Ha! I actually don't mind Bobby's approach and I've sent him a few figures (his DX9 Omega Supreme and XTB Menasor reviews were both my bots among others). I look at Bobby's reviews as stress testing and usually everything turns out fine. Generally when he breaks something it's a breakage that lots of people have already had like w/ Caucus or Gigapower Slag.

 

I wouldn't trust him to return a tungsten sphere in the same condition he received it in. Watching especially how he handled the ab crunch and the voice-over which - despite not actually saying it outright - basically suggested he wouldn't have shown it if it were his own figure. And the way he handled the shoulders and scope armature during transformation? That he only broke a couple tabs is absolutely remarkable.

Only reviewer who could put me off a figure I already have and like. Kinda glad I never saw him do anything with MP-10.

 

One thing's for sure and that's they better get a handle on when to use diecast and when not to. Their bots always seem to have very delicate pieces that could only be helped by being diecast so they don't snap immediately. Like that piece in the shoulder... Hopefully it can be fixed easily if they send you the part you need.

 

Or in the case of their Breakdown, put tiny diecast hooks in the shoulders that don't actually click into place. Their tendency to use little fiddly connection pieces is unrivaled.

 

Soooo 2.0 when?

 

Agreed comepletly.

 

Which reviewer copies have lived through transformation? Which reviewers copies have died? This is one of the best dramas of the modern Era. Trial by fire! Only the strongest will survive!

Lived:
BensCollectibles
Memo 224
Emgo

Died:
TMreviews (died in shipping)
BobbySkullFace
Inflewencers Interest


To be tested soon:
Windcharger

Couldn't find the Chinese reviews very easily and I'm ignoring that store "review". Please feel free to lmk about any I might have missed!

 

Add emgo to the list. (survived)

 

I must just be lucky with XTB. Those little hooks on Breakdown work fine for me, holding in firmly and needing a bit of a pull to get them out!

 

No but the other reports of breakages do. They all seem to be located around the legs.

 

Inflewence's Interest had the exact same issues as Bobby with the same breakages. Neither are major but if you're going to categorise them, both should go in the same group.

I believe Emgo's copy was a review copy, if I remember correctly.

For the record, I don't think I would ever send Bobby a figure to review unless I bought it for him (but since he has more money than I do, he can buy his own toys instead). That said, figures should be designed to withstand a bit of force. That applies to everyone, not just X-Transbots. No, FansToys never gets a free pass from me either.
I've apparently been an X-Transbots fanboy, an X-Transbots hater, a FansToys hater, and probably soon a FansToys fanboy. But I just buy what I like and what I think is quality - I have no brand loyalty, because brand loyalty is stupid, especially to a company that over-engineers things with fiddly, easily broken parts, or to a company that overcharges to the point where New Zealand's batshit-crazy cost of living seems reasonable (and will probably still have something break or have the paint chip off because they can cover it head to toe in the stuff but not protect it whatsoever).

 

Indeed. I was just commenting on the BSF video. It's a shame how often he breaks things, as many commenters then seem to think it's the figure's fault.

 

I'm actually OK for BSF break the figure, it's just the opposite of Ben's review.
Usually I tried to watch BSF, Ben and Emgo's reviews all together to form a better idea about one figure (if I can find all these 3 review for one figure).

 

Thanks! Idk how I missed him.

Thanks!

I've reached the conclusion that some people have enough disposable income that sending BSF a figure to torture test is pure entertainment for them. Not for me, but more power to em.

The manhandling definitely contributes but there's no question that some figure design issues are at play here too.

The most recent BSF breaks are PX Cacus shoulder and XTB Perceptors arm... both are common breaks. "Common break" pretty much says it all IMO. Those parts are fragile.

 

Mine is still in a different dimension (shipping limbo) so I can't comment on these breakages yet.

 

I learned a loooonngggg time ago to avoid transforming XTB figures as you'll find no joy in it (unless it comes in alt mode, then you have no choice, and even then, it's still painful). Most of the breakages you hear about XTB is during a transformation. Honestly, I treat these XTB figures as action masters. Most of the time they're good enough in bot mode to play around with and pose....that's it.

 

B…b…b…but then how do you raise your low self-esteem if you aren’t trashing someone else’s opinion or pretending that everything you like is flawless? Asking for a friend.

Watching reviews to get a better understanding of a figure. It’s a strange and different approach but I’ll give it a try. Thanks.

 

BSF is usually rough with his figures, but bloody hell did he maul Janssen in that review. When he broke out the Stanley knife I was actually wincing. Not saying the figure is flawless; in fact, I got a decent copy and I'm still a bit disappointed it wasn't the home run I was hoping for, but when you treat a figure like Bobby did in that vid, the bastard is going to break no matter who made it.

Oh well, at least we won't have to watch the comparison review. We all know how that's going to turn out...

 

Mine survived transformation back and forth a few times using some of the instructions the first time and then offroading it after that. Never watched a video review of it. The transformation in the chest has you threading the needle while moving parts out of the way. Not too bad to me, but I can see people being frustrated by it. He can feel a little mushy, some parts don't lock in the way you'd want and the thumbs aren't that good. Best thumbs with these guys will probably go to FT's superion which has really good looking next gen thumbs.

I do think XTB has been trying to improve their product in a lot of areas, but like TT they can still end up fumbling some stuff. The best thing about him though is it seems like he's been able to make FT improve their offering which is good for the market.

 

Oh yeah, XTB is really bringing it this year. FT is really shaking in their boots!