4 ms·

Modern Transformers are amazing. Way better than in the '80s. You have to buy the collector-targeted stuff, though. The current line is called Legacy. If you a

Modern Transformers are amazing. Way better than in the '80s. You have to buy the collector-targeted stuff, though. The current line is called Legacy. If you are willing to pay, the Masterpiece line is also excellent, and there are fantastic third-party transformers as well: these have lots of metal, ratcheting joints, complex transformations, and usually cost over $100, up to $300. I will plug https://tfsource.com/ https://tfsource.com/ Avoid the kiddie-oriented lines (Cyberverse) and the mass-market lines (usually co-marketed with the most recent movie).

Fire-Dragon-DoL 4y ago
Sorry I forgot to mention, independently of my comment, that suggestion is good, I saw a bunch of cool designs. The funny thing is that everything that actually looks good is marketed at collectors. The problem is also that my children are still young, so I need stuff with some resistance, somewhat.
- hackyhacky 4y ago
  The latest collector-oriented, wide-distribution lines from Hasbro are an outstanding value, with interesting transformations, durable enough for kids, and pay homage to the characters their parents know from the '80s. I'm talking specifically about Siege, Earthrise, Kingdom, Legacy, and Studio Series 86. https://tfsource.com/hasbro/transformers-studio-series-86/ https://tfsource.com/hasbro/transformers-studio-series-86/ https://tfsource.com/transformers/war-for-cybertron-trilogy/siege/ https://tfsource.com/transformers/war-for-cybertron-trilogy/... https://tfsource.com/generations-legacy/ https://tfsource.com/generations-legacy/ Cyclonus in particular is an amazing toy for kids or adults: https://tfsource.com/tfsource/cyclonus-and-nightstick-voyager-class-transformers-generations-selects-legacy/ https://tfsource.com/tfsource/cyclonus-and-nightstick-voyage... You can find these at Target or Walmart in the US for even cheaper.
Fire-Dragon-DoL 4y ago
The problem with collector models is that they break way more easily. Also $300 means I can buy stuff the caliber of Soul of Chokogin ( https://live.staticflickr.com/5553/15149130081_124d4867f0_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/5553/15149130081_124d4867f0_b.... ), which is super high quality. Or I might as well buy some of the power ranger mechas from my days, to inspire some interest in mechanics. My daughter did fall in love with a small Gundam SD she built "oh I have an action figure too now!!!", but she of course want to play with it, she doesn't love the fact that's just in the display case.
- hackyhacky 4y ago
  I'm not talking about model kits: I'm talking about high-quality toys. In my experience toys from Hasbro's Masterpiece line, as well as toys from third party-companies from like FansToys and Mastermind Creations easily exceed the build quality of Bandai. For example, comparing my FansToys Stomp ( https://tfsource.com/fanstoys/stomp/ https://tfsource.com/fanstoys/stomp/ ) to my DX Chogokin Macross VF-1J, there's no contest: the FansToys is more durable, better articulated, with a more interesting transformation. It's just a better toy. I have Daltanius and other SoC toys as well, and they are fine, but they seem primitive in comparison to, say, Hasbro's MP-44 Optimus Prime. Having said that, they are not children's toys. For kids I would recommend Studio Series ( https://tfsource.com/hasbro/transformers-studio-series-86/ https://tfsource.com/hasbro/transformers-studio-series-86/ ).
  - Fire-Dragon-DoL 4y ago
    We are not making an apples to apples comparison though. The bandai power ranger toys would be in the $100 range today. For the same range of price, they released a full megazord + dragonzord + titanus in metal, and they can transform an merge, that's what should be compared to. I wish I liked some design of the transformers lines you linked. Unfortunately that's entirely subjective, I understand that's nobody's fault. I used to like the transformer "animals" (I had the gorilla, the trex and the eagle), but I love veichles, I just don't like their mecha-form design and rather prefer gundam or power rangers style. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be decent toys for those nowdays.
tablespoon 4y ago
> You have to buy the collector-targeted stuff, though. The current line is called Legacy. If you are willing to pay, the Masterpiece line is also excellent, and there are fantastic third-party transformers as well: these have lots of metal, ratcheting joints, complex transformations, and usually cost over $100, up to $300. I will plug https://tfsource.com/ https://tfsource.com/ Wow, they actually managed to make them look both like the cartoon robots and transform into the cartoon vehicle. I remember one or the other always being pretty iffy.
- Izkata 4y ago
  For anyone that wants a direct link to one of these (there's a lot of stuff on that site that doesn't transform), here's a $700 transforming Optimus Prime: https://tfsource.com/transformers-branded-merchandise/optimus-prime-elite-auto-converting-robot-transformers-robosen/ https://tfsource.com/transformers-branded-merchandise/optimu...
  - nier 4y ago
    The still images don’t do that toy enough justice. There’s a review video with Adam Savage, a former designer at Industrial Light & Magic: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ytI929g4puE https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ytI929g4puE
    - plaidisdoomed 4y ago
      Also of mythbusters fame
    - Fire-Dragon-DoL 4y ago
      That one is famous. It's the way to go to kill the fun. Transforming a transformer is the most fun part!
  - hackyhacky 4y ago
    To be clear: the linked toy is able to transform itself. It is therefore both a toy and a robot, not merely a toy robot. Most toys on the site are able to be transformed by manual manipulation, which must be learned by the user. For me, that's most of the fun: I enjoy learning the intricacies of each transformation and it's satisfying to move them back and forth between their various modes. Therefore a self-transforming toy, while technically impressive, has little allure for me.

Fire-Dragon-DoL 4y ago

Sorry I forgot to mention, independently of my comment, that suggestion is good, I saw a bunch of cool designs. The funny thing is that everything that actually looks good is marketed at collectors. The problem is also that my children are still young, so I need stuff with some resistance, somewhat.

hackyhacky 4y ago
The latest collector-oriented, wide-distribution lines from Hasbro are an outstanding value, with interesting transformations, durable enough for kids, and pay homage to the characters their parents know from the '80s. I'm talking specifically about Siege, Earthrise, Kingdom, Legacy, and Studio Series 86. https://tfsource.com/hasbro/transformers-studio-series-86/ https://tfsource.com/hasbro/transformers-studio-series-86/ https://tfsource.com/transformers/war-for-cybertron-trilogy/siege/ https://tfsource.com/transformers/war-for-cybertron-trilogy/... https://tfsource.com/generations-legacy/ https://tfsource.com/generations-legacy/ Cyclonus in particular is an amazing toy for kids or adults: https://tfsource.com/tfsource/cyclonus-and-nightstick-voyager-class-transformers-generations-selects-legacy/ https://tfsource.com/tfsource/cyclonus-and-nightstick-voyage... You can find these at Target or Walmart in the US for even cheaper.

Fire-Dragon-DoL 4y ago

The problem with collector models is that they break way more easily. Also $300 means I can buy stuff the caliber of Soul of Chokogin ( https://live.staticflickr.com/5553/15149130081_124d4867f0_b.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/5553/15149130081_124d4867f0_b.... ), which is super high quality. Or I might as well buy some of the power ranger mechas from my days, to inspire some interest in mechanics. My daughter did fall in love with a small Gundam SD she built "oh I have an action figure too now!!!", but she of course want to play with it, she doesn't love the fact that's just in the display case.

hackyhacky 4y ago
I'm not talking about model kits: I'm talking about high-quality toys. In my experience toys from Hasbro's Masterpiece line, as well as toys from third party-companies from like FansToys and Mastermind Creations easily exceed the build quality of Bandai. For example, comparing my FansToys Stomp ( https://tfsource.com/fanstoys/stomp/ https://tfsource.com/fanstoys/stomp/ ) to my DX Chogokin Macross VF-1J, there's no contest: the FansToys is more durable, better articulated, with a more interesting transformation. It's just a better toy. I have Daltanius and other SoC toys as well, and they are fine, but they seem primitive in comparison to, say, Hasbro's MP-44 Optimus Prime. Having said that, they are not children's toys. For kids I would recommend Studio Series ( https://tfsource.com/hasbro/transformers-studio-series-86/ https://tfsource.com/hasbro/transformers-studio-series-86/ ).
- Fire-Dragon-DoL 4y ago
  We are not making an apples to apples comparison though. The bandai power ranger toys would be in the $100 range today. For the same range of price, they released a full megazord + dragonzord + titanus in metal, and they can transform an merge, that's what should be compared to. I wish I liked some design of the transformers lines you linked. Unfortunately that's entirely subjective, I understand that's nobody's fault. I used to like the transformer "animals" (I had the gorilla, the trex and the eagle), but I love veichles, I just don't like their mecha-form design and rather prefer gundam or power rangers style. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be decent toys for those nowdays.

tablespoon 4y ago

> You have to buy the collector-targeted stuff, though. The current line is called Legacy. If you are willing to pay, the Masterpiece line is also excellent, and there are fantastic third-party transformers as well: these have lots of metal, ratcheting joints, complex transformations, and usually cost over $100, up to $300. I will plug https://tfsource.com/ https://tfsource.com/ Wow, they actually managed to make them look both like the cartoon robots and transform into the cartoon vehicle. I remember one or the other always being pretty iffy.

Izkata 4y ago
For anyone that wants a direct link to one of these (there's a lot of stuff on that site that doesn't transform), here's a $700 transforming Optimus Prime: https://tfsource.com/transformers-branded-merchandise/optimus-prime-elite-auto-converting-robot-transformers-robosen/ https://tfsource.com/transformers-branded-merchandise/optimu...
- nier 4y ago
  The still images don’t do that toy enough justice. There’s a review video with Adam Savage, a former designer at Industrial Light & Magic: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ytI929g4puE https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ytI929g4puE
  - plaidisdoomed 4y ago
    Also of mythbusters fame
  - Fire-Dragon-DoL 4y ago
    That one is famous. It's the way to go to kill the fun. Transforming a transformer is the most fun part!
- hackyhacky 4y ago
  To be clear: the linked toy is able to transform itself. It is therefore both a toy and a robot, not merely a toy robot. Most toys on the site are able to be transformed by manual manipulation, which must be learned by the user. For me, that's most of the fun: I enjoy learning the intricacies of each transformation and it's satisfying to move them back and forth between their various modes. Therefore a self-transforming toy, while technically impressive, has little allure for me.