Following the civil-war turmoil of Chapter 1, “Siege,” and the battle’s expansion to Earth in Chapter 2, “Earthrise,” the War for Cybertron Trilogy has finally reached its grand finale: “Kingdom”!
Created through a collaboration between global toy company Hasbro and streaming platform Netflix, the Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy animated series offers a new interpretation of the conflict that followed the outbreak of civil war on Cybertron. The Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, face off against the Decepticons under Megatron as the battlefield spreads from their home planet all the way to distant Earth. Can the AllSpark be returned safely to Cybertron? What awaits the Autobots and Decepticons on Earth, and when will this devastating war finally come to an end? To discover the answers, let us continue with the story! (Note)
Note: The Netflix animated chapters “Siege” and “Earthrise” premiered in July and December 2020, respectively.
Hasbro’s Transformers Generations line has long been a favorite among Transformers collectors. In addition to bringing back many of the franchise’s most celebrated characters, the line updates them with modern engineering and contemporary design sensibilities, creating enduring figures that both veteran collectors and newcomers can enjoy. In 2018, the War for Cybertron toy trilogy began with “Siege,” reimagining iconic Generation 1 characters in designs that quickly won over fans across generations. Now that War for Cybertron is entering its third and final chapter, let us first take a look at the defining features of the new “Kingdom” line!
► “The Beasts Join the Battle”: The most exciting aspect of Kingdom for longtime fans is undoubtedly the return of characters from Beast Wars. Premiering in 1996, Beast Wars was produced entirely in 3D computer animation and followed the descendants of the Cybertronians—the Maximals and Predacons—as they battled on a mysterious planet that was actually prehistoric Earth. Because the planet’s surface was saturated with dangerously powerful energon fields, both factions were forced to scan local life-forms and adopt beast modes to protect themselves from the radiation, beginning a war that truly lived up to the name “Beast Wars.” With its memorable characters and richly developed story, the series earned a passionate following during its original run. Kingdom’s decision to revisit these characters with new designs based closely on their animated appearances has therefore attracted considerable attention from fans!
► “Pocket-Sized Fun with Core Class”: Although Battle Masters and Micromasters are absent from Kingdom, the line has not abandoned the market for miniature Transformers. The newly introduced Core Class combines a compact size with detailed sculpting and fully developed transformation engineering. It is an excellent entry point for new collectors and small enough to carry around for casual transformation fun wherever you go!
► “The Mysterious Fossilizers”: In addition to familiar Beast Wars characters, Kingdom introduces the original Fossilizers. These figures transform between skeletal dinosaur forms and robots, while Deluxe Class Fossilizers can also separate into multiple components and become weapons or armor for other Transformers. This play pattern is called “Fossilized Osteo-Skeletal Shield Integration Loadout Technology,” or F.O.S.S.I.L. Technology for short. The components are also compatible with the “Cybertronian Omnifunctional Modular Battlefield Assault Tech,” better known as the C.O.M.B.A.T. system, introduced in the previous two chapters, as well as various weapon-effect accessories. Together, these systems provide even more freedom for creative customization and play!
► “Collectible Golden Disk Cards”: Each Deluxe, Voyager, and Leader Class package includes one randomly selected character card. Every card features a standard Golden Disk design on the back and a layered foil design on the front. Peeling away the upper sticker reveals a second image underneath. Wave 1 includes four different cards, each potentially paired with a set lower-layer image. More hidden designs were planned for Waves 2 and 3, adding an extra trading and collecting element to the line.
► “More Environmentally Conscious Inner Packaging”: Reflecting a broader move toward sustainable packaging, Kingdom significantly reduces its use of plastic. Deluxe Class and larger figures no longer use the clear plastic inner trays found in earlier lines. Instead, the figures are secured with ties against a thick cardboard insert decorated with a Golden Disk pattern. The outer packaging artwork has also been redesigned to display both robot and alternate modes together in a bold composition, making the boxes especially attractive for display!
▼ Here are the 11 figures featured in this review: three Core Class figures, four Deluxe Class figures, two Voyager Class figures, and two Leader Class figures.
▼ As mentioned above, Deluxe Class and larger packages devote two sides of the box to artwork showing both modes. Lining up all of the box art together provides a spectacular look at the beautifully detailed illustrations!
▼ WFC-K1 “Optimus Prime”: The commander who leads the Autobots in their desperate struggle. To save Cybertron, he boards the Ark, only for the ship to crash on Earth while being pursued by the Decepticons. On Earth, he adopts a semi-truck as his vehicle mode and works alongside humanity to resist the Decepticons’ raids and invasion.
▼ Kingdom begins with a miniature Core Class Optimus Prime! Despite his compact dimensions, the panel lines and mechanical details across the entire figure are anything but simplified.
▼ Ball joints are used throughout the body, providing surprisingly capable articulation and making dynamic action poses easy to achieve.
▼ Displaying him alongside the much larger Leader Class version makes the difference in scale immediately apparent. Even more impressive is how the Core Class figure’s density of detail rivals that of the Leader Class Optimus standing behind it!
▼ Optimus Prime’s vehicle mode is, of course, his classic semi-truck cab. The signature combination of red, blue, and silver never gets old!
▼ His iconic Ion Blaster can be mounted at the rear of the vehicle, while an additional peg on the side of the cab provides another storage option.
▼ WFC-K2 “Rattrap”: A veteran Maximal and an expert in reconnaissance and demolitions. He knows how to keep himself alive on the battlefield and is famous for repeating his gloomy catchphrase, “We’re all gonna die.” While pursuing the Predacons alongside his comrades, he crashes on a mysterious ancient planet and scans a rat to serve as his protective beast mode.
▼ Following the Deluxe Class version released in 2014, Rattrap returns as an all-new Core Class figure. The brain-like sculpting on his head, the teeth inside his mouth, and the insignia on his arm are all faithfully reproduced at this miniature scale.
▼ His flexible articulation comes from a generous selection of ball joints, allowing him to handle both neutral stances and energetic action poses with ease!
▼ In rat mode, the intricate transformation and clever storage of the robot components are especially satisfying and deserve to be experienced firsthand.
▼ Although the beast mode does not offer much articulation, the finely sculpted fur texture is well worth examining—unless rats are not your thing, in which case you are excused. It is slightly disappointing that the weapon cannot be concealed beneath or inside the body and must instead be pegged onto the outside of a rear leg.
▼ WFC-K3 “Vertebreak”: A new character introduced in Kingdom, Vertebreak is a female Predacon warrior who transforms into the fossilized skeleton of a Dracorex.
▼ Both the skeletal sculpting and dark color scheme are visually striking—and remember, this is still an exceptionally small Core Class figure!
▼ The finely sculpted head and printed chest insignia are excellent, while the weapon formed from her tail suits this new Predacon perfectly.
▼ The beast mode is a fossilized Dracorex. A thoughtful combination of rigid and flexible plastics keeps the transformation from becoming painful on the hands, while the rough, uneven texture of the skull is particularly convincing.
▼ The jaw can open and close, and the joints in the legs allow the figure to be posed running or roaring!
▼ WFC-K4 “Cheetor”: A young Maximal recruit who approaches every mission with enthusiasm, although his recklessness and impulsive nature frequently land him in trouble. After crashing on the mysterious planet with his comrades, he scans a wild cheetah for his beast mode and gradually develops into a dependable member of the Maximals.
▼ Compared with the 2008 Universe version, Kingdom Cheetor is much closer to his appearance in the original animated series. His proportions and overall silhouette also feel considerably more refined.
▼ The articulation is impressive, making it easy to create poses that convey a cheetah’s explosive speed!
▼ He includes a curved whip weapon formed from his tail, paying tribute to the weapon used by his Transmetal incarnation. Unfortunately, his famous “gut gun” is nowhere to be found.
▼ In cheetah mode, the long limbs and slim, well-balanced body successfully capture the silhouette of his animated counterpart.
▼ The jaw is articulated, the spots across the body are printed, and the fur is represented through raised sculpting. All four paws also include ankle joints for improved ground contact. By carefully adjusting the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees, the beast mode can stand with impressive stability.
▼ Even a leaping attack pose is easy to pull off!
▼ WFC-K5 “Blackarachnia”: Originally a protoform stored inside a Maximal Stasis Pod, she was reprogrammed by the Predacon Tarantulas and became a Predacon with a black widow spider beast mode. Intelligent, cunning, and dangerous, she is every bit the classic femme fatale.
▼ The overall design feels like a streamlined adaptation of the Masterpiece version. It retains many of that figure’s strengths while introducing several improvements suited to the smaller Deluxe Class scale, resulting in an impressively accurate recreation of Blackarachnia’s animated appearance.
▼ Her elegant, distinctly feminine proportions are also handled extremely well.
▼ Her beast mode is a black widow spider. The transformation engineering also draws from the Masterpiece version, with carefully considered component storage and well-positioned locking tabs.
▼ Each of the eight spider legs includes a ball-jointed articulation point. These joints are useful in both robot and beast modes and allow for an enormous variety of poses when adjusted carefully!
▼ WFC-K6 “Warpath”: The Autobots’ famously loud artillery specialist—KABOOM! ZOWWIE! POW!—and a courageous tank commander. He scans an Earth tank as his vehicle mode and specializes in overwhelming the Decepticons with heavy firepower. His durable armor also allows him to charge directly into danger, making him a highly valued comrade on the battlefield.
▼ Warpath’s vivid red color scheme immediately commands attention. His body is packed with sculpted lines and mechanical details, instantly recalling his animated habit of enthusiastically firing his cannon while shouting unusual sound effects.
▼ Beyond the sculpt, his articulation is unexpectedly excellent. Even a Superhero Landing pose is easy to achieve.
▼ The 3mm ports across his body are compatible with effect parts from earlier lines, making it possible to recreate the intensity of battle—BLAM!
▼ In tank mode, Kingdom Warpath represents an enormous engineering upgrade over the tiny tank mode of the original G1 toy. The way the legs fold and compact into the vehicle is especially clever and absolutely worth experiencing firsthand.
▼ The turret rotates, the cannon can be elevated, and an effect part can be attached to the barrel to recreate the instant of firing—BAM!
▼ WFC-K7 “Paleotrex”: An original Predacon character created for Kingdom, Paleotrex is a Fossilizer who transforms into a Tyrannosaurus skeleton. He can also separate into a variety of weapons and armor, using the F.O.S.S.I.L. Technology system to enhance other characters.
▼ In robot mode, he resembles a warrior clad in armor fashioned from animal bones. Detailed weathering has been applied across the entire figure.
▼ His highly flexible joints provide exceptional articulation. Even a composed pose with his hands held behind his back is possible.
▼ Tail-Blade Style: Spine-Shattering Slash!
▼ The Tyrannosaurus fossil mode is achieved through an entertaining process of separating and recombining the various components.
▼ The skeletal anatomy is convincingly sculpted, and the jaw can open and close. Combined with the multiple joints in the legs, this allows Paleotrex to assume an imposing roaring pose!
▼ After robot and fossilized dinosaur modes, it is time to explore the third configuration: F.O.S.S.I.L. Technology. Put simply, the Fossilizer separates into multiple smaller components, which can then be freely combined using the 5mm ports located throughout the pieces.
▼ The instructions provide two suggested configurations. In addition to the massive sword and axe shown here, many collectors will undoubtedly be eager to create weapons of their own.
▼ Wait—does that skull club look strangely familiar? That is right. Longtime fans probably know exactly how it is meant to be used!
▼ WFC-K8 “Optimus Primal”: Captain of the Maximal exploration ship Axalon. Ordered to pursue Megatron during an emergency mission, he and his enemy ultimately crash on a mysterious planet. After scanning a gorilla for his beast mode, the young, courageous, and deeply responsible warrior gradually grows into a leader trusted by his Maximal crew during their battles with the Predacons.
▼ His powerful physique is captured extremely well, with harmonious proportions throughout the body. Unlike the printed fur texture of the Masterpiece figure, Kingdom Optimus Primal uses raised sculpting to represent his coat. His signature twin swords can both be stored on his back.
▼ The head sculpt closely matches his animated appearance, while each hand features four articulated fingers. His arsenal includes shoulder cannons and forearm cannons that can be concealed inside the body, making the figure feel like a streamlined Voyager Class reinterpretation of the Masterpiece release.
▼ The articulation is every bit as satisfying as expected. One word of caution: the inner thighs near the hip joints can be prone to paint rubbing, so take care when posing and transforming the figure.
▼ Naturally, effect parts from Siege and Earthrise can also be attached!
▼ His beast mode is, of course, the gorilla that defines Optimus Primal. Forward-moving shoulder joints allow both arms to reach the ground, accurately recreating a natural gorilla stance.
▼ The gorilla head uses a realistic interpretation created specifically for Kingdom. This photograph also provides a clearer look at the three-dimensional fur sculpting.
▼ The instructions include an additional configuration for standing the gorilla mode upright. Adjusting the double-jointed knees recreates the familiar bipedal stance frequently seen in the animated series!
▼ “Maximals, maximize!” Even the gorilla’s signature chest-beating pose is easy to achieve. Fantastic!
▼ WFC-K9 “Cyclonus”: Galvatron’s most loyal lieutenant. Created when Unicron reformatted abandoned Decepticon warriors, Cyclonus possesses outstanding combat abilities and a calculating strategic mind that has earned Galvatron’s complete confidence.
▼ It is wonderful to see the Decepticon second-in-command, who debuted in 1986’s The Transformers: The Movie, return in such impressive form. While the 2008 figure was released at Deluxe Class scale, the Kingdom version moves up to the larger Voyager Class, allowing for more sophisticated articulation and finer detailing.
▼ The eyes use translucent plastic, allowing light from behind the head to create an illuminated effect. Clear parts also appear on the abdomen and the spacecraft cockpit, providing attractive visual accents.
▼ The wonderfully retro design feels as though it has transported us straight back to the era of The Transformers: The Movie.
▼ Highly flexible articulation is, naturally, part of the package.
▼ The most remarkable aspect of the transformation is the spacecraft nose, which folds through multiple layers before disappearing inside the upper body.
▼ The alien spacecraft mode closely recreates the design seen in the film and may be enough to bring longtime fans to tears.
▼ Three retractable landing-gear assemblies are located beneath the spacecraft.
▼ Multiple 5mm ports are positioned across the vehicle. Attach effect parts to the rear thrusters and you can recreate the instant of takeoff!
▼ WFC-K10 “Megatron (Beast)”: Originally a Predacon criminal, Megatron stole the Golden Disk, an artifact believed to contain highly classified information. Working with his followers, he seized the ship Darksyde and attempted to travel to Earth, hoping to restore the Predacons to glory. His ambition was so great that he openly honored the ancient Decepticon leader Megatron by taking the same name for himself. After reaching the mysterious planet, he scanned dinosaur remains embedded within the rock and adopted the form of a ferocious purple-and-green Tyrannosaurus rex.
▼ Kingdom Megatron is presented at the large Leader Class scale. From the sculpt and gradient paintwork to the articulation design, every aspect is impressive. He may well be the strongest release in the entire first wave.
▼ The head sculpt is especially noteworthy, with the Predacon insignia on his forehead reproduced through precise printing.
▼ The giant claw formed from the dinosaur tail can open and close freely, although it is slightly disappointing that it cannot be removed.
▼ The right arm formed from the dinosaur head is naturally compatible with effect parts. Articulated ankles improve ground contact, allowing the large figure to stand securely once its center of gravity is properly balanced.
▼ The old rivals meet again! Optimus Primal and Megatron are produced at Voyager Class and Leader Class scales, respectively, reproducing the difference in height seen in the original animated series.
▼ The Tyrannosaurus mode retains the original toy’s familiar purple-and-green color scheme. The reptilian skin texture is beautifully rendered, while gradient airbrushing adds even greater visual richness.
▼ Moving the lower jaw downward also drives the upper jaw open, creating an enormous roaring mouth. Details such as the tongue are fully sculpted inside, while spring-loaded panels on both sides of the neck help conceal the internal structure when the head turns sideways.
▼ Thanks to the transformation engineering, the tail can also be adjusted through multiple angles.
▼ The most notable feature is the two-layer construction, with rigid plastic underneath and a softer material on the exterior. This inventive, biomimetic design is something that deserves to be experienced firsthand.
▼ With an expression like this, you can practically hear Megatron delivering his signature “Yeeeeeeeees.”
▼ “Predacons, terrorize!” When you have a Tyrannosaurus, an enraged roaring pose is absolutely essential!
▼ A savage battle is about to erupt!
▼ WFC-K11 “Optimus Prime”: This release is identical to the Earthrise Leader Class Optimus Prime, with only the packaging changed. Do not forget the Golden Disk card included with the inner packaging.
▼ For a closer look at this Optimus Prime, please refer to our previous figure review. We will not repeat the full introduction here.
▼ Pairing the Core Class and Leader Class versions together creates an unexpectedly heartwarming little scene.
▼ The Beast Wars are about to begin! Is the animated series’ opening theme already playing in your head?
▼ Here is hoping that every Beast Wars character revisited in future waves maintains the exceptional standard established by Wave 1!
▼ That concludes our review of Hasbro’s Transformers Generations War for Cybertron: Kingdom Wave 1. Both the Generation 1 characters and the Beast Wars cast are presented with impressive results, leaving us eager to see the new figures still to come!
Hasbro — Transformers Generations War for Cybertron: Kingdom Wave 1 Core Class
Suggested retail price in Taiwan: NT$399
Hasbro — Transformers Generations War for Cybertron: Kingdom Wave 1 Deluxe Class
Suggested retail price in Taiwan: NT$799
Hasbro — Transformers Generations War for Cybertron: Kingdom Wave 1 Voyager Class
Suggested retail price in Taiwan: NT$1,299
Hasbro — Transformers Generations War for Cybertron: Kingdom Wave 1 Leader Class
Suggested retail price in Taiwan: NT$2,299
Availability in Taiwan: Toy departments at department stores and shopping malls, Toys“R”Us, the Momo and Shopee online marketplaces, and major specialty toy retailers