Transformers as a film series has had a very long, tumultuous history. While many loved the action and scope of the Michael Bay films, it came to ahead with The Last Knight being the lowest grossing and reviewed movie in the franchise. As such, most Transformers fare has struggled to find a new creative direction in live-action. And after so long, we now have a new animated film in theaters now. An origin tale of Optimus Prime and Megatron, where before, they were Orion Pax and D-16, miners from the planet Cybertron. Together with their new allies Bee and Elita, they uncover a great secret about Cybertron’s past, and how it leads them down to a familiar path for both characters.

For most Transformers fans, this is probably a dream come true. Newcomers can finally see how both Pax and D-16 become their iconic selves. And how Cybertron works as a whole before they come to Earth. A Pre-War Cybertron works as a nice basis for an origin story. But that’s the main problem with the film: It’s an origin story.

Origin stories usually have a lot of buildup, but not much of a payoff. Many Superhero movies, for example, usually start with an origin story, and take their time to establish their cast, their arcs, and setting up the main conflict past just starting out. Transformers One does fall into these same trappings. There’s many concepts that the film introduces (the Quintessons, Starscream, and the rise of the Decepticons etc.), are brashly introduced to only be saved as a later conflict for a sequel. Maybe I just seen it one too many times before. It also doesn’t help that the humor in this film is a stock, with repeated improv from B-127. Keegan-Michael Key does his best (even if it just comes to rambling improv), and if you like this type of humor, more power to you. He does mellow in the 2nd half of the film, which helps to show the grave situation our protagonists find themselves in. Though, I can’t say he is any more relevant after that point.

The best parts definitely come from Orion Pax’s and D-16’s friendship, how it transforms into becoming true enemies. While Orion is mostly a static character that tries to prove his worth throughout the film (kind of reflected by Chris Hemsworth boisterous acting that has been seen numerous times before), D-16 is made the straight man in their antics, as the more law-abiding citizen that trusts the system. Only when he realizes how much the system betrays everything he’s ever cared about and known, he becomes radicalized to destroy. Brian Tyree Henry provides a good shift to his character when that midpoint happens, and his change in attitude increases to vengeful extremes. Elita-1 doesn’t have much going on, unfortunately, other than to trust Orion near the end, (I guess you can say it’s being more than judt protocol and promotions, but it mostly just culminates to her and Orion.) And Steve Buscemi’s Starscream is just there. His voice isn’t bad (they actually do a small gag with how his voice sounds later in the movie), Screamer just doesn’t have much to do other than be in command of the High Guard, and just a means for D-16 to get himself an army at the end.

If anyone is familiar with Sentinel Prime, (for most casual audiences, his appearance in Dark of the Moon where he’s played by Mr Ballad of Bilbo Baggins, Leonard Nimoy), they shouldn’t be too surprised by his role. His actions set the the current state of Cybertron under his thumb, but when it comes to his fate near the end of the film, it makes a grand moral statement of whether it’s right to kill those who oppress us. It does feel a little refreshing to see Optimus be concerned for life, as opposed to the bloodthirsty portrayals in past films, and they show D-16’s turn to becoming Megatron, with lots of visual symbolism that children can get easily and be entertained. And the film presents you to not be a cog in the machine. You can be so much more than what society tells you to be, and shouldn’t let them take away those options. By the end, though, it feels like we just rushed through to 2 different climaxes, and once more teasing more to come. In hindsight, it’s not egregious like other franchise films, but it’s annoying to see that happen time and time again.

With having seen Rise of the Beasties last year, and to a certain extent, Bumblebee, it seems Hasbro/Paramount wants to play it safe and conventional for their Transformers films, making them more like Marvel films (as evidenced by the writers, script by Gabriel Ferrari and Andrew Barrer, both of who’s notable work is Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Josh Cooley, the director for Toy Story 4). Their creative direction is a little derivative in nature, but it’s not without a distinct change in tone once the 2nd half kicks in, and really drives home its story and themes. For all Transformers fans (myself included), it’s a good gateway for newcomers to enjoy this film that takes from previous stories and lore for a cohesive new story.

-alArts

If you want to share your thoughts on the film, join our Discord, Transformers forum, our Twitter, or our Facebook group for others to read and hear!

New downloadable content for the worldwide phenomenon of a video game known as Minecraft has dropped, this time themed around our favorite robots in disguise. Now, the Autoblocks can wage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticubes.

Okay, I made those names up. Anyway, see how it looks for yourself:

Autobots, get ready to roll out! The Transformers DLC by Syclone Studios and Hasbro has swerved into Minecraft with a story-driven adventure that will take you on an adrenaline-fueled ride between Earth and Cybertron. Your mission? Only the small task of saving humanity! Claim your free Character Creator item: the Transformers Hoodie from the Dressing Room, then strap in and let’s defeat some Decepticons.

And from the Minecraft Marketplace, where you can purchase the DLC pack:

There is more than meets the eye in this epic Transformers Adventure Map! Play as fan-favorite Autobots like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee as you work to stop familiar foes like Megatron and Starscream. Take your battles to the next level with a variety of blocky blasters and hop into co-op multiplayer to take on the fight for freedom with friends. Autobots, roll out!

Want to see more? Then here are some screenshots for you:

You have to admit, the original, blockier G1 designs translate pretty nicely into the Minecraft style. But you might be thinking to yourself, “Why does this look so familiar?”

Well, that would be because the game seems to take more than a few cues from a past release, Transformers: Devastation. This is most evident in the use of the Decepticon Ground Soldiers as cannon fodder.

Also worth noting that this was probably easily done because Microsoft, owners of the Xbox brand, recently acquired Activision Blizzard, the publisher of Transformers: Devastation. That means they likely had easy access to the assets and resources from that game, even though the development was handled by PlatinumGames.

Still, it makes you wonder… Did they pull out those old assets just for this? Or is there more to this than meets the okay, no, I’m sorry, I can’t do it. Too easy. I have standards! …apparently.

Anyway, if you’ve already got Minecraft and want to roll out, then you can get it from the Minecraft Marketplace for $8.99 USD (or the rough equivalent in your currency), or the universal Minecraft price of 1,510 Minecoins.

If you’d like to mine for what other people think, or just craft your own comments to share, then head over to the “GameSpark News: For the TF VG Stuff That Maybe Doesn’t Need Its Own Thread” in our forums, and talk to your heart’s content!

Not a member? Register now! It’s totally free, save for that teeny little fragment of your Spark that helps sustain our existence! If forums aren’t your bag and you’re more of a social media kid, then you can find us on SMOKAT (that’s the Social Media Once Known As Twitter — just you wait, this’ll catch on better than “X” ever will) @AllsparkNews. Or you can do your web-slinging Into and Across the Metaverse to find our Facebook page, Facebook Group, and Instagram! Or you can go Beyond the Metaverse, and join us on our Discord, Discord.gg/allspark, where our operators are standing by to serve you!

*crickets chirp*

…yeah!

First up, Supercell’s mobile MOBA hero shooter (or casual strategy? Make up your mind, Wikipedia), Squad Busters, is collaborating with our beloved robots in disguise as Optimus Prime, Elita-1, and Megatron join the fray against… well, watch for yourself, and see. The animation is nice, starting in a more normal Transformers style before going to Squad Buster chibi. So if you get nothing else out of this, at least we can all enjoy that, right?

Anyway, the ability to squad up and roll out has been in the game since the 16th, so you should be able to grab it now without any real difficulty from the App Store or Google Play. There might be a fee, though, so proceed with caution, Squadobots.

But that’s not all! We also finally have an official date for the long-awaited release of G.I. Joe: Wrath of Cobra!

Well, kind of. We have a release date for the Steam, Good Old Games, and Epic Games Store versions. Us console-type people with Xboxes, PlayStations, and Switches are apparently just gonna have to wait to find out when our nebulous “soon” is. Anyway…

If you’d like to talk to fellow fans about either of these new developments, you can do so in our forums! Just head over to “GameSpark News: For the TF VG Stuff That Maybe Doesn’t Need Its Own Thread” for the Squad Busters collab, or crash through the sky and let out a fearful cry of “Cobra!” in the “G.I. Joe thread – 09/13/2024: Pulsecon – Dreadnoks, Dogs and Cereal” thread.

Not a member? Register now! It’s totally free, save for that teeny little fragment of your Spark that helps sustain our existence! If forums aren’t your bag and you’re more of a social media kid, then you can find us on SMOKAT (that’s the Social Media Once Known As Twitter — just you wait, this’ll catch on better than “X” ever will) @AllsparkNews. Or you can do your web-slinging Into and Across the Metaverse to find our Facebook page, Facebook Group, and Instagram! Or you can go Beyond the Metaverse, and join us on our Discord, Discord.gg/allspark, where our operators are standing by to serve you!

Well, okay, there was the one other time, but that was a fortnight ago.

Anyway. If you scoped out the Overwatch 2 x Transformers collaboration, but came away feeling like you wanted something a little meatier, then have we got the mash-up for you!

Despite that, though, it looks like the characters are using the evergreen versions of the designs — or, at least they are before they get, uh, sausage-fied? At which point, Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Elita-1, Megatron, Soundwave, Starscream, and Shockwave (huh, little heavier on the baddies there…) take on a more “chibi” appearance, with larger heads atop smaller bodies. Looks like some of the native humanoid characters can get some Cybertronian-styled gear as well.

And they’re fighting over the Allspark, because of course they are. Here’s the description:

The Allspark has arrived on Sausage Island, and the Cybertronian warriors have arrived in style! Form a ties with the Transformers and join them in this exciting and nerve-racking adventure!

Cool collaboration between Sausage Man and Transformers debuts on July 19th! Autobots and Decepticons will engage in fierce battles on Sausage Island. Let’s join them in this exciting and nerve-racking adventure!

The game is from Singapore, by the way, in case you were wondering.

And if you’re interested, it looks like these worlds collide on July 19th. Presumably of 2024.

Like Overwatch 2, we don’t really have an active thread going for this, but you’re certainly free to make one in Fun & Games! Or Transformers Discussion. Whichever suits your fancy, we’re not Prowl. It’s not like Reactivated is likely to be distracting from it any time soon, at any rate.

Not a member? Register now! It’s totally free, save for that teeny little fragment of your Spark that helps sustain our existence! If forums aren’t your bag and you’re more of a social media kid, then you can find us on SMOKAT (that’s the Social Media Once Known As Twitter — just you wait, this’ll catch on better than “X” ever will) @AllsparkNews. Or you can do your web-slinging Into and Across the Metaverse to find our Facebook page, Facebook Group, and Instagram! Or you can go Beyond the Metaverse, and join us on our Discord, Discord.gg/allspark, where our operators are standing by to serve you!

Stock photos and packaging photos for G1 Motormaster (thanks to Hasbro China’s Transformers store) are making the rounds, and now Hasbro have revealed the second wave of Transformers Legacy Deluxes and Voyagers, and Motormaster as well!

Let’s kick off with the good stuff: the next wave for Transformers Legacy, featuring Deluxe class figures of Generation 1 Elita-1, Transformers Prime Knock Out, and Beast Wars Tarantulas (joining Generation 1 Wildrider), as well as Voyager class Generation 2 Jhiaxus and reissued WFC: Siege Soundwave! Hasbro also managed to share their own stock photos of Motormaster (thanks to DaimChoc for these caps).

More pics of Motormaster have surfaced from Hasbro China’s Transformers store:

How does Legacy look to you now? (And do you have a spare torch and pitchfork for the “Why Siege Soundwave?!” protest?) Give us the lowdown on the Allspark Facebook page, on our partnered Discord at discord.gg/allspark, and on the Allspark Forums !