Top 10 TF toys of all time?

[Predabot]

Aye. Who be they? I think everybody knows the number 1, but who are the rest of the toys, from every line and every era? The best of the best of the best from all of TF history.

Which are the toys to own, if you're a fan?

I'm thinking that there Beast Wars might have a few of 'em actually.

[Aaron Hong]

Optimal Optimus - all the size and articulation worthy of a Masterpiece, without the price tag.

[Hot Shot]

I think everybody knows the number 1

I assume you mean MP-01 OP.

2. Hasbro Masterpiece Starscream
3. Armada Unicron
4. Hybrid Style Convoy
5. Cybertron Optimus Prime
6. Beast Wars 10th Anniversary Optimus Primal/Cybertron Ape OP
7. Alternator Hot Rod
8. Armada Bendy Prime
9. Cybertron Defense Red Alert
10. RID Scourge/G2 Laser OP
11. Cybertron Megatron/Galvatron
12. Cybertron Defense Hot Shot
13. Armada Hoist
14. Alternator Ravage
15. Any coloring of Cybertron Crosswise

[Predabot]

Well, I'll be darned, those are more than 10 suggestions there Hot Shot.

But I gotta agree, it's hard to weed the list down to only 10 must-haves since there's so darn many TF's.

I'm surprised you omitted Fortress Maximus from G1 tho? Surely he would be a prime candidate?

And yeah, Masterpiece/20th Anniversary Prime is always on the top...

Aaron, excellent suggestion with Optimal Optimus, he's such a great toy, and I'd probably use him in my own list. I'd probably include Tigerhawk too, since I hear he's bloody incredible, and the images I've seen appears to support this.

[Hot Shot]

I'm surprised you omitted Fortress Maximus from G1 tho? Surely he would be a prime candidate?

His size is the only thing that gets him on top ten lists. I took poseability and fun gimmicks into mind when choosing. Don't get me wrong, I love my Brave Max. He just doesn't seem like one of the best transformers ever.

[man-with-the-dogs]

1. G1 Jazz
2. G1 Stepper
3. G1 Smokescreen
4. G1 Prowl
5. G1 Bluestreak
6. G1 Tracks
7. G1 Red Alert
8. G1 Sideswipe
9. G1 Sunstreaker
10. G1 Wheeljack

These are THE BEST in my opinion. Now, if you ask me the best EXCLUDING repaints/incredibly similar toys, some might be different.

[Metal Vendetta]

Well in my opinion, the best TF toys embody a combination of lots of factors - they look good in both (or all) modes (kibble is a turn-off or at least they should use that kibble in an interesting way to enhance robot mode); they are poseable in robot mode and/or beast mode (G1 bricks need not apply); they represent a character that I enjoy in the related media (or I can imagine that they represent a character I think I'd like from their bio/tech specs); they have an interesting or unusual transformation (after all, that's why I don't buy action figures...or at least I don't just buy action figures); nostalgia (but not at the expense of the other factors above); displayability (including "does this toy fall over at the first gust of wind?") and quirkiness - is it a toy that you pick up and go "wow, I've NEVER seen a TF like that before"? Does it have unique features?

So, bearing all that in mind, here's my top ten in no particular order:

TM2 Megatron/Cryrotek. Can't decide if I like him in red or blue most, but the two of them together look absolutely awesome. Great robot mode (winged villains really do it for me, "head for a hand" also a big plus), awesome beast mode, plenty of quirkiness (unused "spark pilot" gyro-cockpit, rubber parts) - all in all a bloody fantastic Transformer.

MP-04 Convoy. Die-cast construction, lovely attention to detail, fantastically imposing figure AND he comes with his trailer too. Very glad I didn't just rush out and buy MP-01. Bit annoyed I bought the Takara Starscream though.

Music label Soundwave. He's Soundwave! And he plays music, Like you always dreamed he would...what's not to love? Except the price, obviously...

Stampy. Probably earning points in quirkiness rather than any of the other categories, but hell, he's a Transformer that turns into a little rabbit! He's friends with a giraffe and a penguin! He's got half a head for each hand! He's adorable! Chicks love him!

Ruination (Urban camo redeco). Gets massive points for nostalgia (the Combaticons were always a great set of toys, chestplate popping aside) and now they come in a new, street-cool set that looks great when displayed. No more mismatched colour schemes, just uniform coolness.

Classics Jetfire. Oh come on, how could anyone not love Classics Jetfire? Looks like old toy? Check. Looks like cartoon/comic model? Check. Prominent role in Stormbringer? Check. Cool accessories? Check. Fun to transform? Check. I know I've said this before but CJ is the love and the money. He owns you.

Armada Unicron. Nostalgia, size, playability, displayability - this one has it all. Even if I'm buggered if I know how to get him back into planet mode, who cares? He looks amazing on the shelf and has that "toy that I always wanted as a kid but could never have" desirability. Which leads me on to...

Impactor. This one comes from representation in the media...Which British Transfan didn't want a toy of Impactor? The best character to come out of the UK comics and still completely ignored by Hasbro, I've only ever seen one of these - this one - and it annoys me I'll ever own it...unless I drug and/or murder Best First, of course.

Energon Arcee. Though not a fembots fan generally, this is just such a sweet little toy. It combines the nostalgia factor with a very cool transformation (and motorcycle TFs are notoriously difficult to get right, see G1 Groove, for example) and some lovely details such as the high-heels in robot mode. Great fun to play with and looks really nice displayed too. And like Stampy, a big hit with the ladies.

Dreadwind and Smokejumper. Great playability, poseability, oodles of missiles and a decent colour scheme make this pair a must-have. One of the best TF moulds around, for my money.

Well, that's ten. There are loads more I could have included - big love to the later G1/early G2 toys like Ironfist, Clench, Pyro and the like, and Classics looks like it's going to rock my socks off next year (can't wait for the new Sideswide and Sunstreaker, if they really do transform differently that will be a major, major plus). A whole bunch of the Beast Wars, Robot Masters and Classics toys should really be here too, but I was aiming for a bit of variety across the lines and so they got left out. Oh, and BT Shockblast, who's absolutely gorgeous. Anyway, that's my list.

[Predabot]

1. G1 Jazz
2. G1 Stepper

These are THE BEST in my opinion. Now, if you ask me the best EXCLUDING repaints/incredibly similar toys, some might be different.

STEPPER?? He's Jazz with flames, mate.. And here in the west he's pretty much a non-entity. Gonna' have to disagree very strongly with this one.

But fire on with the list that's without repaints and the like tho.

EmmVee: Great looking list, I must say. A very good fine spread of stuff in there, but I can't really say I agree about Stampy and Impactor tho. Mainly because for some reason... I just find the very existence of Bunny and Giraffe Beast-warriors incredibly annoying. Yet, for some reason.. I completely accept the penguin. Strange...

And sadly there kind of is no toy of Impactor, so therefore I don't, uh, like his toy. 0_0 (Don't kill me. Too much.)

If I'd add a quirky character to my list, I'd probably go for HEINLAD. A drunkard, chronal Kaiju-former. PLUS.. he can double as your bed-watch.

'Aight! ^^ Time for me to concoct my own list, so here goes.

[Aaron Hong]

I've been unable to pick one of the movie TFs for my list because each of them has at least one niggling little factor that prevents it from getting on a Best Of anything list. Even concept Bumblebee has those elbows that don't rotate as far as they should. Rachet's nice and solid but the crappy weapon detracts from that. Ironnhide could throw his back out by accident. Come to think of it I'm sorely tempted to nominate Stockade just so this line gets some representation.

[Metal Vendetta]

Yet, for some reason.. I completely accept the penguin. Strange...

The Penguin has a terrible transformation though, he's the very definition of a shellformer, since he's basically an egg with a robot inside.

[Brendocon]

Stampy's ******* awesome.

Because he's not cute. Seriously, those eyes, that mouth. He's angry. And possibly evil. He's about as cute and harmless as the rabbit from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

[man-with-the-dogs]

1. G1 Jazz
2. G1 Stepper

These are THE BEST in my opinion. Now, if you ask me the best EXCLUDING repaints/incredibly similar toys, some might be different.

STEPPER?? He's Jazz with flames, mate.. And here in the west he's pretty much a non-entity. Gonna' have to disagree very strongly with this one.
.

Well you see, Jazz is my favorite and Stepper is Jazz in different colors. So going by my thinking that makes him number two as far as toys go. You see what I mean? Why do people have so much trouble understanding me?

[Guest]

Yet, for some reason.. I completely accept the penguin. Strange...

The Penguin has a terrible transformation though, he's the very definition of a shellformer, since he's basically an egg with a robot inside.

Kinder-formers?

I bet he's not choc-a-dooby, though.

[Predabot]

All right, here's my own list, subject to change I suppose.

1. 20th Anniversary Prime - Just pure excellence. In any version.

2. Powermaster Optimus Prime - 'cause he's an improved update of the regular Prime, more value to him. Sort of like SF2 vs SF2 Turbo. And the nostalgia-value is just intense.

3. Tigerhawk - Incredible sculpt, great idea and fascinating character, clean and smooth on the eyes colour-scheme.

4. Transmetal 2 Megatron - Very refined sculpting, good cartoon-likeness, looks utterly evil. Real big lad, one of the best alternate modes there is, a messed up cybernetic nightmare of a dragon.

5. Armada Unicron - A toy 20 years in the making.. Turned out pretty great, even comes with his own little evil moon. ( Is the moon the biggest Mini-con ever made btw, lads? I've got a feeling he is.) Tons of extra features and stuff.

6. Optimal Optimus - Fantastic Transmetal ape. Has 4 modes of transformation, big as heck, and pretty good cartoon-likeness. A recurring theme in the late beast wars.

7. G1 Megatron! - Aye! Why have I included ol' bucket-head in the list? Well, are you kidding me?? He comes with a ton of accessories, to be configured in different ways, has a life-like likeness to the old U.N.C.L.E modified PPK guns, and he's got a nice heft in your hands.

PLUS! You can surprise your friends by sticking him up their faces when they walk trough the door! ^^

8. Over-lord - Rare European exclusive, one of the last of the first generation.. I had him myself, and I think it's a great city-former. His main form, a giant blackbird-like ship, simply looks neat, and he's got double powermasters and everything. A hidden jewel.

9. Classics Bumblebee - Aww.. I want this toy. ^^ It seems like the nigh-perfect Bumblebee. Great refreshed homage to the original.

10. FORTRESS MAXIMUS - The holy grail for the collectors. Tons of guns, humonguous, and has arguably the best gimmick of the city-formers, a double headmaster.


Honorable mentions that almost made the list go out to:

Cybertron Primus - Now, I haven't seen this in person, but from what I gather online, he's pretty good. Lots of detail, guns, and a fitting and eye-popping colour-scheme.

Vector Prime - Great new character, homage to the Last Autobot, unique design and even comes with a little targetmaster Mini-con.

Kinder-formers?

I bet he's not choc-a-dooby, though.

Aaarrgh! Nightmares...

I think Kinder would have been a hit in the states if they just would have had this guy doing the commercials instead.. he can sell anything!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GL4hyATk ... re=related

[Metal Vendetta]

Kinder-formers?

I bet he's not choc-a-dooby, though.

Christ, that one had gone in so deep I didn't even remember it until I saw it again. ****ing scary as ****, dude. What were our childhoods made of?

Nice list, Preds. I'd totally forgotten about Overlord, an awesome late G1er if ever there was one.

[Aaron Hong]

For my next nomination I'm going with Armada bendy Prime. Not just because his vehicle mode fits perfectly into the one figure that's got the most articulation in Armada, or even compared to that super-poseable line we call Beast Wars, but the number of moving parts and attention to detail goes far above the requirements for a Deluxe TF at all. I mean for the love of tits he had ANKLES.

Kinder-formers?

I bet he's not choc-a-dooby, though.

OK, crazy but true - we get this exact brand of chocolate here in Singapore, but only in the mid-90s, so we were spared that ad. I'm glad my kids are asleep, they love this brand.

[Predabot]

Nice list, Preds. I'd totally forgotten about Overlord, an awesome late G1er if ever there was one.

Thanks mate. Yeah, that's why I added him, he's like the forgotten swan-song of G1. Sometimes you're surprised by how few that knows about him.

For my next nomination I'm going with Armada bendy Prime. Not just because his vehicle mode fits perfectly into the one figure that's got the most articulation in Armada, or even compared to that super-poseable line we call Beast Wars, but the number of moving parts and attention to detail goes far above the requirements for a Deluxe TF at all. I mean for the love of tits he had ANKLES.

Oh? I'll admit, I haven't really checked him out that much, but isn't he in the repaint-blue colours?

[Metal Vendetta]

Bendy Prime does kick arse.

If you've ever played the Armada video game, Bendy Prime looks exactly like the character you're controlling on the screen.

He is tons of fun. I don't know why he wasn't in my list, tbh.

[Hound]

Masterpiece Prime has got to be number 1. He is a stunning figure.

I also love God Ginrai - the Japanese Powermaster Optimus Prime. Better fists, chrome, Godbumber. Beautiful.

I always loved the G1 Bumblebee figure. The anime head version is wonderful.

Alternators Mirage is a fave of mine - fun to transform, unlike some of the alternators, but still with bundles of detail and a nice homage to G! Mirage.

RID Scourge/Dark Convoy. Laser Rod Prime was always a top figure. Poseable and sturdy, but with the new head, black paint job and pink swordy goodness - Dark Convoy is win.

Classics Mirage and Jetfire are also love.

[Aaron Hong]

I've had Animated Voyager Optimus Earth form for just a week, but I'm going to add him to the list. Why, you ask? Well, not only is the transformation full of the right amount of simple and complicated bits, but the end result is a stunning replication of Cartoon Network's funky robot styling. Those Viking horns from the first AnimOp pic they released aren't as jarring anymore. And the mouthplate gimmick reminds everyone that not all the nods to the past need to be from G1.

As a side note, my brother Nick pointed out that the slanted windscreen with reduced 'glass' areas seem to be intended for deflecting bullets, like armored military vehicles. He hasn't seen Bulkhead yet.