The Energon Pub

Here's the first bot, Nemean

Not digging the head sculpts, or the Lion face. Doesn't make me want to cancel any of the MMC bots I've pre-ordered so far.

Wow I'm impressed with TFC's version, you can tell their designs are getting better. I wish they could change up the hands in robot mode though and maybe go with slightly open hands like Fansproject bots...

I'm not currently not looking to purchase either 3 Predakings, but they seem to all have their pluses.

Unique toys' combined formed looks really cartoon screen accurate, with its proportions and simple colors and simple design.

MMC's individual bot mode designs are better, and they are practically MP size, plus the combined mode has a super beefy look if you like that style.

We'll see how TFC's turns out. It looks good so far, but I think they should have maybe done a different combiner and waited on this one.

I think it is time someone does an original bruticus

This $h!t just got interesting. I'm hardly rushing to cancel the Ferocicons, but I'm not about to instantly dismiss these. Loving the name I have to say.

What's the significance of the rotating shoulder armour? Does it just cover the arm connectors?

warzon3 wrote:I think it is time someone does an original bruticus

Hell yeah! Although if they could find a way to incorporate Universe Onslaught I'd be exceptionally grateful.

I like these pictures, very much the TFC aesthetic. The odd part about it all is the placement of the large shoulder rifles while Nemean is in bot mode, they look more like wings. Maybe it was just to differentiate between that mode and when he's the body of Ares?

Several factors will be necessary for this figure set to be a success, and it seems that the original silhouettes didn't win anyone over (myself included - still think they should've went for the Combaticons/Bruticus). Pricing, release timing, and better sculpts for the rest of the figures.

Pricing - probably the same song and dance we're used to from Hercules and Uranos. A few years ago, $100 figures were novel and I feel the fandom was a bit more accepting of this because we treated these as one-offs. But when a company basing their business model on selling multiple figure sets at that price, the novelty has worn off and I'm guessing several people who would b interested in purchasing these figures will have to do without. Especially complicated when the market now has several players who are doing basically the same thing. The one party you'd hope would jump on the bandwagon, Hasbro/Takara, seem to be far behind. One hopes that there were lessons learned from FoC Bruticus, and we can expect better product in the near future. I know I'm looking forward to the Transformers Go combiner teams, regardless if they are just 3 man units.

Release timing - I expect we'll see the first Ares bot out the door before the end of the year. Will it be Nemean? The past two lines indicate we'll get two limbs before we get this fellow. Or is TFC changing up things because they are the late comer to a battle that has already started (MMC vs Unique Toys)? It's very possible that all 5 figures from Unique are out by December, but doubtful MMC will be completed by then. If I were TFC, I'd wait until both of the competitors are finished their releases before my first figure hits. Let the dust settle a bit, maybe release one or two other releases during that time like the Iron Army commander. Could also take this time to work out any kinks on Ares and prepare to release the best figure that they can. Speaking of...

Better sculpts - How can I ask for better sculpts if I haven't even seen 4/5 of the figures yet, am I a modern day Ms. Cleo Nostradamus? No, absolutely not! I'm only referring back to the original silhouettes, which really didn't do any favors for these figures. Maybe because it hid the details/features of each character except for anything on the border. I really hope that the beast/bot modes look superb, and that everything translates well for the combined mode. If anything else, I can always wait for TFC 009 - Blank of Ares to be announced...

Well, if you've made it this far, I hope I've given you something substantial to think about. I'm not against TFC releasing this guy, but I'm definitely going to prioritize MMC's version. It might not even matter, depending on release dates. So, let's see how the next 4 - 5 months play out, shall we?

Beast mode is making me think of the Voltron lions, tbh.

Not overly impressed with the robot mode either.

However, that torso is impressive looking, to say the least.

Perhaps what I find most odd about this is that TFC decided to release their Predaking so late into the game. Wouldn't it have been wiser to work on a gestalt that hadn't been done yet and save these Predacon designs for later on down the line? Less competition for both products and no obvious company competition seems more lucrative.

Well, whatevs. I'll still be going with MMC on this one, but I just can't wrap my head around TFC's thought process.

Sodan-1 wrote:
What's the significance of the rotating shoulder armour? Does it just cover the arm connectors?

Yes, it's to cover the gestalt connectors. They're not going to use the Energon connectors for Ares.

I'll stick with MMC's version thank you.

Don't like the lion head. And im pretty sure they will make an add on set. Think ill go with MMC's version.

i would like to know if this predaking will be larger than tfc's superion and devastator because predaking should be larger. Im fine with mmc's design but it is the same size as tfc's superion and devastator. mmc's predaking is scaled with fansprojects releases which are not big enough for a combiner imo. Would love to know the scale soon so i can cancel mmc preorders. Im not gonna til i c scale though cuz i dont wanna lose my early bird discount preorder prices!!

Mkall wrote:I'll stick with MMC's version thank you.

Agreed.


Though I would like to keep an eye on the quality, price, and design of these. It might help to win me over to future TFC releases...

I like it.

Not enough to be tempted away from MMC yet, but I'll be keeping a close eye on this one.

Has anyone noticed that they incorporated a whiskers sculpt on the lion mode face . Now that's pretty damn cool

To me he looks like a kitty while MMC's looks like he'll rip your face off

I do like the look of this and have/will have all of the Herc and Uranos sets, but $100 for (if they stick to their current trend) a small voyager then an add-on set following to make it look better makes this an automatic pass for now. If these guys bot modes are on scale with/larger than the Ferocicons, the gestalt is taller than Uranos and the prices are reasonable, I will be very tempted.

Like others have said though, so far I have no reason to cancel my MMC pre-orders.

After seeing this, I think I'm going to have to get Ares. I'll probably still keep MMC's on preorder, but I'm questioning it more now, especially after seeing the combined mode. For some reason, the proportions on MMC's not-Predaking just seem off to me. I think it's the legs/feet.

Either way, if I do get both, one set will be in beast mode, and the other in combined mode in all likelihood.

Am I the only one that thinks TFC's three combiners all kind of look the same? Same basic torsos... just different designs? no? am I crazy? (I probably am =X)

mooncake623 wrote:Am I the only one that thinks TFC's three combiners all kind of look the same? Same basic torsos... just different designs? no? am I crazy? (I probably am =X)

Herc's torso is made up of two bots though...

craggy wrote:

mooncake623 wrote:Am I the only one that thinks TFC's three combiners all kind of look the same? Same basic torsos... just different designs? no? am I crazy? (I probably am =X)

Herc's torso is made up of two bots though...

haha true... but basic shape is the same no? maybe I mean hips I don't know. It's the first thing that came to mind.

EDIT: hmm.. I think I know what I'm saying now. you know how some figures are retools and they look like a completely new figure? (sandstorm) the TFC bots are completely new figures that feels like a retool of the older bots (from pictures) anyway that's what I meant to say.

mooncake623 wrote:

craggy wrote:

mooncake623 wrote:Am I the only one that thinks TFC's three combiners all kind of look the same? Same basic torsos... just different designs? no? am I crazy? (I probably am =X)

Herc's torso is made up of two bots though...

haha true... but basic shape is the same no? maybe I mean hips I don't know. It's the first thing that came to mind.

EDIT: hmm.. I think I know what I'm saying now. you know how some figures are retools and they look like a completely new figure? (sandstorm) the TFC bots are completely new figures that feels like a retool of the older bots (from pictures) anyway that's what I meant to say.

I don't see it, particularly between Ares and Hercules, though I do see a striking similarity between the waist piece on Maketoys Giant and FP's add-on set for Bruticus (not that that's necessarily a bad thing as I like that waist piece).

mooncake623 wrote:EDIT: hmm.. I think I know what I'm saying now. you know how some figures are retools and they look like a completely new figure? (sandstorm) the TFC bots are completely new figures that feels like a retool of the older bots (from pictures) anyway that's what I meant to say.

I think I get it, the way Generations Wheeljack is a retool of Blurr.
They all form this type of shape that can only be described as "humanoid".

rpetras wrote:

mooncake623 wrote:EDIT: hmm.. I think I know what I'm saying now. you know how some figures are retools and they look like a completely new figure? (sandstorm) the TFC bots are completely new figures that feels like a retool of the older bots (from pictures) anyway that's what I meant to say.

I think I get it, the way Generations Wheeljack is a retool of Blurr.
They all form this type of shape that can only be described as "humanoid".

You meant Tracks, not Blurr, right?

It looks like in the one pic that Ares's codpiece is Nemean's butt armor. I wonder how he looks from behind.

Yikes, I didn't think I'd ever utter a phrase like that...

At any rate, if TFC had come out with this initially, I might have had a tougher decision. Price would have probably been the main factor between the two.

Take away the beast head and this could literally be any generic bot!



Going on previous reviews and complaints, I would guess this will suffer the the usual QC issues that tend to dog TFC Toys products, add to that another long-winded dragging out of figures being released for a year or so and some high prices per figure?

Im glad that the current companies taking on Predaking are getting involved in representing the beastly combiner, it means folk like FansProject and Maketoys can get on with some more forward thinking projects!

Razor claw looks pretty decent in robot mode. His canons are his best feature. Predaking's head seems a little on the small side.

Uggghhh....that damn mouth/mustache on Razorclaw looks horrible. Stop trying to be neo and just put the damn faceplate. I'm a huge advocate for TFC, but I think they need to shelve this project and make some Terrorcons or real Protectobots. MMC is the best all around choice for the Predacons even if they are a little big...