The Energon Pub

I'm liking the look of this Rattrap better than the T30 one,he feels more show accurate.

Day 238 of waiting for Transformers Armada Masterpiece news.

I can count the number of times I've used instructions on one hand. Energon Sluglinger (When I was 5) Cybertron Primus (7) and WFC Prime (10). It usually isn't hard to figure out a transformation without them.

Unless the joke is that this Rattrap is just visibly simple to convert.

I still have my Generations Rattrap (which I learned to transform without instructions), so I'll be skipping junior here, but I'm looking forward to the rest of the cast (which I'll learn to transform without instructions).

So I think this is a grest entry for the scout class figure. Inexpensive, enjoyable looking figure. I just don't know that I care about Rattrap enough to need this. But I might give it a try.

whoever speculated that the reason for some original series characters being core class (Prime, Megatron, Starscream) so they could scale within Ark/Titan play set that would be aesthetically on par with the BMF Millennium Falcon, I REALLY REALLY like that idea.

Hellscream9999 wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

bacem wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Is it safe to say Thy Kingdom Come?!!?

It's a shame they couldn't figure out weapon storage in Rat mode.

Or there could actually be one, but tonton didn't figure out, as he gets no instructions.

What?! But then how does he know how it transforms?

He fiddles with it? It works for me just fine as I don't normally use instructions ever

Same, the Fans Hobby Athena I got the other day was the first time I had to look at the instructions for a Transformer in years.

Back to Rattrap, he looks okay. Not much of a Beast Wars guy (I like Primal and Megatron, but that's mostly it), so I'm not gonna get it.

Rattrap look pretty good. Not crazy about the shoulders, but it looks like you can still get somewhat normal looking poses with a little creative joint manipulation.

The realistic rat face isn't what I was expecting at all. In a line built around near cartoon accuracy I thought we'd get something more like the CG head. But I don't hate it. I guess we can expect that from the rest of the beasts (even though the poster seemed to state otherwise), it should be interesting.

Emerje

Sabrblade wrote:

william-james88 wrote:

bacem wrote:

chuckdawg1999 wrote:Is it safe to say Thy Kingdom Come?!!?

It's a shame they couldn't figure out weapon storage in Rat mode.

Or there could actually be one, but tonton didn't figure out, as he gets no instructions.

What?! But then how does he know how it transforms?

This guy gets it!

TulioDude wrote:I'm liking the look of this Rattrap better than the T30 one,he feels more show accurate.

I don't see how, there is absolutely nothing show accurate with the lower legs. In many ways, this new rattrap seems to take more inspiration from the original toy than the show.

Burn wrote:For me personally, after the sub-par T30 figures (personal opinion, calm the **** down and save yourself the hassle of trying to tell me I'm "wrong"), I was wary of "modern" BW figures, considering the originals still hold up really well.

Eh, I think you're looking at the original Beast Wars figures through some thick, rose-colored glasses. They were great at the time and still decent now, but T30 Rattrap is leaps and bounds superior to the original Basic Class toy in the 90's. The same goes for Waspinator, and even Rhinox. What is it about the T30 versions that is inferior to the original 1996 toys besides "not as nostalgic?"

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Burn wrote:For me personally, after the sub-par T30 figures (personal opinion, calm the **** down and save yourself the hassle of trying to tell me I'm "wrong"), I was wary of "modern" BW figures, considering the originals still hold up really well.

Eh, I think you're looking at the original Beast Wars figures through some thick, rose-colored glasses. They were great at the time and still decent now, but T30 Rattrap is leaps and bounds superior to the original Basic Class toy in the 90's. The same goes for Waspinator, and even Rhinox. What is it about the T30 versions that is inferior to the original 1996 toys besides "not as nostalgic?"

That Cheetor was hot garbage for one.... To a degree they also cut features (like the mutant face). I think the main argument is "better" eh? Articulation-wise with the pre-existing ball joints they were pretty decent.

I still think the MPs blow everything else out of the water... they literally look like they walked out of the morning cartoon show.

I'm really curious how "different" Airazor is going to be, she was damn-near perfect the first go around. So glad I still have her (and most of my beast wars toys).

SpikeyTigertron wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Burn wrote:For me personally, after the sub-par T30 figures (personal opinion, calm the **** down and save yourself the hassle of trying to tell me I'm "wrong"), I was wary of "modern" BW figures, considering the originals still hold up really well.

Eh, I think you're looking at the original Beast Wars figures through some thick, rose-colored glasses. They were great at the time and still decent now, but T30 Rattrap is leaps and bounds superior to the original Basic Class toy in the 90's. The same goes for Waspinator, and even Rhinox. What is it about the T30 versions that is inferior to the original 1996 toys besides "not as nostalgic?"

That Cheetor was hot garbage for one.... To a degree they also cut features (like the mutant face). I think the main argument is "better" eh? Articulation-wise with the pre-existing ball joints they were pretty decent.

I still think the MPs blow everything else out of the water... they literally look like they walked out of the morning cartoon show.

I didn't mention Cheetor, nor Dinobot, from the Universe 2008 line. I'm specifically talking about the Thrilling 30 figures that Burn said he has issue with. As for the Masterpiece figures, of course they're the best. That's the point of the Masterpiece line. We're talking about regular retail toys, not niche collector pieces. As for the updates (T30) versus the originals, increased articulation is only one difference. They're demonstrably better in terms of sculpted detail, complexity, engineering/design, paint applications, and in some cases, scale.

william-james88 wrote:

TulioDude wrote:I'm liking the look of this Rattrap better than the T30 one,he feels more show accurate.

I don't see how, there is absolutely nothing show accurate with the lower legs. In many ways, this new rattrap seems to take more inspiration from the original toy than the show.

His silhouette has less kibble,making him at a glance more like the tv show version.

Wolfman Jake wrote:I didn't mention Cheetor, nor Dinobot, from the Universe 2008 line. I'm specifically talking about the Thrilling 30 figures that Burn said he has issue with.

Yup, because boy did I want to make a meme with the Optimus Primal we got in POTP and put him next to the one from 1996 and write "superior/inferior". Unfair, for sure, but still true.

Wolfman Jake wrote:but T30 Rattrap is leaps and bounds superior to the original Basic Class toy in the 90's.

I beg to differ. T30 Rattrap is a fiddly mess that is anything but fun to transform with sorely limited elbow articulation and is just too darn big for the little guy.

I have the Takara show-accurate redeco of the original 1996 Basic mold with the copper-painted face and hands, and while simplistic to transform since it's a springloaded flipchanger, it is far more fun to handle, has a full range of ball-joined articulation, and sizes much better to not only the other original figures but also the Deluxe class BW Telemocha Series Primal and the Generations Rhinox figure.

Visual example (not my pic, but these are the right molds):

william-james88 wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:I didn't mention Cheetor, nor Dinobot, from the Universe 2008 line. I'm specifically talking about the Thrilling 30 figures that Burn said he has issue with.

Yup, because boy did I want to make a meme with the Optimus Primal we got in POTP and put him next to the one from 1996 and write "superior/inferior". Unfair, for sure, but still true.

I"m still blown away by the fact I *almost* prefer the original Ultra Primal to the MP... they're *really* close. (obviously the MP has more polish... but at that price difference...)

Sabrblade wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:but T30 Rattrap is leaps and bounds superior to the original Basic Class toy in the 90's.

I beg to differ. T30 Rattrap is a fiddly mess that is anything but fun to transform with sorely limited elbow articulation and is just too darn big for the little guy.

I have the Takara show-accurate redeco of the original 1996 Basic mold with the copper-painted face and hands, and while simplistic to transform since it's a springloaded flipchanger, it is far more fun to handle, has a full range of ball-joined articulation, and sizes much better to not only the other original figures but also the Deluxe class BW Telemocha Series Primal and the Generations Rhinox figure.

Visual example (not my pic, but these are the right molds):

Seeing the original Cheetor Mold reminds me how many eye color variants he had... I think I still have the original run with the blue eyes... I think there was red at one point... the green are lovely.

I'd have swore the cat head sat flusher to the body... so there's some rose-tinted nostalgia glasses I suppose... Still loved the way his "gut gun" and tail gun integrated and filled out the figure. Was even more shocked when that rifle eventually showed up in the cartoon in the armory.

which Dinobot is that... that's not the original...

SpikeyTigertron wrote:which Dinobot is that... that's not the original...

The gorgeously show-accurate Henkei! Henkei! redeco of the Universe mold.

Sabrblade wrote:

Wolfman Jake wrote:but T30 Rattrap is leaps and bounds superior to the original Basic Class toy in the 90's.

I beg to differ. T30 Rattrap is a fiddly mess that is anything but fun to transform with sorely limited elbow articulation and is just too darn big for the little guy.

I have the Takara show-accurate redeco of the original 1996 Basic mold with the copper-painted face and hands, and while simplistic to transform since it's a springloaded flipchanger, it is far more fun to handle, has a full range of ball-joined articulation, and sizes much better to not only the other original figures but also the Deluxe class BW Telemocha Series Primal and the Generations Rhinox figure.

Most people don't have the show-accurate Takara versions, or the "Telechroma Series" repaints from later on. Still, regardless of the plastic colors and paint apps used, the original Basic Class Rattrap figure really is just that. Basic. It's a spring-loaded auto transforming toy, which is already a big strike against it, just because it takes barely any effort to transform. The actual conversion between modes is part of the fun of Transformers for me. Toys that essentially play by themselves without me are kind of missing the point, in my opinion. T30 Rattrap is too big to be in scale with most modern Transformers figures, I'll grant you that, but it is still a good toy in its own right when you aren't being strict with scale. The articulation with the T30 figure is still way better than the original Beast Wars one, and I don't have an issue with the transformation for T30 Rattrap being to difficult or fiddly either. I find it fun and just the right amount of complexity. Plus, again, you actually transform the T30 figure compared to the original BW one. The beast mode for the original toy is also pretty laughable. That's not a very good representation of a rat, to say the least. The T30 one is much better in that regard, and it's got more poseability, so you can sit him up on his haunches if you want and still point his head forward. I also love the hidden remote detonation device in the T30 Rattrap's forearm too. Those are great little attentions to detail. While Kingdom Rattrap will be my definitive version for my Transformers Generations collection of Beast Wars characters, due mainly to it better scaling with everyone else, the T30 version, or more specifically, the Takara version (EX or regular release) is good enough to stand with the Masterpiece Beats Wars figures for now.

Sabrblade wrote:Visual example (not my pic, but these are the right molds):

I'm curious, will Core Rattrap be shorter than the original? I don't have the original, how does he compare to Bumblebee/Cliffjumper? I was thinking around the same size, I don't have any Basics handy that I can get to easily to compare. Core version is shorter than Legends so I'm guessing he's smaller than the original? Just wondering how that would look replaced in an updated version of this picture. Shame we don't have a shorter Cheetor figure... Cyberverse? Nah.

I'm looking forward to seeing how the BW figures in Kingdom look in scale with each other.

Just realized Rattrap uses a 3mm peg in his fists instead of the standard 5mm. Guess that explains why they had to come with weapons. So he can't hold a Battle Master in weapon mode, but can hold a Battle Master's weapon.

Emerje

Wolfman Jake wrote:

Burn wrote:For me personally, after the sub-par T30 figures (personal opinion, calm the **** down and save yourself the hassle of trying to tell me I'm "wrong"), I was wary of "modern" BW figures, considering the originals still hold up really well.

Eh, I think you're looking at the original Beast Wars figures through some thick, rose-colored glasses. They were great at the time and still decent now, but T30 Rattrap is leaps and bounds superior to the original Basic Class toy in the 90's. The same goes for Waspinator, and even Rhinox. What is it about the T30 versions that is inferior to the original 1996 toys besides "not as nostalgic?"

Rose coloured glasses? Nope. I also have nothing to be nostalgic about Beast Wars, it was coming to an end when I got back into collecting, but I have no real emotional attachment to it. So my opinion is based purely as a collector and I just felt that aside from the Masterpieces (which I don't own), any of the modern updates of BW characters have been lack lustre in my eyes.

Do I need to justify myself? No, I don't. It's my opinion, I'm not out here to convince anyone to think like me. If people want to think the previous updates are great, then that's their opinion.

I obviously just have different standards. eh.

Forgot I was going to comment to this.

SpikeyTigertron wrote:I'd have swore the cat head sat flusher to the body... so there's some rose-tinted nostalgia glasses I suppose...

That's the "alternate" position for the head, the instructions say to point the head down.


Admittedly it isn't a good look, but it's what the cartoon model is based on and it doesn't stick out as far. Strangely (and somehow fittingly for such an odd figure), the Universe version went for the alternate head up look.


Emerje

Emerje wrote:Forgot I was going to comment to this.

SpikeyTigertron wrote:I'd have swore the cat head sat flusher to the body... so there's some rose-tinted nostalgia glasses I suppose...

That's the "alternate" position for the head, the instructions say to point the head down.


Admittedly it isn't a good look, but it's what the cartoon model is based on and it doesn't stick out as far. Strangely (and somehow fittingly for such an odd figure), the Universe version went for the alternate head up look.


Emerje

God that Universe one wouldn't have been so bad... if they'd just done *something* with the feet. I think there was also some beast mode gimmick that got in the way.

I'm actually glad the beast modes won't be going for cartoon accurate beasts. That's what the MPs are doing, so it's neat to see them trying some things differently.

As for comparisons to other beast updates, specifically the T30 ones:

I am OK with T30 Rattrap, but this one looks much better, and while I don't have the original basic, I do have the Transmetal, and I much prefer the Transmetal to the T30 one. It is a much more fun toy, the T30 one has a nice rat mode, but robot mode is not as articulated as it could be and is very fiddly to transform. Fun plays a huge factor in my toys.

I have the armada Transmetal version of Rhinox, which is cool, but the T30 one is a fantastic Rhinox, I have no need for another version of that Rhinox because that one is so good.

Sort of the same with Waspinator, except i have the OG Transmetal and his OG repaint Buzzsaw. I think T30 was a proper update for him, so again, no other figure for me really needed.

But that's almost it for the original cast in season 1 organic beast mode that I own, outside of the MP Megs and Dinobot (and I would love a more fun and stable version of both), MP Blackarachnia (good with, but still would like an update), and OG tigatron (beast mode head and robot head not quite right though).

and I think PotP did a better OpOp than the OG. I got him earlier this year, and I just don't find him anywhere near as good. the only thing he's better at is being heavier and making more noise when he moves

Having throne monkey from POTP I'm glad I skipped the POTP Optimal, the original toy is better in almost every way other than suffering from chrome issues. Having an Optimal Op that cant roll out doesnt make any sense to me or having to spend almost the price of the figure again to get third party add ons to allow it to do what the original toy could do.

I'd be tempted to just go for selects beastwars variants and stick to MPs for the main cast, though from all the praise TT30 Rhinox it might be worth getting.

D-Maximal_Primal wrote:the T30 one has a nice rat mode, but robot mode is not as articulated as it could be and is very fiddly to transform.

Vindicated!

There are cheetor pics floating around supposedly, if anyone sees them, please send them our way.