So a basic problem with a good number of figures today is large backpacks, unnecessary pauldrons, car parts hanging off of arms, etc. Would anyone be opposed to figures using parts-forming to allow figures to look relatively accurate to their on-screen or on page counterparts? I don't mean anything on Big Convoy levels of removable kibble, but something like a removable backpack on leader Optimus with a contrived shield mode or something like that.
It doesn't bother me too much. If the parts transform into something usable it's perfectly fine, IMO.
I dislike parts forming. I'd rather have kibble but I'd rather have a better transformation engineering.
Yay. Just look at FOC Bruticus and Beast Hunters Abominus. Those dudes need some serious gestalt kibble partsforming
Ben going on since G1 just like repaints people are ridiculous about things like it's something brand new. Also, combiners look better with stuck on parts rather than sticking them inside a mold and limiting it's robot and vehicle mode. Kibble isn't a problem for me I do like to tell what the thing was before it transformed, kibble isn't the same as just hunks hanging off the back.
With how many modern on-screen robots are clearly designed without an actual transformation in mind, having pop-off kibble that turns into weapons or whatever might not be that bad of an idea, if in a "lemons into lemonade" way.
It should be avoided if at all possible. Seems like a cheat today. We've come a long way since G1. Look at the MP-11's cannons or MP-22's all in one transformation. I guess Kobayashi & co. couldn't avoid that butt flap for whatever reason, time, budget, but my OCD brain would rather leave it there than remove it for display purposes. When there must be separate parts, especially weapons, they should be hidden in or a part of alt mode in some way. I love how MP Rumble/Frenzy's piledrivers can be worn on their backs or clipped on Soundwave's forearms in bot mode when not in use and used as connectors for Soundwave's alt mode who also stores their guns in this mode. Very clever and cool.
I am not a big fan of parts-forming. I feel figures should slide, flip etc. into their vehicle or robot modes. If it comes down to characters poorly designed for transformation then, well, make something out of that kibble. I would prefer if toys had a character that doesn't require parts-forming. I say nay most of the time.
^^^Amen^^^ One of the things I couldn't stand about AoE. Didn't even look good. Wasn't there already a low rent TF knockoff called Transmorphers?
The problem since '86 with The Movie character toys has been that too many TFs are designed backwards, for media first, by artists, not engineers. That gets handed to the toy designers who then have to worry about media accuracy and engineer something that actually works, which can lead to some crazy compromises. The toy designers should be consulted with on the creation of every TF.
Yeah, I saw it on a shelf once but valued my time too much to actually watch it. Regardless, I agree that we were cheated out of some transformations in the new movie, but that is essentially the highest evolution of partsforming. Just breaking down into smaller and smaller bits to fit both modes that dont even have to go together. There is Kre-O for partsforming enthusiasts. Real TRANSFORMERS shouldn't have engineering constrained to fit nostalgia or lack of thought when its quite possible to make most/all designs work on a somewhat large scale (if required). G1 designs are plausible with no partsforming. Hell, they made ROTF Prime not partsform, and he's almost perfect in both modes. If/when we get an MP combiner, the pro-partsformer people will be upset, since TT is well on track to getting rid of that crap. Just look at Ultra Magnus.
I don't really mind it as long as it isn't the majority of the figure. Sometimes i see it is clever that the weapon becomes part of the beast/vehicle. I enjoy how weapons on beast wars toy become parts of the beast mode.
The only time there should be partsforming is if the parts form weapons/accessories for the character... NOT limbs, hands, arms, so on. Which some might not call partsforming, I guess. A perfect example is Battle Blades Prime or Buster Prime.
Yes. If part transform and the kibble becomes a gun, shield or some other stuff that is relevant to the figure that is fine. But if parts are to set aside then a big NAY.
