16. Nexus Prime - Apparently, we are getting a frame for this dude around 2028-9, which makes all the proof that Hasbro didn't plan ahead of making a combiner out of this character all the more obvious. And it sucks, too, because this could have easily been another Commander Class figure, or at least finding some way of making it a MTO release at a reasonable price while we get the limbs over time. Sadly, even if we could have gotten that frame much sooner, the figure still suffers from plenty of issues by itself; the Cybertronic jet mode looks worse than Energon Wing Saber, and the robot mode is extremely generic (probably because the designers took influence from the equally generic TFOne design). The combiner torso is the best part of the figure, but you'd have to use Superion's frame instead. Good luck being patient while Hasbro keeps jacking up the prices!
15. Sureshot/Joyride - At last, the Targetmaster Autobots are complete, and the mold for Sureshot is kind of weak. I don't like how wonky his proportions are, while the altmode ends up looking more like a poor Lego dragster than a convincing altmode. Not helping is that Joyride's got the same level of frustration, only his spoiler had to partsform while his Powermaster partner is even worse that what SS got. Makes me dread how so many Powermaster figures will turn out, especially anyone potentially sold as a Deluxe.
14. Swindle - I really want to like this guy since I love the Combaticons in general, but he is starting to make me think twice about this whole Voyager-price Deluxe BS. For one, the only way he's going to get that type price is purely from a slightly more involved transformation than the average Deluxe and an accessory set that is mostly for him. Then there is the fact that a figure like him easily gets sold out, even with a higher price tag than what Vector Prime got thanks to some discounts. Ignoring those issues, bot mode is fine, but the Jeep mode is kind of wonky, and the trailer should have been black to look better as Bruticus's weapon.
13. Smokescreen - I wasn't 100% if he would replace the Beast Hunters mold that easily, and sure enough, he hasn't, but I think if you could turn this into another character it could work better. For one, this should have been an RID15 Jazz given how similar the designs are, though I could easily get this as a Barricade based on that sexy TFCC repaint if we can get an Arms Micron Frenzy homage for an accessory. I just wish the torso could go down more since he looks slightly mistransformed. That and his punch dildos are a joke when I'm sure Smokescreen had more convincing arm cannons in the show.
12. Powerglide - At long last, we get a new Powerglide over a decade since Combiner Wars. I dig some of the engineering used for the transformation, especially the faceplate so we can have him with the stupid mask from the Hoist on Hollywood episode. The heart from The Girl Who Loved Powerglide is also neat. As for actual issues, the feet still look like crap, but the forearms are easily dislodged if you try to bend them deep. Not sure why TFWiki hasn't mentioned that unless it's a rare problem. That fake rubsign is kind of retarded though, ngl.
11. Blast Off - While it's cool to have a shuttle mode Blast Off without the issues of having to be a retail exclusive or held back by an Aerialbot redeco taking his mass retail spot first, he's still pretty basic sauce as a Transformer. He's the kind of figure that does the job fine enough without needing to be that much of a wow factor beyond completing Bruticus and I guess matching the Sunbow animation 1:1. That said, the nosecones hand halves and the forehead visor are still stupid.
10. Quintus Prime - While it's cool he has some legs underneath his tentacle hula skirt, it's hard to pose him right beyond "aura farming" as all the Instagram content farm pages tend to say. At least the clear plastic is in PVC, but who knows if that would last longer than what Hasbro uses for their windows. I guess the squid mode is a neat bonus if you want to make him a "triple changer".
9. Brawl - He's the better of the two Voyager Combaticon limbs, but that's not saying much. The issue is that for as complex as he may be, the color mismatching with those greys, as well as the molding's seam line on the barrel, doesn't help make this feel worthy of a Voyager. Not only that, but the face paint apps are prone to scratching off from how small his space is during the torso segment of the transformation. Also, Hasbro lied saying this figure would have a ratcheting mechanism like the Constructicons legs, but he clearly has nothing of the sort.
8. Big Convoy - For a guy with "big" in his name, he sure comes off like a shrunken down bootleg of the original toy with a high price point. Now I get that he comes with plenty of paint apps and accessories, on top of using some butterfly joints, but that barely makes him worthy of the modern Leader Class price point when some Voyagers had this level of engineering back in the ROTF days. They'd either have plenty of accessories or play features that make this feel like a joke in comparison. I bet Hasbro would put HFTD Battle Blades Optimus and claim he is a Leader Class figure. That said, it is impressive they can pack in a lot for a figure smaller than the original Takara release, but I would rather wait for a sale to pop up with a Nemesis Prime repaint. More like Mid Convoy, amirite?
7. Armada Sideways - He may not have had the initial distribution issues of his Cybertron counterpart, but he still had some form of controversy with Hasbro not acknowledging his head swapping gimmick or the Minicons in general. Still, for as pricey as Voyagers have gotten, I can at least say there is some good bit of play value going on with this toy specifically, whether you want to display the Minicons individually or as a single robot to ride on the bike, and the three head feature is cool in spite of there being no blank chest piece for the regular mode. Not 100% perfect, but a good bit of Armada fun in modern Generations. And hey, he at least came with his Minicon unlike practically everyone else. WASSUP WIT' DAT?!
6. Vector Prime - He is the only repaint from the Thirteen's lineup, but at least it's excusable given his history as having a more golden deco in his youth. Thankfully, they fixed some of the joint tolerances since my copy of the Cybertron colors had some loose waist and hip joints that I had to tighten despite the use of pins instead of screws. This repaint seems to be closer to the Galaxy Force repaint (the Hasbro-made repaint not the Takara line) than the Universe 2008 one. While they did lower the price for him, the lack of a Safeguard Minicon is still a retarded Hasbro move.
5. Quickstrike - Finally got a version of this character that looks better than the old toy, is slightly more poseable, much more durable, and adds another member to the Predacons. If only we got this around the same time as Silverbolt. Now we need the Transmetals and TM2 Blackarachnia.
4. Liege Maximo - This design is straight up wicked, especially when you'd think he wouldn't get any merch given his out there design almost making him look like an evil tree trunk. I'm so glad we got this instead of the Loki-esque design the Aligned continuity went with because this is a much more unique way to interpret a member of the Thirteen. Best of all, he looks way better sitting on the throne that came with Coronation Starscream than the Seeker wished he ever could.
3. Amalgamous Prime - If you're someone who wants to spend $42 on a Voyager, the only recommendation would be this Prime. You've got plenty of potential alt modes to make on top of the stock options, so much versatility with the 5mm ports, and you're able to combine him with any -izer or -ator we got since Siege to make wacky combinations. So much fun from the only figure in this size class worthy of an awful price.
2. Onslaught - The best part about this is how good Bruticus ends up when you complete the set. I also love how well the battle platform looks compared to the others we got since Legacy, given it doesn't look too much like it's made from the husk of a larger robot (even if we have the thighs and fists still exposed). The option to separate the front of the truck from the rest is admirable, his cab looks flatter than normal. Worst part is the lack of his own gun when everyone else got their own! Do we have to take some of them from the leg bots like with the Energon line up? That's why he's ranked number 2.
1. Armada Jetfire - No, he doesn't have Comettor, and he is intentionally designed to look mistransformed, but this guy does so much good that it's easier to forgive his flaws than with Onslaught's. Let's also remember that he comes form an alternate pair of pants for Optimus, but the true test to come will be integrating Overload. Until then, this dude wins the spot for the year. And in some ways, he's better than the Titan Grimlock.
And that wraps up the AOTP Year 2 lineup, thus ending the line as we know it. Just know that I'd rather wait for the Powerlinx Red Alert and Sentinel Prime sets to hit discount like Nemesis Prime currently is (assuming I can get my hands on one because fuck Hasbro's MSRP). Be on the lookout for my reflection on the line as a whole while I give an update on the future of Generations reviews. While you're at it, don't forget to stick around for any incoming Studio Series rankings (with a rant of the century included), and wait till the end of the year for my miscellaneous Transformers purchases of 2026 and the Best & Worst that the year had to offer.
No comments:
Post a Comment