TF Views

I think a lot of us loved Backstop.

138 Scourge wrote:I'm pretty sure I had to have raved about Generations Scourge when he came out. If not, then fuck yeah, Scourge was awesome.

JediTricks wrote:So that's it, nobody else likes any esoteric recent TFs?

Do people like FoC Shockwave? I've seen complaints about his size that are totally justified, but despite that, I still thought it was a pretty cool toy in its way.

And, of course, Backstop. Should I mention Backstop?

BH Voyager Shockwave,will probably wind up be a more fan favorite than Generations shockwave is.

FOC Shockwave would have been a decent toy had it been voyager sized. Since it was deluxe sized it was awful.

While I didn't like Cybertron backstop. I found the toy so bad that it reminded me of a 1980's rocklord toy.

I like FoC Shockwave. It's a good representation of both the character and the game model and is fun to fiddle with. Very much looking forward to the BH one though.

I think Armada Side Swipe might be the ur-example of a disliked toy that is still liked. There’s so much fundamentally wrong with it (the legs are atrocious) but there’s a lot of charm too, particularly in the gimmicks (that flippy bit is legendary for a reason). He’s got a really cool weapon too.

I think it’s decently well known by now that I have an unusual love of Armada Smokescreen as well, despite other people’s protests. I just dig the little things the toy *does* try to do, his pseudo-elbow joints where his arms slide out come across to me as the design team trying to make things work despite them being relatively new at the time, among other things.

I also love Universe Classics Tankor (Octane) and I don’t care who knows it. Octane was my most-wanted Triple Changer for some time, and this toy honestly delivers everything I wanted from a new one. Solid plane mode, a…workable truck mode (love the way it uses the guns as smokestacks) and a dynamic and entertaining robot mode (his dual guns really do a lot for him). And with the altmodes’ reliance on the detachable kibble-plate, it would’ve been easy for them just to make it a boring ol’ shield for his robot mode, but they went the extra mile and let it open up into that crazy giant claw weapon. I genuinely think that toy is underrated, and doesn’t deserve nearly the harsh opinions it gets.

Oh, I also have a lot of love for Mutant Beast Wars Icebird. I like both his modes, his transformation works pretty well, and I dig the hell out of his character.

I like Tankor as well and I also really like Astrotrain. Particularly the Henkei version. I know a lot of people were complaining about the shuttle mode but I still like it.

Onslaught Six wrote:It seemed like Scourge wasn't really getting talked about a lot? Most people seemed to focus on Wheeljack, Kup or Thundercracker.

A lot of winners there, easy to not be a star when running with that crowd. I see what you mean though, but being the underdog in this case isn't dislike.

138 Scourge wrote:Do people like FoC Shockwave? I've seen complaints about his size that are totally justified, but despite that, I still thought it was a pretty cool toy in its way.

I feel like the love for Shockwave dried up very quickly, but it's not dislike, just apathy because of his small size and simple transformation, and FOC in general seems to be losing steam fast with fans. So I guess that's an interesting choice and not unreasonable. I like the figure, but I really don't feel compelled by it anymore for some reason.

And, of course, Backstop. Should I mention Backstop?

Yeah, all the love this group had for that guy is so weird, most folks I know into the line at that time found that figure awful.

TM wrote:FOC Shockwave would have been a decent toy had it been voyager sized. Since it was deluxe sized it was awful.

If it had been a voyager at this simple transformation, THAT would have been awful. The character does NOTHING in the game that would justify a voyager-class.

Prowl wrote:I think Armada Side Swipe might be the ur-example of a disliked toy that is still liked. There’s so much fundamentally wrong with it (the legs are atrocious) but there’s a lot of charm too, particularly in the gimmicks (that flippy bit is legendary for a reason). He’s got a really cool weapon too.

2 weapons, a gun and a bayonet! There's got to be an older example though. Sky Lynx is really bad yet quite beloved.

I think it’s decently well known by now that I have an unusual love of Armada Smokescreen as well, despite other people’s protests. I just dig the little things the toy *does* try to do, his pseudo-elbow joints where his arms slide out come across to me as the design team trying to make things work despite them being relatively new at the time, among other things.

That is a great example considering how horribly he pegwarmed for so long.

I also love Universe Classics Tankor (Octane) and I don’t care who knows it. Octane was my most-wanted Triple Changer for some time, and this toy honestly delivers everything I wanted from a new one. Solid plane mode, a…workable truck mode (love the way it uses the guns as smokestacks) and a dynamic and entertaining robot mode (his dual guns really do a lot for him). And with the altmodes’ reliance on the detachable kibble-plate, it would’ve been easy for them just to make it a boring ol’ shield for his robot mode, but they went the extra mile and let it open up into that crazy giant claw weapon. I genuinely think that toy is underrated, and doesn’t deserve nearly the harsh opinions it gets.

While I think you've defended your love for this figure well, I am surprised to hear you think it's underrated and undeserving of the disdain it receives, that seems a little "not seeing the forest for the trees" to me.

BWprowl wrote:I think Armada Side Swipe might be the ur-example of a disliked toy that is still liked. There’s so much fundamentally wrong with it (the legs are atrocious) but there’s a lot of charm too, particularly in the gimmicks (that flippy bit is legendary for a reason). He’s got a really cool weapon too.

I tried really hard to like this toy. The colors were too bland,The toy was missing too much articulation. the articulation it had was placed in weird spots or restricted range of movement. Best thing about this toy was the head sculpt.

BWprowl wrote: I think it’s decently well known by now that I have an unusual love of Armada Smokescreen as well, despite other people’s protests. I just dig the little things the toy *does* try to do, his pseudo-elbow joints where his arms slide out come across to me as the design team trying to make things work despite them being relatively new at the time, among other things.

Never liked this toy.

BWprowl wrote: I also love Universe Classics Tankor (Octane) and I don’t care who knows it. Octane was my most-wanted Triple Changer for some time, and this toy honestly delivers everything I wanted from a new one. Solid plane mode, a…workable truck mode (love the way it uses the guns as smokestacks) and a dynamic and entertaining robot mode (his dual guns really do a lot for him). And with the altmodes’ reliance on the detachable kibble-plate, it would’ve been easy for them just to make it a boring ol’ shield for his robot mode, but they went the extra mile and let it open up into that crazy giant claw weapon. I genuinely think that toy is underrated, and doesn’t deserve nearly the harsh opinions it gets.

I love this toy,The toy looks like a great homage to the 1986 version.

BWprowl wrote: Oh, I also have a lot of love for Mutant Beast Wars Icebird. I like both his modes, his transformation works pretty well, and I dig the hell out of his character.

Beast Mutants were awful & extreme cheap/short cuts toys.

It turns out I hated OcTankor enough that I sold him off on eBay with absolutely zero regrets.

Did anybody but me like Tidal Wave? I made a damn song based on him.

Onslaught Six wrote:It turns out I hated OcTankor enough that I sold him off on eBay with absolutely zero regrets.

Did anybody but me like Tidal Wave? I made a damn song based on him.

I love Armada Tidal it's a great toy.

I saw a custom on-line where the customizer gave Tidalwave poseable bending knees & Rotate 360 degree swivel in the thighs. I emailed the guy & I asked him how he did it & which Transformer he took the legs from. The guy emailed me back & told me he took the poseable legs from 2005 Cybertron's Ultra sized Jetfire's toy. I did the parts swapping between the two toys & now I have a Tidalwave toy with bending backward knee joints & 360 degrees swivels in the thighs.

Onslaught Six wrote:It turns out I hated OcTankor enough that I sold him off on eBay with absolutely zero regrets.

Did anybody but me like Tidal Wave? I made a damn song based on him.

I do! In both paint schemes no less. And I liked the fact that his minicon was a jet that could rise onto the carrier deck like they do on an actual carrier. They really crammed a lot of detail and fun into that thing. Plus his level in the video game was amazing!