The Energon Pub

[no-one]

And finally my CW Leader Magnus is here. I thought Minimus Ambus would be a little bigger...

He's a little bitty guy ain't he? So what do you think about the figure overall?

[william-james88]

I think the only way to fix that Alternity starscream is to put it in the microwave oven for 3 minutes. If it dosent work, the conventional oven will do. Use the "self cleaning" option and let it run it's course.

[Ironhidensh]

And finally my CW Leader Magnus is here. I thought Minimus Ambus would be a little bigger...

He's a little bitty guy ain't he? So what do you think about the figure overall?

Yes, please tell. Yours is one of the opinions I value around here.

[Rodimus Prime]

And finally my CW Leader Magnus is here. I thought Minimus Ambus would be a little bigger...

He's a little bitty guy ain't he? So what do you think about the figure overall?

Yes, please tell. Yours is one of the opinions I value around here.

So right off the bat, I found 2 copies of the instructions in the box. Good for me, I'm bad with keeping instructions. I try not to use them, as it takes some of the fun away, but I do become frustrated sometimes, especially when panels are involved. (Do NOT get me started on RoTF Jetfire or DoTM Sentinel.) Anyway, the figure was impressive on first handling. I transformed him to truck and back, and was able to do most of it without the instructions. I don't care for the hammer gimmick, so the rocket pods are on his shoulders, the smaller gun is attached to his leg, and he's holding the bigger gun. Ambus is inside. He's a good solid, "full" figure, meaning that he doesn't come off as hollow, he seems like he should be a lot heavier than he actually is.

My only gripe, really, is just creative. I think if the engineers truly wanted to pay homage to both the G1 iteration, and have a truly MTMTE-accurate figure, they should have made the white cab be a detachable figure, and have it be the larger Minimus Ambus body, with that tiny Ambus inside it, like it is now. Hopefully I didn't ruin Ambus's secret for anyone. But I doubt there's anyone else who's just now reading MTMTE besides me.

I must add, until I read MTMTE, I loathed the character of Ultra Magnus in every continuity. I never had a toy of any Magnus either, except for the BotCon SG Magnus, but that's not really a "real" Magnus, IMO. But I liked the MTMTE character so much, I went and bought this figure. I absolutely do not regret it, and I recommend getting him, whether you want to play with him or just have him stand on a shelf. His robot mode is very aesthetically pleasing, I love looking at him standing on the desk. I don't care much for the vehicle mode, and I doubt mine will ever see it again.

Bottom line: a worthy addition to the collection, a figure with basically no downside, other than my "what could have been." I can see a Powermaster Prime from this mold, with the right retools.

[Ironhidensh]

Cool, and thanks for the review.

I've been very hard on this figure, and that's not really fair. My main gripes are the lack of paint detail and how light he feels. Of course, I'd like him to be a little bigger, but that is a non issue. Other than that, I love Magnus. The design and engineering is fantastic. For an Ultra, I mean Leader class figure, he has an impressive amount of articulation. I still plan to sell my Hasbro version on eBay, but only because I want the better paint apps of the Takara version.

[RAcast]

Dat freakin' lightpiping. As much as I like the aesthetics, I'm not crazy about the slider joints in the knees...specifically at the moment because I can't seem to get one of them un-clipped. Any suggestions?

I don't think I ever got an answer to my query here. One of those slider joints is still stuck, and I don't seem to have a screwdriver that can undo the screw in his knee. Any suggestions?

[snip]

Okay, any ACTUAL suggestions on how to release that slider joint?

I sincerely don't understand the hate, unless you just don't like how it looks, it's pretty great. I don't even get how people say it's fiddly, unless the doors popping off (which are equally easy to pop back on) really annoys you that much.

[-Kanrabat-]

Dat freakin' lightpiping. As much as I like the aesthetics, I'm not crazy about the slider joints in the knees...specifically at the moment because I can't seem to get one of them un-clipped. Any suggestions?

I don't think I ever got an answer to my query here. One of those slider joints is still stuck, and I don't seem to have a screwdriver that can undo the screw in his knee. Any suggestions?

[snip]

Okay, any ACTUAL suggestions on how to release that slider joint?

I sincerely don't understand the hate, unless you just don't like how it looks, it's pretty great. I don't even get how people say it's fiddly, unless the doors popping off (which are equally easy to pop back on) really annoys you that much.

It look AMAZING in both mode, no doubts. But the thing is poorly designed.

-- Automorph gimmick barely work.
-- Floppy leg joints.
-- Doors keep popping off when you barely touch the figure.

I know what I'm talking about because I own A. Starscream, A. Banzaitron, and shamefully gave A. Skywarp to a friend.

[Burn]

I don't care for the hammer gimmick

Same. Nice idea, terrible execution though. You're really going to hammer something with the pointy end of rockets?

Mine is currently holding a spare Animated Magnus hammer. It just needs a bit of repainting and it would be a perfect fit.

So today I felt the urge to get Generations (2014) Cosmos. I never tracked him down. Deep down though, I just had a craving to buy a new TF (FYI, I did track Cosmos down and just paid for him so he should be here by next week).

So I ventured into K-Mart and found they had their RiD figures marked down (Deluxes were down to $20AU from $29AU) and managed to find Sideswipe who must have only been put out recently. That completes the core season 1 Autobots for me. (I really have no interest in the Decepticons)

[Cobotron]

They have K-Mart down under? Interesting. Is it as dingy and sad as it is here?
Cosmos is cool!

[william-james88]

They have K-Mart down under? Interesting. Is it as dingy and sad as it is here?
Cosmos is cool!

Its a different Kmart: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kmart_Australia

[Ironhidensh]

I don't care for the hammer gimmick

Same. Nice idea, terrible execution though. You're really going to hammer something with the pointy end of rockets?

Mine is currently holding a spare Animated Magnus hammer. It just needs a bit of repainting and it would be a perfect fit.

So today I felt the urge to get Generations (2014) Cosmos. I never tracked him down. Deep down though, I just had a craving to buy a new TF (FYI, I did track Cosmos down and just paid for him so he should be here by next week).

So I ventured into K-Mart and found they had their RiD figures marked down (Deluxes were down to $20AU from $29AU) and managed to find Sideswipe who must have only been put out recently. That completes the core season 1 Autobots for me. (I really have no interest in the Decepticons)

Cosmos (and Swerve) are two of my favorite non masterpiece/3rd party Transformers of the last few years. Hey are very small and simple, yet still very fun.

[Rodimus Prime]

I don't care for the hammer gimmick

Same. Nice idea, terrible execution though. You're really going to hammer something with the pointy end of rockets?

And what is this urge to have Magnus have a hammer, anyway? G1 Magnus didn't have a hammer. TFA and TFP Magnus were the only ones, right? I never got TFA Magnus, but I always thought the hammer was a pretty cool addition. I think if other Magnus characters keep getting hammers, it would make it cheap to have it. It would be like any generic weapon. Or as you said, if they're gonna give him a hammer, give him an actual hammer, not have it be cobbled together as if it was extra kibble to be used. The guns and rocket pods look better anyway.

[-Kanrabat-]

I don't care for the hammer gimmick

Same. Nice idea, terrible execution though. You're really going to hammer something with the pointy end of rockets?

And what is this urge to have Magnus have a hammer, anyway? G1 Magnus didn't have a hammer. TFA and TFP Magnus were the only ones, right? I never got TFA Magnus, but I always thought the hammer was a pretty cool addition. I think if other Magnus characters keep getting hammers, it would make it cheap to have it. It would be like any generic weapon. Or as you said, if they're gonna give him a hammer, give him an actual hammer, not have it be cobbled together as if it was extra kibble to be used. The guns and rocket pods look better anyway.

Personally, I use the "hammershaft" as it's own hammer, without the rocket pods. The RPs are on his shoulders, he wield a gun in his right hand, and it would be CLOBBERING TIME from the left. It work pretty well IMO.

[Cobotron]

I like the hammer as a constant. I like the symbolism and it's significance to the new definition of this character. G1 Magnus was a blah rube. But since than he has become better defined as the model of Justice, and the perfect representative to wield her hammer.
Plus I always like it when weapons can be all combiney and stuff. I'm kinda like you K, gun in one hand, hammer in the other. I put the pods on though. With the short handle, it's like a power gavel of ultimate judgement.

[william-james88]

I don't care for the hammer gimmick

Same. Nice idea, terrible execution though. You're really going to hammer something with the pointy end of rockets?

And what is this urge to have Magnus have a hammer, anyway? G1 Magnus didn't have a hammer. TFA and TFP Magnus were the only ones, right? I never got TFA Magnus, but I always thought the hammer was a pretty cool addition. I think if other Magnus characters keep getting hammers, it would make it cheap to have it. It would be like any generic weapon. Or as you said, if they're gonna give him a hammer, give him an actual hammer, not have it be cobbled together as if it was extra kibble to be used. The guns and rocket pods look better anyway.

But does the hammer hurt this toy at all, in terms of negating any of it's positive aspects? I feel it only adds to the toy. It's a stroke of genius really. You get a G1 Magnus with a nice tie to the current IDW comics and for the fans that know of him with a hammer, you get a really cool easter egg. This toy ends up honouring the entirety of Magnus as a character throughout his history in the Transformers brand, letting fans from every era know they havent been forgotten.

[Rodimus Prime]

You get a G1 Magnus with a nice tie to the current IDW comics and for the fans that know of him with a hammer, you get a really cool Easter egg. This toy ends up honoring the entirety of Magnus as a character throughout his history in the Transformers brand, letting fans from every era know they haven't been forgotten.

That is a very nice idea, except the "hammer" doesn't live up to it. It doesn't look like a hammer. It looks like a stick with explosives on the end of it. Like Burn said, would you hit something or someone with the business end of a rocket? The only positive I can see to the weapons combination feature is the 2 guns put together making a somewhat awkward sniper rifle. But if he holds it right, it'll pass. As a hammer, though, it's nice in idea, very poor in design and execution. They should have just given him a gun and an actual hammer.

[william-james88]

You get a G1 Magnus with a nice tie to the current IDW comics and for the fans that know of him with a hammer, you get a really cool Easter egg. This toy ends up honoring the entirety of Magnus as a character throughout his history in the Transformers brand, letting fans from every era know they haven't been forgotten.

That is a very nice idea, except the "hammer" doesn't live up to it. It doesn't look like a hammer. It looks like a stick with explosives on the end of it. Like Burn said, would you hit something or someone with the business end of a rocket? The only positive I can see to the weapons combination feature is the 2 guns put together making a somewhat awkward sniper rifle. But if he holds it right, it'll pass. As a hammer, though, it's nice in idea, very poor in design and execution. They should have just given him a gun and an actual hammer.

That still doesnt answer my main question: does the added function that the weapons combine into a hammer take anything away from the figure? You may not find it a plus, but does it make the figure worse than it is without it? I fail to see how a fun extra which adds playability would negate anything great about the figure. If I were to choose between added playability regardless of how poorly implemented over no added playability, then the added bonus will always win for me.

[RAcast]

[snip]
That still doesnt answer my main question: does the added function that the weapons combine into a hammer take anything away from the figure? You may not find it a plus, but does it make the figure worse than it is without it? I fail to see how a fun extra which adds playability would negate anything great about the figure. If I were to choose between added playability regardless of how poorly implemented over no added playability, then the added bonus will always win for me.

Plus, sometimes you just need a Rocket Powered Weapon, simply because it's Impossibly Cool.

[no-one]

You get a G1 Magnus with a nice tie to the current IDW comics and for the fans that know of him with a hammer, you get a really cool Easter egg. This toy ends up honoring the entirety of Magnus as a character throughout his history in the Transformers brand, letting fans from every era know they haven't been forgotten.

That is a very nice idea, except the "hammer" doesn't live up to it. It doesn't look like a hammer. It looks like a stick with explosives on the end of it. Like Burn said, would you hit something or someone with the business end of a rocket? The only positive I can see to the weapons combination feature is the 2 guns put together making a somewhat awkward sniper rifle. But if he holds it right, it'll pass. As a hammer, though, it's nice in idea, very poor in design and execution. They should have just given him a gun and an actual hammer.

That still doesnt answer my main question: does the added function that the weapons combine into a hammer take anything away from the figure? You may not find it a plus, but does it make the figure worse than it is without it? I fail to see how a fun extra which adds playability would negate anything great about the figure. If I were to choose between added playability regardless of how poorly implemented over no added playability, then the added bonus will always win for me.

Added bonuses are nice, but I think the guns suffer a bit because of it. The hammer isn't very convincing and the guns make a poor handle.

I peg the rockets to his shoulders, main gun in his right hand and the other "gun" thing gets pegged to his leg, holster style. I find the second gun to be pretty lame and forgettable mostly because it looks like it trying to be a hammer enabler. Come to think of it, it may be in my extra gun drawer at the momemnt. I may try it as a second lil gavel of justice like a few others suggested though, see if I like it better.

So yes, I would say his accessories do suffer a bit trying to be something their not.

[william-james88]

So yes, I would say his accessories do suffer a bit trying to be something their not.

Thanks for the elaborate response, much appreciated. And I cant help but see it your way then. I too was a bit frustrated by how Magnus holds the big hammer, it would have been more fun if he could hold it lower down the shaft, especially for an action pose where he uses two hands to hold it. Or they could just give us a gun and a hammer and call it a day, as you suggested.

Quite frankly I am a bit puzzled as to how the Beast Hunters Voyager gives us a hammer, a jetpack as well as firing shoulder missiles, while this leader gives us guns that dont peg in the hands properly and non firing shoulder missiles. If this is the result of the hammer implementation, then I side with everyone above.

[Rodimus Prime]

That still doesn't answer my main question: does the added function that the weapons combine into a hammer take anything away from the figure? You may not find it a plus, but does it make the figure worse than it is without it? I fail to see how a fun extra which adds playability would negate anything great about the figure. If I were to choose between added playability regardless of how poorly implemented over no added playability, then the added bonus will always win for me.

I never said it was a detriment to the figure. It is a great figure by himself. If all he had was the pods and 1 gun, he would have been fine. The "hammer" option is just that: an option. An extra. Therefore, it has no bearing on the figure itself. It can do with or without it. If the "hammer" had been done right, then it would do what an extra is supposed to do, and enhance the figure. But it's not done right and it's not a plus. But that doesn't mean Magnus is not a great figure. He is. There's nothing "taken away" by the "hammer" because it's not essential to who or what Magnus is.

[william-james88]

Thanks Rodimus, we are totally on the same page then.

Ok so my haul today was the Generations Platinum Autobot Intel Ops featuring G1 Blaster, Perceptor, Eject, Ramhorn and Steeljaw. And I also got Rewind

[Cobotron]

NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!
Rewind is driving the tank!

[RhA]

Hey WJ88, what are those red blocks on Perceptor's shoulder?

[Zeedust]

Got Legends Blackarachnia from HLJ, am now feeling nostalgic for both Beast Wars and Animated.