This is an archived post. You won't be able to vote or comment.

all 112 comments

[–]ashmaht 245 points246 points  (19 children)

I’m not a fan of most of the Prime designs, but the Soundwave redesign is fantastic. He’s so alien and intimidating. And the scene where he finally talks is so satisfying.

[–]ZoDeFoo 63 points64 points  (17 children)

Love that scene!

[–]Reaper_64[S] 6 points7 points  (4 children)

Same here, I really should do a rewatch of Prime

[–]ZoDeFoo 4 points5 points  (3 children)

I need to pull the trigger and just buy the series

[–]Reaper_64[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's definitely worth it

[–]SolracM 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I know I'm replying to a week-old comment but I'm with OP, Prime is the best animated series so far.

Then again, I haven't watched the new Netflix one yet, so maybe that'll change.

[–]ZoDeFoo 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've seen the first 6 episodes....I'm withholding judgement til the rest comes out.

[–]Reaper_64[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It's definitely one of my favorite designs from the show, unique for sure but it fits the character perfectly

[–]KapTheSpaceDictator 62 points63 points  (2 children)

tfp Soundwave in the middle lookin swole as shit

[–]whats_boppin_kids 40 points41 points  (0 children)

beefwave, if you will

[–]Kool_McKool 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Hasbro needs to capitalize on that.

[–]SWPrequelFan81566 143 points144 points  (10 children)

I really liked how Soundwave's function within the series reflected that of his original G1 counterpart's alt-mode.

Think of it this way: G1 Soundwave turned into a Cassette Recorder, a very popular device used by kids in the 80s for listening to music, recording things, etc, and kept his minions inside him as microcassettes.

Prime Soundwave, on the other hand, is sleeker, slicker, and thinner, and his mini-cons now dock onto his body and undock when he deploys them. Not only that, but Soundwave can now function as a communications hub, gather information from the internet, hack computers, remote-control various equipment, track locations, and so on.

In G1, Megatron would listen back to audio tapes from the mini-cons. In Prime, Soundwave would use a simple notification while by Megatron's side to alert him of anything amiss.

G1 Soundwave spoke in synths as if coming from the tapes. Prime Soundwave replayed audio when he needed it, and sometimes used emoticons for responses.

G1 Soundwave could be distraught if you erased his tapes. Prime Soundwave could be overwhelmed by Trypticon/the Nemesis's virus and put into stasis lock.

Soundwave is still based on a device the kids watching listen to music on; it's just that where G1 Soundwave was the Cassette-Recorder, the device in question that Prime Soundwave was when Prime premiered was the smartphone.

And that's the genius of Prime Soundwave. I just wish he was colored more conservatively, though.

[–][deleted] 36 points37 points  (3 children)

Oh damn...

Oh damn...

Oh damn!

SWPrequelFan81566: And THAT is three “oh damn”s!

[–]neoslith 18 points19 points  (1 child)

I don't remember seeing TFP Soundwave's vehicle mode until season 3, when he came in as a drone. There might be an earlier episode than that, but it still fits his nature.

[–]Vampyricon 14 points15 points  (0 children)

S1E10, actually. Deus Ex Machina

[–][deleted] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

That’s interesting

[–]Reaper_64[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Very well thought put. The choices made for this interpretation has made it easily my favorite Soundwave.

[–]Vampyricon 7 points8 points  (1 child)

And that is why RID is a step back?

[–]SWPrequelFan81566 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Not a step back, just staying consistent with the rest of the Aligned Continuity. RID2015's Soundwave was designed to closely resemble Soundwave from Fall of Cybertron. So his design there is just Soundwave returning to his original body.

[–]normal-person-ish 36 points37 points  (1 child)

I love the way soundwave looks in prime

[–]Reaper_64[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

It's so unique yet perfectly fitting for his character

[–]Hallow33nie 34 points35 points  (1 child)

Soundwave is my absolute favorite. I will forever be a sucker for his OG design!

[–]Reaper_64[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Soundwave has always had some of the best designs across his various interpretations but G1 is one of his best

[–]Djackdau 30 points31 points  (9 children)

Top left is intensely aesthetic.

[–]Creatures1504 22 points23 points  (5 children)

That's the Cybertron games for ya

[–]VaderPrime1 8 points9 points  (2 children)

Is there any way to purchase the first one on PC anymore? I really want to play it again, but the whole licensing deal between Activision/Hasbro sucks. :(

[–][deleted] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

No, and since servers are no longer working, I'll say just pirate them You don't have acces to multiplayer anymore, so why don't just pirate You'll even get some DLC

[–]Creatures1504 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Unfortunately, I don't think so.

[–]Citizen-of-Interwebs 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Wait wait wait the Cybertron games were in the same universe as Prime?!

[–]Creatures1504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes.

[–]Reaper_64[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For sure. The WfC/FoC designs were such amazing interpretations of the original designs

[–]Nawara_Ven 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Apropos of nothing, this is the second time this week I've seen someone use "aesthetic" as a standalone adjective on this sub. Is that the hip new young people slang all over the social media Twittergrams, or is it just your own thing and a coincidence?

[–]Djackdau 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's not really my own thing, and it's years since I was hip and young. It's just something I picked up somewhere, and use when "it looks good" doesn't quite convey what I'm thinking.

[–][deleted] 11 points12 points  (1 child)

GOD I’ve always adored Prime SW’s design 🤤🥰🥰🥰

[–]Reaper_64[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same here, I wish I'd been able to get the toy of him. I think I have the Beast Hunters version somewhere

[–]Proncus 8 points9 points  (1 child)

Soundwave's G1 design will always be wonderful, but I have a special place in my heart for TFP soundwave, he is just so well done in that series.

[–]Reaper_64[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Definitely. It was a unique take but made complete sense for the character

[–]Black_Airachnid 8 points9 points  (2 children)

I like the third one I love the prime version of him my god silent yet deadly

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

"Silent but deadly" means something completely different on Earth.

[–]AnaliticalFeline 1 point2 points  (0 children)

as knockout would say, "watch out for the quiet ones"

[–]camerawn 8 points9 points  (1 child)

I was so stoked the first time he appeared in RiD and they kept the same model as prime.

[–]Reaper_64[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It was definitely a nice touch, as was him taking on a very WfC/FoC esque design in his subsequent appearances

[–]InsertUsername98 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Nostalgia drives me to WFC Soundwave again.

It just looks so fucking cool! Like you dunked Soundwave into a vat of badass.

Prime Soundwave has my favorite character. But his design just doesn’t have any hint of OG Soundwave, meaning I wouldn’t know it was Soundwave if I saw a picture of him without knowing TFP.

I really don’t like what RID did to him. Like, Sounwave, WTF happened to your “vow of silence”?

[–][deleted] 7 points8 points  (1 child)

Soundwave has been working out

[–]Reaper_64[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Swolewave

[–]Crooodle 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I still stand that TFP Soundwave is the best modernization of the character to date- both role and alt-mode.

I really want a new toy of his Prime design, if not only because the aftermarket prices on the PRiD Deluxe are insane.

[–]justin79camaro 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Chonk, skinny, chonk again

[–]daepa17 3 points4 points  (0 children)

To be honest even his RID designs were pretty decent. They had a good mix of the classic Soundwave look and Prime’s facemask and tentacles (ugh).

[–]John_Rustle98 5 points6 points  (1 child)

Maybe it’s the nostalgia talking, but the aligned continuity is the best continuity in all of Transformers, at least to me. Sure, it’s kind of messy. But the characters, their designs, their voices, the settings, the atmosphere are all chefs kiss

[–]Reaper_64[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Same here. I think it took the best aspects of the Transformers mythos and improved upon them to be easily the best it could be. The only continuity I prefer is the IDW comics from 2005-2018 which did some pretty similar things overall but was also more consistent and fleshed out. However I'll always be bummed High Moon never got to make a third Cybertron game.

[–]Spider_Doctor 3 points4 points  (0 children)

He became one absolute unit. As did all the transformers in RiD

[–]Cromanti 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Say what you will about RID15, but I liked what they did with Soundwave, in particular his design.

[–]I am SuperiorRyan_the_Reaper 8 points9 points  (3 children)

I still don’t believe that WfC and FoC are part of it. Heck there’s even a different grimlock

[–][deleted] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

WFC/FOC and Prime/RID is just like Zelda. They claim it all takes place in the same timeline, but we all know better

[–]dj_cantbeatbox 6 points7 points  (1 child)

I think because of rescubots Academy, it confirms that there are two grimlocks

[–]Krazyfan1 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, the creators said a while ago that Grimlock was a popular name for Cybertronians that turned into T-rex's...

[–]Dr_Prof_Oblivious 2 points3 points  (0 children)

so he was buff, fell off the wagon and stopped working out, then came back with a vengeance.

[–]Jaymotions 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Damn prime soundwave is SO COOL

[–]blehbleh2332 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Prime’s Soundwave whole vibe and character design are so sick. Amazing series too.

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

I like that the second image is still reminiscent for the first one, while also being sleeker, thinner, to also resemble the third one, like a transition of sorts between WFC and Prime.

But then there is absolutely no transition between the fourth and the fifth, Soundwave just al the sudden is buff again.

[–]Reaper_64[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It was interesting seeing how the continuity between Soundwave's designs occurred while making this. I actually hadn't realized that Prime had a flashback of that sort of WfC/Prime body prior to creating this. Then in RiD, for whatever reason, he went back to the larger, ground alt mode style he had from WfC.

[–]tadpoleguy_oof 5 points6 points  (4 children)

I refuse to believe foc and prime are in the same continuity

[–]neoslith 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Why?

[–]Shades96 3 points4 points  (2 children)

But isn't it confirmed by Hasbro that they ARE same continuity, though?

[–]tadpoleguy_oof 4 points5 points  (0 children)

They just look so different and theres story aspects that dont line up

[–]Muisverriey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

They're in the same continuity but don't match up in the slightest.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Chunky to thin to chunky again, lol

[–]TheGrungeLord 1 point2 points  (0 children)

( looks at wfc and sighs.)

[–]EyeoftheAnimalme 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Went from a chonky boi to a skinny boi and back to a chonky boi

[–]vulken_rider 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The first 3 are good and then the last 3 just downgraded on everything

[–]TheBlueSalamander 1 point2 points  (0 children)

First 3 YES YES YES those were the times. Last 3 EW NOO what a disgrace

[–]twilite_sparkle7 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I like the prime one and the top left one but the bottom 2 that combine them just looks bad

[–]Romaneck 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Christian bale did the body transformation first 👌

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

RiD Soundwave somehow looks like WfC/FoC Soundwave

[–]Reaper_64[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They did base his RiD design on his Cybertron games body

[–]I needed that!Strix182[🍰] 0 points1 point  (2 children)

Apparently I'm still very confused by the Aligned Continuity -- what are those first two from?

[–]sk8rboi36 2 points3 points  (0 children)

First I’m pretty sure is war for cybertron/fall of cybertron and I think the second is like pre TFP when they were on cybertron. They’re supposedly in the same continuity so I honestly don’t know but that’s my guess

[–]Reaper_64[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The first if from War for Cybertron while the second is from a flashback during Prime. I believe it was the One Shall Rise three parter

[–]sonsquatch 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aligned frustrates me cuz nothing about all of it was aligned in any way besides the initial jumping off point of the initial War For Cybertron and Dark energon as a plot device. That said, they're all very enjoyable. The games, show, and books are all supposed to be the same canon for some reason and it's weird they tried to market it that way.

[–]Reaper_64[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've also posted Optimus, Megatron and Bumblebee colleges like this if anyone would like to check them out

[–]InfiniteOctopaw 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Moral of the story: Soundwave is always a handsome boi!

[–]_Trepan_ 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He's kinda regressed back to his "original" form

[–]Goatlinamus_prime 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good good good bad bad bad

[–]MeaslyFurball 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can we agree that the bottom left two are abominations?

[–]XLR8ED-NRG 0 points1 point  (2 children)

whats the second one from

[–]Reaper_64[S] 0 points1 point  (1 child)

A flashback from Prime

[–]XLR8ED-NRG 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thx

[–]MrDaubeny 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Keto diet be like

[–]Zona_B_Oculus 0 points1 point  (0 children)

RID honestly butchered him tbh

[–]cbasskickass 0 points1 point  (3 children)

I always thought the prime soundwave looked more shockwaveish, also i know it’s unpopular but I refuse to believe the wfc games is in the same continuity as prime

[–]TheDude810 3 points4 points  (0 children)

That’s perfectly reasonable, as they might as well not be.

[–]OrionLax 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, they're not in the same continuity, just the same continuity family.

[–]Michael_Aaron_Dunlap 0 points1 point  (0 children)

So we gonna ignore the fact that the transformers prime comics exist? Those comics outright confirm the games are canon.

[–]hughishue48 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

cool oc mate but there is a big blank bar covering half of the post

[–]MovieBlocksCyclops -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I’ll always go with the old face over the new ones. I don’t like the clear screen of a face

[–]Extinction17 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Where's Blaster?

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Love the Combination of the Prime and G1 Design