Review – Transformers Kreons

Line: Transformers * Manufacturer: Hasbro * Year: 2011

Hasbro’s new Transformers Kre-O toys* are now popping up fairly regularly on shelves and it’s time I post a few photos and my thoughts on this latest attempt at LEGO-like building toys.

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Click to expand the photo in a new window.

But I’m not gonna do that, because I don’t really care about the building aspect of the Transformers Kre-O toys*. No, all I want are the Kreons, Hasbro’s attempt at mimicking the LEGO “minifig” toys. And right up front I’ve gotta say that if Hasbro packaged these as blind-bagged figures for $3 or $4 each I’d be swimming in them in an attempt to collect the entire line. They’re just too cute!

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Click to expand the image in a new window.

Click to expand the image in a new window.
Click to expand the image in a new window.


Basically, These Are LEGO Minifigs

I’m not affiliated with Hasbro or LEGO so I don’t feel bad at all saying that what Hasbro has done here is recreate the classic LEGO minifig. Same basic articulation, peg heads that are “transformed” by helmet parts, and swivel hands and single-unit hip/leg parts that snap into the torso all come together to make this feel just like a minifig. It even looks like the toys could share parts, which makes me think that LEGO fans are gonna be after these Kreons for parts to use in building and customizing.

Click to expand the image in a new window.
Click to expand the image in a new window.

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Click to expand the image in a new window.


Even the Same Problems as Minifigs

And as tiny little LEGO minifig-like toys the Kreons have some rough spots, slightly blurred tampo printing in some places, and a very minimal amount of colors. None of this destroys the toys or their fun, but to me it just demonstrates how close these are to the original inspiration.

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Click to expand the image in a new window.

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Click to expand the image in a new window.


Two Big Differences

But they are not identical sets of tiny figures. The two photos above show the two major differences between Hasbro’s Kreons and the LEGO minifigs.

  • The connector between the legs and torso is drastically different and not at all compatible. Plus, the single peg that Hasbro’s Kreons use give the figures a swivel waist; LEGO minifigs can’t move at the waist at all.
  • The Hasbro Kreon arms are on small balls which give them a greater range of movement than you can get out of LEGO minifigs. I’m not sure how important it is to toys of this style, but it is a noticeable difference between the toy types of figures and (arguably) gives Hasbro the advantage.

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Click to expand the image in a new window.

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Click to expand the image in a new window.


Closing Thoughts

Hasbro knew exactly what they were doing when they packed these Transformers Generation One-styled Kreons in the large Transformers Kre-O toys* box sets. I’ve got no interest at all in the building toys, but fortunately Gina enjoys constructing things so the few sets we’ve bought have left me with a small number of Kreons and her with toys to build.

And at GenCon earlier this month I found a table selling the single figures so I managed to get a Shockwave Kreon without buying the larger box. But I still say that Hasbro needs to start releasing just the single figures as blind-bagged toys; in the end they would make a lot more money off of me then they will by selling the figures in larger boxes.

Click to expand the photo in a new window.
Click to expand the photo in a new window.

The Transformers Kre-O toys* are just okay, but these Kreons are great and I’m looking forward to finding more single figures for sale at reasonable prices.

And hey, Hasbro, you could always test the blind-bagged approach at Christmas time or Easter. I’m pretty sure there are lots of Transformers fans who would jump into collecting these if the Kreons were released on their own.


Philip Reed is waiting for Gina to build Starscream and Mirage so that he can add a couple more Kreons to the small collection of tiny figures. And he’s resisting dropping the cash for the larger box with Soundwave . . . but it’s Soundwave!

8 thoughts on “Review – Transformers Kreons

  1. I’m with you, I really wish they would just sell the Kreons individually! I’ve seen a display of the Kreons in the toy aisle, which is totally mocking me by putting them on display with the reminder that they’re not sold individually. They’re ridiculously overpriced on Ebay, so I’m just going to have to miss out on them. Here’s hoping Hasbro realizes how well these would sell without the building sets!

  2. So jelly that they were selling em separate at gencon. Glad I got the matrix prime kre-on from an online promotion. He’s pretty sweet and prime is like a 70 dollar set or something.

  3. They’re rarer than rocking horse poop now, but if you can find them, MyClone ”did” the Transformers a few years ago.

    I was lucky enough to find the King Walder one on Amazon but the TF ones sometimes show-up on Ebay.

  4. @chopa – I likely paid too much for Shockwave — $10 — but he was just too cool to ignore. Of course now I have to find the Megatron for a reasonable price . . .

  5. @Mario! – Seeing the large display in Target makes me think Hasbro’s counting on the Kreons to sell the larger and more expensive box sets.

  6. As I say, I got the King Walder one and the level of articulation and detail is superb. I’d love to get the rest of the Henshin Cyborg and Microman ones but – like you say – it’s a dark path…

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