I kind of liked 1988 line up myself but can understand where alot of people wouldn't. Never could understand why they had to downsize the Targetmasters and especially the Headmasters which to me was stupid as hell to do. Would have been nicer to have bigger heads for them instead of that small shit they were reduced to the year after they were introduced. Would have loved it even more so if they could have had a 1987 scale Nightbeat, Siren and Hosehead. I guess that was the trend sadly. They did the same in 1989 with the Pretenders. They went from big to smaller with the standard ones that year Bludgeon, Octopunch, Stranglehold, Pincher, Doubleheader and Longtooth. But atleast with those they had more character to them than the previous year. When it came to the robots and there alternate modes. The Mega Pretenders and especially Ultra Pretenders were one hell of a cool gimmick that should have lived on after that. I got a Roadblock myself but yeah sadly do to G.P. Syndrome the arms broke off of him a long time ago after playing with him alot. Makes me wonder if they had gone the original route that they didn't with the inner robot if he wouldn't have broke so easily. Since in the toy catalog that year they showed the prototype and instead of a gold torso, arms and head with grey legs he had pictured a purple up body with gold legs. But who know maybe it would just be the legs breaking instead and would have not solved the G.P.S. problem. I like the gold with grey legs better anyway. Funny how Hasbro was constantly showing prototypes in there catalogs and coming out with something in a different color scheme or even mold later when they got done taking photos for the catalog. Heard the other one Skyhammer has the same problem to. 

Yeah I know what you mean about Monstructor. I was very disapointed as well with how he came out. He was nice looking but way way way too small for a gestalt. I hope someday Hasbro/Takara Tomy or more likely a third party like Maketoys, Fansproject, Mastermind Creations, TFC Toys or Warbotron or maybe all of the above come out with a Monstructor. Then maybe we will get one that is real big like in scale with TFC Toys Uranos, or Warbotron Bruticus. Then we can have one the way it should be. I would like to see them as Pretender Monsters again and maybe they could come up with fleshy shells again that unlike the old ones won't brake down and become slimy like some have said. Wouldn't know myself of course since I have mine away in a plastic storage container in my crawl space and haven't seen them since the early 2000's. 

Great stories everyone! Anybody else have any more especially if you haven't posted on here yet. Please do! Dying to hear more stories. 

"Sleep Tight Earth Creatures. Your Awakening Shall Be Rude." Long Haul In Five Faces Of Darkness.

 

1996. Well into Beast Wars at this point. A friend of mine and I drive to Salina, KS to raid the local Alcos there...hoping for something time forgot.

Jackpot! Full sets of G2 Minicars...albeit for $8 each. On the opposing aisle were full shelves of last wave GIJoe vehicles. If I had the extra money, I might have bought some Joes, but I had just enough for the full compliment of G2 bots.

Went back there years later and they were wiped clean of any significant toys...  

 

Figured just for the hell of it to bump this thread up for anybody who wants to add to this thread that didn't notice it over 3 years ago. For any new stories.

"Sleep Soundly Earth Creatures. Your Awakening Shall Be Rude!" Long Haul In Five Faces Of Darkness

 

I actually don't have many memories of getting Transformers from stores when I was a kid other than a few mini cars. I had plenty TF's when I was a kid but I got most of them for Birthday and Christmas presents.

I vividly remember getting G2 Sideswipe and Grimlock from KB. Those were my 2 most wanted figures I never got as a kid so when G2 came out I was eager to get them.

I remember finding Beast Wars Optimus Primal and Megatron (gorilla/T-rex) at a K-Mart out in the middle of nowhere some 3 years after the figures had come and gone. They must have had 10-15 of each. I could only afford to buy 2 Primals and 1 Megatron.