25 - Generations Nightbeat: I wanted to like this guy because of how Nightbeat's character fascinated me in the comics, and while the vehicle mode might be the best part about this toy (in spite of its connections to Bumblebee), the rest of the toy manages to suck. Transformation is serviceable while the robot mode doesn't feel quite refined as an action figure. The shoulder kibble moving in unison with the arms, especially with the wings involved, makes pulling off good poses challenging, and the knees being faux ratchets combined with clips make them garbage all around. The weapons are also more fitting for Bumblebee, but even they suck for not feeling like proper weapons he could use with his hands or design. Just all around a bad toy, and it's a good thing the Cyberverse version of Bumblebee uses a similar design but with way better results for a robot mode.
24. Power of the Primes Elita-1: While the Netflix Deluxe may be a little closer to a general Elita-1 design, this figure feels more unique all-around due to it having beefier proportions than the norm for a fembot. That being said, it is not a perfect toy due to its lackluster accessories, somewhat mixed stability in robot mode for the backpack, an extremely weak transformation, and a jet mode riddled with two massive issues: the robot's inability to conceal itself, and the stickers applied onto the wings. Also, having the same torso mode Starscream has doesn't quite work because it was moreso meant for the Movie homage, but that won't be needed since I don't plan to get the other fembot Deluxes.
23. Animated Megatron (The Battle Begins): Back in 2018, I got Optimus Prime with some other figures. Not as accurate as the Voyager apart from the weapon, but he is a cool addition to the Optimus/Megatron shrine. However, I could never for the life of me find Megatron at a good price. That is until 2021 when I found a seller willing to send it to me for $15. I already had a feeling of what to expect from the Cybertronian Megatron figures in the Animated line, and I was quite correct on plenty of aspects: weird fusion cannon blades, floppy joints that had to be tightened up, and a bad vehicle mode. I guess I like the more dynamic stance of Optimus, but that's pretty much it compared to his now-reunited packmate.
21. Power of the Primes/Earthrise Punch/Counterpunch: I finally own the best POTP Deluxe out of the whole line, though at the cost of the colors he has. The POTP version looked much better with the darker shades of blue and yellow in addition to the red-painted rims. I could care less about the stupid Prime Master gimmick because it was actually stupid and I don't care about the Prime Masters. I like that the figure can at least work well in being different enough in either mode with the rearranged parts, but let's be honest: it's about as effective as Clark Kent hiding his identity with his glasses or the subtle differences between Sailor Moon's heroine outfit and her normal school uniform. The weird proportions and somewhat ugly gaps on the knees do distract the look, which further shows how scaled back he feels compared to the other WFC trilogy Deluxes, and his weapon's pathetically small. Now I shall paint those rims red.
20. Retro Headmasters Weirdwolf: This guy feels pretty barebones, what with the typical wolf design and color scheme that, even in spite of being official, feels like a generic animal robot toy that you'd find at Big Lots. Transformation is especially basic, though I could give credit to the collapsing body and the hinging of the shins for the robot legs, but man does he feel undercooked by comparison. Also, mine doesn't have the breakage on the cockpit yet but I know it's bound to happen.
19. Retro Headmasters Mindwipe: Probably the only Decepticon headmaster with a unique transformation out of the fact that the wings become the legs this time around. I'm still not sure if my copy will last because of the recent discovery on the broken hinges, but we'll see what happens. It's amusing that the wings in bat mode are colored differently to match the faux ones while they're purple in robot mode. In any case, these guys are okay but not spectacular as far as engineering is concerned.
18. Collaborative X-Men Ultimate X-Spanse: Remember when Marvel toys used to have Transformers of their own in the form of Shape Shifters, then Megamorphs, and officially under Hasbro with the Crossovers? Well, we now have a proper Marvel-themed Transformer that isn't a mechanized character but instead uses one of the vehicles from the X-Men! The Blackbird is a staple from that specific Marvel franchise, which already makes sense for it to be a thing compared to a Spider-Man that turns into a motorcycle, but what we end up with is a decent but not-quite groundbreaking figure. He's certainly Jetfire in his younger days, but I don't quite feel as satisfied with the figure as much as I should, especially considering the articulation he has and the IPs he's based on. Good thing I spent way less on him than the normal retail price. Also the Wolverine and Sabertooth figurines suck for not having stands.
17. Vintage Beast Wars Cheetor: This guy shows his age as do some Beast Wars figures. The cheetah mode isn't quite proportionate for the actual animal due to it prioritizing itself to be other predatory felines, but I'll give credit for the transformation being a little more creative with things like the waist swivel, arms from the back, and the leg transformation having a little more going on. Compare that to the Universe version where the transformation is uncreative. The robot mode ends up being dated due to the huge cheetah head and the gap between it and the rest of the robot torso, and that also counts with the somewhat limited articulation for the hips. Certainly not a terrible Transformer, but not one of the stronger releases in the Beast Era. More on this guy when I review him.
16. Chronicles DOTM Megatron: After owning the Studio Series version for so long and not messing with the original DOTM Voyager afterwards, getting this guy feels rather interesting to revisit. Mostly due to the general fact that he is inaccurate in terms of proportions, has a bad head sculpt, and did not come with a shotgun (which was later made for him courtesy of Evasion Prime. If anything, the figure does have a better deco than the regular version, in addition to him having tighter joints. He's not quite the reason I got the Chronicle set, but hey, you'll see who the real star of the show is in just a moment!
15. Classics Bumblebee: This guy's such a good toy, especially when it comes to how I always wanted a Classics Bumblebee the moment I saw an image of him. The vehicle mode is my favorite part, being a nice modern altmode appropriate for him, and the robot mode, in spite of the arm kibble and limited hip articulation, is a cool design that fits him very well. I don't even mind the jet ski heli-pack because it completes the look in a weird way. Certainly, a fun version of Bumblebee made to this day, but I'd say I'd recommend him in addition to the Earthrise version. One would be perfect for that Sunbow cast while the other goes so well with the updated character display.
14. Collaborative Back to the Future Gigawatt: It was no surprise that we'd get a Transformers/Back to the Future crossover of some kind in an official format since both franchises are typically mashed up as part of the phenomenon that is 80s nostalgia. I did like the trilogy of films, even if not to the same extent as other movies from the time period or films made since then, but I dug the DeLorean all around as a customized car with new features to make it memorable. Admittedly, it's not perfect. I do feel disappointed that it's Sideswipe in gray for the robot mode, but other issues like the lack of a flight stand, the higher price tag that a Deluxe has, and the terrible pegs that help make the chest piece swivel are what keep this toy from being 100% recommended. Maybe at a cheaper price, it works. But not at the current asking price.
13. Retro Headmasters Highbrow: I was gonna do Galvatron! Then I got Highbrow! I'd do Ironhide if I had time, but then I got Highbrow! I made them a few days later, and I know why brow, hey hey! Cause I got Highbrow! Cus I got Highbrow! I still got my eyebrows! Nah nah nah nah nah nah-this figure is kinda average. Apart from the twin propellers, he's very basic alll around as a Deluxified take on his G1 guy.
12. Chronicle G1 Megatron: I, too, never thought I'd own a G1 Megatron so quickly in my life. Like, sure, not as soon as I got G1 Optimus Prime, but still, 7 years later I actually got a G1 Megatron! Sure, he's not chromed out and he's missing his accessories, but still better than nothing! And hey, the gray looks pretty good on him without any of the unwanted safety orange that toy guns have to abide with! I will admit that the right arm likes to retract at times, and the right leg is a little wibbly-wobbly when both legs are close but he's weirdly stable when the legs are far apart. Either way, it's an ugly ass toy that I love because of how ambitious it was to take a gun into a humanoid shape.
11. Prime: Robots in Disguise Soundwave/APC Toys Evil Voice: My first ever unofficial Transformer that's set between being a knockoff and a fourth party product. Or is it third party for this type of toy? Anyways, it's an enhanced TFP Soundwave that is upscaled to better scale with the Prime toys, and he also lacks any of the rubberized parts like the fins and hands of the Hasbro version while also having some additional paint apps thrown into the mix. He certainly shows how unique his design is as he's quite the Slendercon. Honestly, I had to get him because he's somehow more affordable than all the eBay listings of the official version on eBay. If you see him for less than $45, GET HIM.
10. Retro Headmasters Hardhead: I kinda like how this guy turned out as far as the vehicle mode is concerned, though the robot mode proportions do feel a little lanky for his vehicle type. Still fitting to an extent given how he's not as much of a bigger bot compared to, say, G2 Megatron. His arms do feel longer than they should be, and the transformation is quite simplistic, but I'd say he at least doesn't feel as predictable as Highbrow is. And hey, you can always have his head on the neck socket at all times if you want to go for some lols. That being said, I do kind of want a Tankor repaint out of this toy.
9. Classics Megatron: This guy is so fun to revisit...especially when I made a repaint out of my first copy...with Sharpie...it looked cool from a distance but not so much up close. Anyways, Classics Megatron may not be as faithful to the G1 design as his WFC Trilogy counterparts, but goddamnit, that doesn't stop him from looking cool in terms of design, and I like the colors that he has. Weirdly reminds me of Buzz Lightyear with the gray, neon green, and purple, and you know how much I love Buzz Lightyear. While he is a shellformer due to his big Nerf gun wings, he at least makes it look integrated to his robot mode unlike, say, Earthrise Arcee or TLK Bumblebee. Oh, and how can I possibly forget those beautiful ratchet joints. Music to my ears!
8. Retro Headmasters Chromedome: This figure has quite a bit in common with the Combiner Wars Dead End figure, but trading the integral combiner parts with his Titanmaster-related gimmicks. The colors aren't my favorite combo, but he does make it work well as like some ice cream mix. Chocolate and vanilla. Still, I like owning a Chromedome, since he was pretty cool in Headmasters and in IDW, and now I can play with him while using Hank Hill's voice! Perfect! Still could use some added articulation.
7. Beast Wars Megatron: Yesssss!!! You'll see what I think about the Kingdom version in another post (PLEASE ARRIVE ASAP, BLASTER, CORE CLASS HOT ROD, AND TERRORSAUR). However, I'll go over my thoughts on this guy as a sneak peek for his review as was the case with Cheetor. This guy amazingly has quite the character that he has in the show even before the show aired! While the Kingdom version feels more refined in terms of balancing the proper look of the beast mode and the show accuracy of the robot mode, the original figure makes up for it with some gimmicks that a modern Transformer wouldn't really have today, from the water squirter to the claw arm (which works a little weirdly for this guy as I'm used to the claws being used to grab instead of attack), and the hip anchor cannons. Also, one plus to this guy that the Kingdom version lacks is the inclusion of ratchet joints! What he lacks in show-accuracy, he makes up for with chunky fun!
6. Retro Headmasters Brainstorm: One of the best Titans Return figures made to this day, Brainstorm is undoubtedly a popular mold to revisit, especially when it comes to how it was used for Blurr, Nautica, and Arcee! Plus, Brainstorm's lucky enough to have FOUR DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF HIMSELF! Whichever version of the character you get, this guy's so well done, from the sleek spaceship mode to the really fun transformation, a sleek robot mode, and pretty solid articulation with only the ankle pivots missing, you got yourself a remarkable Deluxe Transformer and the second-best figure in the lien as far as Deluxes are concerned...but he's about to be trumped by a specific Decepticon Targetmaster in the near future.
5. War For Cybertron Trilogy Covert Agent Ravage: If you told me back when I discovered Beast Wars that Hasbro would make a modern Beast Wars revival line, with entirely new molds to boot, I'd never believe you! Not only did Kingdom win me over with the Beast Wars cast joining the already awesome War for Cybertron trilogy toys, but it also made a spectacular Ravage figure! He's a heavy retool of Cheetor, and while the Beast mode definitely isn't as much of a priority as the robot mode, they went quite the mile to ensure the robot mode was quite the astounding display that he had in the show (except for the robot feet being inaccurate). He's not 100% perfect, though, as the arms may be a little too narrow in addition to having tight AF bicep swivels, but the price for a slightly bigger Deluxe with a Studio Series backdrop and a G1 Ravage is a little too steep, but hey, props to Hasbro for actually making the figure have lots of quantity in stock within Hasbro Pulse alone.
4. Movie Advanced Revenge Optimus Prime: I previously owned a version of this mold (the DOTM Walmart version with the unmasked head, hooks, and moon deco), but I wasn't a fan of the powder white and inaccurate colors that he had. So I was happy to get the TakaraTomy Movie Advanced repaint with the premium paint apps. This guy cost me the same money that the average Studio Series figure went for, but it is worth mentioning that he comes from China. So as you might expect, this is a case where it's either a high quality knockoff or unsold stock of the toy (which both this guy and the metallic Battle Blade Bumblebee both had) transferred to Chinese sellers. Unlike the APC Toys Evil Voice, which is clearly a reverse-engineered version of the original PRID Soundwave with various differences, this guy is spot on to the official toy if he's a KO. The gold chrome gas tank guns are not easy to pull out, any my copy has a weird fade for the flame decals as well as me having to replace the sole chrome sunvisor with painted replacements from the DOTM version, but this guy has plenty of pros compared to the Studio Series version. The SS figure has a more proportioned robot mode, better articulation, a less annoying transformation, and better weapons, but I'll give credit to this figure for having the screen-accurate transformation, having both guns and swords, a Matrix of Leadership, and a sexy truck mode. I think this guy will be used in truck mode while Studio Series will be used in robot mode for any stop motions.
3. Classics Optimus Prime: I still own the AOE Evolution version of this toy with the toy-accurate deco, and while that one is the best-looking version, I will admit that the tolerances of that toy show their age considering how often that figure was used. So I went for a Classics version of Prime instead, the original release. I have to admit that while the deco isn't my favorite of the mold, it's got the nicest joints all around in exchange of some playwear that this figure got. Whoever previously owned it showed how much they loved playing with this toy because aside from the scratches and paint chipping, this figure is nice, chunky, and still fun all around. Sure, the Earthrise and Siege figures have the more definitive designs and improved articulation, this guy has what those two other figures lack: creativity, especially with that badass truck mode and the neat use of weapons.
2. Vintage Optimus Primal: Another Optimus on the list?! Yes, but this one's just prime! In all seriousness, Primal's my favorite Beast Wars toy that I own so far. The gorilla mode has some mean personality to him with the snarling face and the chest-beating gimmicks on the arms. The transformation is kinda lame but at least the face panel come robot chest, shoulder pads, waist swivel, and robot feet make him more interesting a la Punch/Counterpunch. Robot mode is so perfect, being a hefty Ultra Class toy with great articulation for a 90s figure on-par with Laser Prime, and with ratchet joints for the arms and some big ball joints for the hips, this guy is stable AF. The gimmicks are where they make him so good; you got some of the meh ones like the mutant mask and the somewhat short mace, but the left arm becoming the double-barrel cannon, the shoulder cannons, the twin swords being either dual-wielded or dual-bladed in one hand, and the option to have the swords spin for a more dynamic attack with the same lever, this guy rules! Even his pre-TV show head looks good!
1. Kingdom Rodimus Prime: He may not be with the other WFC toys, but this guy is still on the number 1 spot anyhow. Rodimus Prime is my first ever experience with the Commander Class price point in that line, but I'd say he's worth it overall. Vehicle mode looks quite good as a beefier version of the classic G1 alt mode with the extra details that both go well with the Winnebago as well as being in-line the heavily sculpted WFC toys. Transformation is a perfectly upgraded version of the SS86 Voyager with better clearance and nicer plastic. Robot mode is outright remarkable and comes with a Matrix chamber, weapon storage, articulated hands in addition to the already poseable figure, and tons of accessories for him or the trailer to use. That's right, from all of the weapon ports to the effect pieces he comes with, this guy makes for a versatile toy to display. The only issues I have with this release is the way the trailer has a small gap for no reason as well as the lack of painted rims. But beyond that, this is such a remarkable release, and it has made me no longer need any other version of Hot Rodimus Prime anytime soon.
And that covers everything! It's quite a blast to make such a list that had figures that aren't part of an entirely covered line, but be on the lookout for when I make a proper Kingdom review. Until then, be on the lookout for my review on Vintage Beast Wars Cheetor.
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