Is it worth getting TFPrid toys?

[Bidoofdude]

Hi all,
After watching the first three episodes of Beast Hunters (won't do any spoilers- but it's really cool) and I have come to like the show a lot.
Especially some of the characters that are already in the actual Prime show.

I would like some good representations of the characters and I would like to know if the TFPrid toys (basically all the main deluxes and voyagers) are worth getting?

Although I am quite focused on classics characters right now, I might get a few to make up an arsenal of characters.
LOVE Wheeljack.


I've heard the first edition ones are WAY better, but if anyone could steer me in the right way on which are the best to get and which are the best rendition of the characters, I'd appreciate it very much.

On bare minimum, I'd like to get the following characters at least and would like to know the best version.
-Wheeljack
-Optimus
-Soundwave
-Megatron
-Starscream
-A couple vehicons
-Smokescreen
-Ratchet
-Bulkhead
-Maybe Bumblebee... (was there a deluxe in the swapped colour scheme?)
-Of course, Shockwave [/LIST]

[christalcase]

If you don't mind the scale, then I would get the majority of the cast in their First Edition forms, since they're less kibbly and are just awesome toys in general. The RiD versions have simpler transformations (which can make it more fun to play with) but more fake parts.

To answer your question:
Wheeljack - RiD Deluxe
Optimus - First Edition Voyager
Soundwave - RiD Deluxe
Megatron - First Edition Deluxe
Starscream - First Edition Deluxe
Vehicons - one of each version? (FE, RiD, Jet Vehicon - personally, Jet is my favourite)
Smokescreen - Beast Hunters Deluxe
Ratchet - RiD Deluxe
Bulkhead - First Edition Voyager
Bumblebee - First Edition Deluxe (there was a Shadow Strike Bumblebee in Wave 4 but it doesn't match the new colour scheme)
Shockwave - Beast Hunters Voyager

Basically, if the character has a First Edition toy, grab that.

[GoktimusPrime]

^Agree. Although FE were never released here, so getting them from the overseas aftermarket may be pricey (I don't know). As nice as the FE toys are, they're honestly not great. None of them are worth paying above RRP for IMHO. And now that TFPRiD's been around for a while, I reckon you ought to be able to get them for below RRP -- if so, I'd go for TFPRiD.

Basically my recommendation is, if you were collecting TF Prime from the beginning, then I would've recommended FE over TFPRiD... but as someone coming in somewhat late to the game, I'd recommend TFPRiD over FE, unless you can get FE toys for close to the same price as TFPRiD. Overall FE toys are better than TFPRiD, but TFPRiD toys do have their merits too. As christalcase said, FE toys are better engineered and less kibbly, but TFPRiD toys are more show-like (if "show accuracy" is your thing). Also, while TFPRiD Voyager Optimus Prime looks pretty ugly with all that transparent blue and has a really simplistic transformation, he does trump FE Voyager Prime in that the shoulders don't disconnect easily (FE Prime's shoulders aren't anywhere near as bad as MP Lambor's... but they're still not that great), and from an engineering perspective, his truck windows actually become his chest windows, whereas both the FE Deluxe and Voyager OPs cheat by using faux chest windows that cover the truck windows in robot mode.

The one TFPRiD toy that I definitively prefer over its FE counterpart would be Vehicon. FE Vehicon is incredibly fiddly, whereas TFPRiD Vehicon is simply but it works. Although FE Vehicon looks better in vehicle mode and has a more show-like gun. Overall I'm not bothered much about the differences between the Hasbro and TakTOM colours, but one toy that I would that has a significant difference is Voyager FE Optimus Prime. The TakaraTOMY colours completely trump Hasbro's. Hasbro's version looks like a cheap KO by comparison. As someone on this board once said to me, the Hasbro version's gun looks like some 12 year old child in China was made to swallow some glitter and then spit it out at the guns as they passed by on a conveyor belt!

Alternatively you could just collect all the characters as Cyberverse. They're smaller, cheaper - and sure, not as sophisticated, but _way_ better value for money! Deluxe Optimus Prime, Ratchet and Wheeljack all have no logos, yet their Cyberverse counterparts do! (oh, plus Cyberverse Wheeljack comes with his ship ) That's what I'd get if I were you.

[BigTransformerTrev]

Vehicons - one of each version? (FE, RiD, Jet Vehicon - personally, Jet is my favourite)

Yeah I've got the FE and the RiD Vehicon because of their subtle differences, just waiting to see if I can find the Jet one cheaper than it's current $40.

I don't mind Weaponizer Prime over the Voyager (have both), but it depends if you want to get an Ultra Magnus, though I know he's not on your list. The new UM toy is based on Weaponizer Prime and has the better robot mode, but the Voyager UM is at least a new mold and has a different alt mode, that of a flatbed truck.

[Tabias Prime]

If you don't mind the scale, then I would get the majority of the cast in their First Edition forms, since they're less kibbly and are just awesome toys in general. The RiD versions have simpler transformations (which can make it more fun to play with) but more fake parts.

To answer your question:
Wheeljack - RiD Deluxe
Optimus - First Edition Voyager
Soundwave - RiD Deluxe
Megatron - First Edition Deluxe
Starscream - First Edition Deluxe
Vehicons - one of each version? (FE, RiD, Jet Vehicon - personally, Jet is my favourite)
Smokescreen - Beast Hunters Deluxe
Ratchet - RiD Deluxe
Bulkhead - First Edition Voyager
Bumblebee - First Edition Deluxe (there was a Shadow Strike Bumblebee in Wave 4 but it doesn't match the new colour scheme)
Shockwave - Beast Hunters Voyager

Basically, if the character has a First Edition toy, grab that.

What he said....but you did miss someone off your list...Arcee

[CBratron]

Can't recommend the deluxe class Megatron. He really needs to scale with Prime. But then the voyager class Megatrons don't have any good looking cannons.

[GoktimusPrime]

Scale doesn't matter to everyone in the same way. Although from a toy play perspective, I must admit that it is nicer to have a Megatron that's the same size as Optimus so they can go toe to toe with each other better. Having said that, Deluxe Megatron is packaged in a VS. set with Deluxe Optimus Prime -- so in buying DLX Megatron you're gonna end up with a same sized Optimus Prime anyway. Unless you just want a Megatron that stands taller than most other Decepticons.

I have both Deluxe and Voyager Megatron... they're both pretty terrible toys, but the Voyager is substantially worse (at nearly triple the price). But Voyager Megatron is a lot easier to find... and you might be able to find him on sale. I saw some Voyager TFPRiD leaders at Target just a few days ago... I scanned one of the Deluxes and it had been reduced, so I suspect that the Voyagers might be too. I paid full price for my TFPRiD Voyager Megatron, and to this day I still facepalm myself for it. Guh.

[Bidoofdude]

I actually kind of like the look of the Voyager.
Well, the one I want the most is Wheeljack. Might pick one up today.