The Energon Pub

I recently started watching the Unicron series for the first time. In the past, I really didn’t pay attention to anything after G1. I think the few glimpses of Beast Wars and Cybertron cartoons I had really turned me off to them when they originally aired.
I just finished armada and I actually enjoyed it. It has its flaws and I understand all the criticisms I’ve read. however, I thought it was fun and kooky and I actually liked the animation. So, I decided to pick up a Hot Shot on eBay.
Now, I’ve decided to watch all the iterations I can find and possibly pick up a few figures that might best represent each one.
I have g1, animated, and universe/classics well covered, and I have Hot Shot and Wheeljack for Armada. I just ordered a couple omnibots, to get started on Energon.
I was hoping to only get characters that were unique to each show and not a direct homages but I’m not sure if that's possible.
I would appreciate any suggestions for cool figures you think best represent energon, cybertron, beast wars, beast machines, rid, ect...
thanks,
=Blotbot

RID - Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, & Scourge
Armada - Unicron, though if you don't already have him it might be worth putting the $ toward the 2010 version.
Cybertron - Optimus Prime, Primus, & Galvatron

Can't really speak to the rest. I hate Beast Wars and I'm not overly impressed with any of the Energon figs I've picked up.

Out of Energon, I really like the designs of Tidal Wave (Armada repaint, but far cooler colors), Superion Maximus, and Mirage.
Cybertron: Hot Shot (both the original and the Cybertron Defense upgrade), Vector Prime, Clocker, Snarl, Scourge...
Beast Wars: Rampage, Depth Charge, TM Tarantulas...

Kibble wrote:RID - Optimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, & Scourge
Armada - Unicron, though if you don't already have him it might be worth putting the $ toward the 2010 version.
Cybertron - Optimus Prime, Primus, & Galvatron

Can't really speak to the rest. I hate Beast Wars and I'm not overly impressed with any of the Energon figs I've picked up.

how could u hate BW??

For Beast Wars: 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal & Megatron (the ones with the Cyber Keys) and Universe Dinobot. U Cheetor is one to get for the character but the toys not the best (cheap if you find it though.)

Beast Machines: Savage/Noble (the toy is called Beast Changer) is definitely the most unique character from the show and is the only Transformer with only beast modes. Tankor is the other gem of the series but get the Tank Drone, it's more show accurate.

RiD: I'd go with Megatron (who is at least a six changer) and Scourge. If you're into exclusives, check out the TFCCs upcoming Side Burn and the Botcon Sky Byte from the 2010 set.

Sounds like you have Armada, Energon and Cybertron covered it seems but Universe Hot Shot's worth a look.

Animated: Voyager Bulkhead and Lugnut. Lockdown is cool but don't limit yourself. The whole Animated line is awesome.

jlogano20 wrote:how could u hate BW??

Something about fluorescent colored animals and bugs just doesn't strike my fancy...

Kibble wrote:

jlogano20 wrote:how could u hate BW??

Something about fluorescent colored animals and bugs just doesn't strike my fancy...

Wasn't Beast Wars you were watching then. There's nothing fluorescent in the show or the vast majority of the toys.

Lots of good suggestions. I know a lot of people aren't big on the Energon Constructicons or the classics repaint but I love them and find them to be the best of the 3 combiners we got there. Cybertron Armorhide is a great little guy. Energon Cruellock/Doomlock is a fun mold. Energon "Energon" Starscream and Excellion homage G1 Screamer and Hot Rod nicely. He's kinda hard to get at decent prices but Energon Ultra Magnus is a fun brick. These don't necessarily represent their series so much, they're just stuff I was pretty pleased with buying.

Flux Convoy wrote:Wasn't Beast Wars you were watching then. There's nothing fluorescent in the show or the vast majority of the toys.

Really? Click the link and just scroll down the page:

http://www.seibertron.com/toys/index.ph ... type=exact

I rest my case...

Kibble wrote:

Flux Convoy wrote:Wasn't Beast Wars you were watching then. There's nothing fluorescent in the show or the vast majority of the toys.

Really? Click the link and just scroll down the page:

http://www.seibertron.com/toys/index.ph ... type=exact

I rest my case...

What case? If you're basing your opinion on the McDonalds Happy Meal toys or the multiple Transmetal repaints then you're doing yourself a disservice. I also did say the vast majority. Again, there's nothing fluorescent or even remotely neon in the show or figures of any of the show characters. Unless you're counting Energon itself. In that case, you'd be hating all but the Movie stuff. There are some brightly colored plastics used but nothing I'd term fluorescent.

for RiD: I'd add Rail Racer to the list. team Bullet train make for an impressive trio, and a great, albeit short, gestault.

the Build Team is pretty cool, too. From a fiction POV, the idea of one combiner team member in full control is a nice addition.

Prime and Magnus of course. They combine into the most awesome Prime ever.

Scourge is worth getting simply because he ignited the 'evil black repaint' idea.

Megatron is great. The Hasbro version uses Devil Gigatron's mold, giving him access to all ten transformations.



You may be wondering why I'm not discusssing any other line. RiD is the line that brought me back to TFs after Beast Wars chased me off. The Unicron trilogy didn't win any favors with me either.

adamassc wrote:for RiD: I'd add Rail Racer to the list. team Bullet train make for an impressive trio, and a great, albeit short, gestault.

the Build Team is pretty cool, too. From a fiction POV, the idea of one combiner team member in full control is a nice addition.

Oh yeah, Railracer is nice! Didn't know that about the Build team, that's interesting. RID isn't on a US DVD release so I've never seen much more than the intro.

Just off the top of my head:

G1 - Jetfire
Pretenders - Monstructor
Action Masters - Bonzaitron
Headmasters - Raiden
Masterforce - Overlord
Victory - Victory Saber
G2 - Bruticus
Machine Wars - Sandstorm
Beast Wars - Optimus Primal
Beast Wars Metals - Tigerhawk
Beast Machines - Tankor
Beast Wars II - Galvatron
Beast Wars Neo - Big Convoy
RID - Railracer
Universe - Devastator (RID Repaint)
Armada - Micron Legends Scourge
Energon - Scorponok
Cybertron - Sideways
Alternators - Shockwave
Titanium 6 inch - Cheetor
Titanium 3 inch - Optimus Primal
Classics 1.0 - Optimus Prime
Movie 1 - Bumblebee (deluxe)
Battle for the Allspark - Landmine
Classics 2.0 - Onslaught
Animated - Ultra Magnus
ROTF - Leader Prime
N.E.S.T. - Bludgeon
Autobot Alliance - Breacher
Generations - Skullgrin
Power Core Combiners - Grimstone w/ Dinobots
Reveal the Shield - Jazz
War For Cybertron (subline) - Megatron
Revoltech figures - Megatron
Masterpiece figures - Black Convoy
Alternity - Megatron
Heroes of Megatron - Devastator
Robot Heroes - Dispensor
Music Label - Soundwave
Device Label - Blaster
3rd Party TF Related Figures - Crossfire 02

Flux Convoy wrote:What case? If you're basing your opinion on the McDonalds Happy Meal toys or the multiple Transmetal repaints then you're doing yourself a disservice. I also did say the vast majority. Again, there's nothing fluorescent or even remotely neon in the show or figures of any of the show characters. Unless you're counting Energon itself. In that case, you'd be hating all but the Movie stuff. There are some brightly colored plastics used but nothing I'd term fluorescent.

I'm basing my opinion on me not digging animal and bug TFs. Dinobots are the exception because I have a soft spot left over for them from my childhood, but I think the rest are pretty lame...Insecticons included. And I like Beast Wars even less due to so many intense colors (sorry if fluorescent was a slight exaggeration) on top of them having animal and bug alt modes. But that's just me...I'm happy for you if you love them to bits. Dude just asked how I could hate BW and I answered. Nothing personal...

From Energon,

I'd recommend:
Landmine
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Landmine_%28Energon%29
or Landquake
http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Landquake_%28Energon%29

It's a fun toy where it looks like a Mad Max style construction vehicle where the trailer forms additional armor and weapons for the bot mode.

I don't know about other people, but Wing Saber was cool, and made Energon Optimus Prime actually look cool, especially with the blue limbs acting as the arms. The turrets on the shoulder look boss.

Energon Omega Supreme
It's big and it kicks ass. I put it with my Neo G1/Classics/Generations collection, and could fit in easily with yours. Nothing says Omega Supreme than the tallest toy in your collection, and it's still taller than the ROTF/Energon Bruticus Maximus loaded with the FansProject crossfire set.

Energon Starsream
This mold is very popular and while I couldn't stomach watching Energon, a lot people liked this incarnation of Starscream a lot. The toy is fairly bad ass as well. The Guns are big, and combine to make a bigger Sword/Sniper Rifle.

Energon Downshift:
Well I still use this one as a stand in for as classic Wheeljack, and the weapons look great. You get a shotgun with one and cannon with the other, and the tailpipes fold down to be shoulder mounted miniguns.

Armada:
Definitely Super-con Optimus Prime. Forget the larger one, unless you plan on getting the shuttle pants and Overload backpack, the figure is just too ugly and pulls off none of its modes well. The Super-con is a simple interpretation of it, but because of that, it has great detail, great articulation, and the mini-con changes into an awesome gun and jet. Also the powerlink gimmick in no way hinders the toy at all. Finally the "Gun" can be stored on the back of Prime's rear skirt armor, which makes it a great quick draw figure.

Megatron/Galvatron is just loaded with gimmicks and has like 20+ minicon ports, some of which active the cooler gimmicks. My favorite is the switchblade stored in the arm, and mini-con storage spaces. Also combines with Tidalwave.

Speaking of which Tidal Wave just look too awesome not to have as well. He's got like five different modes, and a ton of mini-con ports.

Overload is my guilty pleasure from this line. He barely, if at all made into the show, and his bot mode is about as posable as a wave 1 Generation 1 seeker, but he looks great, and sometimes that's enough.

Kibble wrote:

Flux Convoy wrote:What case? If you're basing your opinion on the McDonalds Happy Meal toys or the multiple Transmetal repaints then you're doing yourself a disservice. I also did say the vast majority. Again, there's nothing fluorescent or even remotely neon in the show or figures of any of the show characters. Unless you're counting Energon itself. In that case, you'd be hating all but the Movie stuff. There are some brightly colored plastics used but nothing I'd term fluorescent.

I'm basing my opinion on me not digging animal and bug TFs. Dinobots are the exception because I have a soft spot left over for them from my childhood, but I think the rest are pretty lame...Insecticons included. And I like Beast Wars even less due to so many intense colors (sorry if fluorescent was a slight exaggeration) on top of them having animal and bug alt modes. But that's just me...I'm happy for you if you love them to bits. Dude just asked how I could hate BW and I answered. Nothing personal...

I'm certainly not taking it personally. I was unaware we were arguing. I addressed your previous statements. The bug and animal counterpoints is new to the discussion. That probably would have served you better in your opening about your distaste for BW. We don't have to like the same things and I'm certainly not trying to shove it down your throat. I disagreed with your points and offered up my own opinion and counterpoints. Relax a bit bud. It's a discussion about robot toys on the internet. It could be so much worse

Flux Convoy wrote:Lots of good suggestions. I know a lot of people aren't big on the Energon Constructicons or the classics repaint but I love them and find them to be the best of the 3 combiners we got there. Cybertron Armorhide is a great little guy. Energon Cruellock/Doomlock is a fun mold. Energon "Energon" Starscream and Excellion homage G1 Screamer and Hot Rod nicely. He's kinda hard to get at decent prices but Energon Ultra Magnus is a fun brick. These don't necessarily represent their series so much, they're just stuff I was pretty pleased with buying.

I was trying to stick to unique characters in the given show but E Rodimus and Ultra Magnus plus the Constructicons and Omega Sentinel are great homages. I'd also say E Downshift but with Generations Wheeljack around the corner, why bother. Cybertron Red Alert, Soundwave (just for the Laserbeak if nothing else), Hardtop, Armorhide and Cybertron Defense Hot Shot are all pretty win too. From Armada, the only Decepticon toys I personally like are Megatron, Starscream and Demolisher.

If you actually want good Beast Machines toys of the main cast, stick with the McDonald's Happy Meal toys. I am totally serious.

And I like Beast Wars even less due to so many intense colors

We need way more monochrome toys

Flux Convoy wrote:I'm certainly not taking it personally. I was unaware we were arguing. I addressed your previous statements. The bug and animal counterpoints is new to the discussion. That probably would have served you better in your opening about your distaste for BW. We don't have to like the same things and I'm certainly not trying to shove it down your throat. I disagreed with your points and offered up my own opinion and counterpoints. Relax a bit bud. It's a discussion about robot toys on the internet. It could be so much worse

I guess we're both reading the other as getting worked up about nothing, but hey, it's all good on this end as well. Anyhow, my initial post on this matter did mention something about "animals and bugs not striking my fancy", though to be fair, it probably came off as though color was the primary objection.

zodconvoy wrote:Beast Machines: Savage/Noble (the toy is called Beast Changer) is definitely the most unique character from the show and is the only Transformer with only beast modes. Tankor is the other gem of the series but get the Tank Drone, it's more show accurate.

Mutants are Transformers too!!!!! http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Mutant_%28BW%29

I only have Soundwave, and yeah he's a little lackluster, but his beast modes look like actual beasts, and the transformation is pretty intuitive. Savage/Noble is a neat figure though, and is a lot more articulated.

Now then.....

Armada: Sideways. He's not the most articulate figure, looks a little wonky, but he's awsome. Transformation is simple and satisfying, and he has a rider(s). Rook and Crosswise(his Mini-cons, and rider(s)) are pretty cool, because they are two small robots that can combine into one larger rider. They're pretty well articulated too. However, his Headmaster gimmick is why I really love those mini-cons. His faction changes when you put the proper head on, and he even has a third standard head that looks good.

All in all, a very imaginitive figure that I'd rank above the Cybertron version. Think I'm crazy? Cybertron Sideways may be cool in his own right, but as a double agent, he's so blah he can't even be a Decepticon without a goofy key sticking out of his shield.

Energon: Strongarm. Love the little fella. Heck, I recommend all the Omnicons and Terrorcons, they make for great subgroups. They're Energon weapons are cool too, and they've got some play/display value their as you can swap 'em out/combine them with other Energon weapons.

Oh, another vote for Starscream, and really all the Auto Deluxes. Yeah quality will vary, but powerlinking is great fun. Kicker and Highwire is a unique set too, but not the best.

Cybertron: Hmm....There's a lot of good figures here, but I don't think I have any that strike me as "best ever" or standout. Heck, that could just be a compliment to the quality of the line. Pick what you like, seems like a very solid line from what I've gotten.


But to choose one? Shortround(or his repaint, Storm Surge from the films/Wal-Mart Black Friday, might be easier to find, don't know, it's what I have). Toilet mode, 'nuff said.

Duke of Luns wrote:Mutants are Transformers too!!!!!

Strictly speaking Savage/Noble is the only Transformer without robotic parts. He was 100% organic. The Mutants are still robots with alt modes. Savage/Noble is a Darwinian nightmare.

Hmmm...

My suggestions...

G1 - Shockwave

Headmasters - Fortress Maximus

Masterforce - God Ginrai (Optimus Prime + Apex Armor)

G2 - Megatron (green and purple tank)

Beast Wars - 10th anniversary 2-pack (Optimus Primal + Megatron)

RID - Scourge

Armada - Optimus + Jetfire + Overload (massive and imposing combo)

Energon - Scorponok

Cybertron - Optimus Prime

Alternators - Grimlock

Titanium 6 inch - Grimlock

2007 Movie - Megatron

Animated - Leader Class Megatron

ROTF - Leader Class Optimus Prime

War For Cybertron - Megatron

Masterpiece - Grimlock

For Cybertron, I'd like to suggest Vector Prime. He's got a really unique look to him, lots of "clockwork" details making it look like "yeah, this guy's been around way longer than these other guys" just like the fiction makes him out to be.

I also like that in addition to his sword he's got both a minicon and a cyber planet key

zodconvoy wrote:

Duke of Luns wrote:Mutants are Transformers too!!!!!

Strictly speaking Savage/Noble is the only Transformer without robotic parts. He was 100% organic. The Mutants are still robots with alt modes. Savage/Noble is a Darwinian nightmare.

Ah, touche'. However, from a toy standpoint, Mutants and Savage/Noble fall in a very similar boat.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I’m watching Energon now. So far, I’m surprised how much I don't hate it. I was expecting to be throwing up at the terribleness, although I’m not that many episodes in. I do find Kicker to be annoying, but I think, being a final fantasy fan as well, has immunized me to irritating lead characters like him.

As of now, my choices/wish list is as follows:
Beast Wars - cheetor, depth charge, waspinator, tarantulas
Beast Machines - Savage/noble, Nightscream, Strika, obsidian, tankor
RID - towline, Scourge,
Energon - downshift, ironhide, mirage, sharcticon, 3omnicons 2terrorcons
Cybertron - clocker, overhaul, mudflap, thunderblast, sideways, soundwave

Some I chose because they seemed like really original interesting characters (e.g. strika & thuunderblast = evil fembots; energon mirage = supposedly gay; savage/noble = no robot form)
I may change my mind after watching the shows (or finding out how much things are on eBay); some characters are more interesting than their toys. I wasn’t going to touch Energon Ironhide with a 10ftpole, but I feel like he is the bumblebee/wheelie/hotshot of Energon and I have a theory Carlos and him are really the same person. Do you ever see them in the same room together?
I was disappointed after looking at the RID figures, they seem kinda cheap. The trains looked too phallic to me, the build team is crazy all put together, and a lot of the cars have weird un-symmetrical kibble. I haven’t actually seen any of the series yet, I hope its good.
Cheers,
=Daniel