There should be “Generation 3” repaints of some random year in the most gawd awful, yet period-appropriate, colors. Like repainting “Power of the Primes” figures in “Armada” color schemes.
And so a new era for this struggling franchise begins. Let it be called… Beast Wars! One thing I don’t think gets enough praise is how well Beast Wars actually translated a lot of G1 design traditions. Cheetor and Tigatron represented the Datsun body type for the Maximals (down to having the head crests), the flip-changers took the place of the Mini-Bots and Soundwave’s lads, Terrorsaur and Waspinator were the Seekers for the Predacons (especially considering Waspinator ended up reused for Buzzsaw), Polar Claw and Scorponok carried on the classic “big dude shoots out little dude” gimmick, and Primal and Megatron kept their namesakes’ aesthetics alive while thoroughly reinventing them (twice over, really, although Bat Primal and Megalligator are more so just G1 Optimus and Megatron with new forms). It’s honestly kind of impressive considering how often we emphasize the newness of Beast Wars.
1996 was senior year of high school, definitely not a cool time to be into toys or cartoons. I ignored Beast Wars like many G1 folks. Revisited it years later and it really was a dam good show and toy line.
and this was the very first year that Transformers finally got on the right track, and thankfully it stayed strong from 1996 up to present day ongoing!
I may have started with G2, but Beast Wars cemented my love for Transformers. I collected nearly the whole line of Beast Wars back in the day, and still have every figure from this list. My childhood favorite was an odd choice from 97, though. I'm curious to see if he makes the cut.
We're into the best years now! Finally! My top ten would be: 10. Waspinator 9. Razorbeast 8. Insecticon 7. Armordillo 6. Scorponok 5. Optimus Primal 4. Megatron 3. Tigatron 2. Rhinox 1. Snapper
The other lost opportunity of not having a new Polar Claw is they have an ACTUAL repaint deco for it for Gen Selects: Make a character out of the Robot Chicken panda-former that was a repaint of him!
I know it’s an actual person name, but I really wish Wolfang was called Wolfgang instead. It would play into his whole “maximum team player” character while maintaining his connection to wolves
Beast Wars was in the year of me birthday, of course too young to know it until the 2000s websites and had some 2nd-hand nostalgia with the toys thanks to the reissues.
Spoilers for people who haven’t seen the video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I personally disagree with putting Primal at #1 for one reason. The arms. Because of the chest banging gimmick, the arms are made to move when the other is moved. So you go for a simple sword slash on one arm and the other decides to spin for no reason. The “locking tabs” just don’t do their job. I love Megatron though. I have reissues of both from Ollies and I really really love Megatron more. Just a beautiful thing to mess with even if the colors are weird.
Still don't understand the love for the original Polar Claw toy. Is a good design with a few fun gimmicks but severely hindered in leg articulation because of the worthless "fang" gimmick and I believe Scorponok does everything that Polar Claw tries to do much better. An update is needed to fix the issues of the original.
Funny enough with BW Cheetor. Something of note compared to the pic you used for the list. There are versions of Cheetor(original and the recent re-issue) That have varying shade of green to his eyes and thus makes him look more awesome and cat like then the picture used here. Apparently there was a bunch of variants OF Cheetor overall.
That original BW Scorponok toy looks better than the animation model. The toy version feels more like an assassin. While the animation version is basically a dork.
My top 10... I tried my best to keep out my bias towards the show and make picks that are actually just good toys. 10. Scorponok 9. Polar Claw: Almost forgot to mention that Robot Chicken used this mold in a sketch repainted as a Panda and that's kind of my favorite version of this mold is the custom Robot Chicken Panda and I kind of want Hasbro to make that an official character. Technically since it was an original character created for Robot Chicken they likely own the Trade Mark. Main reason I'm putting them so low is I'm not a fan of their launching beast partner gimmicks. Their beast modes don't look good if you lose those parts and Polar Claw is a little bit higher because his robot mode looks better even without his partner attached while Scorponok loses an entire claw which just looks bad in either mode he's in. 8. Buzz Saw: I just like the more realistic colors on this mold and he should have been Maximal Bumblebee... just saying... 7. Tarantulus: the web launcher gimmick gives him a little bit more play value when you can actually use the hook attachment to hang him off of things. And yes I picked him and not Blackarachnia do to the fact that she fails to look like the character or the spider she's suppose to transform into. Tarantulus just looks better. 6. Dinobot: Getting more gimmicks now though I've never really been a fan of the spinning tail weapon or the weird translucent parts. 5. Tigatron: Who I'm choosing mostly because the beast mode looks better as a tiger than as a Cheetah. 4. Wolfang: Has one of the best "mutant" head gimmicks of the entire toy line. I actually like how his head looks in either mode where most of the other characters I tend to prefer their robot head over the more organic looking one but this is just a battle mask. 3. Inferno: Who I'm putting really high on my list because I always mistook his flight mode for him being a Transmetal as a kid. I don't know why he was such a shelf warmer when he's a popular character and was actually a really good toy that felt ahead of his time. 2. T-Rex Megatron 1. Gorilla Optimus Primal And yes I have to specify, I did almost consider including the Bat and Alligator versions but ultimately didn't include any basic class toys on my list. Both these Ultra Class leaders are packed with gimmicks but Megatron can be a bit finicky to Transform and doesn't handle his kibble that well while Optimus is just way more fun to mess with. It was a challenge narrowing down the list to just 10 figures and Rhinox was the last one I cut mostly because I don't like how that original toy handles it's kibble and he has the WORST mutant head gimmick of all of them, I don't even know what the difference is between the two heads, it just looks like a larger version of the same head clamps over the other one. Which head is his show model based on? I honestly have no idea. It's weird to have a gimmick that's suppose to change the look of the figure but doesn't actually change the look of the figure. All but 3 figures are the same on TJ's list and only 2 ended up in the same spots. And as expected... I knew that turtle was going to show up on TJ's list. 😂
I looked up 1997 and realized being the start of Machine Wars there's a lot of repaints so I can't ignore the basic class figures next time. And there's another figure I'm almost certain is going to be on TJ's list just based on the beast mode. And a Plastic Addict Victim I'm sure won't be on the list.
im still salty about polar claw, when i was a kid my mom actually said yes you can get him, and every store we went to had a pile of scorpinok but no polar claw, i never saw him again either, kingdom has polar claw in the promo art, no figure ( cheetor also has his gun in the art, so it was full of broken promises ), and he didn't get a reissue either just scorpinok... im starting to think someone at hasbro hates polar bears.
I just... I just can't deal with that polar bear mode. BEGGING for a new Polar Claw that actually looks like a polar bear. I also reckon Snapper as a retool of BBM Brawn could work. Or maybe Armordillo would be better? Either way. If they re-did the 1996 non-toy characters I would buy ALL OF THEM.
Suddenly, there was an abundance of new figures from now until forever
There should be “Generation 3” repaints of some random year in the most gawd awful, yet period-appropriate, colors. Like repainting “Power of the Primes” figures in “Armada” color schemes.
@@Gregory11811 Machine Wars was basically G3. G1 and G2 figures in late 90s edgy greys and blacks
And so a new era for this struggling franchise begins. Let it be called… Beast Wars!
One thing I don’t think gets enough praise is how well Beast Wars actually translated a lot of G1 design traditions. Cheetor and Tigatron represented the Datsun body type for the Maximals (down to having the head crests), the flip-changers took the place of the Mini-Bots and Soundwave’s lads, Terrorsaur and Waspinator were the Seekers for the Predacons (especially considering Waspinator ended up reused for Buzzsaw), Polar Claw and Scorponok carried on the classic “big dude shoots out little dude” gimmick, and Primal and Megatron kept their namesakes’ aesthetics alive while thoroughly reinventing them (twice over, really, although Bat Primal and Megalligator are more so just G1 Optimus and Megatron with new forms). It’s honestly kind of impressive considering how often we emphasize the newness of Beast Wars.
Here's hoping both Polar Claw and Razorbeast will get proper updates in the next few years
Yeah, besides that, there's also a lot more I'd love to see get new toys.
Esp given how they were an major antagonist in IDW BW 2.0 & the protagonist in IDW BW 1.0.
@@BryonYoungblood I know I've got my wish list extending past the first year of Beast Wars
MAN! IN! PIG!
1996 was senior year of high school, definitely not a cool time to be into toys or cartoons. I ignored Beast Wars like many G1 folks. Revisited it years later and it really was a dam good show and toy line.
This has been the list I was most excited for. Beast Wars was the inciting incident for me getting into Transformers. I've never looked back!
and this was the very first year that Transformers finally got on the right track, and thankfully it stayed strong from 1996 up to present day ongoing!
I may have started with G2, but Beast Wars cemented my love for Transformers. I collected nearly the whole line of Beast Wars back in the day, and still have every figure from this list. My childhood favorite was an odd choice from 97, though. I'm curious to see if he makes the cut.
Isn't it funny how much TJ praises the BW Megatron figure, considering what a specific remold of it was like 10 years later?
Got myself a Vintage rerelease of Primal and GOD DAMN that toy is fun.
I remember getting polar claw and i think the claw spring was broken out of the box.
We're into the best years now! Finally! My top ten would be:
10. Waspinator
9. Razorbeast
8. Insecticon
7. Armordillo
6. Scorponok
5. Optimus Primal
4. Megatron
3. Tigatron
2. Rhinox
1. Snapper
It's been said that BW was visually inspired by Guyver and you can definitely see that in the first year designs
The other lost opportunity of not having a new Polar Claw is they have an ACTUAL repaint deco for it for Gen Selects: Make a character out of the Robot Chicken panda-former that was a repaint of him!
Also survive is an option
@@lc5719 Or Grizzly-1/Barbearian.
I know it’s an actual person name, but I really wish Wolfang was called Wolfgang instead. It would play into his whole “maximum team player” character while maintaining his connection to wolves
Beast Wars was in the year of me birthday, of course too young to know it until the 2000s websites and had some 2nd-hand nostalgia with the toys thanks to the reissues.
Next time will be the year 1997, can't wait to see what are the best toys that where born the same year as i
Probably fuzors
JUSTICE FOR POLAR CLAW!!!!
My top 10 . 10 . Tigertron 9. Polarclaw 8. Dinobot 7. Snapper 6. Buzzsaw 5. Waspanator 4. Insecticon .3. Scorponok 2. Tarantulas 1. Megatron
I'd swap Dinobot with Rhinox, but mine is similar otherwise.
Finally! Let the Beasts Wars begin!!
I'm so glad Insecticon made the list, even if it was at the bottom. He was the very first Beast Wars toy I got, and I absolutely love him!!!
Spoilers for people who haven’t seen the video
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I personally disagree with putting Primal at #1 for one reason. The arms.
Because of the chest banging gimmick, the arms are made to move when the other is moved. So you go for a simple sword slash on one arm and the other decides to spin for no reason. The “locking tabs” just don’t do their job.
I love Megatron though. I have reissues of both from Ollies and I really really love Megatron more. Just a beautiful thing to mess with even if the colors are weird.
finally some good food
Oh boy cant wait to see Wasp on here
And not Transformers takes a deep gulp of fresh air
Still don't understand the love for the original Polar Claw toy. Is a good design with a few fun gimmicks but severely hindered in leg articulation because of the worthless "fang" gimmick and I believe Scorponok does everything that Polar Claw tries to do much better. An update is needed to fix the issues of the original.
An update would alleviate the bad gimmicks though, and there are two repaints you can do.
Polar Claw always gave me G1 Blaster vibes. Maybe it was the bat that popped out, but it just always had that feel to me.
I imagined Perspective End laughing hysterically after seeing 5th place
Begun the beast wars have
Take the like and get out of hear, yoda
"I like turtles." - Zombie Kid
Yes, my mind went there.
I'm so glad to see Insecticon getting acknowledgment
Thundertron had a pretty prominent role in Exiles so I’d say he has more merit for a new toy more than Polarclaw, even though I’d love a new Polarclaw
I want a new Convobat/Bat Optimus Primal (I would just get the Takara Legends figure but I already gave up my kidneys)
Dead Polarizing! (Shout out to anyone who gets that reference) Polar Claw is freakn peak.
Fun fact, optimus and megatron's beast modes were based on King Kong. Optimus is actually supposed to be a giant ape!
Funny enough with BW Cheetor.
Something of note compared to the pic you used for the list.
There are versions of Cheetor(original and the recent re-issue)
That have varying shade of green to his eyes and thus makes him look more awesome and cat like then the picture used here.
Apparently there was a bunch of variants OF Cheetor overall.
Cheetor's Beast Wars toys from back in the day are still better than Supreme Cheetor.
That original BW Scorponok toy looks better than the animation model. The toy version feels more like an assassin. While the animation version is basically a dork.
Nice
Very enjoyable video
Saw on a post the other day. Everyone saying truck not monkey but I never heard anyone say gun not T-Rex lol
Animal megatron got to be in this list jawn
Yes…..
16:02 unless it's Energon Grimlock
You'll notice later toys in Beast Wars were better matched to the animation models.
The first year where I have all but 3 entries on the list
I still prefer this skorponok over the recent kingdom mold
If they did a new Snapper he would 100% have a new transformation to accommodate a fake chest.
Snapper looks like an ornate box turtle & his color scheme even looks close to the animal’s color scheme.
Bear Puns I approve
Are the colors you think of for a turtle transformer green, blue, orange, red, and purple?
Beast wars is goated
My top 10... I tried my best to keep out my bias towards the show and make picks that are actually just good toys.
10. Scorponok
9. Polar Claw: Almost forgot to mention that Robot Chicken used this mold in a sketch repainted as a Panda and that's kind of my favorite version of this mold is the custom Robot Chicken Panda and I kind of want Hasbro to make that an official character. Technically since it was an original character created for Robot Chicken they likely own the Trade Mark.
Main reason I'm putting them so low is I'm not a fan of their launching beast partner gimmicks. Their beast modes don't look good if you lose those parts and Polar Claw is a little bit higher because his robot mode looks better even without his partner attached while Scorponok loses an entire claw which just looks bad in either mode he's in.
8. Buzz Saw: I just like the more realistic colors on this mold and he should have been Maximal Bumblebee... just saying...
7. Tarantulus: the web launcher gimmick gives him a little bit more play value when you can actually use the hook attachment to hang him off of things. And yes I picked him and not Blackarachnia do to the fact that she fails to look like the character or the spider she's suppose to transform into. Tarantulus just looks better.
6. Dinobot: Getting more gimmicks now though I've never really been a fan of the spinning tail weapon or the weird translucent parts.
5. Tigatron: Who I'm choosing mostly because the beast mode looks better as a tiger than as a Cheetah.
4. Wolfang: Has one of the best "mutant" head gimmicks of the entire toy line. I actually like how his head looks in either mode where most of the other characters I tend to prefer their robot head over the more organic looking one but this is just a battle mask.
3. Inferno: Who I'm putting really high on my list because I always mistook his flight mode for him being a Transmetal as a kid. I don't know why he was such a shelf warmer when he's a popular character and was actually a really good toy that felt ahead of his time.
2. T-Rex Megatron
1. Gorilla Optimus Primal
And yes I have to specify, I did almost consider including the Bat and Alligator versions but ultimately didn't include any basic class toys on my list. Both these Ultra Class leaders are packed with gimmicks but Megatron can be a bit finicky to Transform and doesn't handle his kibble that well while Optimus is just way more fun to mess with.
It was a challenge narrowing down the list to just 10 figures and Rhinox was the last one I cut mostly because I don't like how that original toy handles it's kibble and he has the WORST mutant head gimmick of all of them, I don't even know what the difference is between the two heads, it just looks like a larger version of the same head clamps over the other one. Which head is his show model based on? I honestly have no idea. It's weird to have a gimmick that's suppose to change the look of the figure but doesn't actually change the look of the figure.
All but 3 figures are the same on TJ's list and only 2 ended up in the same spots. And as expected... I knew that turtle was going to show up on TJ's list. 😂
I looked up 1997 and realized being the start of Machine Wars there's a lot of repaints so I can't ignore the basic class figures next time. And there's another figure I'm almost certain is going to be on TJ's list just based on the beast mode. And a Plastic Addict Victim I'm sure won't be on the list.
"I will punch myself later" 😂😂😂
Please make a video about Transformers foreign names!
Play time with the second generation is over, the beast wars have begun!
im still salty about polar claw, when i was a kid my mom actually said yes you can get him, and every store we went to had a pile of scorpinok but no polar claw, i never saw him again either, kingdom has polar claw in the promo art, no figure ( cheetor also has his gun in the art, so it was full of broken promises ), and he didn't get a reissue either just scorpinok... im starting to think someone at hasbro hates polar bears.
What's the deal with that transparent helmet thing on Dinobot?
Oh is that a mutant head dealie like with Wolfang?
I like turtles
Those are in fact mandibles
lol. You almost didn’t make it today!
But he did
I just... I just can't deal with that polar bear mode. BEGGING for a new Polar Claw that actually looks like a polar bear. I also reckon Snapper as a retool of BBM Brawn could work. Or maybe Armordillo would be better? Either way. If they re-did the 1996 non-toy characters I would buy ALL OF THEM.