COUNTDOWN: More Generations retools we never could have predicted

Repaints – and, more specifically, retools – have been a staple of Transformers since the beginning.

Perhaps beyond most toy lines, there’s something about slapping a new colour scheme on a robot and changing some moulding that can make it seem entirely different to what was originally released. So much so, it’s no surprise to see such makeovers built into the design and manufacturing process nowadays, with ‘retools’ being planned from the very beginning of production in many cases.

When it comes to the modern Generations roster, retools are frequently surprising in delivering too completely distinct characters – often entirely unassociated with one another in Transformers history – from one base mould. After our initial list, here are 6 more examples we never could have predicted!

#6: Shadow Striker & Side Burn

OK, we’re going to kick off with a controversial one, but hear me out! A lot of collectors were more than mildly miffed when Legacy Shadow Striker was first unveiled, as it was immediately apparent to anyone with even a passing knowledge of Robots in Disguise that the design was set to receive the retool treatment and be re-released as the popular character from the 2001 series. The reason behind all the angst? Well, Side Burn is a bit of a fan-favourite, and a large dollop of the appeal is that classic Dodge Viper alternate form, which many would argue is one of the best-looking vehicle modes on a mass retail Transformers toy… well, ever! So this update having a comparatively nondescript (and non-licensed) car configuration was perceived as a real step down from the high hopes many had built up for such a project, especially when considering the uber-accurate stylings of the upcoming Haslab Omega Prime. Yet here’s the thing – it’s actually a pretty neat (and certainly unique) take on the character otherwise, and a surprisingly fun toy to boot! Sure, it’s not Viper-level fancy in motor mode, but it was arguably never going to be either, so rather than do some sort of pales-by-comparison imitation of the original, at least the result is something a little different.

#5: Cyclonus & Metalhawk

I will be honest here: I don’t think any modern interpretation of the Pretender gimmick has even nearly scratched the same itch as the original 1988/9 toys with their sublime shell stylings. Sure, we’ve had some interesting takes along the way, but many of us are still waiting for a proper resurgence of the classic concept in all its glory, or at least another spin which delivers the same level of intrigue. That said, there have been worthwhile attempts at overhauling the characters in question, although in this case, the route to market was abandoning the Pretender pretence altogether! Still, I don’t think anyone could have predicted that Japanese poster boy Metalhawk would be realised as a (fairly extensive) retool of Kingdom Cyclonus, even if the result works surprisingly well. Sure, it may not capture the play pattern of the vintage Masterforce figure, but we can always pretend, right?

#4: Chase & Cliffjumper

I still need to pinch myself and remember that Rescue Bots characters are currently finding new life under Generations, especially now we know Heatwave will be on the way as part of Age of the Primes! Still, as delightful as Legacy Chase proved to me, the unexpected twist of him being turned into a relatively faithful take on Cliffjumper from Transformers Prime really surprised me! Notorious for his untimely and grisly fate in the early days of the cartoon, the red devil has had his fair share of toy representation over the years already, and even if this latest effort is a little stylised, it’s still a worthwhile stab (sorry!) at the beloved character.

#3: Scourge & Alpha Trion

Alpha Trion toys are always a cause for celebration. After all, they don’t happen all that often (and not at all during the character’s debut era of the 1980s), but when they do, they’re typically something a bit unusual or interesting and often make use of existing moulds in weird and wonderful ways. So it is with the latest Legacy effort, released as part of the ‘A Hero is Born’ 2-pack alongside his classic protege Orion Pax, which ingeniously reworks the established Studio Series Scourge design to great effect and a very different feel. Somehow, it comes off as entirely distinct yet also surprisingly spot-on as a representation of everyone’s favourite robo-grandad, except now with a rather bizarre space hovercraft alternate mode. But hey, this guy was always going to be about the humanoid form first and foremost, and there’s no denying how clever the retooling is in this case.

#2: Blurr & Devcon

Like Alpha Trion, Devcon is another 1980s Transformers character who debuted during the original series cartoon, except in this case, he only appeared in one episode. Still, that hasn’t hurt his popularity any, given he remains a surprisingly recognisable face in fans’ minds even after four decades. This is not the first time he’s been seen in toy form, although the only prior release was a stylised Botcon 2014 effort (coming to fruition after two previous attempts as tie-ins with official conventions) which doesn’t necessarily look a lot like the animation. Well, as if to further cement the idea that Legacy is pulling all kinds of obscure influences from across Transformers history, he’s finally been made real in faithful form and debuted at mass retail thanks to a rather ingenious Studio Series Blurr makeover! This is one of those examples where it might be easier to count the parts that remain from the original than list everything which is new, but trust us – somewhere underneath it all, these toys come from the same base design!

#1: Refraktor & Emirate Xaaron

As a certified avatar-wearing Xaaron fan of some years hence (who had the honour of being asked to reveal this retooled effort, no less!), I can honestly say that for all the times I imagined what the first ever toy of the character might look like, I never once considered it would based off a Reflector mould. A Megatron design seemed the obvious option to many, given that’s how his on-the-page appearance was devised back during his debut. Yet in toy form, it would have been too big, too hulking and, simply put, too imposing. Yet despite his diminutive stature, Xaaron still needs to be boxy, and so the powers that be played a blinder by heavily reshaping this Siege design to great effect, giving the wily old buzzard a very classic comic appearance but also equipping him with an alternate ‘combat’ form for the first time (that we get to see, anyway!). The result is everything Xaaron fans could have hoped for. Well, except perhaps an all-gold repaint somewhere down the line, eh?

So that’s our list! Which retools do you consider the most successful?

TTFN