Legacy Wildrider and Blitzwing

[griffin]

These should be two of this week's reveals by Hasbro, as CBR website has the exclusive first look at deluxe Widrider and Leader Blitzwing.
https://www.cbr.com/transformers-wild-rider-blitzing-legacy-figures-exclusive/

Transformers: Generations Legacy Deluxe Decepticon Wild Rider

(Ages 8 and Up / Approx. Retail Price: $24.99 / Available: July 2022)This TRANSFORMERS: LEGACY 5.5-inch DELUXE DECEPTICON WILD RIDER robot toy is inspired by the animated series, The Transformers, updated with a Generations-style design. WILD RIDER lives up to his name. He’s a bit of a loose cannon. When he hits the road, he drives to destroy!WILD RIDER action figure converts from robot to sports car mode in 17 steps and comes with 2 Energon blaster accessories. The DECEPTICON WILD RIDER toy also combines as the MENASOR figure’s left leg. Collect other TRANSFORMERS: LEGACY combiner figures to form MENASOR (each sold separately, subject to availability)!

Transformers: Generations Legacy Leader Blitzwing

(Ages 8 and Up / Approx. Retail Price: $55.99 / Available: July 2022)This TRANSFORMERS: LEGACY 7-inch LEADER BLITZWING robot toy is inspired by the animated series, The Transformers, updated with a Generations-style design. BLITZWING terrorizes his opponents by switching between his three modes in battle, laughing all the while! The triple changer action figure converts from robot to jet mode in 32 steps and from robot to tank mode in 41 steps. BLITZWING also comes with a sword, 2 blaster accessories and features a rotating turret in tank mode

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[JJJ]

Oh dear, that's disappointingly back-packy. And the other two are likely to look like that as well.

[Tha_Phantom]

Wildrider came out amazing. I'm especially impressed at the G1 accuracy of the alt mode given Hasbro doesn't have the Ferrari license.

[GoktimusPrime]

Oh dear, that's disappointingly back-packy. And the other two are likely to look like that as well.
What do people expect when a toy is made to be more screen-like (https://alchetron.com/cdn/wildrider-97b3cfb4-5cae-4193-a0a7-582ea9c24b2-resize-750.jpeg)? Even Masterpiece cannot avoid this; they just hide the kibble better because they're bigger and dearer toys. If you want a less kibbley Wildrider, then Combiner Wars has you covered. This toy giving us something different by giving us greater cartoon-likeness, and the fact is that Wildrider's vehicle parts practically disappear in robot mode in the cartoon. Plus this toy has to combine into a weight-bearing leg for Menasor.

[KELPIE]

These should be two of this week's reveals by Hasbro, as CBR website has the exclusive first look at deluxe Widrider and Leader Blitzwing.

Time will tell what we see, however I really don't understand why Hasbro does this. We finally get to a Fanfirst Friday, they have something that isn't leaked and they let someone else reveal it. Now, as per norm, people will complain that we didn't see anything new.

I mean, they may surprise us with something new still but for a "Fanfirst" they generally do everything in their power to let things get revealed elsewhere.


Oh dear, that's disappointingly back-packy. And the other two are likely to look like that as well.

I am hoping that it's a mistransformation.

Other than that, the front profile and alt mode looks excellent. Looks like he has a nice ab-crunch too.

[Lint]

Wildrider came out amazing. I'm especially impressed at the G1 accuracy of the alt mode given Hasbro doesn't have the Ferrari license.

That alt mode looks absolutely sweet. The lazy backpack being the tradeoff for it.

[Tha_Phantom]

Another thing I'm liking about these new Stunticons so far is the double handguns which can also be attached in vehicle mode to be like the G1 toys.
Much more efficient than G1 though as you don't need a different accessory for each mode.
https://i.ibb.co/GPLnRdP/wild.png (https://ibb.co/3hq4cTh)

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Nice car mode, the roof mounted guns are cool, but ooof...that backpack. I hope the rest of the carbots have cleaner robot modes.

[GoktimusPrime]

RE: Backpack

I think it's an unfortunate result of making a toy emulate the Sunbow cartoon model with a Deluxe Class size/budget. As I said before, even some MPs end up with backpacks, like MP28 Hot Rod, MP Sunstreaker, MP44 Convoy etc. Now these toys are able to impressively compress their vehicle kibble, but again, they are larger and much dearer. Legacy Wildrider here must conform to the Deluxe Class size and budget, as well as stricter child safety laws (MPs are Ages 15+), plus it's basically a triple changer with the gestalt leg being the toy's tertiary mode. This toy is expected to achieve a lot with a limited size and budget allowance. Even MP Arcee still has a massive backpack despite being a big and expensive MP toy.
https://i.ibb.co/JsmcygZ/temp.jpg
Looking at Wildrider's cartoon model, you can see that most of the vehicle parts pretty much vanish into thin air. The wheels are really the only part of the car that remains. Legacy Wildrider is trying to emulate this under the Deluxe restrictions, and it seems to do a fairly good job. The robot does look like the cartoon model, except with chunkier legs; because there would be even more kibble to contend with if the legs were made skinnier; plus budget wouldn't allow it. MPs can get away with this because they're super-expensive toys; well beyond the affordability of most children.

And as I said before, we do have choice. If you prefer your CHUG Wildrider to be less kibblerrific, then you have Combiner Wars Brake-Neck/Unite Warriors Wildrider (http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showthread.php/21677-Toy-Review-CW-Brake-Neck). Plus, Brake-Neck has the bonus ability to be either an arm or leg, just like the G1 toy. But if you prefer a more G1 cartoon-like Wildrider, then that is what Legacy Wildrider is giving you. Yeah, the backpack is unfortunate - I'm not trying to say that it's great, but Legacy Wildrider is trying to give people something different, further spoiling collectors for choice. If you don't like this CHUG Wildrider, then just don't buy it and hang onto your CW Brake-Neck (which I think is still a really nice toy; Motormaster is the only CW Stunticon who lets the team down IMO).


Another thing I'm liking about these new Stunticons so far is the double handguns which can also be attached in vehicle mode to be like the G1 toys.
Much more efficient than G1 though as you don't need a different accessory for each mode.
That's freaking awesome! <3

[griffin]

Time will tell what we see, however I really don't understand why Hasbro does this. We finally get to a Fanfirst Friday, they have something that isn't leaked and they let someone else reveal it. Now, as per norm, people will complain that we didn't see anything new.

I mean, they may surprise us with something new still but for a "Fanfirst" they generally do everything in their power to let things get revealed elsewhere.

They do this every so often (especially just before SDCC and NY Toyfair) as it generates interest through other outlets for the online reveal, using news sites that are visited by people who aren't TFs fans, to get more attention to the new products by more than just dedicated fans of fan-sites.

[SharkyMcShark]

After finding Dragstrip horrendously bland I actually really like that Wildrider. Something about the backpack really sells the figure. I like designs that lean into having actual kibble instead of hiding everything and pretending to some sleek roboman.

Blitzwing I can take or leave. I don't think this one tops of the Titans Return figure.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Honestly I would have preferred a G1-esque car-roof-back-and-folded-over-hood arrangement with more Legacy aesthetics and alt-mode.
I mean, the car parts have to go somewhere, but this seems kind of visually intrusive in robot mode - I'd rather a car-mode shell and rear backpack than low-set stubby wings design-wise. JMO of course, and I'm glad for everyone who likes the look. :)

[Skyfire]

I'm slightly disappointed by Blitzwing. I was hoping he would be much better than my Legends Takara (Titans Return) one. I never liked the tank or plane modes of the Legends - the tank is too long, doesn't have the nose cone front and has the purple wings wrapped around it; and the plane doesn't have the squared off rear or the biplane-like lower wing part. And even in bot mode, the tank tracks on the forearms annoyed me a bit. The Legacy bot mode looks good and the tank mode is better than Legends (can't see the back though). But the plane mode a) has all that junk at the bottom and b) doesn't recreate that biplane-like lower wing. It looks pretty awful. The most cartoon accurate for tank and plane is still my G1 toy.

At least Legacy comes with 2 blasters, one of which I'll give to Legends. I hated that stupid Legends gun.

As usual, Hasbro deliberately makes certain colourings different to the cartoon needlessly - I wish the cockpit canopy was blue.

[griffin]

Added mirrored images to the first post.

I like that Wildrider can have the guns plug into the roof of the car to homage the Gen1 toy. (I'm not crazy about the name being two names - Wild Rider... it suggests that they lost the trademark)

I DON'T like Blitzwing's jet mode... I thought at first it was sitting on a landing pad thingy like Gen1 Skylynx, but the back of the packaging also suggests that the jet mode is flying around with a brick underneath it.

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/041207.jpg

And what is with the plug on gloves that look like giant hands for a combiner toy?

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/news/2022/041210.jpg

[valkyrie_76]

I just pic some official pics of Motormaster under the "Official reveals" thread Griff.

[Tha_Phantom]

Good news for anyone who was overly concerned about the backpack on Wildrider. Turns out you can keep it joined together for robot mode.
Images courtesy of Oey Benet.
https://i.ibb.co/ZzyDRw3/284681186-578975767130799-8076164916416138502-n.jpg (https://ibb.co/yFLjmMD)
https://i.ibb.co/cJsKVmh/284235731-578975457130830-1710423621639807920-n.jpg (https://ibb.co/CBSpDrK)https://i.ibb.co/ZNbR2Jy/284277136-578975440464165-1595894066262583528-n.jpg (https://ibb.co/TrNDWTz)

[KELPIE]

It's funny, I'm sure the designers were worried about the backlash from fans about there being half a car on his back, so they tried to break it all up and make it more transformery... and here are fans willingly choosing to have it as half a car on his back.

[Deano85]

It's funny, I'm sure the designers were worried about the backlash from fans about there being half a car on his back, so they tried to break it all up and make it more transformery... and here are fans willingly choosing to have it as half a car on his back.

Considering we had Titans Returns and Combiner Wars figures with the car hoods hanging on their backs, then this is nothing new.

[Tha_Phantom]

Considering we had Titans Returns and Combiner Wars figures with the car hoods hanging on their backs, then this is nothing new.

That, and this unofficial configuration is more G1 toy accurate.

[Sinnertwin]

Thank God. I display my robots facing backwards, so I'm glad the back pack can fold up.

[KELPIE]

Thumbs up that post.

[Tha_Phantom]

Thank God. I display my robots facing backwards, so I'm glad the back pack can fold up.

You might be missing some context. So first off...


Oh dear, that's disappointingly back-packy. And the other two are likely to look like that as well.


I am hoping that it's a mistransformation.


That alt mode looks absolutely sweet. The lazy backpack being the tradeoff for it.


Nice car mode, the roof mounted guns are cool, but ooof...that backpack. I hope the rest of the carbots have cleaner robot modes.

I didn't really care about the backpack to begin with, but there were a number of comments about it earlier on in this same thread (as well as pretty much everywhere else on the internet), so I posted that update for the benefit of those concerned about it.
That said, I do think it looks better folded up and since the option is there may as well use it - or you can leave it as is if you prefer that.

[griffin]

Toys are primarily designed for playing not displaying... so the smaller you can make the kibble, the better its play-value.
And even for posing and displaying, the bigger the kibble, the worse it looks on display (hello, Kingdom Arcee!).

[Seraphim Prime]

I think it was a case of the designers trying to make the car bonnet less intrusive in robot mode by reducing the single mass - but by separating the pieces out and flattening them it actually made it stick out more.

The angle of the photo probably doesn't help either, so this might just be more of a in hand choice.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

I think it was a case of the designers trying to make the car bonnet less intrusive in robot mode by reducing the single mass - but by separating the pieces out and flattening them it actually made it stick out more.

The angle of the photo probably doesn't help either, so this might just be more of a in hand choice.I wouldn't be surprised if it was an attempt to make the individual limb-bots look a bit more distinctive from each other, as well as give a bit more bang for the buck in terms of transformation. Drag Strip is pretty distinctive but other than him it's probably harder to sell 3 car-hood-on-back guys to parents than 3 different-looking guys, even if it's not G1 accurate and they're part of a combiner. The non-Drag Strip Stunticon limb-bot visual design was pretty lazy after all, even if the legs gave a bit of engineering variation.
Plus it'd be more interesting for the designers.

Either way, I like the cleaner look of Wildrider here better (it looks better from the front like that as well IMO), but the pictures of the Motormaster/combined form didn't really do it for me. It'll probably be a pass for me unless the finished combined form looks a lot better than it looks so far.