The Energon Pub

Or, as I like to call it, "Ask Counterpunch"

What Superlink figures are radically different from their Energon releases?

I know of at least:

Megazarak vs Scorponok
Hot Shot Fire vs Energon Hot Shot
Wheeljack vs Downshift

The weapons on Jaguar vs Battle Ravage are radically different shades of green.
Skyfire Sonic, Roadbuster Wild, and Hot Shot Fire come with extra Energon weapons (as well as few others)

I also know of the SL exclusive figures:
Shadowhawk Cosmos
Chromehorn Forest
Dinobot Magma

Paradron Medic
Fire Guts Convoy
Black Rodimus

All the Energon Weapon goodness.

I also know about the Kicker differences.

Am I missing anything?

Energon Bulkhead makes the 'transforming' sound when you attach the booster unit. Superlink Sprung has the speaker but unusually no sound effects.

Nickolai wrote:Energon Bulkhead makes the 'transforming' sound when you attach the booster unit. Superlink Sprung has the speaker but unusually no sound effects.

That's good to know, and I'm glad I'm sticking with the US release.

If you're not including the small paint applications here and there, then things get tricky.

One of the things that spring into mind is Optimus Prime. The Superlink has a chromed chest, no sound effects and a brighter shade of plastic.

Cosmic Rust had a complete comprehensive list of all the differences between the figures. There are some unmentioned ones I like to point out:

1. All Japanese Megas and Ultras had their electronics removed to save costs. I don't know about Grand Convoy though.
2. All Japanese repaints (but not the remolds like Inferno Volt) came with an Energon Weapon.
3. Energon Kicker and the Japanese Kicker are two completely different toys. Energon Kicker was based on a G.I. Joe figure, while the Japanese Kicker uses the standard Microman body with a new head and removable armor.
4. The US Megatron and Galvatron were Leader Class, the Japanese Galvatron and Galvatron General were roughly Ultra.
5. And of course, the exclusives:

Fire Grand Convoy
Black Rodimus Convoy
Ariel Paradron Type
Shadowhawk Cosmo Type
Dinobot Magma Type
Chromehorn Forest Type
Cliffjumper: Screw, Accel, Throttle
Micron Boosters 1 and 2

Blurrz wrote:I had a great link to a Geocities site that had it all. Geocities is dead now. Sad face.

archive.org to the rescue!

http://web.archive.org/web/200504170745 ... /vjap.html

This thread reminded me that I will be eternally crying over the fact that I joined the collecting game too late to get a Superlink Wheeljack. He's impossible to find in the aftermarket... Puke green for eternity... *sigh*

kirbenvost wrote:This thread reminded me that I will be eternally crying over the fact that I joined the collecting game too late to get a Superlink Wheeljack. He's impossible to find in the aftermarket... Puke green for eternity... *sigh*

Not true at all, he turns up at Botcon every year...you just have to get him quickly

Ok, so as it happens, I wrote up a text file on all the differences I was aware of while Superlink and Energon were still brand new, let's see what info I can pull up...

Superlink Grand Convoy vs. Energon Optimus Prime
"The Energon version of this figure had electronic sounds, duller coloured plastics and a different head sculpt (A section of the mouthplate was removed and a mouth added). After the initial run of the figure, Hasbro switched to the full mouthplated head used by the Superlink figure."

Superlink Galvatron vs. Energon Megatron
"This figure was made in two considerably different sizes. The larger of the two was used by Hasbro for the Energon line, while the smaller one was used by Takara for Superlink. The Superlink Galvatron figure was released in a store exclusive 2-pack with the smaller "SL Grand Convoy" figure (The deluxe sized Grand Convoy who could combine with other Cybertrons) by Hasbro as an Optimus vs. Megatron set."

Superlink Galvatron General vs. Energon Galvatron
"As with Superlink's Galvatron and Energon's Megatron, Hasbro used the larger model once again while Takara continued using the smaller one."

Other than that, everybody's pretty much got it covered here... I never did worry too much about paint differences in my list, simply because nearly every figure in the series had differences between here and japan.

- Sam

SL Afterburner vs. E- Afterburner (Silverbolt has different paint apps. Also when combined the main body has different paint apps.

SL Shockblast has a darker shade of grey which blends in
a bit better. Hot Shot has different paint apps in robot mode, and Inferno has a deeper shade of red.

kirbenvost wrote:This thread reminded me that I will be eternally crying over the fact that I joined the collecting game too late to get a Superlink Wheeljack. He's impossible to find in the aftermarket... Puke green for eternity... *sigh*

One thing you could do is to look up people selling Transformer sets or lots. That's how I got mine, he was grouped with a bunch of other Energon figs.

Did anyone mention that the SL Ironhide has grey instead of tan plastic? The US one is more accurate.

Also, the SL Shockfleet is grey instead of the US Mirage's tan. The Japanese version is more accurate in this case.

Delicon wrote:

kirbenvost wrote:This thread reminded me that I will be eternally crying over the fact that I joined the collecting game too late to get a Superlink Wheeljack. He's impossible to find in the aftermarket... Puke green for eternity... *sigh*

Not true at all, he turns up at Botcon every year...you just have to get him quickly

This is very extremely true.

bvzxa wrote:SL Shockblast has a darker shade of grey which blends in
a bit better. Hot Shot has different paint apps in robot mode, and Inferno has a deeper shade of red.

Points on this...

I don't think the SL Laserwave is better than the Energon Shockblast. I actually think it's inferior. That's my opinion on the matter.

The US Hot Shot is more show accurate than the SL version. That's fact and not opinion.

The same is true of the powered up redeco of Hot Shot.

Counterpunch wrote:

bvzxa wrote:SL Shockblast has a darker shade of grey which blends in
a bit better. Hot Shot has different paint apps in robot mode, and Inferno has a deeper shade of red.

Points on this...

I don't think the SL Laserwave is better than the Energon Shockblast. I actually think it's inferior. That's my opinion on the matter.

Absolutely agreed. I have no plans on getting LaserWave.

Counterpunch wrote:The US Hot Shot is more show accurate than the SL version. That's fact and not opinion.

The same is true of the powered up redeco of Hot Shot.

I actually really like the lack of yellow on Hot Shot Fire. I just found a complete one for $23, with his bonus weapon and chip.

Nujevad wrote:

kirbenvost wrote:This thread reminded me that I will be eternally crying over the fact that I joined the collecting game too late to get a Superlink Wheeljack. He's impossible to find in the aftermarket... Puke green for eternity... *sigh*

One thing you could do is to look up people selling Transformer sets or lots. That's how I got mine, he was grouped with a bunch of other Energon figs.

Thanks for the tip, but unfortunately (fortunately) I already have all my other Energon figs. Not sure if I'd want to buy a huge lot for 1 figure...

Delicon wrote:Not true at all, he turns up at Botcon every year...you just have to get him quickly

lol, well, although SL Wheeljack shows up at Botcon every year, I myself have yet to. But that is good to know if I ever make it out, he can be first on my list of figures to look out for. Thanks for the tips guys!

There were also variations, in Energon Prime's OP units with respect to to Superlink Grand Convoy's units.

Most notably the chrome tip on Digger 1 for the Superlink version, versus the black tip for the Energon version. Also the yellow plastic used is different. As is the Orange for Fire2, and the Blue for Submarine 4.

Copter 2 seem to be pretty much the same.

Anybody know of any major differences between the Wingsabers?

Overcracker wrote:There were also variations, in Energon Prime's OP units with respect to to Superlink Grand Convoy's units.

Most notably the chrome tip on Digger 1 for the Superlink version, versus the black tip for the Energon version. Also the yellow plastic used is different. As is the Orange for Fire2, and the Blue for Submarine 4.

Copter 2 seem to be pretty much the same.

Anybody know of any major differences between the Wingsabers?

Digger was 3, Fire was 1...
As for Energon Wing Saber, he had vastly reduced paint apps compared to his japanese counterpart. Missing from the Energon release were things like, the white on the backs of his robot mode hands, the black fingers of his combined mode hands, and yellow and white detailing on his arms. I'm sure there's more but this is all that comes to mind... I know there's a gallery of the superlink version on this very site, and I doubt images of the Energon release would be that hard to come by if you google image searched it...

In fact here's a brief rundown on the Energon version

Hope this is of some assistance, personally I prefer the Superlink version, but that's probably obvious...

- Sam

Thanks everybody!

I've been able to finish deciding on my want list for Superlink:

Jaguar
Shadowhawk Cosmos Type
Ariel Paradron Type
Wheeljack
Fire Guts Convoy
Black Rodimus
Megazarak
Galvatron General

Not too bad, only about $600-$800 up there

Not including the Energon Weapons

I've only got the US Alpha/Omega Spears, Royal Clear Spear, Roadbuster Wild's Axe, and Hot Shot Fire's Cutter. I've got a long way to go.

Samsonator wrote:

Overcracker wrote:There were also variations, in Energon Prime's OP units with respect to to Superlink Grand Convoy's units.

Most notably the chrome tip on Digger 1 for the Superlink version, versus the black tip for the Energon version. Also the yellow plastic used is different. As is the Orange for Fire2, and the Blue for Submarine 4.

Copter 2 seem to be pretty much the same.

Anybody know of any major differences between the Wingsabers?

Digger was 3, Fire was 1...
As for Energon Wing Saber, he had vastly reduced paint apps compared to his japanese counterpart. Missing from the Energon release were things like, the white on the backs of his robot mode hands, the black fingers of his combined mode hands, and yellow and white detailing on his arms. I'm sure there's more but this is all that comes to mind... I know there's a gallery of the superlink version on this very site, and I doubt images of the Energon release would be that hard to come by if you google image searched it...

In fact here's a brief rundown on the Energon version

Hope this is of some assistance, personally I prefer the Superlink version, but that's probably obvious...

- Sam

Thanks very good site and yeah messed up on the unit numbers there.

Anyway I got the Superlink Wingsaber a while back, but was curious about the differences. Never had the Energon version.

Counterpunch wrote:Did anyone mention that the SL Ironhide has grey instead of tan plastic? The US one is more accurate.

Also, the SL Shockfleet is grey instead of the US Mirage's tan. The Japanese version is more accurate in this case.

Delicon wrote:

kirbenvost wrote:This thread reminded me that I will be eternally crying over the fact that I joined the collecting game too late to get a Superlink Wheeljack. He's impossible to find in the aftermarket... Puke green for eternity... *sigh*

Not true at all, he turns up at Botcon every year...you just have to get him quickly

This is very extremely true.

bvzxa wrote:SL Shockblast has a darker shade of grey which blends in
a bit better. Hot Shot has different paint apps in robot mode, and Inferno has a deeper shade of red.

Points on this...

I don't think the SL Laserwave is better than the Energon Shockblast. I actually think it's inferior. That's my opinion on the matter.

The US Hot Shot is more show accurate than the SL version. That's fact and not opinion.

The same is true of the powered up redeco of Hot Shot.

I like Laserwave better. The grey on Shockblast was too light to me. As for Hot Shot, I know he isn't 'toon accurate, but I like the color switch they did on him. I only got him because he was $15 complete while E-Hot Shot was going for $25 complete. After Armada/Micron Legend, I gave up on 'toon accuracy, and started to pick and choose the colors I liked, and were best affordable. With Armada/Micron Legend, I will pretty much snatch up anything from ML, but Energon was slightly more 'toon accruarte than Superlink. Cybertron was on point, but a few had minor differences like Nitro Convoy/Override, give me Nitro Convoy anyday.