...i've never liked repeats of the same character, but i accept reformatted versions when sufficiently supported by the fiction...i take a dim view of repeating the same characters season after season, slightly-reformatted to feature the gimmick-of-the-week which i feel would be much better-served by expanding the continuity with new characters, rather than treating transformations like a change of clothes...

...what leads to neglected pegs full of bumblebees fostering stagnant stock and franchise interest, however, is multiple versions of the same character offered simultaneously, and that's what hasbro changed in '99 by marketing several sizes of the same character design within the same toyline at the same time: before that point, the toyline itself represented a certain sort of canon with its characters, but afterward pretty much anything was fair game and character fatigue evolved from a minor gripe to a major problem with the primary toyline...

...at hasbro's beast machines panel, upon introducing the choose-your-class concept, the audience groans were audible...

 

I'm going to do a few reminders on the threads about the Siege blast effects being a problem as they do indeed melt the plastic, so to spread this information to members.

I highly recommend that you do not leave the blast effects in your figures.

More on this, and pictures about my sad discovery:
PSA: New toy plastic condition discovered (melted soft rubbery parts)

 

there was literally only 3 examples of that in beast machines and several of the toys didnt come out till the second year
cheetor: supreme/mega/deluxe night slash (2nd year)
optimus primal: deluxe/mega blast punch (2nd year) (air attack optimus primal didnt release till rid01)
jetstorm: deluxe/ultra

while i agree that the same character existing in multiple size classes is a bit of an annoyance, it wasnt really a problem till the movie lines and their multiple versions of bumblebee all within the same size class.

 

I wouldn't count the eye variants like I wouldn't count the T30 Arcee as "two" just because they did a running change with the hands. It's a repack in the same sense as Skullsmasher in Titans Return or most of Wave 4 PotP.

The repaints are another thing, but then if we count those I'd posit my original comparison to Prime during the past few years would be even more fruitful as he gets repainted like mad.

In short, there wasn't really as much of any given character during the Beast Era as there was Bee in the movie era. Even moreso than Prime. But for as many as we got, it doesn't compare to the trend in WfC where we get variants in alt mode but ultimately the same bot.

During BW, characters who got multiple versions had some pretty unique designs between figures. Which is why I also praised Prime Wars for how it managed to keep it's multiple Primes from feeling stale. (It's also the one thing Prime Wars screwed up with Megatron...)

 

that was definitely a benefit of new forms in beast wars, each completely new iteration of a character was drastically different from the old form

 

Just like DOTM Cyberverse....

You seem to be forgeting that the cost is not by figure but by wave, or possibly assortment. Remember the FOC deluxe figures? Also Siege has some big deluxe toys as did SS.

 

I love how Megatron went from being a T-rex to a dragon. It was like Hasbro said "We have this really cool idea for a Dragon transformer...so how do we get it on TV?"

IT'S WHY I'M ROOTING FOR DEATHSAURUS TO GET A FIGURE!

 

It's hard to tell in pics, but are the helmet sculpts different, or do the yellow eyes really just shake things up that much? The Galaxy head antennae almost look spikyier and more angular features?

I've been wanting to do this too, but only if I get ER and GU at good prices.

 

I’m pretty sure the helmets are at least slightly different

 

I'm more ready for leaks than Pampers

 

Lmao, Chareos.

 

I love the idea of Soundwave or Countdown being reformatted into new bodies. Machine Wars Soundwave might take the cake though, love me some Soundwave and Machine Wars.

 

I think ER Optimus will be repainted like this:


But I'd really like this:





Maybe

But the trailer means well well probably only get one repaint.

 

Toxitron please, bonus points if they retool the box trailer into a tanker trailer.  

 

Oh, oh, I know I know! Next Prime they do (let’s be honest, we know it’s happening!  ) can be the G2 Battle Tanker version, either with Toxitron & Scourge/Nemesis Prime repaint, or mix and match Earthrise Prime with G2 trailer for a totally different look!

 

That would be repainted into scourge

 

I’m not a fan of regular 1984 style Optimus Prime toys being repainted into Nemesis Prime, RiD’01 Scourge and Toxitron. I feel those three need to be more exotic than the 1984 Optimus Prime style.

 

You are not wrong in the least.

 

i wouldnt expect an ecto prime unless they are going to do a deluxe ectotron

 

...And that's probably not happening anytime soon.