Generations FOC Minion 2-Packs: Rumble/Ravage & Frenzy/Ratbat

Discussion in 'Transformers Feedback & Reviews' started by Starscream Gaga, Nov 9, 2012.

  1. Maximo Prime

    Maximo Prime Bassist of Ill Repute

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2002
    Posts:
    5,194
    Trophy Points:
    292
    Likes:
    +42
    Ebay:
    Man i must be easy to please. I dig em. I have Frumble, Ratbat and Ravage. Someone snaked the Soundwave, so i'll be on the lookout for him and SB.
     
  2. FanimusMaximus

    FanimusMaximus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2009
    Posts:
    16,788
    News Credits:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    337
    Location:
    Florida
    Likes:
    +1,009
    Got Frenzy and Ratbat today, man I love Hasbro for giving us the Cassette Two packs back!
     
  3. T16skyhopp

    T16skyhopp Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 10, 2007
    Posts:
    5,128
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    292
    Likes:
    +42
    Ebay:
    Ratbat is the bestest. That is all.
     
  4. GreednGluttony

    GreednGluttony grumpy smurf

    Joined:
    Jan 14, 2012
    Posts:
    4,427
    Trophy Points:
    257
    Likes:
    +531
    :thumbs2: 
     
  5. Primus Medieval

    Primus Medieval Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2012
    Posts:
    101
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Likes:
    +2
    What I like is that the cases kind of look like those compact energon pillows from the original tf pilot episodes. Now if only someone who has a Classics Starscream with GDO Wheelie's slingshot take a picture of these together would make a great G1 diorama.
     
  6. Maximo Prime

    Maximo Prime Bassist of Ill Repute

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2002
    Posts:
    5,194
    Trophy Points:
    292
    Likes:
    +42
    Ebay:
    Ratbat totally flies into his bot mode the best.
     
  7. solarstorm

    solarstorm Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 7, 2008
    Posts:
    4,346
    Trophy Points:
    312
    Likes:
    +2,643
    I got the other set on Friday.

    Rumble is as great as Frenzy...but Ravage is rough. I can get behind the criticism on that one.
     
  8. Soundwinder

    Soundwinder I wind sounds!

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2011
    Posts:
    5,496
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +1,463
    So, having gotten Soundblaster... having the big guy doesn't endear these guys to me any more. Ironically, the one that transforms best and comes with Soundblaster, Buzzsaw, also has the worst time fitting in him and the launching mechanism has two settings, depending on the disc: plot out and half-transform (Ravage), get launched all the way across the room (Rumble and Buzzsaw).

    I was hoping that getting Soundblaster would improve my feelings on the minions, but it really didn't. There's not going to be much interacting going on between them. I still find Rumble oddly compelling, he's got the most posing options (despite having two real points of articulation, but he can hold weapons), Ravage is still... just bad. And Buzzsaw has no actual points of articulation (but then again, the birds never had great articulation).

    But... yeah. I commend HasTak for doing it, and I don't... regret getting Rumble/Ravage, but this is a gimmick I don't need to touch again.
     
  9. Snake_eyes1975

    Snake_eyes1975 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2010
    Posts:
    9,186
    News Credits:
    5
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Location:
    Michigan
    Likes:
    +4,148
    Ebay:
    After messing with this one a lot more, the mechanism/gimmick really blows ass most of the time. I've filed down the interior, making the discs plop out ok, but its still hit or miss if they land and if they pop apart.

    I don't see all the hate for ravage. I think he is one of the more interesting.

    I just LOOOOOOVE how fremble pop up, when they hit the trigger right, the robots unfold in this completely satisfying manner with arms legs out stretched..sometimes its utterly hilarious how it looks.

    A BETTER mechanism would have been pretty simple, they just didn't think of it. Could have had the eject button hold the discs back, while the plunger was on a big spring. Load up 3 discs, push eject each time...seems so easy to me.
     
  10. Soundwinder

    Soundwinder I wind sounds!

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2011
    Posts:
    5,496
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +1,463
    Ravage is more complex... which means there's more work. Despite having a lot of sacrifices for the autotransform, his autotransform is... not really that auto. You still have to do most of it by hand.

    Plus, we've had some excellent Ravages before. G1 Ravage is pretty much still objectively excellent. Universe... exists and fills a similar niche as a 3d Ravage that's recently available and is unposable. Good KOs of DL Ravage are available for less than FoC Ravage which is way more posable and looks better.

    He's pretty much stuck in one, downward looking pose and the weird hump on his back that feels like it should be able to be adjusted is very annoying. Throw in the fact he SHOULD have more articulation, but the autotransform keeps him from that... it just doesn't measure up.

    In an unrelated note, I've found I can put Buzzsaw on my desk in disc mode and tap it quickly. It'll lunge forward while transforming. It entertains me.
     
  11. salmonman78

    salmonman78 That's MR. Magnus to you all...

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2007
    Posts:
    2,686
    Trophy Points:
    272
    Location:
    DFW, TX
    Likes:
    +73
    THIS, I played with the Laserbeak and Ratbat for a while doing this.

    Otherwise I am glad to have them but I think on the shelf they will end up just being in their respective cases mostly. Ratbat and Laserbeak will be out but will just use my Universe Ravage and United Frenzy/Rumble to go with SW.

    Nice toys just an awkward gimmick.
     
  12. Mr. Chaos

    Mr. Chaos New Holder of the Matrix of Leakership

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2009
    Posts:
    7,458
    News Credits:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    297
    Likes:
    +11,851
    While I was excited about these, when I saw them in person I realized that their failings otuweighed their pros. I saved my cash and purchased the Snitch and the Purrdator instead for my deluxe Soundwave... I think they are a better bang for my buck compared to these guys
     
  13. xMostWanted559x

    xMostWanted559x Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2012
    Posts:
    9,663
    Trophy Points:
    232
    Likes:
    +17
    I think I'm going return the two sets and get my 18 bucks back. I don't use the ejecting feature and I kinda don't like how they look
     
  14. Frognal

    Frognal Prodigal Son Returned

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2003
    Posts:
    4,503
    Trophy Points:
    186
    Likes:
    +1
    Too much was compromised to fit in the ejecting and auto-transformation gimmick. Spring loaded features just don't work for TFs.
     
  15. Altercron

    Altercron Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 8, 2004
    Posts:
    6,018
    Trophy Points:
    287
    Likes:
    +10
    Picked up both of these packs at two different TrUs yesterday, along with Soundwave. I have to say, limited articulation aside, Im impressed. Ratbat is probably my favorite of the bunch, which is funny for me since Ravage is my favorite of the cassettes. The cases are a great little bonus both for storage and as a nice little stand-in for Energon Cubes.
     
  16. Pravus Prime

    Pravus Prime Wields Mjolnir!

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2002
    Posts:
    18,848
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    387
    Likes:
    +8,062
    I can certainly understand the harsh criticisms that others have had after having picked up both sets, but I'm still pleased with them.

    Yes, I'm not a fan of all the sacrifices that were made for the autotransformation and gimmick on both Soundblaster/wave and the disks. That said, it's a little fun at times and these are toys.

    Taking that into consideration, I still enjoy all of them but one.

    Ratbat is totally awesome. He's by a very narrow margin my favorite. He autotransforms very well, he locks well into alt mode, he's got it all IMHO. He even has a seperate body from the birds.

    Buzzsaw is second, but only so by a very narrow margin. Mine is now on the shoulder of FOC Shockwave, which makes them both look extra badass.

    Rumble/Frenzy are nifty little dudes. The extra steps in their transformation isn't really much of a turnoff. They look cool and have really clever transformations. I like the extra little detail in that the data disk design isn't replicated, it's mirrored on them.

    Ravage. Le Sigh. I honestly thought I was going to break Ravage the first time I transformed him, those rear haunches just didn't want to rotate in. He sticks everywhere, in the case he's got to be upsidedown or the case won't close, he is a major pain to get into Soundblasters chest, and I swear requires more force then any other disk to get out. His alt mode is pretty bad as well.
     
  17. Bountyan

    Bountyan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2008
    Posts:
    17,243
    News Credits:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    387
    Likes:
    +3,296
    I just got these. I actually like Ravage and Ratbat a lot, but Frenzy and Rumble are pretty meh. Do you guys actually transform Ravage like on the packaging? He looks a billion times better if you only leave him half transformed so that his back piece and back hips are still folded into the body. The only problem is that he won't have a tail.
     
  18. igniz1984

    igniz1984 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2006
    Posts:
    2,100
    News Credits:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    277
    Likes:
    +88
    Ebay:
    These are buy 1 get one 50% off at TRU right now and I've been considering getting them before the sale runs out. I've been wondering if neutering the spring gimmick will give them more articulation, has anyone tried it yet? I could care less about putting them back in soundwave, since the gimmick is crap anyways.
     
  19. Feralstorm

    Feralstorm Good Morning, Weather Hackers! TFW2005 Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2003
    Posts:
    20,056
    News Credits:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    442
    Location:
    Birthplace of Aviation
    Likes:
    +6,394
    I wouldn't say a billion times better. :) 

    It does look a bit more solid in this half-mode, but a quarter-UNtransformation is about as annoying as finishing the job fully after popping. Looks a lot like a walking coffee table. (or you can flip the back down and give him a big paddle-tail like a beaver.)
     
    Last edited: Mar 3, 2013
  20. Bountyan

    Bountyan Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2008
    Posts:
    17,243
    News Credits:
    13
    Trophy Points:
    387
    Likes:
    +3,296
    I much prefer "walking coffee table" over the skeletal and flimsy looking official mode.