Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found
here.
Top 5 most needed G1 reissuesThis list is pretty easy and needs almost no introduction. With G1 reissues being trendy again through the Platinum line, there are some I want Hasbro to release (some of which would be for the first time actually), and this list details them with some fun pics. What all these have in common is a fun playability aspect that G1 seemed to do really well and has been hard to replicate since, at least at that level. Let me know which ones you would like to see a rerelease (doesn't mater if it's already been rereleased as
that hasn't stopped them). Hasbro is known to check these boards, so make it count! Seibertron has a bunch of
galleries of the rarer toys so be sure to check them out and populate the discussion with pictures showcasing the beauty of these older toys which you feel need to be brought back.
5. HeadmastersThe Headmasters were based on a fun gimmick that started the idea (along with Target Masters) of smaller Transformers interacting with larger ones (which became the entire gimmick of the Armada line and has remained a staple in one way or another). With the Headmasters, the little robot was a pilot for the larger robot's alt mode.
Transformers G1 1987 Chromedome GallerySince these toys were targeted at young children and older collectors weren't such a common occurrence, these smaller robots were often lost just as other accessories for any other toy is often lost. However, these were a far more unfortunate loss than a gun or even the other smaller robots which turned into guns (Target Masters) because these tiny robots Transformed into the larger robot's head.
Transformers G1 1987 Chromedome GalleryThus, while these toys are fun for the new level of interactivity, it is very hard for others to experience these old toys today since there are far more headless bodies available, to the point where the head will cost as much if not more than the larger Transformer body. What would be awesome is if Hasbro just rereleased a bunch of heads but I would be more than content with a reissue of the full headmasters.
4. Transformers G1 1987 RaidenJapan was always more into train robots than the west/Hasbro was, with an entire Tomy line devoted to trains (which is the line Omega Supreme was designed for, and a
line still existing today). It only makes sense that Takara would have a large train combiner that never got brought over by Hasbro. What is amazing about Raiden is that unlike the micromaster train combiners that came after (which Hasbro did eventually release), all the train cars could link to one another. This has never been done since in the Transformers line (Power Rangers did it, but those toys didn't come out in the west either). You could actually have this six car train and play with it as any other toy train and then separate them from one another and combine them into a really large robot. The angular train cars give the robot a very uniform look which many combiners fail to do.
3. Transformers Super God Masterforce OverlordOh man, this is the motherload of G1 excellence. I feel best to just give you the pictures below and leave you with this quote from fellow Seibertronian member
Morphbots:
morphbots wrote:When I was younger, living at home without the responsibilities of "adult" life, I went on a tear tracking down as many G1 Asian exclusives as possible before my window of opportunity closed. Even though I was able to score a Grand Maximus during that time, Overlord is without a doubt the crown jewel of that search. He defies categorization, being a Godmaster, A Duocon, a city-former, and a triple-changer all in one.
Below is breakdown of some of the many features described above along with some gorgeous images. Just rerelease this already! Someone, anyone!
This toy is primarily made up of a tank and a cybertronian jet, both of which comes with little robots o pilot them.
While each could fit in the cockpits, there was another port to insert them in on the vehicles.
You could combine these two vehicles to forma base for the little guys.
Or combine them to form a larger space ship.
Of course, these two vehicles combined to make a larger robot, Overlord himself.
The two smaller robots could plug into his chest, releasing some spring loaded gimmicks.
Oh and he was BIG!
2. Transformers Victory LiokaiserI will break down how fun and well done this combiner is for a G1 toy. Firstly, Liokaiser is made up of six vehicles.
Each individual robot has a interesting animal theme, like Jarugar below who's robot head has a jaguar helmet.
You see his chest plate above? It was removable (they were called the Breastforce)and actualy turned into a gun...
... as well as a beast companion. In this case a flying Jaguar.
Each of the six had the same breast plate gimmick but their own individual animals.
Liokaiser himself is a great sum of his parts since, unlike previous combiners, his combiner hands and feet were integrated within the various vehicles. The only extra piece that you'd have to add to him to complete the combiner was the combiner head which is actually the top part of the robot's face and the larger lion themed helmet(the back of head becomes the combiner's mouth, quite a clever design).
1. The DinobotsThese need no explanation or argument. Everyone knows these iconic characters in one form or another. They have been a staple of the Transformers brand and are the perfect combination of everything a kid could want. They are dinosaurs who turn into robots. Can you think of anything better than that? I sure couldn't (my favourite childhood toy was Beast Wars Megatron) and I would love to own these G1 toys, as would every collector out there. While we are all wishing, I would prefer Swoop's chest to be blue like in the show but I wont complain one bit if ever these toys are rereleased.
Transformers G1 1985 Slag Gallery
Transformers G1 1985 Grimlock GalleryHonourable mentions: I am not a big fan of pretenders but I would really wish to own the ones who's inner robots combine like Dino King and Monstructor (which are pretty redecos of one another).
Transformers Victory Dinoking Gallery
Transformers G1 1989 Monstructor Gallery
Transformers Victory Dinoking GalleryAlso, at the tail end of G1, when G2 was a thing, there were some G1 toys that were released by Hasbro but not in the United States. One of the best out of these was Skyquake and the predators (with fan favorite stalker). These could also interact with one another. The main problem was that Skyquake himself had parts that easily broke so a reissue (with better plastic) would please both those who never owned him and those who broke theirs.
Awesome list by the way!
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