COUNTDOWN: 4 more recent Transformers Generations toys that were unfairly written off!

It’s not uncommon for new Transformers toys to be met with a mix of reactions when they’re first revealed and released.

Even the most popular designs have their detractors, and that’s to say nothing of the countless toys which landed to lukewarm vibes initially but went on to earn a widespread reappraisal later on. Besides, it’s also fair to say that sometimes the less favoured figures still have some merit to them and can be enjoyed for what they do well despite not being objectively ‘perfect’.

So today, we’re looking at some more recent Generations toys that have, for various reasons, garnered a slightly less than stellar reputation online but are actually pretty good fun in hand if you give them a go!

#4: Legacy Toxitron

I should clarify here that I’m writing this more about the Laser Optimus Prime design in general than I am Toxitron specifically. However, there’s also no doubt in my mind that the green meanie is the most eye-searingly stupendous take thus far! Anyway, what’s strange in this case is how generally mixed the online vibe is regarding the mould, with audible groans every time a freshly repainted version is revealed. And hey, I must admit that no part of me felt particularly wowed by what I’d seen either, with only the curiosity of it eventually being realised in that wonderfully hideous green enough to finally tempt me on board. I’d mainly written it off because it all seemed a little half-baked to my eye – a robot mode with some new bits plonked on top of a set of Earthrise legs and a rather underwhelming trailer section that could never even nearly claim to hold a candle to the 1995 original. And to be fair, getting this thing in hand… those complaints are not entirely untrue, either (especially the bit about the trailer). However, what I wasn’t prepared for was just how creative the toy is in terms of its transformation, with a surprisingly involved series of steps that take it from its truck to humanoid forms in a way which truly elevates it beyond what it might otherwise have been. Add in a rather lush robot-mode presentation and it was enough to tempt me into already considering a double dip should a decently priced Scourge emerge down the road and that I could never have predicted.

#3: Legacy Prime Breakdown

Like several of the other Prime-themed makeovers cropping up in the recent Generations line, this big blue baddie was one I’d heard little positive about before taking a look myself. Fan reaction seemed particularly harsh concerning the toy’s likeness to the 2010 cartoon, with many feeling it failed to capture the intended character in a way they would have wanted, which is an understandable complaint from diehard fans of that particular show, I suppose, but I knew it was never going to be something which bothered me. So, after being spurred on by a positive experience with another much-derided new toy based on the same show in Legacy Dreadwing, I decided it was time to make up my own mind and boy, am I glad I did! For clarity, I had previously skipped over the releases of the design as Bulkhead, so this was a wholly new experience for me. However, I adore how big and chunky the robot mode is, especially as it boasts a lot of character and features a rather unusual transformation to its beefy alternate form. I also think this version of the design looks the best of those we’ve received so far, wearing the blue well to great effect, although, of course, we shall have to see if that assessment stands once Heatwave is in hand soon. All I can say for now is there was a veritable chasm between expectation and experience in this case, and, as it turns out, Breakdown is a lot more enjoyable than his general reputation would have you believe!

#2: Kingdom / Premium Finish Rhinox

OK, first things first, the toy I hold in hand is not actually Kingdom Rhinox at all. It’s the ‘premium finish’ Beast Wars Again TakaraTomy makeover, which ditches the dull colours of the original in favour of a gorgeous electric green and a lush golden brown. To my eye, it makes all the difference (which, to be fair, is what you would expect from something being advertised as a ‘premium’ makeover, but there you go) and suitably elevates the design to definite new heights and appeal well beyond anything the Kingdom version could claim. However, having finally been tempted to give the toy a go thanks to its shiny new palette, I also discovered that the inherent mould is actually pretty great and does a number of things well, even if it was released in somewhat murky tones initially. Firstly, the whole thing is articulation personified, embuing the mighty Maximal with a range of poseability I honestly would not have anticipated even by modern Generations standards. Secondly, I love the slightly stylised but undoubtedly handsome aesthetic on offer, with enough callbacks to the classic Beast Wars cartoon to make it feel like a suitable representation of the character while still bringing something new to the table. Thirdly, it’s fun to handle, with a repeatable transformation, a fairly decent beast mode and a real fiddle factor in robot form. Add it all up, and I appreciated Big Green way more than I could have expected, so you might say I maximised the enjoyment!

#1: Legacy Squeezeplay

Our final entry for today delves into a broader conversation about a all too common practice among modern Transformers toys – retools. You see, it’s become entirely expected, even in fandom circles, that many characters will only see the light of day through being crafted from a mould which already exists in some form, albeit with a varying extent of new tooling taking place to differentiate the new identity from what has come before. We often joke about the likes of Combiner Wars Silverbolt being the basis for so many other designs. Still, the reality is actually not that far from the humour (with the Aerialbot commander being used as the basis for some highly surprising subsequent efforts!). However, I don’t think anyone anticipated seeing a new take on 1988’s Headmaster Squeezeplay using the core of the Titans Return Mindwipe design some eight years after the fact, especially given how different their classic toy counterparts were! There’s also no doubt an unmistakable assumption from many of us that the resulting effort will be compromised in some way, perhaps not as ‘pure’ as an entirely new design might be when it comes to representing the intended character somehow, and I’ll admit to having this exact concern when it came to today’s subject. As it turns out, I needn’t have worried because great effort has clearly been made to make Squeezeplay feel as original as possible, with precious little feeling of sacrifice having to be made in this case. Beyond that, the result is one which actually does the late ’80s d-lister more than enough justice and proves to be an enjoyable bash to boot. If it helps get these kinds of obscure characters made, this is the kind of retooling I can get on board with!

So that’s our list! Do you agree with the choices?

TTFN