I thought it would be interesting to outline the Beast Wars toys history. Each new wave introduces a new feature in the particular group. As the series continues, we may see newer and perhaps better changes. The waves I show use a seasonal number system, for instance 1.1 means year one, wave one.
Wave 1.1 Beast Wars introduction. Regulars |Deluxes |Megas |Ultras | | | Optimus Primal-M |Dinobot-M | | Megatron-P |Waspinator-P | | Razorbeast-M |Cheetor-M | | Terrorsaur-P |Tarantulas-P | | Rattrap-M | | | Iguanus-P | | |
These were the first of the Beast Wars. All had characteristics of Generation 2, the Regulars had a spring loaded Transformation and the Deluxes had mutant heads and firing weapons. Optimus Primal and Megatron came in a 2-pack with an introductory comic book. The megas Polar Claw and Scorponok were advertised in the comic, except that Polar Claw was planned to be a Grizzly bear called Grizzly-1. It seemed that the name of Grizzy-1 changed twice (the third name Barbearian was also a Grizzly) and its colors changed once before it was finally released. Cheetor wasn't released for several months as the weapons were redeveloped, and since the color of his eyes have changed from blue to red to green at each new release. The ones with blue eyes may become a collectors item in the future.
Wave 1.2 Show Premiers Armordillo-M |Rhinox-M |Polar Claw-M |Optimus Primal-M Snapper-P |Wolfang-M |Scorponok-P |Megatron-P Insecticon-P | | |
Released before the TV show airs, about six months after the first wave, this wave makes up for lost time, trying to get all of the show's cast out. Of these Rhinox, Scorponok, and the Ultra leaders are in the first episodes of the CGI cartoon, as for the original four Deluxes and Rattrap and Terrorsaur complete the characters. The Deluxes, Megas, and Ultras have mutant heads. The Megas have launching robotic mini-beasts, and Scorponok used his cyber-bee on the show. Optimus Primal has yet to use his skull-mace on the show, but that's the only discrepancy between the toys and the show.
Wave 1.21 First stasis pods/recolors. |Tigatron-M |Blackarachnia-P |Buzzsaw-P
Athough not a completely new wave, this shows that maybe Kenner wasn't quite ready for the first 2 newest characters, Tigatron and Blackarachnia. These toys were recolors of 3 of the original deluxes. The Predacons used the alternative heads to separate them from the originals, but it doesn't work that way for Tigatron. His mutant head is just too ugly to be used as an alternative, and he uses the robot head on the show.
Microverses |Orchanoch-M |Arachnia-P
These are Kenner's micro versions of the Beast Wars. They are deluxe-sized animals that turn into battle bases complete with tiny figures. Also, seemed like a preview of the next wave with energon rubsigns.
Wave 2.1 Two more characters/changed gimmics Razorclaw-P |Jetstorm-P |Inferno-P Airazor-M |Cybershark-M | Drillbit-P |Manterror-P | Clawjaw-M |Bonecrusher-M | Lazorbeak-P |Grimlock-M |
The show had added Airazor and Inferno months before the January-May release of these toys. The first to be released was Inferno about Christmas time. It took longer for the others to show up. The first four Regulars and first two Deluxes were released at the same time, Manterror and Bonecrusher later. The last two, Grimlock and Lazorbeak were recolors and almost weren't released until the next wave. Several changes were made, mainly the Regulars no longer had spring transformation and the Deluxes had lost their mutant heads. Inferno had a rocket battle mode, which would continue into the next wave. Grimlock was the first character to carry over from the Generation 1 series all the way to Beast Wars. All of these had "energon rubsigns", a carryover from Generation 1. These are a different style from the first, but it makes it interesting.
Wave 2.2 Combiners and Attack modes |(Combiners) Snarl-M |K-9-M |B'Boom-M |Magnaboss-M Spittor-P |Retrax-P |Transquito-P |Tripredacus-P Powerpinch-P | | |
The Ultrabeast combiners are made up of three robots each, all in one package. Magnaboss contains Ironhide, Silverbolt, and Prowl; Tripredacus is made up of Seaclamp, Cicadacon, and Ramhorn. All the separate robots have animal attack modes. The Megas have attack modes, and Retrax almost has a third mode, rolling into a ball with three moving attack blades. Finally, K-9 is a remold of Wolfang, almost all of the body parts were replaced with new designs. The overall design is the same, but he is slightly larger , and the chestplate is longer, making him stand taller in robot mode.
Wave 3.1 Coming of the Fuzors and the Transmetals Fuzors Regulars |Deluxes | Airhammer-M(hawk/shark) |Silverbolt-M(wolf/eagle) Quickstrike-P(scorpion/cobra) |Skyshadow-P(dragonfly/lizard) Noctorro-M(bull/bat) |Injector-P(lionfish/hornet) Terragator-P(alligator/turtle) |Torca-M(killer whale/elephant) Bantor-M(tiger/baboon) | Buzzclaw-P(mantis/lizard) |
Fuzors have beast modes that are made up of two separate animals that seem to be Fused into one. Only two have come on the show (Silverbolt and Quickstrike), and there are no Megas or Ultras planned at the moment. These are more like the first waves than the Transmetals, but have their own special characteristics.
Transmetals Deluxes |Megas |Ultras |Super | | | Cheetor-M |Optimus Primal-M |Depth Charge-M |Optimal Optimus-M Rhinox-M |Megatron-P |Rampage-P | Tarantulus-P |Scavenger-P | | Waspinator-P | | | Rattrap-M | | | Terrorsaur-P | | | Airazor-M | | |
The Transmetals are a group of robotic animals that turn into partially organic robots, being called "Beast Wars Turned Inside out" by Hasbro executives. Many of the characters on the show became Transmetals: Cheetor, Tarantulus, Optimus Primal, Rattrap, Megatron, and Rampage. Rampage is a new character. There has been a confirmation that Optimal Optimus (which has four modes) and Depth Charge will be introduced in the next season of the show. There are no regular Transmetals at this time, and it's doubtful that there will be because they all have third vehicle modes. Scavenger was probably meant to be Transmetal Inferno, but it was changed at the last minute because Inferno was killed on the show.
Show Stuff: Transmetals and Fuzors created by a quantum surge caused when the second moon was discovered to be an alien planetary destruction device. Optimus Primal took a modified stasis pod equipped with a transwarp cell rigged to explode when it neared the device. Unfortunately, Megatron sealed the pod, so Primal was destroyed by the blast. Rhinox was able to bring Optimus's spark back from the matrix and put it in a blank protoform. Terrorsaur and Scorponok fell into a lava pit and are missing, Airazor and Tigatron were abducted by the aliens, Dinobot was killed in this season.
Wave 4.1: Transmetals 2 Regulars |Deluxes |Megas |Ultras | | | Optimus Minor-M |Ramulus-M |Cybershark-M |Megatron-P Scarem-P |Dinobot-P |Blackarachnia-M |Tigerhawk-M Sonar-M |Cheetor-M | | Spittor-P |Scourge-P | | Night Glider-M |Iguanus-P | | Stinkbomb-M |Prowl-M | | |Cackle-M | |
Starting with the Transmetals, these toys continue to another level, albeit not a pretty one. The Transmetals 2 line made is made up of a series of Transmetallized toys with a more chaotic look and no vehicle modes. Many are asymmetrically designed and have a "machine bursting out of animal" effect--more animalistic forms, only with portions of skin torn off and filled with machinery shapes. These highly stylized forms near McFarlane styles in some cases, like Cheetor's latest form. The story says that Megatron's experiments create these newest forms, making characters as chaotic as he is. In this line, plastic quality falls a bit, but not terribly, and the rubsigns are replaced with emblem sparks (semispheres of plastic with a molded emblem on the other side and with chrome outside the emblem to create a cool effect when light hits it). New forms from non-show characters like Cybershark and Spittor are used. Some characters get new forms--Megatron's new dragon form, Blackarachnia, and Cheetor. Dinobot's character is a clone with half of Rampage's indistructable spark. Some new beast forms are used as well, including a flying squirrel, a skunk, an owl, a hyena, and a locust. Finally, Tigerhawk is a winged tiger, and apparently the fusion of Airazor and Tigatron from the aliens. This line effectively ends Beast Wars as the series is scheduled to change into "Beast Machines" and get transferred to the Fox Kids Network next season.