2024 Miscellaneous Transformers RANKED

I've done plenty of miscellaneous Transformers rankings not tied to either Studio Series or whatever current iteration of the Generations line is present. Prior ranking lists averaged around the 20s,  it now it's double the amount with our highest count yet! 40 ranking positions in celebration of the 40th anniversary, what more could you ask for? As mentioned before, I'm including figures from lines not directly tied to either aforementioned ongoing line, as they have to be either from either a toyline I collected from in small doses or as a one-off of sorts. Admittedly, I went all out in buying characters from RID 2001 in a bulk buy than usual, yet it was mostly Autobot focused compared to this year being Predacon/Decepticon-focused. With all that said, let's take a look back at some figures I reviewed in 2024 and some that will get reviews this year (hopefully).

Honorable mention: GoBots Road Ranger - Yes, a GoBot is added on the list because I felt like it. I swear, the way 80s babies would act like their media is the best out of the other decades yet still shit on the GoBots is a bizarre study overall. That being said, Road Ranger was a companion piece for the Kingdom version of the character since I liked that there was once a story in TF history where the GoBots had to take on forms similar to prior Transformers to survive. Road Ranger went from a truck loosely similar to Optimus Prime to being an almost Halloween redeco of Huffer. 

Number 40: G1 Seaspray - Is anyone really expecting this guy to be high up on the list? Though charming in his own right, it is only a Minibot. A Minibot with an altmode unique compared to the typical cars we see, but a Minibot nonetheless.

Number 39: Retro Bombshell and Ramhorn - The first Insecticon I got in terms of G1 originals, Bombhell stands out from his teammates by not only having packaging comparable to the G1 days but also coming with a piece of chocolate that turns into a rhino...oh I mean a cartoon-accurate Ramhorn. While the original G1 versions looked better, they are still whatever toys as it stands. At least he doesn't need a liquid chrome pen. Expect a review on him once I complete the other Insecticons.

Number 38: Retro Starscream - Another G1 mold to discuss, this one feels like an attempt at rectifying my inability to complete the Takara Collection Starscream. See, what happened was that I was not interested in covering the Retro reissues of Starscream and Hot Rod since I have arguably better versions of them. It still rings true for Hot Rod but Starscream does benefit with having a better painted face and coming with the gun for G1 Megatron that I could never find on eBay at a good price. Not to mention my constant struggles in looking for the right time to review the mold. If anything, it's looks just as good as the Collection reissue but I wish the screw holes would be less noticeable.

Number 37: TFP Cyberverse Arcee - Before there was Cyberverse, there was Cyberverse! A subline made for the Dark of the Moon and Transformers Prime toylines. Though it didn't last long, it did at least give fans a new way to play with their favorite characters in pocket-sized forms while better scaling with each other than either Legends before and after it as well as Core Class figures based on larger scale characters. Though her weapon is a bit oversized and her details are fuzzy, this Arcee manages to match the character model perfectly at a smaller scale, and it's a shame that her shade of blue isn't applied to the PRID Deluxe (unless you go the Arms Micron route with its pink 5mm nipple ports).

Number 36: Beast Hunters Cyberverse Hardshell - While Arcee has plenty of larger-scale figures to better match the usual Deluxes and Voyagers of the show's cast, Hardshell remains as a puny Commander Class figure. It'd be one thing if he was meant to be as small as a G1 Insecticon, but the bugs in the Prime series are HUGE! Until we get a larger-scale knockoff or a new mold courtesy of APC Toys, this at least captures the character design perfectly fine, even if they're not as easy to get reference materials for as the other Prime characters we can easily see better in frame. The pressure-launch missile gimmick is neat, but the articulated jaw is the cherry on top compared to the mostly static Predacons' heads. Expect a review for him soon.

Number 35: RID 2001 Ruination - The first G1 combiner that I own isn't even a character directly associated with G1 but instead a repaint from the RID 2001 series While the toys are not exactly show-accurate thanks to the inclusion of Decepticon logos, the combiner kibble being grey instead of gold, and Armorhide not even matching the desert camo he had in the series, this is at least a great appetizer until I can get the Unite Warriors Baldigus set...or maybe not given the prices being high AF, but I'm sure Hasbro can make a Generations Selects box set a la their toy-accurate Menasor.

Number 34: G1 Perceptor - If there is one thing I can give credit to the G1 line for that isn't the cliche "muh originals are better" trope we see from 80s manbaby circlejerk communities, it's that there was a good dose of role-play toys that were also the characters in the associated media. Befitting the character's scientist role, Perceptor makes for a convincing microscope with a decent lens gimmick that works better than on either Titans Return or Power of the Primes. Not only that, but the inclusion of a tank mode is so stupid yet it at least makes him an honorary triple changer should he have to deal with incoming Decepticons. I was happy to get mine for a cheap price along with Silver Centurion Iron Man (who I still need to review).

Number 33: RID 2001 Dark Scream/Gas Skunk/Slapper - These three may be repaints of Beast Wars Transmetal II basics, but they wear the molds much better as if they were the original owners to begin with. That being said, perhaps larger-scale updates could be necessary given their over-reliance on ball joints makes them annoyingly worn out easily. Meanwhile, I can't help but groan with the lack of tabs for the wing kibble on Dark Scream, and that's nothing to say of how under-sized they somewhat are compared to the Autobot Brothers. Good luck getting them complete because they are somehow harder to find in great condition compared to their prior mold iterations.

Number 32: Beast Wars Terrorsaur/Iguanus/Wolfang - Though I shouldn't pair them up because they were sold together, I did want to put them in a single category for having something in common: they're the reissues previously sold at Walmart for high prices before now being sold at Ollie's for even cheaper. You could get them for the same 90s price, basically! And while I had no interest in the unsold MCU or Disney Star Wars crap that clogged the shelves, collecting some of the reissues was always a treat for the Beasties. Expect full reviews for these soon, but know that Terrorsaur at least completes 3 of the 5/7 original Predacons, Iguanus's gun is strange for the integration, and Wolfang's anchor missiles are annoying at staying in place.

Number 31: Dr Wu Movie Collector Einstein/DOTM Brains - Are you someone like me who is fine with the tiny minifigures of the drone duo from DOTM but wants to see someone make fully transformable versions of them? Dr Wu is proud to fill that gap with a Brains figure that can turn into a laptop. I'm amazed that it's something they accomplished given how thin these computers usually are, but it's something new after we had a few official Wheelie toys for Revenge of the Fallen before Dr Wu's version. Now we just need to wait for me to get my hands on him so we can do a 2-in-1 review. They're inseparable in DOTM and it's a shame they split up with Brains in AOE and Wheelie somehow in TLK. Why? I don't know. That sums up how I feel about TLK.

Number 30: Takara United Windcharger & Wipe-Out - These are not from the Legacy United line per se, but rather they're from Takara's equivalent to the Generations line at the time. They boasted metallic coats of paint that were sorely missing on the Hasbro versions as a continuation of being more premium than Hasbro's CHUG toys, much like with the Henkei series. Whether or not they fit in is up to debate, but this 2-pack of Scout Class mold mates was at least another way of getting a pretty elusive version of the 1984 character. He didn't have any changes other than a slightly different plastic color and no rubsign, but it is something. At least Wipe Out makes for a lore cut with the Marvel Comics' take on Trypticon, but there was no new tooling applied.

Number 29: Classics Devastator - The weakest out of the three Maximus Combiners, this repaint of Constructicon Maximus is a case where making a 5-piece combiner may not benefit every team. The Constructicons were normally balanced out in scale while making a humanoid combiner. ROTF at least had various unique designs to go for an uncommon bestial take on Devastator. Still, the choice in alt modes and the integration of the Energon weapons makes the toy feel awkward when you consider how impractical the cranes are as arms while the diggers clash with each other as legs. And then there's how imbalanced the bulk is between the alt modes of the limbs. The Classics repaint is an amusing reminder of how gestalt members used to be repaints of Energon sets or they would have to be Ultra Class figures with no third party upgrade kits. Times have changed, indeed.

Number 28: Energon Superion Maximus - Slightly better when it comes to the proportional balance between the limbs, but still not saying much. It's easier to make the A-10 Thunderbolts as legs given how thin they are even if the arms clash, but the vague Raptor jets suck as arms unless you transform them differently where they would only have their arms move outwards via the forearms' ball-jointed hips. Their Energon weapons are also stupid, with the feet making sense for the A-10s but the barbecue pitchforks of the Raptors look unimaginatively ineffective for anything but shooting. They look even funnier if unofficially transformed to look like they have dino claws. The torso bot, Storm Jet, suffers from being unstable in bot mode especially in torso mode. I don't know if Superion Maximus is worse than Classics Devastator since they're interchangeable.

Number 27: Universe Silverbolt - My Combiner Wars Silverbolt broke and I'm currently awaiting for the Age of the Primes version to come at my doorstep. In the meantime, I've been enjoying the Universe 2008 version. While not 100% perfect because of how basic the engineering is and the fact that we continue the trend of Silverbolt not having any proper kibble storage in his jet mode, the figure was at least enjoyable from a time when electronic gimmicks were a bonus while ratchet joints were plentiful. The color scheme is a bit weird with the grays and safety oranges clashing with the burgundy that vaguely matches the G1 deco, but that's part of the Universe line's deco choices.

Number 26: RID 2001 Sky-Byte - He's a shellformer/But he wears his kibble well/Cooler Cybershark.

Number 25: Generations Comic Edition Straxus/Flame & Emirate Xaaron - While two of these figures are retools of two WFC Trilogy molds and one of them from a Studio Series Gamer Edition mold, I wanted to include them for how effective they are at feeling like different toys. Straxus does this perfectly, using the Kingdom Galvatron mold that fits well for the character given their similar designs; he has all of the distinct parts needed to feel like a new figure rather than a head swap. As for Flame and Emirate Xaaron, the former uses the War for Cybertron Megatron figure decently well (down to keeping the articulation-compromising spikes at the knees) while the latter uses Siege Refraktor effectively since he can be displayed with or without altmode kibble. Straxus is the highlight of the Comic Edition line, but the FlameXaaron set is also great for a reminder that the Marvel UK run expanded greatly on the lore of the US run.

Number 24: Titans Return Fortress Maximus - As a heavy retool of Thrilling 30 Metroplex, there are things that I do appreciate in making him distinct given their specific design traits. The obvious thing being the Headmaster gimmick. While the efforts are nice and all, the things that were carried over are questionable at best, mainly the legs opening up when it was only done for Metroplex. In addition, the lack of a dedicated gun and especially Master Sword for the robot mode really puts the standard set down. The Headmaster gimmick is always a treat, but it is amusing how you can have a Prime Wars Trilogy-specific Emissary for the Titan Master while there is a Spike Witwicky with a slightly different faceplate included with Takara's Legends Bumblebee, and that's not even mentioning The Headmasters' where Cerebros and Spike aren't involved. Btw the sword is from Hasbro Asia and the gun from DNA Design thanks to my friend Ernie giving me his copy earlier than the reissue's release date.

Number 23: Energon Bruticus Maximus - He is the best out of the Energon Maximus combiners, though he still has issues worth mentioning. The tanks suck as arms and the helicopters suck as legs. The tanks have built-in arms cannons that make their Energon weapons redundant. The torso, Onslaught, looks cool in vehicle mode but his backpack is huge in robot mode. There is a lot more I should say but be on the lookout for the review soon.

Number 22: Reactivate Starscream/Bumblebee - Reactivate is dead. It was bound to be canceled. I WOULD hope that it turns into a single-player game, but I can't expect too much from Chris Cucks. That being said, Starscream manages to not be too similar to the Evergreen aesthetic, especially with the post-apocalyptic details added in addition to having articulation almost as good as Siege. Bumblebee, on the other hand, not only manages to have an original design, but he also has an off road buggy altmode that loosely calls back the Beetle while amusingly tying in with his Movie counterpart's off-road upgrade for Rise of the Beasts. The funny part? We get a single release of Bee long before the game got canceled. 

Number 21: Gear Factory Wander Warrior/PRID Wheeljack - The best version of TFP Wheeljack just got better. Not only is the cool PRID mold given the APC Toys treatment for better plastic quality and details, but he comes with the long forgotten Dr Wu upgrade kit! Two sword options, three alternate heads, blasters he used in the show, a grenade, and improvements to the mold itself? The only oddities would be the green missing on the chest beyond the tiny strips of it, but this is still great regardless.

Number 20: Reactivate Optimus Prime/Soundwave - Another 2-pack to cover, this time on Optimus Prime and Soundwave. Prime is easily the best out of the set in spite of his torso not tabbing in and the gray plastic looking cheap. The weapons could be better, but the design of Prime honestly feels like the CHUG toy I wanted from the character loosely inspired by the card art for the Thrilling 30 Legends toy. Soundwave manages to be better engineered than the other toys inspired by that Evergreen design, but his backpack makes me think of Energon Barricade. Still, this set does make me wonder what else could have been from the few designs that got leaked.

Number 19: Masterpiece MP-21 Bumblebee - I never thought we'd have more than a handful of VW Beetle Bumblebee's fully licensed and in both G1 and the movies. The first to spark this trend was none other than the 2014 Masterpiece Bumblebee. While the figure itself may not proportionally match the cartoon and was not chibified like with the old toy or the cartoon, I do have a preference to this figure for not being too hideous from the side with the alt mode kibble. Spike still sucks.

Number 18: Premium Series Megatron - While the MPM and Studio Series versions blow this mold out of the water, I still had the original version with poor attempts at modifying it to be screen accurate. With how broken my old copy is in some areas, a review was never going to happen...until we got to the Premium Series version. Cast in darker gray plastic and no longer using the bluish paint apps to represent the ice he was stuck in. Though it shows its age, it was still a noble attempt at making Megatron's first movie design come to life in toy form. I'll discuss more in my review soon.

Number 17: Collaborative Party Wallop - This figure continues a now yearly trend in me reviewing toys from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, though we're back to another IP crossover with Party Wallop turning into the Turtle Van. I love the Zero Megazord-esque mask-swapping gimmick, and the color-coded mask goes well with a Turtle-specific belt buckle letter. Whether you want to go with the aforementioned Zeo route or buy extras to represent all 4 Turtles, you won't be disappointed.

Number 16: Generations Selects Super Megatron - While Star Convoy is getting a more faithful update in the Age of the Primes line, Super Megatron currently has a heavy retool of Titans Return Galvatron to keep us company. Whether or not they will to well with each other has yet to be seen, but I am happy to own this rather than Galvatron thanks to not having a shitty mask gimmick with the Titan Master while also using the triple changer gimmick more effectively. Is it crazy as hell? Yes. Is it still a cool figure? Also yes.

Number 15: APC Toys Gladiator/First Edition Cliffjumper - He may have died in the first episode of the Prime series, but this figure makes me happy to own a hi-and-die character regardless. The APC crew manages to make the figure even better, with slightly denser plastic, sharper sculpted details, no PVC parts, and even chrome exhaust pipes! He inexplicably comes with the human allies despite him never interacting with them, though.

Number 14: Premium Series Optimus Prime - For a blocky action figures, Optimus Prime still manages to be a fun toy while loosely matching the CG model. Yeah, his back kibble doesn't flow well with the huge wheel kibble on the back of the legs, but Optimus Prime still retains a great level of articulation and Automorph Technology done right. I also love the Premium paint job, though I have more to talk about when I get to the review. I am tempted to hold off on covering him since I lack the arm blade attachment. I do have the gun from my old Nightwatch copy, but it doesn't fit in the tab well. We'll see what happens.

Number 13: APC Toys Dark Master/TFP Megatron - This is what we should have had in the First Edition line. As an upscale of the Deluxe, he has much sharper details, retains a clean backpack, and comes with the proper arm blade and Dark Star Saber in addition to his Fusion Cannon. The best part about this figure is that the scale finally fixes an issue many who prefer First Edition Prime instead of PRID Prime by having him taller than the Autobot leader. My copy is the standard flat gray version, but it looks better than the standard PRID Megatron.

Number 12: Missing Link Convoy - I don't know how much further I'll delve into the Missing Link line, but this feels like a weird dream come true as someone who liked the G1 toy and wanted a more poseable version of it (this was before I got tired of G1 oversaturation). I love the implemented joints as well as the additional gimmicks, such as the Matrix chamber, the fist integration, and the Combat Deck's head module being able to separate from the rest of the trailer. Getting this along with SS86 Prime almost made me want to do a VS review, but there is so much to discuss that it'd take up time than by reviewing them separately.

Number 11: RID 2001 Scourge/Car Robots Black Convoy - I can't believe I got this figure for 60 bucks. Not only is it the Takara version, but it also represents the more sought after version of the G2 Laser Prime mold. Optimus wore the mold first, but Scourge embodies it much better. The articulation is about what we get nowadays, yet the shoulders move better than the Legacy version. The trailer is especially superior to what the more recent iteration gave us, not being held back by the current economy and all the budget restraint BS we've seen affect Earthrise Prime before our new Laser Prime. I still wish the light up gimmick wasn't gutted.

Number 10: G2 Dreadwing & Smokescreen - New Dreadwing / Is punishing / His Gatling gun is illin'! This Decepticon bomber's a / Transformer-rama,

A three-in-one villain that's chillin'!

Combat tank and sonic jet / Transform into double-trouble robots

Their missiles go boom / Spelling certain doom / As they take apart the awesome Autobots!

Number 9: Masterpiece MP-36 Megatron - Although this is a 4th party knockoff with some needed tolerance fixes, this manages to include everything that the original version came with in addition to the Kremzeek. He is missing the Decepticon insignias, but those can always be applied on by me without issue. The fact that I own this figure, or at least a version of it, is astounding.

Number 8: Movie the Best MB-19 Jetfire - I was lucky to get this at a cheaper price than with other listings, and I only had to convince the seller to sacrifice the box to lower shipping costs. This version of the classic Jetfire mold may not be as accurate as the Studio Series version, but Takara brought back the Jetpower colors as well as have the Japanese voice actor reprise his role for the new electronics. He isn't the only ROTF 15th Anniversary tribute worth bringing up.

Number 7: Masterpiece MP-08 Grimlock - While I do own the Studio Series version, this was always a figure that piqued my curiosity when it came to how blinging it is. The chrome is gorgeous, the eye color gimmick is ingenious, the crown is perfect, and the light up gimmick is surprisingly not too intrusive. He doesn't scale with your other Masterpiece figures but he still manages to give fans plenty of reasons to revisit him.

Number 6: Siege Omega Supreme - A reissue of him was announced before the year ended, but I got him thanks to my aforementioned buddy. This guy is a huge step up from how prior Titan Class figures were made, what with the sturdier joints, less flimsy transformation, and being able to keep the alt mode intact while still making it fit for modern engineering. Even the inclusion of Countdown makes perfect sense. I'll try holding off on explaining more of my thoughts on Omega Supreme since, yes, he has a review on the way.

Number 5: RID 2001 Megatron - The fact that a figure has more 10 modes is astounding to me. His articulation also holds up perfectly, and it makes me wonder how HasTak could easily improve this figure for a future version to go with HasLab Omega Prime. At this rate, making him a Commander Class and adding finger articulation as well as a ball jointed neck could work. Until then, this figure will be a modern marvel even for a toy made in 2000.

Number 4: Masterpiece MP-10 Optimus Prime - A figure I always wanted in my teens is now in my possession. While some question why he isn't at number 1, there are a few things worth mentioning: my copy has an issue with the backpack not clipping in place with the gun inside, and while I prefer this to MP-44, the SS86 version captures the cartoon model the best. Still, I love the decent amount of play value and the fact that it was able to balance cartoon accuracy with toy accuracy...even if I now like MP-44 more.

Number 3: Masterpiece MP-13 Soundwave - While it was a treat that Hasbro's MP-10 had the same accessories as Takara's, I put Soundwave a rank higher because he ADDS more value for money than the Takara version. In addition to all the accessories that Soundwave came with, there is also the four other cassettes that were sold in pairs since Soundwave came with Laserbeak. Admittedly, some will complain about the removed silver in some areas, and I know there are a certain group of fans that really hated the yellow visor. Regardless, this was always a great way to show some true bang for your buck in spite of how difficult Soundwave was to get in stores and online.

Number 2: Masterpiece Movie Brawl - An MPM doesn't make it in first place this time?! What is this madness?! I'll admit that Brawl is a glorious figure, as he continues the three-way streak of quality MPMs along with Blackout and Bonecrusher. We've certainly gone a long way from both Primes having shortcomings or Ironhide being flimsy. The accessories are perfect and even make sense given Brawl would end up getting an arm cut off as well as have blast effects both for his weapons and on his body. The transformation, however, is just as complex as the other two; while I rarely transform my MPs, I would hesitate doing the trio I just mentioned. Still, Brawl is a figure no one should skip, but there is one other Bayverse figure that tops him.

Number 1: ROTF Buster Optimus Prime - A true testament to how TakaraTomy's Transformers offerings should be treated like events rather than mandatory alternatives to the Hasbro figures, Buster Prime takes an already great figure and makes it the best it's ever been. From the addition of silver paint and chrome to the extra paint apps for further movie accuracy, we also get the titular Buster gimmick from the transforming gas tanks' Ion Blaster mode. My copy doesn't have the retooled head since it's the Jetpower version with blue pinstripes on the flames, but at least with Movie the Best Jetfire, it doesn't matter when they're combined.

And that wraps up the miscellaneous Transformers I bought in 2024. Almost fitting the amount would correlate with the 40th anniversary. To celebrate, here isn a collage of all the Transformers I bought this year. That's 197 in total! I'm sure if you were to count Micromasters individually, the amount would be higher. Still, this was an impressive feat even for me. I beat the 140 total for 2023, and I almost reached 200! We'll see if I can go even further for 2025, but until then, be on the lookout for reviews on Retro Bombshell, Cyberverse Hardshell, Beast Wars Terrorsaur, Iguanus, and Wolfang, Dr Wu Einstein, Universe/ROTF Bruticus Maximus, Premium Series Optimus Prime and Megatron, and Siege Omega Supreme. There will also be plenty of non-transforming figures to look out for, so keep your eyes peeled for those as well as a 5th anniversary Best & Worst article, and more reviews from various toy lines!

Transformers Legacy Retrospective

The Legacy line has certainly felt unique from what we previously had with the War for Cybertron Trilogy. Rather than just focus on G1 remakes and then add Beast Wars characters, we had plenty of representation for numerous franchises beyond the first two decades of media; from the Unicron Trilogy to Animated, and from Prime to Cyberverse, the Generations toyline has felt more diverse than even in Thrilling 30, and thank God it's a trend continuing even in Age of the Primes. While things have been somewhat rocky at the beginning, we did have some aspects of the series go either up in key qualities or down in others. Let's delve further down in the retrospectives and see if any thoughts on these figures changed since the day I reviewed each of them. 

Up first, we have the Core Class figures for the line. All repaints from Kingdom will not be covered, so we'll start with Iguanus. One of the first few toys to mash up elements of Pretender Shell designs and inner robot altmodes, this was intended to be one of the figures that would be an Energon Monster before things got altered behind the scenes. While not the hottest toy of all time, I don't mind seeing Hasbro take the lame Pretenders and mash up elements of their altmodes or shells depending on the character in question. The vehicle and robot modes are decent, though the latter is better made by comparison. The weapon is clearly made for a combining weapon gimmick that was only for one wave if you got Skywarp and Hot Rod, though it looks more like a scanner.

The Shockwave mold is similar to the Combiner Wars version, though his sculpted details have more in common with the Siege toy, especially with the altmode. The satellite dish is unique to this toy, yet it does feel more like a random addition that admittedly looks oversized in the altmode. At least he can be a blaster with the handle flipping down.

And we then have Bomb-Burst, another example of a Pretender Shell turned into a proper robot. Though the altmode is fairly goofy, I like this guy more than I do Iguanus in some ways. The bat head has a B-movie look that, combined with the weapon, fits that description even more.

Moving up to the Deluxes and we have the Skids mold. Though nowhere near as prominent as the Siege Sideswipe mold, this figure did receive a fairly large present in terms of reuses, with 4 in 2022 before we got one per year since then. It's a fairly average mold fitting a fairly average G1 carbot, though things like the gaps for the inner legs as well as the hood being part of the head being major steps back compared to the other Autobot Cars we got since Siege. Still, the weapon versatility is appreciative, the figure still looks fine for the most part, and the retools were at least cooler, especially Cannonball.

The Skids mold may be plentiful yet average, but the Dragstrip mold has a bit more going on. The empty robot head from the back may be stupid, but I like how standalone this figure mostly functions, being more refined than the Combiner Wars version in terms of joints and proportions, and I especially like how it isn't super obvious that he is a combiner until you get to the splitting gimmick with Motormaster's Menasor frame. I think I could be fine without the toy accurate version.

The Kickback mold has major FOC vibes, mostly with the use of clear plastic for the weapons and wings. While many would stick with the Titans Return version, having a Deluxe Insecticon seems more than suitable so as not to make the trio feel undersized to the other Decepticons. Both modes look good, and while I wish the wings were opaque since the other Insecticons had their front pieces non-transparent, but it does add a bit of an organic look to an otherwise robotic bug mode. Ransack is a cool reuse of the mold, thankfully having both a new head and an optional toy-accurate head for Kickback. I'm surprised we got the other Deluxe Insecticons minus Venom (no not the Spider-Man villain).

And then we get to the Arcee mold. This is where the polarizing nature of the Legacy line's handling of non-G1 characters gets discussed. While the mold itself is okay at best, the execution of putting the series-specific aesthetics of Prime Arcee into the Geewuninator upset many fans; she ends up looking more like the result of a G1 fan being mad at Prime Arcee being nothing like the G1 version and redesigned her to be a different character in the Sunbow cartoon universe. Knock Out had a similar fate but given how IDW stole the TFP version of the character, you could use the Legacy toy of his as a G1 KO. As for Arcee, you at least have other options like Velocitron Road Rocket, Shattered Glass Flamewar, and Toxitron Laser Cycle (who is totally based on another G2 Jazz toy). I have yet to get Erial/Ariel, who came in a 2-pack with Dion.

The Wildrider mold is the worst out of the Stunticons, no doubt thanks to the basic transformation, questionable handling of the back kibble, and the feet not tabbing in too well. They also look rather like parallelograms. Breakdown is even worse for not having a retooled altmode while utilizing lousy integration for the spoiler piece. The painted 5mm ports meant for the Menasor mode are also too tight for tolerances, and some copies broke those pegs off! At least the G2 version of Breakdown uses the multipack's new tooling.

As for the Tarantulas mold, I'm glad that it isn't a retool of the Blackarachnia mold, especially given how history has shown their older toys being the same mold other than their paint jobs and using either the regular or mutant heads. Though Hasbro did use similar engineering between the two, they don't transform the exact same way, and they also utilize different kinds of components between the two figures, making the comparison similar to how G2 Smokescreen and Energon Starscream transform similarly yet are not retools of each other. The VS 4-pack version not only has a robot head from the old toy, but it also has the prototype color scheme fans saw only in a commercial. It feels like we've gone full circle from Blackarachnia's Worlds Collide counterpart.

The Elita-1 mold isn't quite as perfect as I was hoping it would be. Like Wildrider, the mold feels like a parallelogram when stood straight, not having any real definition thanks to the bulky backpack and the attempt to balance the feminine proportions with the engineering of the toy. At least the option to make shoulder pylons is there's but I reserve that for Minerva. I think the mold works best for her; even if she isn't a Headmaster, at least it works for a post-Masterforce version of herself where she was no longer a Transtector. Strongarm is fine enough as she is, though she could be a little wider to better match the show; by contrast, the vehicle mode should be a little taller. Funny how things work with this mold.

Knock Out originally didn't catch my attention since I was sour over us not getting faithful updates to TFP toys and instead got Geewunified versions of those characters. Knock Out being a heavy retool of SS86 Jazz sort of makes sense and with IDW copying and pasting existing characters from prior media into their own, and I can at least put him in there rather than have him be part of my TFP display like with Arcee from Wave 1. Thankfully, his clear plastic hasn't been as brittle as Jazz's. But I hope me saying that doesn't bite me in the ass.

As for the Dead End mold, it feels like a variation of the Combiner Wars mold, only with some alterations on how the figure transforms. The CW figure was already a favorite apart from the elbow joints being unpaintable or the weapons being a lead pipe, so it was cool to see a similar take on them at figure. The top half looks great, but the bottom half suffers from having no feet and the legs overall being unable to tab in properly. The differences in bot mode deco are more apparent than in vehicle mode.

The Pointblank mold is interesting for plenty of reasons, mostly because it's the first instance of a figure coming with their Targetmaster partner without bumping up the price. The design of the figure looks great, but that applies to the front since he looks somewhat flat from the back thanks to the lack of any real definition beyond the windshield piece, while the back of the legs are as hollow as on an old Deluxe. The hip joints also look wonky, but the biggest offender has to be the lack of any bicep rotation. Few upgrade kits have yet to be made, but it is widely accepted that this toy has had numerous budget cuts. Imagine if this was made as a Voyager just to make the budget better rather than not being cheap af.

The Skullgrin mold won't as much love today as it did back in the day; the designs look genuinely cool with the skull motif and how versatile the weapons are if you're interested in placing them wherever you see fit. Arm-mounted or handheld, having the cannons on the back or placing the bayonets on there instead, and I appreciate the alternate head with the G2 Cybertronian for any possible army-building. The mold does suffer from its reliance on PVC parts, transformations with parts that could use pins rather than the clip-on hinges, and alt modes that don't suck ass. The altmodes come off more like part-tank, part spaceship, and I wish they were handled better than in their current state. Where are the mfs slandering the Cybertronian altmodes we got in the Bayverse and TFP now?

The Cosmos mold, on the other hand, is no joke overall. While I hate the gaps in the forearms, this does at least prove that Hasbro can make their figures.great even with a cheaper budget in their molds. The proportions, transformation, and the blend of Legacy simplicity and WFC Trilogy details are appreciative, and the flag is a treat. I'm happy that Cosmos is getting a reissue before the United chapter ends, though fans should also get Path Finder from the GoBots 3-pack. Regardless, I am happy this was a new mold rather than a retool of Origin Bumblebee.

He may be a Titans Return mold, but Twin Twist still makes for a great addition regardless. Other than making him and Topspin non-TR figures, what we end up with still fits well with any current collection in spite of the ball joints or head gimmick. The Diaclone colors are perfect for him, I hope Topspin has a similar deco next year.

Bulkhead is a case where despite being nothing like the TFP design, I could at least see this as a proper G1-style Bulkhead. Compared to the likes of Arcee and Knock Out being less cool versions of their show designs, Bulkhead has a unique alt mode and robot design that can fit a hypothetical G1 Bulkhead better than having him share the Inferno/Grapple design. In fact, I like using the Wreck n Rule version for my CHUG display while the First Edition version remains on my TFP shelf; the military camo makes for a great AOE Hound homage, too. There was an unexpected reuse for Breakdown, which utilizes the hammer that came with the second version of the mold, but it could use a little bit more new tooling.

Jhiaxus, despite his inevitable yellowing issues, surprised me with how we finally got a proper G2 version of the character rather than another orange reuse of an existing jetformer. The altmode is admittedly blocky and more reminiscent of one of those Twister popsicles from the game that Joel from Vinesauce covered, but the robot mode matches the G2 comics perfectly. A big issue I do have would be the use of clear plastic, especially with how fragile things were for many figures back then. At the very least, he has some articulated fingers that appear to be inconsistently applied between other figures. 

The Inferno mold finally completes the Season 1 Predacons, and while I do wish he had a proper gun so that the weapon he remains with stays in his butt for a complete flight mode at all times, I like seeing the beast mode remain stable without utilizing easily loose ball joints as well feel more refined than the original Beast Wars figure in terms of proportions. Granted, it's moreso about looking show-accurate and has no true play features, but the articulated jaw makes up for it in the robot mode. Though I don't have the Beast Wars Again version, I know that it looks even better in addition to having an extra weapon; I do, however, own Antagony who has an alternate Transmetal Scavenger head that I choose to use on this figure.

Armada Starscream should have been a figure we got as a Voyager in 2014, especially with how easy it was to make him that size in 2014 and implement the play features associated with that old Deluxe. I'm glad that the articulation is improved somewhat from what we had a decade ago, though that's to be expected from a mold that isn't a direct upscale. I will admit that the waist rotation is limited thanks to the cockpit going all the way down, but I'm not a fan of how the legs go inwards more than norma, in addition to the ankles being loose. The Star Saber is neat, but the lack of Minicon ports is a painful reminder that we aren't getting Swindle to go with him. I hope Hasbro not only gives us the Takara Thundercracker repaint (aka Starscream in Powerlinx colors) but also Skywarp and Ramjet with retooled parts.

Override being another new mold for the Legacy Velocitron Speedia 500 Collection does come as a surprise for anyone expecting repaints, but to receive a new mold originally intended to be a retool of SS86 Hot Rod is a win overall. Some would find it strange that we would have a new version of a character that was already poseable and made from a fairly modern line, but Hasbro made sure that the figure was refined more than ever without the spring-loaded gimmick and awkward proportions. While a GTS repaint would be great, I have to criticize how cheap the weapon feels while the metal bolts that hold the arms can shave on the plastic if you're not careful.

The Legacy line's take on Laser Optimus Prime could have felt like a slam dunk after we had an undersized Deluxe that felt reliant on an upgrade kit to feel more comparable to Voyager size as well as an awkward triple change toy with Headmaster gimmickry from Titans Return. While Earthrise Prime managed to be fairly solid despite having reused parts and a cheap trailer, this figure feels held back from questionable engineering choices; these include the lack of proper shoulder movement thanks to the static truck half pylons and the finger articulation being non-existent. The trailer does look visually nicer than the Earthrise version, but it continues being just as cheap-feeling and incomplete for a Leader Class toy. I do like the Matrix integration, and some repaints like Toxitron and Target Prime are cool, but I have to look back on Scourge and admit the original version was better as a more accurate figure. I have no plans for the Mecha Godzilla version since it screams alt skin like with the Godzilla x Transformers repaints. 

Blitzwing is a case where being a Voyager-sized figure and getting called a Leader Class figure will have people question the approach Hasbro takes in what figures go where for their size classes, no matter how dense the plastic may be or how high the part count is. The robot mode strives in keeping things free of hollow parts, with as many panels and part integration as possible, but it amusingly stands shorter than either Titans Return or Thrilling 30. The accessories are mostly neat, with the sword and twin guns at least making sense; the gauntlets, however, do come off as unusual and are more of an attempt to justify the price. They're optional but it makes you wonder why he couldn't be taller than he currently is. Then again, they believe that cartoon accuracy means leaving a bit of the cockpit exposed like a doggy dong. Overcharge is a lore cut I appreciate, but a small part of me wonders if he was meant to be in the Generations Selects line if the shelfwarming and constant discounts on Blitzwing would make Hasbro fear they'll sell fewer units. The new head is neat but the lack of paint on the gauntlets is stupid.

Transmetal II Megatron is almost perfect as he currently is. I like that he feels more refined in terms of proportions and engineering than the original late-90s toy, but I still wish he had metallic paint to make the Transmetal motif more accurate. The wingspan is awesome, but I hope the materials used for said wings last longer than whatever McFarlane used for his Batman Monster Truck. The flame accessory being used as a club is funny, but I still wish he had at least finger articulation for the right hand to make up for his somewhat simple transformation. The head, I'd argue, looks great, but the toy-accuracy better fits a Cryotek reuse rather than Megatron. Still a better head sculpt than the one Rhinox has in Kingdom!

Motormaster is an example of what happens when you take a mediocre Combiner Wars figure and rightfully make him a more expensive overhaul: though there are some proportional aspects I would change, making him into a Commander Class does at least make sense if he was not only going to be a more fulfilling figure individually but set up a new trend of having a frame for his gestalt form. While many don't like the cars-slapped-on-limbs motif, Hasbro did at least make a more functional Menasor design this time. I do wish, however, that Breakdown and Wildrider were more visible. The trailer could be longer, the wheels less undersized, and the addition of finger articulation would be greatly appreciated, but there is a lot more passion put into this figure than there ever was in the Combiner Wars version.

Metroplex almost feels like he could be a perfect figure if not for how cheap he felt. His proportions and details are much better than the Cybertron Leader from nearly 2 decades ago. Admittedly, the altmode is more or less the same, but worker mode has some needed deviations from the old toy, and the slight differences in articulation make for a great difference. The biggest issues would be Hasbro ditching his Minicon partner, Drill Bit, and any semblance of a Cyber Key gimmick. Override's weapon could be argued lacked the needed space for the ones we'd get in Legacy United, but there was plenty of space to add one for a character like this. In addition, the whole mini-partner thing was an aspect for prior Titan Class figures going all the way back to Thrilling 30 Metroplex, and the only reason why Devastator and Predaking were excused was because of their roles as combiners. Also, while I like that the shoulder ratchets are tight, the parts meant to keep the arms in place either untab, or the slots meant for the tabs could start to break. If only Hasbro thought of better stability for the back pieces without having to require pressing both sides together.

Now we shall delve into Legacy Evolution, where the line changed a few things up for us, fans. Mostly in the form of Junkions that transform while still being able to split apart, a lame ass Evofusion gimmick that represents what characters can already do, and a a few fingers dipped into Beast Wars II, Armada, and some teases for Animated and Cyberverse. Let's see how each mold holds up a year later.

The Dinobots will all be grouped together with their recent Victory Dinoforce counterparts. While the latter team could be seen as a generic 80s knockoff robo combiner set without the Transformers context (at least if you look at the old toys), I feel it's ironic how the more popular G1 Dinobots got their Core Class offerings as a retail-friendly experience with held-back engineering and mediocre accessories while Dinoking ends up having accessories and being in a (somewhat) higher-end box set. The lack of elbows on most figures is lame, and an argument can be made that Volcanicus should have had the hands and feet included with Dinoking, but I feel the Japanese combiner being a reuse of characters who'd already have Leader Class counterparts by now (minus Scarr) will need something a little more enticing. As for each mold, Swoop is great, Snarl is good, Grimlock, Slag, and Scarr are okay, and Sludge is thicc. I forgot the Dinoforce names, sorry.

Hot Shot feels like one of those figures that could be seen as an improvement in some areas and needs more work to be done in others. He is easier to transform than the Universe 2008 Deluxe, but a small part of me feels like he's leaner than the character design normally looks. Maybe it's from torso not being as wide like in the show, but he has a physique similar to this. The figure admittedly felt somewhat cheap, though it mostly relates to the backpack and the tabs for the shoulder pads. Still, it's an update that deserves more respect than what Armada Hot Shot haters normally give it. *Cough* TJOmega *cough cough* Baldmatrix. The Powerlinx repaint is cool, though sadly the only current way to get Jolt.

Needlenose is as basic as jetformers can be, with altmode undercarriage and robot mode kibble management comparable to that of the Aerialbots. Tabbing onto TFP Skyquake is neat for inevitable Predator Jet gimmickry, but this mold feels more by the numbers than expected. Even the Double Targetmasters lack articulation but are at least uniquely sculpted. Windsweeper at least has a new color scheme, and the silver guns recreate the Triggercon gimmick. Is it me, or does Windy look a little more heroic for a Decepticon? Apparently, rumors suggest he would have been one since Triggerbots has chromed weapons and Decepticons didn't.

Scraphook is the first of three Junkions molds to not be a retool of SS86 Wreck-Gar, and thank God, too; I like the rusty tow truck look, and the post-apocalyptic aesthetic makes perfect sense for the Junkions. The ability to separate into pieces and still transform normally makes this mold more enticing than the WFC Trilogy's partformers. That being said, the elbows SUCK at staying in place, and even if they attach back easily, what if they break? PIN YOUR JOINTS IN, HASBRO. Axlegrease is a neat pretool for a Lockdown but somehow hard to find, RID01 Tow-Line makes for a great size bump-up from his old toy yet could use less Mad Max, and Lockdown thankfully can use leg extenders to alter his height.

By comparison, Crashbar hasn't had as much love, but he feels at least unique for his leg transformation combined with retaining a bit of a Viking look with the helmet shape. The asymmetry from his leg transformation makes the sculpted details from the bike mode more appreciative if you think about how samey most bikeformers tend to be. Plus, it's neat to see another Junkion that turns into a motorcycle that ISN'T Wreck-Gar. The reuse we got a year later, Road Pig, is a little unexpected given how he was not the exact same as his G2 toy when it comes to transformation or design, but with one G2 character already being a redeco of the Legacy Arcee mold, it makes sense he uses the seldom-repainted mold. The clear plastic parts are new, though it makes me wonder what else is cast out of that material beyond the pipes and head.

When it comes to Animated Prowl, I'm sure many sighed a breath of relief when he would stick with being much closer to the cartoon aesthetics than the Prime characters were in 2022. Sure, he's not as slim as he is normally depicted, but I am at least happy to see he maintains that Derrick J. Wyatt influence that made the show feel unique. The shuriken not staying in the right hand is annoying, though. It is also doubly so for Cyberverse Chromia, whose bulkier proportions are right at home with the IDW continuity and it's increasingly bulkier fembot designs. She reminds me of the Thrilling 30 retool of PRID Arcee, but I wish she had new weapons instead of shurikens that work less than the ones on Prowl.

The Shrapnel/Bombshell mold feels pretty self-explanatory. These two practically function similarly to one another. They're both black and purple bugs, they're mold mades, and they work differently from Kickback. They're the part of a G1 CHUG display where you would be fine with them filling in a gap without needing to fill any high expectations. They're fine as they are and aren't mindblowing. And hey, it's cool Shrapnel got a toy after not having one made from losing in a 2019 fan poll. The retools for Chop Shop and Barrage, however, are more interesting thanks to them having unique color schemes and tooling that stand out from the Skywarp colors. Add to us getting Ransack in the Creatures Collide box set, and it's making me want a Venom more than an eHobby Diaclone repaint set of the OG Insecticons for Gen Selects.

Beachcomber has another  Season 2 Minibot, this one manages to not feel too similar to the Titans Return version by being slightly more articulated, having a better-proportioned bot mode, and coming with a gun as well as the Paradise Parakeet. Again, not a particularly mind-blowing Deluxe, but he at least has rubber tires and rolls beautifully...that may need to be kept away from painted surface areas on other figures according to TFWiki. The Rukus retool looks awesome, and it amazes me when a toyline can take one figure and retool it to the point of being almost unfamiliar with the base mold. As a taller Deluxe, he feels like an entirely new mold and manages to be a better Triggercon retool than either Crankcase or Windssweeper. How soon will we get the Triggerbots?

Devcon is yet another heavy retool of SS86 Blurr, but it goes further than the Velocitron version by being an entirely different design from what Blurr normally looks like. A mere head swap is one thing with mere tooling here and there, but making the robot and altmode use as few Blurr-specific components as humanly possible is a huge step from the norm with Hasbro. That being said, why did this figure not pop up in store shelves?

Shadow Striker I feel bad about hating this figure since it has quite a bit going for it. Combining elements of the Cyberverse character with the Universe 2003 design recolored from RID Side Burn is cool. Still, I can't really say she's that great for the following: the weird arm articulation, the wonky proportions not matching either design, and the odd gun/knife weapon combo. The alt mode is a strange hodge-podge of aesthetics, and with how the eventual RID Side Burn retool will turn out, I got the original in-between releases. 

Detritus was the unintended first use of the Earth mode retool for Siege Hound, and it comes off as bizarre that it popped up when the Buzzworthy Bumblebee Hound intended for the SS86 series was canceled. Ironic since you have what is an easy-to-market version of an '84 bot that has not yet received an Earth mode like the rest of the characters have in Siege and we didn't get it right away? That said, he kind of feels worse than the Siege version, almost like it was only made to be a Halo-esque Jeep rather than also be reused for an Earthly aesthetic. The same goes for the Legacy United retool of Hound, aka the ONLY way to get him as of this moment. I would tell fans that the 5-pack with Jazz, Sunstreaker, Wheeljack, and Trailbreaker is optional, but then I'd have to be reminded that the cancelation of the Buzzworthy version was stupid. Maybe don't cancel them, Hasbro?

Origins Jazz makes the second chapter of the Origins trilogy that began with 2021's Bumblebee, and we get our first-ever Cybertronian Jazz to transform into a vacuum cleaner...looking ass vehicle. Though you do have the kibble made for the altmode specifically, the proportions look much better here than on the SS86 version. Just be careful with the clear plastic since Hasbro won't likely give him the opaque window treatment.

Revisiting the Leo Prime mold, I claimed that it felt like a general win in my opinion...until I saw that Takara retool with better paint apps and a more accurate lion head. I hope it doesn't feel as cheap as the mold currently does, because some parts of the mold, be it the regular or Dark Lio Convoy version, do feel held back by the Voyager budget restraints. On a side note, I like that the evil clone has an anime-accurate deco.

I still love the Tarn mold; say what you will IDW, but the design, personality, and overall role Tarn served in the 2005 continuity is one of the best things about their contributions to TF lore. Other than the exposed hands in alt mode and the lack of rolling wheels or a Damus head, this is one of the best figures that the Legacy line gave fans without a doubt. I also like the Bludgeon we got more than I initially expected after being turned off that it wasn't Bludgeon-y enough,  and it's amusing how every reuse starting with him came with a sword. Cyberverse Tarn comes with a sword and manages to have unique paint app differences compared to his IDW counterpart; his arm is intact but that's expected. The Stormbringer retool for Bludgeon is a treat given how Hasbro wouldn't 

Metalhawk amazes me with how much effort a retool truly uses while turning one character into a completely separate dude with similar design traits. At first glance, the two don't seem to have anything alike that would justify a heavy retool, but the effort put in making Metalhawk feel more like a new toy rather than a typical redeco with a new head. There is a toy-accurate variant released a year after the original with different shades of gray and gold that should hopefully not have any GPS issues.

Trashmaster is so underrated. It's like someone asked "What if Optimus Prime was a Junkion?" and we get a figure that feels reminiscent of the Classics Voyager, down to the similar transformation. Admittedly, the bumper butt is annoying if it couldn't be flush, and parts of the figure do feel a bit cheap, but it is cool to see this guy be in an identity of its own that isn't trying to be Wreck-Gar. And on top of that, you could combine him with other Junkions if you so choose, a cool idea overall.

The Skyquake/Dreadwing mold may not be 100% closer to the Prime cartoon's aesthetics, but they are much better done than Bulkhead, Knock Out, and especially Arcee. The G1-style fits better for these designs, the size is much more appropriate for them compared to their old Voyager toys, and they manage to fit in much better with a Prime display when it comes to their scale versus what they originally had. And I also have to commend them for the different insignia designs and the slightly different nozzles for the cannons. Still surprised we haven't gotten a proper G1 Skyquake yet.

The Armada Megatron/Galvatron mold traded in his plethora of gimmicks for a few more points of articulation, but that was to be expected given the way Leaders were made today. It is nice to see that he is at least faithful to the original Armada series (unlike Combiner Wars) and utilizes a combination with pieces of Tidal Wave. I wish that the shoulder pieces weren't static like with Laser Prime, especially given how the original toy didn't have that issue. He could also use some ratchet joints, finger articulation, and Leader-1 to justify the price tag. It's like another case of wondering where the budget goes in these.

Armada Optimus Prime is still the best Commander Class figure we've had of all time. Surpassing even Sky Lynx, it feels great to see a design that was long neglected by Hasbro finally receive the massive upgrade it deserves, and I look forward to HasTak making Armada Jetfire and Overload for future combinations. I also have to give a shout out towards Baltmatrix for how stupid his story is on his old Armada Prime for being set on fire, especially given how he handles his toys poorly like a dumbass man child. This Armada Prime, even with the need of extra ratchets or Sparkplug, is still the GOAT.

The Nemesis is one has a few issues with the arm articulation, and the kibble is also problematic. I also don't like how hollow the wing/tailfin halves tend to look hollow on the shins, but man is it nice to see some imagination be implemented for this giant flagship. Between the unique transformation, the character design going well with the shape of the ship, and the magnificent contrast to that of the Ark overall, this is the perfect companion piece for the Autobots' home, even if I like the Ark a little more.

And finally, Legacy United. Though it suffered from a weird gap of no official announcements for its Wave 2 products nor preorder dates, we did at least get a chance to have even more reissues for fans who missed out on Tarn in addition to Originsbee. Let's wrap this trilogy up once and for all and conclude with figures I would go back and buy some day.

Tasmania Kid makes for a figure comparable to the quality of Rattrap in addition to making a great companion piece for Lio Convoy and/or non-TV show characters as Snarl. The transformation thankfully isn't that different from the rodent of the Kingdom line, though the way the weapon integrates in the toy is kind of stupid. I also don't like how the open hands don't do much for this toy beyond maybe karate chops.

Energon Megatron/Galvatron is an almost perfect miniature representation of the Ultra or Leader toy, this figure retains a transformation similar to the original toy while adding slightly more articulation, with thigh swivels and the elbows now on ball joints. Though he can't do the hyper mode or remove the blade from the tank, those aren't issues I have with the toy compared to the knees not utilizing pins (making them pop off rather easily) while the cannons don't stay in their shoulders as well if pointed up versus pointing forwards. It's still a shame this is the sole representation we have for Energon so far.

The Bouldercrash/Geocron mold feels like the standard bikeformer norm we've seen before in the Core Class line, mostly with the transformations and where their body parts go. Though the rocky trycicle aesthetics make them unique combined with either the ruby-red paint apps on Bouldercrash or the metallic lavendar on Geocron, both don't really have much else to offer that would make them stand out in the line-up, and their weapon mode was lame.

Beast Machines Cheetor not only manages to be show-accurate, but he also includes a good level of articulation in addition to retaining a decently sharp sculpt for both modes' head sculpts. It's not like other Core Class figures we've had before with the lean proportions the design is known for, and it's a shame that he's the sole form of rep for Beast Machines considering how he and Energon Megatron have no one else from their respective shows to join them, even with the Galvatron repaint.

Animated Bumblebee may not exactly be 1:1 to how he appeared in the series, but I really love seeing how this design turned out...for the most part. Articulation is good, the head sculpt better matches the Animated aesthetics with the asymmetrical placement of the smirk than with last year's Prowl, and he retains the rockets and stingers, though I really feel concerned about the clear plastic's longevity, especially given Hasbro's prior history with the materials. We'll see how much can be fixed with Fugitive Wasp.

Rescue Bots Chase represents some long-overdue love for the series he originates, and he gets a long-overdue upgrade from being a one-step gimmick toy into a traditional Transformer figure. I'm still happy that the transformation doesn't feel too similar to the Wheeljack sequence despite the comparable part layout. The claw weapon doesn't seem too out of place given the Rescue Bots' reliance on tools rather than normal weapons unless you remove the pincer. The Cliffjumper retool is also great, being the best of the TFP Autobots in the Legacy line by being faithful enough to the original design while still having the altered aesthetics. He could pass for a TF Universe MMORPG version of himself while Bulkhead could be a proper G1 version of himself without repurposing the proper TFP toys (and Arcee is mid in Legacy). 

Cyberverse Windblade isn't 100% perfect in terms of engineering, I do appreciate that Hasbro managed to make the aesthetics somewhat match the show, meaning you could put her with the rest of the Deluxes in Cyberverse and she won't stick out too weirdly. Though I admit she could also be in a G1 display if you want. Slipstream needs more retooling if she wants to even remotely be a Cyberverse version of herself.

The Magneous mold feels like half-Flintstones-inspired car and part-stylized superhero cartoon physique with his synched waist. I appreciate that we have new tooling for some of these figures, whether it's a new head to go with Calcitron's specific deco or having Nucleous's parts further retooled from what the other uses already have. Still, I feel that the transformation has a somewhat rough quality to how parts scrape into each other without a needed amount of space. It's something you would better understand if you play with it in-hand, but your mileage may vary.

I am very happy that we got a new Gears 10 years after that retool of Thrilling 30 Swerve; not only that, but we get a reuse with a new head to represent the G1 GoBot known as Small Foot! The Gears mold has impressive articulation for a Deluxe at his height, and the transformation is thankfully not too boring. Meanwhile, the altmode looks somewhat wonky, with the tiny wheels and the toyish proportions on a GMC Topkick-looking altmode. Either way, I love this mold, and I hope we get a Windcharger soon; I'm likely to get that more than I do the toy-accurate version of Gears.

Shard is the second Infernac Universe character we have, and I really like how the design for this character turned out when it comes to being leaner overall, befitting the almost diamond-like aspect of this concept. The altmode is unusual for heavy materials, but the weapon versatility is neat with the blades as well as the turbines, and the unique color scheme of green, sea green, and teal, helps her stand out from the rest of the Infernac characters. Shame we didn't get much from this toyline when it comes to the Rock Lord homages. In fact, can Hasbro stop trying to use a line-specific gimmick if it'll go nowhere near the end?

Cybertron Hot Shot is an example of Hasbro stepping their game up in making an already great Deluxe even better. Yes, he's lighter and his gimmick isn't spring-loaded anymore, but his articulation is improved slightly with the help of some swivels for the wrists, waist, and thighs in addition to some ankle joints. The proportions also keep him from looking static in a vanilla pose, feeling a little more dynamic overall. I hope we get some repaints in future lines, like Excellion, Shattered Glass Goldbug, and even Breakaway for some 2007 movie repaint nostalgia.

This line's take on G1 Optimus Prime  should not be called "Missing Link at Home" when there is a sense of passion put into this little dude. Recreating the classic toy design with modern engineering is already an interesting idea, but selling it at a more reasonable price is also a good treat. I don't mind the smaller size, because at least there is a good amount of poseability other than weirdly having the hands static while the feet rotate at the ankles. I wish the wheels and smokestacks were painted, but there is a lot more love put into this toy than the incoming SS86 Deviation Optimus Prime, who screams "corporate-mandated" by comparison.

Quake is still a very mediocre retool of a mold with a mixed reception. This figure leaves me scratching my head with how the quality control issues with the legs coming apart went past the QC department. Not only that, but the altmode is straight up ass, and the Targetmasters are slathered in paint without having them molded in a specific plastic color, making the barrels detach from the hinges and the pegs ill-fitting thanks to poor tolerances.

Squeezeplay's alt mode design may look stupid as hell while the robot mode looks fairly okay, but the Generations line manages to make the overall appearance somewhat salvageable. Much like Fangry, Squeezeplay is a retool of a Titans Return figure, that being Mindwipe. Though he thankfully lacks the frail joints that hold the wing pieces, I feel there are issues with how the hips detach from the Titan Master way too easily while the use of ball joints on the shoulders and the lack of wrist rotation are aspects of this figure that make the toy less like the concurrent WFC/Legacy line. Still happy to see another newish post-Titans Return figure in another 4-pack, which also includes 3 great repaints/retools.

I always appreciate when we go to a WFC trilogy-era mold and retool into a more distinct design. The Studio Series versions of Airazor shared the engineering but wasn't a proper retool nor accurate to the movie (on top of being a bit plain); meanwhile, Filch feels like a heavy enough retool a la Studio Series Helicopter Drift that it feels like a new figure. The retooling matches the show model from the series well enough despite being a retool, and the wings make for some unique display option potential with how uncommon the placement is in other Transformers figures.

The Animated Optimus Prime mold makes me thankful that this version of the character doesn't feel too deviated from the proper Animated aesthetics; though the legs aren't super stylized, he still retains that unique anime influence for the upper body's dynamic proportions, and the headsculpt feels like the closest to the show than the other heads from prior toys. I'm also happy to see his axe match the show compared to the original Voyager using an inaccurate design (or the Deluxe from the Battle Begins set having it be held at the bottom). Articulation is impressive thanks to the double-jointed elbows and buttery smooth leg joints, and I'm stoked to see all of these applied onto Motormaster, who has his unique head sculpt to boot. Thank you Hasbro for not making me pay triple digits for a BotCon redeco! Now to get that upgrade kit from DNA Design.

I'm surprised we got two similarly-colored versions of Thundertron, with the original being in darker colors that I'd argue look better, while the Star Raiders 3-pack version has a TFP-accurate head (al beit with an eyepatch) as well as lighter colors to match the icy theme of the gift set. The hook hand is new, but I'm honestly more of a fan of the original version. The new version's headsculpt is more fitting for a TFP display, though. In fact, I'm putting my Thundertron in my TFP display. Which one, we'll see. At least I got the second Thundertron that came in a multipack with Calcitron and Nightstrike was bought for cheap.

This version of Beast Wars Silverbolt goes a step further than the old toy by adding sharper details, better articulation, and closer show-accuracy to the cartoon model. Granted, the figure could really use a fitting facial expression, like a smirk or snarl, and some shading could really go a long way, but at least this design has been done with proper justice as with many Beast Wars characters since Kingdom. Another great addition to the roster of Scott McNiel characters. I wouldn't mind getting a Universe 2003 redeco just for a lore cut we wouldn't get nowadays.

I was originally going to buy the original version of the Voyager Cybertron Starscream mold, but the Legacy United one popped up and succeeds overall. Its has even better articulation, retains the faithful design and transformation, and it even has the blades deployed from the arms while the blaster remains a separate accessory a la the old Voyager. Once again, Hasbro managed to lock in, or cook as Gen Beta would say, not fucking up any important details beyond maybe the cannons near the cockpit not articulating or the legs lackingjf in detail. In any case, I'm still excited to see a Seeker mold as poseable as the Siege Seeker mold get plenty of repaints over the years, such as the Toys R Us repaint that looks like Thrust, a Dirge redeco that came with a Roadbuster redecoed from Cybertron Defense Hot Shot, etc.

As a retool of Jhiaxus, I appreciate the efforts put in making Cybertron Vector Prime look as faithful to the original toy as humanly possible, though I do find some issues need to be rectified, mostly with joint tolerance, the hinges used to hold the wings, and the lack of Safeguard; the third example does make me wonder how much money Hasbro saved from using previously-made figures for their retools. Not saying there isn't enough to make the price justifiable, but it still feels lacking somewhat. I'm getting the third party kit for it soon, but I'm wondering if the Age of the Primes version will be any different from this. 

Origins Wheeljack finally gives fans a transformable version of the character as he appeared in MTMTE Part 1, but who expected him to gain some weight in the process? I guess this was the best Hasbro could do for a door-stopper of an altmode. While making this figure a Voyager would explain why the vehicle mode feels big, it doesn't stop the toy from feeling cheaper than usual. If I'm honest, I find the idea interesting overall, but the execution is where I wish it was handled better than it currently is.

I also want to give a quick shout out to these two: since I don't have either Humble Origins nor Rise of Tyranny yet, but I like that the Fractured Friendship set at least gave us some very worthwhile retools. Orion Pax is basically a better made version of his Gamer Edition figure, while Megatron has some fitting gladiator details to make him distinct from last year's miner retool. Though the Siege Megatron mold has been a case of Hasbro not wanting to let go on constantly reusing it, I do think this set not only goes well for some IDW homages that are worth giving a slab about, but these also compliment the release of Transformers One well...even if Orion Pax was also a miner than a security officer while D-16 was never a gladiator (though he was intended to, and that would have helped explain his strength and transformation into Megatron).

While this version of Tigerhawk more refined in terms of aesthetics and sculptwork than the original toy, it all comes at the cost of removing any spring-loaded gimmicks and a few missed opportunities, such as a visor meant for the tiger head or filling in those hollow spaces of the wings, I do appreciate having another Fuzor-type character join the collection, but I do find the overall figure's quality could be better if it had a few more tweaks added and further gaps filled in. Know that I look forward to a Razorclaw repaint.

Being a Triple Changer that is dense in plastic as well as utilizing as much engineering, Sandstorm succeeds in having his altmodes look as good as possible, from the dune buggy not being mostly shite apart from a few gaps or proportionate oddities to the helicopter mode looking fairly seamless beyond the odd propeller looking like a step-ladder. He could use articulated fingers and maybe an alternate head without the mouthplate, but the figure still succeeds in being a better triple-changing figure than most of the Leader Class triple-changers. His cage comes with a functional winch, and he even has rubber tires!...just keep him away from toys with painted areas because he sort of fucked up my Kingdom Rodimus.

Soundwave frustrates me greatly since he could have easily been retooled to better justify the Leader Class price point beyond the three cassette partners. If he had gap fillers, finger articulation, additional retooling, and/or some blast effects parts, it might have helped justify bumping his size class up. As it stands, it's ironic that a figure that was once highly sought after back in 2020 is now easier to get thanks to a less appealing price tag.

A surprise addition to the Legacy United line, Magmatron blows my mind with how crazy the transformation works from jamming three different beasts into either a ridiculous single-unit mode or a Megazord-looking design with the asymmetrical head shoulders. While many would look at the Ultra Class toy from long ago and wonder how much has changed, I'd say this figure benefits from having more refined details all around. Sure, we lack any spring-loaded gimmicks, but this figure retains as much of the personality while utilizing modern engineering to make the figure a lot more refined than it previously was in the late 90s. While I may like SS86 Optimus Prime, the Legacy line wins once again with having a more interesting Commander Class figure. Spoiler alert for 2025, but I don't know if some jetformer with a fear of heights would be better or worse than two construction dudes.

While Tidal Wave is awesome, I do admit that he could have been better in some spots here and there. Firstly, we are once again missing a Minicon partner in the form of Ramjet. Not only that, but I am disappointed that the toy can't transform into robot mode while in the combined ship mode; the base mode to make up for it isn't too great since it looks like the base mode that any robot toy could pull off. The rest of the toy works fine, be it as a unit, as a single vehicle, and then as part of the Darkfleet (though the vehicle that forms the legs doesn't stay together that well). The mini fleet to go with Megatron is also a good compromise for the size discrepancy, though I wish the gaps can be filled in if they're not present.

Now for anyone wondering, I am currently missing Black Zarak, DK-3 Breaker, A Hero is Born, Humble Origins, Rise of Tyranny, Nova Prime, Guardian Robot, Magnificus, the Core Class Prime & Bee set, War Dawn, and maybe the Menasor set. Much like in the WFC Trilogy days where I never owned Unicron, I do not have the three HasLabs consisting of Victory Saber, Deathsaurus, and Omega Prime. Compared to the Chaos Bringer, these three could have easily done as well at online retailers as other Commanders and Titan Class figures. The quality control issues some owners of Star Saber experienced have been common, and while they appear to be better on Deathsaurus, who knows what is to come for Omega Prime. I would love to get these somehow at either conventions or in the aftermarket, because the latter at least makes it easier to break up payments without paying too much in a single punch. Hell, the upcoming Star Convoy for Age of the Primes has as much value and a comparable price to these three, and it makes me happy I never funded any of these. Will I get any of them and even review them? We'll see.

And that wraps it up for the article. I'm glad to cover as many figures as I possibly could given the lengthy writing I had to make while bringing the repaints together before putting a majority of Legacy items in storage with any WFC Trilogy repaints. We'll see how far I'll go into Age of the Primes if my collecting habits get reduced. Until then, here is a reminder that Chris Cocks sucks cocks.