The Energon Pub

I've been giving each a good long look and have tentively decided to maybe get one. However I need the opinions of people who own one of either or both should you be so lucky

Which one is better quality?
Which one has a better range of movement in combined mode?
Which one is just more fun to pose and transform?
Which one is bigger?
Which one holds together better?
Which one has more personality?

Some of your questions make me think you've not done as much research as you say... In any case though, I don't mind sharing some personal thoughts. Youtube reviews, pics and a lot of time brought me to pick up Maketoys version. I think I'm capable enough as any to make an unbiased rundown for you though.

Quality - From reviews I haven't heard any faults in this area from either side. The general consensus is that both sets are relatively sturdy as both individual bots and their combined form.

Articulation - Same as quality points.

Size - TFC version has bigger figures both individually and combined, however I found the TFC individual figs are a bit... chunky? Blocky? That's not necessarily a bad thing as it makes for a pretty menacing and proportionate combined form where the Maketoys version has a thinner set in general which ended up with their combined form being a bit buff looking. However, both points are due to how Not-Devastators arms and made from the figures. TFC has the arms built right into the figures themselves where as Maketoys has trailer bits for the forearms. But, I digress...

Stability - They both hold together extremely well. Being very solid in combined mode.

Personality - This one is where you'll get the most opinions. In combined mode it seems the TFC head has more 'personality' where as the Maketoys has a more emotionless display. However, the Giant 61 set from Maketoys does come with a more anger expressed feature along with the normal head, it seems to have gotten a bit of guff regardless.

All in all though, it really depends on you and what you think will fit in -your- collection the most. For me, the size of the individual figures and combined mode that Maketoys provides fits much better. For some it's the complete opposite and TFC fits their expectations better. There is, of course, the consideration of how much you want to pay as well. TFC is going to leave a much bigger dent in your wallet then the Maketoys set will, though that doesn't say much as they're both expensive sets.

As I said though, it's all about what you think fits your collection or at the very least, your vision of what the Constructicons are. Hope this run down helped some... but if not... check out youtube for some reviews for both sets. This alone should give you a good idea of what the sets are like in hand as well as their strengths and weaknesses. Neither set is perfect, but at the same time... both sets are works of art. Take your time choosing, but I don't think you can go wrong whichever one you ultimately choose.

"tentively decided to maybe"... made me chuckle a bit. Most of these are opinion questions that you will need to decide for yourself.

As far as the facts, if you've been checking them out I'm sure you know:

Hercules is bigger & more expensive.

Both items had a few Quality hickups... but as far as I know, all were addressed and fixed. The both seem to hold together very well.

Both are very articulated in combined mode... Giant apparently has a wider range of shoulder movement though. Hercules has an add-on kit that you can order separately to mimic the way Giant's arms are set-up.

Personality? This is ALL in the eyes of the beholder, but I personally think the aesthetics of Giant have more style and personality.

Hope this possibly helps, maybe, sorta... weather permitting.

Thank you gentlemen. Both sets look just plain amazing to me and I value every single opinion.

Some of your questions make me think you've not done as much research as you say...

I want personal opinions, there are only so many reviews of both expensive sets. And while they all give them thumbs up reviews. I still like to make certain every aspect of the set of figures this expensive

I'll agree with what others have said on the general points.

I bought into the Herc set, and I'm glad I did, it is exactly what I wanted.

What others have said is true, it is the larger (and thus costlier) set.

The reason I chose Herc over Giant, was the fact that the individual bots were bigger, and thus he would combine to be a larger gestalt form.

As construction machines, I wanted the individual bots to be larger than deluxe sized figures.

Also, I found that overall, I preferred the bot modes of the Herc Set.
While Scrapper and Mixmaster seemed superior in the Giant group, I liked the other 4 bots better in Herc. I just felt they looked more Gee-wunny to me.
I also loathe the way Scavenger and Hook had the crane and scoop on the arm. It doesn't fit the original character models, and I find it to be lazy design.

The last point that led me to Herc, was the fact that they used all parts of the bots to make the combined form. As mentioned by another poster, Giant has parts of the combined form as trailers etc. Again, I would call this lazy design.

With all that said, Giant does not appear to be a bad figure. If Herc didn't exist, I would have snapped it up.

So, your main points to consider are, height, price, and which one looks more like devastator to you.

I have both and have Green Giant on the way.

I prefer Giant because he just goes better with FP Crossfire Bruticus and co, but I cant really fault herc either, it's just a matter of personal tatse and I don't think anyway can tell you how you are going to feel about that.

In other words both are pretty fantastic and I do think youd be happy if you picked up either one so you may as well base it on budget.

Thank you guys, I always appreciate the help people on here give me sometimes

After watching some reviews comparing both of them I'm going to pick up Herc.

His look fits in with classics/generations alot better. Giant has a great G1 feel but I'm not looking for that.

Plus I figured he would look better with Uranus/Superion.

STngAR wrote:After watching some reviews comparing both of them I'm going to pick up Herc.

His look fits in with classics/generations alot better. Giant has a great G1 feel but I'm not looking for that.

Plus I figured he would look better with Uranus/Superion.

Well be sure to IM me details. As you can understand, I want my cash well spent

I don't own Giant, but I have considered buying the green version when it comes out.

I DO have Herc...and although I could gush on and on about him, it wouldnt be anything you haven't heard before.

Personally, I think what everyone needs to keep in mind instead of trying to balance the scales of which is "better", is HOW they want thier combiners to fit in with thier collection.
When Herc was the only 'Con of his size, people were all like "zomg out of scale with FP Bruty/Supes"
Now, though, that TFC is on to thier second set Uranus, it is starting to look as though they are putting all thier eggs into the combiner basket, which is fine with me because thier first outing proved them as a company in my mind. So now I can also get a Superion who, not only is on-scale with my Herc/Devy, but also alot better scale to the classics line of of the rest of my collection, whereas the FP upgrades for Superion and Bruticus Maximus were, what, barely 1.5 times classics OP's height?
I only hope that other companies, such as Mastermind's new Predacon teaser, take the hint and make their offerings to scale with TFC, or that TFC continues to put out more combiner sets.

DJrasmo wrote:I don't own Giant, but I have considered buying the green version when it comes out.

I DO have Herc...and although I could gush on and on about him, it wouldnt be anything you haven't heard before.

Personally, I think what everyone needs to keep in mind instead of trying to balance the scales of which is "better", is HOW they want thier combiners to fit in with thier collection.
When Herc was the only 'Con of his size, people were all like "zomg out of scale with FP Bruty/Supes"
Now, though, that TFC is on to thier second set Uranus, it is starting to look as though they are putting all thier eggs into the combiner basket, which is fine with me because thier first outing proved them as a company in my mind. So now I can also get a Superion who, not only is on-scale with my Herc/Devy, but also alot better scale to the classics line of of the rest of my collection, whereas the FP upgrades for Superion and Bruticus Maximus were, what, barely 1.5 times classics OP's height?
I only hope that other companies, such as Mastermind's new Predacon teaser, take the hint and make their offerings to scale with TFC, or that TFC continues to put out more combiner sets.

looking at the difference between the two, there are a lot of other factors that come into play that are more significant to me than "scale".

In the end Godzillabot Primal... it's going to come down to which one you find more aesthetically appealing. You could collect 100 opinions from Maketoys supporters, 100 opinions from TFC supporters and 100 opinions from those collectors lucky enough to own both versions and not 1 of them will be able to tell you which set you will enjoy most.

I suggest taking a week or so to look over both sets. Visually analyze each individual figure, youtube some reviews and lastly, spend a good long while looking at the combined form. If by that time you don't find yourself favoring one over the other then I'm not sure what or where you should go from there, but no matter which one you choose... I really don't feel you can go wrong so long as you end up with the set you like the look of most.

They are both great works that are both well built and the only way you can go wrong is if you choose based on what someone else likes rather than choosing which one you like.

I will NOS. Thank you all for your help with this

if it would help, you can search YouTube for a user named TJDuckett...he did a trio of in-depth comparisons between Yellow Giant and Herc...one each for bot modes, alt modes, and Gestalt modes...each of them is like 20 minutes long...

Giant. Hercules is way too expensive for what you get. On top of that, TFC had to make an add-on set to make Hercules as nice as Giant. Giant comes with that stuff built in! Plus the add-on kit has pointless things such as a masked Devastator face and a G1 gun, when the combiner pieces already form a nice gun.

Plus you save money. Hercules loses.

Autobot032 wrote:Giant. Hercules is way too expensive for what you get. On top of that, TFC had to make an add-on set to make Hercules as nice as Giant. Giant comes with that stuff built in! Plus the add-on kit has pointless things such as a masked Devastator face and a G1 gun, when the combiner pieces already form a nice gun.

Plus you save money. Hercules loses.

Thank you again Autobot032! Always helping me with my toy stuff

DJrasmo wrote:if it would help, you can search YouTube for a user named TJDuckett...he did a trio of in-depth comparisons between Yellow Giant and Herc...one each for bot modes, alt modes, and Gestalt modes...each of them is like 20 minutes long...

I'll check them out!

My 2p's worth is this: of all the questions you initially asked, you missed one of the more important ones which is what looks the best? I am a real stickler for my figures having the same basic aesthetic, and I like them to scle together wherever possible. I just think that Giant is more in scale with my other figures, and elements of his design just gel a bit better than Herc. If you wanted an amazing stand-alone figure (and some extra cash), then I would go for Herc maybe. Either way, both sets are fantastic when compared with the official bodge job we currently have!