Siege Micromasters - a misstep?

[Tha_Phantom]

I haven't felt compelled to get many micromasters, but here are my thoughts on the few I have.

I really liked Laserbeak and Ravage (yeah yeah cue the fat jokes ), but they're fun for what they are. I've transformed them numerous times, which is a good indication I like a toy. I even went so far as to get a second set to display sealed. People have complained Ravage doesn't look enough like a jaguar, but he's not supposed to, so I don't count that as a fair criticism.

Storm Cloud and Visper I have to admit I didn't know who they were prior to Siege, but I really liked the look of the combined sword mode as it reminded me of Armada Star Saber so I picked them up. The combined mode is very nice and it's how I display them, but the transformation is quote annoying due to parts popping off. The bot and jet modes don't look bad, but switching between either one is unpleasant.

Beyond that the only other Micromasters I've felt compelled to get were Irontread and Wheel Blaze and that's ONLY because I had the original G1s as a kid. Objectively, I think they're pretty weak figures. Sure, they have knees now, but in a lot of other ways the G1 versions are just nicer. For example, something as simple as back kibble is done better on the original Ironworks toy than on Irontread, I know people are going to say I'm being nitpicky and who looks at figures from the back, but if the issue was already solved, why undo it?

On a side note, have to give a shout out to GoktimusPrime for splitting the Micromaster 10 pack with me!

[Dan]

I was a bit too old to get into G1 Micromasters (in other words was no longer getting toys for gifts and was spending my spare cash on uni life) but I did admire them from afar. They had amazing detail when compared to larger toys from the mid-80s and stood as a collection unto themselves, complete with combiners, transports and bases. They never looked like they should be displayed or played with other Transformers, and that's my problem with the new ones. They are just tacked onto a collection they don't really fit (spy patrols aside). I reckon a simple re-release of the original range would appeal to kids even today.

As an aside, one larger toy they would look good with is the proposed Unicron, if it ever happens.

[KELPIE]

I agree, it was a shame to lose the traditional legends line, especially as the last few waves were some of the best legends toys ever. There were many more figures I could see fitting in there and filling out the gaps.

That said, I was really excited to get the Micromasters. Then I saw them... two packs and leaving out some favourites like Mudslinger, Tailspin, Nightflight, Tailwind and Sunrunner. At least Flak was in the bunch.

But okay, I'm still on board. Then I got them... they were cheap fiddly and couldn't be transformed without falling apart in my hands. That's with me being one of the more gentle operators.

Since then apart from the cassettes (who aren't Micromasters), it's been mostly a bunch of repaints.

So I'm not impressed. I will likely keep buying any new characters if made but I'm not excited by them and may be selective.

[Tilarta]

Here's a comparison of G1 Micromasters to Siege Micromasters:

As I said before, a very nice scale matching.

However, with these guys, the weapon modes are particularly ludicrous:

If I'd been designing these toys, I'd have added some extra stuff to make them more gunlike, vaguely akin to Targetmasters with detachable kibble.
Red Heat is the only one who comes close to being an actual gun, because his ladder extension looks almost like a gun barrel.

[Dan]

However, with these guys, the weapon modes are particularly ludicrous:

I like how you've matched the guns and gun-slingers according to alt mode (a fire engine wielding a fire engine etc). It's cool while also highlighting how silly the whole thing is.

[DELTAprime]

So I have two versions of the Off Road Patrol moulds now. I have the 10 pack version and the standard wave 3 retail version. Honestly, the Off Road Patrol moulds are a massive improvement over previous Micromaster moulds. It seems like they might have gotten their act together in regards to Micromaster design and QC.

[BigTransformerTrev]

So I have two versions of the Off Road Patrol moulds now. I have the 10 pack version and the standard wave 3 retail version. Honestly, the Off Road Patrol moulds are a massive improvement over previous Micromaster moulds. It seems like they might have gotten their act together in regards to Micromaster design and QC.

Where did ya score the 10-pack from?

[Jellico]

I was a bit too old to get into G1 Micromasters (in other words was no longer getting toys for gifts and was spending my spare cash on uni life) but I did admire them from afar. They had amazing detail when compared to larger toys from the mid-80s and stood as a collection unto themselves, complete with combiners, transports and bases. They never looked like they should be displayed or played with other Transformers, and that's my problem with the new ones. They are just tacked onto a collection they don't really fit (spy patrols aside). I reckon a simple re-release of the original range would appeal to kids even today.

As an aside, one larger toy they would look good with is the proposed Unicron, if it ever happens.

The competition (gimmick they were aping) was Micro Machines. They had to look good to compete.