REPLIES: 102 comments
Hehe Sleep is for the weak :p good article :D!
Chestnuts roasted by Katie @ 09/03/2003 04:05 AM EST
darn i was just about to sugest ,a unicron article , and have you seen the heros of cybertron line its pretty sweet , i picked up two just tonight . keep the good work , your advanceing our culture , and in thease dark times thats what counts
Chestnuts roasted by snake @ 09/03/2003 04:06 AM EST
Transformers are cool and all, but I want to see some VISIONARYS or SUPER NATURALS! Hell yeah!
Chestnuts roasted by Godmachine @ 09/03/2003 05:54 AM EST
I waited around Wal*mart for close to four hours when they were bringing those glorious boxes out. I shelled out the cash right then.
I really don't care too much for armada (I've got Starscream, HotShot, and Smokescreen and they were all gifts. I won't buy that shitty ass prime, it makes me sick!) But I had to get Unicron. I mean..COME ON! IT'S THE PLANET MUNCHING BASTARD BOT FROM HELL!!!
It was a pretty price to pay, but I did without food, drink, and masturbation for a week afterward. (I think I was spent after the twisty tie incident.)
Chestnuts roasted by Frantic @ 09/03/2003 05:56 AM EST
If toy stores deamed the hell pit I live in worthy enough to exist, I would surely go down and buy a unicron after reading your article. 26 security twists...wow.
Chestnuts roasted by Jenicron @ 09/03/2003 06:06 AM EST
Spiffy. I've never been a Transformers fan (I was born when the craze was halfway finished), but that's a damn cool toy.
Chestnuts roasted by Paul @ 09/03/2003 06:07 AM EST
Come to think of it...
Are you going to be reviewing any part of the TMNT revival on the site, Matt? Maybe just sit down and watch an episode of the new series or something. X-Entertainment could always use more Turtles.
Chestnuts roasted by Paul @ 09/03/2003 06:09 AM EST
Mmmm, Unicron. I wasn't aware there were prototypes of the big orange pac-man -- man, those would have been some ugly toys. Look how round bellied the UniProtos are! If Orson Wells weren't dead, I'm sure he'd be cranky that Hasbro portrayed his final effort as a jolly, robotic Santa, with a belly like a bowlful of cybertronian jelly. As for Armada, yech, don't waste your time. Minicons are essentially pokemon, and the noxious pile of multiracial kids they've got palling around with the Autobots really makes me wonder why giant robots would tolerate a bunch of hairy fleshbags leaving grease smudges all over their superior alien technology.
Chestnuts roasted by Biflspud @ 09/03/2003 06:52 AM EST
Good lord, that song melted my brain...
I hate you, Matt.
Chestnuts roasted by Evin @ 09/03/2003 07:18 AM EST
Matt, I am completely in love with you. You are the man of my dreams in every way.
Chestnuts roasted by BillyPeltzer @ 09/03/2003 07:50 AM EST
visionarys, super naturals. they werea pretty cool cool, pair of gimmick toys.
i remember they were a bit like transformers, (the supernaturals) (sort of) in that their hologram face would hange depending on the angle you held them at. i had a "ghostling" that changed from a punk to a wolf. it was pretty cool.
oh and their sword glowed in the dark. and their hands.
Chestnuts roasted by 'tin man @ 09/03/2003 07:59 AM EST
You can't judge Armada solely on the first batch of bad eps.
There were plenty of episodes in the original G1 series that were just as bad. Remember the episode where those alien people sung to fight the Decepticons with their appalling singing? Carnage in C-Minor. Go check it out if you want your head to explode.
And anyway, the usage of the kids have been cut back for the last 20 episodes or so.
There have been alot of good episodes, such as the character development of Starscream into a honourable Beast Wars Dinobot-style anti-hero, Hot Shot's abandonment of a comrade on Cybertron during the war and (not screened yet in the US), Prime's bloody death in defence Earth.
Transformers will never be stopped! Hasbro/Takara will have five different TF toylines by the end of next year! And with a possible live-action movie upcoming, it will rule the world! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Chestnuts roasted by FFN @ 09/03/2003 09:11 AM EST
Here's a link to a Japanese Unicron protoype. I'm not sure if it's ever made into a toy but it sure looks a gazillion times better than Santa Claus Unicron. Check it out...
http://hk.geocities.com/hkcybertron/UnicronTestShot.html
Chestnuts roasted by Belthazor @ 09/03/2003 09:29 AM EST
'toy lovers worldwide have been pining for this figure's creation for well over a decade. With the exception of the Star Wars' Death Star, I can think of no other plaything more universally thought of as "must be made."'
Just in case u didn't know (thought you've mentioned it b4, but maybe not), the Death Star was made. It was a cut out section with a big blue gun on the top and the orange trash compactor room on the very bottom.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3143702608&category=49008
Chestnuts roasted by Satiate @ 09/03/2003 09:47 AM EST
Matt, let me just be the first one to say it - I have no idea how you managed to avoid the temptation of putting those ultra-posable arms and fingers in dirty poses, but you're a better man than I, sir. Mine's on permanent display with one hand grabbing his crotch, the other held high, flipping the bird to mankind in general. He's a real bastard, that Unicron.
Chestnuts roasted by The Lucky One @ 09/03/2003 09:48 AM EST
I've actually got that one, Satiate. Still with the box, too. :) I was referring more to the actual Death Star -- planet-shaped and all. :)
Chestnuts roasted by Satiate @ 09/03/2003 09:50 AM EST
Speaking of masturbation, it's pretty hard to do looking at Unicron when those damnable "The Order" movies keep popping up :)
Chestnuts roasted by "That's gross, dude." @ 09/03/2003 10:07 AM EST
OMG!!!!1!!
I NEED THAT TOY!! I NEED IT!! AAAAAHHH!!!
Oh wait, i am not a Transformers fan.... Pretty cool stuff though, wish they were made like this when i was 8... 18 freaking years ago... *sob* feeling so old... 30's approaching... Hey but i still have all my hair :)
Chestnuts roasted by Molotov @ 09/03/2003 10:08 AM EST
I choked on my own spit when I saw that thing was AS BIG AS YOUR FRIKKIN HEAD!!! You say it's big in the article, but I had no sense of scale. Your sleep deprived skull is the perfect comparison. Thanks, I'm turning blue...
Chestnuts roasted by spazzamatic @ 09/03/2003 10:34 AM EST
he looks like a gay viking
Chestnuts roasted by msa @ 09/03/2003 10:47 AM EST
have unicron choke that cabbage patch kid and smoke a cigarette with you.
funny article
Chestnuts roasted by trhwh @ 09/03/2003 11:08 AM EST
Looking at that picture with the minicons along the ring of Unicron, something occurred to me--there are twelve of them, evenly spaced in a circle. That means that you can create your very own Unicron clock! A Cronometer, if you will.
Sorry. Had to get that off my chest.
Chestnuts roasted by Sean @ 09/03/2003 11:09 AM EST
Personally, I think the only general flaw is the wings. Not only do the Planet Mode 'shells' get in the way, there's no easy way to pose them. I made a vow that next time Unicron goes from Planet to Robot, the shells stay off.
And sure, most of the Minicon themed line is a marketing gimmick, but there's also a good chunk of stuff that's an awesome throwback to the older lines. Some of the Minicons can transform into weapons (Targetmasters!) and in some cases, transform into optional headpieces! (Headmasters!).
Sure there are a good and unfair chunk of repaints and over-used molds, but there's still the spirit of the older series in there...somewhere.
(Thundercracker = repainted Starscream, I act as if I think that's horrible and lame, but then again, look at G1.... My only real beef is that in straight-out repaints, they don't bother to give you a different Minicon!! I mean, sure with Megatron to Galvatron there shouldn't be a new Minicon, but with Thundercracker - Starscream? GAH! And oddly, they're releasing a THIRD Starscream based Decepticon (forget the name) only that it is slightly remolded and has a different Minicon.)
Sorry, bit of a rant. I'm only confused about two things:
Overload - A symbyotic Minicon/TF relationship??
Tidal Wave - Three parts. But not three TFs? Or are there three??
Chestnuts roasted by Ian Just Ian @ 09/03/2003 11:23 AM EST
Big Mac, Fillet-O-Fish, Quarter Pounder, French Fries.
Icy Coke, thick shake, sundae and apple pie.
Chestnuts roasted by klatubaradanikto @ 09/03/2003 11:29 AM EST
Since Hasbro bought out Kenner and gave thier Go-Bot line the bitch slap of being the Preschool line of Transformers toys the Gobos had no respect.
There was even the rumor that Dead End, Unicron's Minicon, was initialy going to be called Gobotron(a second biatch tap since this was the Gobot version of Cybertron).
I guess they re-thought this since Dead End sounded cooler for his orbiting moon robot.
Also to have these characters to scale wont you have to set the figures about a mile apart? People should play with toys.
Scale was such a weird thing to TF toys.
The first, and friggin best, Megatron the gun was depicted as shrinking enough for Soundwave to shoot him. Soundwave packing the Megatron pistol in that one hand pose was always great. Well, it was.
Bumblebee was at crotch level to the uber bots in the toon, yet kneehigh to most in the toy line. Thus he was much more desired in the cartoon as his height was... functional. He could have been the one called Pipes.
I digress...
I only wish they made Unicron's head removable to reinact the end of the movie.
That or give us a Spike soundchip where we can hear him scream "Shiiit!"... Wait there is no Spike in Armada... screw that noise.
Chestnuts roasted by Aconite @ 09/03/2003 12:44 PM EST
it needs a voice chip with olsen wells being bad ass
Chestnuts roasted by comhcinc @ 09/03/2003 12:49 PM EST
i dont think id pay fifty bucks for that,even if it is the bitchenest robot of them all....next to starscream.but then,i wouldnt buy any,cus i hate Armada.why,why did the feel the need to rape and destroy one of our greatest treasures!!
Chestnuts roasted by ANima @ 09/03/2003 12:56 PM EST
This TF looks incredible and I would buy this if my family wouldn't KILL me. (I buy too much crap!) But I have one question. I had a TF from the old line with the metal parts and it was a decepticon.(purple) But it was HUGE! and it turned into a tank, lion/panther, jet, gun and a robot. WHAT WAS THAT?! I have no clue since I got it at a thrift store or something and it had no box.
Chestnuts roasted by dethstryke @ 09/03/2003 12:58 PM EST
I don't think Unicron is so tough. Afterall, he's only one typo away from being called 'Unicorn'.
Chestnuts roasted by i was a lion @ 09/03/2003 01:27 PM EST
i want the big gray one.....uuuuuuuhhhhh.....i love transformers.....eehehehehheheeee for some reason i grew up with eighties cartoons and toys....yet im only 14?Straaaaange....i want a review on that episode of transformers when they all get turned into humans.....i think it was called only-human or summin
Chestnuts roasted by Rory @ 09/03/2003 02:21 PM EST
If Unicron is a planet sized robot and floats around in space, why does he need legs and feet? I can not imagine that there are any planets large enough for him to walk on.
Chestnuts roasted by Inverarity @ 09/03/2003 02:24 PM EST
The toy dethstryke is talking about is sixshot,
I love Matt's unbiased and purely subjective review of Unicron, but I can't throw stones, as soon as the planet-chomper shows up on the shelves I'm gonna find myself $40-50 shorter and walking around with a stupid grin on my face for about a week
Chestnuts roasted by slagmaker @ 09/03/2003 02:25 PM EST
im almost embarrassed to post this, but here is the whole damn thing:
Big Mac, McDLT, a Quarter Pounder with some cheese, Fillet-o-Fish, a hamburger, a cheeseburger, a Happy Meal, Mcnuggets, tasty golden french fries, regular or larger size, and salad, chef or garden, or a chicken salad oriental, Big Big Breakfast, Egg Mcmuffin, hot hotcakes and sausage, maybe biscuits, bacon, egg and cheese and sausage, danish, hashbrown too and for dessert hot apple pies and sundaes three varieties, A soft serve cone, three kinds of shakes, and chocolaty chip cookies please, and to drink a Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, an orange drink, a Sprite, a coffee, a lowfat milk and also orange juice..good time great taste...at McDonalds.
Chestnuts roasted by John @ 09/03/2003 02:57 PM EST
I guess this was the best route to go with Unicron. If had been made from diecast in the orignal Transformers line, he would've been insanely expensive. Fifty bucks is still a bit pricey, so I'm going to hold out on the chance he makes his way to the Land of Clearance.
Chestnuts roasted by Kool-Aid Man @ 09/03/2003 03:38 PM EST
I miss Mac Tonight :-(
Chestnuts roasted by Erin @ 09/03/2003 03:43 PM EST
Sorry for the possible double post here, but I thought the (paraphrasing) "Discuss this article with others" link at the end of the article was a nice touch. I was sorta reluctant to read this one, as I have no interest in Transformers, but there were references to Spaceballs, the McDonald's menu song and Atari's "Fun Is Back" ad campaign...so its ALL GOOD! :-p
Also, I want to mention that Carvel, Cookie Puss and Fudgie the Whale are all mentioned on the episode of Family Guy titled "Da Boom"
Chestnuts roasted by Erin @ 09/03/2003 03:59 PM EST
On twist-ties... You do realize that a nailclipper cuts through those suckers like butter, right? I just got the He-Man Mutant Slime Pit, and I had the Bone Warrior free in forty seconds as opposed to three minutes.
As for Unicron... Meh. He has the unenviable stink of Hot Rod all over him. As a Fantastic Four fan, he's just the Transformers equivilant of Galactus, and there's only room for one world eater in my room. Besides, I'd rather use my money for something far more important... Big O DVDs.
Chestnuts roasted by Aaron @ 09/03/2003 04:11 PM EST
I just purchased the new Jetfire TF for my nephew's birthday. By far (other than Unicron) the best TF armada to date. Obviously it does not compare to the original Jetfire, which, I believe, is the holy grail of Transformers...just an incredible toy that I will miss always....
Chestnuts roasted by tafmoney @ 09/03/2003 04:37 PM EST
I have to say, after their lousy movie, that it takes guts to call oneself a Fantastic Four fan.
I'm also glad I'm not the only one that picked up on the Unicron-Unicorn thing. Imagine a mistyping on Ebay? Some old lady would be very distressed to see a mean robot instead of a horned horse.
Chestnuts roasted by Sean @ 09/03/2003 04:49 PM EST
Did anyone else notice the egg in the article? One of the pics takes you to an Erasure mp3.
Chestnuts roasted by Scourge @ 09/03/2003 04:54 PM EST
Great review - keep working the transform, you'll get it down pretty easily. Tough the first time, easy after that. You may want to drop a few coins on some of the rest of Armada for the following reasons:
Overload - pretty cool robot mode, kind of a Headmaster/Targetmaster/Minicon gimmick, but it plays the original Transforming sound from the cartoon. Very cool.
Supercon Optimus Prime - very poseable, looks good, only $10 or less, and comes with a minicon that turns into a rifle and a jet.
Sideways - another cool first, a neutral double headmaster, with a head that turns him into an Autobot and one that turns him into a Decepticon. It's also probably an emissary of Unicron, too.
Wheeljack - very G1 like in robot mode, a cool car that was an Autobot but defected to the Decepticons.
Just a few suggestions. Unicron is amazing, well worth the $50 in my book. Get some weapon-like minicons (the Emergency Team or Air Military Team) to pose along the ring to make him super badass.
Tim
"toy geek"
Chestnuts roasted by TimToyGeek @ 09/03/2003 05:22 PM EST
Aconite: "Scale was such a weird thing to TF toys."
Well, there's a reason for that: the Transformers we know are actually two different Japanese toy lines. One, Microman, featured tiny robots that transformed into either toy cars or various other objects (this is where Bumblebee and the mini-Autobots, and Megatron and Soundwave came from). Prime, the rest of the Autobots and the Decepticon jets came from a separate line altogether that Hasbro smooshed together with Microman into one.
Chestnuts roasted by Hellpop! @ 09/03/2003 06:04 PM EST
Who would win in a fight: Big O or Unicron? Sure, Unicron can eat planets, but Big O has the whole big-ass-piston punch. And the android could eat the Armada kids or something.
Chestnuts roasted by Silly Golem @ 09/03/2003 06:25 PM EST
Just thought I'd add that I was going to pass on buying the big U - until I saw that last pic of him grasping Boba Fett. Fan-tastic.
This is the second time I've read this stupid article, I should really get a life.
Chestnuts roasted by i was a lion @ 09/03/2003 06:41 PM EST
I want Unicron but not baddly enoguh to shell out 50$. But im not a big transformer fan. Allthough i would have loved if you had said what it would have ment to have this thing as a kid. I love your memories
Chestnuts roasted by Jared @ 09/03/2003 07:11 PM EST
$50 For a TOY? Ive paid $20, Ive paid $30, and BAH GAWD, I've paid $40 for a toy, But I wouldnt shill out Half a hundred for that, unless it did my taxes, and mowed the grass
Chestnuts roasted by AL @ 09/03/2003 07:14 PM EST
Yeah dude Unicron rules, but i live in the america unfriendly england (toy wise)
god knows when he will be out here.
anyways unicron rules and as soon as i can afford him in getting him shipped from amazon.com
screw the price i need him to stand tall over my g1 prime
Chestnuts roasted by steve-o @ 09/03/2003 07:33 PM EST
damn i hate when people describe things with the word 'uber'. like..all the sudden its this super popular word that i hear ALL over the internet...AHH! its uber STUPID!
oh and in the old cartoon there was starscream, thundercracker, and skywarp, and now in armada they have the same figures, plus a totally different toy/character named thrust.
Chestnuts roasted by anti-uber man @ 09/03/2003 08:56 PM EST
That goddam McDonalds song! I still catch myself singing it in my head, but only up to the aforementioned "with some cheese" part because the rest was clearly gibberish. About beef patties and such. Hi, by the way. Long time reader, first time poster. Those lyrics really struck a chord, I guess.
Chestnuts roasted by Bestpersonever @ 09/03/2003 09:07 PM EST
Uber is almost as overused as "Mother of all _s" and "Xtrem ___s."
Did I miss the "Return to the 99 cent Store" article Matt promised us a few days ago? Love (reading about) those old expired foods.
Chestnuts roasted by Garrison @ 09/03/2003 09:23 PM EST
I'm with Erin - I watched "Transformers" occasionally as a kid, and my brother loves "Armada," but I'm not really into it now. However, I simply could not pass up the chance to gawk at a huge, expensive toy, especially one that's not likely to show up in the few department stores in South Jersey any time soon.
It may not be that gigantic, but it does still have some amazing features - and Matt, the pic you got of the flashing hand was really good. I congradulate you on your patience.
Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 09/03/2003 09:42 PM EST
This really has nothing to do with Unicron, although that was a very enlightening review. It's good to see that they finally figured out how to make the big guy. Anyway, do you like the Super Mario Bros Super Show? Do you also like Shabadoo? Well here they are, together at last. But the thing is this link doesn't work very well. If you can figure out how to watch the movie, go nuts!
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze73swu/mariodance.wmv
Chestnuts roasted by David S @ 09/03/2003 09:59 PM EST
Articulation in EACH finger and we didn't get a shot of him flipping us off? :O
Chestnuts roasted by marril159 @ 09/03/2003 10:00 PM EST
Hmmm, maybe Matt was spent after getting the glowing hand picture. I mean, I would have loved a glowing bird flipping extravaganza, but I don't mind too much.
Chestnuts roasted by Ian, Just Ian @ 09/03/2003 10:14 PM EST
I thought the McDonald's song was from an old Skee-Lo song. Remember Skee-Lo? He had one hit about being short and tall people picking on him?
Big Mac, McDLT, Quarter Pounder with some cheese, fillet-o-fish, cheeseburger, hamburger, happy meal, milk shake, diet coke - big or large or smaller size, and chicken oriental with salad on the side.
Chestnuts roasted by Jake @ 09/03/2003 10:15 PM EST
Actually, I'd already seen pics of the big boy online with the finger salute, so I figured I'd skip on it. He really can do it, though. And how! :)
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 09/03/2003 10:18 PM EST
First off, the Unicron toy is a must have IF you are a fan of the old or new series.
Second, as cool as the Japanese Grey Unicron prototype looks, there's a reason some people call him "Teenage Mutant Ninja Unicron". Half of his planet mode hangs off his back, much like shell of those green skinned heroes.
Chestnuts roasted by Steve @ 09/03/2003 11:06 PM EST
The fact that I know the guy who made that Unicron sprite edit at the top (Neroman) makes this a great article :)
Chestnuts roasted by Gavok @ 09/03/2003 11:45 PM EST
Hah, Google Image Search: a small world.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 09/03/2003 11:47 PM EST
Hey, The movie and Chris Claremont's run aside, Fantastic Four is a damn good book! I've got every issue. Every. God. Damned. Issue. I hunted 'em for YEARS.
And I'd put my money on Big O in that fight. When faced with a falling satellite, most giant robots would try to catch it. Not Big O. Big O punched the freaking hell out of it. THAT'S my kinda robot.
Chestnuts roasted by Aaron @ 09/03/2003 11:47 PM EST
HOLY SHIT THAT TOY IS NIFTY. I've been drooling for that thing to come out ever since I was a wee one back in 1987, and finally, FINALLY it comes out.
I'm convinced that there is indeed a God and a Devil. God made this happen, the Devil's priced it to be $50.
*Runs out to buy the toy that contains the lost spirit of Orson Welles.*
Chestnuts roasted by King Sprocket @ 09/03/2003 11:53 PM EST
TF Geek time :D
The unmade japanese Unicron prototype from Beast Wars Neo, was never meant to be produced at that level of detail or complexity to the public. It was more of a figure Takara's engineers would have done if cost wasn't an issue. IF the toy had made it into production, its detail and complexity would have to be vastly altered so that it would be reasonable cost to produce and have a reasonable retail price.
All of Armada's toys are designed by Hasbro, and engineered by Takara. Because Takara is in financial difficulty, they are now doing joint toylines from now on. The head of Hasbro's TF design says BW Neo Unicron is smaller and rather unstable compared to Armada Unicron. Also, due to the planet parts all over him, he can't do very much.
Ian Just Ian - The partnered minicons are part of the larger figure's mold/tooling, so if they wanted to swap minicons, they would have to make a copy of the Master tooling and work from that. Toolings cost alot of money to make.
Armada Skywarp is Starscream Super Mode (japanese kids cartoons don't allow repaints as brand new characters, as that means less screen time and less lines to go around).
Skywarp is 20% retooled (redesigned), with a new minicon. He was made due to fan demand. He is not in the show.
Chestnuts roasted by FFN @ 09/03/2003 11:59 PM EST
Matt, I am completely in love with you. You are the man of my dreams in every way.
Chestnuts roasted by BillyPeltzer @ 09/04/2003 12:19 AM EST
Thanks, Bill. You should've banged Haviland Morris, tho.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 09/04/2003 12:21 AM EST
Hey. That big Unicron sprite at the top was yanked from my site. Tanx 2 Gavok 4 Heds Up yo. This is both most station that it was uesd, and yet at the same time it most heinous that I was not ax'd permission for it to be used. I am most torn.
(Sprite made from SFA Zangief, I've improved a lot since then and it could be a lot better. Also, it was the first sprite I used PSP to help construct.)
That said. Excellent article, excellent toy. Too bad you don't have all the minicons like I do. They turn him from Fucking Awesome. Into Fucking Awesome With An Army Of Midgets.
And the Beast Wars Neo Mold is not that great, really. If mass produced it wouldn't be released over here because it doesn't pass safety laws. And It's a damn turtle. Less of a transformer, so much it's just a robot inside a planet-shaped shell. Pure Turtle.
Chestnuts roasted by NeroMan @ 09/04/2003 12:44 AM EST
Hasbro sucks. They have been cutting costs on all their toys recently.
Compare the Japanese and American releases of the Armada toys. Which toys have better paint application, tighter joints, and missles that fire farther? The Japanese versions.
Don't get me started in ranting about the G1 Tranformers reissues. The Toys R Us versions are absolute crap. Horrible plastic quality, no chrome weapons, and THE MISSLES DON'T FRIGGIN FIRE!
Now that's stupid. No firing missles. I'll stick to buying the Japanese versions of the rereleases, since they only run me about $5-10 more, and are about 500.7% cooler.
Oh yeah, TRU won't be carrying the reissues of Megatron or Soundwave. But Japan gets them. One more complaint against Hasbro.
Chestnuts roasted by DarkPrimus @ 09/04/2003 12:47 AM EST
Sorry about that Nero -- just came up on a GIS for "Unicron." I'll plug ya on the next blogdate. :D
I'm definitely gonna hunt down some mini-cons for ol' Uni. The pictures I've seen of him with the full lot on deck looked incredible.
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 09/04/2003 12:51 AM EST
"Come to think of it...
Are you going to be reviewing any part of the TMNT revival on the site, Matt? Maybe just sit down and watch an episode of the new series or something. X-Entertainment could always use more Turtles.
Posted by Paul @ 09/03/2003 06:09 AM EST"
The new Turtles series is actually pretty good. Nowhere near as good as the original though... you just can't beat the originality and coolness factor of Krang and the Technodrome.
Chestnuts roasted by Sheep @ 09/04/2003 02:03 AM EST
DarkPrimus - Why is it that people who have very little contact with Japan and Takara assume that its a Transformers mecca?
Hasbro cannot reissue G1 Megatron because it looks FAR TOO MUCH like a real gun. Its against the law, plain and simple. AMERICAN LAW. If you want to complain, go complain to your senator or something. Don't blame hasbro!
No chrome on hasbro reissue weapons? When chrome is applied to plastic, it makes the plastic more brittle, easier to break, and when it does break, VERY sharp. Now, say a kid pokes his eyes out and the parents sue Hasbro.
G1 Prowl, Silverstreak (Bluestreak) and some others cannot shoot because under US LAW missiles have to be at least 3 inches long if they fire. IF Hasbro lengthened the missiles, then fans would complain. So they removed the fire mechanisms to maintain the toy's classic look, while OBEYING THE LAW.
I don't know if you have the originals with you, but the plastic quality on the Japanese reissues are equally inferior to the originals., as nobody can get the plastic formula exactly right after 20 years.
SOUNDWAVE - The mold was extensively damaged after the early 1990s. Takara/Hasbro recently rebuilt the tooling, costing alot of money. As a consequence, Takara is charging over FOURTY US DOLLARS for it to recoup the cost. Why is Hasbro not releasing it?
A. To not fuck up Takara's own release
B. Toys R Us sets the price based on Ebay/internet prices for the japanese reissues. Hasbro doesn't set the price of reissues. If TRU had their way, Soundwave would cost SEVENTY US DOLLARS.
So Hasbro will wait until it becomes reasonable to release it. Hey, they don't exist solely to please the fans. They have to make money back on their investments.
A friend of mine is an english teacher in Yokohama, and he's been buying the recent Micron Densetsu toys, and guess what? Some of them are INFERIOR to Hasbro's Armada.
INFERIOR.
1. Grapple Super Mode (aka Hoist in Armada) - Badly applied paint on his windows (you can see the bright white plastic underneath), overall bad colour scheme compared to the Armada version. Cheaper plastic, too.
2. Micron Sea Team - Takara, for reasons unknown, decided to make them in different colours. However, when compared with the Armada Sea Team, they are shoddily made and poorly painted.
3. Shock Wave (aka Tidal Wave) - In no way does SW resemble the colours of his show version. The paint on mine was badly applied and you get less extras when compared to the Armada version. Less paint apps overall, too. Same goes for my buddy in JP and my friends here in Oz.
4. Convoy Super Base (Super Optimus Prime) - Back in 2001, when fans first saw the prototype, they complained about the bright yellow paint that Takara applied. Hasbro announced that the bright yellow was only for the japanese version, as Takara follows the cartoon colours. Hasbro's was going to be gold (as gold doesn't animate).
2003 - Takara's Super Convoy is released, bright yellow paint and all, and fans complain that gold sucks. Geez, complain about not getting something you thought you WERE getting a year earlier. No logic!
So,DarkPrimus, think before you say each word, next time. If you posted that G1 tirade in a popular non-biased TF forum, the well-read folk would eat you alive.
Chestnuts roasted by FFN @ 09/04/2003 03:10 AM EST
It took me over two weeks to find a spot to put Unicron. During that two weeks he was giving the 'devil horns' and protecting my stereo. Damn those articulate hands and fingers are a selling point. So far this is the only Armada figure I've picked up. Why? Its freakin' Unicron! C'mon!
Chestnuts roasted by Nick @ 09/04/2003 04:52 AM EST
I have to say Matt, way to go by makeing the commitment to buy the toy. I've succumbed to a type of psychosis where I tell myself that I enjoy looking at toys more than buying them. That being said I still break down and waste my money sometimes (between anime and Kung-Fu movies that is). Still afraid to open the blinds in my room durring the day because I'm afraid I might fade one of my precious finds. Who knows, I might yet break down and buy Uni.
Where was I going with this, oh yeah. You can sleep when you're dead. Look at the time on my post (I'm on the West Side so don't be too impressed). I actualy stayed up tonight, by choice no less, and learned that the "Clerks" cartoon sucked (sorry Josh).
Anyway, sombody already mentioned you can use nail clipers to make quick work of the twisty ties. I use my modeling snips, makeing me feel beter that I bought them with out even doing too much modeling.
On a final note, will I yet Buy Unicron. Who knows? My last 50$ purchase was a Kilt (pretty cheap for those in the know, http://www.sportskilt.com ), and I don't have to wear underware with that! Getting Uni any time soon is pretty unlikely. In the future, torrmorow only knows?
Chestnuts roasted by Rogue-13 @ 09/04/2003 06:14 AM EST
http://sportkilt.com actualy, for those of you that care
Chestnuts roasted by Rogue-13 @ 09/04/2003 06:26 AM EST
It's the same old story. Revivals of 80's toys are cheap. I can't beleive how light the toys are now,
this goes for transformers armada and tmnt and gi joes. Havn't checked out the new he mans, but I'm sure I'll be disappointed when I go to TRU this morn. The old TF had metal parts and hard plastic, not this lightweight softer than shit stuff they use to make the new ones. With your old toys they would be well worth your parents hard earned cash. Sure they would eventually come apart, but only after they've faught battles with dollar store imposters, your sister's naked barbies (c'mon addmit it), or a death drop from your 17th story balcony. I might pick up the ocassional rerealesed toy nowadys but only for curiousity. No, I don't care if it's unicron himself. Hasbro, playmates and the others take no pride in there work. Charge 50$ (US) for a toy that's going to have loose joints, pokeman looking faces, and overall cheapness? Forget it.
Transformers jumped the shark a long time ago, and they'll never recover. As far as us original fans go.
Chestnuts roasted by turkey's can't fly? @ 09/04/2003 09:39 AM EST
Jesus that thing looks big; reminds me of the lioned-up and assembled Voltron--a toy you didn't just play with but hung out around and introduced to guests. And he lights up all over, good god
Matt, I just listened to the MP3 song on the Mini-spies review page; that was really kinda cool--you just wanna keep listening to it. was that yours?
Chestnuts roasted by Krappy Kat @ 09/04/2003 11:06 AM EST
As for G1 and Armada and all that razzmatazz; I confess to being a purist for the originals for just about any cartoon or toy; I miss them dammit; I miss their packaging. I LOVED the original 3 3/4 Joe figures, but New GI Joe just plain sucks, period; a really shitty product. New He-man looks cool, but I really liked OLD He-man so much more. And I loved my old G1 'formers, but I just decided one day to splurge some $ and buy Armada Galvatron. Now that's one cool motherfucker. And after he and I discussed it, we decided to go out and adopt some Mini-cons to form the Dark Saber; we're so glad we did!
Chestnuts roasted by Krappy Kat @ 09/04/2003 11:15 AM EST
YEEEEEEAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! Unicron has returned! I was just thinkin' the other day that we need more gigantic purely evil robots around, and look what I get, Citizen Kane himself. Yeehaw. Now I know just the playmate for my new Armada Optimus Prime!
Chestnuts roasted by Steve @ 09/04/2003 10:08 PM EST
Man, I was looking in the sears catalogue the other day, and that bastard is 99.99 Canadian.
My TI-83 Plus was only fourty bucks more. As ultra rad Unicron is, the fact that it's 100 bucks where I saw it, makes me poop mah pants.
Chestnuts roasted by Fuzzy Logic @ 09/05/2003 10:43 PM EST
I got mine awhile back. He went about a week before he got transformed. He sits next to my living room door, giving me the finger. He's soo badass.
Chestnuts roasted by Bansheex @ 09/05/2003 11:10 PM EST
turkey's can't fly?:
Actually, metal increases the risk of damage to a figure. Metal parts rubbing against plastic parts can eventually wear down the joint, which isn't practical these days, given that TFs are much more complex.
Also, in drop tests, metal acts like an anvil against plastic, increasing the likelyhood of shattering. (Drop tests are literally drops done at various heights to test the toy's sturdiness. Yes they are real.)
TFs today are designed specifically for punishment from a younger child. Eg, ball joints can pop off and be reattached.
Hasbro conducted drop tests on G1 Fortress Maximus and G1 Metroplex for possible reissue. Both failed under US toy safety laws, because they either snapped in half (Metro) or broke into parts that were dangerous to children. It doesn't matter if these are reissues meant for older collectors. The law is the law.
If you want a G1 revival, wait for TF: Alternators, real world, officially licensed 1/24 scale accurate cars that turn into G1 Autobots. Jap version will have metal, but will cost twice as much as the US version (without import shipping). Coming late 2003/early 2004.
And TF not recovering? Armada is the most sucessful Transformers line since G1 and is the third best-selling toyline in the US.
Chestnuts roasted by FFN @ 09/06/2003 11:13 AM EST
Oh forgot pics of TF: Alternators/Binartech Smokescreen Subaru WRX. Yes, all doors, bonnet and boot open. Rubber tires, seats, steering wheel ect. Engine becomes his rifle.
Yet another fruit of the joint Hasbro-Takara alliance.
http://tfkenkon.com/g/?mode=view&album=Events%2FHobby+Expo+2003&pic=tf_show1.jpg&dispsize=800&start=0
Vehicle Mode
http://tfkenkon.com/g/?mode=view&album=Events%2FSuper+Character+Festival+2003&pic=bt02.jpg&dispsize=800&start=0
Robot Mode
http://tfkenkon.com/g/?mode=view&album=Events%2FSuper+Character+Festival+2003&pic=bt01.jpg&dispsize=800&start=0
Chestnuts roasted by FFN @ 09/06/2003 11:31 AM EST
Matt, you forgot the best part of the Unicron toy!
It's the first Transformer that you can have shoot a bird. Mine is posed high on my bookcase, giving a Stone Cold Salute to anyone who walks in the door.
Chestnuts roasted by Kevin K. @ 09/08/2003 11:47 AM EST
Dear Super_Sexy_Matt,
This was a very good article, I've read it twice now, you sexy bastard.
Sincerely,
Ham Bone
Chestnuts roasted by Ham Bone @ 09/08/2003 10:36 PM EST
Thanks for those Smokescreen Pics FFN, way cool. realllove that "no pictures" icon in that first one too.
Chestnuts roasted by Rogue-13 @ 09/09/2003 05:12 AM EST
Kevin K-
Actually, there was a Supreme Optimus Primal figure that could shoot the bird too.
Chestnuts roasted by DarkPrimus @ 09/09/2003 12:11 PM EST
I must have missed out on that figure DarkPrimus, but now we have a 'GLOWING' bird.
:-)
Chestnuts roasted by Kevin K. @ 09/10/2003 10:54 AM EST
awesome artical! I was laughing so hard at the sarcastic remarks that were meant to slide by, but I caught them all, and boy does my stomach hurt now! Shame on you!
Anyway, I am in Japan now, and let me say that I bought a re-issue Megatron, Starscream, Jazz, Tracks, and am going to get Soundwave and Unicron as soon as they are available. Alas, I cannot find my beloved Hot Rod re-issue to save myself... I wish they would re-issue Galvatron too, he is awesome, without that kiddy Armada repaint crap...
I am just grateful to get A UNICRON, no matter what kind it is...By the way, all of my re-issues Do fire their missles :P Caio!
Chestnuts roasted by GacktWingZero @ 09/11/2003 06:25 AM EST
Articla* Should have previewed my post hahahahaha
Chestnuts roasted by GacktWingZero @ 09/11/2003 06:26 AM EST
*Article hahahahaha My bad.
Chestnuts roasted by GacktWingZero @ 09/11/2003 06:27 AM EST
Rogue-13: Yeah, Remy (the guy who took the pic) is a sneaky bastard :D
It should be released in Japan at the end of September, with a RRP of roughly $40US, plus shipping.
However, Hasbro will release its equivalent version, sans die-cast metal for $20, in Jan-Feb 2004.
Chestnuts roasted by FFN @ 09/12/2003 08:21 AM EST
Kevin K: There's going to be ANOTHER bird flipping figure soon: 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime
http://www.wizarduniverse.com/_gfx_/magazines/toyfare/TF75-prime.gif
I think they got rid of the yellow, though. The price? Seventy-five US dollars. Again, die cast, rubber wheels, and as accurate to the cartoon as you can get, given Prime looked very different in truck mode to robot mode.
GacktWingZero: Takara probably won't reissue Galvatron until they get through the year 1 and year 2 toys that still survive. They just announced the Minibots and Astrotrain.
But, the new Megatron figure in the Energon line will be 80% like an updated G1 Galvatron, except modern looking. Its purple and grey, like the original Galvatron, too.
Chestnuts roasted by FFN @ 09/12/2003 08:26 AM EST
I want the REAL GALVATRON!!! :P
Thanks for the info. 20th Aniiversary Prime will be mine as well hahahahahahaha.... Ciao!
Chestnuts roasted by GacktWingZero @ 09/13/2003 02:35 AM EST
more Prime pics http://toynewsi.com/index.php?itemid=1812
re: reissues. My bad. Minibots and Astrotrain were a rumour, apparently.
Go here for a comic pic of Energon Megatron www.cosmicrust.com
The head Hasbro TF designer said he made the Megatron release of this toy primarily in grey, but will probably have it molded in purple when its repainted as Galvatron.
Chestnuts roasted by FFN @ 09/13/2003 10:01 AM EST
Contrary to popular belief, Unicron was not Orson Welles’ final role. His final role was in a Jaglom film about Valentine’s day. Of course, as a die-hard Transformers fan, *I* consider playing a Transformer to be an honourable crown for Welles’ legendary career, but middle-aged movie critics find the idea repulsive. But then middle-aged movie critics suck.
I wish I’d asked Leonard Nimoy about Galvatron when he did that Q&A at a Star Trek convention in 1991.
Chestnuts roasted by Morbius @ 09/15/2003 12:08 AM EST
Didn't he disavow his role in TF?
But writing in his second autobiography that he speaks with Spock in his mind is perfectly acceptable...
Chestnuts roasted by FFN @ 09/15/2003 11:04 AM EST
"Armada Skywarp is Starscream Super Mode (japanese kids cartoons don't allow repaints as brand new characters, as that means less screen time and less lines to go around)."
You mean Thundercracker.
"G1 Prowl, Silverstreak (Bluestreak) and some others cannot shoot because under US LAW missiles have to be at least 3 inches long if they fire."
Two, actually...
Chestnuts roasted by Onslaught Six @ 09/17/2003 09:15 PM EST
I've seen the toy sitting in our Toys R Us the past few trips I've gone out there, and I look at Unicron, and I keep thinking 'do I really need a giant transforming robot?' .. ..and after reading this, it has answered my question. ...Yes... .Yes, I do need a giant transforming robot. Thank you for all your hard work and swearing to help me spend more money :D
Chestnuts roasted by Peirrot @ 09/19/2003 12:54 PM EST
Just got my Unicron today....wow. Amazing likeness to the movie Unicron. Not perfect, but definitely Unicron. Hasbro/Takara did the seemingly impossible...... They made a Unicron that did not look like it needed to be on a fatty Weight-Watchers program...Very sweet. Have not transformed it yet, but who cares? As Matt so wisely and poignantly stated; “Of Unicron’s two modes, I’m digging this robot shit a lot more” Well said!
This thing can flip the other transformers off! lol I love this guy, and he is sooooo big! Not as big as my Brave Maximus (24 in/55cm tall) mind you, but still, 16 inches of plastic heft, designed to annihilate planets....Anyway, well worth a paltry $50....Guess you think that way when you have a job…. lol Anyway, this the ONLY Armada toy I like. I hate the rest. They look childish and crappy to me, especially the way they butchered Optimus and Megatron, which is a true shame to the TransFans all over the world. All I know is that the Toys “R” Us in Saitima, Tokyo has like 20 Armada Super Optiums Primes that have been collecting dust for months. Says a lot to me. Later.
Chestnuts roasted by GacktWingZero @ 09/22/2003 07:28 AM EST
i got unicron coz my sisters bf got me all psyced about transformers and i was like fuck that im getting it...
84 bux canadain later...
the feet are mt biggest problen ther not as sturdy as the leg joints the kinda kikc but lsip eh...
its posable and i love makeinge the hands go all kung fu...
and im thinking of taking it apart and replcing the springs so the miscles have some real force...
but then agian i prolly wont as i dont have springs...
hummm
also note the tenticles/wings really fucking suck... in robot mode.... ther falling off if you keep mbing them or move an arm the wrong way..
golly...
Chestnuts roasted by allpro @ 09/28/2003 11:06 PM EST
out of complete curiosity
Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 11/15/2003 05:32 AM EST
Christ allpro, who taught you how to type?
Chestnuts roasted by Mwargh @ 11/17/2003 09:36 PM EST
Heres some images of the production piece BTW the japanese version will feature a carboard trailer although paslides is contemplating making one for the hasbro version
http://members9.tsukaeru.net/ty1_toys/toys/MP_01a.htm
http://members9.tsukaeru.net/ty1_toys/toys/MP_01b.htm
http://www.macrossworld.com/mwf/uploads/post-26-1071329445.jpg
beating up unicron
Chestnuts roasted by Prowlus @ 12/17/2003 03:00 PM EST
Whoo-Hoo! I picked up Uni this week at my local K-Mart on clearance for $25!!!!! Not damaged, not open, just fresh, minty, planet eating goodness!
Chestnuts roasted by faroniousd @ 03/21/2004 01:59 AM EST
I'm very very tired and it's very very late, but finally, here's your review of the new 
