The Energon Pub

[El Duque]

I didn't really have any dissapointments. 2008 was a great year to be a TF fan. We got TFA, TFU 2.0, more Encores, more MP, more Binaltech, more music label, some great third party upgrades. I have no complaints.

[typh0id]

The balljoint at the left shoulder is notoriously loose, and frequently pops off by accident for LOTS of people, no matter how careful you are. It's worse than the door balljoints for TFU Prowl.

I bought the first Galvatron I found and like everyone elses, the left shoulder was crazy loose and ALWAYS came off when transforming...But one of the wheels was jacked up and when I tried to fix I broke it even worse...

So I bought a new one when I was able to find another, and THIS one had good wheels but the left shoulder was, again, loose and the cannon always came off when I tried to transform it...

So on my first Galvatron I took off the part I had broken (one of the "backpack" pieces) and replaced it with the new one and then just for the hell of it I replaced it's arm with the left arm from the new one and for some reason, the arm from the second one fit perfectly tight on the first one...Now I can transform and position that arm any way I want and it never pops off anymore...

[Bumblethumper]

I'm going to g completely out of the norm here and say Universe Onslaught.
This guy is the only disappointment I had this year and it's mostly about his damn electronics and sacrifice of articulation for said electronics. Lack of a useful weapon in bot-mode, the gun stuck to the bottom of his arm is just dumb.

You're not alone on Onslaught. I thought that figure would be really good, but it's just not up to it. There's a bunch of things that really bug me about it. I hate the masses of cheap grey plastic, and how eager the guns on the turret are to pop out. Bot mode looks good, but that's about it.

2 ) Animated Blitzwing. Yes, he has a good robot mode. But his other two modes are floppy, half-a**ed POS's that don't clip or stay together in any way, and just look like the twin children of a jet who was raped by a tank.

Ditto on Blitzwing. It is half-assed and very frustrating to see a brilliant opportunity wasted. Cool character, lousy toy. It irks me no end that they didn't bother making the alt modes lock into one piece. I also thought his legs were too beefy, and I hate his rubber helmet(hmmm that sounds wrong ).

The basic transformation works, and there are many things about it that they got right. It's one of those figures that could've been incredible if they'd just pushed it that little bit further. Instead it wound up being one of the most frustrating lumps of plastic I've ever encountered.

[Tigertrack]

#1) Animated Deluxe Bumblebee.... the first one sucked and then I bought a 2nd version (the Elite Guard version...duh??? Somehow I expected the black and gold to make it better, I guess). The activator versions are so much better.

#2) Activator Animated Lockdown. Not good. The deluxe versions are much better.

#3) Universe Heavy Load. Blah... I have learned to be pickier with my purchases, and he is one reason. Stupid minicon variants get me to pay $20 for the big guy. I am considering doing the same with Universe Red Alert to get the minicon repaint with him, but I don't really want that larger fig at all.

[typh0id]

You're not alone on Onslaught. I thought that figure would be really good, but it's just not up to it. There's a bunch of things that really bug me about it. I hate the masses of cheap grey plastic, and how eager the guns on the turret are to pop out. Bot mode looks good, but that's about it.

I adore Onslaught...Such a great homage to the original and really big and sturdy...And it's funny, I've heard several people complain about the turret guns but I actually tried to pull mine out and couldn't...I mean, I didn't pull real hard but I did tug on them and they didn't budge...

#3) Universe Heavy Load. Blah... I have learned to be pickier with my purchases, and he is one reason. Stupid minicon variants get me to pay $20 for the big guy. I am considering doing the same with Universe Red Alert to get the minicon repaint with him, but I don't really want that larger fig at all.

I genuinely wish I hadn't bought Heavy Load...I don't even like having him on the shelf with the rest of the Universe guys...I really should have known better...

[AlienQuiksilver]

1. Universe Silverbolt. Ugh! This thing should have come out about 10 years ago(hopefully it did, and I'm just clueless to the fact), only then might it have been cool. Doubt it. Transformation is stupid easy(ooh, look you fold it in half), bot parts don't hide well enough and the plastic quality is horrible(with the exception of the entire jet backpack ... that's pretty good quality. I'm talking about the bot part).

2. Movie Voyager Megatron. I'm glad to see much hate still circulating for this figure.

3. The original Movie Blackout. Horrible! I kinda enjoy evac repaint though, go figure! I never did open my premium blackout ...

4. Animated/Universe quality control. Although each line as a whole is a win for me ... there are way too many issues with QC. Very disappointing.


*throws rocks at Universe Silverbolt's family*

[Jazz Reborn]

Why are you people including the movie line? They were made in 07...

[dryxler]

interesting forum...
i agree w/ universe Tankor, he looks terrible.
however, i really like galvatron, but they obviously shoulda made him bigger. i have had trouble w/ his arm being loose.
i have completely avoided buying any of the animated line. not only do they look awful, i don't want to deal with the joint problems. as far as the last of the movie line, voyager megatron was pretty lame, got him anyways.
just picked up cheetor, cyclonus, and hound, no complaints.
AND WHY ARE THERE SO MANY REPAINTS!?!?
i skip most of them, i want new molds!

[typh0id]

Why are you people including the movie line? They were made in 07...

That's a good point...I think I included some in mine mainly because I bought them this year and just wasn't really thinking...However I think it's safe to say that many of them (*cough* Voyager Megatron *cough*) are bad enough to warrant a flow of hate that extends well into this year as well as last...

[AlienQuiksilver]

Why are you people including the movie line? They were made in 07...

Correction. The line "started" in 07. Allspark figs didn't hit my area until Feb '08. It was painful seeing everyone on here get them seemingly months before I saw one fig on a peg. Premium line was after that.

Voyager megs came out in 2007, but I'm not done kicking that toy in the bawl sack just yet. The screen battle version just came out a little while ago, and repaints do count in all of this. So THERE!!

[Jazz Reborn]

Why are you people including the movie line? They were made in 07...

Correction. The line "started" in 07. Allspark figs didn't hit my area until Feb '08. It was painful seeing everyone on here get them seemingly months before I saw one fig on a peg. Premium line was after that.

Voyager megs came out in 2007, but I'm not done kicking that toy in the bawl sack just yet. The screen battle version just came out a little while ago, and repaints do count in all of this. So THERE!!

owned...

[Counterpunch]

Animated Bumblebee...wow, I mean, I don't collect Animated. I got him as part of that Legacy of Bumblebee 3 pack. From poor paint to plastic consistency, to very ackward feet and finally watching a child try to convert him (and fail), this toy sucks.

Universe Galvatron, by Hasbro's admission, the toy is not what it was originally mean to be. Small, weird, different from everything around him, the toy is no fun at all. For all his articulation, you'll be lucky to have yours stand upright.

Universe Cheetor I know most people don't have him yet, but he is lacking in almost every way Galvatron is. He stands poorly, his arms are engineered wrong, he has a GIANT hunch back...GIANT. The toy is a rarity in that its stupidity is only exceeded by its ugliness.

[Tigertrack]

Universe Cheetor I know most people don't have him yet, but he is lacking in almost every way Galvatron is. He stands poorly, his arms are engineered wrong, he has a GIANT hunch back...GIANT. The toy is a rarity in that its stupidity is only exceeded by its ugliness.

Avoiding like the plague... thanks for confirming that I NEVER need to get this.

[lkavadas]

Hmmm, I think Universe/Classics Galvatron is getting a raw deal. Aside from his size issues I think it's a fantastic piece and the transformation is one of the most memorable and ingenious transformations I've come across yet.

Not exactly sure what people have against the TFA line. Yeah, it's pretty cartoony but there are some really good figures like Ultra Magnus which is excellent for any TF-toy line IMO.

[Hard Hacker]

Henkei everything.
Animated Activators Bulkhead.
Movie Deluxe Stockade.

Never again.

[Counterpunch]

Henkei everything.

You cruise around on lolersk8s all day, don't you?

[Hard Hacker]

Henkei everything.

You cruise around on lolersk8s all day, don't you?

'Fraid not.

[Valandar]

Henkei everything.
Animated Activators Bulkhead.
Movie Deluxe Stockade.

Never again.

No reasons at all?

Calling one of my favorite movie molds one ot the worst... without listing why. Okay, I know whose opinion I'll take with a grain of salt now.

[Hard Hacker]

Henkei everything.
Animated Activators Bulkhead.
Movie Deluxe Stockade.

Never again.

No reasons at all?

Calling one of my favorite movie molds one of the worst... without listing why. Okay, I know whose opinion I'll take with a grain of salt now.

Well, seeing as you've cared enough to challenge my opinion (good man), I'll explain. (I was also distracted by trivial things like my dinner being ready, and me being hungrier than starving weasels, but that's not important.

Henkei: I've always found this line flawed, because they're taking modern takes on older characters back 20 years ago, and waving an unattractive chrome wand at it. Mirage without sponsors looks lifeless and plain, Megatron with his G1 colour scheme looked very much less like a futuristic blaster. and the less said about Skyfire, the better.

Activators Bulkhead: His vehicle mode is petite, but unfortunately, it also has the stability of a squashed tomato. It's (or at least my version's) wheel panels doesn't seem to like being held flush to the rest of the body. It's robot mode is an improvement, but unfortunately not enough of an improvement. It's chest hides the chin, making it seem as if it's had it's head smashed in when you look at it from the front. If the panel mounted to the head would elevate higher, then I wouldn't have issue with the mould.

Deluxe Stockade: Unusually for the movie aesthetic, it's arms are chunky, it's shins has noticeably large portions of car mounted to the back, and the torso looks as if somebody was flattening it, sections as a time, but got bored and went away to kill himself.

[Counterpunch]

Henkei everything.
Animated Activators Bulkhead.
Movie Deluxe Stockade.

Never again.

No reasons at all?

Calling one of my favorite movie molds one of the worst... without listing why. Okay, I know whose opinion I'll take with a grain of salt now.

Well, seeing as you've cared enough to challenge my opinion (good man), I'll explain. (I was also distracted by trivial things like my dinner being ready, and me being hungrier than starving weasels, but that's not important.

Henkei: I've always found this line flawed, because they're taking modern takes on older characters back 20 years ago, and waving an unattractive chrome wand at it. Mirage without sponsors looks lifeless and plain, Megatron with his G1 colour scheme looked very much less like a futuristic blaster. and the less said about Skyfire, the better.

Stockade and Bulkhead I will agree on.

However, in regards to Henkei, you're not really giving good examples. Mirage I will agree on, Classics did him better. Megatron is a 'personal choice' thing as to the Classics or Henkei look, so, let's look at some others...

Astrotrain, the Henkei release is clearly superior in everyway. Even if you prefer the white plastic look of the Classics version, Henkei has many significant paint apps over the Classics version as well as a better representation of the grey and purple Astrotrain. Classics Astrotrain doesn't even really do the white version all that well.

Sunstreaker is much preferable in his Henkei release. Even the chrome is appropriate on him for this one.

Ironhide is better on his foreign release. The painted panels do a lot more justice to the guy as do the side stripes.

Starscream is a superior version to the Classics release. He's Classics Plus...everything that was wrong to begin with...unpainted face, proper wing pattern, etc.


Don't get me wrong, Henkei has run afowl too. Bumblebee, Mirage, Ramjet, Thundercracker, Skyfire...but in the end, it's a mixed bag.

I'm just not sure how you can disregard the entire line with so many good releases in there.

[Bumblethumper]

Animated Bumblebee...wow, I mean, I don't collect Animated. I got him as part of that Legacy of Bumblebee 3 pack. From poor paint to plastic consistency, to very ackward feet and finally watching a child try to convert him (and fail), this toy sucks.

I haven't heard much appreciation for this mold, but it's easily among my favourite molds ever. That's right, EVARRR! I know a lot of people have complaints about it, from the scale to quality control. It may have suffered from production problems, but I think the actual design has a lot of strengths.

It has one of the coolest transformations I've come across. He more or less backflips his way into bot mode. That's pretty inventive. Car mode doesn't blow minds, but does the job quite adequately. Bot mode has some totally slick curves. It's a really dynamic looking figure. I love how the shapes contrast and flow into each other. It has heaps of cartoonish appeal. Looks ready to bounce or spring into action.

[Hard Hacker]

In regards to Henkei, you're not really giving good examples. Mirage I will agree on, Classics did him better. Megatron is a 'personal choice' thing as to the Classics or Henkei look, so, let's look at some others...

Astrotrain, the Henkei release is clearly superior in every way. Even if you prefer the white plastic look of the Classics version, Henkei has many significant paint apps over the Classics version as well as a better representation of the grey and purple Astrotrain. Classics Astrotrain doesn't even really do the white version all that well.

Sunstreaker is much preferable in his Henkei release. Even the chrome is appropriate on him for this one.

Ironhide is better on his foreign release. The painted panels do a lot more justice to the guy as do the side stripes.

Starscream is a superior version to the Classics release. He's Classics Plus...everything that was wrong to begin with...unpainted face, proper wing pattern, etc.


Don't get me wrong, Henkei has run afoul too. Bumblebee, Mirage, Ramjet, Thundercracker, Skyfire...but in the end, it's a mixed bag.

I'm just not sure how you can disregard the entire line with so many good releases in there.

Probably because how I feel about them. Great moulds that I hunt to this day, but the colour schemes I feel aren't the best.

I prefer a white bullet train and space shuttle to purple and grey.

I prefer the Seekers if they have unique wing patterns, which give them more personality, than a singular deco pattern with new colours.

I also like regular plastic colours for weapons, because while I take my toys out of the packaging, I'm still a very neurotic person, and I hate it when even a small scrape of paint comes off. If I'm like that with something I have the capacity to fix, then you don't want to imagine me with a small scrape of chrome off the handle.

I can't really comment on Ironhide, I've yet to get him.

[AlienQuiksilver]

You cruise around on lolersk8s all day, don't you?

.

[Hard Hacker]

You cruise around on lolersk8s all day, don't you?

.

Darn, my secret is exposed.

[Nekoman]

The worst from 08? Of what I’ve bought, I really can’t say. 08 has been a great year for Transformers with lots of things I’ve enjoyed from Movie to Classics/Henkei to Encore and even Animated. I don’t like Animated but the tree figures I’ve picked up so far were awesome (though I‘ll probably be only picking up one or two more).

While I did enjoy him, making him worth it for me, Henkei Thundercracker was generally lousy. I figured people were exaggerating the poor QC like always, but boy was I wrong. As soon as I popped that bastard out of his packaging he was as loose as they say.

Now there are some thing I haven’t bought that look lousy, like TFA Bumblebee, just about any Lockdown toy, and Universe Ironhide, but I can’t say much more about those just because they didn’t look good enough to warrant a purchase.