Buying for a child advice.

[Zahhak]

Hey hey everyone, despite my immaturity I can't acctuly remember what it's like being 8.
Thus I don't know what transformers is apporiate for my cousin for his birthday. He's never seen animated so I'm kinda stuck with ROTF toys but I don't know what is too diffucult for a kid to transform(I got a 2pack of BB and OP fromt he first movie for super cheap because it was returned because "it was too hard to transform")
So any suggestion or advice would be welcome and apppericated, thanks in advance fellas.

[Wheel-J]

First thing that comes to mind is the superion or bruticus maximus combiner set. I reckon an 8-yearolder would be happy to play with it. Not sure if they're also on sale but many retailers still have them on shelves.

[GoktimusPrime]

Most of us got into Transformers as toys before the show came out - so if he likes Animated on their own merits as toys then why not get him Animated? Not saying you have to, but don't rule it out either. :) If he wants RotF, maybe start with a Scout or too and see how he goes before deciding if you wanna buy him a Deluxe or Fast Action Battler.

The problem I find with some kids these days with current Transformers is that they lose patience after transforming it for a while and cbb to keep playing with it.

[Zahhak]

First thing that comes to mind is the superion or bruticus maximus combiner set. I reckon an 8-yearolder would be happy to play with it. Not sure if they're also on sale but many retailers still have them on shelves.

Good idea, I'll check around for the prices..it's also a good..look I bought you 5 toys how awsome am I! gift..


Most of us got into Transformers as toys before the show came out - so if he likes Animated on their own merits as toys then why not get him Animated?

Very true, depending on how my cash situation is I might go this route instead, I'm a bit iffy about a ROTF toy because well as you said..


The problem I find with some kids these days with current Transformers is that they lose patience after transforming it for a while and cbb to keep playing with it.

ty for the help guys I'll let you know how it goes.

[Fungal Infection]

Just make sure you get him a character that doesn't die or get the crap beaten out of him. It was my nephew's birthday last week and I took him to the shops to grab a toy. He selected Demolisher cause he thought that he was "big and could run over any other autobot". He takes it to school and the other kids said to him, "he might be big but he gets killed by Optimus". He came over last weekend and said "Uncle, can I get a different toy, Demolisher dies in the movie". At this point I'm thinking f@ck!!, and am thinking of a way to get him to enjoy the toy without having to get him something else. I then tell him that Demolisher doesn't die, he reappears again to combine into Devastator and that he cant die because he has an indestructible spark. He was so happy after I said that and I was happy too that I didn't have to empty my wallet again!! :p

[d*r*j*]

I think that 8 is old enough to get a regular transformer. You could help him with it and do some cousin to cousin bonding. If you really think it's above him... get him 25th prime... it's g1, transforms easily, has play value, it's where everything started and I even think it's on sale. It's an icon and how a lot of us got started in the 80's.

[TheDirtyDigger]

Get him Animated DVD's.

[Deceptic_Optic]

how about gravity bots? all you got to do is tilt it

[STL]

how about gravity bots? all you got to do is tilt it

My only problem with that is it is a pretty average TF and I wouldn't want a kid to think back to their memories of TFs and think that that was what TFs had to offer. That said, I do acknowledge that the ROTF line can be very fiddly. I've talked to parents who help their kids transform the toys and still find it pretty challenging themselves.

I recommend

1.) the legends size class. The Classics 2.0/Universe multi-packs at Big W or Target specifically. They give kids get enough a fiddle, get a multi-pack.
2.) The Universe Deluxe 5-pack at Big W. It comes to about $13 a deluxe which is a great price. The toys are incredibly average but each is reasonable enough for a kid to transform as opposed to ROTF toys.

[jaydisc]

My 22 month old son likes Gravity Bots, so i think that's a bit young.

I also think the combiners are a bit too complex, and things don't really have a definite position which I think would equate to the difficulty found in the OP/BB 2-pack.

I think I'd recommend avoiding movie toys except for FABs. FABs are probably perfect, while the rest of the movie toys are too complex or fiddly.

I'm not sure I'd flat out recommend Animated either, as there are varying ranges of complexity. Jazz, Sentinel Prime, or Voyager Bulkhead I think would all be good choices. I'd say Lugnut too, but based on his shelf-warming status, I'm not sure he appeals to kids.

[GoktimusPrime]

1.) the legends size class
That's a pretty good suggestion!

[Zahhak]

Get him Animated DVD's.

mhhh. thats a really good idea, the cousin im buying for is great with toys and stuff..but his little brother is one of those "Its more fun if I throw it around Kids"...and as such the older ones toys get broken alot.

Perhaps I can convive my mum to led me money and ill get him a Animated plus one of the main cast memebers?


I recommend

1.) the legends size class. The Classics 2.0/Universe multi-packs at Big W or Target specifically. They give kids get enough a fiddle, get a multi-pack.
2.) The Universe Deluxe 5-pack at Big W. It comes to about $13 a deluxe which is a great price. The toys are incredibly average but each is reasonable enough for a kid to transform as opposed to ROTF toys.

The dleuxe pack sounds like a good idea too, he's kinda smart and gentle for his age so I think a gravity bot would be too simple for him.

[MV75]

The problem I find with some kids these days with current Transformers is that they lose patience after transforming it for a while and cbb to keep playing with it.

I have that problem too. :o The instructions suck too much.

Get him animated ultra magnus. That toy rocks.

Or get a lego space police set from bigw.....

[SilverDragon]

Movie toys are quite fiddly, so avoid them for the most part. An exception I think would be Dirt Boss, who isn't terribly complicated for the most part. The only downside would be that his alt mode (a forklift) might be considered boring.

As MV75 said, Animated Ultra Magnus ROCKS. He's a very good blend of special features (loads of hidden weapons, lights and sounds) and the basic Transformer things (he transforms and can pose). Also, he's very, very solid in both modes, so he can't be broken easily.

[nettie!]

his little brother

just be careful of how little this little brother is.. ie dont get older brother an ages 5+ toy and younger brother is like 3.. yeah?

[Stompy]

I think I'd recommend avoiding movie toys except for FABs. FABs are probably perfect, while the rest of the movie toys are too complex or fiddly.

Second'd. I love the FAB line is a great way to avoid the heartache of broken Leader, Voyager & deluxe movie figures. Their conversion is pretty much like Legends but with the added strength of a deluxe sized foundation for those fiddly bits that can be forced into place. Even with a relatively decent amount of force. Also, the benefit of having a greater sculpt detail than Legends and the large range of cast characters.

I've been to so many peoples houses who have bought their kids voyagers and deluxes all broken and never even had a chance to go into alt/bot mode the first time round. :(

[Saintly]

a voyager OP is about right for an 8 yr old, which is about that age when Tim (Saintly legend who is now 9 yrs old) got his First Strike OP.

He got a CYB Leader OP for his 5th bday which he didn't have a problem transforming.