Which Studio Series figures do you think was a great upgrade to its older counterpart? Give me a reason why as well. For example I think Studio Series Ironhide and Blackout are great freaking Upgrades to their older toy counterparts from the more aged Transformers movies toylines.
The ones that do the scale better, definitely. Blackout is the best example for that. I also think the new 07 Megatron is better, though I still find the old Leaderclass one a good figure. I generally prefer most of the originals over the SS line, though. Just better and more enjoyable overall.
basically anyone who was in revenge of the fallen it's nice not taking an hour to transform just one of them
Easily Devastator. You get a true combiner version. Movie Grimlock isn’t perfect but a step up from the original AOE Leader class figure that looked like an alligator.
Studio Series is by far the best representation of the characters in my opinion but goddammit them older toys were build Ford tough. You could actually play with shits like a child lol. Like that damn leaders class Optimus. I swear to God I don't know how I managed to to transform that thing all by myself without instructions. I could never do that today. It'd be to frustrating. I've never had either older versions of these characters so I wouldn't know certain things but I still agree. Devastator to my knowledge at least back then was still a fun toy and even today I think it still does things better than the SS version. Still though the SS versions is the SS version lol
Blackout also benefits that he doesn't have poorly aligned gears that get stuck just from playing him. IMO all ROTF and 07 molds have higher play value and were built like actual toys, the only real wins in SS are accuracy.
Leadfoot and Soundwave, by pure virtue of having them finally come out in the states in-scale (albeit slightly mitigated in Leadfoot's case, him being an exclusive and all). That being said, I don't know how the DOTM Deluxes handle. I guess Dino too, now that he's not a Sideways retool. Bonecrusher definitely benefits from the budget increase, he not only looks more accurate, but feels better in general. I liked the original figure, but this blows it out of the water. I know Galvatron's truck bed looks kinda... trash, and his weapon's a bit dinky, but his transformation feels more involved, and he not only has no giant truck backpack, but also feels more premium thanks to the silver paint instead of that flat gray his older toy had. AOE Grimlock's engineering feels better than the original 2014 Leader (the dino head that becomes part of the tail is so good), and he just feels better to mess with then whatever the 2014 figure was. Painted gorgeously, too. And Shockwave's in that same boat, though being upgraded from a Voyager that was alright makes him a lesser example.
Most of them that aren't a deluxe car are pretty good upgrades. The cars are almost all just too small and complex to not be fiddly fragile-feeling messes. I also found Galvatron to be a step down. Yeah, the old one was a foldy panel box, but at least it generally looked like a real truck.
Of the ones I have I'd say: Blackout - Way more accurate, both better looking and made. AOE Grimlock - Not perfect (the T-Rex mode could be a lot better) and I wouldn't say no to a redo but it's the best movie Grimlock Hasbro has done. Bonecrusher - Again it's not perfect but it's better than the original and the best Hasbro has done. DOTM Megatron - While not great I think that figure was an improvement over the DOTM Voyager. Some don't care for that figure personally I really like that figure a lot. Ironhide - Even despite Ironhide being my favorite movie character. I think the figure is great, it's a really fun mold and I think it's the best one they've done (and surprisingly better than the MPM). I'm glad the mold was able to get back out there. And when or if we get a DOTM release I will get that as well.
The Leader class is where the upgrades really shine. All of these are mic drop improvements over their predecessors: - 07 Blackout - AOE Grimlock - ROTF Jetfire - DOTM Shockwave - ROTF The Fallen - DOTM Megatron still has room for improvement but still a huge upgrade on the original I also think the following figures are pretty huge upgrades: - AOE Lockdown - AOE Drift - DOTM Soundwave - TLK Hot Rod - 07 Ironhide - ROTF Megatron - DOTM Sentinel Prime - AOE Galvatron The way Studio Series delivers incredible, CG-accurate sculpts is really impressive to me. I love finding details I didn't even know were there!
This is one of my favorite upgrades of all, as I love the DOTM Soundwave design! I was so thrilled to get the cancelled Deluxe back in 2011 (or maybe 2012?) for roughly $30 shipped from Japan. Imagine my excitement regarding the SS release!
It might be me being neurotic, but this is by far my biggest concern as I dip my toe back in the hobby. Haven’t purchased a figure in years, not since either Machine Wars Optimus Prime or Beast Wars Polar Claw, can’t remember which. Outside of a G1 Vortex that I broke because I was impatient and forgot how it transformed, I can’t remember a single Transformer that just broke from wear and tear, let alone transforming it once or twice. That’s without even going into yellowing plastic. My father collected Lionel trains, and there were two specific pieces from the era he collected that were known for yellowing, one was released in 1959-60, the other in 1964. It never happened again. I’m not angry or frustrated, rather… perplexed (I think)?
2018 AOE Grimlock for sure. The only thing its predecessors had over it is the battle staff. Blackout is a big step up. 2007 Megatron is a big step up over the original 2007 voyager, just oddly missing the arm gun. Jazz and Lockdown are a lot better than the original movie figures too IMO. Lockdown just needs the face gun.
Excluding Bumblebees, All of them? SS Barricade is the only figure that is a worse representation of a character than one of its predecessors (DOTM deluxe). Unpopular opinion, I know.
Seems all of the comments so far are about Bayverse figures but I want to include some from the 86 Movie and Bumblebee. Bayverse Jazz 86 Jazz. Both of those Jazz figures did it with style. 86 Slag. I love the large size of the Dinobots. It really suits their brutish natures . 86 Sludge BB Ravage. Great to finally get a Ravage figure at retail with an articulated jaw. B-127. I never liked Bumblebee until the 07 movie and it's great to get a nice Cybertronian mode Bee. BB Arcee. A touch of IDW Arcee, dual pistols and a nice attempt at a more realistic, less cartoony version of the G1 character. BB Wheeljack. I was so impressed, I traded on my Earthrise Wheeljack that I hadn't gotten long before. BB Ratchet. I really liked the designs in Bumblebee and he doesn't look out of place with an IDW or Prime crew. BB Starscream. I love the Siege Seeker mold but the colours are a bit bland, not helped by the battle damage muck. BB Starscream has a nice vibrant colour scheme more befitting of a typically vain Screamer. After Bayverse Starscream, it was great to get a recognisable version of Starscream and I like the face sculpt. I just wish Thundercracker and Thrust had used that face sculpt too.
