Top 5 Armada/Energon/Cybetron toys

[Philip Ayres]

What the title says.

I'm lumping these 3 series together as there's sort of a common theme running through all 3 of them.

[The Huff]

Unicron (Armada version) obviously has to be one of these.
I'd have to think about the other two.

[Shockprowl]

Well, along with Classics, these lines form the bulk of my 'figs-to-fight-with' collection. I have many faves.

In no particular order:

1. Unicron. At last a Unicron toy, and not a bad one either. When I reserved him from my local Argos when he first came out, the voice on the phone said "Transformers Armada, Unicorn!".

2. Energon Shockwave. An awesome version of my second fave character of all time. His arm cannon is too big, I'm not a fan of electronics, and his alt modes ain't too great, but it's SHOCKWAVE! THE EYE THE EYE!!

3. Cybertron Soundwave. His legs are skinny, his arms lumbered with kibble, but what a great way to update another of my all time fave characters. He's even got a Laserbeak! Wonderfull!

4. Energon Whee- ahem, Downshift. He is Wheeljack obviously. I was so pleased with this fig, at last an updated Wheeljack toy. Even though I hate Powerlynxing and think it spoils the figures, this Wheeljack has a great face sculpt, great car mode, great paint and great weapons.

5. Delux Energon Optimus Prime- ONLY JOKING!!! My Armada Seekers. Not the greatest mold in the TFverse. But there's three of 'em. Large, imposing, menacing. They look great together, and they got great fook off shoulder cannons to boot!


Honourable mention to: E. Galvatron- great update version of Galvy. C. Landmine - use him as a brilliant Scoop, no repaint needed! E. Prowl - not my fave Prowl by a long way, but by turning his legs out at the inner hip joint and folding his legs back, you can turn him into a (very crude) space ship! Triple-changer Prowl! E. Battle Ravage - I love Ravage as an independent entity, and this version of him is pretty good. Grey version of A. Cyclonus - use him as Spinister, with a bit of plastic stuck to his face covering his mouth up. Great weaponary on this fig. I find this mold sufficiently forbidding and gloomy to be Spinister.

Ian

[kayevcee]

Armada Tidal Wave.
Cybertron Defense Scattershot.
Energon Starscream.
Armada Air Defense Mini-con team.
Cybertron Defense Hot Shot.

Honourable mentions go to all the basic Energon Autobots, Divebomb, Wing Saber, Energon Optimus Prime and Cybertron Downshift.

-Nick

[KoshNaranek]

Cybertron Optimus Prime - my favorite Prime design from the Unicron trilogy. Granted, there wasn't any competition from the Armada version, but the Energon mould was quite good.

Armada Megatron - looked funky, had very good playability and was also helped by a pretty good story in the comic. I loved his fight with G1 Galvatron in Worlds Collide.

Armada Unicron - It was a tough choice between this and the Energon version, but Armada Unicron wins because of nostalgia.

Cybertron Primus - I love the transformation of this toy and the Cybertron planet mode looks ace.

Armada Tidal Wave - I always liked this toy, but after seeing him in the PS2 game, he jumped straight in to any top 5.

Honourable mentions also go to Armada Supercon Optimus Prime and Nemesis Prime, Energon Omega Supreme/Sentinel, Energon/Cybertron Scorponok and Cybertron Vector Prime for looking a bit like a Vorlon ship!

- Tony

[legios]

Hmmm. This has taken less thought than the others. Mostly because there are fewer toys that I really like from this era:-

But, in no particular order:-

1) Micron Denetsu Shockwave: An idea in the "Brave" kind of mold that hadn't really been implemented particularly much in Transformers, with multiple vehicles forming one humanoid mode. Some decent enough vehicle modes - although my favourite is the combined vessel mode. The colour scheme is much better on the Japanese version - the grey and purple gives it a much more regimented military feel.

2) Exigeyser (whose name in Cybertron I can't for the live of me remember): A nice real-world vehicle mode, good humanoid mold sculpt and a great colour scheme. He has a nice chunky feel to him - looks great out on display with the missile bay open as if he is going to deliver a huge Itano Circus. Love the detail work on his had sculpt as well.

3) Cybertron Downshift: Another real-world vehicle mode, which wins points with me. Nice simple, but fun transformation, and he carries his retro-look through to his humanoid mode - which looks very much like a tribute to the 84 cars. Also one of the Cybertron/Galaxy Force toys whose bottle-cap gimmick isn't too unobtrusive.

4) Cybertron Crosswise: (At least, I think that's his name - GF Autovolt anyway): A finicky but interesting transformation, and looks decent in both modes. One of the Galaxy Force toys I regret that I have never owned.

5) GF Excellion: Either the red or the blue version. The vehicle mode is nicely designed, and the humanoid mode has a lot of poseability (and personality).


Honourable mentions: Energon Skyblast: Borrows enough inspiration from some mecha designs I have a sneaking fondness for to win itself some bonus points - but is a nice little toy in its own right though. Galaxy Force Soundblaster (don't like the Soundwave colours, but the Black/Gold scheme works much better) looks great in humanoid mode and has a nice idea with the drop-tanks/weapons/drones, not entirely sold on the fighter mode though. Galaxy Force Noizemaze - a great looking toy, with oodles of display potential.

Karl

[Shockprowl]

Oh I forgot 'bout Scorponok! Really like that fig also. A,E and C are so my thing!