This topic is inspired by my love of Beast Wars and some people's extreme dislike of Beastformers. There are Beastformers in every Transformers series, not just the Beast Era so I'm generally curious what people like about some Beastformers and hate about others because the concept of Beastformers being stupid because the original were all vehicles is of course complete BS. I thought this might actually lead to a sensible discussion about what the differences are between the versions. I'm eventually going to list every Beastformer for every series but for now I'm just going to be sticking with characters from G1.

Cassettes: Laserbeak, Ravage, Buzzsaw, Ratbat, Slugfest, Overkill, Steeljaw, and Ramhorn

I dislike them because they don't have any proper robot modes except for the Predacon version of Ravage who I actually do like. Though technically BW Ravage does not have a proper Beast Mode, the toy does but the animation model still transformed unrealistically into a cassette.

Note: I'm talking about Predacon Ravage because he's an upgraded version of the original Ravage. I just covered both versions in the same post rather than mentioning the same character in two separate posts.

Dinobots: Grimlock, Slag, Sludge, Snarl, and Swoop

In terms of design I like them. They're some of the better G1 Beastformer designs. But character wise I've never liked the constant "Me <insert name here>" talk from all of them. Plus they generally stay in beast mode without any explanation. Though with their simple brains my guess would have to be that they stay in Beast mode most of the time because they keep forgetting that they're actually robots and not real dinosaurs.

Insecticons: Bombshell, Shrapnel, and Kickback

Possibly the worst designs for insect Transformers. The legs looked very odd in beast mode with the large boxy upper legs and the skinny little lower legs. The robot modes don't really leave much of the insect kibble so you can't even really tell that they are insects. Actually you'll find I really don't like the boxy designs on a lot of G1 Beastformers. It worked for vehicle transformers because they're generally boxy anyway but beasts look weird with boxy parts.

Sharkticons: Gnaw

Though I love the idea of Shark transformers these guys did not really look like anything and were the fattest robots ever. What kind of shark has legs anyway?

Allicons: I actually like these guys a little more than the Sharkticons. The designs are very similar but these look more like alligators than the Sharkticons look like sharks and they're not as fat looking. They also don't seem to suffer from the box syndrome that most G1 Beastformers have. I don't know why Sharkticons are more popular than these guys.

Predacons: Razorclaw, Rampage, Tantrum, Headstrong, and Divebomb

They may have box syndrome but I have to give these guys credit for being the founders of the Predacons.

Trypticon: He's a T-Rex and a city. I don't like him for the same reason I don't like the Cassettes. There's no proper robot mode.

Sky Lynx: Again, same as the Cassettes and Trypticon. Though this guy has some added hate for me because out of the Beastformers without proper robot modes he's got the simplest transformation. He's basically just a shuttle that grows body parts. Nothing really moves around. I don't understand why he's so popular.

Terrorcons: Hun-Gurrr, Rippersnapper, Blot, Sinnertwin, and Cutthroat

Now this is kind of a long one because some of them I like, others I don't. Hun-Gurrr, like the general design but could use a better color scheme. Rippersnapper is like an upgraded Sharkticon and does look much better though he still has that WTF walking shark factor. Blot has a stupid name, a fat looking robot mode, and a disproportionate unrecognizable alt mode. Seriously does anyone know what the heck Blot is suppose to be? From the tiny legs and huge arms I'd guess ape but that seems out of place in this group. Sinnertwin is my favorite in this whole group. Cutthroat I like too, at least you can tell what it is unlike Blot, but the bird mode doesn't really seem to fit. Plus I think the Predacon transformation code of "Terrorize" came from these guys.

Headmasters: Apeface, Mindwipe, Skullcruncher, Snapdragon, Weirdwolf, and Scorponok

Again I'm going to have to go down the list. Apeface suffers from sever box syndrome though I do kinda like the visor on his ape face. I think he might be the only Beastformer with a visor in beast mode. Mindwipe has a slight case of box syndrome but the way he's animated in the cartoon actually makes him look like the cleanest looking beast mode. He also has very organic looking wings and beast head sculpt. I could almost picture him as a Beast Era Transformer except he still has a very boxy robot mode which is not common for Beast Era Transformers. Scullcruncher, OK design, don't really love it or hate it. Lets call him the middle zone. Snapdragon actually has an odd design. His robot mode shoulders and color scheme give off the impression that he transforms into a rocket but the shoulders are the upper legs of his beast mode. The plus side is that it gives him a more rounded look rather than the box look. But I do really wish he was a triple changer. Weirdwolf, now we're back to the box syndrome though despite his rather boxy looking robot mode his beast mode doesn't really look that bad. Scorponok I have to give some credit for being the inspiration to a different Scorponok but he's actually my least favorite incarnation of the character. He might be the biggest and I don't really have too much of an issue with the design other than the box syndrome but he does have one thing I don't like that all the Headmasters share. I don't really like the Headmaster gimmick. I like it for Animated when the point was to remove a robot's head and take over their body but the idea of making the robot more powerful and having the heads transform into little robots I just think is dumb. I don't mind targetmasters because if the targetmaster get's destroyed you're just disarmed. If a headmaster gets destroyed then the robot can't function properly. Also I think Apeface has his beast mode face on the back of his robot mode head which makes no sense because then he would be useless without the Headmaster in both modes. I don't think the toy is like that because all the headmasters have the same transformation but he's drawn that way in the cartoon. It looks like there's a second face in the back of his head.

Clones: Pounce and Wingspan

I gotta say I really like the idea of identical twin robots with different alt modes. I don't understand how that can possibly work without their alt mode kibble showing up in robot mode but it's just an interesting idea. And they're not bad looking robots or beasts.

(I'll start going over all the Beast Wars characters on page 2.)

So if you're a Beast Era hater tell me why you don't hate any of these guys.

If you're a Beast Era lover then just tell me generally why you like or dislike any of the characters on this list.

 

I'm fine with robotic Beast modes like the Dinobots. What I dislike are organic Beast Modes. The only Beast Wars figure I owned was K9 and that's only because I'm a sucker for german shepherds. One saved my life when I was five.
It isn't even that I dislike animal toys. I used to collect toy dogs and I still pick one up every once in awhile. I like animal toys and I like robot toys, but I really don't like to mix the two for some reason. I want my robots to be fully robotic in looks and I want my animals to be fully animal. Robot action figures shouldn't have fur. If I want a furry robot I have my Furbys. I don't hate Beast Wars and I don't have anything against those who do. It's just not for me.

 

I don't know if this is the right subject, but I've been wanting to say this and this is about as close as I can find. (I mean, it has to do with Beast Wars' lasting influence and design innovations verses today) I am dying to see true beast Transformers again. Not blocky, robotic approximation of animals like the characters you described, but actual animal Transformers that exist for a different purpose than typical cars. Cybertron's beast planet guys had some good, if a little basic in areas, beast Transformers. I wish we could have some good, organic-styled beasts return. At least Beast Hunters is attempting animals again, if not in that way.

I'm really tired of every Transformer turning from an articulated robot into just an immobile square or plane shape. Beast Hunters to me is almost there, but not quite. All of them seem very similar, I mean they're all dragons, but the aethetic is just too generic and all play by the same rules. I always loved how Beast Wars, despite being over fifteen years old, had some really unique ideas for how to get robot into an animal. Plus, all the Predacons in Beast Hunters are just four-legged dragons. There's no variety.

I really want a return to varied and unique beast TFs. I want four legged, six legged, two legged, and no-legged animals instead of just dragons. Or bugs. Or at least real bugs instead of loose kind-of-like-a-grasshopper-if-you-squint. There's really only two kinds of "beasts" today: bugs and dragons/monsters. It seems... lazy. Like you don't have to put as much thought into how things move if every part has the same generic aethetic. I think that's why Transmetal 2's aren't as popular. There was no line between modes like before, they were patchwork monsters in nboth forms. 9I mean, that was the point and everything, but still) I don't want Beast Wars remembered for just being beasts, I want it remembered for it's unique and varied take on the subject. I want beast Transformers done right again.

 

I actually can't believe I forgot to mention this in my first post but one thing I love about Beastformers over vehicles is that they're more mobile. Having 4 legs does have advantages over having 4 wheels. As a car you only really have one option of attack, drive over your opponent. As a beast you can jump up, pounce on them, scratch, and bite. If you jump off one cliff onto another. As a car if you miss you're screwed. As a beast you can actually use your claws to pull yourself up. And you'll never see a beast getting stuck in the mud.

Even being a bird has an advantage over a plane. Talons. You can pick things up and carry them off without even stopping to land.

Beast modes just seem better for combat than a vehicle which is really only good for getting from one place to another faster than walking. Unless you're a military vehicle that's armed with weapons then I'd rather be a vehicle than an animal.

There also seems to be a larger variety of beasts to choose from. I do agree that it kinda sucks all the Prime Predacons are Dragons but I do find it unusual no one ever complains about the lack of variety in vehicle modes. They've been reusing the same vehicles over and over again for almost 29 years. Sure there are different makes and builds but a car is still a car no matter who makes it. When are we ever going to see a bus, or a submarine, or any other vehicle that we haven't seen 1,000 times over.

I'll get into my thoughts on the organic beast modes later. I just wanted to say that because it's generalized to all Beastformers rather than any specific generation of Beastformers.

 

I know how you feel. I got back into Transformers because of Beast Wars and I think it was a amazing toy line, at least until TM2. With today's technology we could get some decent looking and poseable Beastformers. Out of the whole CHUG line we only got two beast molds, Dinobot and Cheetor. I only own Dinobot, but I think it's a really good figure. Hasbro should continue this trend.

 

I really think the best thing Hasbro could do is release a mixture. Some Beast mode Transformers for those who like them and some vehicle mode Transformers for those who prefer them. Nothing says the Transformers line has to be all vehicles or all beasts.

 

This reasoning is why I desperately want the Prime Hardshell/Insecticons to get a release. While gigantic, their design is literally just a giant hercules beetle. No pointless and tacked on techy details, very smooth and organic.

But I never really enjoyed the robotic beasts, like the cassettes or the Jungle Planet in Cybertron. Characters like Predaking generally get a pass from me because their gimmick is what sways my opinion.

 

Well every Transformers series except for Beast Wars already is a mix of both. I kinda wander is that the problem with Beast Wars? Because it's ALL beasts and not just some beasts as supporting characters?

 

I'd really love it if Beasts make a full on return to the toyline, completely replacing G1 remakes, more focus on non-vehicular characters, just, less what we have now, mix it up. We've had 5 years of nothing but the secondary toy lines having nothing but G1 characters, and only 2 Beast Wars characters.

 

What about the G1 beast pretenders, which is pretty much exactly what beast wars is, just with their shells integrated into their robot modes?

 

*imagines a Big Convoy toy that's not a shell-former*  ream:

 

That would be my guess. If you make a line all beasts or all vehicles you tend to alienate those who dislike one or the other. I think a lot of the whole Trukk Not Munky bullshit came about because during most of the Beast era there wasn't much if anything for those who preferred vehicle modes. I can kind of understand a lot of people's frustration during that era.

 

Non-BW G1:
I dislike the Dinobots, the Insecticons, and the like. I don't like how they're employed, but I also dislike most of G1. But because I am a Beastformer fan, they take a particular hit for me. Same goes for Headmaster Beasts, Terrorcons, Pretender Monsters and such.

The Cassettes though I prefer to pretend that they're not only Minicons, but tamed Cybertronian fauna. Just for the hell of it: Terrestrial (Earth) creatures are united in being 'carbon-based', let's just say that's our "gimmick"; well Cybertronian creatures are united in being 'transformers'. As a bird, or lion or a human are all Terrestrial, and are carbon-based; Buzzsaw or Steeljaw or Bumblebee are all Cybertronian, and are transformers. Just because a transformer is Cybertronian, doesn't make it humanoid; same as how just because an organic animal is Terrestrial, doesn't make it a Hominid.

And the reason the cassettes are so small (including Eject/Rewind and Frenzy/Rumble) are because they're Minicon/Midget/Pygmy "versions" of each.

Beast Wars:
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE!

Not so much the Transmetals (I'd love to see non-Transmetal versions of Transmetal only figure, like Stinkbomb, or Dragon Megatron).

Fuzors I'm a fan of, it's an interesting go, and I'd really like to have some (had Terragator as a kid, and LOVED the beast mode).

Beast Machines:
Love the show, love the Technorganic concept, hate the Technorganic toys, sorely. Until better toys are released: fiction only for me (sans Universe Blackarachnia, I NEED her for a "Halloween" team).

HOWEVER! A huge exception goes to the Beast Machines Dinobots, apart from Rapticon and Terranotron, I like those since they are essentially Beast Wars (Neo) toys, also dinosaurs (+1!).

Cybertron:
I'm a fan of the "Colony Worlds" idea. Not too big on how the toys for the line were pulled off in general, but I love the ideas for the respective planets' denizens evolution from typical Cybertronian bodies. Jungle Planet is a big one for me, because BEASTS! I really like the Scourge character, and I like how this concept inspires the Aligned verse (more on that in a bit).

Animated:
I know what they tried for Elita-1/Blackarachnia, but I'm not too big into the only way a Beastformer exists is through genetic modification (Waspinator). They had pets like Zaur and Steeljaw, but they're also acknowledged to be Cybertronian fauna (similar to my idea in my G1 section above).

 

I always prefer organic beasts to robotic ones. Cybertronian/Transmetal/etc. always feels like a cheat, you don't get a "real" beast.

 

I never minded the organic beast modes. Never got the hatred of them, but I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion. One thing I never got tired of during the beast era was the freaky nature of the designs. Even some of the chewed carmel heads looked so freaky, I just loved it.

 

OK I'm a little late on this but it's time to go into my thoughts on Beast Wars designs. Before I get into individual characters I'd just like to say in general that I prefer the organic looking beast modes. They are suppose to be robots in disguise and it's not much of a disguise if their beast modes are robotic looking. Though the plus of the disguise aspect is kinda lost when they take on forms of extinct creatures like dinosaurs or when their beast modes are not in scale with the real animals. That being said I think you'll know who my favorite Beastformer is before I even start talking about him.

Optimus Primal: I always found this one interesting because he's able to walk on 2 legs in both modes and is the only beast with possible thumbs. He kinda inspired the idea for Transformers with human alt modes. Not like Pretenders who still transform into cars and stuff but wear a human shell but like Sari and Alice where they actually transform into a human alt mode. His original transformation is kinda simple but effective.

The Transmetal design I've always liked the "vehicle mode" which is not really a vehicle. Again something I'm thinking people hate about these. The one thing I didn't like about Transmetals was the organic looking robot modes. I don't mind the robotic beast modes here because they've been around for so long by the time they get them that the disguise aspect isn't really relevant anymore. There's really no reason for the organic looking robot modes.

Optimal Optimus is my favorite. I really liked his vehicle modes. I can understand why a lot of people don't like it but it's not suppose to be an Earth vehicle and some submarines have mechanical claw arms so Optimus having working hands in vehicle modes is really not that horrible.

BM Optimus Primal (Yeah again, I'm going to talk about every form here rather than mentioning every character who was in both series twice.) I always though this was a downgrade rather than an upgrade. He's a lot smaller than his previous body and doesn't even look like Optimus anymore. At least the TM version still had the basic shape of his original helmet design. I wish they did something like that for this Optimus. I also didn't like this design because it's suppose to be a blend of organic and machine but it just looks completely organic to me. Almost as if he's an alien gorilla.

Rhinox: I like the design except for one thing. He was the biggest Maximal which makes sense given he's a rhino but he actually could have been bigger. This is where there's a size issue with the beast mode. Though I suppose he could be accurate if the rhino he scanned was not fully grown yet. I just don't think he's big enough to be an adult sized rhino.

Dinobot: Now this is an odd one because his original form had some almost organic elements in the robot mode. His legs had that "rib cage" thing and his sword looks like a spinal cord. But I kinda like it. It almost makes it seem like he killed a raptor and used it's parts to make his beast mode. He didn't and that would be creepy for someone who spends most of the series as a Maximal but that's what it looks like. Of course his beast mode is extinct so it's not much of a disguise.

The TM2 version I really liked because it took that skeletal factor and exaggerated it even more. He just looked so creepy and I loved it. But it wasn't really organic more like the Terminator. Metal bones. In terms of more robotic looking beasts he's my favorite.

Cheetor: In case you didn't guess by now this is the one I was hinting at above. I've always loved the scene of him running along side a pack of real cheetahs. It showed that he at least was accurate in size to his beast mode and makes it the best disguise.

TM Cheetor I freaking love. His robot mode isn't as organic looking as some of the others.

TM2 Cheetor is ugly as hell. You can't even tell he's suppose to be a cat anymore let alone a cheetah. Plus he's got that horrible hunch back in both modes. I don't mind the organic/robotic patch work aspect I actually kinda like it. Just wish he wasn't a hunch back and still had cheetah spots so you can tell what he's suppose to be.

His BM design is actually one of the few designs from that series I liked. He does retain the same problem of looking like an alien cheetah rather than a blend of robotic and organic. Of course none of his toys really do the show model justice.

Rattrap: Original design I always thought was weird having an exposed brain. It looks like he has an organic brain in that robot body. Plus he does retain his mouse teeth in robot mode. Still oddly enough he's the most robotic sense he's a shell former.

The TM design like Cheetor doesn't look very organic in robot mode except for the head which looks the same as the original. His "vehicle mode" actually does look like a vehicle. Not a real one but I think there was an old hot wheels car with a rat design that looked similar to him.

BM Rattrap is the only one that actually looks like a blend of robot and organic. His best mode has a small passenger seat built into his back though he can't actually take a passenger. Plus the robot mode has wheels and that flip down visor which he does use constantly. He still seems like a downgrade from his TM design but at least it accomplishes what it's suppose to be.

Tigatron and Airazor: Tigatron like Cheetor was seen along side a real tiger showing that he was accurate in size with his beast mode. Airazor had an almost organic robot mode with feathers and a beak design on her helmet. Some how that works for her.

And the reason I lump these two together, Tigerhawk. He's more tiger than hawk. Though the toy does have a feature where you can make his beast head look more like a bird. I kinda wish that's how he looked in the cartoon as it would of balanced him out a bit more.

Silverbolt: though I love his design, whats the point of looking organic when you have no real organic counterpart. The wings and talons kinda give away the fact that he's not a wolf.

BM I was kinda disappointed at the loss of his wolf parts. The alien animal designs would of been great for a fuzor because then you could almost imagine that a half wolf, half condor could actually exist on another planet. And I also thought it was odd that his robot mode looks like a samurai. Major downgrade from his original design. I even preferred Jetstorm but he's not a Beastformer so kinda off topic.

Depth Charge: He just looks robotic in both modes. And his "Vehicle Mode" actually looks similar to his ship.

Megatron: Now we're really going to start having issues. What kind of a disguise is a tiny purple T-Rex? Very fitting beast mode for Megatron but worst disguise ever.

TM Megatron better but I never liked his butt fans. I think he has the worst "vehicle mode" of any of the Transmetals.

TM2 turns into a dragon. This was the only one who didn't retain his original beast mode when being upgraded in Beast Wars and the new beast mode is a mythical creature. A very organic looking mythical creature. But I actually like the design even though it's so off.

BM Megatron was suppose to be like the TM2 version except it was a little different because of experiments trying to rid himself of his beast mode and Optimus trying to forcibly reformat him. I hate the robot mode though cause he was kinda trapped there and looked really vulnerable in that control harness.

Scorpinok: His robot mode isn't very robotic, he's way too big and oddly colored to be mistaken for a real scorpion. Though if he was actual size he wouldn't be much of a threat... at least to Transformers.

Tarrorsaur: Good design but extinct beast mode.

Tarantulas: Same problem as Scorponok with being too large and oddly colored. Sense he apparently has different origins than the other Maximals and Predacons I kinda like the organic head design.

TM design looks completely robotic to me except for the head which already looked like that to begin with.

Waspinator: Kinda ruins the uniqueness of Tarantulas. I've never liked Waspinator anyway, he's just an idiot. On the plus side at least his color scheme isn't part of the reason he can't pass as a real wasp.

Ironically Waspinator also had a briefly seen Beast Machines design with Thrust's head on an some what accurately sized wasp's body. I'm surprised no one has customized a BM Buzzsaw to make this.

Blackarachnia: I really like her original design. Unlike Tarantulas her beast mode is at least colored to look like an actual black widow. The only problem is it's still too big. None of the Predacons understand disguise.

TM2 design looks completely robotic and is one of the best designs in the show.

BM has hair in robot mode... and 6 eyes... which is kinda cool and freaky and disturbing all at the same time. She also has a giant... yeah you know... I don't like big butts and that song is a spoof of itself.

Inferno: Though he is not a Transmetal of any kind I always use to confuse him for being Transmetal because his beast mode doesn't look very organic. Maybe it's the ant body being in such a large size. I do like his robot mode though.

Quickstrike: In a way I like the design and in a way I don't. It's just a scorpion with a cobra for a tail. They didn't put much thought into the fuzor aspect of the design. But he does have a robotic looking beast mode with all the segments in the tail. Has an organic looking robot mode too with that head sculpt.

Rampage: Very organic looking robot mode. Robotic beast mode. Vehicle mode that actually looks like some kind of tank rather than beast mode with extra parts slapped on.

Over all I like the idea of Organic looking beast modes if they can actually help the disguise aspect of the Transformer. But the robotic looking designs have their place too. And I do love the robotic designs here because unlike G1 not a single one of these guys suffers from box syndrome. In fact from this point onward there are no more beastformers with box limbs.

Page 3 I'll be covering Beast Machines Maximals that I didn't already talk about here.

 

something to remember about beast wars;the alt modes were never meant for disguise in this series.it was for protection from energon overload

 

Actually it was both. Cheetor even said "Robots in Disguise" after realizing why the cheetahs were freaked out by the giant wasp. Even though they dropped the disguise aspect for the entire rest of the series I thought it was still worth mentioning.

I'd actually like to see some Beast Wars type designs for Transformers set in modern times. Give all the Maximals beast modes based on Farm animals, pets, anything that is tamed. Actually have some living in these places without the humans knowing about them. I kinda think it would be funny if Mach Kick was racing on a horse track and then just suddenly bucked off his rider, transformed, caught the rider in mid air, set him down on the ground, and then took off to go fight with other Maximals. Or if the "kid friendly" character was a golden retriever who is the pet of the main human character. Just kinda makes sense for the kid friendly character to be a kid's dog. And they're usually yellow kid friendly characters so golden retriever. And you could still do the more robotic looking beasts later on after everyone knows about the Transformers. I think the Predacons would take on Beast modes of wild animals, anything people don't normally keep around their houses. I was also thinking to get around the size issue they could pull a trick from Megatron and Soundwave. Insects would only be tiny in beast mode, robot mode they'd be full sized robots. Not the best idea there but there's really no other choice, either mass shifting or giant insects.

 

I really like that idea for some reason. It might make for a good show.

 

So this topic seems to have died a bit and I figured I'd just get to Beast Machines a little early sense I was late on Beast Wars. So just in general I hate that their transformations are not really possible. I mean the cartoon just has a magical light change them rather than any kind of actual transformation.

Nightscream: looks like a vampire with a horrible hair cut.

Savage/Noble: The only Mutant that I actually like and ironically not an official Mutant. The Mutants from the BW toy line were transforming beasts that change from one beast mode to another and have no robot mode. The main reason I like this one is because Noble is not a proper beast mode. He's like a wear wolf walking on two legs. Plus I just like the concept of him being a Maximal or "Predacon" depending on what form he's in. I don't like referring to non-vehicles as Vehicons. It's still not really a proper robot mode either.

Botanica: Technically not a Beastformer but she still falls into that category of organic Transformers. She's also one of the most unique Transformers ever because 12 years later and she's still the only plant. Every other alt mode that has been used has also been repeated on multiple characters except for this one. Now that being said I don't really like her. Both modes look like an alien plant woman wearing some weird plant dress. I can hardly tell the difference between robot and plant mode. On the plus side she does pull off the mix of robotic and organic quite well but I think this is part of the problem with her two modes looking so similar.

Basically I fully understand why so many people hate the Beast Machines designs. Cheetor is really the only good one in there. I think I would understand the hate for Beastformers more if it were directed all on Beast Machines rather than Beastformers in general.