mikeszekely

Maketoys also has their Cross Dimension stuff. Definitely a more unique aesthetic, but arguably still CHUG. I haven't bought everything in the line, but Striker Manus (Optimus) and Rioter Despotron (Megatron) are both very good. Thunder Manus (Powermaster Optimus) is less stylized and the basic cab robot is Legends-sized, but the combined mode is around the same size as the Titans Returns Prime but with a more Japanese super-robot style and proportions that I really dig. One of these days I'll have to pick up their Godbomber to go with him. Never got around to Jetfire, either, and I don't know how many other figures in the line I'd be in on. But they said they're still working on their Galvatron, and I dig where they're going with it.

While Fans Toys is one of if not the most popular 3Ps, it's no secret that I have more of a love/hate relationship with them. When I think they do a figure well, like Spoiler or Phoenix, it's easily one of the best figures in my collection. However, I think a lot of their stuff suffers from needlessly complicated engineering, pain-in-the-rear transformations, minor QC issues like paint chipping and scratching, and limited articulation that has me looking for alternatives, even if they're less accurate, like Saltus (or even Big Spring) over Apache for Springer or Azalea over Rouge for Arcee. I had my eye on Sheridan, as I'm not sure there's been a great option for Warpath yet and crossing him off my list will (I think) complete my MP minibots. Couldn't quite bring myself to pull the trigger, though, after hearing about some QC issues with the knees. Guess I was on the fence for too long, now, as it looks like he's pretty much sold out now.

I liked how MT's Defensor looked a lot, but I wound up selling it off. I've been tempted to check out the YM version.

Neat. I don't have many old consoles, but I do have a Dreamcast still. I might pick one of these up.

Hey @Kuma Style, you don't happen to have (or had) Alpha Pack, did you? I'm hearing a lot of good things about General Grant, but I'm not sure if it's enough of an improvement that I should upgrade.

You can disagree with the gist of my assertion, but you can also look at the numbers. If you look at the ratio of the height to length both the Raptor and the Countach have similar ratio of around 1:3.8... at their thickest point. For the Raptor, that's from the bottom of the landing gear to the top of the vertical stabilizers. The bulk of the fuselage is maybe half the listed height if I'm being generous, and when the Countach is measured from the bottom of the wheel to the top of the roof, with the cabin roughly a third of the vehicle and rear only dropping a little from that it's still a fact that the Raptor is proportionally much thinner. So yeah, it's a big, boxy fighter. So's the F-15, but AFAIK even stuff like MP-11 is thicker in jet mode than an actual F-15, because neither are as boxy as a car. Again, I'm not an engineer. I'm not saying that it's impossible to make a robot that turns into a better, thinner F-22, but I am saying that it's a lot harder than making a robot out of a car. And that's why, while you could conceivably get a decent F-22 out of a robot if you started with the F-22 and worked backward to something boxy and G1-ish, I don't think it's ever going to happen with movie Starscream. They're definitely prioritizing the robot modes, but again I think it has a lot to do with the fact that fighters are thinner and not as wide (if you exclude the wings) than just about any other mode alt mode. I don't think Kawamori's Valks are the best example. Transformers have to figure out how to get robots out of real-world aircraft, Kawamori gets to design aircraft that are purposely designed to transform into robots with large engine nacelles to accommodate the legs. And even at that, you'll notice that since they started using computer animation for the mecha instead of traditional cell-shaded animation that his designs have gotten a lot skinnier, especially in the limbs. Because, again, different proportions give them thicker vehicles that they can stuff the robot into, especially if you only measure from the nose to the base of the tail boom instead of the the end. Also because three of those examples didn't appear on-screen, allowing the designers to work backward from the aircraft without trying to fit a particular CGI character. Or in the case of Dropkick, because the robot is only passingly screen-accurate.

If you look at the physical dimensions of a Raptor against even a relatively low-profile car like a Countach the bulk of the Countach is thicker and wider than the Raptor. There's just more space to hide the robot. Plus, we're a lot less inclined to get bent out of shape if the underside of Countach isn't super clean and has visible robot kibble (as long as it's flat enough that it doesn't interfere with the wheels), but because we sometimes display planes on flight stands we want them to look cleaner from the underside. Now take the fact that it's harder to make a robot out of a Raptor than it is out of a car and combine it with the fact that it's not just turning into a robot, it's gotta turn into the metal origami that passes for a robot in the Bayverse and, well, I'm no engineer but it seems like an impossible task to make a Raptor that looks good from any angle that turns into a movie-accurate Starscream. So no, the Raptor mode isn't pretty, but I'm willing to cut them some slack for the metric ton of robot kibble chilling on the underside. No, I'm actually more mad about the colors/paint/finish/whatever on the jet mode. Look at Starscream in the movie (as best you can). It's hard to tell with the action and the blurring, but from what you can see of him (and the Raptors he's chasing) he looks like two slightly different shades of gray, with a third darker gray for camo. Definitely lighter on the edges of the wings and stabs. Sort of like this. Instead, it looks like the MPM is a sandy gray with very dark trim and very dark camo, almost blue. No joke, the Studio Series version looks better.

Why is it that I remember absolutely nothing about that game save for the fact that "R.A.D." is an acronym for "Robotic Alchemic Drive?"

I guess this movie isn't getting much or any press. No score on Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic hasn't even heard of it. If you're not going to venture out in search of a store that'll actually carry the DVD, it is available to rent or buy digitally on Amazon (and only Amazon). Kind of surprised Netflix didn't snatch it up and bill it as a Netflix original. I tell ya, really good originals like Stranger Things and BoJack Horseman have kept me from canceling Netflix, but the dearth of garbage "originals" they're spending their money on as they lose the licenses to a bunch of shows to Hulu and all the networks trying to start their own streaming services has me thinking about it. But I guess that's a rant for a different topic.

While I've been enjoying those mini consoles as they've trickled out, I recently found myself with a desire to complete sets of US-released games (with some well-regarded Japanese games sprinkled in for good measure, especially if they have English patches). Long story short, I'm digging through the Sega CD's catalog right now. Now, while the Genesis (or Megadrive for my non-American friends) was fairly popular my impression of the Sega CD was that it's only regarded as slightly better than the 32X (which in turn went over about as well as the Virtual Boy). So I'm not exactly sure how many people are familiar with its library (to be fair, it looks like a lot of improved ports of games that were already on the Genesis, crappy FMV games, and ports of early PC games), but have any of you guys played Android Assault? I'm not as into shmups as you guys, but it seems pretty fun and it's giving me serious Macross vibes.

No arguments from me. My only complaint with him is that he doesn't have wrist swivels. ...but what cannon is that you gave him? It really sounds like most of Galvatron's problems will be non-issues for Megatron. Be advised that, while based on the TR mold, Big Cannon was scaled up to around the same size as FT's Galvatron. Mania King is just slightly taller than Siege/ER Prime and Megatron, which makes him ideal for Hasbro's new "in-scale" CHUG stuff.

Was it really that bad? People seemed to like Open & Play's Big Cannon, which was also based on TR Galvatron. But I personally have no experience with the mold; I'm still rocking Mania King for my CHUG/Siege/ER Galvatron.

Well, we'll have to wait and see how the writing and animation turn out, but at least we know the original voice actors are on board.

I don't think so. The figure looks to be heavily remolded from Titans Return Galvatron, which only used partsforming for the headmaster and the cannon. It's possible that more partsforming is part of the remolding, but it doesn't look like it to me. You can see where the majority of his body ends up in both alt modes, as it seems to do very minimal transforming. Aside from laying down, his wings and his shoulder armor look like they do the most shifting. The only partsforming I can see is his arm cannon moving from his arm to his back, but that's pretty normal for Megatron/Galvatron. Interestingly enough, it looks like his big cannon splits open to expose the three-barreled Ultra Megatron cannon, which can be removed to sit on his shoulder. It also looks like he's got some kind of face-swapping gimmick, and the alternate (inner?) face reminds me of The Last Knight Megatron. It's Super Megatron from a very short-lived toyline and manga series called Battlestars: The Return of Convoy. It's the same line that gave us Star Convoy, although this is the first time (to my knowledge) that Super Megatron is being made. As I noted when it was first revealed, it's not particularly accurate to the source material, but I think it's closer than Star Convoy. As for the manga, I believe it's set to be reprinted in English as part of Transformers: the Manga Vol. 3. EDIT: Super Megatron's up for preorder on Hasbro Pulse now, $5 cheaper than TFSource plus free shipping if you're a Pulse Premium member.

Somehow that's cheaper than I expected from TFSource. It's not a perfect Super Megatron, but it's better than their Star Convoy. I'll see if Hasbro Pulse carries it.

I'm ok if they want to change the animation style a bit, as long as it's not that CalArts style.

Heh, I'm doing the same thing I did with Doom Eternal... Playing the previous release. So... RE2 remake is pretty good so far... Seriously, though, I heard RE3 is a bit short and not as replayable as 2. It's a but disappointing; 3 was my favorite prior to 4 shaking things up.

Well, Drift might not be a great example. I mean, I've read and re-read IDW's stuff and I'm still not a huge fan of the character. But using Optimus as an example, I've got a Detolf full of Optimuses. A new Transforming Optimus comes out and I just can't help myself (well, excluding MP-44, because it's just not a $400 toy in book- I'd be willing to go to $200). But even if someone offered to sell me the Kuro Kara Kuri Optimus for under $100 and I'd pass. So, yeah, maybe if paint and finish are the most important criteria for you (and nothing wrong if it is) then Flame Toys is the way to go. They are objectively high-quality figures. But, subjectively speaking, a toy that doesn't transform fails at being a Transformer. Nice to look at, but not for me. I don't know, maybe I feel that way because I only collect Transformers? I mean, I've dabbled with other stuff but nothing else caught on. Maybe if you're more used to collecting other high end figures that don't transform it's easier to buy into high end figures of Transformers that don't transform?

I was editing my original post, but you replied before I finished. But it comes down to what your criteria is for a Transformer. If your criteria is "looks like the character" (which, even then, is debatable; Flame Toys' stuff is pretty stylized) then sure. But if your criteria is "it transforms" then Flame Toys' is missing the mark. Yeah, if I'm not happy you didn't wash the dishes when you aced your test when I'm your teacher that'd be weird and irrelevant. But if I'm your roommate and I'm tired of you leaving cereal bowls in the sink its your test score that's irrelevant. It's all a matter of perspective, and personal tastes. Flame Toys is nailing it for you, because they're giving you what you want in a toy. But if they're not nailing it for others our opinion isn't unfair just because the reason we don't think they're nailing it is a deliberate choice. So again, by all accounts Flame Toys makes a great product and if you're into what they're doing then great. I'm genuinely glad that they're able to fill a need in the collector community. They have many good qualities and they certainly look good in photos. But they don't do the thing I want my Transformers to do, so for me they're not nailing it.

Absolutely still a fair statement. You called Flame Toys "pinnacle Transformers collecting. Just nailing it on all accounts" and @M'Kyuun pointed out an area they're definitely not nailing. Yes, it's true that's not what they're going for. Yes, not transforming does allow for less visual compromises and better articulation, but for a lot of collectors the point of a Transformer is to transform. As good as it looks I for one have zero interest in Flame Toys' Prime despite having a display just for Primes. Now I'm not saying that your preference for a high-quality, visually stunning figure isn't valid just because it doesn't transform. But by the same token you can't dismiss our disagreement on whether Flame Toys is "nailing it" as unfair just because our main point of contention was deliberate on their part. For people like us, it's the difference between pinnacle and "yeah, it looks nice, but it's not for me." Again, not saying they don't make a great product. I'm sure they do. And I'm not saying that every TF toy needs to transform. But whether or not you think they're nailing it depends a lot on your criteria.

I don't really regret signing up for Disney+, the Star Wars and Marvel stuff will come. Plus it's great if you have kids; my 4 yo loves Doc McStuffins and Winnie the Pooh. Netflix is the one streaming service I'm most likely to drop. Yeah, Stranger Things and BoJack Horseman are good and all, but Netflix has been so focused on original content (which, be honest, are a few gems in a sea of crap). And there's a couple of shows like Futurama and Archer that I are like comfort food, I can watch them again and again if there's nothing else on. A lot of those sorts of shows left Netflix, forcing me to finally sign up for Hulu.

I mean, it could be, but I was able to get the Siege Seeker 3-pack in stores, and it and the Micromasters weren't too difficult to find. And as far as I know Redwing is still available online. So there's hope. But yeah, I'm going to be Hulk-level mad if I can't get the Skywarp and Thundercracker.

Looks like Target is going to be selling store-exclusive two-packs. The first looks like a repackage of the Power of the Primes Decepticon clones, which is nice for those of us who didn't track them down the first time, as long as it's cheaper than importing the Takara box set. The second and more interesting by far is that if you want Earth-mode Skywarp and Thundercracker, well, I hope this set won't be hard to come by...

Hmm. I'm currently the Mandalorian, but maybe I'd switch to Gambit. I think my wife and daughter are still happy with Mulan and Elsa, respectively.

When I review a figure I (obviously) have to transform it to take pictures, but regardless of what mode I end up in I always go back to robot mode and put it on my desk while I write so I can double-check the range and type of joints. Well, I've had this one figure that I got and took pictures of at the same time I picked up Planet X's Megatron, but I've put off because transforming it is a hassle. Still, with all the other Planet X stuff I've covered this week I think it's time I stopped putting this off- Planet X Apocalypse, aka War for Cybertron/Fall of Cybertron Trypticon. I normally like to start off in robot mode, but I'm doing things a little differently here because Apocalypse was actually sold in two parts. This would be Part A. There's not a lot to comment on, though. It's a spaceship, and it does that well enough, with a sleek nose, wings on the sides, and a trio of engine thrusters in the back, but it's not game-accurate so much as it's Planet X cutting Trypticon in half and fan-moding the top. Of course, at least you get a coherent ship out of the top. This is Part B. It's... some kind of tank? His pelvis looks a little like a face, maybe it's a creepy space machine ghost, coming to grab you. Bottom line, you don't want to order either Part A or Part B alone. You want both, and you want to put him together right away. That'll give you one whole Trypticon. With most of the concept art existing for Fall of Cybertron, and the boss fight in War for Cybertron being more from the chest up, I had to do some digging but I'm able to conclude that he's pretty darn game-accurate. Since it glows on the CGI model the purple stands out a lot better on it than it does on Apocalypse, but the placement of the purple spots, the shape and placement of the spikes, the shoulder weapons, the shape of his feet and tail, the two fins and three power cores on his back (which are weak spots you have to attack during the boss fight) are all basically spot on. My only complaint are the gap in his forearms and the wings folded on the back. Size-wise, he's a bit shorter than Titans Return Trypticon, and doesn't really scratch the G1 itch. He's also a bit shorter than, say, Maketoys' Metroplex. I think the size difference isn't so bad, though, that these guys look out of place next to each other. Apocalypse's shoulder weapons do not detach, so he doesn't come with much in the way of accessories. Just a handful of these little purple LEDs that light up when you squeeze them, and in my case a little baggie with some replacement teeth. I guess people were breaking his teeth when they pushed his head through his chest for transformation, but I also understand that there's a way to transform him properly so that the breakage doesn't occur. I wish Planet X would have included some screw hole covers. Many of Apocalypse's parts were mirrored, so the screw holes on the back of his left arm and the inside of his left leg are rather exposed on the front of his right arm and the outside of his right leg. Apocalypse has a few neck joints so he can swivel his head left and right, or he can look up and down quite a bit. His jaws open. His shoulders rotate on ratchets. Another ratcheted joint will allow you to raise his arms a bit under 90 degrees laterally. If you move the panel on his collar, though, you can push it up to 90. Just be mindful of the spikes at the top. His biceps swivel just below his elbows, which are ratcheted and can bend a little under 90 degrees. He doesn't actually have a wrist swivel, but his whole forearm rotates just below the elbow. Each of his three fingers are individually-articulated, with one hinge at the base and one hinge at the middle knuckle. His waist swivels. His hips rotate on ratchets, and they can spread 90 degrees on another ratchet. His thighs swivel just above his knees, which are ratcheted and bend a little under 90 degrees. His feet can tilt up and down on ratchets. He also has a ratcheted ankle pivot, but only one click in either direction so the range is a bit limited. His heel has a hinge, and each of his three toes are individually-articulated, with hinges at the base and the middle knuckles. Finally, his tail has six ratcheted hinges and two friction hinges. That doesn't give him any side-to-side articulation in his tail, but it does allow him to curl it up quite a bit. This is useful because you're probably going to need his tail as a third leg to keep him standing. As for the lights, as I mentioned they light when they're squeezed. Apocalypse has numerous ports on his body that you can stick the lights into, and closing the port should provide enough pressure to make the light work. Many of mine were kind of dim... maybe they sat in a warehouse too long. But since they're more or less on if they're installed and need to be removed to be off I'll be stuffing mine in a box somewhere. Just because Apocalypse didn't come with many accessories doesn't mean he's unarmed. I already pointed out the shoulder cannons, which can swivel on the outsides of his shoulders. Inside his mouth you'll fine a gun on a hinge. Or, if you're nostalgic for G1, the translucent yellow part on top of his head opens up. Inside you'll find another gun that you can pull up and out. You might need a tool to do so, though, as it's recessed inside. Apocalypse isn't limited to the alt modes for his separate halves. In Fall of Cybertron Megatron recovers Trypticon's wreck and coverts it into the Nemesis. And... well, no, Apocalypse isn't particularly game-accurate. I think I have to cut them a little slack, though. In the game, the Decepticons even remark that Trypticon's conversion into the Nemesis is permanent, and High Moon's artists looked like they were focused on designing a ship with elements of Trypticon but also elements of the Nemesis from Transformers Prime (which Hasbro established as being part of the same continuity and which started airing nearly two years before the game's release). It was up to Planet X to figure out how to take War for Cybertron's Trypticon and actually fold it up into something even remotely resembling the Nemesis of the sequel. That said, I think Planet X did manage to get a lot of key elements right. Apocalypse has the long, pointed bow with a fake Trypticon head, and the curved tusks underneath it. Although they're not blended into the stern as well as the ship in the game he does have the shoulder weapon pods visible on the sides, and the wings near the engines. Mostly what they don't have is the extra decks and windows below the Trypticon head at the bow, a smoother hull that's not clearly folded up space-dinosaur parts, spikes near the tusks, and the tail fin. Now, Planet X could have stopped there No one would have blamed them if they did. But, since G1 Trypticon had a city mode Planet X gave one to Apocalypse. It's nothing really to write home about, as it's mostly him lying on his back with his waist turned 180 degrees, feet and tail pointed straight up, arms half transformed into engines, and the backpack pulled up in front. The shoulder weapon pods can be pulled up on double hinges that, along with the swivel, allow them to function like turrets on a base. I mean, I probably won't ever put him in this mode again (he'll be lucky if I ever even turn him into the Nemesis again), but I guess I've see worse base modes. Apocalypse is a figure that's big enough that he'll take up a lot of shelf space and is a bit of a pain to handle, but not big enough to hang with Hasbro's Titans (or big enough to be in-scale with other Planet X figures). He's reasonably poseable in dino (robot?) mode, but he's not fun to transform and his alt modes aren't that great. His dino (robot) mode is game-accurate, which is great if you're a fan of the game but isn't going to cut it if you want a G1-style Trypticon. So do I recommend him? Well, certainly not in pieces, and honestly not at the $350-380 total he was running at most US-based stores. However, the Big Bad Toy Store currently has this guy marked down to $215. At that price he's still not for everybody, but if you're a fan of the game or just like the design at that price he's worth it even if you don't really transform him.