YEAR IN REVIEW: Counting down the top 10 toys of 2021 (part 3)

It all comes down to this… with part 1 and part 2 already complete, here are the final three figures on my top ten list of 2021! It’s been another incredible year for new product but by the end of this article, you will know which Transformers-related toy brought me the most joy last year. Have you guessed what it is yet?

 

TOP TEN FIGURES 2021 (cont.)

#3: Robot Paradise RP-01 Acoustic Wave

They often say the best things come to those who wait but boy, this lad pushed the boundaries of that sentiment a bit. Originally unveiled in 2012 as what would have been FansToys’ second-ever release (yep, even before Quakewave!), the much-anticipated Acoustic Wave finally landed this year and, for some of us at least, it was everything we always hoped it would be.

That’s not to say this toy won over everyone, mind, as I saw more than a few middling reactions describing it as a little disappointing or even somewhat ‘soulless’ but for my money, I don’t recognise any of that. Acoustic Wave looks and feels every bit as terrific as I always hoped he might and, dare I say, gives the much-loved official MP-13 effort a run for its money as to which deserves the spot on your shelf. Ironic really, considering its release was originally delayed by that same figure appearing in 2013.

But then the landscape has changed dramatically in the last nine years or so. Whereas MP-13 was once the blueprint after which everyone modelled their Masterpiece collections, now the official line has gone for a distinctly more cartoon-accurate vibe and, although that’s not to everyone’s tastes, there’s little doubt much of the third party world has followed suit, for better or worse. FansToys’ most recent efforts have shown all those signs too and the ultimate evidence of it is here in Acoustic Wave.

Which I suppose is another point of irony considering the original design for FT-02, as it once was, looked to be much more in line with the blended aesthetic of the early Masterpiece toys. Some may have preferred that to what we’ve eventually received but again, it’s an evolution I couldn’t be happier to witness and I can’t help but feel Acoustic Wave ends up looking dramatically more polished for the nine-year wait. 

In a way, this is FansToys at their most confident, which I say fully in the knowledge they’re teasing a Masterpiece-styled Fortress Maximus right now. Yes, the company name may not even be on the box for this release, but all the hallmarks are there, done superbly well. The clean look, the simple but effective design, the solid construction, the quality of materials, the tip-top presentation and finish – it’s all rather remarkable and adds up to make one of their most impressive releases to date, in my honest opinion. This is FansToys letting you know when they get it right, you can’t touch them.

I say that even of the transformation, not an accolade I always throw in FansToys’ direction, as in this case, it’s resoundingly clever and yet fun to repeat. True, I’m not likely to contort him into tape deck mode all too often, but it’s still nice to know it won’t give me a stress headache should I choose to do so! 

And hey, even if the heavily-cartoon style isn’t for you then Acoustic Wave has you covered, as simply changing up a few bits here and there has him suddenly dancing to electro-pop like a robot from 1984. Yep, for all the G1-toy-styled retools we now seem to be getting both officially and otherwise, it’s a welcome surprise to see FansToys pop this figure out as a two-for-one. Get a man who can do you both. 

That it completely changes up the look and feel of the figure is in itself quite remarkable, and really adds to the overall feeling of being an event worth the wait. For a company that rarely does repaints and often scrimps on the accessories a smidge, consider it a very welcome added bonus.  

And yes, of course, the real fun comes from seeing Acoustic Wave teamed with the RB-01B set of cassettebots, something that wasn’t included in the main package here but is still worth going in on as an entirety. True, I have a few Rumble grumbles (or perhaps it’s Frenzy foibles? You decide!) but regardless, there’s little doubt how much joy the full crew brings me whenever I look at them.

It seemed like it was never going to happen but I’m so glad it did. What can I say except I’m living in a Robot Paradise?

Check out the original review on this toy here.

 

#2: threezero DLX Soundwave & Ravage

For as much praise as I’ll happily shovel in FansToys’ direction for Acoustic Wave, I’m afraid to say it wasn’t the best Soundwave figure of the year, in my humble opinion. Yes, such an honour goes to none other than this rather magnificent officially-licensed effort from threezero, which brings to life the equivalent version of the character seen in 2018’s Bumblebee movie. 

So, yes, a few things to mention. Just as with the DLX Optimus Prime mentioned in part 2, this is a non-transforming figure (well, aside from Ravage bundling up into a box to fit in the chest compartment, of course!), which I know is an automatic turn off for a lot of collectors despite Transformers toys that don’t transform having been a part of the franchise since almost the very beginning. Yet, as I always say when it comes to such a conversation, the clear and obvious benefits more than outweigh the lack of any kind of alternate form here, as far as I’m concerned. 

Besides, what would the alt’ mode be, anyway? After all, the film the figure seeks to emulate never revealed what Soundwave actually transforms into. We saw the recent Studio Series attempt fold up to become a kind of spaceship… thing? It’s hard to say, given that fan reaction online interpreted it as anything from a video game controller to the Green Goblin’s glider, but needless to say, it didn’t feel like a particularly satisfying result, nor indeed something especially lacking from threezero’s attempt. I know some need their toys to transform ‘just because’ but sometimes it feels like a reach to make up a mode for the sake of it. 

Anyway, needless to say, in terms of recreating what we actually saw on screen during Soundwave’s brief but memorable appearance, this thing is the real deal. First, at over eleven inches tall, it’s remarkably satisfying to behold and incredibly weighty too, leaving you in no doubt about threezero’s typical craftsmanship being on display. 

Next, let’s acknowledge *how good it looks*, eh? Even the most battle-hardened G1 fans will typically stand up to say they approve of the Bumblebee movie designs and it’s not hard to see why here, as classic Soundwave is reimagined with new flair, yet in a way that feels entirely respectful of its roots. It has exactly the right amount of added detail to feel suitable for the big screen whilst still ably recalling the synthy snark of his ’80s cartoon portrayal, and threezero has captured that in spades. 

Then there are the jaw-dropping levels of detail they have gone to in recreating this design so accurately in toy form, working from the 3D renders used for the film’s production. It’s only fair to say if you want to see designs such as this truly done justice, then it’s hard to argue with threezero’s output, even if there is some slight evidence of them having re-used the very core of their DLX Optimus Prime figure as the base here. That almost feels unfair to point out though, as honestly, I couldn’t imagine two toys with any element of shared origins feeling as different as what we have here – a remarkable achievement in both cases.

Naturally, this package ends up somewhat distinct for also having Ravage thrown into the mix, and seeing him pop and unfold out of the chest compartment is about as joyous as it ever is. It’s another way in which the insane levels of screen accuracy are fantastically utilised here. 

If I had one small critique, I would have liked a bit more articulation on Ravage, truth be told, but still, he’s a definite marvel to behold in hand. It’s a character I was thrilled to see in the film, though given what a rush that scene proved to be, I think this is the first time I’ve been able to properly sit and appreciate how great the design is! 

Then there are all the other features worth mentioning on Soundwave himself, including swappable hands, a captivating light-up visor, several weapons and, perhaps expectedly for threezero, an incredible range of moving parts and articulation. He may not transform but there’s more than enough to entertain here!

Besides, did I mention just how incredibly good he looks? I did? Well, put it on repeat, buddy, because HOT DAMN. If you’ve never seen the spectacular weathered finishes threezero have made their signature up close then it’s perhaps hard to fully communicate just how attractive it all is but suffice it to say, he’s a dish. 

It yet again leaves me in a position of thinking threezero’s upcoming figures for the year ahead are amongst some of my most-anticipated. If they’re as good as the company’s output for 2020, then I fully expect to see them on next year’s list too! 

Check out the original review on this toy here.

This just leaves one toy to reveal… but before we get to the figure that delighted me more than any other this year, it’s time for a few special mentions!

 

SPECIAL MENTION: Transform Element TE-03 Speed Star

I thoroughly enjoyed taking a look at Transform Element’s celebrated OP Leader figure at the very end of 2020, so was naturally excited for the follow up, Speed Star. I’ve always been a big fan of Ocular Max’s Sphinx design for Mirage but even I would admit there was still enough left on the table for another crack at the character, and by and large this one did not disappoint! After all, it looks exceptional in both modes and is generally pretty fun to handle. 

That it didn’t make the list proper is likely testament to the irritating QC problems many have encountered, to say nothing of the cumbersome ‘fix’ required for the misassembled leg joints. It’s the sort of stuff that can take the sheen off a bit but make no mistake, this figure is still a real star besides.

Check out the original review on this toy here.

 

SPECIAL MENTION: Hasbro Studio Series 86-04 Hot Rod

Boy, did people enjoy this toy when it first landed, eh? It was genuinely all anyone could talk about for a hot minute there and although it’s been some time since, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see it gracing many a ‘best of’ list besides this one. So, despite not being a heavy Generations collector, I was all primed to love it as much as everyone told me I would until I actually received it in hand and, well, I was a little underwhelmed, to be honest! 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m hardly ‘Studio Series Hot Rod’s biggest detractor’, as Maz recently described me on a Triple Takeover podcast episode (the cheeky bugger) but sadly the flaws on offer were just too much for me to fall in love with it the same way so many others have. The robot mode is definitely nice and the transformation is very clever, but by my estimation, the car form has a few too many compromises and unfortunately my copy is plagued by some QC quibbles too, including floppy legs. Still, one can never have enough Hot Rod toys! 

Check out the original review on this toy here.

 

SPECIAL MENTION: TakaraTomy Masterpiece MPM-11 Ratchet

Every once in a while, a toy comes along that is kind of more notable for the company it keeps rather than anything else. MPM-11 Ratchet is a solid figure under its own steam, with a great design offering up by far the most screen-accurate transformable take on the doctor we’ve seen in toy form. Yet as nice as it is, it’s perhaps fair to say the reason I most enjoyed it was because it rounded off my Masterpiece Movieverse Autobot crew in style!

It may have taken four years to get here, a journey started with MPM-3 Bumblebee, but as ever there was great delight in completing such a line-up, especially when it’s worked out pretty well on the whole (despite a few quirks along the way!). Let’s roll! 

Check out the original review on this toy here.

 

SPECIAL MENTION: Hasbro War For Cybertron WFC-K30 Titan Class Ark

If you’d said to me even a couple of years ago they’d be making a transformable toy based on classic Autobot spacecraft, The Ark, I’d have thought it was wishful thinking at best! If you’d then suggested they’d be basing the robot mode on The Last Autobot from the original Transformers Marvel comics run and that it would come packaged with a Teletraan I toy capable of doubling as an Action Master Mainframe homage, well… it’s really something to behold, let’s just say that. 

In fact, it’s incredible to think such a thing even exists at all, especially given it’s our first original Titan design – fan service of this kind doesn’t normally come at such an expensive price point, after all! It’s almost a shame to say it carries a fair few compromises in hand then, with perhaps the most notable downside being a surprising lack of actual play value for a toy this size. 

That said, none of it truly takes away from the sheer unadulterated bonkers fun one gets just seeing The Ark represented in this manner, so here’s hoping it leads onto more of the same in the future of the franchise. What an age we live in, eh?

 

And now we come to my favourite toy from 2021…

#1: Hasbro Pulse War For Cybertron Unicron 

Oooooh mama, where to start, eh? Is it a predictable choice? Maybe! Did it get chosen purely because of how big it is? I’m sure that’s a large part of the appeal, yeah. Were there other toys this year objectively more impressive in terms of articulation, finish, sculpt etc.? Sure, probably. But did Haslab Unicron completely dominate my attention more than any other Transformers-related product in the last twelve months? You betcha! 

And hey, it’s not just because of the insane amount of hype or build-up this thing received, either, although no doubt it did also contribute to the excitement of its arrival! After all, you don’t typically go through an almost two year gestation period for a new toy without getting at least a little amped up for it, do you? 

I’m also in no doubt that some will see such a top spot pick as a deliberate attempt on my part to justify this figure’s high ticket price tag as well somehow, although in reality, nothing could be further from the truth – if I didn’t think Unicron deserved such an accolade, I wouldn’t give it. Yet, in a year of awesome toys, this honestly feels like the release that has most captivated me, regardless of the metric.

I mean, look, there is a bit of a thrill to finally owning such a suitably awe-inspiring depiction of the Chaos Bringer, no? There have been terrific takes on the character before, of course, not least of which was the gorgeous 2010 Takara Universal Dominator effort, but what we have here is in an entirely different league all on its own. This is the kind of thing one kid at school insisted they owned but we could never go over and see it because their mum said we couldn’t, or whatever. It’s every bit as incredible as my childish brain could have conceived it being at the time.

Yes, a lot of that is due to the size. Of course it is! It’s thirty bloomin’ inches wide in planet mode, for goodness sakes! How can that not factor in? Owning it is a whole other level of consideration to most toys in your collection, in that you absolutely need a dedicated space for it, to say nothing of how much room the box is likely to take up beyond. It’s about as akin to having a washing machine delivered as I think any toy arrival has the right to be. 

The robot mode is also something you really need to be seen in person to fully comprehend, for it’s not simply that it’s tall (although every single one of those twenty-seven inches of height put the effort in, let me assure you), but it commands your attention in a way so many other toys just cannot claim. It’s the ultimate centrepiece, the true Grand Poobah of any collection it sits in.

Yet there is more to this figure than just being an impressive beast to behold. It’s also a remarkably attractive design, with a sculpt and finish truly befitting such a gargantuan effort, including some striking paint and fantastic intricate moulded detail all over. Some toys look fussy and overly busy when they’re covered in greebles and such, but Unicron is what that kind of stuff was really made for, and every inch of it warrants examination. 

And sure, there have been some concerns about a few colour changes prior to final release, with a lot of fans who opted to back the project (and many who didn’t) baulking at the idea of that unpainted grey maw on the planet mode for one thing. All of that was entirely valid and something Haslab should have no doubt better communicated at the time but honestly, once the final product arrived, I wasn’t losing any sleep over it. Far from it, actually. 

In fact, I’d say it’s still the planet mode that remains the largest triumph here overall (no pun intended), with the completely round sphere of the main body representing the character’s likeness from the 1986 movie in a way I honestly never thought we’d see in toy form. Still now, even after so many months, I find myself looking at it and not being able to quite comprehend what I’m seeing in front of me. It’s just jaw-droppingly good, in every sense, to the point where I legitimately cannot imagine how it will ever be bettered.

Not that the robot mode is a slouch either, mind, as even though it’s not exactly the most poseable or dynamic figure in my collection, the mere sight of it is enough to inspire waves of joy rocketing through my brain. I feel like I’m on some sort of giddy high whenever I’m messing about with it! 

None of this is to say it’s perfect, of course, and yes, there are potential flaws to be found. Unicron’s biggest detractors are often keen to point out the fold-up panels seen on areas such as the legs or back as evidence of how the third party Studio Cell figure is so much better than this one and in truth, yes, that toy does have a very clean robot mode. Yet having had them both in hand, I can honestly say the official effort is by far and away my favourite, and not just because of how much bigger it is. It may be paneltastic in places, but none of it detracts from the sheer amount of incredible design seeping through every inch of it, nor indeed the outstanding presence of the final result.

Besides, Hasbro’s figure is also exceptional fun to transform, not least because it’s such a one-of-a-kind experience. I don’t think I have ever been more daunted about approaching a conversion for the first time and even when I was halfway through, the amount of effort required at several stages is really quite palpable. Yet I’ve since had the pleasure of repeating the process many more times over and I find myself enjoying it again and again. There’s an incredibly satisfying click-clack precision to how the outer case of the planet mode comes together, for example, or indeed the way it all folds back up again on the way to robot form.

It means that Unicron has spent equal time in both modes during his tenure with me so far, which is perhaps a good thing considering what a conundrum I’d have about how best to display him otherwise! My wife has become all too used to the sight of the thing being contorted through its many steps, not to mention the ear-splitting sound of the heavy ratchets grinding into place. It’s no small thing for a spouse not involved with the hobby to cheerfully greet such a presence in their home, so I’ve been delighted and very grateful Unicron inspired as much interest as it has in ours.

That is to say nothing of the unparalleled sense of awe my son had when it first arrived. He was already excited for it to turn up but I’m quite sure nothing could have prepared him for the eventual sight of it – bigger and more breathtaking than anything I think he could have imagined. Showing him new toys has become a real favourite part of the hobby for me in recent times, although I don’t believe I can remember any such experience quite as acutely as him witnessing Unicron on the first encounter.

So yes, there are many reasons beyond the obvious this release has so easily (and deservedly) snatched the top spot for me in 2021 but above all those is one very earnest factor I truly believes hits at the core of how I try to conceive these lists – it’s simply the most fun I have had with any new toy in the last twelve months. I’m sure there are other metrics under which you can say something else was more deserving but in that arena, Unicron has no equal. 

And besides, how awesome is it my son will now be that kid at school who has a Unicron at home, eh? Except for real this time.

That puts Unicron in a very prestigious line-up with previous ‘toys of the year’, all of which continue to be highlights of my collection to this day.

Check out the original review on this toy here.

Check out other previous “year in review” articles here.

 

So, that’s my list! Do you agree with my choices? Thanks for reading and have a great rest of 2022!

TTFN