The Energon Pub

[BeastProwl]

I bought Prime RID Cliffjumper, Bumblebee, Wheeljack, and Soundwave. Wheeljack and Soundwave are Perfection IMO.
Bumblebee and Cliffjumper? Eh, not so much.
My theory as to why they suck so much is simple. They're stupid gimmicks! Cliffjumper and Bumblebee both have "automorph" Features that help to "simplify" the transformation.
Arcee and Ratchet look ok, not so gimmicky. Wheeljack and Soundwave Dont have stupid gimmicks, so they're good figures. My question is, do you believe this will be a seriously long lasting problem throughout the line, like MechTech was to alot of you? I mean, look at the powerizers Optimus and Bulkhead... ugh...

[SKYWARPED_128]

Honestly, I think this is a very case-by-case thing.

Take for example, DOTM deluxe Bumblebee. Despite having a simplified transformation, he's a pretty good figure. Same goes for DOTM Sideswipe, except for his "Flintstones" flooring in car mode.

On the other hand, some figs really suffer from simplified transformations.

While some prefer RID Arcee, and I can respect that, her design is pretty unbalanced. Her bot mode is mostly non-transformable except for the lower legs, with the kibble that make up the bike hanging from her back.

While FE Arcee also had a bunch of bike parts in the back, they look "integrated" with her as a whole. What I mean is that they actually look like they belong there, much like a backpack of sorts. Everything tucks in nicely and compactly, and don't call attention to themselves. The sides of her bike's headlights become her chest, blending into her bot mode. While the transformation is more involved, the parts integrate better and look like they belong on her.

RID Arcee, on the other hand, looks "disembodied" from her bike parts. Sure, she looks more accurate and feminine with her non-kibble chest and arms, but that in turn makes the kibble on her back stand out too much, like they don't belong on her.

Which is why I plan to buy RID Arcee, get rid of her kibble and make her a non-transforming but CG-accurate action figure.

[LOST Cybertronian]

Well the gimmick originally intended for PRID Deluxe figures was a head reveal which is why they were originally called Revealers. The only one that really doesn't have a head reveal is Wheeljack as Soundwaves' head is spring loaded to let it flip out of the chest cavity.

Since Hasbro dropped the name "Revealers", they might have dropped the gimmick for future figures as well. I don't recall from video reviews whether Arcee and Ratchet still have this gimmick or not.

[Period]

I thought the same thing about Wheeljack, but his head is attached to the chest and it is slid up and "revealed". It definitely doesn't have gears, but it still is revealed.

[GuyIncognito]

Don't Wheeljack and Soundwave both have "head reveal" gimmicks of their own? That's why they're all called "Revealers".

But I read somewhere once that Hasbro has limits on how many separate pieces or moving parts can be used in each size class. If BB's and CJ's gimmicks require a few extra moving parts, then that would mean they had to make sacrifices somewhere else in the figure.

[PrymeStriker]

All deluxes in this line have head revealing gimmicks. You'll have to deal with it or quit the Deluxe line if you no likey. >_>

Since Hasbro dropped the name "Revealers", they might have dropped the gimmick for future figures as well. I don't recall from video reviews whether Arcee and Ratchet still have this gimmick or not.

I didn't bother to watch Arcee's transformation, but I know Ratchet has the gimmick. It is similar to Soundwave's.

If Hot Shot is a repaint of Bumblebee, which he is, He's extremely likely to have a head revealing gimmick as well.

[Evil Eye]

What's the problem with MechTech?I thought that was one of the better gimmicks they made, especially compared to "SYBAR KEE POWAH!!!11!!!ONE!!"

[Valandar]

What's the problem with MechTech?I thought that was one of the better gimmicks they made, especially compared to "SYBAR KEE POWAH!!!11!!!ONE!!"

I dunno, a lot of the Cyberkey gimmicks didn't get TOO much in the way of a fun toy, and in a couple cases (namely Downshift and Armorhide) actually IMPROVED the figure IMHO. Yes, there were some stinkers, but Cybertron was actually one of the BEST lines overall, let alone lines to feature a cohesive gimmick.

[GuyIncognito]

Cyber key gimmick beats MechTech weapons any day. The Cyber Key gimmicks allowed the figure to be displayed in either mode without having to remove springs or otherwise modify them, and Hasbro didn't have to shrink the figures to accomodate the gimmick.

And Cyber key gimmicks are FAR superior to "pop-out heads". Cyber Key gimmicks added extra play value and alternative ways to display your figure. The pop-out heads do nothing but make the figure more likely to break.

[Evil Eye]

Fair enough. I liked the Cybertron line, don't get me wrong, I just found some of the gimmicks silly, like Landmine's ludicrous wheel thingy. Plus, where do you keep the key when you're not using it?


Saying that, I am slightly biased, as I tried watching the cartoon and was annoyed half to death by the constant yelling of "SYBAH KEE POWAH!!!!11!!!One!!1!".

[PrymeStriker]

Cybertron is the 2nd show I grew up on (the first being Energon). And that was one of the best shows around to me.

Then I got older.

Then I watched Galaxy Force.

Then Transformers: Prime came out.

And suddenly Cybertron is nothing but a stop-motion with cheesy lines to me (even though the "stop-motion" part isn't true). But the toys were/are the boss, and I loved Cyber Key gimmicks. I don't have a problem with Head Revealing gimmicks, but MechTech sucks the **** of Cyber Keys.

SYBAH KEE POWAH!!!!!!

[Evil Eye]

Well, I can't argue with that. Ahem.

However, I personally loved MechTech (even though I only have 1 figure from the line, Shockwave). But then I still play with my Transforners, and have a bit of a thing for big shiny transformable weapons that can be used by lots of figures.

I totally agree with you on the pop up head thingy though. Whilst I have no problem with automorph, it seems very silly to make the defining feature of a line...pop up heads.

Excuse me if there are any typos in this. I'm typing it from my Vita.