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M'Kyuun

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  1. M'Kyuun
    I have Magnaboss, but I don't think I have Tripedacus. Most of my BW figs are boxed up and I haven't seen them in some time. The BW combiners were interesting and unique. I personally wouldn't really be interested in MP versions, but then again I might be tempted if they turned out really well. As it is, having seen MP Primal, I think Takara have their hands full just getting the basic robot to beast down while trying to hide all the bot parts in beast mode. I couldn't remember Tripedacus, so I watched a vid of a rather frustrated Brit trying to get the three parts transformed and connected. It looks like a squirrely thing, rather fidgety, esp those multi-jointed lobster claws-cum- robot legs.
  2. M'Kyuun
    I concede your point, to a point. I must confess having had issues transforming a few of the movieline toys, to the point where I finally had to consult the instructions out of fear of breaking the toy in question, something I very seldom ever do with any of my transforming toys, including my valks. The whole 3D mechanical puzzle system has always come easy to me. The same cannot be said for everyone, and I make the case that a lot of parents, and their kids, may not have a natural prowess for the sort of puzzle solving inherent in transforming toys. For some of those, the current CW toys may even pose a challenge. But most parents aren't TF collectors, and to them, a toy is just that, and they make purchases based on that limited way of thinking. When little Johnny can't figure out his toy, it's the toy manufacturer's fault for making a toy that's too complicated, rather than considering that Johnny may not have an aptitude for a toy of that nature. I'm sure it happens more often than not, esp the with the current 'no kid left behind' mentality that coddles kids rather than pushing them. My own niece is a prime example of this, but I digress. Anyway, I'm definitely not saying that TF's need to be at the Bayformer level of complexity; while cool, they were sometimes a little too complex...I concede. I think they hit a good level of build quality and complexity with the CHUG line until just around 2014 or so, when they started to radically simplify the toys in terms of both build quality and complexity. I'm talking about just the leader, voyager, deluxe, and legend/legion class figs, as they are all I collect. We didn't see large hollow areas near as much in those figs, and wheels were still attached with pins rather than the snap-on things we get now. I could continue, but all these things are known. Anyway, this was a long diatribe to basically say transforming toys may not come easily to everyone, even if they have an interest in them, and the toys shouldn't necessarily be oversimplified to cater to the few that have difficulty with them. Somehow that still sounds dickish, but that's not my intent.
  3. M'Kyuun
    I'm not getting either, but I just searched them both for comparison. That's a tough choice; they both look really good. I think it boils down to which G1 influence do you want your figure to emulate: toon or toy? Personally, I favor Hellfire due to the crotch piece shaping and the black kneecaps-closer to the toy. But I have to say, I love that smiling face and overall head sculpt of MMC's Backdraft. They totally nailed it, and it gives the figure alot of personality. MMC overall, made the more G1 animation accurate version. Both look like comparable figures in most other aspects, although I'll give MMC bonus points for that chrome grill, which is most fitting for an older model firetruck. Sorry I didn't make the choice easier for you...I'd have to mull it over a bit myself if I were picking just one. Whichever you finally settle on, I hope he's an excellent compliment to your collection.
  4. M'Kyuun
    Those are extreme examples; I was talking about the current CW line, which is also the Generations line for all intents and purposes. Leader class Ultra Magnus, Jetfire, and Megatron all have much more simplified transformations compared to previous leader class figures. That simplification runs through all the class sizes. One need only look at leader Optimus from Revenge of the Fallen, probably the pinnacle of complexity in a in a retail mainline toy, and set it next to the aforementioned current batch of leader class toys to get a sense of the decline in engineering. I needn't mention the drop in quality due to methods of reducing material and manufacturing costs, which unfortunately has even affected the MP line. I hope you're right about the 'kneejerk' part, that perhaps Hasbro's new 4-tier collector classification system will also mean a restoration, at least in part, of the better build and engineering quality we've seen in past figures, esp in the Generations line. I don't include the MP line in my statement, as that has always been geared toward the Japanese teen and up collector, and there's really no reason for them to change what they're doing. The baseline for quality has already been set. In the end, I just hope the quality of the Generations line continues to improve.
  5. M'Kyuun
    Well, at least the CW/UW toys...they are simple on purpose for high reuse of molds. I get that, just don't always like it. The mainline Generations deluxe toys are a little different; they are usually more complex, better designed toys, which makes me glad this combiner line has about run its course. It's cool that Has/Tak did it; I'm sure there are a lot of happy TF collectors out there who finally got the combiner team(s) of choice. Despite my misgivings about Blast Off in particular, and the overall simplicity and oft lazy designs in general, I'm very happy with my Menasor, and look forward to getting Bruticus in a few months. I really wish the individual Constructicons had been better designed; even the UW versions just didn't do it for me, as most of their individual bot modes were sacrificed to make Devastator better. I sat on the fence about getting the UW version, but after looking at their bot modes, I just couldn't bring myself to commit. I hope a better official version will be made in the next 10 years. Honestly, the 2007-2011 live action movie toys spoiled me; Takara demonstrated what extraordinary levels of engineering they can achieve in TF toys. Like 'em or not, they were amazingly complex and ingenious toys, and I lament that the line has taken a gradual 180 degree turn. It's like enjoying a Renaissance period and then segueing into a Dark Age. The knowledge of what has come before influences my opinion of what's out now and coming, and I can't help but feel a bit of disappointment. It doesn't help that I have probably 200+ TFs on display in my mancave, from Animated, G1, CHUG, Prime, Bayformers, Binaltech, Star Wars TFs, and a few RiD figs, which makes it easy for me to compare them to each other. So, knowing what they've already achieved, I kinda do expect Takara to do better, whether it's realistic to do so or not. I want them to do better b/c they already have, and b/c I really love well designed transforming toys.
  6. M'Kyuun
    You're right about Blast Off being consistent with the rest of the line, but I can't help but wanting him to be better than that, somehow. Rise above the mediocrity, little shuttle robot! Mike, you humble me with that pic of old school Blast Off. I had no idea the original design looked like that. It still looks like crap, but in all fairness to Takara, the UW toy bears a decent resemblance to the G1 art (except the original managed to integrate the arms better, and had rounded OMS pods in shuttle mode- it's fair criticism, methinks).
  7. M'Kyuun
    QFT. At least make proper toes instead of having engine bells. Proper rounded OMS pods. Integrate the arms into the transformation...even the Gobots managed all of these in a much smaller figure. I realize it has to combine, but I'd expect a company with 30+ years experience designing transforming toys to do all these things and still make a nice shuttle TF. Guess not. There was a lot of settling for mediocre designs in this line. I'm still getting UW Bruticus, but man I had such high expectations for how Takara's shuttle guy would look...and then this. I think it'd have looked better had they gone with a Vortex remold. Ah well, he may prove to be a fun little figure (all the CW figs are simple fun figures, really), but he'll still be ugly as sin in both modes.
  8. M'Kyuun
    The VF-4 is one of my favorite valk designs, and I'm one of the few that loves its battroid mode probably as much as its fighter mode. Yamato's version is a solid toy in all three modes, and the fighter mode is simply gorgeous from any angle. For those among you getting one for the first time, congrats and I hope you enjoy it. I already have two of the Yamato releases, and skipped on the re-release. The toy is great, but not without it's flaws, nearly all of which are in its battroid mode, IMHO. I would have gladly ordered an Arcadia if they had fixed/redesigned the following: made the battroid a little shorter ( the 'b' mode is shorter and stockier in the lineart); design the shoulders to rotate and swing out from the body; redesign the forearms to accommodate the poseable hands (honestly, they only need be extended by a few mm to allow the poseable hands to retract. Boggles my mind why they didn't); fix the many missile tabs for tighter adherence, or just embed them and their recesses with magnets; more tampo; and get rid of those damned ball jointed ankles and use ratcheting joints (that goes for all their valks). Overall, I'd say this valk has the tightest overall joints, both articulation and transformation, of any valk I own from either Bandai, Yamato, or Arcadia, and it locks together in all modes solidly. Definitely swooshable without fear (except maybe a missile or five falling off). It's a lovely piece, and I can't recommend it highly enough, if at least for the fighter mode.
  9. M'Kyuun
    Glad you're having fun with Hun-gurr, Mike. I remember messing with my friend's G1 version many moons ago. They did a great job of capturing the G1 look while bringing the engineering and articulation into the present. That pic of him sleeping is awesome. Slight derail: For Fall of Cybertron fans, a new Optimus fig is coming. http://news.tfw2005.com/2016/02/17/planet-x-fall-cybertron-inspired-optimus-prime-grey-prototypes-310142 I generally don't care for the WFC and FoC aesthetic, but Game Informer featured FoC Prime on their cover a few years back, and I was totally sold. I'm usually not a fan of Cybertronian alt modes, but this particular design just strikes a high chord with me. The game designers imagined him in his truck mode as a fist on wheels, and I find it an apt description. I bought the little Hasbro version (fun figure), but it's quite simplified and lacking. Planet X's take seems much more faithful to the game art. I'm curious to see the final painted version. Anyway, thought I'd share.
  10. M'Kyuun

    Bandai Sv-262 DX valk

    M'Kyuun replied to seti88's topic in Toys

    Um, yeah, that was noted some time ago. It's a cruel tease, admittedly. Sneaky bastages. I'm surprised nothing has leaked yet, esp in in this day and age of nothing-sacred mentalities and rampant social media. Then again, I've waited this long, I can abide. Like the Dude.
  11. M'Kyuun
    I agree...the 80's and early 90's movies were rife with all sorts of nudity, language, and extreme violence, and many of those movies are classics today, or are the inspiration for the watered down PG-13 movies over the last 20 years. Kickass, District 9, and Deadpool are hopefully harbingers of films to come. The original Robocop is still one of my favorite films. I really miss the old 70's and 80's type of movies. It was nearly an ironclad guarantee in any sci-fi or horror film that at least one set of nubile breasticles would make a cameo. As you said, the twenty-something crowd of today grew up on PG-13 level violence and language, with virtually no nudity at all in films, so to a generation raised on Puritanically sanitized films, something like Deadpool is likely beyond the pale. The movie was pure fun and hilarity all the way through, and one scene with a few bare breasts and an oddly familiar DJ just doesn't really scream sexually explicit. Hell, there was more explicit nudity in 50 Shades of Gray. (Thank you, Ms. Johnson). But, yes, it was edgier than one would expect in a comics-based movie. However, many of the comics have had very dark themes over the years, so for characters like Punisher and Deadpool, these levels of mature themes and violence are essential to the characters. As an exploratory toe in the Rated-R waters, I hope this gives other directors and producers the confidence to proceed with projects that before may have been seen as too risky as R-rated ventures. Considering what absolutely abysmal sh!tstorms Michael Bay puts out with three times that budget, I'd say they did a tremendous job with Deadpool. The action scenes, esp those with Deadpool doing his acrobatics, making Colossus look like Colossus, and that stellar opening scene, were all money well spent, and I'm really glad that the movie has become as successful critically and financially as it has. Hopefully the director and Co. will get a better budget to do more on the next film. However, there is something to be said for a number of low budgeted movies, as it pushes them creatively, and often a better movie comes out of those limitations. Alien, Terminator, Halloween, Star Wars:ANH were all low budget films.
  12. M'Kyuun
    I liked Arise, but I prefer the SAC version of how she met her team members, and their respective personalities. I'm not familiar with the manga at all, so which was closer to the source? What's with Saito always sleeping? As for figures, Arise is current, so it's not surprising that it's the focus of figure and model companies. Classic GiTS and SAC still have a strong following among fans, and eventually once Arise has run its course and fervor dies down, my feeling is that they'll return to making original GiTS and SAC stuff.
  13. M'Kyuun
    There were too many nitpicks for me personally, but for those who ordered, I hope it's a good toy in-hand. Looking forward to checking out some review vids.
  14. M'Kyuun

    Bandai Sv-262 DX valk

    M'Kyuun replied to seti88's topic in Toys

    Yeah, I'm thinking Kawamori is true to his word, and this thing is going to be unique. Whether that translates to good unique or bad remains to be seen. I just figure it's going to be different than what he's done before, and they're doing their best to hype it. I hope it's cool. The Sv-262 Super Combiner Robot would probably cause a few aneurysms around here.
  15. M'Kyuun

    BANDAI DX YF-19!!

    M'Kyuun replied to seti88's topic in Toys

    There's not really anything they could add to their 19 to make me buy it. I have the Arcadia YF-19 and the Advance, which is so close to it that I'm fulfilled, and would rather put the money towards the Delta valks, or anything else new. I'd love to see their take on the VF-4, actually, esp if they articulated the shoulders. I'd love to see a DX YF-21, esp if they could find a better compromise between battroid and fighter. Although the Yamato -21 has a gorgeous fighter mode, I display my valks in battroid, and between the skinny legs and small feet, it doesn't balance well, and doesn't really look good compared to the far better proportioned YF-19. The idea of Bandai doing a VF-2ss is intriguing.
  16. M'Kyuun
    It's all a bunch of craziness. But, I wonder why they didn't make a little transforming engine guy for PM Prime? I know they're all about headmasters now, but how tough would it have been to make one of those little dudes into a snap-on engine? I ask out out of curiosity, not interest. I was never crazy about any of the "______masters" . Target masters make the most sense to me, but even that is a gimmick I can live without, as the gun modes are always too bulky, b/c hey, it's a little folded robot. Just give me a decent looking bot with his own head, a normal gun, no snap-on motor, and a decent alt mode(s), and that's all I require out of a Transformer. The ability to transform is the gimmick that appealed to me from the very beginning, and remains so.
  17. M'Kyuun

    Bandai Sv-262 DX valk

    M'Kyuun replied to seti88's topic in Toys

    I'm not a fan of the Saab Draken, but I'm more than willing to set aside my bias for the Sv-262, which looks mighty sweet with those packs. How long have we known about this thing, and they still haven't shown the B or G modes. Even some lineart would be nice at this point.
  18. M'Kyuun
    I've never really stopped collecting Transformers, but there were a number of years when the toys just didn't tickle my fancy (Looking at you, Unicron Trilogy). The Classics line, and every incarnation thereafter, have been a boon to my desire to collect these toys. I'm a G-Oner at heart, and those characters will always remain with me as the core of Transformers. That doesn't mean I'm against taking the franchise in other directions; I loved Animated and Prime both, actually more than the second season and beyond of the G1 cartoon. I have no tolerance for the live-action movies, but I thought the toys from the first three movies were incredible little feats of engineering, and I own a lot of them. I wish and hope some of that complexity will find its way back into the Generations line. I've not watched any of the RiD cartoon, but I've bought 6 figures from that line, and will probably pick up the upcoming Windblade ( which looks better than the CHUG version, IMO) and Skorponok (both modes look amazing to me). They are just simply fun toys. The Headmaster gimmick is one that makes me scratch my head; it's so bloody impractical. Even if you could separate your head and live, why would you want to? I realize it was a marketing tool, but even as a kid, I thought it was pretty dumb. That said...I'm diggin' Galvatron, Blaster, Blurr, PM Prime (who were not actually Headmasters til now ), and perhaps an actual HM or two. Has/Tak have really done a great job with the sculpts on these figs, and nostalgia has me within its tenacious grip. I'm tentatively curious about the new 'device' figs, which have replaced the cassettes of yore. (Sometimes, in certain circumstances, progress is a downer. I love the cassettes figs, and have been hoping the rest of the cassettes would get the MP treatment, but in a mainline targeting kids, cassettes have sadly lost their relevance.) Thus far, I think what they're doing is a good compromise, although maintaining the cassette aesthetic in bot mode is kinda silly; just make them their own characters. Anyway, as for the new Astrotrain, I think making him a leader class fig is right scale-wise...a shuttle and a train both should be huge next to a car. But, judging from the Sentinel toy, both alts are going to be anything but Earth accurate, which is a bummer. A big G-1ish Astrotrain would be great, and even greater if they could go the extra mile to make his cargo doors open in shuttle mode, but I'm dreaming now. At any rate, I think Astro's gonna be a bust for me, and so I'll keep hoping that a more G1 inspired version will come along in the future. Blaster, OTOH, looks amazing to me, and I'm not even that interested in Blaster. Nostalgia, man. It's gotta be analogous to cigarette smoke to an ex-smoker. Draws you in and takes over your gray cells. Good call on remaking a potential Kickback into Ransack. ATTN: Hasbro. This! City and base formers have never really floated my boat, but seeing that side-by-side comparison of FM is pretty impressive, as well as seeing PM Prime only coming to his knee. Really puts the size of this thing into perspective. Pretty neat. Jury's out on Alpha Trion. Like you, I'll wait and see what the toy looks like in all its modes before I make a decision. From what I'm seeing now, my interest is very low, but I thought the same thing about leader class Megatron. I still think his legs could have been improved, but he makes a nice looking tank, and rolling treads FTW! No regrets.
  19. M'Kyuun
    Just saw it with the wife- lots of laughs, and some amazing action. This is Deadpool as he should be, and I'm so glad they didn't water it down for a PG-13 rating. The plot was thin, but I agree that the love story was presented brilliantly, and it was an excellent introduction to the eponymous character. Colossus gets well deserved mention as well. The trailers had me thinking this was going to be super-cheesy and forced, but based on comments here, I decided to give it a watch anyway. The theatre was packed (1130 Sunday mornings are usually dead around here), and packed yesterday as well (did a drive by, saw all the cars, and decided to go this morning when it would be less busy- joke was on me), but we got in ok and from beginning to end, it was just funny as hell. If you liked Kickass, you'll likely enjoy this too.
  20. M'Kyuun
    Just a few pics being dwarfed by Fortress Maximus are all I've seen. If you have CW Ultra Magnus, then you have a good idea of what to expect. Powermaster Prime will be a little more involved due to a number of folding panels on his legs. Should be a good fig. I'm bummed that they still haven't made Kickback. I'm pretty impressed at all the G1 figs being made, and at how well they homage the original toys. Wheelie is an annoying character, but that new figure looks awesome. Blurr also looks good, and they nailed his Cybertronian floaty-car mode. I was never into the Headmasters, but looking at all these upcoming figures, my nostalgia runneth over. It brings back clear memories of looking at those old fold-out toy brochures that came with boxed figures in the 80's. These are the toys I wish we'd been getting back then, instead of the bricks we actually got. It's taken a long time, but I'm glad to see all those old toys being given the modern treatment. I hope there are a few parents out there who still have their old TFs to show their kids, just to give them a sense of appreciation for how far toy design has come compared to when we were kids. It'd be great if Hasbro did a presentation on their site showing a side-by-side comparison of a number of 80's TFs and their modern equivalents. Reading through their opening statements, I find it very interesting that Hasbro is now taking the adult collector market much more seriously, to include making up 30% of their TF consumer market (I'll bet it's higher than that), and creating a four-tier classification of fans, the last two which are predominantly the teen and adult market. Moreover, they are bringing back the Generations line, which is also targeted at the adult collector. They are also looking for more fan input which will directly influence upcoming TF products. IMO, Hasbro is moving in a positive direction with this franchise, and I'm hopeful to see this line continue until I'm old and gray. Now they just need to find a market for the MP line here in the US.
  21. M'Kyuun
    From earlier pics of TR Sentinel Prime, I'm guessing that he and Astrotrain's alts are Cybertronian. That's fine for Sentinel, but I really wish they'd given Astrotrain Earth alt modes instead. I didn't care for either alt, based on the Sentinel pics. Kinda sucks, as I skipped the CHUG Astrotrain, and I've been hoping they'd eventually redo him. Now they have, but like the earlier CHUG, this one just doesn't look good to me. I grew up watching the G1 cartoon, and IIRC, Alpha wasn't that big, nor a triple changer. Guess in his mid-millennial crisis, ol' Alpha got an overhaul and got himself a gym membership. Out of curiosity, are Sentinel Prime and Alpha Trion based on IDW designs? I don't follow the comics, but I'm aware that Has/Tak have been borrowing character designs from them over the last few years. Just wondering.
  22. M'Kyuun
    As soon as you said Silverbolt remold, any desire to get the full Computron combiner dissipated. Perhaps Macross and a smattering of decent jet-formers have spoiled me, but I've become increasingly intolerant of robot-under-a-jet designs. It's so incredibly lazy, and not much a transformer as a fold-away bot with an aircraft for a backpack. After 30+ years of experience designing these things, I expect better from Takara, and Hasbro by extension. i was comparing my Hasbro Springer to Sprung, and I noticed they left the chest green on Sprung. That yellow chest is iconic to the character, so I'm surprised it's green. They made the fore-fenders yellow. Odd, esp given Takara's penchant for mirroring the animation rather slavishly. Looking forward to seeing all the new 2016 TFs at Toyfair this weekend (I'll be following the coverage at TFW2005 and anywhere else I find on the net). I hope there's a new Legends Kickback to finish off the Insecticons. The other two figs are excellent.
  23. M'Kyuun
    With NY Toy Fair coming up this weekend, perhaps there will be some Year One toys on display. I'm still bummed that the Voltron Force toys were never released...I loved the look of both the individual lions, and their Voltron form.
  24. M'Kyuun
    Looks awesome; Ravage has always been my favorite cassette. I really wish they could have put this kind of engineering into MP ravage, but at that small size, it'd be horribly fragile. I wouldn't mind owning this, but it's a bit pricey.
  25. M'Kyuun
    As I barely remember Computron from the old cartoon (IIRC, after Grimlock became super intelligent, he passed that intelligence to Computron), my interest was pretty low; however, the Technobots had some interesting vehicle modes, and I'm curious to see the how the figures turn out, esp Afterburner (I like transforming motorcycles, but I'm not a bike guy at all...go figure). Actually the prospect of Afterburner getting his own mold is the primary draw for me. Lightspeed, as well, if he turns out looking cool. Nosecone looks to be another lazy reuse of a mold, merely substituting Brawl's turret with a drill...it doesn't look good to me at all.
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