The Energon Pub

The only real complaints I've seen people make about Sixshot is how he's "too similar" to the G1 toy (the whole "G1 with knees" complaint), with him not being as drastic an update from the original design as, say, this, for example:

Sabrblade wrote:The only real complaints I've seen people make about Sixshot is how he's "too similar" to the G1 toy (the whole "G1 with knees" complaint), with him not being as drastic an update from the original design as, say, this, for example:

That's kind of the modus operandi of Titans Return, though. Hardhead is basically just the G1 toy with added articulation. Skullsmasher is basically just the G1 toy with added articulation. Astrotrain is...
... okay, there's some exceptions.

Well... I've liked a few of the Titan master toys now... and think Fort Max is just awesome... but have we heard how much longer the 'titan masters' are going to go?

I'm about done with all these cool updates to classic figures.. but with their heads popping off to make terrible looking mini-bots... It's not a concept I liked in the 80's... and I like it even less now. Especially the way it's bled over to all the OTHER figures that it never hit in the 80's...

So yeah... I miss the combiner Wars (though the retooling was tedious) and love Max and a few of the core characters... but I'm ready for the next new thing.

Has there been any word yet about that?

phantom1592 wrote:I'm about done with all these cool updates to classic figures.. but with their heads popping off to make terrible looking mini-bots... It's not a concept I liked in the 80's... and I like it even less now. Especially the way it's bled over to all the OTHER figures that it never hit in the 80's...

It is a little annoying that every figure loses their head, BUT, one thing I have noticed is that not having to stash the head some where has made the transformation easier, and better looking alt modes.

Burn wrote:

phantom1592 wrote:I'm about done with all these cool updates to classic figures.. but with their heads popping off to make terrible looking mini-bots... It's not a concept I liked in the 80's... and I like it even less now. Especially the way it's bled over to all the OTHER figures that it never hit in the 80's...

It is a little annoying that every figure loses their head, BUT, one thing I have noticed is that not having to stash the head some where has made the transformation easier, and better looking alt modes.

Maybe... the head fitting somewhere was usually the least of my issues with transformations personally. I remember when something like that was considered partsforming and generally hated though... I'd really hate for that to become the new standard.

For myself, I just never liked the concept. Robots who give up their heads and confine themselves to vehicle mode for an extra stat bump... just feels too much like turning these fascinating robotic aliens... into little more then mech suits. Awesome for Voltron or Macross... less so for Transformers.

It's an actual thing in the universe... so fine... I can deal with other people's nostalgia for characters like Chromedome and of course Fort Max... but when Hot Rod and Optimus start getting stuck as vehicles???

Ehhh... it turns me off to the concept fast. Just hoping they move on to a new gimmick soon... though not sure what they could do next? Pretenders? Action master? I think headmaster was when Transformers first started spiraling downhill for me the first time around.

I mean, it's not like the whole Headmaster concept is completely rooted in a form of decapitation or something, right? Cuz that would just be nuts.

Sabrblade wrote:I mean, it's not like the whole Headmaster concept is completely rooted in a form of decapitation or something, right? Cuz that would just be nuts.

Well.... yeah, Kinda.



I missed on Headmasters the first time around, so most of what I've seen has been from TFwiki http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Headmaster_(technology)and what was it? the 3 episode Rebirth episodes?

And yeah, the decapitation seems pretty solidly rooted... they can store their personalities in their backup cpu in the chest.... but can't transform to the robot mode without their partners. Which... is just insane to me... regardless of the couple point spikes in your tech specs... especially when it's implied that the headbot/partner is actually in control as the head...

The whole thing is vastly weird... now the targetmasters?? Same binary bonding partners for better weapons?? That works a bit better for me, because at least you have two separate robots in both cases...

Sabrblade wrote:I mean, it's not like the whole Headmaster concept is completely rooted in a form of decapitation or something, right? Cuz that would just be nuts.

Hey, having your head turned into a battlesuit and being paired with a little guy is still a better fate than becoming an Empurata with a screen for a head.

JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:I mean, it's not like the whole Headmaster concept is completely rooted in a form of decapitation or something, right? Cuz that would just be nuts.

Hey, having your head turned into a battlesuit and being paired with a little guy is still a better fate than becoming an Empurata with a screen for a head.

"Screenhead" at least doesn't look as ghoulish as this:

yeah every time I look at my TR figures I try to justify the whole concept - I grew up with the hasbro nebulan concept, had also watched the japanese transtector concept but yet there's always something not quite right. However, as far as playability and toy concept I always loved it as a kid, there's a certain interesting aspect of partnerships and drivers for the vehicles that appealed and how the combination ended up in a more enhanced bot...

Re six shot I have him and since he's an update of the original and has more posability for me doesn't mean that it's a bad figure, just proves that the original was quite awesome - I mean MP grimlock isn't miles away from the original toy. Sixshot has some issues like any toy - I'd like to have his arms tab in more for example and for the ankle tilts to be ratcheted.

My fave TRs so far are highbrow and triggerhappy, most positively surprised by was hot rod (really fun transformation) and my least favourite probably so far has been mind wipe (lousy bat mode) and twinferno...

RodimusConvoy13 wrote:

Stuartmaximus wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

Deadput wrote:With a G1 cartoon alt mode that as far as I know does not have in IDW but eh whatever.

But which his G1 toy does have.

Deadput wrote:But I don't think there has been anyone who wanted the toy colors over the cartoon since you know that's pretty much the only color scheme Kup has really had.

Marvel G1-G2 fans (which do exist) might beg to differ:

Is it me or is Kup parts-sharing Blurr's canopy

It's just you.

Aye...in closer inspection....you are right

just a similar canopy design

i'm going to get the Autobot heroes box-set, but i'm not sure if i would get this Kup. Or ill might get him afterwards.

Sabrblade wrote:The only real complaints I've seen people make about Sixshot is how he's "too similar" to the G1 toy (the whole "G1 with knees" complaint), with him not being as drastic an update

That's actually why I really like it. The argument that the original series toys were "just blocks with arms and legs" is just a sign of age more than anything. If you don't like the old toys don't collect them, you don't have to. I think the ability to recreate Sixshot as well as they did, AND still have him look so close to his original counterpart is pretty impressive myself.

o.supreme wrote:That's actually why I really like it. The argument that the original series toys were "just blocks with arms and legs" is just a sign of age more than anything. If you don't like the old toys don't collect them, you don't have to. I think the ability to recreate Sixshot as well as they did, AND still have him look so close to his original counterpart is pretty impressive myself.

I feel the exact same way. It is the perfect way to reintroduce this toy to a new generation. You show them the classic aesthetic with modern play value. I wanted G1 sixshot but with this guy around there is really no need for me to get anything else than him.

phantom1592 wrote:Well... I've liked a few of the Titan master toys now... and think Fort Max is just awesome... but have we heard how much longer the 'titan masters' are going to go?

I'm about done with all these cool updates to classic figures.. but with their heads popping off to make terrible looking mini-bots... It's not a concept I liked in the 80's... and I like it even less now. Especially the way it's bled over to all the OTHER figures that it never hit in the 80's...

So yeah... I miss the combiner Wars (though the retooling was tedious) and love Max and a few of the core characters... but I'm ready for the next new thing.

Has there been any word yet about that?

To answer your question, Titans Return will more than likely end at Wave 6 (we're currently on Wave 3 and getting a lot of news on Wave 4), with a line called 'Power of the Primes' confirmed as the next line. We're not sure what gimmick it'll have if any, but it won't be headmasters.

Of course now the question becomes...what will TT do with Sixshot? No doubt they will keep the reference to gun mode as they want to be as accurate to the original as possible. But will they incorporate the Submarine?. Can the new version transform into the Flying Wolf?

Could this be in fact an eight-changer

o.supreme wrote:Can the new version transform into the Flying Wolf?

I am certain it can. Thats the mode I look most forward to trying out.

Question for those who might know, was the flying wolf an official mode on the original toy?

william-james88 wrote:Question for those who might know, was the flying wolf an official mode on the original toy?

I had the Hasbro version, it was not part of the instructions. Not sure about the Takara version...or if this was just something made up for the Toei Headmasters animated series.

william-james88 wrote:

o.supreme wrote:Can the new version transform into the Flying Wolf?

I am certain it can. Thats the mode I look most forward to trying out.

Question for those who might know, was the flying wolf an official mode on the original toy?

Nope. Toei made the "Wingwolf Mode" up for its one use in The Headmasters cartoon, much like they did later in Masterforce for Overlord's Superjet Mode, BlackZarak's Dakatsu Mode, and like GONZO did years later in Galaxy Force for Master Galvatron's Death Cannon.

No. It was created by the animaters of Headmasters messing around with the toy. That's why in Japan, it's referred to as his 'Secret Seventh mode'.


In Masterforce, Blackzarak's Hydra mode at the end of the series came about the same way.

Sabrblade wrote:BlackZarak's Dakatsu Mode

is that the 2 headed dragon mode you can do with the pincers which was defeated by Fire Guts Ginrai? I found that freaken brilliant when I was watching it. Those animators were really smart, giving kids fun play ideas.

william-james88 wrote:is that the 2 headed dragon mode you can do with the pincers which was defeated by Fire Guts Ginrai? I found that freaken brilliant when I was watching it. Those animators were really smart, giving kids fun play ideas.

I thought it was fun too. But I just hope no kid tried to permanently remove the Head & Legs from their BZ toy

phantom1592 wrote:I'm about done with all these cool updates to classic figures.. but with their heads popping off to make terrible looking mini-bots... It's not a concept I liked in the 80's... and I like it even less now. Especially the way it's bled over to all the OTHER figures that it never hit in the 80's...

For myself, I just never liked the concept. Robots who give up their heads and confine themselves to vehicle mode for an extra stat bump... just feels too much like turning these fascinating robotic aliens... into little more then mech suits. Awesome for Voltron or Macross... less so for Transformers.

It's an actual thing in the universe... so fine... I can deal with other people's nostalgia for characters like Chromedome and of course Fort Max... but when Hot Rod and Optimus start getting stuck as vehicles???

Ehhh... it turns me off to the concept fast.

I've never really understood the argument/sentiment that X character wasn't a headmaster before, so now Hasbro has ruined them. Yes, technically the line is set up so you have the titan master and the body, but nobody is forcing you to actually play and/or admire them that way. Sure, having to partsform the head isn't ideal, but if you are letting that hang you up, you are potentially missing out on some great toys.

Personally, the Headmasters took place after I stopped collecting as a kid, so there is no nostalgia there for me. I'm pretty indifferent to the gimmick overall. In my own head cannon they are each just the regular transformers character and the head is just part of a partsforming transformation. The individual titan masters (clobber, fangry, etc.) are just like mini-bots to me.

My point is, the gimmick is a little inconvenient if you have no interest in it, but the toys have been hitting it out of the park. Don't let the gimmick ruin what are some really great toys coming out right now. Don't like the gimmick, simply don't use it.

Plus, decapitation can be fun as well sometimes.

Power of the Primes thought:

Deluxes will have a third mode that is "brick with head".

Voyager vehicle modes will combine with Deluxe vehicle modes as trailers.

Leaders will form body exo-suits for Deluxes ala Powermaster Prime classic.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:
I've never really understood the argument/sentiment that X character wasn't a headmaster before, so now Hasbro has ruined them.

I never got it either. Thats like saying G1 optimus was never a small cab that combined to become bigger so Power master prime ruins 84 Optimus.

Or better yet, Optimus was never a senseless murderer so him killing leonard nemoy Sentinel Prime ruins Optimus. Or even better, Megatron was never a big skeleton looking organic robot so the movies ruin him. or even better, Galvatron was made by Unicron not humans so now the movies ruin him. To me Optimus is still cool, Megatron is still great and Galvatron is still **** awesome, the movie interpretations dont ruin anything. Just like these new toy interpretations dont ruin anything. And anyways, at this rate, the MP line will have these characters as non headmasters for all the fans to buy so I think we all win eventually.

To be fair, I have taken a look at other toylines in north america this year and I really feel Transformers treats its fans the best thanks to all the options available. Its a really really fun line to collect and easily the one with the most bang for your buck. I spent 20$ for a figure of grant Gustin's Flash this year which had minimal articulation (and his reverse flash "repaint" ) and spent the same amount on a robot toy of similar height, which had japanese engineering, and was a space ship piloted by a little robot, which could then transform into a bigger robot and have the little robot become his head, and that also had a gun which could seat the little robot so that he could be copiloted by 2 little robots at the same time and was waaaaay more articulated than any other figure on the shelves, and had clear plastic, and a gun that became a lazer in space ship mode and that had awesome tampographs that homaged the stickers to the older version. And when i look at that I wonder how its possible for that awesome toy to cost me as much as a figure of the flash. And I feel lucky.


Sorry for the rant but it was fun.

PS: Power Rangers Dino Charge is also an awesome line to collect!