First up, we got Core Class guys. We have seven of them, but only 4 are reuses of existing molds, and 3 are from last year while one is of a recent character as we'll get to. Let's see how these little guys stack up real quick. Repaints will be glossed over fairly lightly since they have the same strengths and weaknesses as their past iterations.
6. Frenzy - We now have a red Rumble to go with last year's blue Frenzy, replacing any light blue and lavender with red and black. Otherwise, tooling, accessories, and articulation are the same. Even the tampograph designs.
5. Freezer/Novakane - A Frenzy-esque duo of Sweeps that serve as Scourge's Minicons basically, Freezer and Novakane have weird names to go with their status as Terrorcons. While they simply popped out of Scourge's back in the film, their toys were at least able to turn into freestanding cannons or an alternate configuration made for Scourge's truck mode (room for only one), or blasters that make them qualify as Targetmasters. In terms of differences, the shading of the plastic colors is different for both grays, but Novakane has a retooled head so as not to be entirely skippable.
4. Ironhide - We now have a red Ratchet to go along with last year's white Ironhide, now with a retooled head and no siren. Annoyingly, not only does Ironhide tab in less solidly than Ratchet did, but the right shoulder socket came cracked out of the box. GG, Hasbro QC.
3. Bumblebee - While Laserbeak was intended to utilize this mold for the scale, Bumblebee was always a logical and inevitable repaint. At the very least, he comes with a battle mask head this time around. Annoyingly, the proportions are still weak, and the backpack still doesn't feel secure. I wonder if we'll see more Core Class characters who have big toys already.
2. Arcee - Sadly not a Deluxe figure, Arcee reverts to being a smaller character. While the Beast Weaponizer version has better proportions in bot mode, this one does at least have better paint apps. Being a Core Class figure, a motorcycle Transformer, and a fembot, doing her design justice isn't really that easy, though I can't shit on Hasbro too much for at least trying with what was available to them. Bike mode is the best part for this toy, but the robot mode mode is not incompetent. It's mainly the chunkier design and thr inaccurate kibble placement that lets it down.
1. Noah Diaz - BROOKLYN, BABY! Never did I expect an exosuit worn by a human that is a shrunken down corpse of a Transformer to win number 1. And while altmode is nonexistent in the movie, I love how this design turned out, having taken elements of not just the G1 concept but the similar aesthetics of the jumpsuit Kicker wore in Energon! The figure's utilization of ball joints on every part that moves is standard, but the design makes me feel nostalgic for the Mega Construx Halo figures, only taller than them. While he could use more paint and the face being concealed is inaccurate, it's a surprise addition nonetheless.
Now we shall take a look at the main Studio Series figures! This will also include the two NEST repaints from the Buzzworthy Bumblebee movie, while the reissues of Grimlock and Jetwing Optimus Prime are excluded due to them already being covered.
12. Airazor - It's not her fault that she isn't screen accurate to the movie given how the ROTB toys, like early Studio Series Bumblebee figures, used outdated concept art before the film designs are finalized, but I have to admit that reusing the engineering from the Kingdom version yet not being as refined does let it down. I feel the proportions for the legs feel unusually longer than the norm, and I feel the plastic quality feels a little worse than the original. The robot mode looks kind of cool, but even in spite of being a cheaper, less accurate toy, the mainline Deluxe is a more interesting iteration than this.
11. NEST Ratchet - I'm happy that we didn't get a G1 redeco, though I'm sure either a Night Ops homage or a Specialist red-deco would be cooler than a monochromatic recolor. NEST Ratchet is still cool, don't get me wrong, what with the new paint apps representing the group's livery, but I honestly wish we had a more creative recolor to help make him stand out. This makes sense in-universe but I guess this along with the two better detailed MV1 Ratchets coming out back to back means Hasbro is soon going to make a Voyager Ratchet? I'm up for that, and it'd make more sense for that than to make Arcee a Voyager just for a slightly flatter backpack.
10. Mirage - I love the character in the movie, but I can't say I'm too much of a fan of the figure. While the alt mode's gorgeous and the paint's exquisite, especially with the blue added to the robot head, but I don't like how kibble-tastic he is on the hips and back. Not to mention the design elements of the figure, from the crappy feet to the overall proportions, make me wish I could combine elements of this guy with the mainline Deluxe. Since Mirage turned into other vehicles in the movie, I could imagine them not just being able to perfect his physique but also adding to some creativity missing in this guy.
9. Nightbird - While similar in design to the mainline Nightbird (and moreso than other characters despite it making sense since it's the same character), this version boasts a licensed car, better paint apps, a more broken-up chest, a more accurate head, and Heimlich wings. She is shorter than the mainline version because her proportions aren't elongated, though that didn't stop fans from freaking out. While better than Mirage or Airazor when it comes to Rise of the Beasts figures, she still falls short even with the better resemblance to the CG model. Hopefully, Yolopark makes a cool version of her.
8. NEST Bonecrusher - What a surprise seeing this guy pop up after not being used after 2019. Not that I'm complaining since this figure is decent, even though I'm aware the MPM version will surpass it in terms of engineering and screen accuracy. What I do find strange is that Bonecrusher was chosen to infiltrate NEST bases despite not only being a character-specific design but also an altmode that isn't associated with an Autobot. Not to mention that decal that says "4LL H4IL M3947R0N" with Decepticon insignias. Maybe Bonecrusher hates this idea and would rather be in his Jungle recolor.
7. Cheetor - It was a surprise seeing this guy in the Voyager size class at first glance, possibly a hint on how Hasbro wanted to market this Maximal the same way Bumblebee usually is. However, Cheetor was in this size class thanks to the height he possesses in the movie. While not 1:1 to the actual CG model, this figure is very close to what we saw on-screen, save for the more bronze plastic coloring rather than being in gold paint, and the beast mode head is a lot rounder than it is on the CG model. Cheetor's articulation is what makes him stand out in robot mode, with a crazy level of ranger for all of his joints that make the beast mode feel like a brick compared to the mainline Deluxe. So not breaking any grounds, but not a bad figure overall.
6. Rhinox - While he looks cool as hell in terms of design and is thankfully a little more original in terms of engineering, I have a few issues with this version of Rhinox. The use of gray is appropriate for the character's CG model (even though I'd prefer a more brownish shade), but I don't like how parts of it are gunmetal gray and others are a duller, lighter shade of gray. It'd be one thing if Hasbro intended to make him look multilayered, but at least make it consistent. Another issue comes from how easily pieces of him come off, from the ab pieces to the shoulder pads. Again, the design is cool, but he feels undercooked in terms of coloring and quality. The missile hammer is cool, at least.
5. Battletrap - While the figure does have a few concept art inaccuracies and proportion issues holding it back, this is a very badass design that manages to be appropriately fitting for a servant of Unicron despite resembling more of a standard Decepticon. The tow truck alt mode is already a win, though things like the bulkier underside and the exposed hands do turn it off. Alternatively, the figure also has a pretty cool transformation, almost reminiscent of Ironhide's. The robot mode looks pretty good, though certainly more leg than arm. His mace is initially not movie-accurate thanks to the lack of a chain, but it is at least similar to how Bulkhead's weapon works. Someone will give him a real chain, I'm sure.
4. Optimus Primal - He is definitely not worth the $55 price tag, especially when he is an example of a Voyager with Benefits, but I can at least say that he looks great in bot mode and matches the CG model of the beast mode better than others. The beast mode has great sculpt work and is the first one to accurately include the proper beast face. The back of the lower legs look bad, however. Transformation is nothing that different from the other Primal toys in the movie, but at least the swap from beast hands to robot hands is cool. Robot mode is also accurate, moreso than his other toys. The way he is marketed as a Leader Class toy simply is down to the accessories and the number of parts he is made of, a common practice that proves a cool toy like him may not really represent value for money.
3. Scourge - This figure has a few issues I want to get out of the way: the backpack is only fitting for a Voyager rather than a Leader Class toy, which gives this guy quite the knock for how low the engineering is than on Primal. Sure, he's taller than Primal, but it feels less involved than most current Leaders. In terms of positives, he is at least able to utilize the option for either a claw arm or a cannon arm on the left side, has compatibility with Freezakane that still doesn't make the Core Class guy feel like you NEED him compared to Ravage with Soundwave from the Bumblebee movie, and while the design utilizes concept art, he is close to the CG model. I don't hate this guy but he could use a few more tweaks. Regardless, I think we can all agree that the fan theory of Scourge being an undead Prime from the previous movies sounds like the most desperate form of wishful thinking that the Transformers fandom has ever displayed, it makes Ask Vector Prime's constant explanations look subtle.
2. Bumblebee - This guy is officially my favorite Bumblebee figure in the ROTB line, thanks to the better plastic materials we have for this guy versus past Camaro Bumblebees as well as the VW version and even the Offroad incarnation. The only issues I have are how weirdly unpainted parts of the face and the blade are, but I like how the windows are separate pieces from the doors, the offroad add-ons make for a new look to the Classic Camaro design we already had, and the design is very well done if you ask me. It's a nice transition from his weak top swap from the Bumblebee movie's ending to the more complex design he had in 2007, and I would love to see this guy pop up again with weathered detailing and two guns with a battle mask to boot. Also off-topic, but as brief as it was, I was surprised that Hasbro and Paramount had Bumblebee get killed at the beginning of the movie during the battle with Scourge, more or less. Granted, he was wounded plenty of times in the first movie as well as in his solo film, but to see him actually die before he was revived near the end was a surprise. I do hope they don't make it repetitive for the next movie.
1. Optimus Prime - Yes, I know this figure has a crappy back section compared to the Bumblebee movie one. Yes, I know the shoulder movement is pretty crappy due to where the joints are placed for outward movement. And yes, I know the gray plastic looks cheap, but I will say that the amount of effort put into a toy using as few molds as possible. What I also like about this figure is how proportionate he is compared to the Bumblebee movie version. I also love the add-ons to the truck with the sun visor and the grille guard to make it look more badass than the usual Geewun appearance. So a step down from the BB version for the altmode's back but a step up for the physique AND not having lower legs that keep coming apart.
Now we shall look at the SS86 characters. Surprisingly not a whole lot for the Deluxe & up representation due to the latest live-action movie taking the spotlight and Hasbro introducing the Gamer Edition subline with the Geewunish WFC designs. Let's see who manages to be in which position!
6. Brawn - He is definitely the most accurate version of the character, and I like how the legs fold onto each other to make them proportionate. But I feel like apart from the heavy use of paint and a few transformation steps I haven't seen on other versions of Brawn (at least from Hasbro), he isn't particularly mindblowing.
5-4. Ironprowl - This 2-pack gives Ironhide and Ratchet morbid retools depicting them with the battle damage wounds they received in the movie, with opaque windows here and there as well as screaming heads to boot. While it might be a strange release to make, it is quite clear that Hasbro will milk the fuck out of this damn movie before we get figures of The Twins or the AOE Dinobots. At least this set was somewhat cheaper than what it'd normally cost to get a Deluxe and Voyager separately.
3. Ratchet - We got one-half of the dead shuttle crew represented this year as their final frames in the movie. Meanwhile, living versions of Ratchet and Brawn were made this year. Is this a sign we'll get them in a 2-pack? If so, I bet Ratchet won't have any color mismatching thanks to being entirely opaque plastic and come with a stripe at the cost of being battle-damaged. Otherwise, same good figure as Ironhide but still not Voyager-worthy.
2. Snarl - For the first time ever, a Dinobot doesn't win the number 1 spot in the ranking list. Had the world gone mad, or does Snarl fall a bit short? Weaknesses out of the way, I don't like how parts of him are missing gold paint, especially the Dino head. I'm tempted to paint the head halves as well as most of the legs in gold to match the tail. I also feel that the Autobot insignia being misaligned bothers me a lot. He's still great like the others, but of course, with another toy being announced after this guy started being released, it makes sense that the character that barely got attention in the film was outranked by a more prominent Autobot AND someone introduced in the piece of media itself.
1. Ultra Magnus - While I'd rather have Stratosphere pop up first in this size class, and I am really hoping this is it for Magnus after getting a new version of him every 2 years, this is still a great version of the character overall. While not perfect due to the size and proportions, and I don't like that the head's ball socket is clear plastic and therefore likely fragile, this figure working as an all-in-one unit was something I was looking forward to since I like how the Combiner Wars, Masterpiece, and even Titanium version worked. Hell, the gimmick where you take him apart is cool, and something we don't get. I liked the Siege version and was fine with Kingdom, but this will be my main Magnus and the last CHUG-style version of him I'll get for my G1 display.
And finally, Gamer Edition. I'm sure many were looking forward to this subline at first with how great High Moon's Transformers games, War for & Fall of Cybertron, are even to this day. And to get new figures based on the beloved games sounds like a great idea! However, most of these feel like major letdowns, and with how the Reactivate subline seems to be better, in addition to the rumors of Optimus being a standalone release initially before Hasbro wanted more characters, it really proves that we're kind of fucked with this line unless the designers get their minds straight (judging by Starscream, it's more or less the same). So let's give them one quick ranking and hope 2024s Gamer Edition sublines try to do better.
5. Barricade - Why does he feel too like one of the weaker Warrior Class figures from RID15? Yeah, he's a chunkier Deluxe, but this figure feels like an embarrassment for a Generations release. Between his clown feet, mostly limited range, reliance on ball joints, and how blocked off the hands seem, this guy feels extremely undercooked. The altmode is nice, but his bot mode is the complete opposite. I also hate how stiff the neck is, at least on my copy. And whoever was the genius that only allowed his puny arm cannon to be stored on the back and not the right arm when not in use deserves a slap in tbe face.
4. Megatron - Better than Barricade but worse than his old Deluxe counterpart in so many ways. Firstly, those knees should never have been obstructed by downward-sloping spikes. Secondly, his fusion cannon looks more like a dick joke than an actual weapon. Third, he should have been bigger than he currently is. And fourth, his altmode is worse than the old Deluxe's, to the point where the tank tread mode being removed makes this feel like an afterthought. Sure, the paint apps are plentiful, but the same can't be said for the pros.
3-2. Bumblejumper - This pair of mold mates are better than the other guys we covered, but not by much. The beer guts put these guys down for not just looking poor in design but also being very inaccurate. I also wish the back kibble would have better flowed with the rest of this guy, especially with how hollow part of him feels from the back. At the very least, both of their heads are good (especially CJ's TFP influence), the alt modes are still good, and the weapon swaps are very plentiful for options, though I wish that the weapons that Bee came with were swapped with different ones for his mold mate.
1. Optimus Prime - The best figure in the whole subline, even though it's not saying much. The hollowness is eerily similar to that of Voyager Beast Hunters Prime from a decade ago, and while he managed to visually hide that flaw, this guy manages to flop on that simply by having the empty spaces more visible, including the fists in the back of the alt mode. At the very least, he is closer to the character model than the old toy in terms of proportions, and the axe is neat for how customizable the options are. I do wish the cannon has some peg to store it since you could do that with the arm.
And that covers 2023. Not much else to say for what I hope to see in 2024 since the listings exist. But I know we have more Cores, Pablo, a scorpion, Chunkscream, another Wreck-Gar retool, and what may be an overrated Megatron. Let's hope G1 Swoop, the other AOE Dinobots, and TLK Drift aren't far away.
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