The Unicorn

UNICRON "That which does not become part of the one, shall become one with the void." Allegiance: himself, Unicron First Animated Appearance: Transformers The Movie, 1986 in TF: Armada, episode #_ First Comic Appearance: Marvel Comics TF: The Movie, official comics adaptation 1986 in Dreamwave, TF Armada: #16, -planet mode only, except cover art of #18

Bio:  Consumption is the core of Unicron's being, providing the dominant characteristic of this dark, god-like entity. It devours everything in its path, from space trash to whole worlds, fully aware yet completely unrepentant about the dire consequences these actions have on living beings. Unicron exists above and beyond such petty moral concerns, seeking only to absorb all things in order to satiate its unquenchable and inexplicable desire for more power. This insatiable hunger has led the creature known as Unicron across not only whole galaxies, but also entire universes and dimensions as well. Since Unicron's thought processes, not to mention its immense size, put it on a plane of existence far beyond the average lifeform, it often employs agents to prepare the way for itself and deal with any mortal beings that could potentially stand in the way of its goals. These agents are usually super-powerful beings that Unicron has encountered and been somehow impressed by during its travels. Unicron itself was actually staggered and seemingly annihilated by the combined might of the Transformers and Mini-Cons, but many have become suspicious about whether this force of nature can ever truly be destroyed.[From the Personal Files of Over-Run, Mini-Con] I saw this monstrosity destroy my world, my Cybertron, before I arrived on this one. I must admit that it was satisfying to watch us hurt and humble this bringer of chaos, but I am still unsettled by the encounter. Can corruption and hate ever truly be destroyed? Although I am hesitant to tell the others, I still fear that this being may have only been the shadow of a far greater evil. For the sake of my new home, I hope that I am mistaken.

Weapons and Abilities: Subject's abilities are incomprehensible, with powers that appear infinite to mortal onlookers. The size of a planet, Subject can easily absorb most worlds into itself for sustenance, increasing its energy levels even more. It can also transform itself into a gigantic robot form. In terms of offensive capabilities, Subject's size alone makes it an unstoppable juggernaut, but it also possesses numerous methods of attack such as an array of missile batteries and other planetary-scale weaponry. Even Subject's mentally projected "voice" can have a disconcerting and damaging effect on those who hear it. It has a defensive grid that works like an immune system to prevent small threats from infiltrating its superstructure; this defense system is based around plentiful copies of the MiniCon known as Dead End. Weaknesses: Virtually invulnerable in the physical sense, Subject can ignore most attacks with an obliviousness that transcends mere arrogance. However, it is unprotected on a mental and spiritual level to concepts such as inn'ocence and purity. The basic ideas of "goodness" are intrinsically incomprehensible by Subject, being so antithetical to its nature that a concentrated dose of them can confuse or even destroy Subject's corporeal systems. This may be why the Mini-Cons pose such a threat to Subject as a group.

Other Appearances: Well, well, well you can read all baout the various incarnations of Unicron in the "WHO IS UNICRON" page linked to in our main directory...In one form or another, Unicron has either appeared or been mentioned in just about every incarnation of the Transformers Universe. G1: Unicron character debuts in TFTM G2: is there a connection between "The Swarm" and Unicron? BotCon: "Reaching the Omega Point" features much back story and an involvement of Unicron in other dimensions of the Transformers all coming together Beast Wars: His form is taken from Optimus Primal's data tracks and made appearance much to everyone's delight in the season 1 finale Beast Wars Neo: Unicron played a roll in the Japanese only series.  The toy made it into prototype form, but never mass produced... Beast Machines: Rattrap mentioned that Megatron in the form a a giant flating head was a "giant tirbute to Unicron."  RID: None, thank goodness Armada: this version Transformers Universe: Unicron is the primary villan, in this series which may or may never be continued/concluded... Energon: a recolored version of the Armada toy Cybertron: unknown at this time if Unicron has any involvement in this series.

DEAD-END Allegiance: Mini-con "My mind rots in the black house of crooked angles." First Cartoon Appearance: Armada, episode First Comics Appearance:  Dreamwave TF: Armada # another toy picture of Dead-End in orb-mode

Bio:  No being has experienced more horror in its lifetime than Dead End. Long ago, he witnessed the destruction of his home world at the hands of J..i.nkrsm, and had to endure the loss of everyone he had ever known or cared about. Yet Unicron spared Dead End for some unknown reason, keeping him alive within its form. Since then, the formerly rational and cheerful Mini-Con was alternately subjected to solitary confinement, forced to watch as Unicron destroyed yet another world, or experimented on relentlessly by Unicron's internal systems.  Millennia of such torture proved more than the Mini-Con's psyche could bear, and he descended into gibbering lunacy. Kept alive as a source of fresh data for creating more copies, Dead End resides hidden somewhere in Unicron, a crazed madbot who has been exposed to information that no mortal mind was ever meant to contain. Weapons and Abilities:  After a seemingly endless span of time absorbing the ambient energy of Unicron, Subject now possesses strength far greater than most Transformers, let alone Mini-Cons. His intelligence level is debatable because of his present mental deficiencies, although he was once considered quite clever. In both modes, he wields a powerful cannon that can fire standard laser blasts or be used to separate targets into their basic, elemental components. Weaknesses: Although Subject experiences brief bursts of clarity, he is hopelessly insane.  Other Appearances: There have been several other characters named Dead-end in the TF Universe.  The first a Stunticon team member in1986. There was another Dead-End released in the form of a 2004 Alternator.  I consider the G1 and Alternator versions to be related, but not in any way to Unicron's Mini-con slave seen here...

More cartoon Pix: unicron1e unicron1f unicron1i unicron1k unicron1n unicron1o unicron1q unicron1s unicron1t

We were SO glad to see that we weren't the only ones to think this to be one of the greatest toy of all time!  It was featured in the annual best of the year awards article of ToyFare Magazine.  Below are exerpts, written by ToyFare staff..."Best of the Best 2003" Thousands of toys enter the ring...  Only one walks out, what are the best toys of 2003? Have you ever picked, up a toy that was so cool, so detailed or poseable or just plain fun that you couldn't put it down? This happens to us almost every day of the year. We love toys, and we're living in a golden age of action figures. So to try to sort through every fantastic figure and pick the one that we feel is definitively best in each category... well, it hurts. But it hurts so good, because these are the toys that we feel need to be honored. So get off your asses and give these toys a standing ovation...this may not be the Oscars, but it's way more important! After dolling through such categories as: best likeness, best poseability, best playset, best action feature... we get to the grand finale, "TOY OF THE YEAR" UNICRON, Transformers Armada, Hasbro When fans are waiting for and anticipating something for 17 years, expectations get damn high...and that means the odds of disappointing those fans also become higher. (If you don't believe us, look at the response to the Star Wars prequels.) So what do you call something that actually delivers on the pent-up fan expectations that develop over 17 years? The Toy of the Year, that's what! Ever since his debut in 1986's Transformers movie, Unicron has been the toy dream for fans of all ages. After several unused prototypes came and went, it seemed unlikely that the giant, planet-gobbling mechanoid would ever make it to store shelves.  2003 changed all that when Unicron was introduced in the Transformers Armada toy line...but would this be the Unicron that everyone was waiting for? Short answer: yes. Minor discrepancies in form and color aside, this is Unicron. The 16-inch tall behemoth transforms from planet mode to robot, just like the original in the movie, complete with a chomping mouth for devouring the unfortunate. In keeping with the Armada gimmick, he's got his own transforming Mini-Con (Dead End) and enough MiniCon-activated missile launchers to make your head spin.  Plus, unlike those earlier prototypes, this Unicron features way more poseability than a guy who turns into a planet should reasonably be expected to have. With a few of Takara's World's Smallest Transformers or Hasbro's Heroes of Cybertron in his hands, you can finally live out Transformers: The Movie with your toys the way you wish you could have in 1986.

more cartoon pix! Unicron transforming: unicron1u unicron1v unicron1w unicron1x

Before winning the "Best Toy of 2003" award in the January 2004 issue, this toy was highly anticipated and anxiously awaited by fans.  ToyFare featured it on the cover of issue #68, April 2003 which included an entire feature article on it.  Below are exerpts, written by Zach Oat."The Long, Strange Journey of the Biggest Transformer in the Universe!" When the citizens of Lithone woke up one morning in 2005, they had no idea what the new day would bring. Then a giant planet called "Unicron" drifted into their solar system and ate their world.  So began Transformers: The Movie, which shocked kids and parents alike in 1986 by killing off characters (including Autobot leader Optimus Prime) and by introducing the largest Transformer in the galaxy: Unicron, the devourer of worlds. The parents eventually got over it, but kids remained fascinated by the "ginormous, weird-looking planet," as Jazz so aptly described it. As they grew up, they built vast coliections of both Autobots and Decepticons, and later, Maximals and Predacons, but if you asked any of them what toy they wanted the most, they'd say "Unicron." The only problem? Until this year, there wasn't one. That's right-for 17 years, the biggest thing to happen to the Transformers, on both a physical and emotional scale, didn't exist in any form fans could get their hands on. But it turns out that Hasbro and Takara, the American and Japanese manufacturers of the TFs respectively, were just waiting for the right moment.  Boy, are those kids in for a treat now. FROM BIRTH TO THE MOON Although nothing ever carne to fruition, this isn't the first time a Unicron toy was proposed. At least two prototypes were displayed at conventions like BotCon both here and in Japan, but the timing never worked out for both companies, who have worked together on the line since its international success in 1984.  "Takara made a prototype within the last four years," says Aaron Archer, head designer for I Transformers at Hasbro. "They had Unicron in some of their Beast Wars programming that didn't make it to the United States. It never made sense to do a character out of context for the American market, and since we often partner up on responsibilities for costing and whatnot, it never got produced." The idea for a Unicron toy was never far from Archer's mind, however; in fact, when Hasbro needed a big toy for the Transformers: Armada line, it was he who came up with the idea to introduce Unicron into the cartoon. "We wanted a large item," says Archer. "He's always been looming in the background as a character we've never done and everyone kept wanting to see. I thought if we could make him relevant again, Armada would be the perfect place to do it." Hasbro got on the phone to Takara, and quickly it was agreed: Unicron would be the next big Transformer they made, scheduled for an August release, just in time to work him into the new season of Armada. "We're in daily contact, so we pretty much worked together to create what size we wanted and what type of features we wanted," says Archer of working with Takara. "We definitely wanted Minicon interaction. We wanted it to be big and to have cool toy features and articulation, and Takara took that, along with the classic styling, and created it for us." The height was an early issue -Hasbro wanted a big item, but not too big. The biggest Transformer toy ever, 1987's 2-foottall Fortress Maximus, recently missed out on a re-release due to its inability to meet current drop-test requirements. Available space at toy retailers was also a strong consideration. "If it gets any bigger, we can't fit it on anyone's shelf," says Michelle Field, director of marketing for Transformers at Hasbro. "If we were to do it at 24 inches, I have no idea where we'd put it, unless we put it in planet mode [in the box], and we wanted to have this really cool robot." As it is, Unicron stands almost 16 inches tall in robot mode-towering over Armada's Optimus Prime at his tallest-and has a diameter of 12 inches in planet mode. UNICRON VS. MlNICONS It only makes sense that Unicron is the looming threat in the next season of Transformers: Armada. In a show where the main characters are obsessed with finding Minicons, the smallest Transformers of all, how can they possibly expect to handle a planet that walks like a man?  "All of our fall episodes, the last chunk of episodes of the series, will be building toward his coming, so he'll have a huge presence in the TV show," says Field. "He may not be physically in all those episodes, but he'll be the imminent doom that's heading their way." Unicron's impending arrival is such an overarching theme in the show that all of the fall episodes (and all of the toys) will be subtitled "TF: Armada-The Unicron Battles." Some skeptical Transfans expressed displeasure when they heard that Unicron would appear in Armada, worried what an alternate-reality show clearly targeted at younger kids would do to their beloved icon. But according to Archer, maintaining the character's classic movie styling was their primary goal -a fact clearly demonstrated in the prototype pix seen. "Pretty much all of us agreed it should be as close as possible to the movie guy," says Archer. "He's still a big planet-maybe not as big as he was in the movie, but essentially the same character. We're not really alluding to the fact that it is <or isn't> the same Unicron, because our continuities don't exactly match up, but he has the same role. Unicron will still fit into the general Armada storyline, as his quest is apparently also for those elusive little Minicons. Not only does he come with a Minicon of his own-an orbiting planetoid tentatively, named Nebulon <originally, but changed to Dead-End> -but he himself is a living, breathing Minicon collector, covered with points for Minicon storage and packed with interactive Minicon-triggered features. KlCKlN' IT OLD SCHOOL Unicron isn't the only classic Transformer resurfacing this year;  Hasbro will be continuing their re-issue of classic "Generation One" figures at Toys "R"Us through the spring. Thundercracker, Silverstreak (a.k.a. Bluestreak) and Jazz hit in February, while Skywarp, Prowl and Red Alert reach shelves in April. However, G1 fans should keep an eye out for some familiar names in the Armada line as well. This month, an Armada-style Thundercracker goes on sale, heralding the formation of an all-new Seeker team with his brothers Skywarp and Starscream. But other characters with familiar names, like Thrust and Sideswipe (both due in stores this month), may not be as older fans remember them.  "We do use other names from classic characters, but they're not those characters," says Archer. "We always design the toy first, and then, if a certain amount of characteristics are there and it's the appropriate spot to use it, we'll use the old name to maintain that in our continuity."  One name fans will recognize made its first appearance next to Unicron in TF: The Movie. While Unicron created the Gl Galvatron from Megatron's remains in the film, Armada's Megatron will also somehow become Galvatron before the show is through, shifting his green-camo color scheme to a white and purple. "I can't tell you how the story is going to go," says Archer. "I know that he does undergo a change as he collects more Minicons and gets more power." When using old names, like Galvatron, Archer always wants it to make as much sense as possible. "We try to keep their essence. For instance, we like to always make sure Scavenger is a construction vehicle, and Prowl is always a police or emergency-type car." Recognizable paint schemes, like on the new Thundercracker (and the upcoming Skywarp), can also help capture the spirit of old characters. "There are a few, the second Hot Shot, for one, I think people will like," says Archer. "It'll remind them of a classic Gl character." Might this be yet another "hot" TF: The Movie color scheme? Here's hoping Archer will spare the "rod" and spoil all us overgrown kids. Editor Zach Oat liked TF: The Movie, but he always wondered why Optlmus Prime didn'tg come out of that coma at the the end the film. Wake up, Optimus!

click the picture below (or HERE) to see an enlarged picture version of the Unicron toy ad below:

more cartoon pix: unicron2e unicron2f unicron2h unicron2i unicron2j unicron2l unicron2m

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Primus | Transformers

Name: Cybertron Primus
Allegiance: Universe
Function: Lord of Light / Creator of all Transformers
Sub-Group: God

Until now, Cybertron has been known only as the ancient home of the Transformers. With their home damaged almost beyond repair and unable to resist the pull of a gigantic black hole that threatens to destroy it, the Autobots have retrieved the legendary Omega Lock and the four Cyber Planet Keys. The power of these ancient artefacts re-links the spark of Primus with his physical form - the planet Cybertron itself!

Content throughout history merely to observe his creations as they explored the Universe around them, Primus has never before unleashed his full might. Though he has awakened from time to time during the long history of the Transformers, never before has the danger to the Universe been so great that he has felt the need to show his true form. Now is a time of greater need than he has ever seen before. Now, all of creation cries out its need for its greatest champion and protector.

Mighty creator of the Transformers race, both Autobots and Decepticons owe him their loyalty as his children. He is as old as the Universe itself, and matched in power only by his twin brother, the evil Unicron. Primus is the Lord of Light - a pure, natural force of order, strength and peace, committed eternally to the struggle against chaos, destruction and the ever-advancing darkness of Unicron.


Well, we're off to a grand start - the box obviously is building the suspense! 

But, if, like me, you don't give a monkey's about the box, and are just gonna recycle it (by gerbil or more traditional means), then it's the toy, and the whole concept, that's captured your interest!

When I was a young whippersnapper watching G1 cartoons, I always thought how cool it would be if Cybertron turned out to be a huge Transformer. After all, it looks like it could be! Transformers: The Movie only strengthened these dreams, with Unicron's amazing transformation sequence. Watching the later series, I kept hoping beyond hope that Cybertron would transform, even when the deeper histories were revealed through the Quintessons, and Transformers found themselves battling those grotesque cyborg monsters in the planet's core.

But, no matter how much I willed it, Cybertron never transformed on screen, even if it did in my imagination.

Roll on 2005 and the release of Primus is assured! God of Transformers, brother of Unicron, this is one toy that no collector or fan can afford to miss!

Nightmares in production (and, by consequence, procurement) left the Takara release rather mythical, but here, at last, we have the Hasbro version. Albeit, sans the Japanese box and its phenomenal artwork (replaced here by an extremely pathetic cartoon - or comic in the humorous sense)... Still, Hasbro inject novel interest by including a dead Unicron head with the first wave - making it a tough call in judging which (Takara or Hasbro) release would make the best piece for one's collection. In my world, even with a gorgeous box (perhaps the only box I would ever have considered keeping), it's still a box, and the Unicron head wins out¡¦

But, bonuses aside, this toy realizes dreams of Cybertron transforming at last! I can imagine the aggregate rock crumbling and floating as a debris cloud while Cybertron / Primus awakes and long-sealed panels open. I can almost see the Transformers on Cybertron running to escape the movements of huge areas of the metal crust, while the planet shakes. Cities move, and the whole topography changes as hands emerge, and gigantic weapons beyond conception become unsheathed. Finally, the few Transformers lucky enough behold a face the size of a small country - the face of their God and creator - Primus!

But enough of all this build up and (sad) jaunts into my imagination... It's the toy you're interested in, and whether or not it makes the grade - and it does have an awful lot to live up to...


Cybertron Mode:

It's arguable which is the alternate mode - planet, or robot? As Primus has chosen to observe the Universe as Cybertron, I would argue this is not an alternate, but his primary mode. Hence his name is truly Cybertron Primus - this isn't just the line name tagged to the front.

As we all know (all the more so, if you could be bothered reading all that razzmatazz that's printed on the box), Primus is Cybertron. The planet mode (excluding spines) measures about 7" (18cm) in diameter, making him marginally smaller than Unicron's 7 1/2" (19cm). It's a hefty wee globe. And it is a globe. Unlike Unicron, Primus forms an almost perfect sphere, which is quite an accomplishment given the detail and complexity of the transformation.

Overall impressions: This is Cybertron! The resultant planet is something of an amalgamation of the slightly different guises the Transformers' home world has worn over the many series, and would be at home in any timeline. The colours work brilliantly, with light grey and dull gunmetal blue dominating, with splashes of black (mainly the spines), gold, dark grey, yellow and silver. 

The cities are lovingly sculpted, and evoke the final images of Transformers: The Movie, with its long pull-out. Some of these are yellow, and others dark gold. Still other detailing, which could be interpreted as further structures, is in silver. It really is impossible to express the intricacy of this sculpt!

I have to say, I find it interesting that Primus has received rows of spines which would look perfect on Unicron, if he were to more closely resemble his movie form. 

One particular detail I'd like to draw attention to is the asteroid and its crater! It just puts the whole of Primus in to true context. This is a planet! And Primus has been a planet of countless eons! 

It is absolutely no stretch of the imagination to believe that the pivotal events of whichever Transformers history you prefer took place with this landscape as the backdrop.

Negatives? Well, we're clutching at straws here really. This is one of the best 'alternate' modes a Transformer has ever had. But, as we're being objective, there are a few issues. The strange struts protruding from the southern hemisphere look very out of place, but, let's face it, they serve an important purpose. They allow Primus to turn in to a proper sphere, while still allowing him to be placed on a shelf. Without this, he'd probably be the misshapen planet that is Unicron. Another problem is the huge areas where weapons flip out of, which look a little strange, and the obvious guns sticking out the sides, plus his knuckles. Still, I cannot stress how minor these problems are. More major are the slots for the Omega Lock. These are huge, and do detract from the otherwise perfect planet mode.


Stellar Converter Cannons:

I can't think of a name for this mode that sounds good, but I suppose it's something of a planetary attack mode.

Insert the Omega Lock, and you can flip out huge spring loaded missile launchers, called 'Stellar Converter Cannons'. I don't know what they'd do, but I imagine they're powerful, given the title and size! The missile launchers are actually pretty decent as well! Still no Turbomaster though...

This mode doesn't look half bad, but I doubt it's ever going to be a long lasting display for anyone. Still, it evokes titanic images...


Battle Station Mode:

Of course! They had to put one of these in there!

As anyone who's read my Costco Energon Prime & Overload review knows, I hate most base modes. I sold my G1 Overlord for crimeny! And Primus has one of the sorriest excuses for a 'Battle Station' I've ever seen in a Transformer.

Who has any need of a planet to unfold into a battle station anyway? Which giants are going to man it?

Let's face it - this is just Primus half Transformed, looking stupid.


Robot Mode: 

Getting past the 'Battle Station Mode', we finally get the robot. Primus, Lord of Light, Creator of the Transformers.

But let's backtrack a moment, and forget that the 'Battle Station Mode' even exists (I mean, does it anyway?).

The Transformation. If you're anything like me, this is rather important. It doesn't have to be complex - in fact, I abhor a needlessly complex Transformation (I believe I shall avoid THS-02 then...). It just has to be good, and, preferably, clever. Primus delivers in every respect.

This is no shell which cracks open do reveal a jumbled mess of a robot (AKA Unicron). This planet shifts and unfolds into a robot. Every part (well, with the exception of one...) is utilised, and revealed in a new light. The transformation is as close to perfect as you could likely get. The only irritation is the use of that damned Omega Lock! You have to use it fully four times to transform this guy! And it lights up every time! There are also noises involved, but I'll save this for the 'Gimmicks' section (something I don't normally include in reviews, but this figure has enough to warrant it). This is not even fiddly like Unicron!

The first thing you will notice in robot mode, though, is possibly a negative: Primus is considerably shorter than Unicron. Standing straight (and looking quite daft in doing so), Primus measures in at 14 1/2" (37cm), compared with Unicron's 16" (41cm). Believe me, the size difference is noticeable.

I don't know if you'd agree, but I always imagined he'd be roughly the same size, but this is only a minor stumbling block.

The dominant colours are similar to Cybertron mode, but now we have a baby blue, mainly on the body, but also picking out some weapons details. 

Proportions are very good overall. The main thing that strikes me is the length of his hands. They just look a little odd hanging there. The strange articulation of the thumb doesn't help this, but that is a symptom of the transformation. 

Detailing is phenomenal, as with the planet mode. I particularly love the silver detailing on the arm cannons, and the small patters sculpted to various points. Still, he could maybe have benefited from some more patterning, along the lines of Vector Prime, at the expense of some technical detailing, in my opinion, or the patterns may as well be left out. 

The face is great, with lovely detail - much of which is brought out with paint. 

And this guy is armed to the teeth!

Articulation is brilliant. I count 22 points, excluding fingers. Most of these are ratcheted, although I find they are not as tight as I'd like, given the weight the legs, in particular, support.

Of course, 6 of these are on the strange wee manipulator arms hidden in his legs, by the knees!

There are problems with the articulation, though. The first flaw, often cited, is the lack of writs articulation. But this is a due to the transformation, and I'd forgive it. The second is the waist. It's very oddly placed, and is not where the 'waist' is sculpted, resulting in fairly unnatural poses. 

Still, he scores over Unicron with his legs twisting above the knee! I always find Unicron difficult to pose from the waist down, mainly due to his twist being below the knee, compounded by the unforgiving ratchets. Which makes this a perfect point to mention that Primus has many more subtle ratchet points than his twin!

There are minor problems with the production - for instance, I find that one of the arm cannons tends to pop forward with very little provocation, and is exceedingly difficult to replace. However, all are really minor. I'd be happy if the cannons were always extended!

You also have a random flap of planetary crust, hanging down between the chap's legs... Terribly inconvenient, I'm sure...

Still, the single most negative issue with Primus is, well, the knees down to put it bluntly.

The lower legs look more than a little daft. The curve leaves the poor God looking bandy legged no matter what. I'm not sure how big his horse is, but, bloody hell, it must be huge!

That aside, you have his feet...

They are pathetic little flaps, which hardly help with this little behemoth's balance. And so we come to the crux of the robot mode's problems - his balance. He really has very little! Still, I doubt he has much need of feet or balance in space, especially at his size, unless you have a solid planet the size of Jupiter kicking around! But such reasoning hardly helps your display shelf.

Admittedly, Primus also falls short from the rear. Whereas Unicron has much detailing, and seems a consistent whole, there's nothing to match this in Primus.

Still, he does look good. I do very much like the semi-wings (even though they remind me of the Renegade Gobot, Bladez). It's also cool that the Stellar Converter Cannons can be positioned on his shoulders, or stored away. And the face is perfect.


Gimmicks:

For good or ill, Primus has more gimmicks than any other Transformer in their long history. The only toy that can compete is Cybertron Dark Scorponok.

We'll tackle this in chronological order, by series gimmick.

Armada: Primus can take up to 7 Minicons in Cybertron mode. Pretty pathetic compared with Unicron's 27! Still, despite my love of the Minicons, I feel they have no place on a planet - they make the whole thing look stupid, and totally out of scale. I also despise their use of powering up Transformers. I just like them because, more often than not, they're decent wee Transformer. I truly feel they have absolutely no place on Primus, or Unicron for that matter.

As for activation, the only features that can be 'controlled' by Minicons are the manipulator arms. But you can use these without them as well.

Cybertron: It's only to be expected that Primus would have the ability to take Cyber Planet Keys. He has two slots - one in each forearm. They cause the cannons to extend (although this can happen randomly as well), followed by the whole gun case popping up. The effect isn't too bad - but I do not like the whole key idea. They're just too big and pointless. They're not even Minicons! 

On this note, Primus comes with a single key. It is not the one illustrated on the box. It is actually identical to Supreme Starscream's, replacing the Decepticon insignia with a silver-blue Autobot one. This isn't entirely appropriate given Primus is removed from allegiances, but does look nice.

Unique: Well, Primus as a number of gimmicks, such as those manipulator arms, and the Stellar Converter Cannons. He also has a huge number of guns. Still, the single-most important gimmick is the Omega Lock...

Omega Lock: This I find terribly frustrating. You need this thing to transform Primus! Every time it lights up! Waste of energy! And every time you transform the guy, it activates first power-up sounds for the cannons, and then power-up sounds for Primus himself while illuminating his eyes (which are red, by the way, despite their blue appearance in photos). I don't like not having the option to turn lights and sounds off (unless they're the G1 transformation sound, as in Armada Overload - I let that slide...). Still, they're not terrible sounds, which is a relief.

The Omega Lock also holds four Planet Keys. If you pick them right, this actually looks OK. I personally prefer the selection of supreme Autobot and Decepticon at polar opposites, with the Planet-X key and Universal Key. This just seems appropriate, as Primus created them all. 

When inserted in his chest, the key lights up, as it does anywhere else (or if you stick your finger nail in). The only difference being it actually looks good here!

The only gimmick Primus is missing from recent years is the energon chip. Still, I think he's quite overloaded as it is!


Unicron Head:

The first wave of Hasbro Cybertron Primuses comes complete with a smashed up dead Unicron head. This measures 3" (7.5cm), which is roughly proportional with the Armada figure. Of course, the sculpt is slightly different, with the helmet being far more similar in shape to Darth Vader (a pity I think). The face (or what's left of it), on the other hand, is fare more accurate to the movie, ignoring the dark grey colouring. Still, this could be because of being dead. The whole affair is constructed in two pieces. The yellow helmet is a solid plastic sealed over the rubbery underlay of damaged tendrils and an amazing sculpt of Unicron's skull. The only negative, perhaps, is that the horns come out silver. 

It really looks like a much more visceral interpretation of that ominous moon orbiting G1 Cybertron...

Certainly a superb bonus!


Summary:

Ignoring the Unicron Head, which will not be included with the majority of the Hasbro release Primuses, the result is largely positive.

Primus has an absolutely perfect Cybertron mode, worthy of any display. However, his transformation is marred by the Omega Lock gimmick. 

In fact, in my opinion, he is rather overloaded with gimmicks!

The robot mode is somewhat questionable, from the waist down, but has an amazing level of detail, and is certainly a satisfactory depiction of this God, despite the height.

The take-home message is undoubtedly:

You can have a Transformer that has a great robot mode and questionable planet mode (Unicron) or one with a great planet mode and a questionable robot mode (Primus).



Transformation: 10 - It is nicely complex in comparison to Unicron, and the design is superb! Everything locks in to place in planet mode. Primus, more so than any other Transformer, is a real puzzle, and deserves to be described as a 'Robot in Disguise'.
Durability: 5 - Alas, Primus really does not reach his Godly ideals in durability. I found one of his arm cannons next to impossible to keep locked in as soon as he was out of the box! The strange flap that hands from his, ahem, arse gets in the way during transformation, and terrifies me! A lot of his plastic feels less solid than I would hope from such a massive Transformer, and the amount of bizarrely complex features is inviting disaster a few years down the line. Still, I don't foresee any paint chipping, and he isn't shabbily made. It's just he concerns me...
Fun: 9 - He is amazingly fun, but his articulation and poor balance, coupled with the insane use of gimmicks, and necessity to use the mind bogglingly annoying Omega Lock at umpteen stages of Transformation does get in the way a little bit. 
Price: 3 - His price varies all over the shop just now, and who knows how much a first wave edition with the Unicron head could be sold for in a year or two? But, no matter the price, it is likely to be a little more than I'd say he's genuinely worth, if you can ignore the fact that he is the God of all Transformers. If you can't (like me), then anything you can reasonably afford is a good price, and this becomes a '10'!
Overall: 9 - I would say must own, but, let's face it, he is expensive, and falls a little short (figuratively and literally) of 'what could have been'. Unless you match up with me, and Cybertron transforming in to a God is the best thing ever, then he'll never be the pinnacle of your collection. But he'll come close...

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"Transform... and transcend." [Transformers 25th Anniversary, part six]

OUR WORLDS ARE IN DANGER! [UNICRON TRILOGY PART THREE: CYBERTRON]
The series that would round out the Unicron Trilogy -- now clearly so named because of the dark god's momentous involvement in all of the three series -- Transformers: Cybertron would also be one of the more redeeming factors for the era. The last series for a while to be written and produced in Japan for dubbing and Americanization across the Pacific, Cybertron's Japanese counterpart Galaxy Force was originally projected by Takara to be separate fromArmada and Energon storywise -- hence a general problem linking them together in continuity.


The story-based cause of this problem? Unicron's defeat at the end of Energon has caused his prison, an Energon sun, to collapse and form a gigantic black hole -- a singularity that is causing physical AND temporal distortion across universes, subtly shifting aspects of reality this way and that. The Autobots explore technological means of attempting to stop the black hole from spreading and sucking our reality into it, but their graviton grid fails and they are forced to heed unlikely counsel -- from the mysterious ancient Transformer known as Vector Prime.


Vector Prime tells the Autobots that Cybertron must awaken to combat this new threat, and shares an ancient legend -- the Transformer god Primus IS Cybertron, and must be activated with the use of four Cyber Planet Keys that were entrusted to the early Cybertronians, who all left to colonize other planets in other systems. A revived Megatron and Starscream each secretly make plans to steal the keys for themselves, to recreate the universe in their images. Some Cybertronians flee to Earth to seek asylum, Hot Shot leads a team to Velocitron to try and win the race trophy [their Planet Key], and Optimus Prime heads for Jungle Planet.


The race for the Cyber Planet Keys begins in earnest, spanning four planets -- our own Earth, the racing-dominated planet of Velocitron, the beast-ruled Jungle Planet and the construction-filled Gigantion. Along the way, Megatron and Starscream each make their separate bids for the Cyber Planet Keys and their unifying Omega Lock mechanism, Planet X makes its presence felt, Optimus Prime and his Autobots interact and bond with the various locals they meet -- humans, beasts, racers, and builders -- and Primus awakens to kick some bad guy ass.


The toyline reflected the cartoon closely, from show-accuracy in color schemes and toy designs to the nuances of individual Cyber Planet Keys. The line-wide gimmick here was Key-activated weapons and features: slotting a Cyber Planet Key -- a clear plastic disk designed thematically depending on which of the six planets it was based on -- into a toy's ignition point could trigger or unveil spring-loaded launchers, deploy bladed or other weaponry, change wheels into wings, and so on. Each key for a US-released toy had a special 4-character code printed on the back, which kids could enter at the Transformers.com website to unlock more information about the character, the show, the mythos, or even the production and design process.


Like their keys, toys were designed thematically based on the planet they were said to hail from. It is thus that perhaps more than ever, Transformers: Cybertron fully accomplished the objective of providing something for every sort of fan. Where Energon had vehicles and beasts, Cybertron had both realistic [Earth-based] and futuristic [Velocitron-based] vehicle alternate modes for its characters. Varied design aesthetics hearkening back to various design eras of the brand, the presence of more returning Mini-Cons, and even the introduction of Micro Series "Legends of Cybertron" versions of the normal-sized figures made the Cybertron toyline memorable.


Complex transformations, effective kid-appeal characters and a good balance between toy gimmicks and toy poseability were the order of the day for Cybertron, a line that showed many of the concepts of the Unicron Trilogy brought to fruition. Even the writing featured actual non-annoying and nuanced human characters, a solid female lead character in Velocitron planet ruler and race queen Override, and generally interesting, quirky character personalities.


Taking several elements from all the series that had come before, Cybertron ended the Unicron Trilogy on a pleasant note, and added several elements to the mythos that are still being used in official and non-official fan-written fiction today. This left the franchise and the fandom in a prime position for a classic series tribute and the coming of the 2007 Movie.

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