The Energon Pub

News Credits: 7 · by **shortround** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 1:44 am

I finally got both of these figures and like most people these days I was worried about Q.C. on these figures. I thought the reports I read about these being the best figures so far in the universe classics line were a bit over hyped. I thought just like with most of waves some people had gotten figures with good Q.C. and we just had not heard from those people who end up with substandard figures but boy was I wrong these figures are great there isn't a single problem with them that I can find. I recommend as soon as they hit your area pick them up you won't be upset at all. I should be able to tell about what I think of the new cheetor in the next couple of days. Good luck and happy hunting

by **Elvaan** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 3:07 am

Yeah, these two are on the top of my list to get, so it's good to read this. TY.

by **Cobalt Prime** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 7:39 am

Agreed. These figs are great.
Cyclonus especially wins this praise, as he is without a doubt the tightest, most well proportioned, kibble-free deluxe I have seen thus far. Even the Targetmaster weapon is beautifully done and is just the right size and barrel length. Not a spot of paint out of place, either. Where Universe Galvatron failed in just about every category, this figure succeeds wonderfully.
Hound is very nicely done, albeit mine had a loose head (easily remedied with a tiny speck of soft vinyl in the ball socket), and I'd like to have a word with the rocket scientist who designed the shoulder-to-weapon connection; it sucks terribly. The shoulder launcher ends up being really crooked or just falling off altogether. Better to just put the thing in his hand.
Other than that, wicked additions to the Universe.

News Credits: 16 · by **It Is Him** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:50 am

Cobalt Prime wrote:Hound is very nicely done, albeit mine had a loose head (easily remedied with a tiny speck of soft vinyl in the ball socket), and I'd like to have a word with the rocket scientist who designed the shoulder-to-weapon connection; it sucks terribly. The shoulder launcher ends up being really crooked or just falling off altogether. Better to just put the thing in his hand.
Other than that, wicked additions to the Universe.

Hound's back wheel helps keep the shoulder launcher in place if you set up the wheels like they appear in the card artwork.

On an unrelated note, I know pointing this out is extremely crass, but has anyone noticed how Hound's card artwork makes him look like he suffers from Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in robot mode. I suspect someone at Hasbro overphotoshopped Hound's face and either his nose is way to big or his eyes are way to far apart.

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:01 am

shortround wrote:I thought the reports I read about these being the best figures so far in the universe classics line were a bit over hyped.

Never doubt. I am the way and the truth.

News Credits: 4 · by **typh0id** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:54 am

Cobalt Prime wrote:Cyclonus especially wins this praise, as he is without a doubt the tightest, most well proportioned, kibble-free deluxe I have seen thus far. Even the Targetmaster weapon is beautifully done and is just the right size and barrel length. Not a spot of paint out of place, either.

I completely agree...Cyclonus is one of the finest examples of quality work they've exhibited in a long time...I just have no complaints about him...One of the best figures they've ever put out...

Cobalt Prime wrote:Hound is very nicely done, albeit mine had a loose head (easily remedied with a tiny speck of soft vinyl in the ball socket), and I'd like to have a word with the rocket scientist who designed the shoulder-to-weapon connection; it sucks terribly. The shoulder launcher ends up being really crooked or just falling off altogether. Better to just put the thing in his hand.

I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who had that problem..I thought maybe I was just doing something wrong...It's kinda rediculous they couldn't make that thing actually clip on in an intelligent way since it's SUPPOSED to go there...All in all, I like Hound just fine though I have to admit I don't find anything particularly special about him...He's a great figure but fairly run-of-the-mill imo...And I don't like how hollow his back is...But he gets MAJOR bonus points for having adjustable soles on his feet (ala City Commander) to allow for greater posability...Huge win for me there...His head is sculpted really well too...

News Credits: 104 · by **Cyber Bishop** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 11:22 am

I agree, they are my two favorite TFU releases this year.

News Credits: 4 · by **Ruthless Cynic** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:25 pm

I am quite envious of those who have managed to procure these figures. The stores here do not even have deluxes left on the shelves.

News Credits: 12 · by **GuyIncognito** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:51 pm

Cyclonus is kick-ass awesome.

Hound is cool, but I don't like his feet. He's awkward to pose. And the new Ravage is a big disappointment: His head is too tiny, his body is too wide, his stubby tail sticks up out of the middle of his back, his legs barely have any articulation, and he doesn't look like a cassette. G1 Ravage is way superior in every way.

Suprisingly, I am loving Cheetor way more than I thought I would. I never like the Beast figures, and didn't plan on getting Cheetor until I saw him in-package and decided to get it for myself for XMas. After opening him and transforming him and posing him a bit, I've really come to like this figure, even more than Hound and almost as much as Cyclonus.

by **captain craig** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:57 pm

I have yet to get, or see it at retail for that matter, the Cyclonus but two days ago I saw the Hound/Ravage at Target and picked it up.

It is indeed a great piece! Way to go Hasbro!!

News Credits: 16 · by **It Is Him** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 3:42 pm

Come to think of it, I wonder how many younger kids will get Ravage? I really appreciate Hasbro including him and creating a new cassette, but it seems like an odd business decision to make a new toy based on dead technology.

by **lkavadas** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:21 pm

It Is Him wrote:Come to think of it, I wonder how many younger kids will get Ravage? I really appreciate Hasbro including him and creating a new cassette, but it seems like an odd business decision to make a new toy based on dead technology.

Heh, it seems like they should probably make the cassettes into like flash memory sticks, right?

News Credits: 16 · by **It Is Him** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 4:46 pm

lkavadas wrote:
It Is Him wrote:Come to think of it, I wonder how many younger kids will get Ravage? I really appreciate Hasbro including him and creating a new cassette, but it seems like an odd business decision to make a new toy based on dead technology.

Heh, it seems like they should probably make the cassettes into like flash memory sticks, right?

Wow, that's a much better idea than what I was thinking (laserdiscs, Betamax, 8-track, vinyl, floppy discs...)

News Credits: 9 · by **Hip-Hoptimus Rime** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 5:04 pm

Agreed, both are very cool in both modes. Monor gripes: Cyclonus' rear section doesn't really anchor to anything, and the lower parts (the front of his legs) don't fasten securely either, leading to mild floppiness and parts that tend to pivot out of alignment.

Hound has crazy-huge feet that are too big a piece of his alt mode, a shame on an otherwise excellent figure. The feet do split open to pivot sideways tho, a welcome touch that helps poseability. Likewise the flaps on the backs of his knees that you can open to let them bend further. I do wish he were darker colored tho, but he's great.

News Credits: 7 · by **shortround** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 5:49 pm

Speaking of ravage the other nice thing about this figure is it is able to use the weapons from the g1 version or the reissue which is great. I will also be getting inferno as well but since seibertron as already has a great gallery of the figure I guess there not much I need to say about him.

News Credits: 1 · by **Agent 007** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:12 pm

I hope to find these guys soon and join the party.

by **robotrik** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:14 pm

Man i can't belive i still don't have any universe 2.0 figures.. but that's probably due to the fact that almost the entire line has qc.
this pisses me off cause i do wanna get them but why should i pay for unfinished figures ???
anyway i'm gonna stop complain and just say that i think these 2 look real cool.

News Credits: 3 · by **Giant Purple Griffin** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 6:35 pm

I agree with the above posts on the near perfection of Cyclonus and Nightstick. I have limited my purchases of Classics to the characters I really like, so I did not pick up Hound, even though he does seem pretty cool (I almost picked him up just for Ravage!) :grin:

by **breakthru** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 9:59 pm

I agree, these figures look to be the best in the Universe line so far. I have Henkei Hound on the way as I prefer him to the Hasbro version and I'm planning on picking up one version of each Cyclonus (Universe and Henkei)

News Credits: 4 · by **typh0id** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 12:17 am

It Is Him wrote:Come to think of it, I wonder how many younger kids will get Ravage? I really appreciate Hasbro including him and creating a new cassette, but it seems like an odd business decision to make a new toy based on dead technology.

Ravage was included as a cassette tape strictly as a homage to the TV show...Just like with Jetfire and Powerglide, some people will get it and some people won't but they just did it as fan-service (which I personally love) People will buy it either way...

That said, I was talking with someone the other day about how most kids wouldn't know what the hell Soundwave and co were supposed to be if they were still being made to transform into tapedecks and tapes...I'd still love to see a new Universe figure of Soundwave is all his cassette-playing glory

by **Vapes** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 9:33 am

I just saw Hound for the first time this week, picked him up last night.

I was surprised with how G1-tastic his robot form was. While it's not accurate to the G1 toy, the blocky shape they've made him into has certainly made him a nice tribute to the animated version. There are some newer tricks (and I couldn't help but notice the body felt very similar to Movie Ironhide, especially with the front wheel joints), but overall a great toy.

Ravage was a big part in my decision to pick him up, too. A simple figure, but great character. Hopefully they'll re-release a Soundwave to put him in.

I haven't really collected anything but the movie toys up to this point, and even then only the ones that were actually in the movie, but after picking up Starscream last week, and now Hound, I've pretty much decided I'll be collecting the Universe Deluxes that feature characters from the original series.

News Credits: 7 · by **Roadbuster** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:42 pm

I was lucky enough to find Cyclonus yester day...

this figures is so good that if his legs were thicker in proportion to his upperbody, he would be SPOT ON perfect. He's without a doubt one of the best figures in the line, if no THE best. He gives Jetfire a run for his money. Yes he doesn't have 100% accurate colors, but here, I really think it works with this figure, especially seeing the TT version.

Now if they would just do Scourge.

by **Vapes** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 5:29 pm

I'm torn on if I should pick up Cyclonus or not. I've seen a few in the area, but he's not really a character I'm familiar with, and that's what I tend to collect.

Wasn't he just in the animated movie?

News Credits: 7 · by **Roadbuster** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:19 pm

Cyclonus debuted in the G1 movie back in 86 but had no dialouge until season 3. He was created by Unicron from Bombshell or Skywarp (your pick at this point), while Thundercracker became Scourge. Cyclonus continued his role as one of the more prominent characters in season 3 and Rebrith, serving as Galvatrons 2nd in command. Cyclonus was generally a loyal version of Starscream and meant to replace the traitorous Decepticon.

News Credits: 2 · by **Seibermore** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:34 pm

Gosh dang it! I want these figures so badly! My stores are just that stupid so restock from the past month or so. Atleast I might be able to get Skywarp. No wait Im just daydreaming again.