Toys! Glorious toys!

Generations Thrust

$12 US/$16 Cdn
Available everywhere

It's the mold that keeps on giving. After numerous other releases, the latest Seeker to get the Classics treatment is G1 Thrust! I never had an original G1 toy sadly (and he was only reissued as a limited edition Japanese toy show exclusive) so this was a real treat. Also, the previous editons of Classics Thrust were either the pricey BotCon 07 exclusive or the slightly cheaper Henkei release. This toy, I'm glad to say, is not limited in any way and available for a reasonable amount ($12 US/$16 Cdn). Thrust transforms easily and looks awesome in both modes. His engine turbines are detachable (for some reason) but I prefer to keep them on the wings like the G1 toy.

Verdict: An all around excellent toy and must-have for G1 fans.

The Canadian/international cardback with minimal Tech Spec.
The U.S. release with full Tech Spec.

Generations Drift

$12 US/$16 Cdn
Available everywhere

Despite being a pointless "Gary Sue" character in the IDW comics, I'm pleased to say Drift is a pretty kick-ass toy. His robot and vehicle forms are very nice. Both are well proportioned and he can stand well in robot mode. He comes with two machete style blades and one long sword (all of which can be stored easily in his robot form). The transformation was relatively easy (or at least not excessively difficult).

Verdict: An excellent neo G1 toy.

The Canadian/international cardback with minimal Tech Spec.

The U.S. release with full Tech Spec.

WFC Optimus Prime

$12 US/$16 Cdn (on sale for $9.86 Cdn)
Available everywhere

I loved the look of this toy's vehicle mode right from the get-go and decided to get it. The robot mode is also quite nice looking (not one of my all time favorite Primes but still quite nice for what it is). The vehicle mode manages to pull off a look that is both classic and futuristic at the same time. Like Bumblebee, Prime's vehicle mode is very dependent on getting it just right and ensuring all the tabs are lined up to fit together (although I found him slightly easier to change then BB).

Verdict: A nice toy in general and another worthy addition to the many Optimus Primes already out there.

The Canadian/international cardback with minimal Tech Spec. The U.S. release with full Tech Spec.

WFC Bumblebee

$12 US/$16 Cdn (on sale for $9.86 Cdn)
Available everywhere

I wasn't originally going to get this toy. The pictures online made it look "fat" in the robot mode. Once I saw it in-person though it seemed much better proportioned so I decided I might pick it up (Walmart was also having a sale on the Generations Deluxes which sealed the deal). I love the vehicle mode and its Tron-esque look and the robot mode is also fairly nice. Like Optimus, Bumblebee comes packaged in robot mode and once you've tried to transform him you might be tempted to keep him that way. The vehicle mode is very difficult to form and requires a lot of patience to squeeze things into the proper shape and fit the tabs together so it will stay that way (I almost gave up in frustration). Now that he's in vehicle mode, I think I'll leave Bumblebee that way since I like that form the best of the two anyway. (I don't know why they feel the need to make these things so hard to transform. I miss the old days and more simplistic transformation schemes).

Verdict: A nice looking toy but very precise to transform, which makes it a good toy if not a great one.

The Canadian/international cardback with minimal Tech Spec

The U.S. release with full Tech Spec.

War For Cybertron Soundwave

$12 US/$16 Cdn (on sale for $9.86 Cdn)
Available everywhere

This iteration of Soundwave borrows a vehicle mode from the recent Animated Soundwave (except he's more futuristic/Cybertronian this time around). This is not my favorite version ever of Soundwave (I still love the G1 toy the best) but he does have some interesting features just the same. As you can see from the pictures, his chest compartment can open (to store his two weapons inside). I also like the angular style of the robot mode--he looks menacing and bad-ass (like a Decepticon should). I feel his handgun is a little underwhelming with its retractable missile (but this is a compromise to allow it to fit into his chest--and I can live with that). Like all the WFC toys this one is hard to get into robot mode (but I still feel Bumblebee is the absolute worst of the bunch). Anyone else notice his optic visor started out yellow and all recent incarnations have made it red (like the cartoon)? Just an observation.

Verdict: A good toy that embodies the spirit of Soundwave (despite the fact it turns into a vehicle instead of a sound system).

Canadian/international card back

Generations Red Alert

$12 US/$16 Cdn (on sale for $9.86 Cdn)
Available everywhere

This is the toy that almost got away. I had loved that the Japanese Henkei series did a Red Alert toy and wanted to get one. Alas, my last trip to BotCon I had failed to find one there and never got around to ordering one online (the cost was also a deterent). Fortunately, Hasbro came to my rescue, releasing a domestic version instead. Red Alert is a recolor and slight retool of the Sideswipe/Sunstreaker mold (he has emergency lights now basically). Unlike his G1 counterpart, this toy has a black head in robot mode (as opposed to red). Personally, though, I don't mind this change at all--the black goes well with the rest of the color scheme while a red head would probably be too much aesthetically speaking (the head is otherwise identical to Sideswipe). The transformation isn't too difficult and his car mode is fairly durable. One quibble with this mold--I sometimes have trouble getting his chest piece to sit just right. It has a tendency to want to slide up or down too much (this is true of Sideswipe as well).

Verdict: An excellent representation of the G1 character in a great new toy!

Canadian/international card back

Generations Straxus (aka Darkmount)

$12 US/$16 Cdn (on sale for $9.86 Cdn)
Available everywhere

This toy is called "Darkmount" but any real TF fan knows who this really is--it is the long revered Marvel G1 comic character Straxus (presumably Hasbro couldn't use the name). Anyhoo, this is pretty spot-on rendition of the G1 character--at least in robot mode anyway. His axe weapon is more like a sickle (the oriignal comic one was thicker, a la He-Man style) but this difference is largely immaterial. He transforms into a mobile artillery vehicle (the original was a flying cannon like Galvatron). The vehicle can be rationalized away by saying that maybe he came to Earth and took a native form. He also has a third "battle station" mode but, to be honest, it's kind of lame. Transformation style, he's not too difficult to convert between forms (compared to the WFC stuff). The change is a little bit confusing but more intuitive then some of the others are.

Verdict: All in all, this is a great toy. If you like the character even a little bit, buy this guy before the Skullrgin recolor/retool.

The so-called "Battle Station" mode

Canadian/international card back

WFC Megatron

$12 US/$16 Cdn (technically on-sale but I couldn't find it for that price).
Available everywhere

Megatron's latest toy form is better then expected. My first glance at it made me think it was like a lame form of the Animated version. The final toy is clearly inspired by that but is more sleek then its previous incarnation (I also like that the final toy has more red then the pics I saw online). This toy can switch the cannon between arms (which is rare on Megatron toys--I can't recall a previous one that did it). Strangely, the toy has a slot in the top of the head to allow light through (light piping) but the eyes are then painted red, which makes the whole thing pointless (perhaps they were going to do that but decided not to in order to cut costs?) While the robot form is quite asthetically pleasing, I do have to say the vehicle mode is a real lemon. I admit the Cybertronian Animated toy was vague in its vehicle mode too (but the Earth form made up for it). This toy's vehicle is either a ship, tank, a floating cannon or maybe all of that (I haven't yet gotten the WFC game so I have no idea). Anyway, it's the real failure in this toy.

Verdict: A nice robot form with a vague indistinct vehicle form.

This toy can wear the cannon on either arm, which is kinda neat

With treads

All together now!

Some cardback images were taken from 16bit.com (the U.S. versions).

Generations Thrust $12 US/$16 Cdn Available everywhere It's the mold that keeps on giving. After numerous other releases, the latest Seeker to get the Classics treatment is G1 Thrust! I never had an original G1 toy sadly (and he was only reissued as a limited edition Japanese toy show exclusive) so this was a real treat. Also, the previous editons of Classics Thrust were either the pricey BotCon 07 exclusive or the slightly cheaper Henkei release. This toy, I'm glad to say, is not limited in any way and available for a reasonable amount ($12 US/$16 Cdn). Thrust transforms easily and looks awesome in both modes. His engine turbines are detachable (for some reason) but I prefer to keep them on the wings like the G1 toy. Verdict: An all around excellent toy and must-have for G1 fans.



The Canadian/international cardback with minimal Tech Spec.	The U.S. release with full Tech Spec.
Generations Drift $12 US/$16 Cdn Available everywhere Despite being a pointless "Gary Sue" character in the IDW comics, I'm pleased to say Drift is a pretty kick-ass toy. His robot and vehicle forms are very nice. Both are well proportioned and he can stand well in robot mode. He comes with two machete style blades and one long sword (all of which can be stored easily in his robot form). The transformation was relatively easy (or at least not excessively difficult). Verdict: An excellent neo G1 toy.


The Canadian/international cardback with minimal Tech Spec.	The U.S. release with full Tech Spec.
WFC Optimus Prime $12 US/$16 Cdn (on sale for $9.86 Cdn) Available everywhere I loved the look of this toy's vehicle mode right from the get-go and decided to get it. The robot mode is also quite nice looking (not one of my all time favorite Primes but still quite nice for what it is). The vehicle mode manages to pull off a look that is both classic and futuristic at the same time. Like Bumblebee, Prime's vehicle mode is very dependent on getting it just right and ensuring all the tabs are lined up to fit together (although I found him slightly easier to change then BB). Verdict: A nice toy in general and another worthy addition to the many Optimus Primes already out there.




The Canadian/international cardback with minimal Tech Spec.	The U.S. release with full Tech Spec.
WFC Bumblebee $12 US/$16 Cdn (on sale for $9.86 Cdn) Available everywhere I wasn't originally going to get this toy. The pictures online made it look "fat" in the robot mode. Once I saw it in-person though it seemed much better proportioned so I decided I might pick it up (Walmart was also having a sale on the Generations Deluxes which sealed the deal). I love the vehicle mode and its Tron-esque look and the robot mode is also fairly nice. Like Optimus, Bumblebee comes packaged in robot mode and once you've tried to transform him you might be tempted to keep him that way. The vehicle mode is very difficult to form and requires a lot of patience to squeeze things into the proper shape and fit the tabs together so it will stay that way (I almost gave up in frustration). Now that he's in vehicle mode, I think I'll leave Bumblebee that way since I like that form the best of the two anyway. (I don't know why they feel the need to make these things so hard to transform. I miss the old days and more simplistic transformation schemes). Verdict: A nice looking toy but very precise to transform, which makes it a good toy if not a great one.



The Canadian/international cardback with minimal Tech Spec	The U.S. release with full Tech Spec.
War For Cybertron Soundwave $12 US/$16 Cdn (on sale for $9.86 Cdn) Available everywhere This iteration of Soundwave borrows a vehicle mode from the recent Animated Soundwave (except he's more futuristic/Cybertronian this time around). This is not my favorite version ever of Soundwave (I still love the G1 toy the best) but he does have some interesting features just the same. As you can see from the pictures, his chest compartment can open (to store his two weapons inside). I also like the angular style of the robot mode--he looks menacing and bad-ass (like a Decepticon should). I feel his handgun is a little underwhelming with its retractable missile (but this is a compromise to allow it to fit into his chest--and I can live with that). Like all the WFC toys this one is hard to get into robot mode (but I still feel Bumblebee is the absolute worst of the bunch). Anyone else notice his optic visor started out yellow and all recent incarnations have made it red (like the cartoon)? Just an observation. Verdict: A good toy that embodies the spirit of Soundwave (despite the fact it turns into a vehicle instead of a sound system).


	Canadian/international card back
Generations Red Alert $12 US/$16 Cdn (on sale for $9.86 Cdn) Available everywhere This is the toy that almost got away. I had loved that the Japanese Henkei series did a Red Alert toy and wanted to get one. Alas, my last trip to BotCon I had failed to find one there and never got around to ordering one online (the cost was also a deterent). Fortunately, Hasbro came to my rescue, releasing a domestic version instead. Red Alert is a recolor and slight retool of the Sideswipe/Sunstreaker mold (he has emergency lights now basically). Unlike his G1 counterpart, this toy has a black head in robot mode (as opposed to red). Personally, though, I don't mind this change at all--the black goes well with the rest of the color scheme while a red head would probably be too much aesthetically speaking (the head is otherwise identical to Sideswipe). The transformation isn't too difficult and his car mode is fairly durable. One quibble with this mold--I sometimes have trouble getting his chest piece to sit just right. It has a tendency to want to slide up or down too much (this is true of Sideswipe as well). Verdict: An excellent representation of the G1 character in a great new toy!

	Canadian/international card back
Generations Straxus (aka Darkmount) $12 US/$16 Cdn (on sale for $9.86 Cdn) Available everywhere This toy is called "Darkmount" but any real TF fan knows who this really is--it is the long revered Marvel G1 comic character Straxus (presumably Hasbro couldn't use the name). Anyhoo, this is pretty spot-on rendition of the G1 character--at least in robot mode anyway. His axe weapon is more like a sickle (the oriignal comic one was thicker, a la He-Man style) but this difference is largely immaterial. He transforms into a mobile artillery vehicle (the original was a flying cannon like Galvatron). The vehicle can be rationalized away by saying that maybe he came to Earth and took a native form. He also has a third "battle station" mode but, to be honest, it's kind of lame. Transformation style, he's not too difficult to convert between forms (compared to the WFC stuff). The change is a little bit confusing but more intuitive then some of the others are. Verdict: All in all, this is a great toy. If you like the character even a little bit, buy this guy before the Skullrgin recolor/retool.

The so-called "Battle Station" mode

	Canadian/international card back
WFC Megatron $12 US/$16 Cdn (technically on-sale but I couldn't find it for that price). Available everywhere Megatron's latest toy form is better then expected. My first glance at it made me think it was like a lame form of the Animated version. The final toy is clearly inspired by that but is more sleek then its previous incarnation (I also like that the final toy has more red then the pics I saw online). This toy can switch the cannon between arms (which is rare on Megatron toys--I can't recall a previous one that did it). Strangely, the toy has a slot in the top of the head to allow light through (light piping) but the eyes are then painted red, which makes the whole thing pointless (perhaps they were going to do that but decided not to in order to cut costs?) While the robot form is quite asthetically pleasing, I do have to say the vehicle mode is a real lemon. I admit the Cybertronian Animated toy was vague in its vehicle mode too (but the Earth form made up for it). This toy's vehicle is either a ship, tank, a floating cannon or maybe all of that (I haven't yet gotten the WFC game so I have no idea). Anyway, it's the real failure in this toy. Verdict: A nice robot form with a vague indistinct vehicle form.

This toy can wear the cannon on either arm, which is kinda neat
With treads