COUNTDOWN: 9 Transformers Prime designs that deserve Generations attention!

The recent Legacy line has been popular amongst fans for homaging just about every corner of Transformers history, and it’s exciting to see the upcoming Age of the Primes continue that trend!

One particularly ripe roster has been Transformers Prime, with a fair number of figures using the 2010 series as inspiration. True, opinions on their stylised nature have been divided, with some preferring the idea of more faithful representations of the cartoon. Whatever your take, seeing this colourful bunch of characters given their due in modern form is still enjoyable.

Yet plenty of potential remains for more, with a whole host of original character designs debuting across three seasons of the now-classic cartoon. Today, let’s consider which of those could make for intriguing new toys in the near future!

#9: Optimus Prime

OK, it’s not the most original choice, but we may as well kick off with everyone’s favourite robodad, right? After all, in a world where we’re already receiving a new Optimus Prime figure every four or five days or so (don’t fact-check it), this design is unique enough to stand out from the crowd and do something a little different! Sure, there have been various stabs at it already over the years. Still, a current-style Generations makeover could be something to see – even if it did have a nose!

#8: Smokescreen

Despite debuting fairly far into Prime’s run, Smokescreen made quite the splash, ending up a fan favourite despite being a very different take versus his classic namesake! His characterisation is more in line with what we think of as Hot Rod, but the design is wholly unique and would certainly be a welcome presence in a modern Generations line-up. There’s even built-in repaint potential, considering he gets an updated colour scheme in the show’s third season.

#7: Hardshell

The Transformers Prime Insecticons are not exactly your classic take on the bug-themed baddies, but they’re a memorable presence whose creepy, jagged designs feel right at home in the 2010 series. Yet it’s Hardshell who rose from their ranks to make a name for himself, even if he ultimately didn’t survive past the second season, thanks to Miko! Considering there has only ever been one toy of this guy over the years, it could be fun to see a more accurate take at some point down the line.

#6: Vehicons

Not one individual character but a literal army of bad guy goons, the Vehicons may take their name from 1999’s Beast Machines, but the design is one entirely synonymous with Transformers Prime (despite making a more recent resurgence in Transformers One)! In terms of toys, the undeniable appeal here is that any one figure has the potential for multiple per-person sales in the form of troop building, meaning that a modern spin feels like a no-brainer at some point.

#5: Soundwave

Like some of the other characters on this list, Soundwave is a bot so iconic that even many non-fans can likely recognise his classic persona at a quick glance. Yet Transformers Prime dared to do something a little different with the design by completely overhauling the familiar blue tape deck look and giving us this sleek, faceless (and mostly mute) menace, who may well be the coolest presence in the entire series. It’s a look that has been sadly underutilised since and deserves a comeback in modern Generations form.

#4: Ratchet

We were blessed with impressive Ratchet adaptations throughout the 2000s, as many fans cite either this guy or his Transformers Animated predecessor as a favourite from over the years. Yet, weirdly, neither of them has come up for the Generations treatment in recent times, which is especially strange in the latter case if only because the rest of the Autobot roster has been so well served. There’s plenty of reason to think that his Prime design would be a worthy candidate too, not least because it’s hugely distinct in terms of other takes on the character and would represent something a little different from the norm.

#3: Airachnid

Like the Vehicon troops, Airachnid was a welcome bit of Prime representation in last year’s Transformers One, meaning fans naturally will have hoped to see many more toys of the character as part of her new-found big-screen fame. Sadly, that amounted to a single one-step Cog Changer effort, with zero sight of her in the more standard main line or Studio Series rosters! So, what about giving her some due in the form of her original 2010 design, complete with the third creepy hybrid spider mode?

#2: Predaking

Making his presence felt throughout the third season of Transformers Prime, Predaking is a truly awesome sight to behold. Transforming into a massive cybernetic dragon, it’s a wholly welcome new spin on the classic name, and one which feels ready for a resurgence in modern Generations form. True, there have been some impressive toys of this guy over the years already, but one can’t help but think that a new outing would be most welcome indeed, especially if it were to utilise one of the larger price points effectively!

#1: Megatron

We’ve been blessed with some varied and creatively unique takes on the Decepticon leader over the years. From the early days of Generation 2 through to Beast Wars, the Unicron Trilogy and more, every new era of Transformers has sought to give Megatron a fresh flavour, and so it was with Transformers Prime. Taking some inspiration from the big-screen Bay design, this spiky silver effort is nonetheless its own thing entirely, although it’s fair to say that none of the toys from the time ever quite captured its presence to the necessary degree. Perhaps a Generations spin could deliver the figure we’ve always had in our mind’s eye? Time will tell.

So that’s our list! Which TFP characters would you most like to see done?

TTFN