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: In-tune with the [[Toys"R"Us|ToysЯUs]]-[[exclusive]] ''[[Transformers: Age of Extinction (franchise)| Age of Extinction]] Kre-O'' products, this wave features a number of classic characters plus two movie-inspired Dinobot original characters.
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Revision as of 16:05, 10 May 2014

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Car me now!

Kre-O is Hasbro's second foray into the world of brick-based construction toy sets, several years after the ignoble effort that was Built to Rule.

Unveiled at Toy Fair 2011, Transformers was the first Hasbro brand to be released as Kre-O construction brick kits. The kits (generally) center around a Transformers character that can be taken apart and reassembled into a vehicle. Mini-figures called Kreons are also included in the larger kits, and these mini-figures are a mix of Transformers characters and human drivers (mostly nameless generics). Prices range from $7.99 to $59.99, plus individually-bagged Kreon figures at $2.99.

The line launched in the US on June 6th, 2011. Since then, Kre-O has expanded considerably, with sets based on other Hasbro franchises including G.I. Joe, Battleship, and Dungeons & Dragons, as well as the licensed properties Star Trek and Cityville Invasion.

In 2013, TakaraTomy brought the line to Japan, primarily the second-year Transformers sets.

It's not that thing that begins with an L! But it sure works with that thing that begins with an L. L employees are asked to please not view this webpage.


Building sets

2011

The first series saw widespread brick-and-mortar distribution in the US. The main focus of the sets were large robot/vehicle builds with a lot of parts. Really a lot. Limbs were many times thick masses of panel-parts laid over each other, and many sets had extremely limited posability, with simple swivel elbows & knees. Robot builds took many elements from the then-current Dark of the Moon series, though the heads were mostly designed around the characters' Generation 1 incarnations.

The robot Kreons? VERY G1-inspired.

  • Optimus Prime
    • Set number: 31143


2012 (Quest for Energon)

The second-year Kre-O Transformers sets mark a definite change in style. Dubbed "Quest for Energon", each set contains several "energon" pieces; at least one clear-plastic Kreon torso (blue for Autobots, purple for Decepticons), and several clear-purple "Dark Energon" parts to assemble a giant "ultimate Dark Energon weapon". The robot/vehicle builds in this year's sets are generally smaller, simpler, and less reliant on the "massive stack of flat plates" construction style common in the first year, relying a lot more on large ball-and-socket-jointed bricks to build limbs and bodies around.

There was a heavier focus on the Kreons overall, with mini-playsets, mini-vehicles and a pair of army builder sets. The robot Kreons are more often based on their Aligned continuity family incarnations than Generation 1. Human Kreons had new arm-pieces with rounded-off shoulders, rather than the blocky shoulders of all first-year Kreons.

This series also suffered a distribution issue in the US. Walmart stopped carrying Kre-O after its first year (with one tiny exception), and only ToysЯUs appeared to carry the entire second-year assortment; the "Rotor Rage" and "Destruction Site Devastator" sets in particular didn't seem to show up at certain retailers.

Most of these sets were also made available in Japan as part of the initial Kre-O roll-out by TakaraTomy.

Includes Optimus Prime and Megatron robot/vehicle builds and a mini "bank" playset.
A "9 in 1" set that includes Scrapper, Drill Bit, Scavenger and Hightower, who can be built into robots, vehicles, or combined to form Devastator. Includes a construction site mini-playset.
Includes a large Vortex robot/helicopter build.
Includes a large Bumblebee robot/car build and a security checkpoint playset.
Includes large Wheeljack and Knock Out robot/car builds.

2013 (Beast Hunters)

Bringing the series in-line with the then-current Beast Hunters branding of Prime, this series was even more limited in its US distribution, seemingly available only at ToysЯUs and Meijer.

This time around, the human Kreons were based on specific Transformers human characters from prior series rather than the prior two years' nameless generics... much to the bafflement of the fandom, who wanted them to be doing that from the get-go.

Larger Sets
A multi-part playset; command tower, repair bay, prison. Includes a buildable vehicle Optimus Prime and beast Rippersnapper.
Includes Bumblebee/jeep build and buildable Predacon beast Stormrazor
Includes a large Optimus robot/truck build and a buildable Predacon beast Lazerback.
Includes a large Ripclaw robot/dragon build.
Beast Force Figure packs

To date, these are the only larger build packs to include Micro-Changer Kreons.

  • Dragon Assault
Includes buildable Predacon beast Grimwing.
  • Mech Venom Strike
Includes buildable Predacon beast Corhada.

2014 (Age of Extinction)

Tying in with that big new movie in 2014, The Kre-O sets this year are heavily based around building robo-dinos. Many sets also feature "Dino Force Technology", which are pieces that include magnets in them so claws and dino-maws can snatch up Kreons wearing magnetic backpacks.

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Includes buildable Dinobot beast Strafe.
  • Dinobot Charge
    • Set number: ???
    • Kreons: Drift, Vehicon
Includes buildable Dinobot beast Slug.
Includes buildable Dinobot beast and Galvatron super-robot.
Includes buildable Dinobot beast Grimlock.
Includes buildable Dinobot beast Slash.
Includes buildable Dinobot beast Gnaw.
  • Scorn Street Chase
Includes buildable Dinobot beast Scorn.
  • Dinobot Ride
    • Set number: ???
    • Kreons: Optimus Prime.
Includes mini buildable Dinobot beast Grimlock.

Micro-Changers

Introduced in 2012, the Micro-Changers sub-line adds a new element to Kreon figures; extra parts allow each figure to "transform" into a vehicle or beast (or whatever).

Thankfully, the Micro-Changer series did not suffer the limited-distribution fate of the Beast Hunters sets; after a rocky start, by 2013 the series was stocked regularly not just by ToysЯUs, but Target as well, plus many large drug store chains began carrying the individually-bagged figures.

Blind-bagged figures

This portion of the line features individual blind-packaged Kreons. Thankfully however, code numbers printed on each bag allow you to know which figure is inside... or at least avoid buying two of the same by accident.

Preview Series
This series differs a little from the later waves, and not just because of the smaller (all-badguy) cast. In an unusual backwards move, the tampographs on these figures' chests use only a single color, typically black.
This is also the only Kre-O Transformers product to be sold (briefly) at Walmart since the initial year.

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Collection 1
  • Hasbro release date: November 2012
  • TakaraTomy release date: November 2013
For the first full series, the multi-colored tampographs made a glorious comeback. Also, a new display-stand brick was added to every figure, a black 2x4 piece with the "Kre-O" logo in white on one edge.
Also changed is how the bag numbers work, with a 7-digit code. Only the final two numbers in the codes are indicators of what Kreon is in the bag, the first five are likely manufacturing plant codes or something and have no bearing on the contents, and can vary from case to case. For simplicity's sake, we've *****'d out the first five digits from here on out.

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Collection 2
  • Release date: May 2013
This series replaced the flak jackets used to attach stuff to prior Micro Changers' torsos in prior waves (which most fans hated since it obscured the chest tampographs) with a new simple one-peg "backpack" piece. And there was much rejoicing. On top of that, at this stage the "vehicle" builds become a little more complex, using more parts to make them look more like tiny vehicles than just robots laying face-down with a thing or two on their backs.

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Collection 3
File:KreO-Toy MicroChangersS3bag.jpg
  • Release date: August 2013
This series had...more fanwank, we guess? No particular innovations this time around.

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Collection 4
  • Release date: March 2014
Sooo much fanwank. The last wave of Micro-Changers available at "normal" retail, though largely being distributed via the Walgreens drug store chain in the US. This is the only batch (so far) to have a significant variant, as Cyclonus can come in either bag-back lavender or a much darker purple, depending on the batch. This is also the first wave to use "harness" pieces in colors other than the standard light gray.
Unlike prior waves in which every figure came with individual instructions, these Micro-Changers all come with the same large fold-out instruction for all of the models in the series, making the "feel parts through the bags" method very difficult (but you have the code numbers here, so why are you even doing that, huh?).

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Age of Extinction Collection 1
  • Release date: ??? 2014
In-tune with the ToysЯUs-exclusive Age of Extinction Kre-O products, this wave features a number of classic characters plus two movie-inspired Dinobot original characters.

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Age of Extinction Collection 2
  • Release date: ??? 2014
The second wave of the Age of Extinction-tied Micro-Changers, with a couple of unconventional builds, and two more new Dinobot characters.

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Micro-Changers Combiners

Four Kreons per pack combine into one larger robot. Each set also comes with a single red stand-block, and extra limb pieces. Just in case. As most of the original teams hese sets are based on have five to six members, the "lost" members are (usually) put into the blind-bagged series.

Wave 1


Wave 2
Wave 3
Wave 4
Ready for something new? This wave consists entirely of new-character beast-bots, rather than re-creating classic combiner teams.
Despite the finalized packaging shown at Toy Fair 2014, the official Transformers website would list this combiner's components as Crackback, Ironeye, Fracture, and Mollox.
The official Transformers website would list this combiner as Icebolt, and its components as Bullgurr, Coldsnap, Gearhead, and Undertow.
The official Transformers website would list this combiner as Firewing, and its components as Blacktop, Freefall, Piledriver, and Stronghorn.
The official Transformers website would list this combiner's components as Dustup, Farside, Lugmutt, and Overload.


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Kreon Ultimate Collection

These sets, each containing five different Kreons, were released early in 2013. The Kreon figures had all been released earlier in larger Kre-o sets, and they only come with their own weapons. One of the five figures was marked on the packaging as the "mystery figure."

Collection 1

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    • Set number: A4641
Collection 2

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    • Set number: A4642

Custom Kreons

First released at the back-end of 2013, these individually-carded Kreons include a huge number of extra body parts and accessories, many chromed (thus resulting in some extremely tight fits) or translucent (which, when combined with the chromed parts, may end up with stress fractures). They also come with a customizable "rack" to store said extra parts. "Repeat" characters have all new tampographs that are more heavily like the original toys the characters are based on.

This series was intentionally produced in smaller numbers than the other series. So far it appears that once again ToysЯUs was the only US retailer to order them, though they were made available off of Hasbro Toy Shop as well.

Collection 1

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Collection 2
  • Release date: ??? 2014

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Age of Extinction Collection 1

This assortment, using the new unified packaging style introduced in mid-2014, is entirely movie-based, mainly around characters from Age of Extinction.

  • Release date: ??? 2014

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Age of Extinction Collection 2

Another movie-based round.

  • Release date: ??? 2014

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The "Autobot Command Center" set includes a Custom Kreon rack/part setup as well.


Store exclusives

CostCo exclusives

  • Megatron with Sideswipe (30668/31771) - a twin-pack of the regular release sets above with no changes.
  • Starscream with Prowl (30667/30690) - a twin-pack of the regular release sets above with no changes.

Toys"R"Us exclusives

An expanded version of the "Destruction Site Devastator" set, adding a large Ironhide robot/truck build, a "Gunner" Kreon, and a port-a-potty (yes really). The Devastator Kreon is also in Generation 2 style yellow-and-purple rather than the original bright-green-and-purple.

Argos exclusives

  • Transformers Tub of Bricks
    • Set number: A4583
A plastic tub with unaltered versions of Basic Optimus, Basic Bumblebee, and Jazz, Sideswipe and Bluestreak Kreons, and slightly altered instruction booklets.

Promotional releases

  • Matrix Optimus Prime Kreon
Promotional item given at BotCon 2011, as a special mail-in promotion through the Kre-O website and a give away with the UK Doctor Who Adventures comic. Redeco of Optimus Prime Kreon showing the Matrix of Leadership.
  • Clear Energon Bumblebee Kreon
An exclusive New York Comic Con 2012 handout, this redeco of the Bumblebee Kreon is done entirely in translucent blue plastic, and comes in its own special little window box with an outer sleeve.
  • Constructicon Devastator Kreon
A Devastator Kreon sporting an orange Generation 2 deco and including a translucent purple pistol based on Generation 1 Megatron's alternate mode. Packaged in an individual window box and handed out with Kre-O purchases at Toys"R"Us stores, as well as BotCon 2013.
  • Orion Pax Kreon
Based on Orion Pax's appearance from "War Dawn", this was available with the Transformers: Kre-O Character Encyclopedia.

Botcon 2013

  • Machine Wars (Kreon Souvenir Figure Set, 2013)
The Machine Wars five-pack was exclusive to BotCon 2013, limited to 1500 pieces. It includes Kreons of Hoist, Megaplex, Obsidian, Skywarp and Strika. They have generally more parts than the Kreons packed in with larger Kre-O sets, but do not have alternate vehicle builds like Micro Changers.

Media

Videos

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A series of videos have been released on Hasbro's Kre-O website and on YouTube, featuring the wacky antics of the Kre-O Transformers and their Kreons.

Games

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Books

Online comics

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Short tongue-in-cheek gag strips drawn and written by Hayato Sakamoto and Makoto Wakabayashi for TakaraTomy's Kre-O site.

Notes

  • Kre-O bricks are manufactured by Korean toy company Oxford<ref>Transformers Kre-O - Thoughts? on TFW2005</ref>, who have been making not-L sets for a while. However, it is very much a lot of new part design work, especially the far more involved construction of the Kreons; Oxford's pre-Kre-O mini-figures were basically straight-up L Minifigure construction.
  • Kreon Hound was among the upcoming items revealed at BotCon 2011... and was only announced to be released in late 2013, and wasn't released until midway through 2014. Amusingly, his helmet has become one of the most ubiquitous among the Kreons thanks to its very generic styling.
  • Small images of a Kre-O Transformers set featuring a big mechanical scorpion and another set featuring a buildable Soundwave were shown at Toy Fair 2012 during the slide presentation, as part of the demonstration of the "build a big energon weapon from parts of the different sets" concept. Neither were present in the showroom or mentioned in the press materials. This same slide was shown during a presentation at BotCon 2012, again with no explicit mention of the mechanical scorpion or Soundwave.
  • While the Kre-O bricks and such are compatible with L bricks, take care with mixing Kreon and Minifigure parts, particularly helmets. Full-coverage Kreon helmets like Optimus Prime's and Soundwave's are a bit tight, and getting a L Minifigure head out of them is exceedingly difficult. They'll pop off the neck before the helmet relinquishes the head. Open-face helmets like Starscream's, where you can get a "grip" on the head with the pad of your finger, should be fine. Just be a bit careful you don't scrape face-paint off.
  • The L company has since released sets that are explicitly marketed as being able to assemble as robots and various vehicles and aircraft, very similar to the Transformers Kre-O concept.

References

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