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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 12, 2014 6:41:11 GMT
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Sept 12, 2014 22:38:41 GMT
Week 69: Transformers' GunsNo, not Transformers that turn into guns. Unless they're Targetmasters, Minicons or arms Microns. What I mean is the guns that belong to Transformers. Which are your top 5 favourites? 5. Bound Rogue's Type 93 - very science-fictiony and distinctively flat-looking weapon 4. Jazz's photon rifle - pretty much iconic and has a very recognisable look to it 3. Galvatron's laser rifle - it looks messy and twisted but powerful at the same time, a weapon enhanced by a mad god appropriately enough 2. Blaster's Electo Scrambler - iconic to me, and has that "evokes real guns" look while also being alien 1. Catilla's air concussion cannon - very sleek but hefty future military hardware look -Jim
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Sept 12, 2014 22:47:35 GMT
Week 70: 2000 ToysYour top 5 toys released in the year 2000 please. We're talking TM2 in the UK, Beast Macxhines in the US and Car Robots in Japan See www.tfu.info/year/00index.htm for help In no particular order, and saving Car Robots for RID: 5. Nightscream - terrifyingly brilliant design 4. Longhorn - great design and interesting character 3. Airraptor - though I prefer the Telemocha recolour, it's a characterful and distinctive toy 2. Geckobot - so colourful and kind of adorable 1. Blastcharge - amazing vehicle mode, flawed but likable robot mode -Jim
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 15, 2014 8:57:31 GMT
Points to all the iterations of the Armada character as they generally all did something interesting, and the Universe Legend repaint of LOC Hot Shot. 5) Generations4) HenkeiIt's tough separating these two as essentially they are the same car. I like the lightbar and most of the decals better on the Henkei but I think I may prefer the black head! 3) Cybertron DefenceThe Unicron trilogy's one contribution to my top 5. Lovely big toy. 2) MaterpieceI don't own the MP but I do have the Angry Bot so I'm qualified to say this is good squishy. 1) G1But the G1 wins. Yes it's a mad concept, a Lambo Fire Chief's car - since when does a fir chief have a car? surely he rides on the fire engine. But it's such a gorgeous deco on my fave G1 car mould.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 18, 2014 7:37:19 GMT
Does nobody like Red Alert :-(
Anyway Thursday Tease: This week's subject was used by Andu in one of his finest Japes.
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Post by legios on Sept 18, 2014 17:36:42 GMT
Does nobody like Red Alert :-( Or maybe the subject matter made everyone too paran^*^*^cautious to post. In seriousness, I will catch up with this one shortly - been too distracted to sit down and ponder it properly. I shall do that over a cup of coffee tomorrow, along with tomorrows mystery character... Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 18, 2014 18:10:01 GMT
Ah, it's third Friday so it's not a character is it? It's a toy range!
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Post by Bogatan on Sept 18, 2014 19:46:36 GMT
Week 69: Transformers' GunsNo, not Transformers that turn into guns. Unless they're Targetmasters, Minicons or arms Microns. What I mean is the guns that belong to Transformers. Which are your top 5 favourites? I'll stick to non transformiing guns and my list has nothing to do with what the guns do, that information has never stuck in my mind, it's purely about the looks. 5. Victory Lio BFG - Only occurred to me when I got out VL but this might be the largest Transformers gun ever, it's bigger than Max's and I think bigger than Gen Metroplex. It's also really cool looking. Could be argued its more of a rocket launcher than gun, but clearly is meant ot be being held in his hand. 4. Afterburners handgun - a compact little gun, looks much cooler than the usual longer rifle like weapons. 3. RTS Brawn - for much the same reason as Afterburner, but theres a pair and green. 2. Powerflash - a big red rifle. To be honest I love the vast majority of the Actionmaster hand guns. This one just stand outs a little more than the rest. 1. Rattrap - Love the two piece gun and how it stores away in rat mode. Bubbling under - All the Dinobots, Prime, Sideswipe, Terrorsaur, FOC Bee/CJ, Metroplex/Sixgun, Quickswitch, G2 gobots Week 70: 2000 ToysYour top 5 toys released in the year 2000 please. We're talking TM2 in the UK, Beast Macxhines in the US and Car Robots in Japan See www.tfu.info/year/00index.htm for help A much stronger year for me than I would have expected. 5. McBM Primal - still the best version of the BM character 4. Mach Alert/Speedbreaker 3. Build Boy - build Boy and team where some of my first international purchases, I've found the other 3 have aged a bit, but Build Boy is still awesome. 2. Clear Super Fire Convoy - for reasons mentioned a few pages back. 1. Buzzsaw - Also mentioned elsewhere, I think this is an exceptionally fun toy bubbling under: Rest of the McBM cast And coming in late in the day for Red Alert. Have to say hes not a character I have much attachment too, besides a junker and I mean real junker I dont think I had a Red Alert prior to Armada Red Alert and thats not a toy that makes me very happy. I also think I got the Takara version so that would be Ratchet. 5. CDF Red Alert - bit of a toss up between the Legends Hotshot and the Generations Red Alert, even with my diminishing enjoyment of that mould. CDF RA is likely my least favourite use of the mould, the colours are a bit dull, but it's still a toy packed full of fun features. 4. Micromaster Red Alert - Red Alert joins the protectorbots, yay. 3. WST Red Alert - Not sure if I have RA or not, but I like the Sideswipe version a lot even if the shoulder pin keeps falling out. 2. G1 Red Alert - maybe its because I was so late getting it, but I dont find it as good as either Sideswipe. 1. MP Red Alert - similarly I like it, but not quite as much as SS and Angry Bot. Probably a little more than Tiger Track.
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Sept 18, 2014 20:24:59 GMT
I like Red Alert! Scene-stealing cameo star of The Enemy Within. But I've only ever owned one toy with that name, the Universe Legends which I bought solely to customise into Road Handler. 5. Legends of Cybertron - neat little representation of the larger version which doesn't feel quite as unwieldy 4. Cybertron - familiar with Cannonball, always nice to see extra, stowable accessories. Good play value. 3. Armada - never quite got round to buying one despite liking the look of it 2. MP - MP Sideswipe is great, so why not this one? 1. G1 Red Alert - always loved the Sideswipe mould, and seeing it done up as a fire car is a fascinatingly mad bonus -Jim
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 18, 2014 21:56:14 GMT
Anyway Thursday Tease: This week's subject was used by Andu in one of his finest Japes. Ah, it's third Friday so it's not a character is it? It's a toy range! Looking at past voting records I think this week's subject may entice a long standing forum member who's not voted before to exercise their constitutional right
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 19, 2014 6:44:26 GMT
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 19, 2014 6:45:12 GMT
Oh and Turnbull: we need the phone call story posted here!
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Sept 19, 2014 18:07:34 GMT
Oh and Turnbull: we need the phone call story posted here! Which phone jape is that. I have done several over the years. Andy
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Sept 19, 2014 18:08:08 GMT
Oh Mr Spence and DJW.
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Post by Andy Turnbull on Sept 19, 2014 18:11:32 GMT
Several years ago when Derrick J Wyatt was at Auto Assembly, some folks had went out to get food while I stayed in the hotel boozing. (A friend was working at the NEC so popped round for a bevvy). So Mr Spence of this parish couldn't attend AA and he totally loves DJW and I asked Derrick if I phoned my friend if he wouldn't mind speaking to him as it would make his day.
So I phoned Spence and said I have someone here who wants a word. Put on DJW, who introduced himself.
DJW - Hi, is that Gavin, I'm Derrick J Wyatt, I hear your a huge fan. GS - No way, no way man. DJW - So have you anything you'd like to ask me. GS - No man, I just want to say I love your work.
Spence promptly loses his bottle and the ability to speak and phone is passed back to me.
Andy
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 19, 2014 18:28:49 GMT
Bubbling under: Jazz, Blitzwing.... 5) SwindleSuperb interpretation of Swindle with some fab clear purple panneling. 4) Snarl3) Swoop2) GrimlockOne of Animated's main draws for me was Dinobots. Top effort all three were great. 1) Wreck-GarWreck-Gar as a dust cart is just such a brilliant idea that looking back it's a surprise it hasn't been done before. Top toy. I'd almost lay money on a Junkheap repaint.
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Post by blueshift on Sept 19, 2014 19:04:35 GMT
I remember loathing the animated stuff at first, and then completely falling in love. All but that sodding seeker mold, of course, which seemed to never want to actually work properly!
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Post by Shockprowl on Sept 19, 2014 19:11:15 GMT
Animated.
1. Now, I don't want to be predictable, buuuuut I think you can guess who is my number 1? ELITE GUARD PROWL! Yes, it is Prowl, so, you know, gonna be high up there. But but but, it's not just because he's Prowl that this figure gets number 1 slot (as Prowls go, Animated Prowl isn't very G1y is he? Great character mind). This is THE BEST motorcycle Transformer in history. End of. A beautiful cycle mode, which transforms into a fantastically symmetrical robot mode. Great great design. And from a Prowl point of view, this mold in Prowly colours is a winner.
2. Samurai Prowl. Take the before mentioned best ever motorcycle transformer, and give it a sidecar that converts into KICKASS armor! Genius!!! (kisses to Big Phil and Nickos for mine)
3. Soundwave. Yes! Shockhorror, Soundwave edges out the 'normal' Prowl as number 3! This is a fun toy, the only other Animated toy I own other than the various Prowls. It's just the Animated design to the ultimate updated G1 degree. And Laserbeak transforming into a guitar is just BRILLIANT.
4. Prowl. As I've already said, this is the best transforming motorcycle EVER.
5. Jazz. Never owned it. Wish I'd got one to partner Prowl, but I skipped it when I had the chance, which was a mistake. Like Soundwave, he's just a great Jazz update in the Animated style.
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Post by legios on Sept 19, 2014 19:55:59 GMT
Week 71: Red Alert
5. Smallest Transforming Transformers Red Alert: Original Red Alert, only insanely small. A lovely little knick-knack, which looked superb at the small size.
4. Armada Red Alert: Woo! Woo! Woo! Woo! Great fun to play with. Fantastic looking toy, but most importantly packed with play value - chest launcher, over-the shoulder cannon, interchangeable hand-tools, repair bay...it is just packed with things to play with, and after all that is the point of kids toys.
3. Cybertron Defense Red Alert: Great toy, chunky vehicle mode which transforms to a blocky and similarly resilient looking humanoid mode. The weapons, from the enormous shoulder cannon, to the interchangeable hammer and litter-picker which plug into the thing that looks like some sort of gauss weapon on the arm are great. Fantastically fun toy to play about with.
2.Generations Red Alert: A cracking reinvention of the original. Great reuse of the mould which catches the aesthetic of the original very well.
1. "The Transformers" Red Alert: The original wins out both on nostalgia and being a really well designed toy. Fun transformation, good accessories and the added bonus of the daftness of being a Fire Department Supercar.
Animated is proving more difficult than I expected. It has been so long since I gave the line any thought that I will have to ponder it some more.
Karl
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Sept 19, 2014 21:21:15 GMT
I really didn't buy enough Animated toys, and every one I did was a winner. 5. Lockdown - great piece of engineering leading into the also great ROTF mould. 4. Ratchet - accessories galore! 3. Arcee - not perfect, possibly overrated due to rarity, but still very, very good and looks considerably better than the forthcoming Generations toy. 2. Soundwave - lots of fun and guitar Laserbeak is inspired. 1. Blurr - lovely transformation and, fairly typically for animated, a design which exudes character. I have the slightly shinier Takara version, but I'm sure the Hasbro release is just as good. -Jim
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 19, 2014 21:26:03 GMT
I keep getting reminded about animated toys I liked!
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Post by Benn on Sept 19, 2014 21:36:19 GMT
Week 72: Animated
Huh, toughie, these were pretty much all excellent.
Bubbling under? All the others! Special mention to Prowl, Swindle, Ultra Magnus and Leader Megatron, but...
5. Ironhide. Lovely little quad track alt mode.
4. Bumblebee. That was a very well done toy. Bit too big, but he was perfect apart from that.
3. Sentinel Prime. Basically, all of these guys just scream FUN, and the level of show accuracy was insane. Sentinel wins on on having a really intricate transformation too.
2. Jackpot/Jazz. I prefer the colours on Jackpot, but if he's ineligible, then Jazz. It's a sweet homage to the original.
1. Blurr. This guy... oh man, this guy. He's perfect. He just looks fast....
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Post by Bogatan on Sept 20, 2014 13:19:09 GMT
Week 72: Animated Yeah tough one, there not really any I dont like aside from the voyager Megatron. It's my most complete line too, thanks to Sifu at AA providing me an animated Ratbat, from the SDCC rock band set, I have all the released moulds aside from Primes Wingblade armour.
Going to do 2 lists Hasbro releases and the others.
Retail releases, this is hard I keep remembering other ones.
5. Voyager Bulkhead - It's the proportions on it that give it the edge over the leader class version.
4. Jazz - Took a while to grow on me for some reason
3. Cybertronian Optimus Prime - Really REALLY should have been Thunder Clash, its a great little mould.
2. Wreck Gar - Has Weird Als face.
1. Prowl - Any version, they're all good. Amazed there was never a Smokescreen/Silverstreak repaint. Loved how well matched the robot mode was to G1 Prowl despite such a different alt mode and transformation. Front of vehicle chest, wings and the legs look similar too.
Bubbling under: Lockdown - every version I have has legs that pop off at he hip if I look at them wrong, its very annoying for an otherwise great toy. Activator Starscream/Thundercracker/Dirge - a flash back to the flipchanger era, which is never ever a bad thing, except for maybe when it's activator Bulkhead. Cliffjumper - I kind of liked a lot about Activator Bumblebee, thanks to the remoulded head I think Cliffjumper is great. It's the most ridiculous face.
For a line that feels very much like a kid friendly range it has some great exclusive repaints too. FP for all their sins have done a spectacular job with Animated repaints. So a second top 5 which is probably closer to my real top 5.
5. Dragstrip - Slightly iffy name issues aside, female Dragstrip is great, sporting a Kill bill deco to boot.
4. Hydrodive Bumblebee - I like the deluxe mould, but it is big and overly complicated toy (I remember Marc getting it back at Botcon 2008 and spending an entire panel trying to transform it), the activator is a bit to simple and the arms stop it feeling like a mainline toy, Hydro Bee takes the best of both toys and gets the scale just about right.
It really is a strange hybrid of the two. Deluxe Bee has a fake chest, act Bee doesn't. Hydro Bee has a half a fake chest. The arms aren't quite as three dimensional as deluxe but not as flat as Acti. The fact it's gold instead of yellow is a little annoying.
3. Dead End - I think it might have been Dead End that made me realise how good Jazz is. The mould is perfect for the morose, beatnik poestry writing robot. (I demand a Skybyte and Deadend buddy movie)
2. Toxitron - Theres no good reason (that I will accept) why we haven't gotten Laser Prime Toxitron, but Animated Toxitron is a bloody good stand in.
I feel like I'm being a bit of an elitist t*&t, making this my number one as, barring any lucky draws or unproduced toys like Thundercracker, it's probably the hardest to find Animated toy, but, but.. it is really really good.
1. Minerva - Although Animated Arcee doesnt make my top 5 list above for some reason, it is a fantastic mould, while there may not be that much competition it is my favourite female Transformers mould. It looks female without ending up with big hips, skinny legs, big boobs etc. Basically they end up looking like female action figures in armour, but Arcee looks as much like a robot as the other animated toys, just a feminine robot. It's well articulated, has a fun transformation and decked out in red, white and grey makes a stunning Minerva. And if you google Animated Nightbeat you'll see it could/should have made an even more stunningly beautiful Nightbeat.
Bubbling under Sons of Cybertron - Rodimus and Optimus in translucent plastic. Lovely.
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Post by legios on Sept 21, 2014 18:47:58 GMT
Week 72: Animated
A lot of thinking, and scouring the interwebs to remind me of toys no longer own, later I have come up with a list. Actually, it was a fun little trawl, whilst Animated didn't do a lot for me as a TV show I did like the aesthetic of it and an exploration of TFwiki reminded me how well the toys expressed that very distinct aesthetic
5. Swindle: It's the face. The rest of the toy is great, lovely blocky vehicle mode, great looking humanoid mode. The big recoilless rifle strapped to his arm looks marvellous. But what really elevates him is the smirk. The insufferably pleased with himself smirk. It's a smirk which should go along with a story about "first I sold a whole job lot of plasma weapons to these weird insect-slug people, then when they used them to rise up against their oppressors I went to these Robotix Masters (or whatever, who cares, not the point) and said to them I could sell them a load of these drum guns with a much longer range than the bug peoples plasma weapons...". It is the smirk of someone who is not only arming both sides, but may well have convinced them the other side was out to get them in the first place. That smirk has so much oily, repellent, character to it that it really makes the toy.
4. Rodimus: Fantastic toy. A "soft-edged" looking version of the original Hot Rod vehicle mode, a lanky humanoid mode which looks like he is forever drawing himself up to his full height and a face sculpt with enormous character. His bow is a fun departure weapon-wise as well. A lovely looking toy, and the last Animated toy in my house (but only because his reassignment orders were cut the same day Arcee departed for her new home. He isn't technically part of the Cybertronian Marine contingent here, he is just awaiting transhipment to his new base.)
3. Ultra Megatron: Fantastic helicopter mode. The angular look of it is lovely, and a nice contrast to the more rounded look of many of the Autobo alt-modes. The comedy-sized gun slung under the nose is great as well. I love the way that the two rotor assemblies are designed to mesh as they rotate. The humanoid mode is...well, by all appearances a colossal homage to the rather lovely Super Megatron of Battlestars. Which sells it to me in and of itself
2. Arcee: Lovely little toy. I'd argue that it is the best Arcee toy we have had - and looks like it may retain that crown. The vehicle mode is great, looking sportier and swifter than the Sunbow version. The humanoid mode really runs with the odd, elongated, proportions that Animated's aesthetic leans towards and carries it off really well. The two swords slung over her shoulders are good to - they look suitably unlike Earth weapons, with the machete style tips suggesting a single-edged blade but detailing halfway down which looks like it is meant to be swordbreaker style "teeth". I think the only thing I would want to change would be the design of the hands, in order to allow her to wield the swords in reverse grip, because with the two short blades over her shoulders she does seem to be aiming towards a wu xia literature heroine in style.
1. Roadbuster Ultra Magnus: Fantastic toy. Loved the look of the humanoid mode with its solidity and "boxy" look to it. A great array of fold-out weapons to back up the two enormous artillery cannons over his shoulders, and a great big sledgehammer in case there are any evil paving-slabs which need dealing with. The vehicle mode is great, a sort of modified US Army prime-mover in appearance. The colour scheme on this version is, in my opinion, better than the minty fresh original colours in as much as it looks more "workmanlike".
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 25, 2014 6:55:47 GMT
Thursday Top 5 Tease:
This week's top 5 will involve people writing TWO lists.
You see if I asked you to list the top 5 Transformers which are XYZ you'd all probably list the same 5 with the same one at the top I think.
So two lists. One overall, one excluding the original sub group that introduced this type of alt mode.
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Post by legios on Sept 25, 2014 7:45:09 GMT
Me think me might have idea. But me no sure...
Karl
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 25, 2014 8:15:22 GMT
You find out tomorrow!
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Post by Shockprowl on Sept 25, 2014 10:46:27 GMT
I dino know what it could be.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 26, 2014 6:36:43 GMT
Week 73: Dinosaurs
Your top 5 Transformers who turn into Dinosaurs please.
Because I think the temptation here will be to name the original 5 Dinobots I want two lists from you: Top 5 Dinosaurs then, if necessary, Top 5 Dinosaurs EXCLUDING the 1985 Dinobots.
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Post by Philip Ayres on Sept 26, 2014 8:47:53 GMT
Inevitably my first top 5 this week must be the five 85 Dinobots: Any Dinosaur release after this point is inevitably held up to and compared to these and found wanting. As much as 1984's range helped launch Transformers these five, or in our case four, toys cemented the toys popularity. In many ways 1985 in the UK, gutted of a few of the bigger names, *IS* The Dinobots 5) SwoopWe may never know why Swoop was not released in the UK with his colleagues. Like Rescue Force in 1992 it just doesn't make sense to exclude one toy. But of all the Dinobots he's the most fragile, the most derivative bearing similarities to Decepticon jets. Doesn't stop me wanting one to this day. 4) SlagThe one that was hard to get. I got my first Dinobot in 1990 and acquired the other two as Classics. Why Slag wasn't classicised I don't know. So a G2 had to do.... till I got an original. The tiny handled weapons annoy me a little and just somehow don't work as well as his brethren above him. And the name choice, while appropriate, has caused problems down the line. 3) SludgeBig and lumbering. Until this year there's not been another Brontosaur/Brachiosaur 2) SnarlMy first Dinobot acquired, as you'll know if you read my piece in this year's Cybertron Times, on a market stll in Kingston and weaponised courtesy of the Hasbro spares department. Great dino, fab TF, superb weapons. Love.... 1) Grimlock... but not as much as I love the Dinobot leader. A really big toy, I get shocked at how large he is compared to other Autobots and indeed his troops. A toy so good that the Masterpiece version years later is essentially an upscale with a few extra features. Fabulous weapons. Great dino mode. As for excluding the G1 Dinobots...... I'll be back later
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