The Energon Pub

[Megatron Wolf]

wheeljack is still the only one i really want and ill get arcee cause i still need a chromia. the vehicon might be a wait till on sale figure the rest are a pass.

[Autobot032]

I think I understand what Hasbro is thinking. The RID line is simpler and is probably easier for the kids, the primary market, to play with and transform.

Normally, I'd agree, but I own both Wheeljack and Megatron...

Neither one are drastically difficult, but there are some quirky things about both of them that aren't perfectly kid friendly. Megatron's shoulder horns, for example. A lot of moving this out of the way of that, to make that fit into this, etc. Hinges, pegs and slots.

Wheeljack is difficult due to his windshield and arms. I have trouble getting it lined up just right. It does finally happen, but it takes a lot of massaging the pieces together to make 'em fit. They tab and snap and if you're not careful, well... I can see some of these figures breaking because of such a design. Especially Wheeljack.

I can't wait to see what issues the other figures have...

[STINGRAY749]

Most of these are mistransformed, BIG TIME. Bulkhead looks ok, but I'll wait to see a review of him before I make a chose between which one I want FE or Rid.

Moving on, The Weaponizers, were to begin. From the pics it looks like the cannons flip from a lever being pushed. B actually looks good. prime, that crainium of yours is well, I'll let this clip explain it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EElxuL3AFC4

Other wise, bring them one!

end rant.

[metaphorge]

It's sort of like a human having an arm made of solid blood.

That's a horrible mental image...

yep, and that's how Transformers would feel looking at those Powerizers.

I Believe You Win Seibertron.com For Today. Tell him what he's won, Rod!

[dedcat]

Someone smarter than me is going to cast and reproduce the clear plastic bits on powerizers in proper colors and make a ton of loot selling them.

[Sabrblade]

FE vs RID

Arcee - RID wins
Bumblebee - tie (both win)
Starscream - stalemate (FE is more show-accurate, but RID is more size-accurate, so neither wins)
Cliffjumper - FE wins
Vehicon - RID wins
Optimus Prime - FE wins
Megatron - tie (RID is nice and size-accurate, but FE still looks very nice, both win)
Bulkhead - FE wins

FE wins by 1 point. But that's still makes a difference.

[paul053]

Man, that Bulkhead looks terrible. Curse you! Hasbro. I need that FE version!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Autobot032]

FE vs RID

Arcee - RID wins
Bumblebee - tie (both win)
Starscream - stalemate (FE is more show-accurate, but RID is more size-accurate, so neither wins)
Cliffjumper - FE wins
Vehicon - RID wins
Optimus Prime - FE wins
Megatron - tie (RID is nice and size-accurate, but FE still looks very nice, both win)
Bulkhead - FE wins

FE wins by 1 point. But that's still makes a difference.

PRID Arcee has the right coloring and shoulder flaps, I tend to agree with this assessment, but I'm still happy to have my F.E.

F.E. Bumblebee wins, hands down. The RID's only saving grace is the simplicity of transformation and/or dual weapons. More the dual weapons. Accuracy? No.

F.E. Starscream actually works in the scale it's in when compared to Voyager Optimus and Megatron. Megatron's a hulk compared to 'Screamer.

F.E. Cliffjumper, I agree.

Vehicon, unsure yet. I haven't received my F.E. yet. (Monday, I'll know for sure what I think of it.)

F.E. Optimus, clearly the winner. I can't believe they even made the PRID version, really.

PRID Megatron wins for me. I do like how the F.E.'s backpack is handled, the imposing look and reasonably sized head work so much better. Plus the lightpiping looks amazing.

Bulkhead....no question. F.E.'s the clear winner. I can't even believe the mess the PRID version has become. I just can't understand what Hasbro's thinking. I mean, it's like the F.E.'s an official figure and the PRID is a knockoff or horrible 3rd party failure.

If this were the Super Bowl, they'd have lost it. They'd have fumbled the ball all the way to loserville. The crowd would be sitting there with their jaws on the ground with a whole bunch of "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?!" running through their heads.

[OmicronZero]

Those are some massively mis-transformed figures. After going to NYCC and seeing the display figures transformed differently every day- with at least two of the Prime figures mis-transformed every time- and then seeing this, I'm starting to think Hasbro is doing this on purpose. Just to mess with all the people on the internet.

Which makes it a bit difficult to make a any sort of decision about some of them.

Bumblebee: FE version is better, mostly in the 'less kibble/backpack' department. Unfortunately missed the true FE version, though I might still try to get one. I do have the NYCC Taxi version of the FE though, and even that is enough to keep me from getting the RID version.

Cliffjumper: It seems to be pretty universally agreed that the FE version is better, which is why I've procured one from Canada.

Wheeljack: Pretty good looking. Definitely liking the pictured ability to mount the swords on the sides of the alt mode instead of the front-mounted 'tusks'. Keeping an eye out for this one.

Soundwave: This really looks like one of the high points of the RID line. Thinking about ordering it online as my local TRU seems to be on the 'not in a million years' end of getting new stock. Otherwise this is definite buy on sight.

Hot Shot: Being a WfC and Hot Rod fan, Prime Hot Shot should be Hot Rod/imus. Not an Energon trilogy fan, which it seems this is an homage to. I might still get it though, as I'll be sticking with the FE version for Bumblebee and the head sculpt does look nice. We'd better still get Rodimus in some form, Hasbro- assuming the series keeps on strong.

Vehicon/Drone: Another high point of the RID line, this is really the only figure that stands out as being superior to the FE version, to me. Definite buy on sight. Possibly getting two or three if I really like the figure in hand.

Arcee: The RID version's robot mode looks very nice, and indeed more show accurate than the FE. The only thing that has bugged me is the silly, massive gun. I also really want to see a good picture of the back of the figure, as I am wondering about the backpacking. Finally seeing the alt mode, and it looks pretty good, really about the same as the FE. On the other hand now something else bothers me. Something about the plastic, especially the blue and translucent... is it just me, or is it sparkly/glittery? That just seems... weird.

Ratchet: Seems like this figure is still in some level of prototyping, as every time I see it the paint apps have changed. That said, as long as the paint apps end up good I'll probably get it. It doesn't look spectacular, but it's not bad either.

Knock Out: Wow, this guy looks spectacularly mis-transformed. Either that or the robot mode and mechanics are outright terrible. The alt mode does look nice, and if I ever see a picture that shows a better looking robot mode I'll definitely pick it up.

Powerizers: Prime and Bulkhead look pretty terrible. Especially in comparison to their FE versions. Megs and Starscream look a bit better, perhaps because they lack same-scale FE models. I'll probably get Megatron, though I have to admit his new arm-cannon looks a little weird. Starscream on the other hand I need to see more of, partially because I think he's mis-transformed.

Weaponizers: Eight wheeled Bumblebee and the neckless, gatling-action Prime will not be featured in my collection. It almost seems like the more times Has/Tak makes a new version of the Prime characters, the worse they get.

[Starscream GaGa]

Starscream - stalemate (FE is more show-accurate, but RID is more size-accurate, so neither wins)

I thin you'll find Deluxe is the one who is the right scale. Starscream is supposed to be about as tall as Bulkhead. Technically he should probably be a bit bigger, but the Voyager would end up being too tall.

Unless he's a really short Voyager, of course.

[wilcosu35]

alright. let's have a look
knockout: probably mistransformed, but looks decent
vehicon: already known, instant buy
hot shot: don't want him
bulkhead: ridiculous mace weapon, but i reserve judgment on the figure until i've seen more pictures.
starscream: is that supposed to be some kind of weapon? bot mode looks good, but he won't be carrying that hunk of plastic.
ratchet: looks alright, but needs more paint apps and would probably be better as a voyager.
megatron: looks great, no complaints
arcee: need more pictures
weaponizer optimus and bee: thanks, i'll pass

i think i won't be going bigger than voyager class for this line, unless they're doing something that looks really good and is decently in scale

ow, yes. and the translucent plastic on the voyagers only fits with megatron due to his dark energon. on the rest, it's not a very good idea. even though i know why they did it.

[Tyrannotaur]

Not too bad overall.
I am definitively looking to get Knock Out, Arcee, Vehicon, Voyager Megs, Ratchet and Voyager Starscream. Although I'll need to buy a grey sharpie or something for Starscream's arms, that's just silly looking. Bulkhead I may pass on. I don't need a Bumblebee repaint so I'll pass on Hotshot. The weaponizers are too gimmicky for me and that Bumblebee is hugely out of scale, so no thanks. All that leaves is Optimus, which I still don't know about. I don't really wanna put the money down for a FE, and I have the SDCC one (Still in the box and a deluxe but it counts IMO).
Good stuff. Looking forward to seeing more of the line in stores. I just need to find Soundwave already :/

[alexison]

I want to like this line and in some cases, I do. But, for the most part it is clearly a step backwards from the FE figures.

[kirbenvost]

And is there a FE Megatron Voyager different from the one here? I can't keep track anymore. I'm right across the border from Canada, but I just didn't know far enough in advance to save up me Christmas money...*sigh*

No, there's just a deluxe one from the Entertainment pack with a way nicer paintjob, but he's way too small to be in scale.

So my opinion on the newer stuff I have not already commented on at length:

Knock Out - Still mistransformed. But I can see the potential, and it looks good to me. Will buy. I notice they didn't paint his rims though, very disappointing. Maybe Takara will come through.

PRID Arcee - The bot mode looks great but the bike mode isn't doing it for me. It's fine, I already have the FE one.

Voyager Bulkhead - Like PRID Prime, not too bad, but not great. Obviously the FE mold is better, and I already have him. I do like how the transparent bits are less apparent on him. The giant mechtech weapon on the roof is half terrible, half cool... kind of reminds me of Energon Ironhide, almost. In fact, holy crap, I think I now understand the origin of Bulkhead. Maybe I need to get E-Ironhide now.



Voyager Starscream - That's pretty nice, aside from the transparent arms. I like the extra detail he has over the FE one. The jet mode looks especially good, except for the huge leg kibble, but the FE one kind of shares that problem. The shoulder pads looks really cool too. There are some things that look less accurate, but he's still very cool. I already have the FE one though so I guess I don't need this one.

Hot Shot - looks surprisingly cool. At first I got all excited, thinking he comes with 4 weapons and I could give 1 to my FE Bumblebee, but in reality I think they just displayed him wrong and 2 of those are supposed to go to the one in bot mode. Oh well. He goes on the 'maybe on sale' list.

Vehicon - y no bot mode?

Weaponizer Prime - I knew they'd screw it up somehow. It looked way better with transparent chest windows, and the blue on the cannons doesn't look very good either. It still looks decent for kids though. Easy pass for me because I already have FE Prime anyway.

Weaponizer Bee - I don't need a huge Bee. That says it all. I guess they did pretty well making him look good in both modes though.

[Counterpunch]

I like how many people are coming to the same conclusion about the worthiness of FE Starscream. ^_^

[Sodan-1]

Knock-Out looks like a scratch custom job, i.e. a bit naff. Bulkhead I think I'd call crap regardless of whether or not I'd seen First Edition. Starscream is actually looking pretty good to me. I know the transparent plastic forearms are a bit lame, but is it confirmed if that aspect will be part of Takara's versions? Hopefully the Micron gimmick will remove the clear plastic rubbish.

Off topic, I have to say I'm getting pretty fed up of people screaming "obviously mistransformed" everytime they see a new photo. What the hell is so obvious when you haven't even seen them with your own eyes? Why do they have to be mistransformed? Why can't they simply be crap?

[Autobot032]

I like how many people are coming to the same conclusion about the worthiness of FE Starscream. ^_^

F.E. Starscream is one of Hasbro's saving graces in this whole thing. If it weren't for him, we'd have to kick them in the nuts AND punch them in the face. As it stands, face only, for now.

The face, Hasbro, the face!

[optimuscarlos]

Well, I've watched all the pictures and my conclusion is simple, I have to spend $200 getting FE versions on ebay, dam!. I was hopping I like the RID molds but no way.

HotShot:
I don't buy repaints.

voyager Starscream:
His empty chest looks weird. Deluxe FE is a much better representation.

Deluxe Cliff Jumper:
A HAMMER!!, really?. Nothing else to say. I stuck with FE.

Deluxe Bumblebee:
I thought FE had some issues with the chest that could be fix in the RID mold.
Now I think He is perfect just the way he is.

Deluxe arcee:
RID made a more accurate chest section with this girl, but for the pictures I would say they sacrificed the waist movement. I would pick a figure with waist movement over one with little boobs, any day.

Deluxe Vehicon: Since he is a filler character I'm not really interested in any version. But I would choose RID because I would like to buy more than one.

Voyager Bulkhead:
FE, accurated and nice figure. RID, chunky and messy figure.

Voyager Optimus Prime:
I had some doubts with this guy because the FE has a fake windshield and Rid not, but after seen the pictures and videos in youtube I have no problems picking the FE.
Show accurated from the bot to the weapons.

Now we have the Weaponizers bumblebee and optimus:
For me, easy to pass. I don't like chunky, bulky figures with gimmics that aren't seen in the show.

The rest of deluxe RID figures so far:
I like wheeljack, ratchet and soundwave.
I'm sure that if would've been a FE versions of these guys they would've been better, thoug.

[kirbenvost]

Off topic, I have to say I'm getting pretty fed up of people screaming "obviously mistransformed" everytime they see a new photo. What the hell is so obvious when you haven't even seen them with your own eyes? Why do they have to be mistransformed? Why can't they simply be crap?

In the case of Knockout, because we've already seen the properly-transformed prototype, and it looked a lot better.

[Blurrz]

Not all too impressed, probably will be impulse buys.