Whether as a communications truck, a satellite, a stealth drone, or obviously a cassette player, Soundwave would always be suitable for those alt modes, cuz they suit his occupation as a communications officer, of sorts!!!
As a fan of both cybertron/galaxy force soundwave and siege soundwave,the idea of him being a flying vehicule isn't actually that weird and bad, especially how fitting his robot mod is with the austectic of the jet mod
Honestly I thought that Bumblebee Movie Soundwave looked like it was going for a portable CD player and some higher-up saw the design and said “kids don’t know what CD players are” and they turned it into the hovercraft instead. A CD player would have been perfect for a movie that forced as many 80’s references as it did.
I like the idea of an elephant for Beast Wars Soundwave, largely because his liking for them in IDW2005 but also the minion thing, at least for the bird bots, fits with how Elephants often have birds who have a symbiotic relationship with them. It also works with the sound theme with how Elephants communicate across miles using vibrations through the ground. Also... is that a giant Megazord!?
Judging by the Pterodactyl Zord chest, it's probably from the Imaginex franchise, which are like, 4-and-up type toys. There was recently one of the Wild Force Megazord.
I think a cool idea for shatter glass soundwave could be a weather van it’s not as threatening as the heavy armored trucks but it can still have all the surveillance equipment on top
There is one thing I want soundwave to transform into … a jaguar branded car. The reason is because soundwave is about espionage, when you think of espionage you think of spy stuff, and when you think of spies you think of James Bond. Now you would think of an Aston Martin but James Bond villains normally drive jaguar’s and since soundwave a villain that matches quite well. Also, tell me why soundwave, owner of ravage, would transform into any other car then a jaguar.
3:25 my thought is that a news van would work well as an alt mode for soundwave, for the spying and communications link, along with having cameras and recording equipment which could be alt modes for the cassettes
Man I just saw it a few hours ago but Soundwaves EarthSpark design looks great and if it’s figure is as well designed it’ll definitely be a buy for me.
One of the things I really liked about Siege Soundwave is it had an intermediate step in it's transformation that looked like his transformation in G1 episode 1.
I feel like the closest modern equivalent to Soundwave’s original alt mode that is a small inconspicuous object that can interact with his minions is a Nintendo switch (The cassettes could be game cartridges). I know that doesn’t have a whole lot of communication abilities, but at least it has minion compatibility.
I have always said it and I will always continue to say it, Soundwave's alt-mode should be a heavy expanded mobility tactical truck outfitted with communications equipment.
Honestly I think Soundwave should be something utilitarian and difficult to spot. His minions could definitely be stuff like dirt bikes and ATVs. That said, I don't think he should have a single alt-mode, or a set one. Having him be anything from a cargo helicopter to a van could be interesting civilian disguises, while shifting to a hummer or stealth bomber could work for a more militaristic take, especially if his minions get similarly militaristic modes. Something I've thought is a missed opportunity is for Soundwave's minions to use holo-disguises or pretender technology. Honestly a disguised Rumble and Frenzy feels like it could be a who's on first situation or a comedy routine.
To be honest,I actually quite liked the beast mod choise of beast wars soundwave,especially since bats can communicate with each other with soundwaves,plus we have already a great bat former mold which is titans return mindwipe,and I wish if beast wars soundwave has an actual robot mod
The siege Soundwave is honestly one of my favourite Soundwave figures, and Prime Soundwave is one of my all time favourite incarnations of the character
Two things: 1) TakaraTomy made a Soundwave MP3 player that had his micro-cassette alt mode, and it read MP3 files off a miniSD card (rare media nowadays). It's quite novel if you ask me. 2) How come there has never been a Soundwave toy where his alt mode was the Cybertronian street lamp? For that matter, why not make Transformer toys that have both a Cybertronian alt mode and an Earth alt mode all at once?
Technically the Siege toy could become the streetlamp, though it wasn't in the instructions. And it works well enough that it doesn't feel like a fan created thing, but rather the designers did it deliberately and left it out of the instructions as an easter egg.
That Soundwave at 13:06 motorcycle mold was actually used as a character named Axer for Transformers Robots in Disguise in 2001. I knew it looked familiar. I still have it somewhere in storage from when I was younger
I feel like hasbro needs to go absolutly crazy with soundwave - Vinyl record soundwave - Flip phone soundwave - Original nokia soundwave - Phonograph cylinder Soundwave
They totally missed out on the Minidisc Player/Recorders and Minidiscs in the 90’s and 2000’s. They were more popular in Japan but I had two in my lifetime in the U.S..
Funky - I was just discussing all the variations of Soundwave and how the one people are first introduced to seems to be the most iconic one in their minds. Ultimately the cassette recorder only really works in the 80's. A lot of it just depends on what elements of him you want to focus on. If you focus on the spy/blackmailer element, then a spy plane or drone makes a lot of sense. If it's mostly about his boxiness I can see anything from the SUV to, well, I'm surprised no one has done a desktop gaming computer with a bunch of thumb drives that convert into his minions. In Beast Wars I kinda wanted him to be a literal fly on the wall.....it just seems so oddly sinister. Well, either way, this was incredibly thorough and I loved seeing all of his variations - awesome stuff!
I agree. I said something similar before I saw your comment. Some digital recorders use batteries like the original recorders did and Eject for Blaster was only about 2 to 3x bigger than memory cards. One Soundwave’s minions could also be an external mic or even a clip-on digital mic; Bluetooth even.
The time may have passed but I always thought it be a cool idea to make Soundwave a TV system with large speakers and a VHS/DVD player for his minicons. It scales better to the cast than most of his modern day equivalents, has a natural way to incorporate his minicons, and can even have the classic black box chest in a clever way. As for who else has had a lot of different alt modes, Shockwave may be a contender. He has been a Gun, Tank, satellite, Jet, Car, crane, helecopter, artillery gun, boat an Autobot & mechanical spider mode apparently. I haven't seen cyberverse proper, I have only seen clips, so I may be missing context for that last one.
I feel like BBM Soundwave's alt mode looks more like a cybertronian vehicle mode for Shrapnel, because in the original cartoon, it said that the Insecticons were from Cybertron, they just crashed on Earth millions of years ago and took on insect modes.
My top favorite Soundwave alt modes are the movie satellite and Prime drone plane. Also, the War for Cybertron Soundwave also transformed to a boombox/ sound player in the game and in one of the commercials making it one of the rare moments he was a triple changer
I never really thought about it, but stealth bomber is probably the best vehicle mode for a modern Soundwave. I have the Universe Blaster toy, and while it's not the greatest figure, I think combining the stealth aspect of his spy persona, and having the minions store as bombs, is a clever update to the character. Side note: I'd argue that Titans Return Soundwave doubles as a smartphone speaker dock, since that's what his minions turn into and they still store inside.
For a modern Soundwave altmode to hit the mark with me, it has to incorporate his sonic motifs. An SUV is fine as long as it has some kind of sonic weapon or visible sound equipment. An aircraft is great, especially under the pretense that it's some kind of surveillance drone. I really liked the idea of him turning into a bat in Beast Wars because bats use echolocation.
The armored SUV is an armored Drone Deployment Vehicle. On IRL vehicles, the round canister shoots out drones, and the antenna controls/communicates with them. It is a perfect alt mode if you want Soundwave to be a car of some kind. Unfortunately, the general public has never seen one, so they don't know what it is. Likewise, the Siege Spacecraft is a LHD (a Ship that deploys boats and helicopters) that has been modified to work in space It even has the flight-deck and dock in the back! But again, the general public has no idea what that is. Both of which are perfect vehicle alt modes, one for land and one for sea/air.
I think stealth aircraft like the Prime and EarthSpark designs are the best picks for a modern Soundwave alt mode, but for an alt mode that serves as an update to his G1 design (an everyday device that requires a lot of mass-shifting), a personal computer/laptop would work well.
I'd argue that the original Soundwave toy was actually a tape player. It had speakers, and the original Micro Change toy came with a pair of headphones. It can play tapes (at least, it's designed to look like it can play tapes).
I’m a hardcore Soundwave fan. I like the idea of him being more stealthy from Prime in a vehicle mode, but I feel like a non vehicular alt mode could be a Bluetooth speaker or a phone. They’re small, but pretty modern
Personally I think a good Soundwave alt mode would be a news van, because it would have camera and surveillance equipment and I think it could be cool, certainly if you're going for something that isn't super obvious
I feel like an suv or space ship is the best update for soundwaves. If they really pushed the suv that has lots of stuff in it angle that would work best for him. He could have any minion they want in there. Also I would love it if they expanded his minion army so soundwave is a mini army by himself. Even in G1 he had ravage, ratbat, rumble, frenzy, laser beak that we saw. Plus overkill, slugfest, and buzzsaw.
I always felt Prime Soundwave could get a slight retool and redeco as Beast Machines Jetstorm, since it's possible to replicate Jetstorm's hover mode by keeping Soundwave's lower legs connected. I do think he should've been Voyager-class, so his robot mode could stand taller, comparable to Voyager Megatron and Starscream, though the Deluxe size does befit the drone alt mode.
Soundwave is a character that rarely has a bad toy design wise. Even the less impressive ones still kinda look cool. Usually the lesser ones are the repaints to keep the name. As far as a character with a lot of different alt modes....hmmm I honestly dunno
I was born in the 90s so I didn't really grow up with the original series but I did watch Beast Wars and Beast Machines religiously as a kid Soundwave has always been one of my all time favorites. Him and Starscream. Also I love that MMPR/Zyuranger zord statue.
Beast wars soundwave should be a bat kangaroo fuzor. Use the pouch to house his little guys in place of his tape deck and keep that echolocation/sound theme of his mutant iteration
Jetfire is another character that goes through a lot of chance throughout the years. He's always been a flying vehicle, but he colors and character chance wildly between the different versions.
I think Soundwave would actually work very well as like a stealth helicopter, like ome of those souped up Blackhawks. The chest window could be the cockpit, his gun would be a nose cannon, and his shoulder thing could be a wing mounted missile pod. Plus his minions could fit in the transport cargo space
I was born in 1980. My kids are 10 and 8. The closes thing that Soundwave’s original alternate mode, that my kids use and are familiar with, is my digital audio recorder. I don’t know why Hasbro would be struggling to figure that out. I think Hasbro is just out of touch. Kids know what digital recorders are (like my Tascam dual mic) or USB microphones, or even like audio interfaces for recording for videos and streaming. I’d love to see a digital recorder mode though.
Shockwave and Jetfire work for alt mode run downs like this. Possibly Grimlock or Prowl? I find it funny actually, that 3 of the "Main 4" Decepticons have so much trouble pinning down a modern alt mode.
Modern Soundwave should turn into a rock band tour bus, and his minions all turn into different instruments/equipment. Rumble and Frenzy are an amp and speaker Lazerbeak and rat bat can be a guitar and a bass and ravage can be a synth board or something lol
Oh yeah, that reminds me. Common rider and transformers share history. From the original microman line which would eventually become microchange there was a quote unquote costume available for one of the micromans that would turn into a Kamen rder into a Kamen rider
I have a few thoughts, but first, can we please give props to the Energon Igniters toy having a mural on the side as an obvious homage to Ravage and Laserbeak/Buzzsaw? I think my favorite concept of the post-G1 toys is the communications satellite. It works well for a movie narrative, but doesn't make for the most exciting toy. If it were up to me, I think I'd go somewhere between the Animated depiction and Energon Igniters. Bear with me for a moment: I'm from Massachusetts and a few years ago there was news that the original touring van of Aerosmith had been discovered, abandoned in some woods in the western part of the state. The person who found it was able to get in contact with the band, and they paid him to take care of the logistics of getting it restored. After work was done the band checked it out (Steven Tyler even jokingly checked if his weed stash was still there) and I believe it was given to a Hard Rock Cafe. Anyway, the van had a mural on the side as you might expect of a van from the 70s, as well as an earlier version of the band's logo. This got me thinking that I'd like to see a Soundwave that was a touring van. Basically take the concept/frame of the Energon Igniters toy, and mix it with some of the ideas from the Animated version. Keep Laserbeak and Ratbat as musical instruments, give the van a tricked out sound system like Animated, and maybe add Rumble and Frenzy with amplifier alt modes. Their names do fit the idea of turning up the bass. Also, make sure both of them have blue and red in their color schemes, just to drive the FIRRIB people nuts.
You could do a video on new characters created based on older characters for naming reasons. Like the entire cast of beast wars originally supposed to be the G1 characters or Hot Shot who I'm sure was originally supposed to be a Hot Rod style character. Was Tidal wave named after shockwave or soundwave?
I forget if one of these was done for Prowl (or as I call him, the "Bob" of Cybertron because it's so common and I like "Bob" better than "John" as an example).
I've always been a gee wunner, but if I was going to select an alternative, I'd go with the design in TF Prime. It made sense, and his robot mode lacking an actual face, made him the creepiest he's ever been.
I had both the G1 blue repaint of ROTF Soundwave and the original release and would always mis transform him into a movie version of Beast Machines Jetstorm, since I thought it looked more like Jetstorm than Soundwave.
I think a satellite sort of mode works well. I like the fan modes for siege and the WFC Netflix Soundwave. Can’t go wrong with the video game look though either.
The problem I have with him becoming anything but a cassette player, is he loses his casette minions. It's never been done as well since, I would love to see him as something that isn't a vehicle that he could contain minions properly with
Here’s what I think SOUNDWAVE should transforms into: He should be a triple changer that on cybertron, turns into the war for cybertron alt mode, and the bumblebee hovercraft. On earth, he should be an armored SUV, and a helicopter. And maybe later on he could get his earthspark alt mode if it was in a modern show.
SUV? I always thought Animated Soundwave turned into some form of Scion, like an Xb or whatever it was called. Being a Tuner fit the character in that show. And his Cybertronian look from WFC/FoC got revisited by RiD2015, didn’t it? I honestly can’t remember.
I had in mind for a long time and id like to see what you guys think, a) soundwave is known for flying as a robot not as its alt mode b) hes very slow c) hes a communication expert with all that in mind, i think he should be a nasa computer, the blocky thing still keeps with him, and in order to justify how he has so much intel from the world, this all came in the first movie where blackout transformed attacked and left a huge evidnce of alien life form just to steal a computer, so what if instead of all that, soundwave already infiltrated and is the computer now if you want me to innovate more, im saying his cassettes should be digital like a firewall of those sorts, so its not just kidnap him and drain his brain, this should be like some of the most powerful virus from earth capable of hacking everyhting and at a certain point they acquiere alt modes
I'm not a fan of size changing in my Transformers so I feel a sound-system oriented van or big boxy armored vehicle is PROBABLY the best fit for Soundwave. While making him a stealth jet makes sense, I feel the boxy design of Soundwave is iconic enough where it needs to be considered. Giving him flat alt-modes just doesn't seem to work for me. Not to mention that need for the minion storage as you said.
Tbh a proper Soundwave for the Beast Wars line would have been a Bat. Perhaps a retooling of the Optimus Primal bat toy or even something in the size (but not mold as it was awful) of the Beast Machines NightScream.
To me, the most important traits of Soundwave are minions, semi detached personality (not quite to Shockwaves level), loyalty, and maybe a blue color scheme. I don't mind if they change his alt mode. If anything, even though I like it, the cassette player mode just doesn't work anymore. We got a good cassette player Soundwave not too long ago, I'm fine if they move on. At least for a decade when they eventually do another round of G1 homage figures.
The movies writers said that Hasbro had made some prototypes of Soundwave as a CD players with his minions as CDs and tried to pitch them to the studio to put in the movie. They ended up rejecting Hasbro's designs and making the terrible CGI models instead. One idea I'm surprised they've never done is to make Soundwave a tour bus for a band and do like Animated where the minions all turn into musical instruments that could be stored inside him.
The "soundwave superior, constructicons inferior" quote were one of the best things about the 1986,not gonna lie
“All talk. No shock.”
Whether as a communications truck, a satellite, a stealth drone, or obviously a cassette player, Soundwave would always be suitable for those alt modes, cuz they suit his occupation as a communications officer, of sorts!!!
As a fan of both cybertron/galaxy force soundwave and siege soundwave,the idea of him being a flying vehicule isn't actually that weird and bad, especially how fitting his robot mod is with the austectic of the jet mod
Honestly I thought that Bumblebee Movie Soundwave looked like it was going for a portable CD player and some higher-up saw the design and said “kids don’t know what CD players are” and they turned it into the hovercraft instead. A CD player would have been perfect for a movie that forced as many 80’s references as it did.
I like the idea of an elephant for Beast Wars Soundwave, largely because his liking for them in IDW2005 but also the minion thing, at least for the bird bots, fits with how Elephants often have birds who have a symbiotic relationship with them.
It also works with the sound theme with how Elephants communicate across miles using vibrations through the ground.
Also... is that a giant Megazord!?
Judging by the Pterodactyl Zord chest, it's probably from the Imaginex franchise, which are like, 4-and-up type toys. There was recently one of the Wild Force Megazord.
I think a bat mode would be better for soundwave
I think a cool idea for shatter glass soundwave could be a weather van it’s not as threatening as the heavy armored trucks but it can still have all the surveillance equipment on top
There is one thing I want soundwave to transform into … a jaguar branded car. The reason is because soundwave is about espionage, when you think of espionage you think of spy stuff, and when you think of spies you think of James Bond. Now you would think of an Aston Martin but James Bond villains normally drive jaguar’s and since soundwave a villain that matches quite well. Also, tell me why soundwave, owner of ravage, would transform into any other car then a jaguar.
"...the one time he used it... It worked." 😂😂😂
It's surprising it took all the way until Transforemers Cybertron for Soundwave to start becoming a proper character in Transformers lines again
3:25 my thought is that a news van would work well as an alt mode for soundwave, for the spying and communications link, along with having cameras and recording equipment which could be alt modes for the cassettes
Man I just saw it a few hours ago but Soundwaves EarthSpark design looks great and if it’s figure is as well designed it’ll definitely be a buy for me.
I always thinked about news van as perfect (at least land based) altmode for Soundwave. As his cassettes turn into equipment of the van
One of the things I really liked about Siege Soundwave is it had an intermediate step in it's transformation that looked like his transformation in G1 episode 1.
Well it was hidden but the 'lampost' mode is official.
I feel like the closest modern equivalent to Soundwave’s original alt mode that is a small inconspicuous object that can interact with his minions is a Nintendo switch (The cassettes could be game cartridges). I know that doesn’t have a whole lot of communication abilities, but at least it has minion compatibility.
I have always said it and I will always continue to say it, Soundwave's alt-mode should be a heavy expanded mobility tactical truck outfitted with communications equipment.
Honestly I think Soundwave should be something utilitarian and difficult to spot. His minions could definitely be stuff like dirt bikes and ATVs. That said, I don't think he should have a single alt-mode, or a set one. Having him be anything from a cargo helicopter to a van could be interesting civilian disguises, while shifting to a hummer or stealth bomber could work for a more militaristic take, especially if his minions get similarly militaristic modes.
Something I've thought is a missed opportunity is for Soundwave's minions to use holo-disguises or pretender technology. Honestly a disguised Rumble and Frenzy feels like it could be a who's on first situation or a comedy routine.
To be honest,I actually quite liked the beast mod choise of beast wars soundwave,especially since bats can communicate with each other with soundwaves,plus we have already a great bat former mold which is titans return mindwipe,and I wish if beast wars soundwave has an actual robot mod
The T pose reference had me on the floor somehow
The siege Soundwave is honestly one of my favourite Soundwave figures, and Prime Soundwave is one of my all time favourite incarnations of the character
Two things:
1) TakaraTomy made a Soundwave MP3 player that had his micro-cassette alt mode, and it read MP3 files off a miniSD card (rare media nowadays). It's quite novel if you ask me.
2) How come there has never been a Soundwave toy where his alt mode was the Cybertronian street lamp? For that matter, why not make Transformer toys that have both a Cybertronian alt mode and an Earth alt mode all at once?
Technically the Siege toy could become the streetlamp, though it wasn't in the instructions. And it works well enough that it doesn't feel like a fan created thing, but rather the designers did it deliberately and left it out of the instructions as an easter egg.
That Soundwave at 13:06 motorcycle mold was actually used as a character named Axer for Transformers Robots in Disguise in 2001. I knew it looked familiar. I still have it somewhere in storage from when I was younger
I feel like hasbro needs to go absolutly crazy with soundwave
- Vinyl record soundwave
- Flip phone soundwave
- Original nokia soundwave
- Phonograph cylinder Soundwave
Gameboy Soundwave
Lamp Soundwave.
They totally missed out on the Minidisc Player/Recorders and Minidiscs in the 90’s and 2000’s. They were more popular in Japan but I had two in my lifetime in the U.S..
As far as soundwave goes my absolute favorite alt mode of his is the is the original mini cassette deck.
I feel like in an alternate universe where megatron won the war soundwave would be a big brothers watching type deal
Apparently all of Soundwave's minions call him Big brother in Japanese G1.
Big brother Soundwave is watching.
I'd make soundwave an APC, the back door could be his front chest where the minions deploy
Funky - I was just discussing all the variations of Soundwave and how the one people are first introduced to seems to be the most iconic one in their minds. Ultimately the cassette recorder only really works in the 80's. A lot of it just depends on what elements of him you want to focus on. If you focus on the spy/blackmailer element, then a spy plane or drone makes a lot of sense. If it's mostly about his boxiness I can see anything from the SUV to, well, I'm surprised no one has done a desktop gaming computer with a bunch of thumb drives that convert into his minions. In Beast Wars I kinda wanted him to be a literal fly on the wall.....it just seems so oddly sinister.
Well, either way, this was incredibly thorough and I loved seeing all of his variations - awesome stuff!
I agree. I said something similar before I saw your comment. Some digital recorders use batteries like the original recorders did and Eject for Blaster was only about 2 to 3x bigger than memory cards. One Soundwave’s minions could also be an external mic or even a clip-on digital mic; Bluetooth even.
The time may have passed but I always thought it be a cool idea to make Soundwave a TV system with large speakers and a VHS/DVD player for his minicons. It scales better to the cast than most of his modern day equivalents, has a natural way to incorporate his minicons, and can even have the classic black box chest in a clever way.
As for who else has had a lot of different alt modes, Shockwave may be a contender. He has been a Gun, Tank, satellite, Jet, Car, crane, helecopter, artillery gun, boat an Autobot & mechanical spider mode apparently. I haven't seen cyberverse proper, I have only seen clips, so I may be missing context for that last one.
I feel like BBM Soundwave's alt mode looks more like a cybertronian vehicle mode for Shrapnel, because in the original cartoon, it said that the Insecticons were from Cybertron, they just crashed on Earth millions of years ago and took on insect modes.
My top favorite Soundwave alt modes are the movie satellite and Prime drone plane.
Also, the War for Cybertron Soundwave also transformed to a boombox/ sound player in the game and in one of the commercials making it one of the rare moments he was a triple changer
I never really thought about it, but stealth bomber is probably the best vehicle mode for a modern Soundwave. I have the Universe Blaster toy, and while it's not the greatest figure, I think combining the stealth aspect of his spy persona, and having the minions store as bombs, is a clever update to the character.
Side note: I'd argue that Titans Return Soundwave doubles as a smartphone speaker dock, since that's what his minions turn into and they still store inside.
Soundwave's Beast Mode can be a giant tortoise. He uses his shell to hide and disguise himself among rocks; and it also hides his minions.
For a modern Soundwave altmode to hit the mark with me, it has to incorporate his sonic motifs. An SUV is fine as long as it has some kind of sonic weapon or visible sound equipment. An aircraft is great, especially under the pretense that it's some kind of surveillance drone. I really liked the idea of him turning into a bat in Beast Wars because bats use echolocation.
The armored SUV is an armored Drone Deployment Vehicle. On IRL vehicles, the round canister shoots out drones, and the antenna controls/communicates with them. It is a perfect alt mode if you want Soundwave to be a car of some kind. Unfortunately, the general public has never seen one, so they don't know what it is.
Likewise, the Siege Spacecraft is a LHD (a Ship that deploys boats and helicopters) that has been modified to work in space It even has the flight-deck and dock in the back! But again, the general public has no idea what that is.
Both of which are perfect vehicle alt modes, one for land and one for sea/air.
I think stealth aircraft like the Prime and EarthSpark designs are the best picks for a modern Soundwave alt mode, but for an alt mode that serves as an update to his G1 design (an everyday device that requires a lot of mass-shifting), a personal computer/laptop would work well.
I'd argue that the original Soundwave toy was actually a tape player. It had speakers, and the original Micro Change toy came with a pair of headphones. It can play tapes (at least, it's designed to look like it can play tapes).
I’m a hardcore Soundwave fan. I like the idea of him being more stealthy from Prime in a vehicle mode, but I feel like a non vehicular alt mode could be a Bluetooth speaker or a phone. They’re small, but pretty modern
Personally I think a good Soundwave alt mode would be a news van, because it would have camera and surveillance equipment and I think it could be cool, certainly if you're going for something that isn't super obvious
I feel like an suv or space ship is the best update for soundwaves. If they really pushed the suv that has lots of stuff in it angle that would work best for him. He could have any minion they want in there. Also I would love it if they expanded his minion army so soundwave is a mini army by himself. Even in G1 he had ravage, ratbat, rumble, frenzy, laser beak that we saw. Plus overkill, slugfest, and buzzsaw.
I just love that, the OG Megazord is in the background watching and TJ never brings it up.
My version of Soundwave transforms into a news van with Rumble & Frenzy are a Pretender news team.
Hopefully his mode in Earthspark is gonna be freaking cool!
I always felt Prime Soundwave could get a slight retool and redeco as Beast Machines Jetstorm, since it's possible to replicate Jetstorm's hover mode by keeping Soundwave's lower legs connected. I do think he should've been Voyager-class, so his robot mode could stand taller, comparable to Voyager Megatron and Starscream, though the Deluxe size does befit the drone alt mode.
Soundwave is a character that rarely has a bad toy design wise. Even the less impressive ones still kinda look cool. Usually the lesser ones are the repaints to keep the name.
As far as a character with a lot of different alt modes....hmmm I honestly dunno
Soundwave was T-posing to assert dominance over the Autobots way before it was cool.
I was born in the 90s so I didn't really grow up with the original series but I did watch Beast Wars and Beast Machines religiously as a kid Soundwave has always been one of my all time favorites. Him and Starscream. Also I love that MMPR/Zyuranger zord statue.
Beast wars soundwave should be a bat kangaroo fuzor. Use the pouch to house his little guys in place of his tape deck and keep that echolocation/sound theme of his mutant iteration
Animated Soundwave is a Scion XB, or at least a futurized equivalent--it's a compact, which is basically the opposite of an SUV.
The F117A Nighthawk is a perfect Alternate mode of Soundwave ... heck his modified B2 Alt mode in Earthspark is perfect
Beast Wars Soundwave as an Orca would be something
So glad you mentioned streetlamp
Finally, another person who likes the Studio Series Bumblebee Soundwave Cybertronian vehicle mode
Great video as a suggestion for the next one of these maybe every toy named sandstorm.
Jetfire is another character that goes through a lot of chance throughout the years. He's always been a flying vehicle, but he colors and character chance wildly between the different versions.
Have you done a similar video like this for Megatron?
I think Soundwave would actually work very well as like a stealth helicopter, like ome of those souped up Blackhawks. The chest window could be the cockpit, his gun would be a nose cannon, and his shoulder thing could be a wing mounted missile pod. Plus his minions could fit in the transport cargo space
I was born in 1980. My kids are 10 and 8. The closes thing that Soundwave’s original alternate mode, that my kids use and are familiar with, is my digital audio recorder. I don’t know why Hasbro would be struggling to figure that out. I think Hasbro is just out of touch. Kids know what digital recorders are (like my Tascam dual mic) or USB microphones, or even like audio interfaces for recording for videos and streaming. I’d love to see a digital recorder mode though.
Shockwave and Jetfire work for alt mode run downs like this. Possibly Grimlock or Prowl?
I find it funny actually, that 3 of the "Main 4" Decepticons have so much trouble pinning down a modern alt mode.
19:55 it's a boombox made to put a smart phone in so not technically a tape player.
For another video like this: Shockwave (shockblast/laserwave) for sure (unless you already did and I'm just forgetting)
Modern Soundwave should turn into a rock band tour bus, and his minions all turn into different instruments/equipment. Rumble and Frenzy are an amp and speaker Lazerbeak and rat bat can be a guitar and a bass and ravage can be a synth board or something lol
The full size van is dope
Soundwave in Beast Wars would have to be an animal that uses echolocation, so either a bat or a dolphin or whale.
Oh yeah, that reminds me. Common rider and transformers share history. From the original microman line which would eventually become microchange there was a quote unquote costume available for one of the micromans that would turn into a Kamen rder into a Kamen rider
In the EU of the bayverse, Soundwave was this big ass SUV. You see it in the Dotm game. He only took the Mercedes mode after his first scene in dotm
I have a few thoughts, but first, can we please give props to the Energon Igniters toy having a mural on the side as an obvious homage to Ravage and Laserbeak/Buzzsaw?
I think my favorite concept of the post-G1 toys is the communications satellite. It works well for a movie narrative, but doesn't make for the most exciting toy.
If it were up to me, I think I'd go somewhere between the Animated depiction and Energon Igniters. Bear with me for a moment: I'm from Massachusetts and a few years ago there was news that the original touring van of Aerosmith had been discovered, abandoned in some woods in the western part of the state. The person who found it was able to get in contact with the band, and they paid him to take care of the logistics of getting it restored. After work was done the band checked it out (Steven Tyler even jokingly checked if his weed stash was still there) and I believe it was given to a Hard Rock Cafe.
Anyway, the van had a mural on the side as you might expect of a van from the 70s, as well as an earlier version of the band's logo. This got me thinking that I'd like to see a Soundwave that was a touring van. Basically take the concept/frame of the Energon Igniters toy, and mix it with some of the ideas from the Animated version. Keep Laserbeak and Ratbat as musical instruments, give the van a tricked out sound system like Animated, and maybe add Rumble and Frenzy with amplifier alt modes. Their names do fit the idea of turning up the bass. Also, make sure both of them have blue and red in their color schemes, just to drive the FIRRIB people nuts.
👋🥺I Always thought his first altmode was communication tower!🤔
Yay another fan of the SSBB Airspeeder mode!
"Autobots inferior, Soundwave Superior" ~ Soundwave
You could do a video on new characters created based on older characters for naming reasons. Like the entire cast of beast wars originally supposed to be the G1 characters or Hot Shot who I'm sure was originally supposed to be a Hot Rod style character. Was Tidal wave named after shockwave or soundwave?
Soccer mom Soundwave is canon now
You forgot the HISS tank from that SDCC set.
I forget if one of these was done for Prowl (or as I call him, the "Bob" of Cybertron because it's so common and I like "Bob" better than "John" as an example).
I've always been a gee wunner, but if I was going to select an alternative, I'd go with the design in TF Prime. It made sense, and his robot mode lacking an actual face, made him the creepiest he's ever been.
Shockwave also gets a variety of alt modes.
I had both the G1 blue repaint of ROTF Soundwave and the original release and would always mis transform him into a movie version of Beast Machines Jetstorm, since I thought it looked more like Jetstorm than Soundwave.
Megatron would be good to look at considering how many alt modes he has had
You're right but TJ is 7 months ahead of you. Search his channel for: "Everything Megatron Has Transformed Into".
The concept art for the Bumblebee movie one looked a lot better than how the toy actually turned out.
Honestly I say make Soundwave and Blaster Suvs
I think a satellite sort of mode works well. I like the fan modes for siege and the WFC Netflix Soundwave. Can’t go wrong with the video game look though either.
The problem I have with him becoming anything but a cassette player, is he loses his casette minions. It's never been done as well since, I would love to see him as something that isn't a vehicle that he could contain minions properly with
I like the satellite alt-mode, shame he only had it for Revenge of the Fallen.
i'd love to see all the combaticons (not just as bruticus combine limbs, but also as their own bots)
The Siege toy could be transformed into something that looked like his lamppost mode from G1
have you thought of doing a video like this for mirage?
Here’s what I think SOUNDWAVE should transforms into: He should be a triple changer that on cybertron, turns into the war for cybertron alt mode, and the bumblebee hovercraft. On earth, he should be an armored SUV, and a helicopter. And maybe later on he could get his earthspark alt mode if it was in a modern show.
Light post mode= best alt mode. Who would ever expect a light post?
Ngl earthspark soundwave looks like he was supposed to be a new jetstorm
Megatron has various altmodes over the past few decades
SUV? I always thought Animated Soundwave turned into some form of Scion, like an Xb or whatever it was called.
Being a Tuner fit the character in that show.
And his Cybertronian look from WFC/FoC got revisited by RiD2015, didn’t it?
I honestly can’t remember.
I had in mind for a long time and id like to see what you guys think,
a) soundwave is known for flying as a robot not as its alt mode
b) hes very slow
c) hes a communication expert
with all that in mind, i think he should be a nasa computer, the blocky thing still keeps with him, and in order to justify how he has so much intel from the world, this all came in the first movie where blackout transformed attacked and left a huge evidnce of alien life form just to steal a computer, so what if instead of all that, soundwave already infiltrated and is the computer
now if you want me to innovate more, im saying his cassettes should be digital like a firewall of those sorts, so its not just kidnap him and drain his brain, this should be like some of the most powerful virus from earth capable of hacking everyhting and at a certain point they acquiere alt modes
Not a bad idea
How about Soundwave as an aircraft carrier? He can do recon and carry his minicons, as well as be a base for the seekers.
I was waiting all vid for LAMP.
Why Hasbro hasn’t made a working soundwave desk lamp is beyond me?
Also Legacy Cybertron Soundwave would be awesome.
I'm not a fan of size changing in my Transformers so I feel a sound-system oriented van or big boxy armored vehicle is PROBABLY the best fit for Soundwave. While making him a stealth jet makes sense, I feel the boxy design of Soundwave is iconic enough where it needs to be considered. Giving him flat alt-modes just doesn't seem to work for me. Not to mention that need for the minion storage as you said.
Tbh a proper Soundwave for the Beast Wars line would have been a Bat. Perhaps a retooling of the Optimus Primal bat toy or even something in the size (but not mold as it was awful) of the Beast Machines NightScream.
Very enjoyable video
Soundwave would've been perfect as a PlayStation 5 console or in a cartoon series any modern game system.
To me, the most important traits of Soundwave are minions, semi detached personality (not quite to Shockwaves level), loyalty, and maybe a blue color scheme. I don't mind if they change his alt mode.
If anything, even though I like it, the cassette player mode just doesn't work anymore. We got a good cassette player Soundwave not too long ago, I'm fine if they move on. At least for a decade when they eventually do another round of G1 homage figures.
The movies writers said that Hasbro had made some prototypes of Soundwave as a CD players with his minions as CDs and tried to pitch them to the studio to put in the movie. They ended up rejecting Hasbro's designs and making the terrible CGI models instead.
One idea I'm surprised they've never done is to make Soundwave a tour bus for a band and do like Animated where the minions all turn into musical instruments that could be stored inside him.
Optimus prime has pretty typical alt modes, but some weird ones too