The Energon Pub

Aaaand here we are with Geek Culture posting a video review of the ARK!

transformers_va wrote:In case you're interested, here is an unboxing/review video of the new Autobot Ark: https://youtu.be/GRLYVdTXG3k

Hmm...Interesting, seems like *possibly* Hasbro is trying to beat the early reviewers at their own game?

Although...If this guy was legitimately asked by Hasbro to do this review (I'm only saying because the guy has ZERO Transformers content on his site, and he admits to not even handling a Transformer in many years, thus he's not familiar with the brand) . They kind of failed. I mean, I've never heard of this guy, surely they could have paid someone a bit more, or get someone a bit more popular, or heck, just produced a reveal video themselves?

It's entirely possible that he is doing this on his own, and Hasbro didn't ask him, but it seems like quite the random place to start...?? I don't know why but all the unanswered questions abotu how this video came to be seem more fascinating to me than the video itself .

Thanks to a heads up from Seibertronian Mindmaster, we can share with you what appears to be the rumored-to-be-upcoming redeco and retool of Kingdom Tracks, his mold-mate Road Rage! Coming from DaimChoc Reports on Facebook, Road Rage appears to be a straight redeco of Tracks with a new head based on her Masterpiece figure.



The original Road Rage figure and character were created in 2002 as the first addition to G1 characters since the original series ended in the early 90s. She was a red redeco of the Tracks figure, and released in a two-pack with Crosscut, a redeco of G1 Skids.

It's rumored that she's going to be an addition to the Kingdom line, though in what capacity and released through what channel is still to be determined, should this seemingly credible rumor be officially confirmed. Though, with Leader Class T-Wrecks being released at Australian retail, despite no announcement from Hasbro, don't be surprised if Road Rage shows up somewhere out of the blue with no official announcement.

What do you think, Seibertronians? Are you excited for a potential new Road Rage figure? How does she compare to Tracks for you? Let us know in the comments below!

Currently working on a story about the Ark but came here to say first that this Road Rage is lame AF. Will not be getting it.

Thanks to Mindmaster, we were made aware of a review for the upcoming Earth Mode Mirage from the Amazon exclusive Transformers Kingdome Battle Across Time 2 pack with Beast Wars Grimlock. We can see that it is actually very different from Siege Mirage in terms of the upper body. While the main skeleton of the toy and transformation is the same, there are more retooled parts than not.

Also, we got a review of the titan class ark out of nowhere. It was posted by Geek Culture.

Enjoy!

DeathReviews wrote:What WAS the deal with ER Sunstreaker anyway? I remember wanting that one, but it never appeared in stores last year anywhere near my realm (at least not that I know of). Nor did I ever see it listed as available on Pulse. It was only ever 'not in stock yet' for the longest time. Then it instantly jumped to 'sold out' and has been that way for months. Same with Trailbreaker and Runamuk - that whole wave seems to have been a ghost wave that was promised, but never delivered.

Availability has been patchy and unpredictable for a LOT of their stuff lately. They make way too many of some figures, and almost NONE of others. Pulse has proven to be equally unreliable. They're supposed to be the place for members to be able to get the figures that are hard to find in stores, but Pulse is always 'sold out' on everything too. What's the point of an exclusive selling platform that never has enough product to meet demand?

It may be great arrangement for the scalpers, but it's terrible for everybody else.

I bought that entire wave in the store, except Sunstreaker, who I had to pay a couple of bucks extra from BBTS.

william-james88 wrote:Currently working on a story about the Ark but came here to say first that this Road Rage is lame AF. Will not be getting it.

Disagree (unfortunately), and will be getting it.

Have to say that I was someone who has been rooting for the Ark to be a transforming titan class instead of a play set from day 1. I love the idea to death. I’m just so sad that the robot mode turned out to be so Unlikable for me. There are 1 too many things that make him look like inspector gadget or a LEGO character. And aside from the many hollow parts and lack of weapons, the most unforgivable thing about his design for me is his FACE. I just don’t understand why they would give him that dumb face. I really would’ve just loved if they gave him a mouth mask to give him a more generic badass-but-friendly-autobot feel. But those eyebrows. And that chin. Oh gosh. It’s just the worst. And I highly doubt any upgrade kit will fix that issue.

TF-fan kev777 wrote:

primalxconvoy wrote:

MGrotusque wrote:OMG WHY SIDESWIPE? I'm so sick of that guy. He's the default figure to get lumped into everything these days it seems. Isn't there like 45 different versions released of him now in the last 2 years??? Feels like it to me.

There's only been 4 releases of him so far (Seige, G2, Netflix and Kingdom). For me, and the others weren't relevant, due to the cr@pple-damage paint, so I'm really glad this new version came out.

Also, prior to Siege, you had to go all the way back to Fall of Cybertron for a Sideswipe figure. He was long overdue, and Hasbro is giving him the premium treatment for it now.

Wowsers, it's been that long?

Also, Road Rage looks good, so I'll probably order it.

jtanimator wrote:Have to say that I was someone who has been rooting for the Ark to be a transforming titan class instead of a play set from day 1. I love the idea to death. I’m just so sad that the robot mode turned out to be so Unlikable for me. There are 1 too many things that make him look like inspector gadget or a LEGO character. And aside from the many hollow parts and lack of weapons, the most unforgivable thing about his design for me is his FACE. I just don’t understand why they would give him that dumb face. I really would’ve just loved if they gave him a mouth mask to give him a more generic badass-but-friendly-autobot feel. But those eyebrows. And that chin. Oh gosh. It’s just the worst. And I highly doubt any upgrade kit will fix that issue.

The face is purely a homage to the Last Autobot in the original Marvel Comics run.

jtanimator wrote:the most unforgivable thing about his design for me is his FACE. I just don’t understand why they would give him that dumb face.

The face is based on The Last Autobot. Not saying it's good or bad, just restating what's already been stated in case anyone didn't know.

jtanimator wrote:Have to say that I was someone who has been rooting for the Ark to be a transforming titan class instead of a play set from day 1. I love the idea to death. I’m just so sad that the robot mode turned out to be so Unlikable for me. There are 1 too many things that make him look like inspector gadget or a LEGO character. And aside from the many hollow parts and lack of weapons, the most unforgivable thing about his design for me is his FACE. I just don’t understand why they would give him that dumb face. I really would’ve just loved if they gave him a mouth mask to give him a more generic badass-but-friendly-autobot feel. But those eyebrows. And that chin. Oh gosh. It’s just the worst. And I highly doubt any upgrade kit will fix that issue.

What about the inevitable upgrade kit that'll turn the Ark into Animated Omega and give him a different head? Let me have hope

Sentinel_Primal wrote:What about the inevitable upgrade kit that'll turn the Ark into Animated Omega and give him a different head? Let me have hope

Well DNA design now has 3 kits that replaces/upgrades probably at least 1/3 of Hasbro's existing ER Scorponok, so anything is possible. It would be quite expensive in the end, but I guess we'll see.

There's one thing that is bugging me about the Ark.
Since the first "turnaround" video of its robot mode, I notices the two big gray panels on the back of the lower legs.
They looks like they're hinged at the lower end (the one near its feet)
I wonder if they're supposed to be "turned inside out" in the ark mode to cover the hollows in the rear side of the ship.

william-james88 wrote:Currently working on a story about the Ark but came here to say first that this Road Rage is lame AF. Will not be getting it.

I'm curious as to why you think that. Not really sure what else we would have gotten out of a Road Rage aside from maybe a new gun and some new, slimmer thighs.

Why would the thighs be different, of all things?

AcademyofDrX wrote:Why would the thighs be different, of all things?

That's what MP Road Rage had.

Sabrblade wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:Why would the thighs be different, of all things?

That's what MP Road Rage had.

Yup, face and thighs to make her a "her" and not another him.

MadProject wrote:There's one thing that is bugging me about the Ark.
Since the first "turnaround" video of its robot mode, I notices the two big gray panels on the back of the lower legs.
They looks like they're hinged at the lower end (the one near its feet)
I wonder if they're supposed to be "turned inside out" in the ark mode to cover the hollows in the rear side of the ship.

If there were, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

aronjlove wrote:

Sabrblade wrote:

AcademyofDrX wrote:Why would the thighs be different, of all things?

That's what MP Road Rage had.

Yup, face and thighs to make her a "her" and not another him.

I had no idea that the MP figure had that much retooling. I'm perfectly satisfied with just a new head for a Generations figure. I'm still a little grumpy that getting a modern Generations Slipstream requires making a custom when we've already gotten almost a dozen versions of the Siege mold.

(Edited to clarify the point about Generations Slipstream, I have the spindly figure based on T30 Windblade, but I want something bulkier like the Cyberverse design.)

I am really liking that Mainframe/Teletran-1 is not required to complete either the Ark or the Last Autobot. After a few titan class figures where the smaller figure was required to complete the larger figure, it is always refreshing to have one that isn't.

Crosscheck wrote:I am really liking that Mainframe/Teletran-1 is not required to complete either the Ark or the Last Autobot. After a few titan class figures where the smaller figure was required to complete the larger figure, it is always refreshing to have one that isn't.

Fortress Maximus and Scorponok (and by extension their respective retools) are the only two I know of where it's required, and that was quite purposefully done because they are Headmasters, that's kind of their thing... . Full Tilt is not required to complete Trypticon, and Scamper is not required to complete Metroplex. Omega Supreme is made of 3 main components, that is far better than the many parts the original Mecha-Bot 1 based toy was made from.

william-james88 wrote:Currently working on a story about the Ark but came here to say first that this Road Rage is lame AF. Will not be getting it.

What don't you like about it?

Had hoped Road Rage would have retained some Tracks-ier features so I could slap an SG Autobot label and repurpose it as SG Tracks. Guess I’ll be looking into the BotCon Invasion set...