YEAR IN REVIEW: Counting down the top toys of 2022 (part 2)

We’re back for the second and final part of the best toys of the year… the year being 2022! Yes, you read that right.

I appreciate it’s all rather tardy, but that’s how life goes sometimes! Besides, all the entries here are still very relevant, so I hope you enjoy combing through them, as I attempt to catalogue which releases most hit the spot for me during those twelve months. Check out part 1 before continuing below in case you missed it.

So, that said, it’s onto part 2!

#8: FansToys FT-51 Chomp

Chomp is not the first FansToys figure on the list for 2022 by any means (though it is the last!), which says everything about how the unofficial company continues to pump out hits at a surprisingly consistent rate. That said, it is one of several examples which took way, way longer to reach fruition than many would have liked, but at least the result was worth the wait!

This journey started in 2016 with the first FansToys Headmaster, Lupus, making the six-year wait to finish this trio quite a prolonged prospect. 2018’s Dracula was also a real treat, but there’s no doubt that FT-51 is the crowning glory here, perfectly realising the hot pink and dark green alligator in super stylish form. He’s equal parts ferocious and adorable and boasts a smooth but creative transformation into the bargain.

It seems inevitable that FansToys might announce an Apeface or Snapdragon before too long, meaning this journey will stretch on a little longer than it already has. For now, though, it’s terrific to have the core three Decepticon Headmasters done, at least!

Check out the original gallery of this toy here.

#7: Transformers x GI Joe Collaborative Megatron

As I type, I possess little doubt some will see this choice and the ranking and wonder what I have been smoking. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very confident in my love of the toy in question, but the whole GI Joe x Transformers Collaborative endeavour seems to have sparked its fair share of detractors online. However, I’m often unclear as to why that is! It feels like there’s a sort of irrational distaste for the idea and the execution of these figures, which is strange because they actually do so many things well, as is perfectly exemplified by the HISS Tank Megatron.

Firstly, and most importantly, they’re true collaborations between the two lines. In its vehicle form, this is a classic 1983 HISS Tank, almost perfectly recreated from the vintage GI Joe line with spot-on proportions and details. Bar a tiny smidge of kibble, you’d be hard-pressed to guess it wasn’t the real thing, which is a major part of the appeal here. Beyond that, it’s great fun to transform, unfurling into a fun and imposing robot form (which is absolutely massive, by the way!). What’s not to like?

And look, I can appreciate it’s not a perfect toy, but in terms of the criteria it sets for itself, it’s hard not to see it as a smashing success which has fully succeeded in capturing my imagination. It’s also left me very excited to see where the line goes next and hopeful we might see a G2-themed green and purple repaint one day. Go, Joe!

Check out the original review of this toy here.

#6: Haslab Victory Saber

After Unicron (which was my 2021 top-spot choice, by the way!), there was bound to be a lot of anticipation for the sophomore Haslab Transformers effort. That it ended up being a significantly smaller affair was not lost on many commentators, some of whom even pondered why the powers that be couldn’t tackle a character like Victory Saber in the retail Generations line. Seeing it in hand immediately makes you appreciate how worthwhile the crowdfund conduit was in helping to realise such a figure to the best possible standard. At the same time, I’m firmly in the camp that thinks there’s a significant element of relief in it being a more manageable, too – they can’t all be planet-sized space-bustin’ giants, after all!

In any case, it may not be on the same scale as the Chaos Bringer, but Victory Saber is still perfectly ambitious and well worth your attention. Here’s the thing: the 1989 set is an absolute classic of the era, the kind of jewel in the crown sitting pretty in pride of place among many a G1 collection out there. It says everything that, as good as it was, 2015’s Masterpiece effort never entirely managed to measure up to such a legacy in terms of execution or hype. So this Haslab release had a lot to live up to on all fronts, but, against all odds, it just about manages it.

Sure, there are one or two slight compromises, such as a smaller-sized Victory Leo, and yeah, it doesn’t quite reach the highs of dethroning the prestige of the vintage figure, but as modern makeovers go, this is about as good as it gets. I can’t wait to see how Deathsaurus measures up!

Check out the original video on this toy here.

#5: TFC Toys STC-02 Tyrant

When the ‘jungle’ version of TFC’s ST Commander landed in 2019, it firmly redefined for me what a genuinely successful third-party figure was capable of. Proudly flaunting the kind of materials, design details and finish that even some of the most high-end official toys cannot realistically budget for, it swiftly became a true statement piece in my collection and was exceptionally close to pipping the top spot for that year’s ‘best of’ list besides. So, imagine my excitement at the idea of a Megatron follow-up, especially one that looks like this.

Taking the rough premise of Destro’s Dominator vehicle from GI Joe, Tyrant is more closely inspired by a piece of Don Figueroa artwork, much in the same vein as its Optimus-themed predecessor. Still, one has to marvel at the incredible engineering and design execution on offer here, as TFC has worked some serious magic whilst making it all work in 3D form. With three main modes that boast endless potential for configuration and experimentation, it’s one of those experiences you must have in hand to wrap your head around entirely.

That it doesn’t *quite* land as well as ST Commander isn’t a disappointment by any means. Realistically, it’s still peak 3P fare and a figure that cannot help but dominate your attention whenever you’re in the vicinity.

#4: threezero DLX Revenge of the Fallen Optimus Prime

I offer no exaggeration when I say that threezero’s DLX range has quickly become one of the most significant sources of anticipation for me regarding Transformers collecting. Sure, they don’t transform (let’s not go there again). Still, considering everything else they can accomplish as part of that trade-off, they’re some of the most richly engaging, fun to handle, and breathtaking designs you could wish for, and they are simply begging to be photographed in all kinds of creative ways. True works of art, if you will.

Naturally, it was no different with this rather spectacular effort, which perfectly recreates the original live-action Optimus Prime design (well, as seen in Revenge of the Fallen, anyway) in ultra-detailed, super-articulated form. I have precisely zero (no pun intended) need for this thing to curl up into a truck mode of any kind when it looks and handles as well as it does. I’m too busy trying to pick my jaw up off the floor.

In truth, I still need to get to grips with the also very striking but rather fiddly Jetfire accompaniment, but no matter as even just this release on its own is a real thing to behold. Prime stuff, indeed.

Check out the original gallery of this toy here.

#3: Masterpiece Gattai MPG-01 Shouki

Here’s another entry I fear may not be agreed on unanimously, but it’s one that has truly captivated me. The MPG roster has caused all kinds of commentary since being unveiled, especially when Raiden was confirmed as the premiere Big Man for TakaraTomy to tackle in Masterpiece form. Why not Devastator or Bruticus, or <insert other name here>? Seeing what Kōjin Ōno (who created the vintage Trainbot crew, by the way!) has cooked up with Shouki, it’s hard to feel it wasn’t the right choice to lead the way.

True, the designs have their detractors, too, with plenty of contention about the robot mode height, proportions, and whatever else. Really, though, this thing is a true marvel once you get your mitts on it, with an incredible sense of scale model train realness and a complex but still engaging transformation that makes you want to do it repeatedly. The robot mode is also a beauty to bold, perfectly blending the classic toy and the character’s Headmasters cartoon portrayal to incredible results.

As it stands, we’re some way down the track with this team, and Shouki remains toward the top of the pile. Full steam ahead towards the combined mode, then!

Check out the original review of this toy here.

#2: TransArt BWM-06 Tyrannosaurus

Sometimes, third-party items can be incredibly complex (even overly so), with a level of intricate trickery that leaves you somewhat befuddled as you go step by step through the transformation. Occasionally, though, you come across an item which firmly reminds you how simpler can often be better and that there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Transart’s output rests firmly in the latter camp, perfectly exemplified by the incredibly straightforward inner workings of their Transmetal Megatron despite its awesome outward presence.

Though it should firmly put to rest the erroneous rumours these Transart efforts are somehow knock-offs of the classic Beast Wars toys, it’s also fair to say this figure doesn’t make things complex for the sake of it, largely riffing off the 1988 Mega toy but supercharging it with a few added flourishes, a decent dose of animation accuracy and a significantly larger scale. The result is awe-inspiring, looking every bit like the Masterpiece-scaled souped-up Predacon leader of our dreams.

Is it perfect? Well, no – early copies were let down by some failed light-up gimmick shenanigans, for one thing. Still, small grumbles aside, this is auspicious stuff and about as great a take on the Transmetal version of the character as I can honestly imagine right now, so much so that it was a very close contender for 2022’s crown.

And now we come to my favourite toy(s) from the year…

#1: Masterpiece MP-53 Skids / MP-54 Reboost / MP-53+ Senator Crosscut

The Masterpiece line has been on a noticeable trajectory for some years, shifting away from what many consider the golden age of the Hasui era to more complex designs and a perceptible sense of slavish cartoon accuracy into the bargain. Collectors have fallen on both sides of the coin in terms of reaction to this slow but seismic shift, although even as someone who’s felt favourably about the direction of the line as a whole, there’s little doubt that MP-53 didn’t land like a breath of fresh air in 2022.

Ultra stylish in both bodes, but with a comparatively simple and easy-to-repeat transformation that leaves you wanting to give it another go straight after, everything about Skids feels like a remnant from that earlier design period. Stacking this thing up next to the likes of the Masterpiece Datsuns will instantly show you what I mean, to the point where you could honestly convince yourself this was a latent Hasui effort rescued from the archives of some kind. That it came from the same minds who brought us MP-52 Starscream and MP-57 Skyfire may be a twist, but if anything, it just shows that the line still has more than enough power to surprise and delight even after all the changes it has been through.

In this case, the great news is that the new Honda design almost immediately yielded a three-for-one, with MP-54 Reboost dropping in tandem alongside Skids and MP-53+ Senator Crosscut following not too far behind. Some will undoubtedly sniff at this heavy raft of repaints, but I couldn’t be happier. It’s such a fantastic design that they could pump it out in any available colour under the sun, and it would be a must-buy, so why not get on with the ceremony?

Besides, of the three, I’d be tempted to say that Reboost is my favourite, even if only by a narrow margin. The red is delicious up close, and the dual-colour palette makes the overall design pop. Sure, he looks a little like a proto-Optimus Prime, but still, this is ultra-stylish fare through and through.

In truth, it doesn’t matter which one it is because all three releases have the same appeal baked right into their DNA. Their whip-smart design is so fluid and intuitive to handle that you cannot help but be impressed when examining them up close, the kind of thing which firmly reconnects you with just what a pure joy this hobby can be on its finest day.

As if anyone needed convincing of it, the Masterpiece line still packs a punch, and I have no hesitation in naming this truly wonderful trio of toys as my number one for 2022.

Check out the original review of this toy here.

That puts the MP-53 mould in a very prestigious line-up with previous ‘toys of the year’, all of which continue to be highlights of my collection.

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

Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out my 2023 list soon!

TTFN