Post by Optimal Megatron on Sept 25, 2022 21:56:51 GMT -5
Velocitron Road Rocket: This is honestly the best kind of repaint. This mold may not have been super great for Prime Arcee depending on your preference, but Road Rocket makes it pop given we haven't had a modern one since the original mold, so there's no real nostalgia bites there. Also apparently Road Rocket is a femmebot now, which sure why not? I've gotten toys for less justification. Interestingly, the color layout is such that if you plug the split front wheel into the back and spread the bike panels out, all you'd need to do is swap the head and you'd get a good "Wheelblade". The mold's still solid, though some tolerances on mine feel a little bit more wiggly in one knee than my Arcee. 7/10
Velocitron Burnout: Speaking of suddenly femmebots. Burnout was like, gotten almost entirely because I had a Generations Skids and didn't care about him, but as a new character, a sharp paint scheme, and being another recently invented as a female character? Sure, pull my leg, why don't you? I do genuinely enjoy this one, and the transformation's simple for fiddling, even if I don't have a Diaclone addiction. Nothing super amazing, but also solid. 8/10.
Legacy Motormaster: So this is a biggie. His truck mode is cool, and I like the refridgerator trailer front end rather than being a nondescript box. Robot mode has the semi truck feet I was wondering if they'd keep, and honestly has some clever panel flips to do it. Battlestation mode is like...okay? It's there. I don't use battlestation modes very often due to lack of space. But for Most-asor without the other Stunticons plugged in? He's honestly a very impressive bit of articulation. I've got Dragstrip and Wildrider at this point, and I'm honestly impatient for the other two to finish this out. I really dig the mechanism on his arms to pop Dragstrip apart in the center to form his shoulder and forearm plating. Kind of a shame the leg bots will be barely visible, but G1 above all, apparently. I do think he needs a better gun than his existing one since it's kinda derpy in his combined mode hands. DNA Designs makes for a fun super cannon along with some cosmetic adjustments here (https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/216445) but I dunno if the pricetag is worth it just to scratch my itch about the battlestation tower just...sitting there when in Menasor mode. Overall, a fun combination that does some interesting things, and a huge increase over CW Menasor. 9/10
Red Cog: So, like, we've all messed with a Cog or two. This one's about the same, though mine's chest isn't affected by gravity, but seems to have less "grip" when pulling him apart. The colors absolutely slap, though, well over original Cog. And the arsenal he comes with is absolutely great, particularly if you want a suppressed submachine gun or anti-material sniper rifle. A bit pricy for a deluxe and some guns, though, because exclusives, of course. 6/10
Legacy Blitzwing: I like this guy a lot. Yes, he's not as big as old Leaders, but his complexity of transformation and articulation definitely feels nice. The Hulk Hands go well on his alt modes (especially extending out the body of the jet mode), but mine didn't stick very well to his arms. However, I did occasionally put them on his tank turret in robot mode where they look kind of like how Nitro Zeus in TLK had the jet turbines sitting over his back. The jet mode as a base doesn't bug me as much as other people, mostly because he's a big chonky boy and I see him as more a starfighter or something from Star Wars than an Earth plane. Similar with his Landmaster-esque tank with a cockpit between the treads. I got this 3rd party add-on off eBay (https://www.tfsafari.com/products/incoming-bdt-studio-bdt-37-bdt37-upgrade-kit-boosters-for-generations-legacy-series-leader-blitzwing-upgrade-kit), and I like what it does for the extra "hand" accessories. They make good wing based engines for the starfighter look, and better MLRS tubes for the tank, while plugging onto the robot better as shoulder cannons. Even without it, though, I'd say Blitz is a worthy purchase, with his robot mode (the most likely display spot) being amazingly good. Plus he's just fun to transform, which puts him a couple steps above his last two versions (T30 and TR).
Velocitron Override: She's a completely new mold? In THIS economy? As a store exclusive? Override's back and so much of an improvement over her old Cybertron toy. Her car mode's only fault is the gun barrels can't flip forward, but she legitimately has a (non-functional) cyber key port. The transformation does some interesting things with compressing hinges that I didn't expect, and my only problem is the QC on mine had a rectangular peg with a rectangular hole that was warped inward on where her shoulder plugs into her back. Once I forced it in with a bit of adjustment help from a screwdriver to push the the plastic out more, it's worked ever since, but a slight defect. The other side is smooth as hell. Her robot mode is again the spitting image and poses excellently. This is another DLX 1.5 Voyager, though, so some people might find her a bit small for the price, depending on your budget. Me, I'm very happy to get her. 9/10
Shattered Glass (Delta) Ultra Magnus: So I got Siege UM back in the day and Earthrise Magnus didn't stand out enough for me to double dip. However, I get a good touch on him here with a very vibrant color scheme. Two heads give you either Delta or SG's snarling skull face, though I love that the comic has the skull face as his original wounded one, while the Delta Magnus face is a hologram he forces over himself as a mask to look "normal". The sword notably can't be held without the secondary part from Laser Prime/Scourge, given the clip in its handle, though perhaps someone feeling more ambitious could shave that down to fit into standard port fists. The robot mode on the inner robot is clearly getting not enough time at the gym, but I like the blocky solid aesthetic, and the full Magnus armor is just excellent looking. My only complaint is in this modern era, he didn't need permanently A-posed feet. Especially since they have ankle tilts. Standard SG exclusive price qualifiers here, especially for a Leader, but I'm happy. Mine was missing the exclusive comic, but apparently Hasbro is shipping that to me after I informed them. 8/10
Legacy Wildrider: So, I've heard some people call this mold "surprisingly small", and I can kinda see it. A chunk of the car becomes a backpack (as if the G1 original didn't) and he ends up a bit thinner in the torso and arms compared to swole Dragstrip. However, I kinda love that, as it gives the Stunticons as a whole a bit more of diverse build lineup, with Motormaster the towering brute, Dragstrip with a linebacker build, and sneaky little "NYEAH!" Wildrider dual wielding uzis. His car mode is a car mode. Heard some complaints from classic car enthusiasts, but it's a solid car with gun storage. I like it. 3/5 Stunticons down, 2 to go. 9/10
Kingdom Road Rage: Remember when I said a new femmebot with a good color scheme could get me to buy a toy again? Yeaaaaaaah. I really liked Road Rage in her (brief) showing in the new IDW continuity, and this one looks really good, even if it still has most of the problems Tracks did in his Kingdom self. I got some 3D printed leg braces on the way from the same guy that did the G2 Megatron cannon mount piece and a few others, so we'll see if it improves. That said, it's still cheaper than the only other release of her as a Masterpiece. <wince> Overall, still a fun looking toy in either mode, and the transformation is more intuitive once you've done it a few times. The jet car mode is silly fun, even if the legs are still hard to hold together and can be easy to topple. 6/10
Legacy Tarantulas: By far the most solid Season 1 Predacon mold out of the line since BW Megatron. The spider mode is a lot easier to transform into compared to Black Arachnia, but the robot mode looks great, poses great, and just looks amazing next to her as well. Paint all over this guy to make him like a Mainframe model jumped out of the screen. The only downside is, like BA, his spider legs aren't compatible with blast effects, more's the pity. I still hope for a TM Tarantulas out of Legacy 2 eventually, but this is a very solid entry if we don't get it. Just, amazing all around. 10/10, go get yourself one.
Velocitron Burnout: Speaking of suddenly femmebots. Burnout was like, gotten almost entirely because I had a Generations Skids and didn't care about him, but as a new character, a sharp paint scheme, and being another recently invented as a female character? Sure, pull my leg, why don't you? I do genuinely enjoy this one, and the transformation's simple for fiddling, even if I don't have a Diaclone addiction. Nothing super amazing, but also solid. 8/10.
Legacy Motormaster: So this is a biggie. His truck mode is cool, and I like the refridgerator trailer front end rather than being a nondescript box. Robot mode has the semi truck feet I was wondering if they'd keep, and honestly has some clever panel flips to do it. Battlestation mode is like...okay? It's there. I don't use battlestation modes very often due to lack of space. But for Most-asor without the other Stunticons plugged in? He's honestly a very impressive bit of articulation. I've got Dragstrip and Wildrider at this point, and I'm honestly impatient for the other two to finish this out. I really dig the mechanism on his arms to pop Dragstrip apart in the center to form his shoulder and forearm plating. Kind of a shame the leg bots will be barely visible, but G1 above all, apparently. I do think he needs a better gun than his existing one since it's kinda derpy in his combined mode hands. DNA Designs makes for a fun super cannon along with some cosmetic adjustments here (https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/Product/VariationDetails/216445) but I dunno if the pricetag is worth it just to scratch my itch about the battlestation tower just...sitting there when in Menasor mode. Overall, a fun combination that does some interesting things, and a huge increase over CW Menasor. 9/10
Red Cog: So, like, we've all messed with a Cog or two. This one's about the same, though mine's chest isn't affected by gravity, but seems to have less "grip" when pulling him apart. The colors absolutely slap, though, well over original Cog. And the arsenal he comes with is absolutely great, particularly if you want a suppressed submachine gun or anti-material sniper rifle. A bit pricy for a deluxe and some guns, though, because exclusives, of course. 6/10
Legacy Blitzwing: I like this guy a lot. Yes, he's not as big as old Leaders, but his complexity of transformation and articulation definitely feels nice. The Hulk Hands go well on his alt modes (especially extending out the body of the jet mode), but mine didn't stick very well to his arms. However, I did occasionally put them on his tank turret in robot mode where they look kind of like how Nitro Zeus in TLK had the jet turbines sitting over his back. The jet mode as a base doesn't bug me as much as other people, mostly because he's a big chonky boy and I see him as more a starfighter or something from Star Wars than an Earth plane. Similar with his Landmaster-esque tank with a cockpit between the treads. I got this 3rd party add-on off eBay (https://www.tfsafari.com/products/incoming-bdt-studio-bdt-37-bdt37-upgrade-kit-boosters-for-generations-legacy-series-leader-blitzwing-upgrade-kit), and I like what it does for the extra "hand" accessories. They make good wing based engines for the starfighter look, and better MLRS tubes for the tank, while plugging onto the robot better as shoulder cannons. Even without it, though, I'd say Blitz is a worthy purchase, with his robot mode (the most likely display spot) being amazingly good. Plus he's just fun to transform, which puts him a couple steps above his last two versions (T30 and TR).
Velocitron Override: She's a completely new mold? In THIS economy? As a store exclusive? Override's back and so much of an improvement over her old Cybertron toy. Her car mode's only fault is the gun barrels can't flip forward, but she legitimately has a (non-functional) cyber key port. The transformation does some interesting things with compressing hinges that I didn't expect, and my only problem is the QC on mine had a rectangular peg with a rectangular hole that was warped inward on where her shoulder plugs into her back. Once I forced it in with a bit of adjustment help from a screwdriver to push the the plastic out more, it's worked ever since, but a slight defect. The other side is smooth as hell. Her robot mode is again the spitting image and poses excellently. This is another DLX 1.5 Voyager, though, so some people might find her a bit small for the price, depending on your budget. Me, I'm very happy to get her. 9/10
Shattered Glass (Delta) Ultra Magnus: So I got Siege UM back in the day and Earthrise Magnus didn't stand out enough for me to double dip. However, I get a good touch on him here with a very vibrant color scheme. Two heads give you either Delta or SG's snarling skull face, though I love that the comic has the skull face as his original wounded one, while the Delta Magnus face is a hologram he forces over himself as a mask to look "normal". The sword notably can't be held without the secondary part from Laser Prime/Scourge, given the clip in its handle, though perhaps someone feeling more ambitious could shave that down to fit into standard port fists. The robot mode on the inner robot is clearly getting not enough time at the gym, but I like the blocky solid aesthetic, and the full Magnus armor is just excellent looking. My only complaint is in this modern era, he didn't need permanently A-posed feet. Especially since they have ankle tilts. Standard SG exclusive price qualifiers here, especially for a Leader, but I'm happy. Mine was missing the exclusive comic, but apparently Hasbro is shipping that to me after I informed them. 8/10
Legacy Wildrider: So, I've heard some people call this mold "surprisingly small", and I can kinda see it. A chunk of the car becomes a backpack (as if the G1 original didn't) and he ends up a bit thinner in the torso and arms compared to swole Dragstrip. However, I kinda love that, as it gives the Stunticons as a whole a bit more of diverse build lineup, with Motormaster the towering brute, Dragstrip with a linebacker build, and sneaky little "NYEAH!" Wildrider dual wielding uzis. His car mode is a car mode. Heard some complaints from classic car enthusiasts, but it's a solid car with gun storage. I like it. 3/5 Stunticons down, 2 to go. 9/10
Kingdom Road Rage: Remember when I said a new femmebot with a good color scheme could get me to buy a toy again? Yeaaaaaaah. I really liked Road Rage in her (brief) showing in the new IDW continuity, and this one looks really good, even if it still has most of the problems Tracks did in his Kingdom self. I got some 3D printed leg braces on the way from the same guy that did the G2 Megatron cannon mount piece and a few others, so we'll see if it improves. That said, it's still cheaper than the only other release of her as a Masterpiece. <wince> Overall, still a fun looking toy in either mode, and the transformation is more intuitive once you've done it a few times. The jet car mode is silly fun, even if the legs are still hard to hold together and can be easy to topple. 6/10
Legacy Tarantulas: By far the most solid Season 1 Predacon mold out of the line since BW Megatron. The spider mode is a lot easier to transform into compared to Black Arachnia, but the robot mode looks great, poses great, and just looks amazing next to her as well. Paint all over this guy to make him like a Mainframe model jumped out of the screen. The only downside is, like BA, his spider legs aren't compatible with blast effects, more's the pity. I still hope for a TM Tarantulas out of Legacy 2 eventually, but this is a very solid entry if we don't get it. Just, amazing all around. 10/10, go get yourself one.