Airachnid and Energon Surge Off Road Bumblebee [Cyberworld/Armored Cyber Changers and Cyber Changers]

@robfromzonebase Airachnid [Transformers Cyberworld/Armored Cyber Changers] There's lots of spiders in Transformers and this one has a little Convertors evergy (that's a good thing). #zonebase #cyberchangers #hasbro #cyberchangers #cyberworld ♬ Children of the Night - NECRONOMIDOL

It felt so good to finally get my hands on an Airachnid Armored Cyber Changer after chasing one for what felt like forever. She was the last of the "Season 1" Transformers Cyberworld toys I needed on my quest to complete the line and blog the entire thing here on Zone Base.

Airachnid (no, she's not Black Arachnia) makes sporadic appearances toward the end of the first season in a role that isn't entirely villainous for a Decepticon. One of the things I really enjoy about Cyberworld is that the line in the sand isn't always clearly drawn. Considering the episodes only run about five to ten minutes, they could have easily just been nonstop action scenes. Instead, they're surprisingly competent little cartoons.

This version of Airachnid is also quite a bit different from her previous incarnations. In Transformers Prime she was an extremely villainous schemer, while in Transformers One she served as Sentinel Prime's sneering right-hand enforcer and leader of the Death Trackers. There's an ongoing rumor that this version was originally intended to be Crasher from GoBots. Whether that's true or not, who knows? It's a fun coincidence considering how often I compare Cyber Changers to Machine Robo toys anyway. Here, Airachnid is more of a scientist and actually helps the Autobots probe Optimus Prime's memories in an effort to better understand the Cyberworld and why they've all ended up there... which naturally leads to more drama.

As a toy, Airachnid shares her engineering with Chop Shop, although nearly all of the sculpting appears to be unique. Being an Armored Cyber Changer, she also comes with the oversized MechTech-style weapon/armor thing that Chop Shop included.

Interestingly, Airachnid already has an upcoming Energon Surge version that features an entirely different weapon/armor thing. Combined with the fact that its product number is actually lower than the standard release we're looking at today, it's led to speculation that this version may have been rushed into the original assortment while the intended accessories were still being finalized. Since Airachnid was the only new figure in her wave before later being repacked, the theory isn't impossible.

If nothing else, it's fun to speculate.

As her name suggests, Airachnid transforms into a spider, and that beast mode influences nearly every aspect of her robot design. It makes for a wonderfully creepy-looking robot, making her a perfect Spooky Beast Summer entry.

Despite the inherent simplicity of Cyber Changers, she has a ton of personality. Like every other Cyber Changer, she shares the standard size and articulation, but thanks to her spider mode she has a completely different silhouette. The spider legs remain attached to her arms and even swivel slightly, adding just a little extra articulation.

One particularly fun accessory is the pair of front spider legs with an integrated chain gun. They can either attach at her navel or be held awkwardly as a handheld weapon. Transformation is exactly what you'd expect from the line—quick, easy, and largely handled through the auto-morphing gimmick.

Spider mode is fantastic. The colors work really well, and I especially like those front legs with the chain gun.

Of course, Cyber Changers constantly make me think about older toy lines. Airachnid immediately reminds me of an early Beast Wars Basic figure, while her shared engineering with Chop Shop still brings Creepy from GoBots to mind. Honestly, I'd love to see this mold repainted into the old Happy Meal Transmetal Black Arachnia. The sculpt is surprisingly close, especially with the spider legs hanging from her arms.

Then my brain starts wandering.

The spider mode makes me think of Armored Insect Corps Beetras. The colors remind me of Convertors. I also keep comparing her to Phobia from Zoids Wild. If I hadn't just moved and packed Phobia away, I'd have loved to photograph the two of them together.

Phobia would've been a great name for this toy.

@robfromzonebase Bumblebee (Off-Road) [Transformers Cyberworld Energon Surge/Cyber Changers] My quest to blog all the Cyberworld continues with the slightly Microman vibed Energon Surge series. #zonebase #transformers #cyberworld #hasbro #cyberchangers ♬ CORNDOG! - RinRin

Of course, as the title says, we're also talking about Energon Surge Off Road Bumblebee.

This is my first Energon Surge figure, and I absolutely love him.

It's pretty obvious this is simply the Off Road Bumblebee Cyber Changer I reviewed previously with a slightly different color layout, so I'll link to that review for anyone wanting a more detailed look. Since I'm trying to blog the entire Cyberworld line, though, I still wanted to cover the differences here. Because.

Thankfully, these toys are inexpensive, so buying another version of a figure I already own doesn't bother me. It comes with the territory. 

The biggest and most obvious difference is that translucent blue torso, which immediately makes me compare Cyberworld to Microman and Micronauts even more than I already do. There's also a bit of glow-in-the-dark paint on his shoulders.

When an Energon Surge figure is connected to the Power Spark Bumblebee, the electronics light up. That light charges the glow-in-the-dark paint, causing it to glow afterward. It's a really fun little play feature.

Obviously, it's a gimmick designed for kids.

What's funny is just how many adult Transformers fans have embraced Cyberworld anyway, despite there already being countless collector-focused lines aimed directly at us.

I think that just goes to show what the right combination of affordability and fun can accomplish.

Ikari on Atari

Lately, I've been exploring some old Atari 7800 games and having a genuinely great time doing it. I've said before here on Zone Base that I've always thought the 7800 got a bit of a bum deal. Under different circumstances, I really think it could've been a much bigger success.

Most people don't associate Ikari Warriors with Atari. Usually it's the arcade version or the NES port that comes to mind. However, ports were also produced for both the Atari 2600 and Atari 7800. I haven't had a chance to try the 2600 version yet, but I really like the 7800 release. I've even seen more than a few people say they prefer it over the NES port. Whether that's honest opinion or just a little system loyalty, I couldn't tell you... but I can say it's a pretty fun game.

I was lying in bed playing it on my Atari GameStation Go while listening to a livestream of old Japanese ghost shows when a question suddenly popped into my head.

Who actually made this game?

Was SNK involved at all?

After all, Atari had a pretty good relationship with Namco around this time, which is why so many Namco games ended up being published under Atari's Tengen label. That got me wondering how Ikari Warriors ended up on the 7800.

So I started digging.

Let me tell you... information on some of these oddball Atari 7800 releases isn't exactly easy to come by.

The game was developed by a company called Imagineering and published by Atari sometime around 1989 or 1990. The exact release date seems a little fuzzy, which isn't too surprising considering how publishing dates were handled back then. That time frame certainly sounds right, though, because I distinctly remember seeing advertisements for the 7800 version in gaming magazines around that time.

More specifically, I remember Atari really pushing the artwork they used in those ads. I honestly feel like I've seen that particular piece of Ikari Warriors artwork more than any other artwork associated with the original game.

Admittedly, I've always preferred Ikari Warriors II, so that's the game that's gotten most of my attention over the years.

Weekly Update: 7/20/2026

Another week has begun here on Planet Zone, and with it comes more robots, monsters, and mayhem!

Now that we're settling into the new posting routine, I guess it's time to make these Weekly Update posts about more than just telling you where I ate and what I picked up at Walmart. I mean, I'm still going to tell you about eating at Olive Garden and what I found at Walmart... but, you know... other stuff too.

Since I'm gathering my thoughts throughout the week now, I'll probably write the final part of these updates Monday morning from my living room while poking away at my phone just before I hit "Publish." Everything else? Well, those are just random thoughts that popped into my head during the week.

Transformers Cyberworld

I'm excited that the new Cyberworld toys are finally starting to hit store shelves. It's been way too long between new releases, and I'm practically salivating over the new Energon Surge figures.

Hopefully they'll be a little easier to find than last year's assortment. While toy hunting can certainly be fun, I'm nowhere near as patient about it as I used to be. Honestly, with just about everything available at my fingertips these days, it's always a little surprising when something winds up being genuinely difficult to track down.

I also got a chuckle out of seeing several Cyberworld fans practically will the Transformers Wiki into adding each character's biome to their entries. It reminds me a little of the Transformers Cybertron days when fans became absolutely obsessed with maps of the various planets and collecting keys.

Now I'm wondering...

Will Hasbro eventually release an official guide to all of the Cyberworld biomes?

If not, that sounds like a pretty fun fan project.

I'm particularly fond of the upcoming Ultra Magnus toy. I love how his robot mode resembles his appearance in Transformers Prime, although I still wish that toy line had paid a little more tribute to his original toy from the line.

At first, I couldn't quite tell what his alternate mode was from the early pictures. Was he some kind of Dustbuster? Thankfully, once better images surfaced, I realized he transforms into a jet that reminds me a lot of Wingsaber from Transformers Energon. That's always been a design I've liked (yes, even with the limited articulation), so the resemblance is a welcome one. Like the Cyber Battalion and Authentics Shockwave figures, he transforms into a ship that looks like it flew straight out of a 16-bit shooter. I'm half expecting someone to discover it's secretly paying tribute to some obscure PC-98 game.

He's also an Ultimate Cyber Changer, which means the standard Cyber Changers can interact with him. We've already seen that one can ride him in his jet mode, and I'm curious to see what other interactions they've built into the toy.

He just looks incredibly cool, and once again Cyberworld has me slipping into pure fan-mode giddiness.

I absolutely love it.

The new Lockdown Cyber Changer also looks like a lot of fun. I really appreciate that they chose to have him transform into one of his wolfves from Age of Extinction instead of simply giving him another sports car mode.

I've seen a lot of people comparing his robot mode to Wildwheel from Transformers Cyberverse, but honestly, my first thought was Cad Bane from Star Wars. Whether that resemblance was intentional or not, I couldn't tell you, but I definitely see it.

Blokees

Now that the move has settled down, picking up Blokees Wheels Series 3 and that new Shattered Glass Optimus Prime truck and trailer set has become a pretty high priority for me.

I still haven't assembled any of my Series 2 kits, but that's mostly because every weekend has been spent getting the new house organized. Once things finally calm down a bit, you can bet I'll be snapping together a lot more Blokees and other kits.

Blokees have also begun showing off another one of their original IPs called Astral Rally, and I absolutely love what I'm seeing so far. They'll be releasing kits in the Defender Class (which, as you know, is my favorite), and I'm already excited to jump into these. Astral Rally looks like it's going to be a wonderful mix of science fiction and fantasy, and a really fun new robot series to follow! 

Sandbox Mainline?

Recent comments from Hasbro's designers have revealed that future Transformers lines are going to be more of a sandbox made up of different fictional settings. That's actually something I've been hoping they'd do with Generations (or Legacy, as they called it. Honestly, I was hoping they'd just rebrand the whole Generations line as Legacy) for a while now.

When you think about it, Generations already works this way. Studio Series falls under the Generations umbrella, and that line itself now includes characters from the live-action movies, video games, and soon various cartoons and comic books. Whatever the current Generations line happens to be called—*Siege*, *Legacy*, *Age of the Primes*, or whatever comes next—it's really just a big hodgepodge of characters from across Transformers history held together by a loose framing device.

And don't even get me started on the crossover figures.

Meanwhile, the kid-focused toys have quietly become much easier to understand. They're all packaged in those white boxes with a small logo telling you whether it's Cyberworld, Prime Changers, or one of the general-purpose Optimus Prime and Bumblebee toys that aren't tied to a specific series.

Basically, they're saying:

"This is G1 Powerglide."

"This is Cyberworld Optimus Prime."

"This is just Bumblebee."

I actually like that approach. It clears up some of the naming confusion while making it easier for both kids and collectors to figure out exactly what they're looking at.

Generations.

Mainline.

I'm in.

It also makes me wonder if they're designing all of this with FAST channels in mind. With those channels constantly cycling through one Transformers cartoon or movie after another, organizing the toy line this way makes a lot of sense.

Speaking of FAST channels...

It looks like the dedicated Transformers Channel is slowly being replaced by the Hasbro Legends Channel. While I enjoy the new channel, I have to admit I'm going to miss having Transformers running 24 hours a day.

It was like carrying the old 3H-era BotCon video room around in your pocket.

I can't tell you how many times I'd doze off with it playing in the background. Kind of like those folks who'd spend half the convention sleeping in the BotCon video room before wandering off to borrow a shower from a friend.

...Wait.

Did anyone wake Hellbat up before the voice actor panel?

Uh oh. 

Kamen Rider Zeztz, Myth, and Ultraman Teo

Kamen Rider Zeztz is quickly coming to an end, with Kamen Rider Myth taking its place this fall. I've really been enjoying Zeztz, so I'm honestly a little heartbroken to see it end. Myth certainly looks like it'll be a lot of fun, and I hope it manages to keep the momentum going after just how good Zeztz has been.

Ultraman Teo is also getting a synchronized launch, airing in both Japan and America on the very same day. That's fantastic news, and I really hope more series start following the lead of Kamen Rider and Ultraman.

So far, Teo has been a lot of fun. It's a little sillier than Zeztz, and I'm really enjoying that. Of course, since I've been watching each new episode right after Zeztz every week, the tonal whiplash can be pretty amusing.

Godziburst and Godzilla Scramble

Bandai will soon be releasing the Godziburst figures here in America, and I couldn't be more excited. I've been watching these from afar for about a year now, just waiting for my chance to pick some up.

Multi-colored Toho kaiju figures with customizable weapons and armor?

Yes, please.

I'm also practically salivating over *Godzilla Scramble*. It's a blind-box series built around the Godzilla Egg Monsters I've talked about here before. The first assortment includes several wonderfully bizarre versions of Godzilla...

...including a hamburger Godzilla.

I don't think I have to explain how badly I want one.

Power Rangers

Playmates is following up its combinable Dino Megazord with a Thunder Megazord at the same scale. I really enjoyed the first set, so you know I'm looking forward to another Shogun Warrior-sized gattai.

I've always loved the Thunderzords, so this one's definitely a treat. There's even a White Tigerzord included!

Of course, this also highlights the absence of the Dragonzord from the original Dino Megazord set, which was something I had been hoping they'd eventually address.

Well... they have.

Playmates has announced a Kickstarter campaign for a Dragonzord designed to go with that very set.

I'm a little conflicted.

I definitely want a Dragonzord... but I'd also really just like to buy one at regular retail. I guess I'll have to wait and see what the Kickstarter pricing looks like before I decide what to do.

Star Fox

I've been having a blast with the new *Star Fox* on my Switch 2. Even though it's technically a remake of Star Fox 64, it really feels like an entirely new game.

I've also been trying my hand at the online mode.

I'm terrible.

Absolutely terrible.

But it's still a ton of fun playing against people from all over the world. Hopefully, with a little practice, I'll start getting better. 

The Weekend and What I got

The weekend went well. The Mrs and I spent time at the pool and organizing our new home some. Weekend shopping included a trip to Burlington, Five Below, Aldi, and Target for some needed items. I got a fun blind box at Five Below that was Japanese take out. You'd get a tiny toy of the food from a restaurant and a delivery box. I got shrimp tempura! Target didn't have anything I was looking for, but ordered Cyberworld Energon Surge Armored Cyber Changers Ratchet and Bumblebee Sunday morning. Sunday meant more time at the pool and organizing the new place. I took the Mrs jewelry to the store for their 6 month inspection and got us donuts from Donut Worry while out. So good! Probably not my most exciting weekend, but a very relaxing one. Thank you all for reading Zone Base. Please share the site with your friends and be excellent to each other!

  

Nemesis Prime [Defender Version 07- Power of the Beast]

@robfromzonebase Nemesis Prime [Transformers Blokees Defender Version 07- Power of the Beast] #zonebase #transformers #blokees #beastwars #blokeestransformers ♬ Mind Over Matter - E.G. DAILY

I was pleasantly surprised to see that one of the special versions available in Blokees Transformers Defender Version 07: Power of the Beast was Universe Nemesis Prime, the 2004 Target-exclusive repaint of Big Convoy. I was expecting things like metallic paint or some extra fancy weaponry (which another special version of Big Convoy in this series actually has), but instead they went with one of the more obscure versions of Nemesis Prime. That's a pretty deep cut, and I love seeing Blokees do things like that.

Nemesis Prime originated in the original Transformers Universe toy line, which featured previously released molds repainted into new versions of existing characters or, in some cases, entirely new characters. Initially, Universe served as a companion line to Armada before continuing alongside later Transformers series. Store exclusives, convention exclusives, and even an ongoing comic published through the Official Transformers Collectors' Convention/Club all fell under the Universe banner. This was back during the 3H split era of BotCon.

The storyline centered around Unicron's return. He began pulling Transformers from countless alternate universes and forcing them to battle inside his body. As each Transformer fell, Unicron consumed their Spark and grew even more powerful. The Maximals from a post-Beast Machines Cybertron joined forces with the Autobots against Predacons and Decepticons loyal to Unicron... although the battle lines weren't always so clearly drawn.

Of course, there have been several different characters named Nemesis Prime over the years. This particular version originated from the corpse of one universe's Optimus Prime, who had been killed by Mega Zarak. Unicron cloned the fallen Optimus and transformed him into his own dark version of Prime, complete with the Dead Matrix, an artifact capable of killing Primus.

In the early TFCC comics, which took place on a version of Cybertron during the events of Transformers Cybertron/Galaxy Force, Nemesis Prime and Ramjet, another of Unicron's Heralds, arrived on Cybertron while it was largely abandoned. Most of the Transformers were searching for the Cyber Planet Keys and the Omega Lock in order to awaken Primus and stop the Unicron Singularity, which was busy tearing reality apart.

Because catastrophic events are just another Tuesday when you're a Transformer.

Nemesis Prime and Ramjet planned to use the Dead Matrix to kill Primus while he slept and had virtually no one left to defend him. Naturally, they were defeated, the Dead Matrix was taken away, and Nemesis Prime was imprisoned.

You'd think that would be the end of his story, but nope. This version of Nemesis Prime continued popping up during later inter-dimensional adventures. Alternity even redeemed him and turned him into one of the good guys! It just goes to show there's really no such thing as a burned bridge in a fictional universe.

Just like the original toy, this Blokees kit is a repaint of Big Convoy. While the original figure reused the Beast Wars Neo toy mold, this special Defender Version is a repaint of the Big Convoy model kit found in the blind boxes. I'd still love to get the regular Big Convoy from Series 07, but this was a pretty awesome surprise to open.

I still remember getting my original Nemesis Prime 22 years ago. I'd already owned the original Big Convoy, specifically the Korean Sonokong release, where the character was renamed "Mammolike." Getting the evil repaint afterward was incredibly exciting. One of the things that made Universe so much fun was that Hasbro would occasionally take molds American collectors had never had access to and suddenly release them as store exclusives. There were even plans to reuse molds from Brave, although those unfortunately never happened.

Years ago I remember saying online that it'd be really cool if some of those classic Universe color schemes found their way onto modern updates of those characters. It's neat to see that actually happen, especially in a format that I've clearly become a huge fan of.

Big Convoy's design works incredibly well as a Blokees Defender Version. You'd think the smaller proportions would make him look cute, but somehow he's just as badass as ever. Nemesis Prime isn't simply a black repaint either. His color layout is surprisingly sharp. The cream-colored plastic used on various parts of the robot really pops against the darker colors.

Yes... cream.

That was one of the charms of the old Universe repaints. Instead of using obvious colors like gold, they'd use champagne or other unusual shades that gave each figure its own unique personality. Some of those decos were genuinely creative.

Building Nemesis Prime felt like a premium experience, much like Magmatron did. There are so many unique parts that help separate him from the standard release. The mammoth tusks are separate pieces that attach to the beast kibble on his back, giving the whole design an even more dramatic silhouette.

The paint applications are another highlight. The red tips of the tusks and the red chest clearly draw inspiration from Robots in Disguise (2001) Scourge's windows and sword, while the teal detailing on the legs mirrors Scourge's own teal highlights. The resemblance is so obvious that, in the TFCC comic, Robots in Disguise Optimus Prime actually takes note of it. Apparently the similarity wasn't lost on the fictional characters either.

Assembly is exactly what you'd expect from a Blokees kit. Everything goes together smoothly, and there aren't any tricky spots worth warning you about. Honestly, with a design this ornate, I expected at least one frustrating step... but nope. It's another straightforward, enjoyable build.

Since this is simply a repaint of the regular Big Convoy, he comes with the standard Big Cannon. The other special version includes metallic paint along with the upgraded Matrix Buster version of the weapon. I'd honestly love to own both of the other Big Convoy variants someday—one to display alongside Magmatron, and especially that spectacular Special Armor Type version.

Having a small model of Universe Nemesis Prime wasn't something I ever expected Blokees to make, but I'm certainly glad they did. Once again, they've shown they're willing to dig deep into Transformers history instead of sticking to only the obvious choices. That's one of the reasons I've become such a fan of this line.

And honestly... he's just pretty damned impressive looking.