Transformers: Age of the Primes Thread: ll First Post All Listings II Update : April 12th, 2027 Bonus Wave: Repaint fun, Beast Wars, G2, Machine Wars

[CoffeeHorse]

Looks like the wings have to detach for transformation. I hate it. If you're going to turn into nothing, at least do it with style.

I mean, it almost does. The legs wrapping around the arms like that is kinda nutty. This is most of the way there to an interesting transformation, but the end product is still a pile of nothing that needs accessories to finish the job.

 

[Haywire]

Nexus is interesting. Everyone has been assuming that he would be made up of multiple smaller robots, but he looks more like maybe he's just a combiner torso?

I'm almost wondering if he doesn't combine with existing combiners as some sort of battle armor rather than forming a typical combiner himself? Like, his jet mode sorta resembles the chest armor on Superion or Bruticus. I haven't bought into any of the latest round of combiners, so I can't say if there would be compatible attachment points, but that jet screams "armor" more than "torso" to me.

Unless a person could buy multiples and combine them together, but that would be crazy...

 

[Sabrblade]

Cloudraker and Raindance must be very proud.

Liege Maximo is the secret lovechild of Cloudraker and Raindance?!!!

 

[Platypus Prime]

Maximo looks like something the Tyranids in WH40K would be using. Which is entirely possible depending on how multiversal you're willing to go.

I assume that Nexus will do something with the arms and legs of the frame combiners. Though with the various parts-bots like the Junkions and various -izers he has 5mm ports and options...

 

[Steamed Hams]

Nexus is so bad it gave me corrodia gravis! - Culculatron.

 

[The Predaking]

The Maximo bot mode looks good, everything else, meh.

 

[Stepwise]

Nexus looks cool, I really like his robot mode. His "vehicle" mode does look a little odd, like it's incomplete or more about function than looks. I don't know why, but it doesn't bug me this time around like it has in other cases.

 

[Dekafox]

Love Maximo. He's straight from the G2 comics which is all I ever wanted. Some people may be disappointed that he's not Robo-Loki, but not myself.

I can see how they got there with the horns behind the head. Definite buy for me, but really wondering what the alt mode is. Also we still need the G2 Cybertronian jet fodder guys! And G2 comic Rook.

*edit* and now I see the alt modes! Not sure how I feel about his alt mode.... but still gotta rep the G2 Cybertronians.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

Nexus looks cool, I really like his robot mode. His "vehicle" mode does look a little odd, like it's incomplete or more about function than looks. I don't know why, but it doesn't bug me this time around like it has in other cases.

You like 1980s vertical space shooters, don't you?

 

[NovaSaber]

His "vehicle" mode does look a little odd, like it's incomplete or more about function than looks.

It's certainly not about the vehicle mode actually looking functional. (Yes it might technically be a "primarily for space" alt-mode, but it wouldn't have wings at all if it wasn't supposed to be able to fly in the air.)

Technically, planes without tails are actually one of those impractical things that some sci-fi does for purely aesthetic reasons.

Though, being a Transformer and looking this bad, the most likely actual reason is "they didn't care about actually trying to look like anything that would ever be desgined as a vehicle".
Well, either that or he actually does combine with something else into a larger better-looking vehicle.

 

[Undead Scottsman]

Looks like the wings have to detach for transformation. I hate it. If you're going to turn into nothing, at least do it with style.

I mean, it almost does. The legs wrapping around the arms like that is kinda nutty. This is most of the way there to an interesting transformation, but the end product is still a pile of nothing that needs accessories to finish the job.

I'm pretty sure his wings are his robot mode guns, if that helps. Still have to take them off to transform him though.

 

[Stepwise]

You like 1980s vertical space shooters, don't you?

Actually, only sorta. Never was much of a gamer, but I was a total space cadet growing up, though. (umm . . . yeah, growing up. y'know . . . back then . . . )

Nexus reminds me a little of Cloudraker, too. And yeah, not a perfect toy - I see where you guys are coming from with your comments about the vehicle mode. But something catches my attention. I like the headsculpt, too, it reminds me of some of the G2 Gobots/Spychangers.

 

[Fullstrength Motleypuss]

Nexus Prime is a bit underwhelming at first glance, but I'm curious to see exactly what his gimmick is and how it works.

 

[unluckiness]

Nexus Prime’s vehicle mode just looks unfinished with the huge gap, exposed hands and his three bungholes on full display.

There better be a great reason for that.

 

[The Mighty Mollusk]

Liege Maximo looks like he'd make for a great Gaia Unicron repaint.

Nexus's vehicle mode looks like a Gundam "folded into a block and towed around by a core fighter for a stock footage transformation" thing. And as a Gundam fan I say that in a very derogatory sense. I don't care for it.

 

[Donocropolis]

Get on it, Toyhax:

 

[Steevy Maximus]

Nexus Prime is a bit underwhelming at first glance, but I'm curious to see exactly what his gimmick is and how it works.

Yeah, there is clearly "something" not being communicated through the official material. I can't help but wonder if Nexus and Amalgamous ended up suffering for Age of the Primes being two years instead of 3. Both would have benefited greatly from being leaders with the extra budget to better realize those characters' gimmicks/themes. I really think Amalgamous should have been a multichanger (akin to Sixshot) while Nexus should, at minimum be what Amalgamous ended up being: a "combiner" of components.

Liege Maximo looks like he'd make for a great Gaia Unicron repaint.

There IS a retailer listing for a "unicron soldier". Looking at Liege Maximo, I can DEFINITELY see a good bit of "Unicron" in the broader design.

I'll give the nod to the FunPub deco, but as previously stated, Nexus feels like it is "missing" something, or something isn't being communicated. I'm pretty hip on Liege Maximo, though. I'm all about this weirdness, which seems to be less and less present outside of collector lines with Hasbro's increasing homogenizing of the broader brand image.


Also found are official images of Smokescreen:

Age Of The Primes Deluxe TFP Smokescreen Stock Images

Thanks to TFW's Jtprime17, we also have some new stock images of the upcoming Age Of The Primes Deluxe TFP Smokescreen which we had first seen last month, showing his robot mode, car mode, and packaging. See it after the jump!

news.tfw2005.com

I'm still not a fan. Again, the design feels too evocative of the weird Knockout retool Takara did back in 2013 for its own Prime line. I still don't get why Hasbro insisted on the "shelf chest" for this character. It feels like a "fold chest" like Sideswipe might have been more effective in translating that design to the Classic aesthetic. If anything, I almost get the vibe that this might have started as another character concept that is being "pre done" as Smokescreen.

 

[PrimalxConvoy]

Also found are official images of Smokescreen.

I'm still not a fan. Again, the design feels too evocative of the weird Knockout retool Takara did back in 2013 for its own Prime line. I still don't get why Hasbro insisted on the "shelf chest" for this character. It feels like a "fold chest" like Sideswipe might have been more effective in translating that design to the Classic aesthetic. If anything, I almost get the vibe that this might have started as another character concept that is being "pre done" as Smokescreen.

 

[LordGigaIce]

Nexus looks fun. A big slab of 70s/80s robot goodness.
Y'all haters

 

[Sabrblade]

I like the headsculpt, too, it reminds me of some of the G2 Gobots/Spychangers.

About that head...

If anyone was ever wondering how we got from the original Fun Pub head design to the current one based on the TF One design, but which looks nothing like the original Fun Pub head design, this is how: