The Energon Pub

Ok, this may be something that has been discussed before, I have never personally seen it though. I was thinking alot about this earlier today, but in Beast Wars, they had to say a phrase, such as So and So Maximize, or Terrorize! But in the original series, they really didn't. Since Beast Wars is a continuation off of G1, did they seem to revert in technology over the years so that they had to say a phrase, or did they always have one in G1, was it that "transforming noise" that you heard before/as they were transforming? Is that even a slight possibility, or am I just crazy?

Beast Wars began the trend of using Activation Codes in the English-language Transformers cartoons. However, Japan had been using them all the time since the begiining. In the Japanese-language dub of the G1 cartoon, whenever one were to transform, they would yell, "Transform!" Different variations of this would come in later Japanese-exclusive G1 cartoons.

As for why it needs to be said, it doesn't always. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. It all depends on each series. When it does need to be said, it acts as some kind of verbal command to help in the control and use of the transformation. In cases where it doesn't need to be said, but is still spoken anyway, it's... well, to put it bluntly, it's a long-standing cliche of Japanese anime. To use a Transformers-related reason, Cybertron Optimus Prime once said that they say "Transform" as merely a way to get psyched up for action.

i recall RiD trying to keep that intact from CarRobots, but failing. They were especially bad with Galvatron, who called each of his modes 'Iron Mammoth' at least once.

Devil Gigatron(and, by extention,RiD Galvy) I can see needing vocal codes because of having nine alternate modes to choose from. Sixshot and quickswitch would probably benefit as well.