TF Views

Onslaught Six wrote:Why so much praise for BM Blackarachnia? That toy wasn't just horrible, but I broke the damn thing in half trying to transform it. (And it wasn't even mine. Sorry, 86.)

Well, first off, lemme stress this part:

138 Scourge wrote: in my eyes,

as disclaimer. Ahem. Anyway, Beast Machines Blackarachnia rules because she's able to take a fairly accurate portrayal of one of the most striking design in a show full of 'em and make it a workable transformer. The shellforming and splitting-apart of limbs is simple, but it works to make a very complete-looking transformation. I mean, I'm okay with shellforming. Whatever gets the job done, I figure. And I figure if my big baboon hands have transformed her a bunch of times without breaking her, she can't be that fragile. Also, she's pretty.

onslaught86 wrote: Hmm, this does intrigue me. I don't like Animated Blackarachnia very much at all. She's flimsy, bits pop off, her hands are sideways, her kibble annoys me, her spider legs are all at odd angles, and the transformation is unsatisfying. I bought her some time ago, went "Oh", and promptly attached her to a shelf by the too-short grappling line, where it tilted her robot neck and made it look like she'd hung herself. This so amused me that she stayed that way until i moved six months ago.


If Animated had had the chunky, cheerful, ultimately playable engineering level I'd expected it to based on the designs, it would've been a fun line, if ultimately for kids. As-is, it never knew where it wanted to go, had no consistency, and half the figures have engineering problems. This irritated me a lot. Although I bought most of the line and enjoyed the show, I can easily turf most of the figures into storage without a second glance, which is a shame. The movie stuff compells me to fiddle with it, even if it's only to rearrange the kibble.

I've totally done the "Hung herself" bit, too, but never got around to making a sign saying "Look what you did, Silverbolt!" Still time, I guess. But I like her for being a neat looking robot and decent spider. The kibble doesn't bother me much, it's just the legs looking all pointy behind her, and the spider abdomen, which, given my BM BA love, isn't likely to bother me. The spider-manibles popping off has driven me straight up the wall before, I'll admit. And, in fact, looking at her now...my BA doesn't have either of 'em attached! Gotta check out the storage box she came here in.

As for Animated as a whole, I'm kinda the opposite of you, here. My Animated guys are probably gonna be kicking a lot of other toys back into the storage space. The figures have a look that I just love, most of 'em have lot of personality coming through the designs (Sunstorm, Wreck-Gar, Blurr, Ultra Magnus, Bulkhead), and I like the "vinyl toy" look of 'em. Plus, cartoony robots into differing levels of cartoony vehicles. And the almost movie-cast reunion aspect. Just short a Kup and Springer. And Wheelie. Sigh.

There's definitely some winning figures in the line, don't get me wrong. I heart Animated Soundwave. So much. Must still get hold of the figures I want that weren't released here - Sentinel, Magnus, Swindle, Waspinator, Blurr, Samurai Prowl, Swoop. Sigh.

Yesterday I went to the mall, looked at my bank balance tearfully, and went "Aww screw it" before withdrawing monies from my savings to blow on having a good weekend. Y'see, work paid me early last time, and given I normally get paid on every second tuesday and this came through on the friday beforehand, I spent a fair bit of it before they told us of the error. Thus have I been hanging out for this coming tuesday on very little. Gah.
But I decided this annoyed me enough to borrow from myself. And thus did I splurge because I felt like it.

- ROTF Sideswipe.
Had been debating this one, hoping for a Tracks repaint at some point, and I do want the Human Alliance version. Between Swerve's sucky new headsculpt and the HA having sucky swords, I'd decided this was worth the plunge. And having seen pics with his feet around the other way so they don't look backwards, he became a priority while waiting for more Basics and later Deluxe waves. So when there was a 20% off sale at Kmart and one Sideswipe left, I bit. Yay. Transformation's a bit vague in places, alternate mode is nice if hard to get apart, robot mode is suitably solid yet frustratingly unstable.

- Terminator: Salvation 6" T-600. It's a 7.25" (Yeah, the range is 6", this is a large figure) cyborg zombie with a giant chaingun, ammo belt, and alternate head. Regular head is a rubbery-looking human face with parts torn away, alternate is a naked robot skull with a fairly bulby cranium I was powerless to resist purchasing it. Turned out to be a pretty weak action figure, but a good toy, with reasonably basic articulation (Useless spring-loaded waist, bah) and a nifty deco despite simplistic sculpting. Based on concept art rather than the final film version, hence the differences from what's seen on-screen - I suspect the alternate head was a late addition to attempt to rectify this.

Also saw Terminator: Salvation. Despite obviously useless scenes and a poorly-grafted amputee of a plot, there were some excellent casting choices and first-rate effects, and some true Fuck Yeah moments. Injokes and nods to previous installments were welcome and fresh. Worth seeing on the big screen.

I enjoyed Salvation to no end. Yay, Drive-In movies!

Anyways, haul for today: After checking a couple Targets, I finally found one with the Target-exclusive TFs. Superion was an easy pass for me, but they had a couple of the Titanium, so I grabbed one. The "Thrust" was tempting, since I like that mold in that color, but went for Titanium Hot Zone.

So, this is the new Prime repaint thing? Firetruck Primes into the renamed Hot Spot? It's been done twice, sorta, so that qualifies as it being a thing, I think. Anyway, it's clever, and has made for at least one nice-looking figure here. I'll start up a Titanium review thread here in a minute after I fiddle with this guy.

Yeah, just paid twenty bucks for a deluxe. I'm a sucker sometimes.

Heh. Hot Zone thar is the final apology for BotCon Hot Spot/Defensor never being produced. I'd kinda like to own one, but I already have Titanium Supah Fyah, and he's pretty average despite being one of very few new-mould toys made specifically for Robots In Disguise. Arm guns be neat, tho'.

New Basics were out here today! Scalpel, Dune Runner, and Reverb, to be precise. Scalpel I want pretty badly, as he's an unorthodox design and a legit movie character, plus I hear tell he

Spoiler

speaks with a German mad scientist accent

. Buuut the girlfriend was all put out that I went hunting for Scalpel without her, since she wanted him too and I had some time to kill before work. So I was nice, and slapped Reverb and two Scalpels on layaway so we can both enjoy him on my day off. Heh.

Did nab Dune Runner! He's an excellent little Basic, and I expect him to get solid recommendations from the likes of Ben/DVD/JT/Dom. There's nothing functionally wrong with him aside from some superficial clearance issues. Articulation is great, vehicle mode is spiffy, colours are nice, shoulder-mounted guns rock. More than just a scaled-down Movie1 Landmine, well worth a look.

"Salvation" had too many bad action movie problems, up to and including "idiotic mistakes by the bad guys".


I will consider Dune Runner. But, out of scale ground vehicles are really starting to irk me.


My haul: (customizing)

Tiger Force 25A Roadblock
Tiger Force 25A Tripwire

Zartan's psyche (no, really)


Dom
-on a Joe kick this week.

onslaught86 wrote:Buuut the girlfriend was all put out that I went hunting for Scalpel without her, since she wanted him too and I had some time to kill before work. So I was nice, and slapped Reverb and two Scalpels on layaway so we can both enjoy him on my day off. Heh.

I haven't said it enough lately: Your girlfriend is awesome.

onslaught86 wrote:Heh. Hot Zone thar is the final apology for BotCon Hot Spot/Defensor never being produced. I'd kinda like to own one, but I already have Titanium Supah Fyah, and he's pretty average despite being one of very few new-mould toys made specifically for Robots In Disguise. Arm guns be neat, tho'.

I dunno, as mentioned in the review thread, I enjoy him. That transformation's great. I cannot believe I forgot to mention the arm guns, too. Criminy, I'm the failingest reviewer we've got.

...and a box of fun arrived today. Within:

Animated Blitzwing: Haven't messed with him much yet, but looks cool so far. 'Bout time, right?

Beast Wars Insecticon: What a neat lil' dude. Might look neater in a different color scheme, though.

As a bonus, dude I bought this from threw in a Real Gears Booster. Hmmm...Buzzsaw repaint time?

And, the thing I'm most excited about: Beast Wars Neo Dead End, still all minty-fresh in box. Neo was full of win, and I love the look of this fella. Can not wait to get him out of the box and mess with him.

138 Scourge wrote:Beast Wars Insecticon: What a neat lil' dude. Might look neater in a different color scheme, though.

Indeed. Did you know his Japanese name is Kuwagaigar? 'Awesome.'

Alright, I'm back and it's time to start catching up. I've been absent/around less these last few days because the long-coming moce-out finally happened! I am now in my own apartment! It is glorius. Still need to finish unpacking, particularly all my toys. >_>

Anyway, I did see ROTF in Imax on opening night. I'll post my thoughts in the approriate topic.

And I did get a haul today: Stopped by Burger King on my way home, and along with a Triple Stacker, I asked for a couple of the Kids Meal toys. One was the Fallen, who's pretty hilariously lame. The best part about him is the note in his instructions which enthusiastically declares "You can move his arms up and down!". But I also got Devastator, who was the only one I really wanted. He's HUGE for a Kids Meal toy, and I find it uncommonly entertaining that he only has slightly less functionality than the $100 Supreme version. Makes a good desk ornament.

The Triple Stacker was delicious.