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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 26, 2013 8:22:08 GMT
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Post by The Doctor on Dec 26, 2013 18:48:26 GMT
Not a year when I bothered much with Transformers but of the ones I had a shot at I really really liked the Generations Wreckers team. Took some dodgy moulds and spruced them up with great paintjobs, extra weapons and nice head sculpts and made the whole thing really grand. Missed out on getting them as they never appeared at UK retail prices sadly but did very much enjoy heaving a play with them.
And oh, the Generations Legends Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron were fab.
-Ralph
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Post by Shockprowl on Dec 26, 2013 21:01:11 GMT
I love this thread! Out of the sections I've purchoosed/been gifted in:
Legion: Beast Hunters Prowl (Thanks Big Phill!). The Justice Hammer alone wins it! But it's a great mold as well.
Delux: Beast Hunters Prowl easily (Thanks Cyber-Chumbs!). I liked him from the go, but he's grown on me even more. The face/head, the wings on his back, colours... Brilliant dynamic figure, outstanding as Prowl, an outstanding delux TF mold.
Masterpiece: Loved Soundwave (still need the other cassettes! Aaargh!). Love the whole 'New MP' style, scales (overpriced cheap plasticed as it is). But no surprise who won this section for me. The Prowl of Prowls. Better than I could have hoped (apart from the plastic). Nothing more needs to be said.
Other: So spoilt have I been this year, for I have OFFICIALLY decided that The Prowl Of Prowls shares, yes, SHARES the position of my most loved TF figuroon OF ALL TIME. Joined as he is.... by.....
Quakewave.
Magnificent, ultra-fantastic Masterpiece Shockwave. Perfection. More perfection than MP Prowl really, because the plastic feels better. An incredible figure. Outstanding work.
Biggest Disapointment: Generations Trailbreaker. I don't own one, but from what I've seen, heard, and researched, he just isn't the Classics Trailbreaker I was needing to complete my '84 big Autobots (although I despise Classics Ratchet and Ironhide as well). This let down fueled my move away from 'CHUG' towards the Overpriced but Beautiful 'New MPs'.
Not many TFs bought this year (again), I've had a very Star Wars year. But some collection augementing dreams in there to be sure! Great year for me TF-wise. Roll on MP Wheeljack.
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Post by Toph on Dec 26, 2013 21:02:46 GMT
I cant do a complete list, since many of the ones i think would top my list (wasp, rhinox, mp optimus) cant find, but I can do some.
One thing I should point out in advance, I have nothing against simple transformations. But there's a difference between a simple transformation, and one that makes you feel like they think kids are stupid. Both Ripclaw and Skystalker have simple transformations. But Ripclaw is clever, fun, and changes the shape of the dragon from the robot, while still basically being the "stand it up to transform her" scheme. Skystalker however makes you think they aren't even trying.
Worst toy of the year: this one has way more contenders than best. Among them FoC Starscream, FoC onslaught, and *any* BH Predacon minus Ripclaw, Gen Blitzwing, and FoC Grimlock.
Starscream- god awful proportions, its like giving Spiderman the proportions of Hulk. It's hasbro's fault for giving the game designers too much freedom. Starscream looks nothing like the character he represents, the only thing they have in common is that they fly. This only highlights what a trainwreck the aligned continuity is. Stupid simple transformation, too.
Onslaught- too small to do ehat it needs to, and does not even attempt to hide the robot arms in either torso or truck mode.
Predacons- I shouldnt, but I'm lumping them all together. Except for ripclaw, all of them had the worst transformation schemes. None worst than Skystalker. Come on! Couldnt you try just a little harder to do something interesting? Every one of them, you stand it up, and collapse the dragon neck into the chest in some form or another to transform it. And if you're gonna get that cheap in the engineering, at least give us better wing articulation (here's bitching at you, grimwing)!
Grimlock- completely hollow in either form, so much so that he feels only half done. Mediocre robot, and the single worst dinosaur hasbro ever made. Its completely unforgivable in 2013. At least the mp has a valid argument to justify it's bad dino. This doesnt.
Blitzwing- he lands in concideration exclusively due to his shoulder issues. They're so bad they really are unforgivable in the quality control department.
My choice overall though has to be Onslaught. He completely fails at everything he's ment to do. He really has nothing redeeming about him.
Another catagory i can do is Surprise toy of the Year. To me, this means something you weren't expecting to be any good, but was really awesome.
Gen Springer, BH Starscream, BH Ultra Magnus, BH Optimus, Arms Micron Lioconvoy, Gen Skids.
I'll generalize here, instead of listing each one. Most followed, or were in toylines (in thundertron and to a degree UM, being a prime retool) that were a complete disappointment. And in skid's case, i just didnt have very high hopes. So each one of these easily bounded over very low bars. The BH brought variety and fun back into the toyline, after the very boring TF:P toyline. Each one of these had considerably more play value and imagination put in their designs and line-wide gimmick. And the capture gear styled weapons were something TF never did before. All in all, BH has an originality thats been missing from TF for yeeeeeaaaaars. Its a shame the show didnt follow the toyline's example, instead focusing on another artifact quest and only having one, and only one "beast" to hunt. That wasnt even hunted.
My choice: AM Lioconvoy. BW homage, in a mold that not only was a lot better than I thought it would be, but made it feel like it was a Beast Machines Lioconvoy.
And over all best surprise of the year (sorta different), is Beast Wars! With Ultra Mammoth coming out of nowhere, and several homages in AM Lioconvoy, Prebeast Depthcharge, TWO Waspinators, an Rhinox, and with Transmutate, prebeast Rampage, Thrustinator, Rattrap and a potential Skybyte being announced for next year, this is the best year the Beast Era has had since '06!
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 26, 2013 21:44:38 GMT
Trailbreaker is a lot better than you might think Ian. Worth a punt if you see one cheap.
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Post by Shockprowl on Dec 26, 2013 22:53:39 GMT
Really? Hmmmm, I'll see. I've studied pics of him intently. He's too small, and just doesn't look G1 Trailbreakery enough. But you are wise, Big Phil, I shall see if I see one.
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Post by Toph on Dec 26, 2013 23:23:19 GMT
I agree with Phil. Its not the best toy around, but it isnt a bad one. Though since i have no affection for Trailbreaker, and didn't feel his absence left a hole in my classics, my opinion may not be terribly valid.
It 's a large step up from the prime and FoC molds, but not on par with the generations 1.0 and rts.
Personally , i think it's a better Hoist. You might wanna see about that, and then measure how you feel about the mold.
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Post by Shockprowl on Dec 27, 2013 8:54:28 GMT
Yes the mold does look better as Hoist. I'll have a think.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 27, 2013 10:12:39 GMT
I'll have to disagree. Hoist is severely lacking, and is much worse than Trailbreaker Compare and contrast: 1985 Hoist2013 HoistLoads of the signature elements are missing from both modes with the back of the new one just being empty. I'd love to be able to remove the Full Spectrum Multi-Sensor as it looks wrong sticking out of Trailcutter's vehicle mode and even worse here. Didn't even hesitate laying out for the Upgrade kit for Hoist. Do a search on Xt003 for colour pics - there's some good ones here. And even that doesn't go far enough with Hoist's towing gear. For my money Movie Hoist was probably good enough |
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Post by Jim on Dec 27, 2013 23:06:42 GMT
Relatively light year, but still spent more than I intended (balanced with a bit of eBay selling).
Arms Micron/Minicon
Wildrider - possibly my favourite of all AM releases, great mould which didn't work as Wheeljack for me, but a nice head retool and redeco rescues it and he has an awesome partner which turns from cute little cycloptic elephant to gun!
Legion (The small Cyberverse figure)
BH Windrazor - best of a good bunch.
Commander
n/a
Cyberverse Ship/Playset
n/a
Legend (The basic sized figure sold in a 2 pack with a smaller characterP
n/a
Deluxe
n/a
Voyager
Generations Springer - even with the pegging together issues in car mode, this is an awesome toy fabulously realising Roche's design. Sandstorm looks good, too, but I'm firmly in the Springer camp.
Reissue
n/a
Repaint
n/a - Ratbat might have made it if Parcelforce hadn't neglected to let me know they'd held the package for a customs fee and so it found it's way back to HLJ. Waiting for a replacement.
Exclusive
He's on his way to me so I don't yet have him, but I'll go with Circuit. Gotta love Action Master homages.
Masterpiece
Streak - beautiful, a true masterpiece. The existence of this toy has caused me to enter a new phase of collection trimming both in anticipation of the MPs to come and because what I have just doesn't measure up.
Soundwave + tapes was great too!
Japanese Toy
Bakudora - lovely dragon mode, and with these colours (nice shiny blue) and body shape a decent Macabre stand-in.
Third Party Toy
n/a
Other Toy
n/a
Older Toy that you bought in 2013
G1 Groundshaker - got an MIB, stickers unapplied, bits still in plastic bags example, and it's a lovely toy.
Vying also for this position are BotCon Weirdwolf, BotCon Sharkticons and Cybertron Rail Racer.
Ooh, also TFC reissues of Jazz and Megatron that I got a great deal on (plugging those gaps!).
I think Groundshaker brought the most joy though.
Worst Toy
Those abominations of Prime Op / BB that got released in Tesco(?). Shame on Hasbro.
Worst Toy You Bought
Hmmm. No big regrets this year, so going to say n/a.
-Jim
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Post by Philip Ayres on Dec 28, 2013 16:04:32 GMT
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Post by Pinwig on Dec 28, 2013 20:11:51 GMT
I am not a completist by any means so I'm going to live dangerously here and cross the streams. Well, the different lines anyway. I'm sorry this is long too, I did try not to waffle.
Commander/Legion/Legend
Came to this scale very late having incorrectly assumed that because they were so small they'd be rubbish by default. Totally wrong about that. I've ignored these right from their origins and now really wish I hadn't. I do wish though that the Generations Legends were as detailed as the Prime ones.
5. Legion Air Vehicon.
Never been sure about the whole vehicon idea, but this is a great figure and knocks the rest of the Legion figures into a cocked hat.
4. Legends Starscream.
Best of the four out.
3. Commander Predaking.
Beautifully intricate for the size. This was the figure that made me realise I was missing something with the Commanders.
2. Commander Hardshell.
Why was there no Predacons Rising version in black/purple...
1. Commander Shockwave.
Every time I look at this figure it amazes me. An almost perfectly miniature copy of the voyager. Just brilliant.
Cyberverse Ship/Playset would have been Wheeljack & Star Hammer but I see that was 2012.
Deluxe
I think the better Prime deluxes came and went before 2013 in the guise of figures like Wheeljack and Ratchet, nothing since has really hit the mark for me. This list would probably also have the Wreckers combiners in if I actually had any of them.
5. Orion Pax
4. Trailcutter
3. Hoist
Not much between these two, but Hoist I think just feels like he fits the mould better.
2. FoC Magnus
This mould suits him better than Prime, but both of them should have been Voyagers. I am very tempted by the Transformazing addon kit for this figure and will look closely at reviews. Thing is, could you justify buying both? Doubt it.
1. FoC Thundercracker.
Yes, honestly. I really like this mould, I think it gives the seekers a bit of weight while retaining the general style of the originals, but the colour scheme for Thundercracker pips Starscream.
Voyager
5. FoC Blaster
Overall I think he works the mould better than Soundwave does.
4. Beast Hunters Ultra Magnus
Didn't like the first Prime Magnus, or the Optimus, but the tweaks and Magnus's colours make this mould much more impressive.
3. Beast Hunters Shockwave
Worth the trouble to import. I am biased because I love any Shockwave toys, but I do think this is the best of the Prime Voyagers. Light years ahead of the pre-Beast ones. Compare this to Dreadwing (being the previous principle henchman to Megatron) and the difference is phenomenal.
2. Springer
The recent pics posted by Sifu forced me to buy the Rainstorm addon guns without a second thought. Once I've got those he might just go ahead of...
1. Sandstorm
Just a brilliant figure. Slightly top heavy, but so much more than just a simple remould. Everything about him gives me so much hope for the future of the Generations line. Start again Hasbro, go from scratch. Do them all this well.
Masterpiece
These for me are what collecting Transformers is all about these days. Love, love, love, this line. Same reasons for all choices: just brilliant updates on much loved toys from my youth that now look the way I like to remember them. Until I look in my G1 cabinet anyway. I can't remember which side of last Christmas Sideswipe was though, does he count as 2013?
5. Smokescreen
4. Sideswipe
3. Asia reissue Starscream (didn't have him first time round)
2. Soundwave
1. Prowl
Third Party Toy
Completely new to this arena, these are the only four I have.
4. Fansproject Warbot Assaulter
3. Toyworld Brainwave
2. Toyworld Hardbone
1. Fanstoys Quakewave
Overall Top Five
I need an overall here to fit a couple of others in.
5. Masterpiece Soundwave
I got the Hasbro version of this and am not convinced by the finish, doesn't feel as nice as the Takara ones bt is still fantastic.
4. Masterpiece Prowl
This is what this line is about. Supremely accurate and extremely detailed updates to the original lineup.
3. Platinum Predaking
Ranked this high simply because it was the combiner I always wanted. Never thought I would given the price of the old reissue set. A dream come true despite not being G1 colour accurate.
2. Quakewave
If only Takara made Masterpieces this solid. This figure stunned me and opened my eyes to third party.
1. Generations Metroplex
Doesn't figure anywhere else but needs his own category. I smile when I look at this figure every day and he's even impressed some non-believing friends. At least I think that's what the glazed expression means. He has flaws yes, but outside the brilliance of the Masterpiece line this is the most stunning transformer I've seen for years.
And to finish, although is this an upcoming top five?
Most anticipated 2014 releases
5. Legends Cosmos.
4. Voyager Whirl.
3. Masterpiece Magnus.
2. Masterpiece Wheeljack. Please, please get this right Takara.
1. Fanstoys Scoria. If this is as good as Quakewave and turns into a dinosaur... game over man, game over.
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Post by Bogatan on Dec 28, 2013 20:38:21 GMT
ExclusiveHe's on his way to me so I don't yet have him, but I'll go with Circuit. Gotta love Action Master homages. -Jim It should have arrived by now, i sent it last week, Ill find the tracking number and check on it. |
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Post by Jim on Dec 29, 2013 15:59:18 GMT
ExclusiveHe's on his way to me so I don't yet have him, but I'll go with Circuit. Gotta love Action Master homages. -Jim It should have arrived by now, i sent it last week, Ill find the tracking number and check on it. Don't worry, I got the card through the door the day we were leaving for France! Online redelivery already arranged! -Jim |
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Post by Bogatan on Jan 6, 2014 18:55:39 GMT
Arms Micron/Minicon Megatron Fusion cannon ape chap. Amazing. It's probably from last year, but bought this AA, I've barely any awareness of this line so it goes to one of only about three I have, but since its amazing that's okay.
Legion (The small Cyberverse figure)
I was given Ratchet after being in hospital. Unintentionally fitting. It wins just for cheering me up. Otherwise would be Terrorcons and all repaints which are surprisingly excellent. Not got around to opening somehow but TF the ride Evac looks good too.
Commander
Erm did I get any of these this year, Oh yeah Thunderclash and RID Megatron.
Cyberverse Ship/Playset N/A
Legend
Starscream and Waspinator. SS is a nice little toy and Waspy as a targetmaster is rather charmingly odd. Huge bonus points for Waspy being able to drag around Starscreams guns.
The only other one I have so far is Bumblebee which is pretty good too but not a huge fan of that general BB design. Looking forwards to the rest of the line.
Deluxe
~In terms of new moulds released this year I'd probably have to go with Hoist.
For modified moulds from previous years I'm gonna say Air Vehicon and FOC Wreckers. While FOC Combaticons always stays as Bruticus, the wreckers tend to stay uncombined. Whirl sadly doesn't work that well but as a far superior version will be available soon I don't mind. Impactor has all the problems Onslaught had, but just not being Onslaught means that they dont seem as bad and of course after decades of waiting that head sculpt is a welcome sight. Roadbuster and the Jumpstarters I think are really great toys. Also loads of extra weapons.
Voyager
Sandstorm or Springer. My view on which is best changes frequently. BH Shockwave is not far behind. Blitzwing and grimlock both are great too despite some major issues.
Reissue
Not had much luck here. Fortmax came missing a piece of its chest and Predaking came broken. But a 25% discount on Max and a second perfectly good Predaking addressed both issues. I already had Fort Maxs bros so finally owning one didn't quite have the impact it would have 7 years ago.redaking on the other hand I had mostly never even seen in person, so getting it was huge.
Repaint
hmmm. For all the pap that fp is, circuit and ultra mammoth are both stunning. In very different ways of course.
Remould
fp again, botcpn last year was far from spectacular, but electro is one of the best toys they ever produced. Foc wreckers also up there.
exclusive
electro again
masterpiece
Laserbeak and buzzsaw. On balance the mould that most impressed me this year, but there wasn't a bad one really.
japanese
fusion cannon monkey really impressed me. But I should probably be sensible and choose tiger track or dragon train convoy.
third party
got the fansproject reissue bruticus add on set which is great.
Other toy
Metroplex, so so so good.
Non tf robot toy
After 4 months of it staring at me i cracked and opened heroman, one of toyfus imports that was being stored here. Someone remind me to pay nick for it. Anyway its utterly bizarre, but I like it.
Older toy bought in 2013
erm,
worst toy
Those prime and bumblebee things
worst bought
done pretty well cutting down on stuff I dont really want, ut foc soundwavw blaster and data discs are all a little naff. Some of the botcon set wasnt great either. But nothing stands out as really bad.
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Post by Toph on Jan 16, 2014 20:41:38 GMT
To add to my list . Though I didn't get them until this year, they are last year's toys.
My official toy of the year is Generations Waspinator!
Granted the competition isn't terribly steep, but I think he stands up as the best update ever. He seriously can compete with the masterpieces, and is even better than some (rodimus, sideswipe).
His likeness is dead on, has an amazing robot mode with great articulation, and a fantastic and unobtrusive action gimmick.
Wasp mode could be a better.
And hasbro's biggest blunder of last year has to be BH Arcee. The toy wont last two years. Absolute terrible plastic quality. The thing is seriously the next G2 Slingshot. Only the dark blue and grey plastic is not GPS type plastic. The slate blue and lilac plastic that makes up most of her and her weapon is destined to crumble. Just trying to snap a tab in place fractured her leg.
DO NOT BUY. If you feel you must have her, get the takara release instead.
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Post by dyrl on Jan 17, 2014 15:16:41 GMT
The best Transformer of the year for me was G2 generations Bruticus
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Post by Pinwig on Jan 17, 2014 23:21:02 GMT
And hasbro's biggest blunder of last year has to be BH Arcee. The toy wont last two years. Absolute terrible plastic quality. The thing is seriously the next G2 Slingshot. Only the dark blue and grey plastic is not GPS type plastic. The slate blue and lilac plastic that makes up most of her and her weapon is destined to crumble. Just trying to snap a tab in place fractured her leg. DO NOT BUY. If you feel you must have her, get the takara release instead. (Makes mental note to leave this one in the packet). |
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