2020 Best & Worst

[Philip Ayres]

It's nearly time for our annual poll of what Transformers we liked the best in 2020!

For previous years see:

2007 tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/608/2007-year-best-worst-toys
2008 tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/1938/best-2008
2009 tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/3632/best-2009
2010 tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/5020/2010-favourite-toys-thread
2011 tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/6212/2011-best-worst
2012 tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/7036/2012-best-worst
2013 tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/7482/2013-best-transformers-toys
2014 tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/7992/2014-tops-bottoms
2015 tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/8516/2015-best-worst-tf-toys
2016 tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/9113/2016-best-worst
2017 tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/9628/2017-best-worst
2018 tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/10143/2018-best-worst
2019 tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/10757/2019-best-worst

All toys released in the UK, US or Japan in 2020 are eligible.

To stop anyone from unintentionally starting anything similar early, and to give Mr Pinwig / Jim more time to spot categories I've forgotten, here's the proposed category list:

WAR FOR CYBERTRON: EARTHRISE - See tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/10486/war-cybertron-earthrise?page=1 and tfwiki.net/wiki/War_for_Cybertron:_Earthrise

Battlemaster
Micromaster
Deluxe
Voyager
Leader
Larger Toy

Earthrise Exclusive

WFC-E26 Thrust
WFC-E27 Seeker Elite Dirge & Ramjet
WFC-E29 Voyager Seeker 2-Pack: Thunderacker & Skywarp
WFC-E30 Decepticon Clones 2-Pack
WFC-E31 Autobot Alliance: Prowl & Ironhide
WFC-E32 Bluestreak
WFC-E33 Centurion Drone
WFC-E41 Runabout

WFC Exclusive

WFC Alternate Universe Optimus Prime
WFC Quintesson Pit of Judgement

Generations Select

WFC-GS10 and upwards

NETFLIX (Wal*Mart/Smyths) tfwiki.net/wiki/War_for_Cybertron_Trilogy_(toyline)#Transformers:_War_for_Cybertron_Trilogy_.282020-present.29

Deluxe
Voyager
Leader


STUDIO SERIES: tfwiki.net/wiki/Studio_Series

Deluxe
Voyager
Leader


CYBERVERSE: tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_Cyberverse_(toyline)

Scout:
One Step:
Warrior:
Deluxe:
Ultra:
Ultimate:

Battle Call Trooper Class

Tiny Turbo Changer

Exclusive

Quintesson Invasion: Prowl, Shockwave & Quintesson Judge
Sharkticons Attack: Stealth Force Hot Rod & 3 Sharkticons
Seekers Sinister Strikeforce: Thrust, Skywarp, Thundercracker & Starscream
Repugnus Revenge: Decepticon Repugnus & 3 Pesticons

BOTBOTS: tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers:_BotBots

Single pack:
5 pack:
8 pack:
Special pack:


JAPAN:

Takara Selects:
Masterpiece:
Exclusive:


GENERAL

Worst Toy:
The Buyers Regret Award For The Worst Toy You Bought:
Best Toy:
Best Older Toy You Bought:
Best Other Toy You Bought:
2020 Toy You're Most Looking Forward To:


If you have any amendments, then PM me.

Votes will open Boxing Day after the Robot Santa has been to visit.

[Philip Ayres]

Open for Business! Who liked what?

[The Doctor]

#VoteKranix

[Benn]

For what?

[Pinwig]

Well it is a best and worst thread...

[The Doctor]

Kranix is Best.

-Ralph

[Pinwig]

Behave.

[The Doctor]

Kranix is genuinely my favourite TF toy of 2020.

-Ralph

[Pinwig]

I see.

[Toph]

My preliminary is extremely simple.
Worst: ER Arcee

It's that simple.

Best has competition, though. ER Wheeljack. ER Optimus. ER Datsun. Galactic Ratchet. Kingdom Blackarachnia.

[The Doctor]

ER Arcee is also the stinker of the year for me.

-Ralph

[Bogatan]

Elita is worse

[Philip Ayres]

WAR FOR CYBERTRON: EARTHRISE

Battlemaster

Doublecrosser

Not a good year for the Battlemasters. New toys were limited to just ramps, almost certainly thanks to Siege w5 nicking Rung and Singe, and Soundbarrier proved a tad fragile especially round the hips. A surprising lack of Targetmaster repaints. You could almost see why the size class got canned.

Micromaster

Race Track Patrol: Ground Hog & Roller Force

All 3 of the 2 packs of individual Micromasters were good, and felt better quality, more solid, thav the 2019 Siege MMs. Astro Squad were nice but not quite the same quality. No new toys after w2 points at the 2020 line up being devastated by the events that caused Siege w5 - what we got in 2020 with the Battle Squad being new, Rumble & Ratbat coming out as Earthrise and earth mode Ravage & Laserbeak in the main line make a much more rounded assortment. Again the size class is canned, which is almost a shame. Still some repaints to come though!

Deluxe

Arcee.....
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No not really, it's Airwave! Not had this much fun with a Transformer in YEARS. FAB toy. Mostly a decent year for deluxe, MOSTLY, but very Autobot/Car dominated.

Voyager

Grapple

Despite the issue with the pegs, they nailed this one. SUPERB

Snapdragon was very good, but needed some work on the neck and the dragon arms - why did he not have fully posable arms with a double ball jointed elbow? Starscream also VERY good, finally the Voyager Strike plane we'd been after. Megatron was better than he looked, but not a good as Siege, the tank barrel/spear/staff was rubbish and if they were going for the repaint they did there should have been a better shoulder cannon mount. Quintesson Judge: IF YOU NEED TO ATTACH A PART THEN MAKE IT EASY TO ATTACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *STILL* not got the red face on!

Leader

Optimus Prime

*FINALLY* a trailer. Not a perfect one, but a good one nonetheless. Decent robot with much better arms that looks more like original Op but with a not so great chest. A LOT of Voyager Op resued here.

Doubledealer was nice but the TF was a bit frustrating THE KNEES

Larger Toy

SCORPONOK

SUPERB. I'd wanted him smaller but they really got him right as a Titan. Scorpion mode is superb.

Earthrise Exclusive

I genuinely don't know!

WFC-E26 Thrust
WFC-E27 Seeker Elite Dirge & Ramjet
WFC-E29 Voyager Seeker 2-Pack: Thundercracker & Skywarp
WFC-E30 Decepticon Clones 2-Pack
WFC-E31 Autobot Alliance: Prowl & Ironhide
WFC-E32 Bluestreak
WFC-E33 Centurion Drone
WFC-E41 Runabout

I can see why ALL of these are in there: 5 reuses of the jet mould, 2 of which on characters which were in Siege, 2 of the Datsun mould, both of which in characters which were in Siege, 1 of the Battlecharger mould, 1 of the adapted Siege mould on a character who was in Siege.

All reuses and mainly characters that have been done recently. The problem is most of these are quite major characters that long term TF fans will want. I want to do some more thinking on this....

The returning TR clones and Centurion Drone are the most traditional exclusives there, Centuruion being an obscure character repaint.

In some ways mny of these were easier to get than 2019's offerings, Target's especially. But the later 2 Targets and the Amazons proved difficult, especially if you ordered the Amazons from Amazon UK. DO NOT USE AMAZON UK FOR AMAZON EXCLUSIVES!!!!!

WFC Exclusive

Conveniently the two bigger exclusives were badged differently :-)

Quintesson Pit for the supeb ballif remould, the recoloured Sharkticon and a judge you don't have to get frustrtated putting together.

NETFLIX (Wal*Mart/Smyths)

Deluxe

BUMBLEBEE without question.

The level of remoulding on him sticks out A MILE making it obvious he was probably intended for elsewhere, as I suspect was Elita-1

Of the repaints Decepticon Mirage wins, but Scrapface is good and the more subtly repaints on Sideswipe and Hound are REALLY good.

Voyager

Soundwave, OBVIOUSLY

But the Megatron is VERY good, lovely repaint with two good battlemasters and the Prime is a very subtle recolour that's better than the original

Leader

I'd LIKE to say Magnus. LIKE. But it is too much like the original one whereas Nemesis Prime is a complete recolour with lots of bonus goodies so Nemesis Wins!


STUDIO SERIES:

Didn't buy any this year


CYBERVERSE:

Scout: Didn't buy any this year. Or EVER!!!!!!!!!!!

One Step: REPUGNUS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Punching so far above his weight it's untrue. Such a good fun toy. Bludgeon wasn't bad either and Whirl was OK.

Warrior: Didn't buy any but of the three that were released this year Hammerbyte looks the best

Deluxe: Thunderhowl, Phil needs a single

Ultra: Rack n Ruin was the only one I bought but Phil wants Thunderhowl

Ultimate: Iaconus looks a bit mad

Battle Call Trooper Class Wildwheel looks mad

Tiny Turbo Changer Didn't buy any this year.

Exclusive Repugnus Revenge: Decepticon Repugnus & 3 Pesticons - best one step recoloured with 3 bonus Tiny Turbo Changer recolours. RESULT


BOTBOTS:

Didn't buy any this year but Matt D has sent me a Shushifier which is yet to show up.


JAPAN:

Takara Selects:

Of the Seacons, Tentakil. SUPERB remould. All the Seacons are good but whereas the others are Terrocon Beasts into Seacon Beasts this turns CYBERTRONIAN VEHICLE into a Beast!!!!!!! Top Work.

But I think Super Megatron beats any of the individual Seacons.

Not sure I can choose between the two combiners.


Masterpiece:

Haven't bought one for YEARS but Spinout


Exclusive:

Not sure there's been any outside the Selects?


GENERAL

Worst Toy:

Earthrise Arcee

The Buyers Regret Award For The Worst Toy You Bought:

Earthrise Arcee ....

... followed by Alternate Universe Op - it just didn't do it for me - and Quintesson Judge - NO TF SHOULD BE THAT HARD TO PUT TOGETHER! If I'd have got the Quint Pit sooner, I'd have cancelled this.

Best Toy:

I'd love to give this to Scorponok cos he was superb.

But it HAS to be Airwave. All TEN of them.

Best Older Toy You Bought:

I've bought a few! Skyquake, Rotorstorm, Stormtrooper Drench and Skyscorche Snipe are all in the running.

Best Other Toy You Bought:

Diaclone Tridigger

2020 Toy You're Most Looking Forward To:

SS86 Grimlock, Kingdom Inferno, Dinobot & Airazor out of those announced.

[The Doctor]

Phil is a Bad Man for not liking Dead Prime.

-Ralph

[Benn]

Am I the only person who had no trouble putting the Judge together?

[The Doctor]

Had no problems with mine.

-Ralph

[Andy Turnbull]

You would appear to be the only two people.

[The Doctor]

It would seem so. I consider myself fortunate.

-Ralph

[Bogatan]

I still havent opened a lot of this years purchases.

I'll do this properly once Im off work, but Gigawatts a strong contender.

In older purchases. Animated translucent legends Prime, Tako Bathtank are also in the running.

Elita 1 is the only big disappointment coming to mind so far. Even Lifeline compared favourably.

[Pinwig]

Best:

I tend to lean towards the bigger more exciting figures as being favourites so it's hard not to put Scorponok or Sky Lynx at the top, but I haven't opened either of them yet so I can exclude them on those grounds (I'd been saving Scorp for Christmas but because I was actually given toys for once as gifts it seemed rude to bring out the big fella and ignore what I was given). Generations figures don't really have anything to differentiate them in terms of play features or style, so what makes one better than another to me is how well it homages and updates the original figure it's based on. So the top five that have given me the biggest buzz this year are:

1. Netflix Megatron (Just looks amazing, best Megatron since the original)
2. Piranacon (combiner fun always wins)
3. Grapple (right size, shape, looks brilliant with the other 85 cars)
4. Skywarp (love the mould but love Skywarp's colours the most)
5. Alicon (just fun, who'd have ever thought we'd see this?)
6. Ironhide (not strictly traditional, but a lovely update that makes the character into the chunky security chief he should be)

Of the older figure purchases this year, limited a lot because sadly there was no TFN dealers' room to peruse, my top three would be:

1. Rotorstorm (pop out missile launchers!)
2. Universe Onslaught (big, chunky, lights and sounds)
3. Armada Galvatron (brilliant colours but hard to top Megatron)

Of the seven Third Party purchases made this year:

1. FT Road King (Motormaster - towering figure that does the character justice)
2. FT Iceman (Air Raid - the Aerialbots from FT are just amazing)
3. Nonnef ER Prime trailer kit (makes something out of nothing)


Worst:

I haven't bought Arcee and don't really have any need to release Lifeline from her box so I can't comment there, but for me the biggest wasted opportunity of the year was:

1. Centurion accessories pack - great idea wrecked by the execution.

Beyond that, the airlock system was ruined by the scale of the bases that could be built; too small to fit the Micromasters, they just looked stupid combined together and served no purpose. Again - great idea but spoiled by the execution. The Titanmaster base modes were better.

2. Airwave
3. Hothouse
4. Greasepit

Ironworks gets a stay of execution because as an individual toy he's quite fun.

[The Doctor]

You have Airwave in the 'Worst' category? Phil will ANNIHILATE you.

-Ralph

[Benn]

It's not wrong though

[Toph]

I too have found the modulators to be completely boring.
I may have felt differently had there been at least two additional molds to at least complete the group of four.
Getting one early on, and being forced to wait eight months for the second mold and their two repaints certainly didn't help support my interest. Only three ramp molds also didn't help.

I'd say that the modulators were the biggest flop of Earthrise, itself a pretty big flop.
Earthrise is mostly good solid molds, but very few things really stand out as exciting the way Siege and Kingdom have.
"WfC" is pretty much the inverse of "Prime Wars" for me. (CW- Boring, TR- exciting, PotP- Boring)

[The Doctor]

Dec 31, 2020 19:45:52 GMT Benn said:

It's not wrong though

Phil will ANNIHILATE you.

-Ralph

[Jim]

WAR FOR CYBERTRON: EARTHRISE - See tmukhub.proboards.com/thread/10486/war-cybertron-earthrise?page=1 and tfwiki.net/wiki/War_for_Cybertron:_Earthrise

Battlemaster Soundbarrier - the only one I got
Micromaster Although technically I bought the Siege versions, I will say Direct Hit and Power Punch. Loved that combiner gimmick the first time round, and they're really solid little figures.
Deluxe Wheeljack - probably the purest example of how unphotogenic WFC toys can be, he's gorgeous in-hand. The new Datsun mould deserves a mention, though, and Hoist / Trailbreaker is no slouch.
Voyager Starscream - the new strike plane mould does exactly what it needed to, really, and at a better size than before
Leader Tricky! Optimus Prime I guess, though I was happy with Astrotrain and Double Dealer as well. DD is a bit fiddly though, and Astrotrain debuted in Siege.
Larger Toy Sky Lynx is so much fun!

Earthrise Exclusive

WFC-E26 Thrust
WFC-E27 Seeker Elite Dirge & Ramjet
WFC-E29 Voyager Seeker 2-Pack: Thunderacker & Skywarp
WFC-E30 Decepticon Clones 2-Pack
WFC-E31 Autobot Alliance: Prowl & Ironhide
WFC-E32 Bluestreak
WFC-E33 Centurion Drone
WFC-E41 Runabout

WFC Exclusive

WFC Alternate Universe Optimus Prime
WFC Quintesson Pit of Judgement

Generations Select

WFC-GS10 and upwards

Bluestreak, I think. That Datsun mould is great, and I think it wears Bluestreak best (though I am also attached to that character).

The Seeker pack is very nice - it's great to finally have a Skywarp after all this time. And while I haven't even cut the Centurion Drone free of his packaging, I am a fan of official accessory packs.

NETFLIX (Wal*Mart/Smyths) tfwiki.net/wiki/War_for_Cybertron_Trilogy_(toyline)#Transformers:_War_for_Cybertron_Trilogy_.282020-present.29

Deluxe Bumblebee - amazing what a difference a toy being a real car makes. It's just slightly weird for him to come with Cliffjumper's bazooka.
Voyager Tough choice between Megatron and Soundwave here, but I'll go for Megatron. If Soundwave had had yellow eyes...

GENERAL

Worst Toy: Lifeline, maybe? I haven't actually released her from the box, so maybe that's unfair. Phaser and Blast Master were a bit disappointing.
The Buyers Regret Award For The Worst Toy You Bought: No regrets!
Best Toy: Earthrise Wheeljack
Best Older Toy You Bought: Didn't buy anything really very old, nothing beyond Siege anyway. From what I got, maybe Siege Shockwave.
Best Other Toy You Bought: Does this mean non-Transformers? If so, MOTU Origins Man-at-arms. Such a great line, will be hard to resist in 2021 when they become more widely available.
2021 Toy You're Most Looking Forward To: Tentatively, Kingdom Tracks, though we haven't seen him yet. Of what we have seen, probably Airazor.