Obi
01-08-2005, 09:21 PM
Well, it premiered yesterday in Japan, and TFW2005 has clips of pretty much the entire episode up here: http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/thread65274.html
Most of us aren't quite sure what the heck is going on exactly since nobody has put it up for torrent adn the site that had translations for the clips had its bandwidth exceeded, but from what I can gather it goes something like this:
The three kids, Bud, Coby, and Lori are camping/hiking in the woods. Coby and Lori argue over whether or not machines or real for some reason. Dreadrock (Jetfire) flies overhead collecting data on various Earth vehicles. We then cut to Cybertron, where a black hole is menacing the planet (it's unknown why there's a black hole there, but I'm sure that's supposed to be answered later, probably dud to some supernatural force like Unicron or Sideways or something). The Autobots, led by Galaxy Convoy (Optimus Prime), fire a giant concentrated beam at the black hole, apparently trying to destroy it (this is one of the parts where I really wish we had translations up), but the black hole, needless to say, is fine. By the way, First Aid (Red Alert, from Armada), makes a guest appearance. He'll show up in the show later since he has a toy coming. Jetfire, who returned in time to see the firing, shows Galaxy Convoy the vehicle modes - apparently, they had decided that in case they couldn't save Cybertron, the Autobots would disguise themselves as Earth vehicles and migrate to Earth for a time. A group of Autobots - specifically Galaxy Convoy, Accelion (Hot Shot), and Jackshot (?) - scan the new vehicle forms and go through the customary first-time long transformation cutscenes. Dreadrock does too, because, hey, he can. Apparently, Gaurd Shell (Landmine) doesn't scan an Earth mode, even though he has one... Anyway, after all this happens, a mysterious Transformer arrives through a warp gate and introduces himself as Vector Prime. He claims he knows how to stop the black hole - through a strange energy force called the Planet Force, which has something to do with the Spark of Primus. The Autobots don't trust him, but Master Megatron (Megatron) and Starscream, who are watching through a "gash-in-the-sky" portal thing think this is the perfect opportunity to strike. Vector Prime explains to the Autobots the whole Planet Force idea, when Starscream comes through a warp gate and starts wrecking everything. At the same time, Master Megatron arrives through a warp gate, smashes Backpack, and talks to Vector Prime. While Starscream gives the Autobots a hard time, Master Megatron tries to convince Vector Prime that he believes him and wants to save Cybertron. Either by mind control or just being persuaded by Master Megatron (I'm not sure on this matter - need a translation), Vector Prime is about to give up some item he's carrying to Master Megatron (might be a map of the Planet Forces' locations), when Galaxy Convoy arrives, goes Super Mode, and engages in battle with Master Megatron. Starscream takes on four Autobots at once, and sends Guard Shell through the black hole, while Master Megatron beats up Galaxy Convoy and Vector Prime. As Cybertron is sucked through the black hole, the Decepticons retreat. Back on Earth, the three kids see a mysterious purple light in the sky and go off to find out what it is. What they find is Guard Shell, who has crash landed on Earth and is knocked out. At seeing this, Bud exclaims "It's a Transformer!", ending the episode.
Alright. So here's my thoughts: it was good. Lots and lots of stuff crammed in here.
Pros:
-much better fight sequences than the last three shows (RID, Armada, Energon)
-the CGI looks leaps and bounds better than Energon's
-Master Megatron is AWESOME, and so is his base (you'll see what I mean)
-Starscream kicks butt
-new cut scene transformations rock
-Vector Prime's entrance
-plot overall wasn't that special, but it is just the first episode
Cons
-The mouths. AGH. The mouths just look...so...awkard. Especially the lips.
-The Autobots already have their Earth robot modes before scanning the Earth vehicle modes, ala G1. Guess the animators didn't want to make new models.
-STILL not sure if it's in Armada/Energon continuity
The big problem here is that we're still not sure what continuity its in. There's hints both ways that it may be a continuation of Armada/Energon, or it could be a reboot.
On the side saying it's a continuation, you've got:
-Master Megatron's base being in a fiery, Hell-ish place which coincides with Eenrgon's ending, where Galvatron plunges himself into a Super Energon sun after absorbing Unicron to kill Unicron; Mirage and Starscream follow him in
-Master Megatron having Unicron's shoulders (I'm sure you can figure this one out without my spoiling you for Energon)
-protruding spires on Cybertron that resemble energon towers
-Bud knowing what a Transformer is
-warp gates that resemble the Energon versions
-various characters resembling their Armada selves (Starscream, Galaxy Convoy, Hot Shot, etc.)
-Autobots having picked Earth of all places to hide on
-Talk about Primus
On the side saying it's a reboot, you've got:
-no humans from the previous shows
-the Autobots already knowing Starscream and Megatron's names as Starscream and Megatron, when in Super Link they were called Nightscream and Galvatron; thus, if this was in Japanese Micron Legend/Super Link continuity, they would have probably called them by those names the first time they saw them in this show, unless of course it's a reboot (in which case, they could have been fighting each other for years and years as these characters)
-the Autobots needing to hide on Earth, when they had an alliance with humans in Energon
-Characters having odd names: if Accelion is Hot Shot, why is his name so different? In Micron Legend, he was Hot Rod. In Energon, he was Hot Shot. In GF he's...Accelion? Likewise with Dreadrock. Jetfire -> Skyfire - >...Dreadrock? And why would Nightscream and Galvatron revert back to being Starscream and Megatron?
-If Starscream is with Megatron, where's Mirage?!
So here's where I personally think it fits into continuity:
Galaxy Force is a reboot in Japan, but it will be a continuation in America. It's been purposefully written ambiguously so Hasbro and Takara can both have it the way they want it. I figure it will be something like this in the dub, Transformers: Cybertron - the setting is much farther into the future (Energon was in 2020), explaining why none of the other humans ever show up. The human-TF alliance has broken down after the Transformers taking almost all of Earth's known energon to fight Unicron in episode 26 of Energon, which in turn resulted in the humans secretly drilling for Energon behind the Autobots' backs in episode 27 of Energon. After this fallout, Transformers went back to living on Cybertron, which was mostly peaceful due to the events of Energon's conclusion. The Autobots, knowing all about Earth, choose it for their temporary escape in case Cybertron is destroyed. Meanwhile, Megatron has managed to harness Unicron's power to power himself and Starscream up.
Anyway, I'm done rambling. Anyone else have any thoughts?
Most of us aren't quite sure what the heck is going on exactly since nobody has put it up for torrent adn the site that had translations for the clips had its bandwidth exceeded, but from what I can gather it goes something like this:
The three kids, Bud, Coby, and Lori are camping/hiking in the woods. Coby and Lori argue over whether or not machines or real for some reason. Dreadrock (Jetfire) flies overhead collecting data on various Earth vehicles. We then cut to Cybertron, where a black hole is menacing the planet (it's unknown why there's a black hole there, but I'm sure that's supposed to be answered later, probably dud to some supernatural force like Unicron or Sideways or something). The Autobots, led by Galaxy Convoy (Optimus Prime), fire a giant concentrated beam at the black hole, apparently trying to destroy it (this is one of the parts where I really wish we had translations up), but the black hole, needless to say, is fine. By the way, First Aid (Red Alert, from Armada), makes a guest appearance. He'll show up in the show later since he has a toy coming. Jetfire, who returned in time to see the firing, shows Galaxy Convoy the vehicle modes - apparently, they had decided that in case they couldn't save Cybertron, the Autobots would disguise themselves as Earth vehicles and migrate to Earth for a time. A group of Autobots - specifically Galaxy Convoy, Accelion (Hot Shot), and Jackshot (?) - scan the new vehicle forms and go through the customary first-time long transformation cutscenes. Dreadrock does too, because, hey, he can. Apparently, Gaurd Shell (Landmine) doesn't scan an Earth mode, even though he has one... Anyway, after all this happens, a mysterious Transformer arrives through a warp gate and introduces himself as Vector Prime. He claims he knows how to stop the black hole - through a strange energy force called the Planet Force, which has something to do with the Spark of Primus. The Autobots don't trust him, but Master Megatron (Megatron) and Starscream, who are watching through a "gash-in-the-sky" portal thing think this is the perfect opportunity to strike. Vector Prime explains to the Autobots the whole Planet Force idea, when Starscream comes through a warp gate and starts wrecking everything. At the same time, Master Megatron arrives through a warp gate, smashes Backpack, and talks to Vector Prime. While Starscream gives the Autobots a hard time, Master Megatron tries to convince Vector Prime that he believes him and wants to save Cybertron. Either by mind control or just being persuaded by Master Megatron (I'm not sure on this matter - need a translation), Vector Prime is about to give up some item he's carrying to Master Megatron (might be a map of the Planet Forces' locations), when Galaxy Convoy arrives, goes Super Mode, and engages in battle with Master Megatron. Starscream takes on four Autobots at once, and sends Guard Shell through the black hole, while Master Megatron beats up Galaxy Convoy and Vector Prime. As Cybertron is sucked through the black hole, the Decepticons retreat. Back on Earth, the three kids see a mysterious purple light in the sky and go off to find out what it is. What they find is Guard Shell, who has crash landed on Earth and is knocked out. At seeing this, Bud exclaims "It's a Transformer!", ending the episode.
Alright. So here's my thoughts: it was good. Lots and lots of stuff crammed in here.
Pros:
-much better fight sequences than the last three shows (RID, Armada, Energon)
-the CGI looks leaps and bounds better than Energon's
-Master Megatron is AWESOME, and so is his base (you'll see what I mean)
-Starscream kicks butt
-new cut scene transformations rock
-Vector Prime's entrance
-plot overall wasn't that special, but it is just the first episode
Cons
-The mouths. AGH. The mouths just look...so...awkard. Especially the lips.
-The Autobots already have their Earth robot modes before scanning the Earth vehicle modes, ala G1. Guess the animators didn't want to make new models.
-STILL not sure if it's in Armada/Energon continuity
The big problem here is that we're still not sure what continuity its in. There's hints both ways that it may be a continuation of Armada/Energon, or it could be a reboot.
On the side saying it's a continuation, you've got:
-Master Megatron's base being in a fiery, Hell-ish place which coincides with Eenrgon's ending, where Galvatron plunges himself into a Super Energon sun after absorbing Unicron to kill Unicron; Mirage and Starscream follow him in
-Master Megatron having Unicron's shoulders (I'm sure you can figure this one out without my spoiling you for Energon)
-protruding spires on Cybertron that resemble energon towers
-Bud knowing what a Transformer is
-warp gates that resemble the Energon versions
-various characters resembling their Armada selves (Starscream, Galaxy Convoy, Hot Shot, etc.)
-Autobots having picked Earth of all places to hide on
-Talk about Primus
On the side saying it's a reboot, you've got:
-no humans from the previous shows
-the Autobots already knowing Starscream and Megatron's names as Starscream and Megatron, when in Super Link they were called Nightscream and Galvatron; thus, if this was in Japanese Micron Legend/Super Link continuity, they would have probably called them by those names the first time they saw them in this show, unless of course it's a reboot (in which case, they could have been fighting each other for years and years as these characters)
-the Autobots needing to hide on Earth, when they had an alliance with humans in Energon
-Characters having odd names: if Accelion is Hot Shot, why is his name so different? In Micron Legend, he was Hot Rod. In Energon, he was Hot Shot. In GF he's...Accelion? Likewise with Dreadrock. Jetfire -> Skyfire - >...Dreadrock? And why would Nightscream and Galvatron revert back to being Starscream and Megatron?
-If Starscream is with Megatron, where's Mirage?!
So here's where I personally think it fits into continuity:
Galaxy Force is a reboot in Japan, but it will be a continuation in America. It's been purposefully written ambiguously so Hasbro and Takara can both have it the way they want it. I figure it will be something like this in the dub, Transformers: Cybertron - the setting is much farther into the future (Energon was in 2020), explaining why none of the other humans ever show up. The human-TF alliance has broken down after the Transformers taking almost all of Earth's known energon to fight Unicron in episode 26 of Energon, which in turn resulted in the humans secretly drilling for Energon behind the Autobots' backs in episode 27 of Energon. After this fallout, Transformers went back to living on Cybertron, which was mostly peaceful due to the events of Energon's conclusion. The Autobots, knowing all about Earth, choose it for their temporary escape in case Cybertron is destroyed. Meanwhile, Megatron has managed to harness Unicron's power to power himself and Starscream up.
Anyway, I'm done rambling. Anyone else have any thoughts?