The Energon Pub

by **Malikon** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:00 am

What do you think of the movie line automorphs? Good thing or bad thing?

for me I really like IronHides legs, Classic BBees legs, and Leaders Primes feet. They stand out to me as being pretty cool and working well, especially IronHides legs, they're really awesome.

However Blackouts head didn't work right out of the box, Voyager Megatrons and Deluxe Jazz's feel like they're going to break when clicking the head into place feels more like snapping the head into place, *or the legs in Megatrons case.*

Ratchets leg automorphs seem completely pointless, and Barricades 'Kung-Fu Punch' or whatever the hell it is, is too sensitive and goes off by itself.

StarScreams wings seem to work with no problem and are kind of cool. Really though IronHides legs are the ones that really stand out to me. So many pieces move and shift around when you pull his foot down, and the way the tire swings around and clicks into place is pure win.

So those are some of my thoughts on the automorphs I've come across so far, what are Your thoughts?

I will also comment that the directions for the toys really suck because none of them mention the automorphs, you have to discover or break them for yourself.

News Credits: 409 · by **Stormrider** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:08 am

Nay. Less gimmicks; more detail.

by **Raymond101** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:12 am

Apparently Automorph is not as hated as Cyber Planet Keys. But I could be wrong.

Leader Prime's Automorphs are epic. Seriously epic. I would day the same for Leader Megs, but I like those pink spikes. I guess I'm in the minority.

08 Bumbles' Automorphs are also epic. Ironhide's are nice, but they are very fragile.

Fragility is an issue with this gimmick. I can't see kids enjoying them. I personally do, although it comes as a price - more complex mechanics and plastic parts mean a less fragile, bulky toy.

I still can't work out where Arcee's Automorph is.

by **Rochade** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:22 am

I think it raises the Whoa-Effect, but lowers the Play-Factor.

by **Deceptiwho?** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:23 am

Personally I like it its kind of an added gimmick IMO :-?

by **AlienQuiksilver** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:45 am

I got lucky with my barricade ... his punch feature won't work unless i really dig my fingernail under the trigger.

Recon Barricade ... which I just sold, he was quite sensitive.

I dig IH's automorph a LOT!

Classic BB, his legs transform pretty nicely, but they don't look all that well when transformed. Wayyyy too clubby.

Concept BB's automorph is better and movie accurate. NICE!

Blackout, sucks.

Leader Prime - his automorph is the only thing I don't like about the figure. I would much rather a little more articulation in his torso/head section, but hey ... can't complain too much about him. He's just plain awesomeness.

Leader Brawl has the absolute worst automorph. Wayyyyy too sensitive and unreliable.

by **Malikon** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 5:53 am

with Leader Brawl are you talking about the spring loaded sides that fold over the treads?

News Credits: 7 · by **shortround** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:16 am

It is like any new or reused gimick it has it good points and it bad points so I really can't say yay or nay on this one.

[zero-kaiser's YouTube Channel] · by **zero-kaiser** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 6:34 am

Raymond101 wrote:I still can't work out where Arcee's Automorph is.

i think, and correct me if im wrong, but Arcee's automorph is meant to be her crossbow gun.. you know how inserting the missile causes the bow to pop out? and then back in when its fired?.. i got Arcee a week or so ago and was quietly impressed with that

by **Raymond101** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:04 am

Okay. In that case Arcee has a greta Automorph. Not as epic as Prime's but great and creative nevertheless.

by **AlienQuiksilver** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:37 am

Malikon wrote:with Leader Brawl are you talking about the spring loaded sides that fold over the treads?

Nah, I don't mind that one too much. Once everything is lined up ... it stays put as long as those tabs aren't bumped.

I'm talking about his head and front section.

News Credits: 127 · by **Counterpunch** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:39 am

Terrible, horrible, and stupid idea on toys that are so fragile and thin.

by **mechajol** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 7:41 am

Stormrider wrote:Nay. Less gimmicks; more detail.

^^^agree 100%

and while we're at it, nay to spring-loaded missile gimmicks...

News Credits: 1 · by **Bonecrusher27** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:35 am

Dishonourable mentions:

Bonecrusher: claw shouldn't count as an automorph. There's nothing "auto" about it. Should not have been advertised as such, just as Barricade or Longarm weren't.

Ratchet: Absolutely useless leg feature.

Blackout: First it went halfway, then it went no way. Broken and useless.

I really think something is worthy of being called automorph only if it really has something significant to do with the transformation. Parts move and shift, such as Ironhide, Leader Megatron and Prime, BB feet, and others.

I like the automorph feature, except for the fact that it makes the toy less solid to handle, and you've got to handle with care. It appeals to my sense of fascination for the engineering that goes into these toys, but not to my preference to transform at least 2 or 3 each day.

Of course, I'd exchange that for better articulation, greater durability, and more detail.

I'd give all that up for stronger missile launchers and flying fists that can be useful against evil like the weapons we saw in that Shooter movie. :grin:

News Credits: 4 · by **Briggs** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:37 am

They are all neat but if we had them or not i wouldnt care, except concept BB, and leader brawl is pretty cool too. Don't have any problems with him

News Credits: 198 · by **DevastaTTor** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 8:50 am

BIG NAY!

by **publicvisage** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 11:18 am

Thumbs down to Automorph.

Although, Blackout is the only figure I've had a problem with, I just think that Automorph is an unnecessary gimmick that makes the figure more fragile than it should be. Plus most of my enjoyment comes from figuring out how to transform the thing in the first place.

News Credits: 1 · by **Autoclot** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:29 pm

Some of them are coolish. I like Megatron's wings, Bumblebee's legs (both versions), Ironhide and Starscream. If Arcee's bow does count, then that's quite cool, too.

Prime's head is OK, but not particularly noteworthy, as are Ratchet's legs.

Blackout's would be good if it was reliable, but it's too easy to screw it up.

I had problems with gear alignment on both Blackout and BB '74 - I ended up taking the side panel off Blackout's cockpit and realigning the gears a couple of times, and it still manages to get back out of step.

On '74 BB, one of the feet wouldn't close up properly in alt mode. It turned out the gear that manages the automorph was one tooth out of alignment - I dismantled his leg and fixed it pretty easy, now his automorph works fine.

News Credits: 4 · by **tom brokaw** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:38 pm

sometimes theyre pretty cool.... but overall i say NAY!

by **Bumblebee-otch** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:43 pm

NAY. except 08 bumblebee's legs!

by **Dr. Z** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 1:59 pm

I say yay. Leader Prime is my favorite in that department.

News Credits: 1 · by **rpetras** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:13 pm

I like 'em.

I agree with a lot of folks that Ironhide's automorph is awesome. He's probably my fav of the movie figs because of it. I also like leader Prime's features.

Most of the others are OK, but not outstanding. Overall I think they add more than they detract to the transforms.

While I agree Ratchet's AM feature was lame, it in no way detracted from the fig IMO.

My leader Brawl is way too touchy. Since he stays in Bot mode most of the time it's OK, but it is a definite minus for him.

by **Mandamus** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:37 pm

I think it makes or breaks the figures. I think it practically ruins Blackout but makes concept Bumblebee much better.

Overall, I hope it goes away with the movie line. It's too risky.

News Credits: 7 · by **Omega Charge** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 2:43 pm

The whole thing doesn't make any of the toys a whole lot better, and yes, I have Blackout and his Automorph is a big :-x

News Credits: 1 · by **Menbailee** » Mon Oct 08, 2007 3:17 pm

The automorph feature is way too fragile. It looks cool, but if you try to move a part like Leader Meg's wings manually, you stand to break the mechanism so that they'll never rest perfectly evenly again. Same with Ironhide's legs. I do appreciate the extra detailing, but I would keep it to parts that move together regardless of which piece you're moving manually. Otherwise, lots of disappointed kids, angry moms, and cranky collectors.