Go-Bot Path Finder [Go-Bots Guardian 3-Pack]

Rounding out our look at the Go-Bot Guardian 3-Pack is Path Finder, whom is also based on the e-Hobby Path Finder. Like that toy, Path Finder uses a Cosmos toy in an unreleased deco. This time Path Finder is made from the excellent Legacy mold from the Velocitron Speedia 500 Collection. I liked that toy quite a lot and can honestly say that Path Finder is one of the few characters that every toy of is a good one. From her original Gobots toy to the Transformers releases, all are quality. It doesn't hurt that I've always liked Cosmos in fairness. If you're not a fan of repaints, this isn't going to be your cup of tea as Path Finder is basically a blue Cosmos. For those whom had a problem tracking down the original toy, this is a nice option.  Not to mention, the blue looks good on Cosmos. It's something very simple that makes for a big change. 

Path Finder still has Cosmo's flag/gun. That's a holdover from the Velocitron Speedia 500 toy that I wonder will be reused in every instance of this mold going forward. It made sense in the Velocitron series... but just seems a little ridiculous outside of that. Thankfully, Path Finder's flag is proudly displaying a Guardian symbol. It's admittedly silly, but I enjoy seeing Gobots symbols being used. As Path Finder, however, I've mainly chosen for her to wield the blaster as is with a flag hanging off it. Why not, right? Like I've said, Hasbro has released other Gobots in Transformers before. This set is the first time they've outright used the name Gobots. Not just the name, but the logo and symbols.

I really hope it's the beginning of more Gobots in Transformers or even as a stand alone. With Challenge of the Gobots airing in MeTV Toons and on Cartoon Rewind, there's bound to be a new audience for these classic characters. Toys like Path Finder and the other 3 from this are great homages to a cool exclusive set from 20 years ago that itself was a fun throwback. Obviously I love Gobots and welcome a renaissance... but maybe it's just what the robot world needs right now.

Go-Bot Smallfoot [Go-Bot Guardians 3-Pack]

Continuing our look at the Go-Bots Guardians 3-Pack is Small Foot. Like the e-Hobby toy she's based on, Small Foot is made from a Gears toy. This time, however, the most recent Legacy United Gears toy. This is my first experience with the toy mold so it's a fresh look altogether. Small Foot is known for being a red and blue truck in Gobots, but the e-Hobby set was based on un-produced colors from that old Takara catalog. Small Foot was given a new face sculpt to match her onscreen appearance from Gobots further. Her chest compartment can open up as a leftover from the Gears mold. This is to simulate a scene from the episode 'Changing Gears'. Being my first time with the mold, I'm going to be focusing on the toy.

Small Foot is a squat robot and pleasantly blocky. Despite that blockiness, there's a decent amount of articulation. The yellow and red colors look great on this mold that's unmistakably meant to be Gears. Transformation to truck mode is pretty easy, much easier than I was prepared for. Everything just went into place without much fumbling. This is really a pleasant toy, I hopefully can score a Gears later. Small Foot's blaster can be placed on the side of the truck for easy storage. There's irony in using a Gears mold for a Small Foot toy. Gears is a pessimist while Small Foot is an optimist. It's also funny that both characters original colors are pretty much the same, just reversed. These unused colors look great on the Gears mold, but wouldn't fit Gears. As Small Foot, they're a departure from the original, but look great. This is all around a pleasant toy and another wonderful Gobot character representation as a Transformer. 

Go-Bot Treds [Go-Bot Guardians 3-Pack]

In 2024, e-Hobby released one of my favorite Transformers sets which was simply called 'G1 GoBots'. At the Time, e-Hobby would release exclusive versions of Takara's G1 reissues in Diaclone or other pre-Transformers release colors as brand new characters. Several fans (myself included) loved these and gobbled them up. I mean, new G1 characters... whoa! Taking the G1 Mini-Bots set and releasing them based on unused colors from an early Transformers promotional catalog, these toys were then named after classic Gobots characters who had traveled to the dimension most Transformers resided in at the time. It was a cool set of toys with a fun backstory.

Treds is a classic Gobot character whom was recreated from Warpath due to both having tank alt modes. In that promotional image, Warpath was green instead of his trademark dark red colors we all know. Treds of course is normally green, so it just worked perfectly. The Go-Bots Guardian 3-Pack is based on that e-Hobby set using 3 recent Transformers Generations molds for the updates. Hasbro has released other Gobots characters in Transformers over the years, but this is the first time they've outright used the Gobots logo on the packaging. Even that e-Hobby set doesn't use it, they've mostly just alluded to it. When Hasbro bought Tonka in the 90's, they acquired Gobots with it. However the original toy designs are on shaky ground due to being Machine Robo toys by Bandai. With the more recent GoBots comics and re-airing of the cartoon, one has to speculate if a Gobot renaissance is coming. I sure hope so, you all know I love them.

This new toy of Treads is based on the Kingdom Warpath toy. I liked that figure quite a bit, so seeing it used here is a treat. Since the mold was an update of G1 Warpath, it's only natural that this makes a solid update of the e-Hobby Treds toy. A weird bit of trivia about his Decepticon symbol. All of the Transformers versions of Gobots have either Autobots or Decepticon symbols. Treds is a Guardian, one of the good guys. For some reason his original toy came with an Renegade (the bad guys) sticker on it. Gobots didn't usually have symbol stickers and this particular one is based on Tonka's initial design for the Renegade symbol. So it's weird for it to be there at all, let alone on the wrong faction. With this in mind, the e-Hobby set gave Treds a Decepticon symbol as a nod to the Renegade sticker. It's a choice that's confused some. This is a cool update of a fun Gobot. I'm super happy to have this set and having a lot of fun with it. Treds looks really great as a Transformer and I hope is the beginning of more Gobots characters in the line.

Clone High

Another of the Christmas gifts from my wife was the super cool Autobot Clone 2 pack exclusive to Amazon, otherwise called the Biosfera Autobot Clones. The name is due to the Autobot Clones going to Planet Biosfera to search for Energon and end up fighting the Decepticon Clones. If it was a wrestling match, Jim Ross would say "I can't tell which one's which" a million times.

I haven't made it very clear, but I've always really liked the Clones. Something about identical robots that turn into different alt modes. It just triggers me in a positive way. I really wish there was more of them, they're neat. In a line full of repaints, specific ones that seemingly mock the repetitive nature of the line itself as a play gimmick is kinda awesome. It's like when you shoot somebody a bird, but do that cranking motion first. 

When it comes to G1, it's the post movie era I like the most. Between the space opera and far out ideas is some really neat stuff. Not to mention, there's that point where Decepticons clearly focus on more monster based alt modes with the Autobots holding the line. It's the basic super robot formula with that special something that makes Transformers it's own thing. If you've looked around the site a little, it might be pretty obvious as to why it's something I'd like.

While I super enjoy the wild colors Decepticons tended to have at the time, the more traditional colors worn by the Autobots manage to look pretty far out somehow. Fastlane and Cloudraker here are a pretty traditional mix of red and a cream/buff color with some black thrown in. By all means these are pretty plain colors. They just look extra spacey on these designs. It's a cool contrast to see these bright red heroes fighting those teal monsters. 

As far as the toys go, these are really good updates as the Decepticon Clones were as well. Maybe a little better. As much as I like those far out monster and beast alt modes, they were usually pretty boxy in G1. It came with the times back then and doing an updated homage requires keeping those classic looks. I'm not arguing that, but these guys in alt mode just look a little better as a new toy. Don't get me wrong, I love the Wingspan and Pounce. Just I'm a little happier with these alt modes than those. Just a little. I have no clue how to end this post. Gonna eat a Babybel now, that's a two handed snack.

Optimus Prime Is Dead, Ratbat Has Left The Bell Tower

Transformers the movie came out in 1986 and with it childhood trauma. The intention of replacing the older toys with the newer toys was carried out with inappropriate violence and onscreen death for what was intended to be a children's cartoon. Prowl didn't get shot and fall over dead. Prowl got shot and we watched his face in agony as life exited his body. Some scenes were originally planned to be even more violent. Which is kinda crazy.

It was awesome.

Probably the most traumatic part of the movie for children, however, was the death of Optimus Prime. In his epic fight to the end with Megatron, Optimus received some fatal wounds. This leads to Hot Rod later becoming Rodimus Prime and many crying children (that didn't give three shits about anybody else who died). So much that their parents complained to Hasbro about the cruel loss of their kid's hero. That's kinda remarkable as the guy had only been around for two years at this point and had that kind of an impact.

So of course Hasbro brought him back. Then killed him and brought him back. Then killed him and brought him back. You no, it's no wonder Optimus is so ready for self sacrifice. He even knows he'll be back. Fuck those other guys though. Except Brawn.

Over the years there's been a few toys that represented Optimus as he lay dead in that pivotal scene. Most recently the Generations Selects exclusive version of the excellent Earthrise Leader Class Optimus Prime toy. It's officially titled 'Alternate Universe Optimus Prime'. Which is a nice way of saying 'he in robot heaven'. It's a wonderfully gray scale interpretation of the toy complete with a new beat up head sculpt.

I'm fortunate to have the great friend in Shawn that I have as today I got one of these awesome toys by way of housewarming gift from him. He said it's the perfect mascot for Zone Base and he's not wrong. Somewhere between all my sneaking Halloween in throughout the year and giant robot talk... a Zombie Optimus Prime kinda fits. Prime spooky shit.

Ton Of New Transformers Ahoy!

Earlier today was the newest Fans First Friday from Hasbro. I say today as I'm writing it on Friday, though it's going to post after midnight which will technically be Saturday. It's a big un, so bear with me. As usual, Rogers & Cowan sent the press releases out. I'm pretty stocked to see the amount of new Netflix figures that'll be exclusive to Walmart. I've seen a lot of complaints over this and I guess I'm fortunate for this not to be an issue for me. I've got two pretty well maintained Walmarts within 20 minutes of me. Not to mention, like I've said, I like going to Walmart. I really want the Bumblebee. Everything's after the break... or for mobile users... under this.

Earthrise on a Select Cyberverse to play cards

CYBERVERSE

Each DELUXE CLASS figure comes with one build-a-figure piece. Combine all the pieces to build a figure of MACCADAM, the beloved character from the show. Kids can collect other DELUXE CLASS figures, each sold separately, to discover the signature attack moves of favorite characters from the G1 inspired CYBERVERSE series, as seen on Cartoon Network and YouTube --one of the best ways to introduce young kids and new fans to the exciting world of TRANSFORMERS!Available at most major toy retailers on 1/1/2020.

Transformers Cyberverse Deluxe Class Shockwave (Ages 6and Up/ Approx. Retail Price: $19.99/ Available: 1/1/2020)Inspired by the CYBERVERSE animated series, this DELUXE CLASS SHOCKWAVE figure stands at an impressive 5 inches in robot mode and converts to vehicle mode in 20 steps. The last step of conversion activates the figure’s Shock Blast attack in both robot and vehicle mode! Once converted, the fun attack move can be repeated through easy reactivation steps.

GENERATIONS WAR FOR CYBERTRON: EARTHRISE

This ecosystem of collectible figures allows fans to build out epic space battle scenes and connect figures together to expand and customize the battlefield!Every pack includes a piece of the TRANSFORMERS Universe Map and a red decoder to unlock the map's hidden paths! Collect other EARTHRISE figures to piece together the full map.

After the cut is the rest of the post, I've taken choice cuts from the press release to try and give a informative post for the new products shown at NYCC 2019 without overloading you all with a ton of pics and text. Of course you all know I love every bit of this news!

Generations Selects Smokecreen

Thanks to Hasbro and Rogers and Cowan
for providing Zone Base with this news

The new Generations Selects Smokecreen is up for pre-order at most online retailers now, so go out and get one! I don't have any affiliate links, so don't worry which one benefits Zone Base, just hope readers enjoy the site!

That's pretty sharp looking, hope I can get one myself.

A Star [Convoy] is born

Damn, that's sharp!

Images of a new Star Convoy toy were all over the place today as his release as a Generations Select is imminent. Made from the Power of the Primes Optimus Prime, the toy is gorgeous. The POTP Optimus toy was already great looking as is, but with the Star Convoy additions... dang. I'll be trying to get one of these upon it's release as Star Convoy is one of those forever awesome Transformers to me. Forever awesome.

Prime time.

There's a bit of a dual homage going on here. Sure, in evolution mode, that's a super Star Convoy update. Though I noticed the standard robot mode, with the new parts to turn the Orion Pax into a traditional Optimus Prime, they've almost replicated the old Battlestars/Return of Convoy back of box art.

 

See it now?

I'm not sure if that was the intent, but it sure is neat. 

 

Here's hoping it comes with a Micromaster Hot Rod.

I need a (combat) hero

It had been floating in the unfounded rumor scene for a bit, and officially revealed and for sale at Hasbro Pulse this past weekend, but Combat Hero Megatron has finally been released in some form. This is a big one for me as I've always been disappointed that the original toy had never been released. The Optimus Prime Combat Hero homage toy got a release about 5 years ago and mines been waiting for it's partner in combat heroism. These old G2 molds have steadily been a favorite of mine over the years and the unreleased combat hero versions just looked so damn cool. While the new toys aren't the originals, they're close enough. Not to mention, using some damn fine molds. While I've yet to buy a Siege Megatron (though will soon), it's a great looking toy. Though I do think the combat hero deco just looks a little better on it. Just the sharp contrast of the white and camouflage is so striking. It's got that sanitary menace that Storm Troopers have. So freaking good looking. Man, even in exclusives based on the molds, Siege is just an amazing Transformers line.

Introducing Generations Selects!

Thanks to Hasbro and their partners for providing Zone Base with this news

Transformers Generations Selects:

Generations Selects is a fan-dedicated collection of figures featuring special edition, limited release versions of Transformers characters. They’re mail-order only, shipped in special packaging exclusive to this line. We launched this line for our fans to expand their collection and make it truly unique.