2017 Best & Worst

[Philip Ayres]

It's nearly time for our annual poll of what Transformers we liked the best in 2017!

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

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

Titans Return/Power of the Primes

TR Waves 3 onwards tmukhub.proboards.com/post/11802/thread
POTP Wave 1 tmukhub.proboards.com/post/11802/thread

Titanmaster
Primemaster
Legend
Deluxe
Voyager
Leader
Exclusive

Robots in Disguise

RID Waves 10 onwards tmukhub.proboards.com/post/69195/thread

Legion
Warrior
One Step
Three Step

The Last Knight

Legion
One Step
Deluxe
Voyager
Leader
Exclusive

Hasbro Repaint
TFSS toy TFSS 5.0 tfwiki.net/wiki/Transformers_Figure_Subscription_Service#Series_5.0_.282017.29

Japan

Legends Legends LG 40-57 tfwiki.net/wiki/Japanese_ID_number_list#Legends (Though none of us would have LG 35-39 until 2017 started so they count too)
Unite Warriors Megatronia & Baldigus

Masterpiece

MP 34-39 tfwiki.net/wiki/Japanese_ID_number_list#Masterpiece

TakaraTomy Exclusive
TakaraTomy Repaint

Miscellaneous

Titanmaster (head)
Gun

Third Party Transformer toy
Third Party Transformer Accessory
Shapeways Transformer Accessory

Worst Transformer Toy
Best Transformer Toy
2018 Transformer Toy you're most looking forward to

Best Other Toy

Anything released TR Wave 3 and onwards is eligible. See tfwiki.net/wiki/2017 for a list.

Any mistakes/omissions, PM me.

Thread will open on Boxing Day.

[Philip Ayres]

I'm shocked! It's Christmas Eve and Mr Pinwig hasn't PM'd me a single correction yet!

[Pinwig]

I don't think I sent any corrections last year did I?

I think you've got it covered. I just like alternative ideas, like: biggest letdown, biggest surprise, best repaint of an existing figure, biggest thrill/most exciting moment.

[Philip Ayres]

As ever add your own of course!

[The Doctor]

BEST: GNAW.

LEAST BEST: ANY TOY THAT IS NOT GNAW.

There. Done. There is no need for further debate. The correct answer has been given.

-Ralph

[Philip Ayres]

As long time readers will know I am very fond of Gnaw and, because I had one in hand this time last year, I voted it Legend of the year 2016 tmukhub.proboards.com/post/266031/thread

So, even though I've bought several more this year, that alone is enough to make me omit it this year.

However I do genuinely believe that there has been a better Legend than Gnaw this year.

[Philip Ayres]

Titans Return/Power of the Primes

Titanmaster Shuffler

Limited field here, 3 new Titanmasters. Something's not quite right with Repugnus' wings and Ramhorn is a remould but Shuffler would win anyway as he's so much fun.

Primemaster Metalhawk

Limited field again, due to it being early days. He works the best for me out the fiurst three, but I like Cloudburt's weapon better.

Legend Brawn

Top, top toy. Captured Brawn perfectly. Fab Titanmaster compatibility. A serious contender for all time best Legend.

Deluxe Topspin

Deluxes have had a very good year generally, top quality new moulds, remoulds and repaints. But Topspin made me believe a toy that I'd previously seen as a wedge shaped lump was an actual vehicle. But a word for Windblade, who I didn't expect to be anywhere near that good.

Voyager Broadside

Voyagers, on the other hand, had a dreadful year. Nothing 100% original till Grimlock & Starscream, both of which have issues. Of the TR Voyagers, one is effectively a repaint, one has some remoulding and one has a lot of remoulding. I enjoyed Broadside but the tail fins/wings were the wrong way round and my stickers on the toy were mangled out the box. The tampoed Legends version is better than the TR, but still has the tail fin/wing issue.

Some class repainting of Voyagers in the boxsets and Japan though!

Leader Overlord

Had to be really. Again a quite limited field.

Exclusive Grotusque

Completely left field toy, not expected at all, great remould. Love it.

Of the rest, I have issues with Quickswitch and Nautica in the Velocitron box, but the Optimus redeemed the mould, and the Cybertron box is better overall but contains a leader I just didn't really need since I had Ginrai and there's no western Godbomber. The clone 2 pack is gret, but all the Clones should have been done this way, and not packed in the boxsets. Arcee is fab.

Robots in Disguise

Legion Didn't buy any, in fact have hardly seen any. Bisk if I'd seen him.

Warrior Bludgeon, but Thermidor is really good

This was genuinely as the RiD Warriors have been tops this year, albeit with very brief distributions. The Bludgeon is almost perfect. Bisk blew me away when I got got, but he was a 2016 toy, so I feel I should vote Thermidor. But the Bludgeon......

The Last Knight

Deluxe Cogman, because it's the only one I bought
Voyager Nitro, because it's the only one I bought
Exclusive Primus. AMAZING redeco, but overpriced. A steal when it got to £50.

Hasbro Repaint Primus again. But Laser Optimus, Tidal Wave & Krok are amazing.
TFSS toy I want to say Pretender Megs, for finally getting the Grand shell, but I think it's going to have to be Monkey Op.

Generally poor show by TFSS this year.


Japan


Legends LG-41 Lio Convoy

Superb redeco. Trypticon was great, but it's effectively the Hasbro version without the QC roulette, and I'm enjoying the Targetmasters, but this pushed a HUGE Beast Wars button for me that took me back to 98/9.

Masterpiece MP-37 Artfire

Didn't buy it, but it looked the best.

TakaraTomy Exclusive LG-EX Black Convoy

Gorgeous

TakaraTomy Repaint LG-41 Lio Convoy

I love the Black Convoy but I think this is fractionally better.

Miscellaneous

Titanmaster (head) Grotusque

More Battle Beasts fun.

Gun Misfire

Love the Twin Weapons that combine to give a Titanmaster a seat that he can sit in while the weapon is being held. They got that right far too late in TR, should have been like tht from the start with the Autobot Headmasters. Kup's is good too, same reason.

Third Party Transformer toy Didn't buy any.

Third Party Transformer Accessory Perfect Effect PC 14 Titan Cannon

Max needed a gun. This is an existing weapon, the warden gun, with a new removable handle. With the handle gone it's a replacement original Max gun. Loved it, ordered the Grand Max version already.

Shapeways Transformer Accessory Titans Return Fort Max runway ramp connector, runway mini hinge & clip on extension ramp are essentials for Max and boost his playability no end. But they're not cheap. The Titans Return Micromaster Adapter Ramp brought me so much joy.

Worst Transformer Toy TFSS 5.0 Starscream.

Oh this toy wound me up. Nothing wrong with it. But if Skydive's going to be Starscream, he should have been using the normal Starscream colours as a solid version of the Ghost Starscream we're now unlikely to get because the Voyager exists. The colours meanwhile should have gone on Airraid to give us a CW Jetfire.

Best Transformer Toy Brawn

Simple, cheap, spot on. LOVE IT. 7/8 monhs later it hasn't left my desk. Top TR compatability.

2018 Transformer Toy you're most looking forward to Power of the Primes Inferno

No, really. I think the Hotspot mould looks great in red. So looking forward to it.

Lots of Terrorcon and Dinobot fun to come.

Best Other Toy Diaclone DA-17 Big Powered GV

This is AMAZING. So much fun. Loads of different ways the components can be combined and connected. See tmukhub.proboards.com/post/298190/thread for more.

[Kingoji]

Titans Return/Power of the Primes

Titanmaster: FANGRY (only one I bought this year)
Primemaster: SKULLGRIN (only one I bought this year)
Legend: SEASPRAY
Deluxe: TOPSPIN (almost Triggerhappy, but until I mave Misfire and Slugslinger to compare, the two who look more interesting to me, he had to forfeit)
Voyager: BLITZWING
Leader: OVERLORD
Exclusive: GROTUSQUE (Not actually aquired, but the one that most interests me)

Robots in Disguise

Legion: N/A
Warrior: BLUDGEON (only one I bought this year)
One Step: N/A
Three Step: N/A

The Last Knight

Legion: N/A
One Step: N/A
Deluxe: BARRICADE (only one I bought this year)
Voyager: N/A
Leader: N/A
Exclusive: N/A

Hasbro Repaint: N/A

Legends: KUP


Masterpiece: CHEETOR (possibly only because I don't yet have Megatron)

TakaraTomy Exclusive: N/A
TakaraTomy Repaint N/A

Miscellaneous

Titanmaster (head): FANGRY (again)
Gun: RECOIL

Third Party Transformer toy: DX9 RICHTOFEN (POWERGLIDE)
Third Party Transformer Accessory: POWERMASTER PRIME MARVEL COMIC HEAD
Shapeways Transformer Accessory: N/A

Worst Transformer Toy: TITANS RETURN GETAWAY (offensively lazy for this line)
Best Transformer Toy: MASTERPIECE CHEETOR (possibly only because I don't yet have Megatron)
2018 Transformer Toy you're most looking forward to: MASTERPIECE DINOBOT, POTP SLUDGE, BLOT, BATTLETRAP...

Best Other Toy: S.H. MONSTERARTS GODZILLA 1989

[Toph]

Generations-

Titanmaster: Shuffle
Primemaster: Skullgrin
Legend: Beachcomber
Deluxe: Misfire, Swoop (tie)
Voyager: Laser Prime
Leader: Overlord, I guess...?
Exclusive: Fractyl

TLK-
Deluxe: TRU Megatron
Voyager: Optimus, Scorn and Nitro (tied)
Exclusive: TRU Megatron

Takara-
Masterpiece: Cheetor!
Legends: Lio Convoy
Exclusive: RiD Scourge
UW: Ruination

Best of the year: CHEETOR!

All else- N/A

[Jim]

Titans Return/Power of the Primes

Titanmaster Fangry
Primemaster n/a
Legend Seaspray - so much personality
Deluxe Topspin - absolutely amazing, one of my favourite toys in years
Voyager n/a
Leader Overlord - lots of fun, even if missing the play features of the original. Shame about the weak base mode
Exclusive Arcee - great retooling, nice to see a proper paint job from Hasbro, top packaging

Robots in Disguise

Legion n/a
Warrior Blurr (honourable mention to Bludgeon, who I have seen via a friend of my daughter but do not own)
One Step n/a
Three Step n/a

The Last Knight

Legion n/a (Dragonstorm looks cool though)
One Step n/a
Deluxe Steelbane - flawed but still interesting
Voyager n/a
Leader n/a
Exclusive n/a

Hasbro Repaint n/a
TFSS toy n/a

Japan

Legends n/a
Unite Warriors n/a

Masterpiece Grapple - clever transformation, and a personal favourite character, but not up to 2016's MPs

TakaraTomy Exclusive n/a
TakaraTomy Repaint n/a

Miscellaneous

Titanmaster (head) Leinad - yes it does not connect as well as it should, but the homage is still great and the Arcee face sculpt top notch (I like Fengul a lot, but the face does not fit Grotusque's personality at all)
Gun RID Storm Shot

Third Party Transformer toy n/a
Third Party Transformer Accessory n/a
Shapeways Transformer Accessory n/a

Worst Transformer Toy Steelbane is the weakest that I bought, but I don't think he's that bad
Best Transformer Toy TR Topspin - breathtakingly good
2018 Transformer Toy you're most looking forward to not enough reveals yet to be certain, maybe Abominus

Best Other Toy n/a

[Shockprowl]

2017 BEST: Kickback, Sharkticons, Brawn, Seaspray, Beachcomber.

2017 WORST: Silly Headmaster gimmick ruining perfectly good Transformers and PotP Starscream being shit and ruining my life.

[Llama God]

Alright then. Let's do this.

Titans Return/Power of the Primes

Titanmaster Repugnus. He's just so cute.

Legend Tough one this - a lot of the recent Legends have been really good. But I'll have to go with Brawn, and not just because he's a stealth Pretender. But mostly that. Gnaw comes a close second.

Deluxe Again, there's been a lot of great deluxes this year, so this is a tricky one. But I'll have to go with Topspin, because I wasn't expecting his transformation to be that complicated. Windblade's a close second.

Voyager Hmmm... Megatron. But only with the Reprolabels stickers, which are better than the Hasbro supplied ones.

Leader Sky Shadow. It'll have to be, given I'm not allowed an Overlord and was really not impressed by Sixshot. (Which I know is heresy. Sue me.)

Exclusive Arcee. I've been waiting for that toy for thirty years, and this delivered. Not G1 accurate, but the mold captures the character, and it's brilliant.

Robots in Disguise

Warrior Bludgeon. Even if he's not accurately coloured.


The Last Knight

Deluxe Cogman. Barricade's pretty nice, but Cogman's a fun character.
Exclusive Deluxe Megatron. Infernocus comes very close, because it's a ridiculous toy, but the colours on the repurpose of the Megatron mold work so well, and it's such a pleasing toy.

Other Hasbro

Hasbro Repaint Laser Optimus. Because of course.
TFSS toy Pretender Optimus. Arguably the Megatron has the better Legends figure, because that paint scheme works so well on that figure. But TrukkANDMunky Optimus is just such a batshit concept. I love it.

Japan

Legends Hot Rod. Another close call here, because the repaint and remold of Kup makes him just so very much Kup, but Hot Rod is the better toy and ticks a few more boxes for me.

Unite Warriors Megatronia. Just such a great colour scheme.

Masterpiece MPM Optimus Prime. A very nice update on the already great RotF leader figure, and such a clever transformation. He's great. I need to play with him more.

TakaraTomy Exclusive Convobat. Yes, he was a late 2016 release, but I didn't get him until 2017. So there.

Miscellaneous

Titanmaster (head) Beast Wars/G2 Megatron (with Convobat). Because. And see above.

Third Party Transformer toy Iron Factory Lord Scorpion. He's a really great representation of Scorponok, and will suffice until we get an official one.

Third Party Transformer Accessory The Reprolabels upgrade kit to make TR Prime into Action Master Prime.

Worst Transformer Toy Crash Combiners Primestrong. I know they're meant to be simpler toys but... they don't even crash together. A bit naff, to be honest.

Best Transformer Toy Trypticon. Giant robot lizard city thing. And oddly expressive, too. Also his arse is a secondary face. What's not to love?

2018 Transformer Toy you're most looking forward to Swoop. Because I need a Swoop in my life.

[Pinwig]

Pinwig’s Eclectic Best of 2017

Generations
1. Twintwist
2. Trypticon
3. Twinferno
4. Skyshadow
5. Seaspray

Japanese releases
1. Baldigus
2. Megatronia
3. Kup & Recoil
4. Lio Convoy
5. Black Convoy

Masterpiece
Slim pickings this year because I haven’t bought into the Beast Wars ones
1. Grapple
2. Megatron

Older figures new to me (new or second hand)
1. CW Leader Megatron
2. Takara JRX
3. Generations Wheeljack
4. RTS Jazz
5. Generations Warpath

Third Party Figures
Fans Toys dominates this simply because I haven’t bought from any other company
1. Fans Toys Terminus Giganticus
2. Fans Toys Phoenix
3. Fans Toys Grinder

Worst release of 2017
1. TLK Steelbane – a complete mess
2. Legends Ravage – robot mode is abysmal