Magic Square Jazz
Newage Skyfire
Newage Cyclonus
Newage Comic Deco Megatron
FT Tesla 2.0 (I have a Perceptor soft spot)

Honorable mentions: MMC Carnifex Reissue; MS Menasor since I just completed it last month

 

fun seeing so many different takes!

 

I didn’t give a real answer so far, so here is my real answer:

None. I think. D:

I’m at the point now, I think (and have been for awhile), where I am just basically filling in gaps and holes and side-grading.

MMC’s Reformatted stuff was the most fun for me. Sucks it’s slowing down/ending.

So if I *had* to choose — it’d be any of Reformatted stuff that I got during the last year. And maybe PX’s Grimlock.

 

I had to catch up a bit this year and bought some older figures. Amongst them are some great 3P bots (MMC Saltus, MMC Zinnia, MMC Omne, BC Steamroll, FT Hunk, FT Jabber, KO MP47). But I guess this is only about figures from 2022. So my top 5 atm would be:

1. XTB Janssen (Destroys his competitor; best accessories ever.)
2. FT Chomp (Don't have him and won't buy him because I hate the Headmasters concept, but I love how this guy looks.)
3. FT Phantom (I've just ordered him today. He's got the best and most toon accurate headsculpt of all 4 MP Mirages.)
4. FT Rig (Lovely little fella.)
5. MMC Tempo (I prefer the tapes to be human sized, but this Steeljaw is very tempting. When the regular version comes out it will be hard for me to resist.)

There have been a lots of great looking Legends, but I don't collect them and just have limited knowledge, so my post is a out MPs only.

 

Damn, did he come out this year? Feels longer. I really suck at these figure of the year discussions because I can never remember just how far back the year goes so I'm always just thinking of the last two or three months. But yeah, if MST Devy was this year, then I can't think of anything that I would consider to top him.

 

I got back into it this year after selling most of it a few years back, But i'd say this year's favorite is Newage Toon Ymir, I love this guy

 

He was completed early this year  

 

MS Devastator and MS Prime v2.

 

I didnt get many TF figures. I might if bought 3-5

hmmm ?

Ft Rig
Ft Outrider
Ft Phantasm
Ft/Rp Acoustic wave
Te Speed Star (Mirage
DS Blaster
FT Perceptor

all good , but not mind blowing

 

Gotta wait to see Jive first but xtb Caravaggio genuinely surprised my at how good it is. Wasn't expecting that level tbh.

 

Tie between: 1) Newage Cyclonus and Newage Jetfire. Stunning sculpt, great transformations and alt modes, and paint (for Cyclonus at least) is stellar.
2) Newage Grimlock - beautiful toon (or toy) accurate Grimlock with great articulation, proportions and in the case of the toy version, paint.
3) Newage Arcee - the best Arcee made at any scale - smart transformation, great sculpt and proportions.
4) Newage Starscream version 2.0 - stunning upgrade, great sculpt, transformation and paint.

For MPs, I feel they have been pretty meh this year, but Robot Paradise Soundwave was masterful (other than some tolerance issues and easy paint scratches).

 

Newage Hephaestus (Constructicons / Devastator) toy-color set, because it evokes the toy nostalgia from the '80s so well in the vehicles modes and combined, and has the right shades of purple and green for G1 toy (and likewise their toon set), tolerable transformation, and good materials.


(toon version for reference)



Fans Hobby Master Builder MB-14A Flame Breaker (Kap US coloration). Same reasons - G1 toy nostalgia, great transformation, colors, and materials.



Newage H44EX Ymir toy version Grimlock
aka Mini Grinder




Almost everything else I got in 2022 wasn't a 3P TF (or a TF at all, for that matter). Those three were great though.

 

RP-01 hands down. Was he released this year? I got him this year, so that should count. All around excellent figure with wonderful presentation. Feels great. Looks great. Transforms into a box adequately. Plus, he had big stompy feet.

 

Monocrat. This is the only figure I’ve ever purchased where I find myself just staring at it.

Once I transformed it into tank mode I just started laughing. It looks so goddamn good. The sculpted detail is so perfect, so well-layered. The paint adds such a degree of depth. And the overall design is so utterly Megatron. It embodies everything I wanted Megatron to be ever since I was a 9 year old kid back in 1984.

This isn’t my favorite figure of the year. This is my favorite figure, period.

 

My pick is also NA David. I didn't even plan on buying him- I bought a Darius off Taobao and they sent me a David instead- a more expensive figure! Needless to say I wasn't too upset. Over the months I've spent with him he's become one of my favorite transformers ever. When he's in my sight he doesn't leave my hands. I know that he has a double-chest, his arms are lame compared to later versions, and his trailer is kinda empty and shitty, but he might be the single most fun figure I own. The joints are great and the transformation is really just a joy- I love the way that you can transform the torso and legs independently and add them together as the final step! One final note- the paint is immaculate and hasn't scraped let alone chipped.

 

My feeling exactly on this, and i do also wish he came with a booster, the only missing accessory, but damn he is sooo beautiful and cool to own, even without the upgraded elbows...  

 

If it's gotta be specifically transformers, then Newage Ymir is probably my number 1 of the year, with Iron Factory's grimlock with a close second I bought Ymir on a whim just cuz I wanted a g1 grimlock but he surprised me out of the box. Great aesthetics, fantastic articulation, a very fun/simple transformation, and a decent amount of accessories? What's not to like!

Iron Factory's only a close second because I'm not too big on the dino mode and the fiddlyness of its kibble is annoying to handle. Other than that, this guy got shelf presence with his looks alone. Amazing paint job and not tk mention a super menacing samurai look that fits extremely well.

But, if I'm being honest, if we're extending the list to any transforming figure, the Metal Slug Transformer is definitely my figure of the year. While the transformation is a bit wonky in terms of the treads, it has been a while since I've handled a figure that has felt this great, not to mention a banger of a price you get him as! While there is back kibble, I personally don't mind, since i feel it's fitting for someone in metal slug to have a back pack. But man, this guy just looks and feels great; and he's extremely solid too! 100% reccomend this guy if you ever want a tank transformer in your display

 

@YellowGuy

I almost pulled the trigger on Metal Slug, and still consider him for the future, he seems much more worth it then most of the FT figures coming out. What kept me from pulling the trigger is that i am favoring toys that are 7" and smaller right now for my small remaining space left, and the robot mode of this being 9" tall, i dont have a place for him. I think if he was 5 - 7 " tall, that would be ideal for me to put him with my small Macross collection. I could keep him in tank mode too i guess, he is very sexy. I kinda wish they KO Downsized him, lol, but you make a very hard bargain, damn he looks awesome, thanks for sharing the pics.

 

Newage. Seems like all they've released this year has been money!

 

1. X-Transbots Hauler, Inferno, Grapple and Artfire
2. Moon Studio Radiatron
3. TFC Nuclear Blast Arctic Camo Ice Wolf.

With an planet eater sized nod to PlanetX Cacus