Hi, we're TakaraTomy.
We do the engineering for Transformers.
We make the molds.
We licensed out the production to factories in Vietnam.

Hasbro did not.

 

I feel like there is just a MASSIVE distinction between a bit of the alt mode actually TRANSFORMING to become an accessory (i love how CRs did it, or Classic's Prime's Accessories) and 1/3-1/2 the entire alt mode just being removed for being "inconvenient" in bot mod and being called a "shield" or "hoverboard" like ER Cliffjumper and Arcee.

to me, the first is clever engineering and the second is lazy engineering to appease "Sunbow or nothing" adherents (and we already have the current bland Masterpiece line for that).

 

I've always thought Sky Lynx was one of the single dumbest characters ever made during G1, but even *I* am impressed with what I'm seeing here. I didn't think it was possible to actually make him look sorta badass, and that new shuttle launch pad thing they have going on there is pretty amazing. Wish THAT was the way he looked back in the day.

 

Yeah, I'm assuming taking the back off for the 'hoverboard' is optional. I certainly will never do it.


Also, these are still renders, the finished product probably won't look QUITE as great as this does.

 

and if i had a dime for every time someone whined about a toy...

 

I think we'll get a Lifeline repaint and a Selects Flamewar with a new head and maybe hoverboard

As to Scorps, maybe. Chrome isn't DNA Design's thing, but someone else might make them

 

Well! I didn't expect Hasbro to go the G1 route with Arcee because it had already been perfected in Generations, but they actually did it again. And I'd say that the overall appearance of the figure is just as accurate, if not more so, than the Legends toy. But my God, that partsforming!   Okay, I want to be clear that I don't necessarily object to removing kibble from a figure. But if you're taking THAT much off Arcee, at least do something more interesting with it instead of just plopping it on the ground and calling it a "hoverboard", which it clearly is not. Fitting the whole WFC theme, the backpack could have split into components that form weapons for Arcee or other characters. I'd be cool with that. But no, it's just a leftover piece in the same vein as Cliffjumper, except handled worse. I'm also irked at the lack of lipstick and the pink feet. Unless I see some improvements at Toy Fair, I don't think I'll be replacing my Legends Arcee with this. *sigh*

No complaints about the other figures. Fully G1 accurate and appropriately scaled. I'm glad Fasttrack is joining in to complete the posse of Cog, Six-Gun and Brunt. I'm kinda surprised that Zarak is Deluxe size, but then who's the other little dude that comes with him?   As much as I think this Sky Lynx is a vast improvement, I don't know if I'm enamored enough by the character to pay for such a large figure. Maybe if he shows up on discount later....?

 

It is.

 

I think people are upset because they want definitive versions of the character. Yeah G1 starscream and Optimus partsformed but the goal of modern generations figures was to update them so they didn't have to. That was forward progress. Now with Arcee and Cliffjumper they're going backwards. Arcee has been done without it in the past. It's a step back. Beast wars was at least somewhat clever. This is just taking the back of a car and calling it a shield or hoverboard when it's very much the back of a car. Personally I already have versions of the partsformers that I'm happy with so I'm not too bummed but I can see the distaste others feel.

 

I think PotP Hot Rod would have been better as a partsformer like this. It beats a butt flap.

 

Yes, it can stay attached for sure, but then you have car parts hanging below the back of her knees.  

 

I know, and I'm only being half serious about this but others have also said that being a partsformer in G1 shouldn't be an excuse for newer figures. Ironhide was designed as a partsformer in G1 and isn't now (thank God).

 

I am absolutely excited for these figures and I have a feeling that there will be more reveals this weekend when the show begins.Arcee look great in both robot and vehicle but I am not sure on the partforming even though that been a thing since the beginning.Fasttrack look good as well and maybe we could get a Black Rochi in the selects.Sky Lynx is a definite and by far what I been wanting a update to be.I am so glad that Sky Lynx has his lynx mode I was little unsure from the link that we had a week or so ago.Next Commander Class should be Broadside and with that we could get Armada Tide Wave from it.Now to the big news, Scorponok I am so happy that my Fort Max now has his rival.I also have a feeling that Scorponok would be repainted to make Black Zarak as a selects from Takara.Hasbro is doing a really great job and I am glad that we have figures that a nearly perfect as the masterpiece even though there QC issues that I wish they fix.I know I might get hate on this but I think Hasbro should redeo Metroplex since the one we had was more base on the Fall Of Cybertron game then G1.

 

Well, with the constant remakes of characters, unless some pick one and stick with it, it's gonna be a long time before people have their definitive versions.

 

But apparently the back doesn't have to come off. It's just if you want the hoverboard. So it's only going backwards if you're upset that they gave us a crappy hoverboard. The character itself is the best CHUG version of Arcee they've ever given us.

 

Scorponok, Sky Lynx and Fasttrack are all bought. Couldn’t care less about Arcee.

 

removing partsforming was never an explicit goal of modern figures

 

A hope a company can make an upgrade kit for Arcee, replacing the back of her car with an actual hoverboard, or a weapons cash.

 

Is Fasttrack like Cog and Brunt were you have to disassemble into parts and then reassemble as a robot?

That bird part of Sky Lynx is horrifying! Must buy it!

 

Nah, I'm gonna give that title to the T30 figure.

 

Still coming, give it till Saturday.