Thread of Thoughts, Questions (and Maybe Even Answers) That Don't Deserve Their Own Thread

Sabrblade

Continuity Nutcase
Citizen

CrockAlley

Well-known member
Citizen
This might be a hot take, but I don't think any of the 1986 figures really work. At least not as well as the toys imported from Diaclone, MicroChange, and other assorted toylines. It certainly took Hasbro a bit to get a handle on doing this themselves.

I agree with this somewhat. I think the Movie designs are gorgeous on paper. But what an odd choice, to go with the curving, organically-shaped aesthetic that could not be well reproduced in that toyline.
 

LordGigaIce

Another babka?
Citizen
I agree with this somewhat. I think the Movie designs are gorgeous on paper. But what an odd choice, to go with the curving, organically-shaped aesthetic that could not be well reproduced in that toyline.
I think it was the end result of Floro Dery. Dery had refined the original character designs to be more streamlined and less super-roboty as the first two seasons progressed. Then he got the chance to design a bunch of new characters from scratch and just leaned into the organic curves look that ultimately took a while for Hasbro and Takara to work out in toy form.
 

lastmaximal

Administrator
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
In a weird way, it's kind of like the first three Bay movies shifting aesthetics to AOE and the toyline being in a terrible, budget-crunch position to have to keep up with the sudden streamlined kibble.
 

Blot

Well-known member
Citizen
I think it was the end result of Floro Dery. Dery had refined the original character designs to be more streamlined and less super-roboty as the first two seasons progressed. Then he got the chance to design a bunch of new characters from scratch and just leaned into the organic curves look that ultimately took a while for Hasbro and Takara to work out in toy form.
Not helped by Dery's infatuation with parts just mass shifting however he sees fit.
 

CoffeeHorse

Exhausted, but still standing.
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
I agree with this somewhat. I think the Movie designs are gorgeous on paper. But what an odd choice, to go with the curving, organically-shaped aesthetic that could not be well reproduced in that toyline.

See, that's actually what I like about the 1986 toys. The Movie's designs are all curves. Takara knew how to do angles. The 1986 toys are weird and in-between, and for me that works. I like Hot Rod's var mode better with a few angles. It's like the Countach vs modern rounded Lamborghinis.
 

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Broke the Matrix
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
Huh. I checked that page... not sure how I missed it.

Anyway, what I will say is that I'm kinda disappointed that no one -- looking at you in particular, IDW1 -- has taken that concept and run with it.

Then again, with their whole thing about disembodied limbs, maybe Skybound would be the right call to make this one happen.

Not helped by Dery's infatuation with parts just mass shifting however he sees fit.

I think I remember seeing that Hot Rod/Rodimus Prime's waist is supposed to be his windshield. And it's like... okay, I can see the shape in there... but how in the Matrix was that ever supposed to work?!
 

LBD "Nytetrayn"

Broke the Matrix
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
New thought, new post:

I was thinking about Thrilling 30 Metroplex earlier, and how funny it is that it's ostensibly based on Fall of Cybertron while looking only like it in as much as both versions look like Metroplex, but I digress...

Would a re-release of this toy be a bad idea, considering that Hasbro has basically given up on the size class that it was designed to interact with most, with all its little FoC-ish gun emplacements?
 

Donocropolis

Olde-Timey Member
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
New thought, new post:

I was thinking about Thrilling 30 Metroplex earlier, and how funny it is that it's ostensibly based on Fall of Cybertron while looking only like it in as much as both versions look like Metroplex, but I digress...

Would a re-release of this toy be a bad idea, considering that Hasbro has basically given up on the size class that it was designed to interact with most, with all its little FoC-ish gun emplacements?

Based solely on the fact that I want one and don't want to pay e-bay prices: Yes.
 

The Mighty Mollusk

Scream all you like, 'cause we're all mad here
Citizen
Give him actual feet and he's a fine enough toy. He just can't really do much other than stand at attention since he has no ankles. (Yeah, there's an add on for it, but good luck getting it for a decent price now.)
 

Sabrblade

Continuity Nutcase
Citizen
Anyway, what I will say is that I'm kinda disappointed that no one -- looking at you in particular, IDW1 -- has taken that concept and run with it.
Surely the Necrotitan was at least inspired by the "zombie Metroplex" idea, right?
 

lastmaximal

Administrator
Staff member
Council of Elders
Citizen
Titans have gotten so much better... I think there's an argument that Metroplex and Fort Max could stand to be redone entirely.
I'd probably let go of the originals if any new takes were good. They're good to have, but can stand to improve in quite a few ways.

I'd even like a smaller Metroplex that has more stuff.
 


Top Bottom