In the last couple of days, I have been looking at some reviews and getting some of the generations toys and AoE hound. There are a couple of trends that are kinda weird that I am noticing:

1- Is Hasbro trying to do away with Deluxes?
I doubt it, but the reason I ask is because they seem the most compromised. The new legends scaled figures feature some really nifty transformations, they are upscaled, they have good paint apps, and they have some heavy duty plastic to them.

When was the last time you said that about a Deluxe?

In addition, the same thing can be said for Voyagers. The Voyagers of late have been really nice as well. I mean, besides Hasbro's sloppy QC, the figures themselves are top notch. While a couple can use more paint. They are nailing those as well.

So what's the deal with Deluxes?

2- So we all know about more simple transformations. From what I am seeing in the AoE line, more simple transformation means, no transformation or very little transformation steps in the legs.

Granted I haven't looked at too many figures, but evasion prime's leg kinda unfold more then anything. AoE Hounds feet rotate and that is it.

Other then that, the transformations (I think) are pretty damn good, at least for the Voyager figures. A lot better then I expected in this new age of Hasbro.

TBH, I see Hasblow, but to me, besides all the QC BS (yeah, I know, dead horse, broken record) Hasbro has done a great job stepping up. Sure I can focus on all the crap they released, but the stuff that is targeted to me as a collector, I am happy with.

I rather not commend on 1 steppers, as they are clearly not aimed at me. And as a collector, my son knows how to transform figures, so for me to comment on him won't be fair either. He could always play with my stuff anyway.

 

The power battlers from AOE is the new Deluxe. Pricing is identical.

They moved the old deluxe we're familiar with to the generations category and raised the price to more than 10 percent.

 

Hasbro is moving to make the "traditional" Deluxe/Voyager/Leader toys a niche-ier product for older kids and fans.

The simpler lines, like One-Step Changers, Power Battlers and Flip & Changers, are intended to be the new bread-and-butter of the franchise, and as such are getting the focus of advertising.

 

I hope Deluxes aren't going to get totally sidelined as they're usually the size class I buy the most of. It was bad enough Generations went TRU exclusive here and have now been hiked to £14.99 for AoE, but I'd hate for all Deluxes to be like that in the future. It's the kind of thing that would reduce my future TF buying even further than it already is. I just don't have enough enthusiasm left for TF these days to make those special trips out to my nearest TRU (about twenty miles away) like I used to just to find Deluxes.

 

To be honest, I've found all of the AoE Generation Deluxes to be pretty great quality figures so far. Strafe stands out as my favorite in the line so far, with Scorn not far behind. Only one I didn't care for and haven't decided if I really want it at all is Bumblebee, he didn't turn out so hot to me.

As for the leg transformations, I have no problem not having to spend like 90 steps just to get everything to line up in the right spot. That's sometimes ok on larger Masterpiece figures with bigger more complex pieces, but that kind of thing on smaller toys is a pain in the butt to me, so I don't mind if all it takes is to unfold, twist a few joints, raise the feet, and then stand.