The Energon Pub

.............

New 3P company "Zeta" has popped up recently with their MP version of G1 Bruticus. And my gawd. I've ignored the MP scaled combiners because the chosen aesthetic (for all of them so far) wasn't even close to G1 Toon. But this one? NAILS IT. So far they've shown of everyone but Onslaught.





















Also, look at the MSRP! Is it just me or is that ridiculously reasonable? the only thing to question at this point, is quality. And time will tell on that one. Come on June!

Bear in mind I learned this off of 4chan's 3P general, so take with a pinch of salt, but this is supposedly made by ToyWorld designers who up and made their own company (thus leaving ToyWorld without their combiner design team, incidentally).

I'll agree it looks awesome. However be aware there will be a LOT of partsforming- above and beyond the usual hands and feet. The hips and thighs (unf) are a partsforming piece that do absolutely nothing in any other mode, for example. So if you're like me, and parts that do nothing in all but one mode post your Pepes, I'd give it a miss. THAT SAID, if you're OK with partsforming this should be a solid purchase for the combined mode alone- that team's Devastator is solid as a rock.

Myself, I don't like that much partsforming and a Bruticus of that size isn't something I especially need. But I will say their individual modes, not-Vortex especially, look absolutely amazing (especially in copter mode) and I'm almost tempted to get him on his own as a G1-styled Blackout. Almost.

I hadn't thought of that (since Onslaught hasn't been show yet) but meh. Partsforming combiners ain't no thang

If I were to collect this scale that level of partsforming would kill this for me. Hands, feet, and the occasional chest shield I can live with, but the legs are just part and parcel of being a proper Transformer and not an add-on kit.

Of course I don't collect this scale and have had my fill of Brutici.

Gauntlet101010 wrote:If I were to collect this scale that level of partsforming would kill this for me. Hands, feet, and the occasional chest shield I can live with, but the legs are just part and parcel of being a proper Transformer and not an add-on kit.

Of course I don't collect this scale and have had my fill of Brutici.

Pre-Rant Disclaimer:
I know everyone has their own aesthetics and tastes. Like what you like, more power to you.

Rant:
I've always thought that the partsforming debate was silly, as I have no issue with stowing away parts that aren't in use or have no use for both modes. Especially when modern engineering attempts to solve this issue with integration, and does so poorly. Believe me, I appreciate the effort, but its usually for naught.

So if this Bruticus (and the TW Devastator) were engineered to have everything integrated, there would have to be some serious compromise’s made. Case and point: CW Long Haul. He is a giant's crotch unfortunately, and he suffers for the sake of the greater good, the combined form. Granted a 3P would likely do better, but don't kid yourself into thinking that it can be executed the way you see it in your dreams. Look at Ares, people disliked that Razorclaw was too big even though it was necessary for him to be the torso. And Feral Rex, I feel suffered for the opposite reason. I really feel there's no way to truly win.

Thus we end up with partsforming. Don't you think it's more forgivable to parts form (giving us perfect vehicle modes perfect robot modes and perfect combined forms) than to TRY and integrate everything (while compromising at least 1 of the 3 forms)?

shajaki wrote:So if this Bruticus (and the TW Devastator) were engineered to have everything integrated, there would have to be some serious compromise’s made. Case and point: CW Long Haul. He is a giant's crotch unfortunately, and he suffers for the sake of the greater good, the combined form. Granted a 3P would likely do better, but don't kid yourself into thinking that it can be executed the way you see it in your dreams. Look at Ares, people disliked that Razorclaw was too big even though it was necessary for him to be the torso. And Feral Rex, I feel suffered for the opposite reason. I really feel there's no way to truly win.

Thus we end up with partsforming. Don't you think it's more forgivable to parts form (giving us perfect vehicle modes perfect robot modes and perfect combined forms) than to TRY and integrate everything (while compromising at least 1 of the 3 forms)?

I don't have a problem with Feral Rex. Ares bothers me a little with Razorclaw being too big ... but not as much as this does.

There's a balance to be had. Hands and feet? I'll accept that. They don't even need to be guns or "integrated". But upper legs being an entirely separate part on an all-new, very pricy combiner? No, that's too much. At that point it's no longer "perfect". All modes may look "perfect" but making the hips and upper legs a separate piece robs what it means to be a combiner from the overall toy.

I just like some of the clever engineering that goes into integrating everything into the figures. To this day, Hercules and Feral Rex are two of my favorite, though I do love me some Troll (from Ordin) with that nice back pack...

Alright. So I goofed. The Brawl and Swindle that I posted here were in fact NOT Zeta Toys, they are from Unique toys which now has its own thread.

Honestly, my enthusiasm has lessened. It was the former that I was drooling over the most, what with their slavish representation of the G1 toon. So now I'm torn...

shajaki wrote:Alright. So I goofed. The Brawl and Swindle that I posted here were in fact NOT Zeta Toys, they are from Unique toys which now has its own thread.

Honestly, my enthusiasm has lessened. It was the former that I was drooling over the most, what with their slavish representation of the G1 toon. So now I'm torn...

I wondered, but thought maybe it was one of those times when two companies are actually the same... Thanks for the clarification!

Struth, they're big 'uns!

I'm getting a Blackout vibe from their Vortex. Cause he's certainly not the same copter he was in G1....

I think that is the idea they're going for. There's a lot of strange choices in this set, and that's certainly one of them... not that they're bad ideas, mind you. Just odd.

Yep...It feels like a "Classics" take on Vortex but in MP size. That might be a tough sell as MP really goes for cartoon accuracy.

Still, these are bee-ee-aya-utiful! Wish I had room.

And money...

... is Onslaught gonna be bigger than Prime?!

Well now.

Hey everyone I found a comparison betw.....

....

Densh you bugger

I just noticed this in the pic of the Burticus prototype (even though its also present in the original render) but his legs appear to be opposite of each other. Swindle is facing bot mode forward and Brawl is facing alt mode forward. Weird....

shajaki wrote:I just noticed this in the pic of the Burticus prototype (even though its also present in the original render) but his legs appear to be opposite of each other. Swindle is facing bot mode forward and Brawl is facing alt mode forward. Weird....

That's how it was in both the toy and the cartoon, so...

Kurona wrote:That's how it was in both the toy and the cartoon, so...

........... Oh

I always thought in the cartoon they were both robot facing forward. I stand corrected!

The vehicle mode is ace but the robot mode is kinda bland...

Black Hat wrote:The vehicle mode is ace but the robot mode is kinda bland...

My thoughts as well, though I do believe the paint will make up for that when it comes.