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War for Cybertron toys: Nature's cruelest mistake? photo

This week I was in San Francisco to check out Transformers: War for Cybertron. I'll have a feature based on my experiences coming later today, but for now I want to share with you a quick look at the first batch of War for Cybertron toys that are coming out, including a first look at Soundwave. 

This is certainly the first time I've seen Soundwave and he looks awesome. Bumblebee and Megatron were also in attendance, along with the prequel novel Transformers: Exodus which charts how Optimus Prime and Megatron first met. I'm reading that at the moment, and it's... alright. 

There's also Optimus Prime, who I actually have had some hands-on time with (because he's stood on my desk right now). Read on as I give you a closer look at the Autobot leader, and hit the gallery for shots of the other Transformers. 

WARNING: Images contained after the jump may be considered disturbing by sensitive readers.

 

 

First of all, Optimus Prime is a great toy to have on your desk. Like many of Hasbro's recent figures, Prime looks incredibly faithful to his videogame counterpart, with the "quasi-G1" art style of War for Cybertron rendered very well indeed. He's highly detailed and has plenty of room for movement, making him fully poseable. If you're the kind of person who likes to make his toys bum each other (which you are) then Optimus comes fully equipped for all your bumming needs.

It just goes to how far along the series has come from an offshoot toy line based on appropriated Diaclone figures. Rigid and barely recognizable "robots" now look totally faithful to their media counterparts and can be played with like real action figures after years of breakable, unyielding plastic crap. Unfortunately, this new era of quality and authenticity comes at a price: These toys are fucking HARD to transform. 

Seen above are both sides of the toy's instruction leaflet. As you can see, transforming Optimus Prime into a truck requires 26 steps. You remember when turning Bumblebee into a car was as simple as flipping up a head and yanking some legs out? Now there's twisting, turning, pushing, pulling, rotating, and praying to Odin involved. If you miscalculate the angle while turning a limb, you might not be able to move a hubcap later, and your whole thing is screwed. Basically, these things have gotten too complex and terrifying for my old man's brain to cope with. 

However, I am not afraid of a challenge, and I most certainly gave it the old college try. Presenting to you, my attempt at Optimus Prime's alt-mode. Be warned that those with a heart condition may not want to look further.

"GOD, WHY!? WHY HAVE YOU MADE ME THIS WAY!?"

Do not grieve for Optimus, boys and girls. He's already dead. 

Already dead. 

 

LAUNCH GALLERY (6 IMAGES)
Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo Photo









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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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47 comments | showing # 1 to 47
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craigbezzle's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 10:24
craigbezzle
I actually did cringe when I saw Prime in his auto form. Ouch.
VGFreak1225's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 10:25
VGFreak1225
DAMMIT JIM, I HAVE A PREGNANT WOMAN AND CHILD IN THE ROOM!
Mark Griffiths's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 10:26
Mark Griffiths
I really want to get some Transformers, I feel like I was deprived with the one small one I had as a kid. It made sparks though, which was cool.

I don't like the movie based ones as they don't look great, but G1(?) and this lot look quite good. Bumblebee looks kinda cool.

I ordered a Brawn keyring to my girlfriend's house and then she dumped me. (Unrelated)

Did they just give you one or did you buy it?
Pixel Kaiser's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 10:26
Pixel Kaiser
Jim, you should do Transformers reviews for Tomopop.
Honed Capristrider's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 10:29
Honed Capristrider
Lets see how the Omega Supreme and Jetfire/Skyfire figures turn out...
Cynical Gamer's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 10:32
Cynical Gamer
At least these look much better than the Bayformer toys.
FalconReaper's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 10:38
FalconReaper
I won't lie Jim, those last two images were like a involving clowns. You know its horrible, but you just can't help but stare and laugh.

And I second Kaiser's suggestion
FalconReaper's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 10:39
FalconReaper
FUCK ! I meant to say it's like a trainwreck involving clowns. I'm fuckin' stupid
Nemetoad's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 10:52
Nemetoad
I think this only applies to Optimus Prime however. Bumblebee looks really easy to transform just looking at pictures and I've never ever seen a difficult transformer of Megatron :| Soundwave looks too awesome to pass up too :D
zombiekiller13's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:01
zombiekiller13
Oh...oh. This generation's Transformer toys are impossible to change from robot to vehicle form. IMPOSSIBLE. And they are usually marked 5-7+. My 6-year old son usually changes them into their robot form, and then leaves them that way. When he or I try to turn them back into a vehicle, they look much like Jim's attempt.
Akitoscorpio's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:01
Akitoscorpio
Oh God the Damn Movie transformer toys my Nephew always has me attempt to transform for him are just as bad, I swore I was going to have to go to college for an engineering degree just to make bumblebee transform properly.

I'm not kidding, it took a team of three adults to figure that bullshit out.
Slowey's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:01
Slowey
I think im about to cry
Elzam's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:08
Elzam
No lie, I laughed a bit of my life away with those images.
ZamaR's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:16
ZamaR
They made a Jim Sterling toy! sweet
sirspy's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:19
sirspy
I remember a die cast metal transformer I used to have that turned into a space shuttle, that shit was a god damn brain teaser.
casualweaponry's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:21
casualweaponry
Bayformers are a freakin' nightmare to transform.

The Leader Class figures (Optimus, Megatron, one of the tanks, etc) will definitely try your patience.
keyserv2's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:30
keyserv2
Mister Jim Sterling, you're my hero. I am still chuckling at Optimus standing on the Shy Guy....simply brilliant.
Queasy's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:31
Queasy
I stopped buying Transformers toys for my son because he got so frustrated with trying to transform them. They definitely aren't making them for the kids anymore.
OWENR22's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:34
OWENR22
+1 for Xenomorph in the room.
Fame Designer's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:34
Fame Designer
I think it would be interesting if they made puzzle Transformers that took like over 100 steps to transform.
Kylius's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:38
Kylius
@VGFreak1225 - Jesus man! What's wrong with you!? Are you Josef Fritzel or something!?
Antwhan's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:42
Antwhan
That was a thing I just saw. Frightened and laughing at the madness of it all.
walrusmustdash's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:46
walrusmustdash
Could be worse. I'm pretty sure the Michael Bay movies had toys of the robots that DIDN'T TRANSFORM AT ALL. They're called Transformers! They transform! It's their main gimmick, the primary thing that makes them cooler than other toys! I'd take an almost impossible transformation over a really ugly robot that just sits there...
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:57
Jim Sterling
Hey mjemirzian, get the fuck over it.
pdx's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 11:58
pdx
Hi Jim, when are we getting your impressions of the game that you said you'd get out?
Nemetoad's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 12:00
Nemetoad
Additionally, the complicated messes such as War for Cybertron Optimus is the reason why I've started buying transformers again XD I like the challenge.

And oh yeah, RotF Leadre Optimus is a NIGHTMARE. Megatron? Not so much. I'm sure Jetfire is a mess due to being crappy in general. However most of the line isn't too bad. Agreed though, definitely hard on kids.
ikiryou's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 12:16
ikiryou
You have to remember not to try forcing the transformation. You have to let it flow. It's akin to taking a curry-induced dump: if you force it, you'll get hemorrhoids or worse - have an aneurysm. Dying from an aneurysm on the toilet - or while transforming Optimus Prime into vehicle mode - just can't be fun.
FuBi0's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 12:19
FuBi0

Hoping for more epic lulz.
Netrat33's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 12:20
Netrat33
Heh. There are some transformers I bought about 2-3 years ago, some ultra series or something and those are FREAKING HARD to change. I had to youtube it jsut to figure it out! I got Wheeljack changing into a mustang. Cool toy though!
FuBi0's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 12:22
FuBi0
oh and I ended up failing.. oh well. the image is at.
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/3336/cyberfail.jpg
I'll try to delete the above.. if it's possible on here.
seventhevening's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 12:22
seventhevening
This made my day. Those last to pictures made me laugh pretty hard.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 12:27
Jim Sterling
Hahaha, FuBi0 wins everything.
FuBi0's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 12:29
FuBi0
Thank you mister editor, and thanks for giving an unemployed geek something to do today! =D
Zarathustra's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 12:48
Zarathustra
Man, where have you been? TF toys have been that complex for YEARS.
hammerhx's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 12:54
hammerhx
Don't worry, Jim. Most of the figures today can only be transformed with the help of a fireman, a rocket scientist, or an Autobot itself.

And i envy you for having these toys already... how i envy you...
Beyamor's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 13:04
Beyamor
@You cats buying these guys for your kids

If you can, get the Animated ones. They require little to no manipulation of higher dimensions to transform and they're generally pretty smexy.

Oh yeah. I buy Transformers. I buy the Transformers marketed to kids whose brains can process nothing but flashing lights. You can laugh. I have Grimlock.
VolksONER's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 13:08
VolksONER
Good to see that they made bumblebee look somewhat like a beetle again. I really hated that movie version. Hated the movie period. Damn 2 hour GM advertisement.
IonDan's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 13:29
IonDan
You know back in the day I used to be to transform my Beast Wars toys without looking at the instructions. I picked up a few Transformers around the time of the first movie and for the first time ever I had to look at the instructions to transform one of em.

Perhaps the complexity is an acknowledgement that nostalgic adults are buying transformers these days. It also seems to me like toys in general are a dying breed now as well.
Handy's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 13:35
Handy
Every year my nephew gets some Transformers and every year Christmas morning goes something like this... “

Him – “Hey will you transform this for me?”

Me – “Ehh, I’ll give it a shot...”

*Forty-five minutes and one broken ego later*

Me – “*Sigh* here you go...”

Him – “Cool thanks! Vrooooom!”

*Five minutes later*

Him – “........turn it into a robot again.”

Me – *whimpering sounds*
free touch's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 15:14
free touch
naw... first attempts are always the hardest. Transform them again, and dont be as afraid. Once you figure out the mechanics, you are pretty much golden.

And if you want transformers for kids, get the fast action battlers. They are more like the originals in ways of transformations.
ace of knaves's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 18:10
ace of knaves
I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.
Artemus's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 18:13
Artemus
My god...
lewness's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/04/2010 19:37
lewness
I had a minute of silence for the poor guy. Followed by five minutes of hilarity.
slimeknight's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/05/2010 00:48
slimeknight
Took me half an hour to get one of those animated ones transformed. It is easier second time around.
Any idea when these come out want Prime and probably get soundwave
CrocBox's Avatar - Comment posted on 06/05/2010 02:26
CrocBox
OPTIMUS NOOOOOOO!

On the plus side, Soundwave looks great!
Kyle Hudson's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/17/2011 22:32
Kyle Hudson
MAN! you poeple are pussies if you cant transform a simple deluxe class figure. Yeah ill admit that WFC optimus is a LITTLE challenging, but its still not that hard. Try to transform MP-02 Megatron & then talk to me about HARD!
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