Which do you perfer the old pretender concept where a transformers hides in a shell or the new concept where the decepticon and shell and are fused and the old autobot pretenders are just the inner robot.

 

Terrible gimmick, the modern versions are better in every way.

 

Modern is far better. I like the shell gimmick just because it's nostalgic of the franchise's earlier days (and I think G1-style pretenders should eventually get that treatment, or at least something replicating it like an articulated action figure "shell" and a core class "inner robot" to stand alongside one another) but any new incarnations of them absolutely should be the modern style, basically just a Transformer were very monsterous features for the Decepticons, and a spruced up version of the inner robot for the Autobots, incorporating the armor from their humanoid shell designs.

 

So we know in Shattered Glass many Positive universe Pretenders retain their positive universe colors in SG but transform into their shells. Like Octopunch, Thunderwing and Stranglehold...









So could this be SG Skullgrin?

 

I’m actually still waiting for a modern update of the Pretender concept. While the modem toys of the characters are nice for what they are, they aren’t Pretenders.

 

The OG's for me.

The concept is great.
If you dont understand it, read the
Marvel UK comics and watch Masterforce.

Feasibility should be the keyword.
Of course, they run into problems when trying to emulate the pretender concept literally.

Instead, what they should be looking for is a feasible way to provide the play value that the OG concept outlined.

I think they should approach this like they approach faux parts in a transformation scheme; "It's OK to fake it".

Voyager class size inner robot + core class articulated pretender shell figure.(the latter at 3.75in, opens up crossover playpattern to GI Joe).

Done.

 

Personally I like how the Club did it's Pretenders. A big rubber shell, minimal articulation, with a modern Legends class figure inside.

 

As do I, except for the "minimal articulation" part. There's nothing preventing the shell from having elbows, hips, knees and ankle tilt.

 

When framed that way, original. But neither makes good sense.

My ideal would be reverse Pretenders, where the classic inner robot is the larger transforming figure and the "shell" is a "master" sized figurine stored inside. That way, Masterforce scaling works.

 

I prefer the original concept. However I'd rather get modern updates of the inner robots like Titans Return Metalhawk.

I'm very disappointed to see Legacy Iguanus and Skullgrin taking us back to the CHUG style of making the shell the robot mode.

Primemasters gave us nice shells but they should have been Titanmasters that turned into the inner robot heads. We could have at least found bodies for them.

Given the very recent trend of releasing figures with a second head like Delta Magnus and Ransack, I'd be satisfied if the Pretender characters came with two heads based in the inner robot and the shell.

 

Honestly, my solution would be to use the inner robots but to have clip-on armour to represent the shells. That'd give you posable shells and It'd respect the idea behind the old gimmick. Maybe also have the option of the shell armour forming weapons or sidekick characters. Plus you could then have a play pattern where you mix and match armour parts to create custom shell configurations.

Only issue is they'd end up as Deluxes in Voyager scale due to the tooling required, unless you go with a smaller scale inner robot, but then they'd not be in scale with the rest of the characters.

 

I hate the Pretender gimmick. The robots were horrible and the shells were just bulky and dumb. How they've done it with Skullgrin and Bludgeon so far is how it should be. Outer shell for the robot mode that transforms into what the inner robot's vehicle mode was, or at least an approximation since for most of them it was, 'fold up robot, stick greebly bits on it and squint.' for their vehicle modes.

 

I wish we could have gotten an expanded line of Prime Master Pretenders to cover every character, and then they could be partners/accessories for more full-size integrated toys like RotF Bludgeon, or the upcoming Skullgrin. It's not a perfect solution (Because unfortunately I don't think there is a perfect solution. Ultimately a hollow action figure that is also supposed to fit a fully functional transformer in it is going to have severe articulation restirctions) but it would at least provide a semi-replication of the way Pretenders worked in Masterforce, where the TFs in their shells shrunk down to human size.

 

Depends on the pretender-
Some of those autobot exo-suits look badass. If you removed the organic elements, and made it more like TFP's Apex armor, IDW pretenders, or IDW Thunderwing- I'd be sold.

Speaking of thunderwing the mega and ultra pretenders work as self contained playsets.
That said, I think we can all agree that Bludgeon, iguanas, skullgrin would all suffer as generic robot guys. So, the shell robot- inner robot vehicle approach works best.
Long story short- whatever gives me the coolest looking toy. A stealth bomber blood or crustacean octopunch better be in the works.

 

How about this:-

 

You can take the concept further...

 

Maybe hasbro's next line...
https://youtube.com/shorts/VjDs6R_zFng?feature=share

 

You know what, thinking on it more, I think I'm more in favor of an approach like what Sol Fury is suggesting. The merged approach would work for brand new interpretations, but like it or not, all of these Pretender-original characters are gonna carry that origin with them, so you kinda gotta go along with it rather than sweeping their Pretender origin under the rug. So maybe a figure of the inner robot that can transform into the inner vehicle mode, with peg-on armor pieces to replicate the look of the shell. Ideally with the shell pieces forming a little vehicle of their own (although not at the cost of the actual robot appearence, like SS Shockwave). Could even make a gimmick out of it, keep the attachment points relatively consistent and it could be a whole "mix and match" thing, kinda like Combiner Wars and swapping limbs.

Something like this, but Bludgeon (and good):

 

They sweep Bludgeon's pretender origins under the rug all the time and it's done wonders for him!

 

I picked the originals just because it’s something unique. I don’t dislike the shells being the actual transforming robot but it makes the Pretenders just regular Transformers.

I think a good compromise would be shells that are armour them attaches over the robot mode and comes apart to be a standalone unit or something. Think Saint Saiya Cloth Myth.