Top 5 best G1 Transformers Toy updates
Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2015 7:36 amEvery two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.
Top 5 best G1 Transformers Toy updates
This concept doesn’t need much of an introduction but I will explain the thought that went behind my choices. It was in a 2 fold order. One: how much the original G1 toy needed an update. Two: How great of an update he eventually got (“he” is not a spoiler as there were no female G1 toys stateside). The best toy ever might not be first place if his original toy was pretty good, which explains the lack of some classics updates. On the flipside, a toy in bad need of an update may not be first place if the update he got wasn't as good as we can get. So without further ado, here are the top 5 best toy updates:
5. Tranformers Generations Seargent Kup
The reason he is at the back end of this list is because this doesn’t feel like the final version of this character. This toy is more of a reinterpretation of the character and not the actual comic book or G1 cartoon version come to life. He even got an update to his name. For what is probably copyright reasons, he became Sergeant Kup in this release. But none the less, Kup is one of the character’s who most needed an update. For such a legendary character, as he was one of the main characters of the 86 film, the only other toy he got since G1 was a Botcon 09 toy which didn’t work at all for the character (my opinion). But 2011 finally gave us a phenomenal update. I love the head sculpt, the alt mode is great even though it is an earth based truck instead of a Cybertronian picKUP. He still looks the part of the scrappy old timer and the color is also spot on. Then chest section is pretty great as well, recalling the cybertronian elements of the G1 toy and the transformation itself is neat, especially the feet. What really seals the deal is the long musket which stores under the truck mode disguised as a very convincing exhaust pipe.
4. Transformers Masterpiece Optimus Prime (MP-10) (Convoy)
I don’t know what to write that could give this update any justice. The figure in robot mode really looks like the G1 cartoon model just jumped off the screen, unlike the G1 toy. The G1 toy was not too bad though, hence why this isn’t number 1 on this list. Actually, the G1 toy was pretty smart since it found an effective way of combining an easy transformation which resulted in a robot which had a wide chest and a thin abdominal area, which has defined Optimus Prime ever since. This update makes that change in contour completely flawless with a smart transformation that was fine tuned from the earlier Masterpiece release of Optimus. They still didn’t fix the obvious groin area exposed in truck mode, an issue that even the G1 toy didn’t have. I do want to say that the cab is the highlight of this update. I don’t find the trailer to be much of an improvement over the G1 version, and Hasbro’s dull grey didn’t help. I was told it could be fixed with Reprolabels, and while that may be perfectly true, having to spend more money for a finished version of a product will not get you the number 1 spot (especially when your original toy was one of the best of the bunch). But number 4 is no sweat for this awesome toy.
And to give a sense of the difference in size:
3. Transformers Masterpiece Wheeljack
Oh man, what an update! They even got the spelling of sponsor “Alitalia” right this time (there are reprolabels to fix the correction though). The G1 toy, like the datsuns and other G1 cars, didn’t even have legs that could separate, so an update didn’t need much to make us happy. As a matter of fact, people were happy with simply a redeco of RTS Tracks. But this figure really knocks it out of the parc by not only being accurate but also my pick for the best new mold to come out of Hasbro/Takara in 2014. Not in a while had I marveled this much at a transformer, and on a pure toy level, he is an absolutely perfect example of a robot in disguise. He feels hefty, has flawless kibble free modes which are also both accurate to their own specific source (a cartoon model and an officially licensed car model).What I really loved about Wheeljack is how robot parts just spring out of him and are nowhere noticeable in his car mode, like his wings, which were far more evident in the original toy’s undercarriage and prone to loss. I just love how his feet are formed and look like distinct robot legs rather than a piece of his car. Unlike the Datsuns, these car pieces look more like feet than repurposed car parts, which was obviously not the case with the original G1 figure.
2. Transformers Generations Springer
Springer was not the best G1 triple changer. None of the three modes were convincing. His helicopter mode had his robot arms and hands sticking out with the excuse of it being Cybertronian in design (uurgh), the car mode was average and the robot mode was not great with odd proportions and terrible arms. He needed an update, that’s for sure, and had a bunch (starting with Energon’s Bulkhead, then Timelines, Universe and Generations GDO). But every single time, he either only turned into a car or helicopter. True triple changers are rarer than we think in the world of transformers toys, so getting an actual update of Springer as a triple changer in the Generations line was an event all on its own. It was even more wondrous to realize that this toy was an accomplishment. Unlike the G1 toy, both alt modes are very distinctive from one another. They have different dimensions and silhouettes, only sharing the color pallet. Also unlike the G1 toy, the robot mode is tall and sleek, with great proportions and one of the most poseable transformers toys at that price range. Even his sword that turns into the propeller is updated well, with a neat new transformation, and his gun has been given a serious overhaul. This would be the best update of all if it weren’t for the following number 1 pick...
1. Transformers Generations Warpath Gallery
As far as updates go, I can’t think of any other toy that needed it this much and got this good a result from it. It’s like owning a small masterpiece at the fraction of the cost. We went from a minibot with no legs, which looked locked in mid transformation into a deluxe class which oozes perfection. Unlike the G1 toy, the tank fully transforms into a robot with superb articulation, zero kibble and striking show accuracy for a non masterpiece toy. They did change his tank into an H tank, but I will take that if it means he gets legs in robot mode. It’s also worth noting that for an H tank, he doesn’t look like a robot crawling on all fours like Armada Megatron and Animated Shockwave (two toys that were NOT part of the best Tanks list). All around, I couldn’t think of a better update for a toy that so badly needed one. And for those who find the deluxe class too big for this toy, then just stick him in your masterpiece collection, he’ll fit right in.
Honourable mention: Generations Cosmos, Energon Galvatron, Masterpiece Grimlock, MP Soundwave, MP Lambor, Generations Scourge, Universe Cyclonus and the Classics seekers.
Top 5 best G1 Transformers Toy updates
This concept doesn’t need much of an introduction but I will explain the thought that went behind my choices. It was in a 2 fold order. One: how much the original G1 toy needed an update. Two: How great of an update he eventually got (“he” is not a spoiler as there were no female G1 toys stateside). The best toy ever might not be first place if his original toy was pretty good, which explains the lack of some classics updates. On the flipside, a toy in bad need of an update may not be first place if the update he got wasn't as good as we can get. So without further ado, here are the top 5 best toy updates:
5. Tranformers Generations Seargent Kup
The reason he is at the back end of this list is because this doesn’t feel like the final version of this character. This toy is more of a reinterpretation of the character and not the actual comic book or G1 cartoon version come to life. He even got an update to his name. For what is probably copyright reasons, he became Sergeant Kup in this release. But none the less, Kup is one of the character’s who most needed an update. For such a legendary character, as he was one of the main characters of the 86 film, the only other toy he got since G1 was a Botcon 09 toy which didn’t work at all for the character (my opinion). But 2011 finally gave us a phenomenal update. I love the head sculpt, the alt mode is great even though it is an earth based truck instead of a Cybertronian picKUP. He still looks the part of the scrappy old timer and the color is also spot on. Then chest section is pretty great as well, recalling the cybertronian elements of the G1 toy and the transformation itself is neat, especially the feet. What really seals the deal is the long musket which stores under the truck mode disguised as a very convincing exhaust pipe.
4. Transformers Masterpiece Optimus Prime (MP-10) (Convoy)
I don’t know what to write that could give this update any justice. The figure in robot mode really looks like the G1 cartoon model just jumped off the screen, unlike the G1 toy. The G1 toy was not too bad though, hence why this isn’t number 1 on this list. Actually, the G1 toy was pretty smart since it found an effective way of combining an easy transformation which resulted in a robot which had a wide chest and a thin abdominal area, which has defined Optimus Prime ever since. This update makes that change in contour completely flawless with a smart transformation that was fine tuned from the earlier Masterpiece release of Optimus. They still didn’t fix the obvious groin area exposed in truck mode, an issue that even the G1 toy didn’t have. I do want to say that the cab is the highlight of this update. I don’t find the trailer to be much of an improvement over the G1 version, and Hasbro’s dull grey didn’t help. I was told it could be fixed with Reprolabels, and while that may be perfectly true, having to spend more money for a finished version of a product will not get you the number 1 spot (especially when your original toy was one of the best of the bunch). But number 4 is no sweat for this awesome toy.
And to give a sense of the difference in size:
3. Transformers Masterpiece Wheeljack
Oh man, what an update! They even got the spelling of sponsor “Alitalia” right this time (there are reprolabels to fix the correction though). The G1 toy, like the datsuns and other G1 cars, didn’t even have legs that could separate, so an update didn’t need much to make us happy. As a matter of fact, people were happy with simply a redeco of RTS Tracks. But this figure really knocks it out of the parc by not only being accurate but also my pick for the best new mold to come out of Hasbro/Takara in 2014. Not in a while had I marveled this much at a transformer, and on a pure toy level, he is an absolutely perfect example of a robot in disguise. He feels hefty, has flawless kibble free modes which are also both accurate to their own specific source (a cartoon model and an officially licensed car model).What I really loved about Wheeljack is how robot parts just spring out of him and are nowhere noticeable in his car mode, like his wings, which were far more evident in the original toy’s undercarriage and prone to loss. I just love how his feet are formed and look like distinct robot legs rather than a piece of his car. Unlike the Datsuns, these car pieces look more like feet than repurposed car parts, which was obviously not the case with the original G1 figure.
2. Transformers Generations Springer
Springer was not the best G1 triple changer. None of the three modes were convincing. His helicopter mode had his robot arms and hands sticking out with the excuse of it being Cybertronian in design (uurgh), the car mode was average and the robot mode was not great with odd proportions and terrible arms. He needed an update, that’s for sure, and had a bunch (starting with Energon’s Bulkhead, then Timelines, Universe and Generations GDO). But every single time, he either only turned into a car or helicopter. True triple changers are rarer than we think in the world of transformers toys, so getting an actual update of Springer as a triple changer in the Generations line was an event all on its own. It was even more wondrous to realize that this toy was an accomplishment. Unlike the G1 toy, both alt modes are very distinctive from one another. They have different dimensions and silhouettes, only sharing the color pallet. Also unlike the G1 toy, the robot mode is tall and sleek, with great proportions and one of the most poseable transformers toys at that price range. Even his sword that turns into the propeller is updated well, with a neat new transformation, and his gun has been given a serious overhaul. This would be the best update of all if it weren’t for the following number 1 pick...
1. Transformers Generations Warpath Gallery
As far as updates go, I can’t think of any other toy that needed it this much and got this good a result from it. It’s like owning a small masterpiece at the fraction of the cost. We went from a minibot with no legs, which looked locked in mid transformation into a deluxe class which oozes perfection. Unlike the G1 toy, the tank fully transforms into a robot with superb articulation, zero kibble and striking show accuracy for a non masterpiece toy. They did change his tank into an H tank, but I will take that if it means he gets legs in robot mode. It’s also worth noting that for an H tank, he doesn’t look like a robot crawling on all fours like Armada Megatron and Animated Shockwave (two toys that were NOT part of the best Tanks list). All around, I couldn’t think of a better update for a toy that so badly needed one. And for those who find the deluxe class too big for this toy, then just stick him in your masterpiece collection, he’ll fit right in.
Honourable mention: Generations Cosmos, Energon Galvatron, Masterpiece Grimlock, MP Soundwave, MP Lambor, Generations Scourge, Universe Cyclonus and the Classics seekers.
My opinion, of course.
