, I very much agree with you! I'd have loved a Scramble City style set of deluxe constructicons. (In fact, I hope Hasbro STILL does this later with another line.) If they can find a good way to allow Long Haul and Hook to ALSO attach, I'd love it if every one of them could be an arm or leg. That would be amazing.

But back on Predaking, like it or not Hasbro is having to find ways to save money on big ventures like this. That's why we are getting hollow parts (Jetfire, for instance) and less accessories (like no sword, etc. for Predaking). I'm glad they are still working hard to put these out, knowing small issues like accessories WILL be remedied by 3P.

And for the general public (ie. kids) they won't really know or care that something is missing. Just people who had the original toys 25 years ago will remember that sword.

New fans will just be happy with a giant robot.

I'm still holding out hope for an SDCC version with a sword. Better yet, swords for all of them!

[gothsaurus]

Wow. I think you just hit the nail on the head LoreKeeper. I'd put money on the SDCC version coming with a sword... and probably having chrome on the wings.

[Lore Keeper]

Wow. I think you just hit the nail on the head LoreKeeper. I'd put money on the SDCC version coming with a sword... and probably having chrome on the wings.

[Sabrblade]

Looking at all of these together, I finally realize what it is that's been bothering me about the look of Titan class Predaking: His top and bottom halves are sized disproportionately to one another. If you look at just the bottom half from the waist down, everything looks fine. Likewise, the top half from the waist up looks fine too. But when you look at the whole package from top to bottom, it looks like he's wearing a pair of pants that are two sizes too large for his body, or that somebody shrunk his torso in the wash.

It's not that his waist is too small or that his hips are too wide, it's that the whole top half is disproportionately too small when compared to the bottom half likewise being disproportionately too big.

This all just further goes to show how much better Predaking would have looked had Razorclaw simply been allowed to be bigger than the limb 'bots.

[ZeroWolf]

I think you made a typo there gothasarus, there's only five predacon members

Also I don't think hasbro would be happy with the assumption that they are relying on 3rd party companies, especially if they are profiting from the work of the hastak engineers. If hasbro had a sure fire way to do it (and stop anyone else doing it), they'd shut down all 3rd parties in a heart beat.

I also subscribe to the theory of the sdcc version being the one with the swords (and maybe a slightly altered paint job) but the question is, how much would it have cost?