User:MahXyme/Sandbox/Spark Crystal

Introduced with the Transmetal 2 toyline in 1999, spark crystals are plastic bubbles in various colors, covering a vacuum-metal insignia of the allegiance of whatever Transformer possesses it (Maximal for Cheetor, Predacon for Dinobot II, etc.) They have been used on Transformers toys in several franchises since.

In the Beast Wars cartoon series, in at least Dinobot II and Cheetor, the placement of the spark crystal on the toy represents the actual placement of the Transformer's spark in the body (Dinobot II's beast mode head/robot mode chest; Cheetor's left thigh). The Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia toy had two spark crystals (one Predacon, one Maximal), as her upgrade to Transmetal 2 removed her Predacon shell program in the process.

In Beast Machines, the certainty of this is a bit fuzzier. The Maximals' sparks seem to be distributed throughout their bodies, only becoming the glowing orb when being extracted, so it could explain away some of the stranger places to put a spark crystal (like Geckobot's, which basically serves as their eyes and brain). And while this could also explain the presence of spark crystals on the Vehicon Generals, the placement of spark crystals on Vehicons meant to be mindless drones doesn't make much sense (particularly the "Battle for the Spark" during the latter half of the television series).

In the 2001 Robots in Disguise toyline, spark crystals were only featured on the Predacon subgroup. In the show, it fired a sort of laser blast.

Spark crystals were next available in the Energon line, where they became a tiny chromed insignia in the hole where you plugged in the Energon star. Presumably, it is supposed to be magnified by the translucent center of the Energon star; in practice, this did not work all that well and the insignia was often very blurry when viewed through the star. Many promotional photographs showed colored spark crystals on these figures, in red for Autobots and green for Decepticons.

Redecos of toys featuring spark crystals often altered them, either by a tampograph of a faction symbol (many Universe toys), or by replacing the translucent plastic with opaque (such as Robots in Disguise Storm Jet).

Toys

Beast Wars

In the Beast Wars cartoon series, in at least Dinobot II and Cheetor, the placement of the spark crystal on the toy represents the actual placement of the Transformer's spark in the body (Dinobot II's beast mode head/robot mode chest; Cheetor's left thigh). The Transmetal 2 Blackarachnia toy had two spark crystals (one Predacon, one Maximal), as her upgrade to Transmetal 2 removed her Predacon shell program in the process.

Transmetals 2

Transmetal 2 Ramulus

Basic Transmetals 2 Optimus Minor Scarem Sonar Spittor Stinkbomb Nightglider		Deluxe Transmetals 2 Cheetor Dinobot Ramulus Prowl Scourge Iguanus Jawbreaker
Mega Transmetals 2 Cybershark Blackarachnia		Ultra Transmetals 2 Megatron Tigerhawk	Walmart Tripredacus Agent	BotCon 2001 Arcee

Beast Wars Neo

In Beast Wars Neo, spark crystals seem to serve no other purpose other than to identify Maximals from Predacons, much like the rubsigns of old.

Wave 1 (01-??-1999) Longrack Colada Stampy Break Guiledart Saberback Sling Dead End Hydra Magmatron Heinrad Mach Kick Archadis Bazooka Killer Punch

Beast Machines

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