Titans Return vs Combiner Wars

[BigTransformerTrev]

The easy and most obvious and probably accurate answer is "It's way too early to tell".

Titans Return appears to be much like Combiner Wars, as in they are new versions of Gen 1 characters. In that respect Combiner Wars deserves a lot of credit.

Combiner Wars can be credited with the following:
*Giving us new Generations-styled figures of G1 toys that hadn't gotten one yet (Huffer, Sky Lynx, Bombshell etc)
*Giving us Gen 1 inspired Combiner teams (Stunticons, Aerielbots, Protectobots, Constructicons, Combaticons)
*Giving us versions of G1 characters that had already had the CHUG treatment that now combine. I have a few new versions of Hot Spot (GDO, Titanium etc) but none of them combine to form Defensor.
*Giving a chance for people who missed out on previous CHUG figures of classic characters to grab them. For the most part they are inferior to the CHUG versions (Prowl, Sunstreaker, Hound, Cyclonus, Drag Strip etc) but it's a good second chance for many.
*Even more multiverse versions of classic characters. I personally love to get many different versions of G1 characters for my displays.
*GESTALTS! I'm loving all of them but frag Devastator rocks! It seems (amongst my mates anyway) that after Optimus and Soundwave that the third robot they can usually remember is Devastator.

Titans Return
*A lot of the character revealed thus far have already had the CHUG treatment (Nightbeat, Blaster, Rewind, Hardhead, Galvatron etc) so it depends it you feel they needed better versions. I'm looking forward to having a Blaster that turns into a Ghetto Blaster, though I was pretty happy with my FOC version with his little warriors that you could eject. It remains to be seen if the Titans Return figures will be better or worse than those that came before. A lot of them do look like they will be an improvement, though many question the inclusion of a Headmaster gimmick on what were previously non-headmaster characters.
*There are a few characters coming out that haven't had the CHUG treatment yet that I am looking forward to (Skullcruncher, Horri-Bull, Fortress Maximus etc). The more the merrier I say!


So while a lot of the CW figures were simplistic and there was a lot of mold-sharing, the CW line has been brilliant as a whole. I hope that Titans Return can prove to be even better, but they will have to pull out all the stops to do so in my opinion. But at this early stage, as I said at the top of this post, it is just way too early to tell. I certainly can't say without ever having touched a Titans Return figure which I prefer.

[GoktimusPrime]

I wouldn't be surprised if Titans Returns toys turn out to be better than Combiner Wars, but that isn't necessarily a criticism against Combiner Wars per se, as CW came first. If TR toys are better, then it shows that HasTak are looking at what they achieved with CW and thought about ways to improve, which is great. But it doesn't mean that their previous work was bad per se.

It shows that HasTak designers and engineers are taking pride in their work and trying to do better in their future endeavours. Unlike some other people.

I also quite like how Galvatron's Headmaster unit is a little Megatron.

[Bidoofdude]

I wouldn't be surprised if Titans Returns toys turn out to be better than Combiner Wars, but that isn't necessarily a criticism against Combiner Wars per se, as CW came first. If TR toys are better, then it shows that HasTak are looking at what they achieved with CW and thought about ways to improve, which is great. But it doesn't mean that their previous work was bad per se.

It shows that HasTak designers and engineers are taking pride in their work and trying to do better in their future endeavours. Unlike some other people.

I also quite like how Galvatron's Headmaster unit is a little Megatron.

They did vastly improve upon FOC Bruticus. Hopefully they've learnt just as much this time.

[GoktimusPrime]

In FoC Bruticus' defence...
* It was a gestalt based on pre-existing game models rather than being developed as toys first. This will always place restrictions on designs.
* FoC Bruticus' hands and feet are all self-contained, whereas CW gestalts have hands/feet as separate detachable accessories. Evidently trying to engineer each limb robot to have in-built hands and feet proved too much, but you can't blame them for trying.

But yeah, it's evident that HasTak are learning from their experiences.

[prjkt]

Funnily, people wondered about non-combining characters now being combiners just like people are now wondering about non-headmasters now having that gimmick - I don't mind too much, as it doesn't seem to affect the figures negatively so far.

As for FOC Bruticus, I really liked the concept - something about each bot having a different shape hand/foot makes sense to me, making Bruticus rather asymmetrical as the sum of his parts. Unfortunately the execution was less than perfect - the limited budget for the FOC line took its toll here, and Onslaught should have been bigger...

[UltimateGalvatron]

That's actually a good point. I wanted those characters in CW not to be Combiners but because I wasn't collecting back when most of them came out (Universe 2 and Classics)

[liegeprime]

Both.

as everyone says they bring various concepts and figures on the table anyways

Combiners mostly for CW but some other figures as well like Leader class Starscream - with a crown ... I'm hoping they don't scrimp on us and not issue out a Skywarp in the same mould... Thundercracker's already out earlier...
We got Devastator from CW, Insecticons - though I'm still waiting for Kickback

as well as new characters as limb bots - recoloured but hey it's a new character - always welcome

For Titans Return

Looks like were getting everyone in Headmaster form and a slight change in concept , having vehicular or creature partnering - reminds me of Actionmasters but with the main figure able to transform ( into a head though ;P)

Plus I really like how the bigger "transtector" are triple changers!

Finally a bigger Galvatron - prefer leader class but hey, Voyager is better than runt deluxe earlier version...

[UltimateGalvatron]

Wait...if Headmaster Galvatron's head is Megatron (I know it's technically Nucleon but everyone is gonna call it Megatron) does that mean Rodimus'snhead will be Optimus?

[Paulbot]

Galvatron is to Megatron as Rodimus Prime is to Hot Rod. So probably Hot Rod rather than Optimus.

[DELTAprime]

Galvatron is to Megatron as Rodimus Prime is to Hot Rod. So probably Hot Rod rather than Optimus.

But Hasbro doesn't own the name Hot Rod. Damn lawyers.