Pipes and Huffer have the same alt mode but different robot modes. Which is your favourite?
Such cute little alien war machines!
It’s true that most of the 1986 Autobot Mini-Vehicles are just slight retools of their 1984 counterparts. The likes of Swerve, Tailgate, Hubcap and Outback are simply recolours of Gears, Windcharger, Cliffjumper and Brawn respectively with new face sculpts (OK, Outback got a new gun as well which was pretty slick).
However Huffer and Pipes are the exception. As well as a new colour scheme and face sculpt, the Transformation from Robot Mode from Vehicular mode was slightly changed. Instead of the cab of the truck becoming a hood as it did with Huffer, it became a backpack for Pipes.
But are their alt-modes really the same?
One of these trucks is not like the other one
Well, yeah, for the most part. But there are subtle differences. The moulded grill and headlight motif on the front of the truck has been slightly changed from Huffer to Pipes. The tail-end of the trucks tray, which becomes the robots feet, is slightly more pointed on Huffer than Pipes. Perhaps the most notable difference besides the colour scheme is the smokestacks, which on Huffer and slightly indented, whilst on Pipes they are well and truly, well… pipes.
Overall the differences are negligible, but far outweigh the differences between the other mini-bot recolours of that era. I’d be hard-pressed to say which I like more as both have their charms.
Robot Modes
Huffer: “My elbows go the wrong way!” Pipes: “At least you can still pick stuff up”
Here is where the differences really stand out. As stated, Huffer has a sort of canopy whereas Pipes has a large backpack. From the back Pipes is easily the weaker of the two, having an entire truck cab hanging off his back. However this is where his weaknesses end. His arms are far superior to Huffers, and whilst Huffer could be said to have hands of a sort, it’s the orientation of his arms that lets him down, resembling some form of preying mantis idue to the backwards elbows. The head of Pipes too is superior, having an actual sculpted head that sits in front of the backpack, rather than some form of wide mask half-hidden under a hood.
So to answer Katrina’s question, I have to give it to Pipes, on the whole he is an improvement on his predecessor.
Huffer, being a legacy character from the 1984 cartoon, has turned up in multiple toylines such as KRE-O, Power Core Combiners, Timelines and even Transformers Prime. Pipes however has only had another two outings, both retools of existing Huffer figures. So lets have a look at these to see who is the superior in these new iterations of classic characters.
Combiner Wars
Prime-wannabe’s
If there is one set of Huffer/Pipes figures where the alt-modes are exactly the same then it is Combiner Wars. Not only are the altmodes the same, but the robot modes are exactly the same too, the only differences being in colour scheme and sticker placements. As such, it’s pretty much impossible to pick one over the other. I will say I never understood why they gave Pipes a red face, he looks like Tracks squat brother (or me when I’ve been out in the sun too long).
Kingdom
We finally busted into the Deluxe Class!
The third outing of Pipes, being again a retool of Huffer, is in the Kingdom line. I found both these toys to be quite clever and both are certainly the most toon-accurate versions of the characters we have ever had in their robot modes. Highlights for me included that Pipes now has pipes attached to his outer forearms like in the cartoon instead of the toys arms functioning as the pipes themselves. Huffer now sports a canopy of sensible size, and the way the sides of his alt-modes tray join together to form a very Halo-esque weapon is a really cool idea. I couldn’t fault either of them.
Pipes & Huffer: Both ready to smoke you!
In their vehicular forms, the fronts of the vehicles are actually (bar colour) exactly the same, having less differences than their G1 toy counterparts. The differences only seem to be at the back, where Pipes is toting his pipes and Huffer’s gun and shield serve to form a tray.
But wait, there’s more!
Can’t decide between Pipes and Huffer? Why choose either when you can have Puffer!
Puffer: ‘Even I haven’t heard of me before!’
Soooo…. The story behind this is that in certain parts of the world, when Pipes was released he was a straight up recolour of Huffer, rather than a retooled version. The storyline behind Puffer is that Huffer and Pipes got sucked into a time-vortex (as one does) and they were fused together into the one being. Like so many other extremely obscure characters (who can easily be recoloured from an existing figure), Puffer now has his own official toy. This Puffer though, is essentially Pipes slightly recoloured and with a G1 toy accurate head. Whilst there is little of Huffer to see in this figure, if you can’t decide which you like more out of Pipes and Huffer, then Puffer may be for you!
A reminder that Prime and Magnus aint the only Autobot trucks on the block
Well, for me it is hands down Pipes, and for me that is a purely sentimental reason. Pipes was one of my first ever Transformers, and was the first Transformer I ever got a double of when a mate gave me another one for my 9th birthday. Still have them both too 😊. I liked in the cartoon how Pipes seemed to straddle between mechanic, field medic and a quasi-field commander, whereas except for lifting the odd mammoth, Huffer seemed to do nothing but whine, barely built anything and for the most part simply vied with Gears for title of biggest complainer on The Ark.
G1: Emotions aside, talking about toys then I feel that Pipes has the better robot mode, despite Huffer having hand indents. Vehicular, despite the minor differences, I don’t favour one over the other. Winner: Pipes
Combiner Wars: Exact same vehicle mode so no favourite; in robot mode I gotta take points off Pipes for having the red face. Winner: Huffer
Kingdom: A draw, as though I like Huffer’s robot mode that smidge more, and he has the cool gun and shield that become the truck tray, Pipes finally has dedicated extra pipes, living up to his namesake. Winner: A draw, with a special shout out to Puffer for being such a unique character.
Got anything to say about the figures examined, or Pipes and Huffer in general? Pop it in the comments section below!
Jurassic Park and Tremors – two film franchises that have far more in common than one might think.
Yes the differences between the two franchises are huge; budgets, popularity, settings etc. But when it comes down to it both movie series (having 7 flicks each thus far) are at their core about humans genetically messing with creatures from the dawn of time, before those same creatures then turn around and systematically hunt and kill the humans for their hubris.
Both franchises have their big monsters – the T-Rex and the Graboid respectively. And they both have their flying monsters – the Pteradon and the Assblaster. But what about those mid-sized creatures that love to run down humans for lunch? In Jurassic Park these are the Velociraptors and in Tremors they are the Shriekers.
Note both the Raptors and the Shriekers are fictional. Yes Raptors did actually exist, but they were around the size of large chickens and had feathers as well as scales; they were not 2-meter tall pack hunters that could use doorhandles and change their gender as needed. And Shriekers are completely fictional, the mid-life cycle of Graboids before they turn into Assblasters, which then in turn lay eggs that turn into baby Graboids.
In both film franchises the species in question get genetically modified by humans, as well as attempts being made by humans to train their packs. In the first Jurassic Park film, we find that Raptors have only been able to be resurrected by splicing their DNA with that of amphibians, which not only leads to them coming back to life but also being able to change their gender in order to breed. By the end of the Tremors movies, humans have been messing with the DNA of Shriekers, giving them a ‘Sonic Scream’ that can completely incapacitate their prey.
In the Tremors TV series, it is revealed that the government has secretly been trying to train Shriekers to use their infrared vision in order to find victims in disaster areas. In Jurassic Park, the Raptors have been trained for several different reasons, from being killing machines for the Military to simply ‘lets see if we can’.
So what if these two fictional pack-hunting creatures went head-to-head? The Jurassic vs The Pre-Cambrian –Who would win?
To answer this, we will break down the skills and abilities of both Raptors and Shriekers. Then examine the threat posed by the two species to humans, as well as to each other.
Shriekers vs Raptors – The Stats:
Size & Strength
Shriekers: Shriekers are approximately 1 meter high and 1.5 meters long. They are strong enough to pin down a human and their bite is strong enough to rend metal.
Raptors: Approximately 2 meters high and 2.5 meters long. They are much stronger than humans in all regards.
Winner: Raptors
Speed & Agility:
Shriekers: For such short stubby creatures, Shriekers can exhibit quite a turn of speed, being able to easily keep pace with a human running. They are also able to jump and pivot easily.
Raptors: Raptors are very fast creatures, able to chase down humans that are riding quad bikes and motorcycles. They have great leaping skills.
Winner: Raptors
Dexterity:
Shriekers: Shrikers have no front appendages, severely limiting their dexterity. They however have prehensile tongues, being able to to grab objects in much the way an elephant would use their trunks.
Raptors: Raptors have been observed being able to use their hands/claws to not only grab onto their enemies, but even successfully manipulate door handles and other objects.
Winner: Raptors
Intelligence:
Shriekers: Whilst Shriekers have been mistaken for having high intelligence (destroying cars and communication towers, seemingly cutting off their prey from outside assistance) they are actually considered relatively dense. That said, the army has been able to have some success with training Shriekers, and they have been observed being able to figure out puzzles such as how to reach high objects, which puts them above much of the animal kingdom.
Raptors: Raptors have been shown to have high intelligence (for animals), being able to utilize techniques such as distraction, misdirection, testing & assessing and even tool manipulation.
Winner: Raptors
Hunting/Pack Hunting:
Shriekers: Shriekers are able to utilize heat sensors on the tops of their heads in order to locate their prey. This is highly effective, though can cause them to attack inanimate objects that also radiate heat. Shriekers will emit loud shrieks (hence the name) to alert other Shriekers to potential prey – whilst they have no ears, the shrieking makes them give off more heat themselves as a signal to the rest of the pack. Shriekers can not only hunt and corral their prey by moving in packs, but can also work together to reach prey, such as standing on each others shoulders to reach victims that are high up. Shriekers that have been genetically modified can also subdue prey with a Sonic Scream attack that incapacitates their prey.
Raptors: Raptors are able to use their speed and size to quickly take down most any prey that are smaller than them. Raptors are excellent pack hunters, able to corral their prey by approaching from multiple directions at once, or using one member to distract their prey whilst the rest of the pack sneak up on their quarry from other sides. Raptors understand using cover and will use long grasses and bushes to disguise their approach.
Winner: A draw
Physical Offensive & Defensive Capabilities:
Shriekers: Shriekers have strong bone jaws that are able to slice through tough materials such as metal with ease, as well as feeling no ill effects from biting through objects that are hot or conducting electricity. They are able to use their tongues to grab an object/prey. Genetically modified Shriekers can unleash a Sonic Scream, causing major damage and incapacitation to their prey. All Shriekers have a hard bone carapace over their heads, making their heads all but impervious to attack
Raptors: Raptors have long thick spurs on their hind legs which are able to rip through flesh with ease. Raptors have claws on both front appendages, able to grab and tear at their enemies. Raptors have a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, able to rend the flesh from their prey. They are fast and highly agile, able to run and leap in order to attack or escape.
Winner: Shriekers
Lifecycle:
Shriekers: Shriekers are the pupa stage of the lifecycle of Graboids and emerge from Graboids generally in groups of 3 to 6. Shriekers only live on average for 24 hours after which, if they have ingested enough food, they evolve into Assblaster – flying creatures that are similar to Shriekers in many respects. Given their relatively short lifespan in their Shrieker form, Shriekers do not have the longevity to learn new skills and operate mainly from instinct. Shriekers are asexual, and by ingesting enough food are able to ‘vomit’ up another Shrieker which will grow to full size within a few hours. By reproducing in this manner, a small group of newly born Shriekers can become a pack of overwhelming size within a very short period.
Raptors: The Raptors, due to having their DNA spliced with that of amphibians, are able to change their sex if there are too many of the one gender, facilitating being able to breed more efficiently. Raptors lay eggs and will not only protect their nests fiercely, but even hunt down stolen eggs over vast distances to retrieve them. Once hatched, baby Raptors follow the species normal life cycle.
Winner: Shriekers
Shriekers and Raptors – versus us and each other:
Shriekers & Raptors vs Humans:
In both movie franchises there have been plenty of humans who have been ripped apart by these two predatory species. But which is best at taking humans out?
Shriekers: Shriekers can run as fast as a human and have enough body weight to pin one down. They can kill a human with one bite from their powerful jaws, can hunt humans via the mammal’s body heat, and can overwhelm humans by multiplying their numbers exponentially. They have enough cooperative skills that they can work together to catch their prey such as tunnelling or standing on each other’s shoulders to get humans that are out of reach. They can shriek in order to alert other Shriekers of a human’s presence, and the genetically modified Shriekers can subdue a human in seconds with the Sonic Scream. Once a Shrieker has evolved into an Assblaster, they can attack from the air.
Shriekers are able to be tricked very easily by the disguising of body heat. By keeping solid objects between themselves and the Shrieker, or otherwise lowering their outer body temperature by the use of special clothing, humans can become essentially invisible to Shriekers and avoid them easily. Shriekers have strong bony skulls that can protect them from damage, but the rest of their body is susceptible to gunfire. They can also be killed by bladed weapons being stuck down their throats.
Raptors: Raptors are much bigger and faster than humans so have the speed and strength advantage. They are intelligent enough to escape pens and traps created by humans, as well as work their way into human strongholds. They have refined hunting instincts and are able to use a wide variety of tactics to take humans down – everything from using natural cover and distraction techniques, to corralling humans from different directions at once to cut off all escape. Once caught, humans have no chance of survival in a one-on-one confrontation given the Raptors claws, spurs and teeth.
Raptors are susceptible to gunfire and other weaponry, including shock sticks. With enough elevation, Raptors have no way to reach a human.
Conclusion: Both creatures are deadly to humans. Raptors are the more skillful and refined predators. Shriekers are arguably more dangerous, however are outwitted far more easily. A draw.
Shrieker vs Raptor in a Fight – One on One:
Raptors have it all over Shriekers in terms of their size and speed. If a Raptor is able to get past the Shriekers protected armoured head, it will easily be able to shred the Shrieker to pieces by grabbing it with its claws, then using its thick foot spurs and sharp teeth to eviscerate it. However, Shriekers are able to easily bite through solid metal with their bony jaws as well as grab their prey/enemies with their prehensile tongues. With one single solid bite a Shrieker could easily decapitate a Raptor or sever a limb. So the argument could be made that going head to head a Shrieker would win, but if a Raptor can dodge the Shriekers tongue and that first bite, the Raptor would easily destroy its smaller rival.
However in both franchises Raptors and Shriekers are shown to be genetically tampered with, and in the final movie of the franchise, it is shown that Shriekers now have the ability to emit a Sonic Scream. As long as the Raptor doesn’t completely take the Shrieker by surprise, which it shouldn’t be able to do even with cover do due to the Shrikers infrared vision, then the Shrieker can easily subdue a Raptor with its disorienting scream, then rip the Raptor to shreds with its huge jaw before the dinosaur realises what’s happening.
Conclusion: A Raptor has more chance of killing a Shrieker in a one-on-one fight, however a genetically modified Shrieker would completely destroy a Raptor.
Shriekers vs Raptors in a Fight – Pack vs Pack
Raptors are more intelligent than Shriekers and live far longer, meaning they have the capability to learn how to handle Shriekers from previous stand-offs (assuming any Raptors survive). It is conceivable that the Raptors could work as a pack, using one of their own as bait to distract the Shriekers whilst the rest of their pack picks off the Shriekers from behind.
However the above technique would probably only result in a few Shriekers getting killed before the rest realise what’s happening. Once they do the remaining Shriekers should be able to, via their jaws and screams, make short work of the Raptors. Shriekers also have the strength of numbers. Raptors have been shown in the movies to hunt in packs of up to 6, whereas with enough food around the Shriekers can not only grow to huge numbers relatively quickly, but also quickly replace any killed members of their pack. If half the Raptor pack is killed in a battle, they have to wait for their offspring to grow to adulthood to fight, whereas if even one Shrieker lives, it can quickly repopulate its pack within a matter of hours, with Shriekers who live long enough turning into airborne Assblasters to which the Raptors would have no defence.
Conclusion: In Pack vs Pack, the only possible way for the Raptors to win would be to somehow take the Shrieker pack by complete surprise and kill every single one of them as quickly as possible. In every other scenario the Shriekers win.
So who is the overall Winner?
Genetically Modified Shrieker
Overall we have to give it to the Shriekers. Yes, Raptors are bigger, stronger, faster, smarter and have the talons, claws and teeth to back it up. But Shriekers can reproduce quickly and asexually, use infrared vision to hunt prey, have a bite that can rend metal and the genetically modified ones can use a Sonic Scream to subdue most anything or anyone. If you combine those factors with their armoured heads and prehensile tongues then the Raptors, essentially big clever lizards, don’t stand a chance. In this competition of the hunters, Jurassic loses out to Pre-Cambrian.
Do you think the above comparisons between these fictitious creatures are accurate? And would you be interested in a potential T-Rex vs Graboid comparison? If so pop it in the comments section below!
Transformer fans sometimes fight over the silliest things – then I guess that’s what the Internet is for. One of the most enduring arguments over the decades has been ‘which was a better series: Generation One or Beast Wars’.
Personally I’ve never really weighed in on the debate as I enjoy them both. Both had some great cartoon episodes, both produced some fantastic toys, both have contributed a huge amount to the enduring Transformers mythos. So why the debate even exists is beyond me.
But exist it does.
In an effort to bring decades of arguing to an end I have examined the issue and, through scientific experimentation and logical deduction, found an answer to this long pondered question.
So sit back and enjoy the following video which will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt which was better – Beast Wars or Generation One.
I hope this video has answered all the questions you ever had about the relative quality of both franchises in relation to each other.
Here are the sticker sheets. The stickers are exactly the same, though I suppose the size of the sheet they come on is different, I guess.
Kinda like getting the exact same meal but on two different types of plate.
The way the Legends version and the Titans Return version have been strapped in their boxes is different in layout I suppose.
Takara Tomy packing methodHasbro packing method
Now to Trypticon himself, the differences are…. they are…. um….
‘One of these Cons is not like the other one…. oh wait’
The differences are non-existent!
That’s right kiddies – there is absolutely no difference between the two versions – none! All the things you may have previously been lead to believe, such as the teal was darker and the purple richer in the Legends version are not correct. That the paint apps are built in and you don’t have to apply stickers like the Hasbro version – false. The only way I could keep the two from getting mixed up when taking photographs was that I had already applied some of the stickers to the Titans Return version. The same goes for their smaller partners.
Full-Tilt vs Full-Tilt. No differenceNecro vs Titan Master: Difference in name only
In the end I didn’t even bother transforming the Legends version. I packed it straight back in its box and am going to carefully store it for a decade so hopefully I can in the future sell it (and make back the extra $80 I paid getting it shipped from Japan) as relatively MIB. In a day and age where toy producers are conscious that some collectors will shell out big money for multiple versions of an expensive toy for even the slightest difference, I was honestly surprised there was none here. Not even an extra gun like Metroplex or a new hat like Malibu Stacy!
Is one worth getting over the other? Nope. The only thing is that some of the Titans Return versions have the dodgy hips (for an excellent way to fix that see HERE)whereas none of the LG43 versions have had that problem reported as yet. So if the fact you don’t have to worry about this possible defect is worth the extra costs of shipping to you then grab that one. Otherwise, unless you are rolling in cash and want to have both types of box to display, go down to your local toy store and grab the Hasbro one.
‘I’m Trypticon’ ‘No, I’m Trypticon!’
Got something to add? Would love to read it in the comments section below!
The sixth of my Multiverse galleries. Blurr first showed up in the 86′ toyline and animated movie. We had to until Armada to get another version of him but since then the speedster has taken off once again!
Super Ginrai. Not just the Japanese version of Powermaster Optimus Prime but a character unto his own right. Finding himself to be not just an ordinary human but to be an actual Autobot Godmaster (how’s that for a bitchin subgroup name!) who could bond with a Transector in order to don the visage of legendary Autobot leader Optimus Prime and fight the evil Destrons…
… or so the story goes. It may be a different character technically but in reality it’s pretty much the same damn toy. The G1 Super Ginrai and Powermaster Optimus had very few differences, even if one was a little Japanese dude obsessed with his big hair in a mech suit and the other was Optimus Prime on steroids.
Here we are 30 years later and we have a similar thing happening. The (US) Titans Return toy is ‘Powermaster Optimus Prime’ whilst the retooled (JP) Legends version is ‘LG35 Super Ginrai’. Both toys have their pro’s and cons. Six months ago I reviewed the Optimus toy (which can be read HERE); today I’m going to give a quick overview of the Legends Super Ginrai version and then most importantly engage in a comparison. This way you, my loyal readers, will know which to shell out your hard-earned money on.
First off – Super Ginrai!
I’m not Optimus Prime, I swear!
Truck Mode
No, I’m not Optimus I said!
Very nice and solid. Unbeknown to most there is a small screw between the cab wheels you can loosen so that the cab does not have to sit flush with the trailer. The trailer is very reminiscent of the original toy and the trailer has all the armament that the G1 version did. The end result is a Mad Max’esque tractor trailer in a world gone mad – nice!
Robot Mode
Look, I’m not f*cking Optimus Prime OK!?!
Instead of Ginrai turning into the engine of his Optimus (but not Optimus) mech he now turns into the head. While still a cool concept I liked the engine gimmick better simply as it was that bit rarer. Very nice proportions, decently articulated and a nice paintjob. Good overall.
Base Mode
And no, I’m not ‘Optimus who got stuck in a particularly challenging yoga pose’ either you f*cking smartass!
Really does not stand up to the original G1 toys base mode. There are some gun turrets that Ginrai can sit in and all the guns from the other two modes are useable here. But it looks sparse and everything looks a bit flimsy – like he got stuck in mid-transformation.
Comparison between Legends LG-35 Super Ginrai and Titans Return Powermaster Optimus Prime
Vehicle Mode
Ginrai looks a lot more similar to the original toy whereas Optimus looks like an updated version, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The black guns on the top of trailer work a lot better on Ginrai and his robot feet sit a lot more flush at the back. I have to give points to Optimus for a new style and Ginrai for a more balanced look.
Base Mode
6 of 1, a half dozen of the other. Both don’t look flash to me. There are a few differences with the different chest pieces that come up to be the central seat for the Headmaster. The towers on Ginrai work being put higher due to you being able to place the black guns half way up, something you cant do with Optimus due to his robots hands not rotating.
Robot Mode
‘One of these bots is not like the other…’
One of the most significant differences are the ankles. Ginrai’s have been extensively retooled in order that they pivot better and provide more height. This makes Ginrai slightly taller than Optimus overall. Optimus’ hand guns look that bit more impressive but Ginrai is able to hold his better due to maneuverable wrists. The chest armor is slightly different as well. Overall I think Ginrai does look that bit better than Optimus here.
Apex vs Ginrai
Two heads are…. no, wait, too obvious a joke. I’ll come back.
Apex is the name of Optimus’ Titan Master partner whereas Ginrai is, well, Ginrai but as stated turns into a head instead of an engine. When comparing the two, Apex transforms into a head which looks a lot like Orion Pax, with the Optimus helmet going over the top. Ginrai turns into an Optimus head with… er… an Optimus helmet going over the top (the definition of redundant). So Apex wins the alt-mode race but the robot/human mode race is no race at all. Ginrai has lots of detail and (even though you probably cant tell with my bad camera) even has a little human face. Apex by comparison has bland colours and a featureless head.
Ones a robot, ones a human in a mech suit. Both have absolutely screwed torsos
So who to choose?
Look, I got both because of the displays I wanted to create. One display is of Optimus Prime figures which turn into trucks and have a trailer so Powermaster Optimus Prime goes there. The other is robot modes of all the different Generations (and Generations subsets) characters and while I have plenty of Generations Optimus figures I didn’t have a Ginrai one so he goes there. That said, I still feel like I wasted my money a bit by getting both. They are just too similar to warrant the expenditure on two Leader-class figures.
If I was to pick one I’d pick Ginrai. The robot mode is better and the Headmaster partner is a lot better. Ginrai wins. But then I guess, if you get both, you can at least join them up in to one super base like I have below!
Got something you would like to add to this ‘comparison of toys’ review? Would love to read it in the comments section below!
As the last of the vehicle-themed Gestalt Groups based on the American G1 cartoon and toyline, many people have been hanging out to get their greedy little cyber-mitts on the Technobots. However unlike most of the other Gestalt Groups, there are a lot of distinct differences between the Unite Warriors and the Combiner Wars versions of the teams. Plus they have been released within a month of each other, rather than six months apart like most of the other toys. So here we go, in what is probably my biggest and most detailed Transformers review to date, a comparison of the two gift sets: Unite Warriors Computron VS Combiner Wars Computron!
CW Lightsteed VS UW Lightspeed– Robot Mode
The CW version (Lightsteed) is a direct palette-swap of the CW Protectobot Streetwise and it shows. Luckily Streetwise was a pretty cool looking robot and Lightsteed also comes with Streetwise’s shotgun. The UW version (Lightspeed) is a retool of CW Wheeljack with two new guns. With the new head, red thighs and windshield on the chest Lightspeed is the more character faithful and cooler looking of the two
UW Lightspeed VS CW Lightsteed – Vehicle Mode
The original Lightspeed had a dome-like windshield that wrapped all the way around to make him look more like a Cybertronian Speeder rather than a Terran Automobile. Lightsteed’s vehicle mode (again, a direct palette-swap of Streetwise) manages this well and in colour hue is more faithful to the original toy. Lightspeed however has a more comic faithful colour scheme as well as the spoiler and side guns like the original toy, whereas Lightsteeds shotgun goes on the roof and he is still sporting the police lights rack which does not suit him.
Winner: UW Lightspeed
CW Afterbreaker VS UW Afterburner – Robot Mode
These figures are essentially palette-swaps of each other. You can differentiate between the two somewhat by varying the way the windshield and front wheel are positioned on his back. Afterbreakers colour hues are more G1-toy accurate whereas Afterburners are more G1-cartoon accurate. Neither’s guns are really G1-faithful but Afterburners look cooler rather than just being copies of UW Groove’s.
UW Afterburner VS CW Afterbreaker – Vehicle Mode
Again, a direct palette sway of each other and again Afterbreaker is more toy accurate whereas Afterburner is mode cartoon accurate. The windshield has been lowered from the Groove mold to make it more cockpit like reminiscent of the original character though neither has a G1 accurate cockpit colour (Afterbreaker’s is green and Afterburner’s is blue). Once again, Afterburners guns look a bit cooler at the sides than Afterbreaker’s.
Winner: UW Afterburner(by an Energon sliver)
CW Strafe VS UW Strafe – Robot Mode
Like many of the other Technobots, Strafe’s colour schemes tend towards the toy on the CW side and the cartoon on the UW side. This is most evident in their visors. However the UW version has the small shoulder wings and more importantly can take off his vehicle mode’s guns and use them as pistols. And let’s face it, the UW version seems to be just that bit more striking.
CW Strafe VS UW Strafe – Vehicle Mode
These are both really cool! Both have been heavily retooled from different UW molds and as a result have completely different looks! CW Strafe is boxy, has a black cockpit and looks like it could be out of a Halo game or Starship Troopers movie. UW Strafe has an extra gun at the top and a curved prow giving him a sleek alien-drone look. Neither fully replicate the original G1-toys look but that’s ok because they both look great! Both do however have the twin tailfins and the twin laser guns at the front. I love both of these and would be hard pressed to pick a winner between the two.
Winner: UW Strafe (because of the robot mode)
UW Nosecone VS CW Nosecone – Robot Mode
Never is the difference in direction taken to homage the cartoon VS the toy in the new Technobots more evident than in Nosecone. CW Noscone has the tank tracks on the shoulders like G1 (both the original toy AND cartoon) and his colour scheme is very much the original G1 toy, using light orange, dull grey and a red face. UW Nosecone has more browns in it, is white in the chest like the cartoon and sports new features like having the guns in the shoulders. Both can use their drill pieces as a hand weapon, CW’s drill looking more realistic as a hand weapon due to being less bulky.
CW Nosecone VS UW Nosecone – Vehicle Mode
Like Strafe, Nosecone has been retooled from two distinct CW molds. UW Nosecone is a heavy retool of CW Protectobot Rook while CW Nosecone is a slight retool of CW Combaticon Brawl. If the UW version had not come along people probably would have been happy enough with the CW version. But as it stands the UW version is heads and giant-drill-bits above the competition! Instead of looking like a regular tank with a drill instead of a cannon, UW Nosecone really does justice to the original character and with the new shape, the guns on top and aforementioned giant drill bit he looks fantastic! Probably the best looking Drill Tank transformer we have had to date!
Winner: UW Nosecone (because of the brilliant vehicle mode)
CW Scattershot VS UW Scattershot – Robot Mode
To save confusion, in this review I am referring the to the CW Scattershot that came as part of the Computron gift set, not the individually packaged bot that came out a year earlier though I will be making reference to it. CW Scattershot has a long rifle like the original figure (even if it is Silverbolt’s) and blue detailing on bits of his body like the stickers on the G1 toy. UW Scattershot has a lot more browns in him like the original toy but comes with two big blasters. Both have a blue visor and white face like the cartoon whereas the independent Scattershot had a completely blue face like the toy.
CW Scattershot VS UW Scattershot – Vehicle Mode
Perhaps the one example where the UW versions colour scheme is more G1-toy accurate than the CW version. CW Scattershot has red along the ships nose/cannon whereas the UW version is completely white. I don’t mind this too much as it differentiates the two CW versions and it looks pretty cool. With the new guns whilst the CW versions one goes under the existing cannon to make it ludicrously long, the UW’s versions go under the wings which I think works quite well. None of these versions are as cool as the original toy in my opinion and of course they all lack the third Cannon Emplacement mode.
Winner:Pretty close but I have to give it toUW Scattershotbecause of the differences he brings to Computron which I will go into soon.
CW Scrounge with CWTargetmaster Partner Cybaxx
There is no comparison to write here as these two only come with the Combiner Wars version of the Computron gift set. Scrounge is a retool of Generations Cosmos with a comic-accurate head and Cybaxx is a direct recolour of Generations Payload. Both are cool enough toys but G1 enthusiasts have been thrilled to get after so many years a toy of Scrounge who has been a very obscure comic character, known mainly for his long arm and traumatizing Blaster by dying.
CW Computron VS UW Computron
I don’t think any of the other gestalts from the two lines have differed so much. Mainly they have been copies of each other with slightly different colour schemes and maybe one of the characters has a different mold (Blast off and Groove) or an extra character (Blackjack and Powerglide). Here we see a UW Computron with a new chestplate, fairly uniform colour scheme and new head as well as a downward facing drill on his left knee. CW Computron has the much improved hands and feet which first arose with the Victorion gift set and can attach Scrounge and Cybaxx on his left shoulder. Both versions have advantages that the other does not have and, on top of the differences already mentioned, due to being able to position Afterburner/breakers motorcycle front differently as well as the differences between Strafe and Nosecone they look like different parallel-universe versions of each other rather than a simple palette swap. This is enhanced by the fact that UW Scattershot brings into the mix a new chestplate and head whereas CW Scattershot makes Computron look a bit too much like Superion when displayed together.
Winner: UW Computron (due in large part to the new head and chest)
So overall, which should you get?
Well, overall, especially when it comes to the limb characters, Unite Warriors is a definite winner and if you were to only buy one this is the one I would choose. However the Combiner Wars version of this group is pretty good too and has extras like a poster, trading card and two extra characters. Personally I will be mix & matching. I will be using Scattershot from UW with the limb characters and hands & feet from the CW version to make Computron whilst I will be using all the others to represent the individual bots. But a great effort by both Hasbro and Tak/Tom and whichever way you go you will not be disappointed by your purchase.
