ZeroWolf wrote:Why should he get more hate then? Is it just, in your opinion, he sets a bad precedent for any future leader class dinos (though I don't think we'll get to many unless jurassic world sparks a new Dino fever and tf jump on for the ride)
Instead of replying quickly, I decided to write a draft of what I would actually write if I were to have him on this list. This will give you an idea to the approach I might have. The main thing with the overrated, is about letting some toys get away withi things I think should be criticised:
I just don’t like how the toy has gotten away scott free with some of the laziest designing/ engineering of all time. I know Takara handles the engineering but I never know how restrictive they are to Hasbro’s design. I am aware that Hasbro’s cost cutting does limit and frustrate Takara’s engineering capabilities. Leader Grimlock is on of the best cases of this and he really feels more like a bad omen for where the line might be going, even more so than the one steps and simplified transformers.
The best example I can give you to show my disdain for this figure’s design (also, just so we are on the same page, I am referring exclusively to how the toy is designed and in no way to the character model), is the exposed feet and hands in robot mode. There was no attempt made to even try to hide them. The unarticulated hands are just behind the dino feet while the robot feet hang off the side of the dino’s hips. This is unprecendented in Grimlock’s design along with the design of every single other dinobot in this line (INCLUDING THE MORE AFFORDABLE VOYAGER!). Some are able to hide one set but not the other. Both Slog and Slug manage to pull off not showing any robot bits at a far lower price point (budget too?), and I will never stop pointing back to the G1 dinobots which managed to hide their hands (they didn’t have any feet to hide though). Even deluxe Robots in disquise grimlock as cheap and simple as he is doesn’t have everything so obvious out in the open.
It’s not the only part of the design that is super lazy. I rally hate how the tail and lower back are partformed in the dinosaur mode. It reduces a lot of the potential for an inventive transformation and gives a fake idea to the transformer’s bulk. It is also insanely frustrating how they screw up in the articulation too. I spent 50$, at last let me pose it properly. But no, the elbow joints are ratcheted ball joints which limit the poses you can give. Added to the lack of wrist swivel, you fail to get a decent angle for Leader Grimlock to hold his weapon properly.
It's worst when this is the case for the big centre piece of your toyline. Along with Leader Optimus’ giant backpack, Grimlock exposed robot kibble is quite a let down and a great example to support how lazy the designing has become. I hate how this marks a precedent for it. And this is no hyperbole, these leader toys are a precedent for how little you are getting at that price level. These were the first ever leader toys to not have electronics and that has been copied in the current generations line.
We are no longer 1985, we can get interesting transformation with decent articulation. If they can do it for the lower priced ones, the better do it for the ones that cost upwards of 50$
Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2015 9:11 am
