Hi, folks,

I have a question for the masses, since I've never been in this position before.

What do you think would be the best first TF toy for a 6 year old boy? His dad has been watching the original G1 series with him, and he really likes Optimus Prime, and trucks in general. Movies are out of the question, as they are too violent for him.

What would be a good first toy, with a fun/clever transformation or gimmick?

Thanks for your thoughts.

 

Animated Bulkhead. Voyager or Leader.
Animated Magnus

Those two mainly.

 

Hmm the Rescuebot toys are kid freindly but my 5 year old niece loves the moviestuff.. whitch are all broken now. there were the recent go-bot toys that were kid orientated and the Tobot stuff.

 

OH yeah. Heatwave and Optimus Prime's main RB toys would be good.

 

I almost want to say G1 toys, if you can get them. Reissues or Encores or whatever. He likes the G1 characters, and those toys were actually designed to be played with by kids. G1 Optimus is still a great toy, for example.

A good, playable alternative to that would be Armada Deluxe Optimus. That's a solid figure with a transformation a 6 year-old just getting into the franchise can do and enjoy.

What I wouldn't get the kid is anything from the Classics line or anything TFP. No movie stuff obviously.

 

Tripredacus.

 

Hey Karl, I think the deluxes in TF Animated are brilliant - something like Earth mode Optimus Prime could be perfect because it has the swinging waist/axe arm gimmick and a really fun transformation. Plus it does evoke the look of G1 Prime a lot, and he is so heroic-looking.





Either that, or deluxe Animated Sentinel Prime, deluxe Animated Earth mode Ratchet, voyager Animated Grimlock, TF Prime Wheeljack or a reissue G1 Hot Rod.

All the best
Maz

 

My nephew is 6 and loves the flip and change TFs I got him. He's really bright, but maybe too rough and impatient for the regular TFs, especially since he wouldn't have any help from his parents.

 

I first started actually collecting Transformers, around the same age as the boy you're talking about. I grew up with the Cybertron toys, and they were complex enough for me to need to do them several times to learn the transformation, but they were simple enough for them to be fun. Plus, they had the gimmick of Cyber Keys, where if you put the key in a specialized slot somewhere on the figure, a gimmick activates (opens chest to reveal missile rack, turns one gun into another, larger gun, activates melee weapons, etc). However, they aren't being sold in stores anymore, so you'd need to order them off of Amazon or eBay in order to get them.

Well, my dad says that I always asked him to help me, but I think he's talking about the Energon toys I had when I will about 4.

 

If he likes Optimus, get him the Generations Legends version. My son is 6 and loves those figures.

 

I also give a nod to the new Generations Legends figs.

 

This is the key. Which is why I agree with the majority (although not all) of the Unicron Trilogy toys for this purpose, and why I'd avoid newer stuff like TFP. A lot of the TFP stuff, even the more simple ones, were often fidgety when trying to peg everything in. Not too fidgety for us, but maybe aggravating for a younger, new kid. Same goes for Generations.

 

G1 Autobot Headmasters like Hardhead -- somehow the basic brick design allows for good play value and fast transformation. Plus Lego minifigures fit in the cockpit for the Headmaster  

 

I remember my first transformer, Mega Class Tankor, I loved him, but money was bad when i younger so I had my parents sell him so my sister could to college, years later I bought a new one, that was used with the crack on the turret disc like the one i used to own, so any Transformer I am sure he will love.

 

It old but the original Optimus primal. It is solid, great alt mode for kids, awesome fun gimmicks and super easy transformation.

 

Armada Cyclonus with Crumplezone or Deluxe Optimus with Over-Run.

 

The first Transformer I had around that age was Armada Thundercracker, I'd recommend anything from that line. Simple Transformations, fun gimmicks and durability playing around with Armada Wheeljack makes me think the best to give to a kid he's just so durable and he has a sleek alt mode and good robot mode and a great gimmick.

 

As a father of a 5 and an 8 year old who has watched g1 cartoons with them and also owns most every toy including 3rd party and masterpieces I would say get G1 Optimus prime (a new reissued version). It is easy to transform and durable, the trailer, roller, and spring launcher and missiles are fun. And most of all the character is so iconic especially if likes trucks.

 

I don't think an expensive reissue of a G1 toy is a smart choice for a 6-Year old at all.

They will get just as much fun and satisfaction as some of the other toys available for cheaper prices. They're not going to get the same kind of collector satisfaction as an adult would by owning an original figure. If they kid really likes G1 Prime, what about the Rescue Bots Optimus Prime that comes with a huge trailer? He invokes G1 Prime's look in every meaningful way, just more stylised, has the exact same transformation (minus the annoying easy-to-lose seperate fists), is bigger and won't cost you an arm and a leg.

If you want a bit more complex, I agree with Maz and others that the Armada and Animated lines are both really good choices. They're simple but not usually ridiculously so and they're still all very affordable. Animated has the better figures though, I highly recommend Voyager Optimus, which caters perfectly to both kids and collectors.