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Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys

Transformers News: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys

Friday, July 24th, 2015 11:22PM CDT

Categories: Site Articles, Editorials, Top Lists
Posted by: william-james88   Views: 100,370

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Every two weeks, Seibertron.com brings you a Top 5 list related to all things Transformers written by me, your fellow editor. These are my opinions (just like movie or game reviews hosted by sites are still just the opinion of one person) so what matters most is what you guys think of the topic or list, and I hope to see your own lists or comments on omissions and ranking. Let's have fun! All previous lists can be found here.


Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys

I was totally thrown the first time someone told me a transformer had "VHS". I then learnt it was an acronym for "Visible head syndrome" which is when a Transformer's robot head can be seen in alt mode. Sometimes, it isn't noticeable at first glance, but there are times when it is just bad. The worst part is usually how they try to "cover" it, which is usually quite laughable. Lets look at the worst cases of the robot head found on the alt mode.


5. Generations Fall of Cybertron Seeker mold

People seem to really like this mold and I never understood why. Sure, it's accurate to the game but that doesn't mean it is an amazing design. G1 Ironhide was accurate to his debut appearance in Marvel comics and nobody finds that awesome.
Back to these FOC seekers, the robot head is right there, literally center stage for all to see. The face is just flipped on the other side but that doesn't in any way help hide his head which is just a black square front and center. It doesn't blend in with anything and doesn't seem part of the alt mode at all. It is just a vestigial part of the robot, and it happens to be his head. There are many jet transformers where the head is just brought under the jet and we call those lazy, so what's this?

Transformers News: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys


4. Transformers (2007) Megatron Gallery and Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Megatron

These are both dumb to me. I get that the movie and "aligned" universe take hints from one another and one of them is the boldness of Megatron to have his robot head be exposed in alt mode. I would assume he has optics elsewhere than his head, and this also throws the robots in disguise idea out the window but OK, he wants to be bold. He wants to stick it to the man by exposing his head, fine. So why is there this minute and poor attempt to still "hide" it? In both of these movie toys, there is this ever so small panel that is placed over his exposed face. This, to me, just adds insult to injury. Sure, the idea of a voluntarily exposed robot head is dumb to me and takes away from the robots in disguise idea where you wonder what the point of transforming is, and results in very lazy and uncreative alt modes and engineering, but at least it's justifiable in terms of the creator's intention. Trying to then hide that voluntarily exposed head and have it both ways doesn't make a lick of sense and just results in an even lazier looking alt mode and a terrible case of visible head syndrome. And we are only at number 4.

Transformers News: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys

Transformers News: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys


3.Transformers Beast Machines Blastcharge

This guy's visible head is just sad. Like the seekers above, the only "attempt" to hid it is by turning it around to hide his face. But it's worse than Starscream since it isn't in this neat little kibble bed, filling up the alt mode. Instead it is just an extra piece of kibble hanging off the truck's butt. It looks totally out of place and can be spotted a mile away. It's like the engineers got to a point where they had this nice alt mode but were stuck with a left over piece of robot they just couldn't fit anywhere which lead them to set it down randomly. And once again, that extra piece is the head!

Transformers News: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys


2. Transformers Energon Ironhide

This guy is like those earlier mentioned Megatrons only worse due to his exposed face not being intentional (he wants to disguise himself right?). They even have his helmet tilt down ever so slightly to hide his eyes but that doesn't take anything away from having his head and face right there in front of you on top of the truck. This is laughably bad, and I can only think of one toy worse than this.

Transformers News: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys


1. Transformers Beast Machines Silverbolt

How could Beast Machines Silverbolt beat Energon Ironhide? Not only is there nothing done to hide the head in any way, which is not boldly meant to be exposed, but it is placed right between his legs! He becomes a literal d%&khead. This was one of the easiest number one picks ever.

Transformers News: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys

In two weeks you will get the Best cases of Visible Head Syndrome, see you then!

Honourable Mentions: He might be loved by all, and might possible be one of the best Transformer toys of the first decade of this new millennium, but Galaxy Force Optimus Prime still has a very exposed noggin. It is stark blue against a full red cab, instantly taking away any illusion. I mean come on, the G1 toy found a way around that. But hey, it’s Cybertron / Galaxy Force Prime, I couldn't put him on this list. But I will give you a picture!

Transformers News: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys

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Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713026)
Posted by fenrir72 on July 24th, 2015 @ 11:29pm CDT
FOC ver1 Optimus Prime. Darn great mold but when in vehicle mode, you run the risk of scraping his face guard on the surface.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713029)
Posted by EagleBot13 on July 24th, 2015 @ 11:38pm CDT
I don't count figures whose heads are visible due to the design of the character, such as a cybertronian mode or its that way in the show/movie/comic, as having vhs.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713031)
Posted by Ultra Markus on July 25th, 2015 @ 12:03am CDT
dont forget metroplex his head sticks out like a sore thumb on G1 and Generations
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713034)
Posted by Super Megatron on July 25th, 2015 @ 12:18am CDT
I don't understand why Cybertron/Galaxy Force Leader Class Optimus Prime isn't #1 on your list. The look of its head sticking out so obviously like that makes it looks like a Thomas the Engine toy. One of the worst alt modes from that series because of it.

"But hey, it’s Cybertron / Galaxy Force Prime, I couldn't put him on this list" is a really poor reason not to and it reflects on your not being able to assess a toy based on its design but rather your bias to favor a character regardless of how bad its toy incarnation may be.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713035)
Posted by NOBODY LOVES WHEELIE on July 25th, 2015 @ 12:19am CDT
I gotta add as an honorable mention...Transformers Prime Megatron.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713036)
Posted by Hellscream9999 on July 25th, 2015 @ 12:23am CDT
lol, how about rid X-brawn? or armada side swipe ( :SICK: <= necessary) or energon hoist/inferno? or most (all?) of the basic bw figures?

Didn't energon ironhide even flip his visor up when he wanted to talk to kicker?
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713038)
Posted by Jeddostotle7 on July 25th, 2015 @ 12:33am CDT
Super Megatron wrote:I don't understand why Cybertron/Galaxy Force Leader Class Optimus Prime isn't #1 on your list. The look of its head sticking out so obviously like that makes it looks like a Thomas the Engine toy. One of the worst alt modes from that series because of it.

"But hey, it’s Cybertron / Galaxy Force Prime, I couldn't put him on this list" is a really poor reason not to and it reflects on your not being able to assess a toy based on its design but rather your bias to favor a character regardless of how bad its toy incarnation may be.


It's not the character that halts his inclusion, it's the toy itself. Cybertron/Galaxy Force Leader OP is generally regarded as a great toy (minus the VHS). There's no character-related "bias" here, only him pointing out one flaw in an otherwise great toy.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713040)
Posted by Burn on July 25th, 2015 @ 12:52am CDT
Come on ... Beast Machines Tankor! Makes no effort to hide his "face". Image

Image
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713041)
Posted by Hellscream9999 on July 25th, 2015 @ 1:01am CDT
Burn wrote:Come on ... Beast Machines Tankor! Makes no effort to hide his "face". Image

Image


Or how 'bout bmach tank drone or cycle drone, or generations tankor ;)
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713044)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on July 25th, 2015 @ 1:39am CDT
I find the comments about the movie Megatron figures odd. He cares not for disguise. He transforms for transport or battle reasons. It's only in the third movie that he chooses to disguise himself as an earth vehicle after realising previous strategies have failed.

Maybe he just covers the face bit with a panel to stop dirt and bugs splatting in his eyes. :P
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713045)
Posted by Hellscream9999 on July 25th, 2015 @ 1:45am CDT
Carnivius_Prime wrote:I find the comments about the movie Megatron figures odd. He cares not for disguise. He transforms for transport or battle reasons. It's only in the third movie that he chooses to disguise himself as an earth vehicle after realising previous strategies have failed.

Maybe he just covers the face bit with a panel to stop dirt and bugs splatting in his eyes. :P


Space bugs Image
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713049)
Posted by BERSEKAEL on July 25th, 2015 @ 2:28am CDT
That megatron ROTF tank mode is a fail in this top 5, the original concept actually has a head

Image
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713053)
Posted by Va'al on July 25th, 2015 @ 3:54am CDT
May I also add:
Image

I love the mold to pieces, but it does have a peekaboo head. :P


Also, whoever suggested Prime Megatron - sup.
Image

Hey.
Image

Howyadoin.
Image
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713060)
Posted by Mechastrike on July 25th, 2015 @ 4:50am CDT
where's Cybertron Unicron? then again his "head" in vehicle/alt mode looks like a radar so that should have points, right?
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713065)
Posted by griftimus prime on July 25th, 2015 @ 6:24am CDT
all of the beast machines figs were awful anyway.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713071)
Posted by Desslok2201 on July 25th, 2015 @ 6:59am CDT
This is screaming out for G1 Omega Supreme, but no mention? There's no way he's an example of best case
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713073)
Posted by Lockdownhunter on July 25th, 2015 @ 7:17am CDT
Anyone mentioned this guy?
Image
His tail is his head.Surprised he is not on this list.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713075)
Posted by Burn on July 25th, 2015 @ 7:21am CDT
Can't hotlink from TFU.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713078)
Posted by Yotsuyasan on July 25th, 2015 @ 7:30am CDT
Va'al wrote:May I also add:
Image

I love the mold to pieces, but it does have a peekaboo head. :P


Ah, but in the case of Scourge, you can't say it isn't accurate to the character:

Image

As far as toy's I've owned as an adult... Yeah, Cybertron Optimus Prime is a pretty big offender. Similarly, Classics Deluxe Optimus Prime and Robot Masters Convoy have a similar issue. And I am just glad I've never lost the wind vane on my Classics Voyager Optimus Prime!

Not one that bothers me much, but the Classics Seeker mold can have this issue. It isn't so bad on Skywarp or Thundercracker, but Starscream's is kind of obvious in his alt mode:

Image

And the coneheads, due to their design, do have visible faces when you look at them from underneath. (Usually not an issue... but these guys are jets!)

Generations Metroplex doesn't bug me. I mean, it is accurate to the G1 version of the character. And some effort is made to reconfigure the head into a weapons turret. Frankly, I am more bugged by his visible hand syndrome. (But maybe that is being saved for another list! :lol:

The biggest offender in my collection has to be this guy:

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He doesn't look too bad from most angles, but look at him from the side, and...

Image

...hello, Onslaught's head! How's it going in there? Having a nice day?
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713083)
Posted by RiddlerJ on July 25th, 2015 @ 8:32am CDT
Yeah, on a mode that's cybertronian, I don't fret about a visible head. In those cases, the alt mode isn't a disguise, it's just a mode to get around, or fight, or perform some other purpose.

If anything, cockpits or passenger areas on cybertronian forms make less sense. Who are they for? Maybe after they met humanoids, it might make sense to install one but I don't think too many Decepticons would feel the need for one.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713086)
Posted by Solrac333 on July 25th, 2015 @ 8:45am CDT
Really? These? How about these...
Image
Image
Image
Image
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713088)
Posted by Yotsuyasan on July 25th, 2015 @ 8:53am CDT
omega666 wrote:Really? These? How about these...


Visible heads on the undercarriages of ground based vehicles never bugged me, personally. How often do you look at the underside of a car?
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713092)
Posted by Va'al on July 25th, 2015 @ 9:15am CDT
Yotsuyasan wrote:
omega666 wrote:Really? These? How about these...


Visible heads on the undercarriages of ground based vehicles never bugged me, personally. How often do you look at the underside of a car?



Ah, childhood. Endless hours during long summers, lying on the road to get a glimpse of that sweet sweet underside.

Image

(I was always a hairy child.)
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713094)
Posted by william-james88 on July 25th, 2015 @ 9:18am CDT
omega666 wrote:Really? These? How about these...


Well firstly, the fact that it's under the car hides the head. I really went for obvious ones that weren't hidden well at all. But don't worry, the day of reckoning will come for these guys in another list.

Yotsuyasan wrote:...hello, Onslaught's head! How's it going in there? Having a nice day?


Oh Hai Onslaught !

Desslok2201 wrote:This is screaming out for G1 Omega Supreme, but no mention? There's no way he's an example of best case


Dont worry, he isn't on the best.

griftimus prime wrote:all of the beast machines figs were awful anyway.


Have you ever played around with that Tankor? Or Battle Unicorn, Air Attack Optimus Primal and Jetstorm? Those are all pretty great toys.

Mechastrike wrote:where's Cybertron Unicron? then again his "head" in vehicle/alt mode looks like a radar so that should have points, right?


That gives him a lot of points in my book, glad you brought him up :)

Va'al wrote:I love the mold to pieces, but it does have a peekaboo head. :P

Also, whoever suggested Prime Megatron - sup.


More on peekaboo heads in two weeks ;) As for that Prime Megatron, I think it worked far better than the 2 movie ones since the alt design is done so that a hole in the alt mode lets his face pop through to convey that he wants his head to be seen in alt mode. That is totally the opposite with the other 2 which instead have a piece of the alt mode there to "hide" the face. It's a subtle difference in design but it makes all the difference to me. If the concept is to see his face, show me his face. Don't half ass it. I think they are all lame designs regardless and I won't pardon a toy being weak because it is based off a lame design.

Carnivius_Prime wrote:I find the comments about the movie Megatron figures odd. He cares not for disguise. He transforms for transport or battle reasons. It's only in the third movie that he chooses to disguise himself as an earth vehicle after realising previous strategies have failed.

Maybe he just covers the face bit with a panel to stop dirt and bugs splatting in his eyes. :P


See above. Thanks for that last sentence though :)

Jeddostotle7 wrote:
It's not the character that halts his inclusion, it's the toy itself. Cybertron/Galaxy Force Leader OP is generally regarded as a great toy (minus the VHS). There's no character-related "bias" here, only him pointing out one flaw in an otherwise great toy.


Yeah, exactly. I couldnt bare to have this toy be next to the likes of any of these, but he had to be mentioned. It is an amazing toy.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713095)
Posted by Rated X on July 25th, 2015 @ 9:23am CDT
Sheesh, I cringe at the topics picked (no offense) but is it possible to get some top 5 categories that involve TF fiction, the cartoons, comics or TF characters themselves ? All the recent top 5 categories just seem to be personal glorification or denouncing of various figures. Switch it up, try something new, it wont hurt. :D

On topic I cant think of many molds that havent already been named. The botcon kup/movie crankcase/cybertron red alert mold comes to mind. What I find funny is that this issue seems to be isolated to only hasbro produced figures.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713107)
Posted by Ironhidensh on July 25th, 2015 @ 10:30am CDT
How about super fire convoy?
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713112)
Posted by Carnivius_Prime on July 25th, 2015 @ 11:14am CDT
I still really like the movie Megatron figures especially that RotF tank mode. Any jet Transformer with the face visible underneath bugs me, almost as much as the fact most of those jet TFs have most of the torso and arms showing off in jet mode (again another reason why I love the movie Starscream Deluxe and leader figs)

Anyways, was it in Gobots where the red car guy (turbo?) had his head visible under the car mode actually in the cartoon? And Cy-Kill was always looking up talking in his bike mode (making his head looking really bendable). So did Scooter I think. Silly Gobots. So many reasons why Transformers trounced it.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713120)
Posted by Randomhero on July 25th, 2015 @ 12:00pm CDT
Ya know when you go to your kitchen and you want to make a sandwich and you forgot you used all the peanut butter last time so you're just scraping the jar for any little bit of peanut butter? That's what this weeks top five really feels like. Just scraping the bottom of the jar.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713125)
Posted by Rodimus Prime on July 25th, 2015 @ 12:24pm CDT
Yeah, I gotta pick on RoTF Leader Megatron as well. He shouldn't be on this list, he was designed with his head showing, it was visible during the movie prior to the forest fight, it kinda reminded me of Daniel in the exo-suit after he transformed on Junkion.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713128)
Posted by william-james88 on July 25th, 2015 @ 12:30pm CDT
Rated X wrote:Sheesh, I cringe at the topics picked (no offense) but is it possible to get some top 5 categories that involve TF fiction, the cartoons, comics or TF characters themselves ? All the recent top 5 categories just seem to be personal glorification or denouncing of various figures. Switch it up, try something new, it wont hurt. :D

On topic I cant think of many molds that havent already been named. The botcon kup/movie crankcase/cybertron red alert mold comes to mind. What I find funny is that this issue seems to be isolated to only hasbro produced figures.


Since Seibertron is big on galleries, I figured it made sense I make as much use of them as possible. Also, I personally see Toys to be the central aspect of the Transformers brand and what I am most knowledgeable of, and that is a definitive bias on my part. So I have asked some experts in the TF fiction to help out in fiction based lists. But yes, once this VHS topic is done (after the next list), I will give something related to the fiction, thanks for the encouragement :)

And on the note that the vhs issue is more present in Hasbro figures, I never noticed it, but you are totally right. The list which shows how a robot head can be well implemented in alt mode has half of them being Takara produced figures. I guess it stems from Takara starting out by having a greater emphasis on disguise and a perfect Alt Mode, in G1, and thus has kept that notion in their later lines. Like Beast Wars Neo, for instance, which was a bit too much about a perfect disguise at the risk of a shellformer.

Anyways, good catch!

omega666 wrote:Really? These? How about these...
Image


Do you allow me to use this pic for another list?

Randomhero wrote: That's what this weeks top five really feels like. Just scraping the bottom of the jar.


There is a thread for list recommendations, please let us know what you would like to see in these lists :) http://www.seibertron.com/energonpub/master-list-for-top-5-best-transformers-lists-first-post-always-updated--t103024.php
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713130)
Posted by ScottyP on July 25th, 2015 @ 12:35pm CDT
No Megabolt Megatron? His alt mode is literally a head, and while that's not in the spirit of the list to warrant inclusion, that's just too excellent not to bring up!
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713146)
Posted by Va'al on July 25th, 2015 @ 1:17pm CDT
ScottyP wrote:No Megabolt Megatron? His alt mode is literally a head, and while that's not in the spirit of the list to warrant inclusion, that's just too excellent not to bring up!



I was going to say that, but now I'll just mock you for it instead.

Image
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713150)
Posted by Envisaged0ne on July 25th, 2015 @ 1:26pm CDT
It's already been stated in a reply, but I'm gonna second it. You can't count ROTF Megatron, because you could clearly see his head in the movie. The toy is accurate to the movie, including the panels that cover part of his face
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713155)
Posted by william-james88 on July 25th, 2015 @ 1:43pm CDT
Envisaged0ne wrote:It's already been stated in a reply, but I'm gonna second it. You can't count ROTF Megatron, because you could clearly see his head in the movie. The toy is accurate to the movie, including the panels that cover part of his face


Of course I can count him. It is a toy based on a terrible design filled with VHS. A lame design will stay lame and the toy brings that out even more. By your definition, no one should mess with G1 Ironhide because his first appearance in the fiction looks just like his toy. Or better yet, everyone should be ok with them because G1 Ironhide (and rathcet) are actually from another toyline which didnt need faces. But people still didnt like them. I don't see how this is any different.

Image

A toy shouldnt be forgiven because there is a reason for it being poorly designed, that makes it far too easy to forgive hasbro and the movie designers, who collaborate on this stuff. Why cant his inclusion on the list symbolize my disaproval of the design it is based on? My reason for disliking it remains the same and we are all still stuck with a VHS filled toy.

Since technically every toy is based on a design, it is far more objective and fair for me to instead look at a finished product and see if I think it looks good or not. For instance, do you think these look good or bad? (I will provide my answers for now)

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Transformers G1 1985 Omega Supreme Gallery

looks fine

Image
Transformers Cybertron Starscream Gallery

looks fine

Image

looks bad


Anyone is free to reply with their own top 5 list.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713160)
Posted by Flashwave on July 25th, 2015 @ 1:58pm CDT
Sure, you can see his head, but its at least in the cab. I'd rank RID Supermode Prime's cranium or Hot Spot (the new one) over Cyb Prime. At keast Host Spot's Defensor head sorta flips over itself...
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713170)
Posted by Optimum Supreme on July 25th, 2015 @ 2:20pm CDT
For me this list begins and almost ends with Energon Ironhide. I hate that toy design.

I hope the good list includes G1 Jetfire and Generations Scourge. Scourge was literally designed to include that as a feature.

And to whoever mentioned Omega Supreme, dude's head is literally a turret. If anything it's more like an alt mode part being visible in robot mode than the other way around. Guy doesn't even have a face at all.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713173)
Posted by william-james88 on July 25th, 2015 @ 2:25pm CDT
Optimum Supreme wrote:For me this list begins and almost ends with Energon Ironhide. I hate that toy design.

I hope the good list includes G1 Jetfire and Generations Scourge. Scourge was literally designed to include that as a feature.

And to whoever mentioned Omega Supreme, dude's head is literally a turret. If anything it's more like an alt mode part being visible in robot mode than the other way around. Guy doesn't even have a face at all.


Oh man, I cant wait till 2 weeks.

Anyways, yeah my thoughts on Omega Supreme are the same. I also find it similar to my thoughts on Swoop designs. I see it more as a pterodon crest in robot mode and less as a robot head in beast mode. It's a fine line but I find it interesting to discuss.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713181)
Posted by munkimus prime on July 25th, 2015 @ 2:49pm CDT
I personally don't find the FOC seekers heads visible at all. Sure they kind of stick out when viewing them directly from above but it's not as obvious as you're making it out to be that those black cubes are their robot heads.

Also can we really count a head that's on the bottom of a car since nobody's going to be displaying their cars upside down.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713182)
Posted by Boxkicker on July 25th, 2015 @ 2:49pm CDT
G1 Jetfire, using the Bandai Macross VF-1 mold should be on this list. His head was in plain view on the belly of the plane as a "turret".
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713187)
Posted by Yotsuyasan on July 25th, 2015 @ 3:23pm CDT
Optimum Supreme wrote:I hope the good list includes G1 Jetfire and Generations Scourge. Scourge was literally designed to include that as a feature.


G1 Jetfire may be a bit of an odd duck in that his toy design is so obviously completely divorced from Skyfire's cartoon model... But I was actually thinking of that toy myself earlier after reading this list of an example of what would be a good visible head!

It was quite accurate to the animation of the show that toy actually came from, and it was even featured prominently on at least one occasion in that show. (When Hikaru/Rick was rescuing Misa/Lisa from Alaska Base, while his Valkyrie was in fighter mode he used the lasers on the sides of the head to blow a hole in a wall.)

On the original toy, which was the one used to make G1 Jetfire, it was maybe a little too prominent... But it was forgivable as an 80's toy design. (And heck, over all it is still a great toy that holds up today!)

Image

On a more modern take of a toy of this design, they got it perfect! The head is still there, and still clearly visible, but is a bit more subtle about being so:

Image

And it can still be pulled down and rotated if you need to use it as a laser turret!

Image

I can understand why... I mean, it would have been too expensive. And it would have not been a child safe toy... And it wouldn't have appealed as much to Skyfire fans... But part of me thinks it is a shame we couldn't have gotten that toy as a modern Jetfire. (I've seen a few great fan repaints out there, though!)

Edit:

Boxkicker wrote:G1 Jetfire, using the Bandai Macross VF-1 mold should be on this list. His head was in plain view on the belly of the plane as a "turret".


Ha ha. Your post must have been made while I was taking my sweet-arse time writing why he was an example of a good visible head. I guess we'll just agree to disagree. :lol:
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713188)
Posted by Envisaged0ne on July 25th, 2015 @ 3:28pm CDT
I understand your reasoning, but most people consider bad v.h.s. as sloppy transformations where the head is clearly visible in the alt mode, when it shouldn't be. Where it ruins the aesthetic look of the vehicle, because you can see blatant robot parts. For ROTF megatron, it was intentional, and I personally don't mind the visual they were going for. I, personally, don't count it, because it wasn't just sloppy, lazy transformation that kept the head visible. It achieved the look they were going for. But again, that's just my opinion
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713189)
Posted by OptimalOptimus2 on July 25th, 2015 @ 3:30pm CDT
I thought that Ironhide's visible head was intentional. In one episode of Transformers: Energon, Ironhide was shooting at a cloaked Starscream and his entire head was visibly shown atop his vehicle mode. :???:
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713194)
Posted by Jelze Bunnycat on July 25th, 2015 @ 3:45pm CDT
OptimalOptimus2 wrote:I thought that Ironhide's visible head was intentional. In one episode of Transformers: Energon, Ironhide was shooting at a cloaked Starscream and his entire head was visibly shown atop his vehicle mode. :???:


Intentional doesn't make it any better, in fact it just screams "We can't be bothered to make it remotely decent". :)

The Beast Machines Vehicons... I can only think of three examples where the same head is used in both modes:

Tank Drone and Generations Tankor
Image

Motorcycle Drone
Image

But this one does suffer from VHS because the vehicle mode uses a different head:

Thrust
Image

My honorable mention :)

Figures with the head inside the cabin, cockpit etc. (RiD X-Brawn, Armada Sideswipe, RotF Breakaway) would fall under "Transformers who pilot themselves" and is a separate Top 5 list IIRC.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713195)
Posted by Va'al on July 25th, 2015 @ 3:49pm CDT
May I take this moment to point out that I always pictured a giant, pigtailed trucker behind the wheel of G2 Optimus Prime?

Image
(You really can't see it in any of the photos..)
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713197)
Posted by william-james88 on July 25th, 2015 @ 3:54pm CDT
OptimalOptimus2 wrote:I thought that Ironhide's visible head was intentional. In one episode of Transformers: Energon, Ironhide was shooting at a cloaked Starscream and his entire head was visibly shown atop his vehicle mode. :???:


Sure, that is why I believe the VHS topic would begin and end with toys and their design rather than explain why it is ok for one and not for the other. It can get more complicated that way and arguments end up being void. For example, I couldn't fault any Cybertron toy for being bad since someone would say it looks just like the show (when in reality that show is just a hair from being a stop motion show using the toys).






So it's best to say if we think an exposed head works or not, which is what you awesome people have been doing, so thanks! And thanks for getting back to me Envisaged0ne, I greatly value your input and it will help give a more rounded take on VHS to anyone who stumbles upon this list and it's comments in the years to come.
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713198)
Posted by Yotsuyasan on July 25th, 2015 @ 3:57pm CDT
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Figures with the head inside the cabin, cockpit etc. (RiD X-Brawn, Armada Sideswipe, RotF Breakaway) would fall under "Transformers who pilot themselves" and is a separate Top 5 list IIRC.


Figures who pilot themselves in that way would be a good list! I'd say, though, that to be a good figure of that type, the head has to be upside up inside the cabin. (Sorry, Universe Inferno mold!)

Va'al wrote:May I take this moment to point out that I always pictured a giant, pigtailed trucker behind the wheel of G2 Optimus Prime?


Sorry, I fear I don't quite follow you there. What giant pigtailed trucker are you seeing, exactly?
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713200)
Posted by william-james88 on July 25th, 2015 @ 4:02pm CDT
JelZe GoldRabbit wrote:Figures with the head inside the cabin, cockpit etc. (RiD X-Brawn, Armada Sideswipe, RotF Breakaway) would fall under "Transformers who pilot themselves" and is a separate Top 5 list IIRC.


Yup! Well its more that it falls into well implemented VHS (if it is well implemented turns out there werent enough good ones for a list of their own), just as there were well implemented Shellformers. What I am trying to show is that VHS and Shellforming (and retools and redecos) are simply words to describe and categorize Transformer toys after all the years of their existence, and not necessarily negative. So I give good and bad and encourage you all to participate :)
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713205)
Posted by Va'al on July 25th, 2015 @ 4:10pm CDT
Yotsuyasan wrote:
Va'al wrote:May I take this moment to point out that I always pictured a giant, pigtailed trucker behind the wheel of G2 Optimus Prime?


Sorry, I fear I don't quite follow you there. What giant pigtailed trucker are you seeing, exactly?


You need to look at the truck from the low front. The upside down robot head always gave me the idea of a pigtailed driver. I do not expect anyone else to see it. :P
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713209)
Posted by Yotsuyasan on July 25th, 2015 @ 4:21pm CDT
Va'al wrote:You need to look at the truck from the low front. The upside down robot head always gave me the idea of a pigtailed driver. I do not expect anyone else to see it. :P


Ah. I was wondering if it was something to do with his in-cabin head, but you threw me off when very specifically stating that you had this problem with G2 Prime. That got me thinking it was something unique to that version of the toy, so I kept trying to figure out, "What does a trailer-mounted sound box have to do with visible heads and pig tailed truckers? And why wouldn't my G1 Prime or my Pepsi Prime have the same issue?

(Well, I guess my G1 Prime wouldn't, since he has a third party Matrix chamber in his chest. But my Pepsi Prime would still be rocking your pig tails!)

Image
What visible head?
Re: Top 5 Worst Cases of Visible Head Syndrome Among Transformers Toys (1713217)
Posted by william-james88 on July 25th, 2015 @ 4:56pm CDT
Here s your long haired truck driver:

Image

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