Transformers

Lobos Collectables: Where Self-Control Goes to Die

January 20, 2026 By ausretrogamer

A Time Warp to the 80s: Our Visit to Lobos Collectables

We dropped into Lobos Collectables over the weekend and were immediately confronted with a very real problem: we are not as strong as we thought we were.

Within seconds of walking through the door, we were hit by a nostalgia blast powerful enough to send us straight back to the mid-80s – a time of carpeted lounge rooms, CRT TVs, and arguments over which Transformer was actually the best (it was Optimus Prime, obviously).

One Store. All the Universes.

Lobos Collectables is less a shop and more a carefully curated pop-culture time capsule. Everywhere you look, there’s something ready to trigger a memory you didn’t even realise you’d filed away.

Star Wars figures stare back at you like old friends. Aliens merch reminds you that the franchise used to be genuinely terrifying. Masters of the Universe is present in glorious force, instantly resurrecting Saturday morning cartoon rituals and backyard He-Man vs everyone crossovers.

Add in Star Trek, Transformers, The A-Team, classic wrestling gear, stacks of vintage comics, and a whole lot of “wait… I used to own that” moments, and you’ve got a store that’s basically weaponised nostalgia.

The Danger Zone

The biggest risk at Lobos isn’t tripping over boxes – it’s convincing yourself that buying just one thing is completely reasonable. Every shelf feels like it’s quietly whispering: “You’re an adult now. You deserve this.”

Resisting a purchase took genuine willpower. One wrong move and we’d have walked out with a bag full of plastic dreams and a sudden urge to watch cartoons before dinner.

More Than a Shop

What makes Lobos Collectables special is the vibe. This isn’t a sterile collectibles store – it’s a place to browse, reminisce, talk nonsense, and relive the days when toys were built to survive backyard warfare.

Whether you’re a serious collector or just chasing a hit of retro dopamine, Lobos absolutely delivers.

Final Verdict

If you love retro gaming, 80s pop culture, sci-fi, cartoons, comics, or simply remembering when life peaked at age 10, Lobos Collectables is a must-visit.

Just be warned: You’ll walk in “just to look” – and walk out questioning all of your life choices.

(Lots of photos below – scroll slowly! Wallet damage not shown.)

All images © ausretrogamer.com

Lego Ideas: Game Boy Colour Transformer “PRISMATIS”

July 15, 2022 By ausretrogamer

We love Lego Ideas that have a nostalgic link to our past, just like this Game Boy Colour Transformer “PRISMATIS” by Baron Von Brunk.

Built in 2017, this particular Lego Ideas entry is based on an iconic full-size 1990s Game Boy Color, with its crisp lime green colours, a battery case on the back that comes off to store two batteries that double as missiles – how clever! Baron tells us that the transformation process is straight forward without the need to remove parts. The Transformer arms and hands are articulated with individual fingers on each hand – talk about attention to detail! Oh yeah, how cool is that speaker vent – another great touch to this very cool Lego Ideas entrant.

Rediscovering ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’

April 7, 2021 By David Cutler

By: D.C. Cutler, U.S.A.

“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” is like the video game Alien 3, the game is far superior to the films that they are based on.

For a 2009 game, the graphics and gameplay are amazing. When you are playing as Optimus Prime or Bumblebee, the missions can seem rather repetitive, but it’s enjoyable. The graphics were criticised when the game was released. However, they still look impressive to me. I’ve never been a big stickler for graphics; if the gameplay is fun, I can overlook problems with the graphics. The online mode was praised by critics.

The plot of the game is that the Autobots try to hunt down the remaining Decepticons after the demise of their leader, Megatron. The Fallen is a new adversary, but the plot could’ve done without that added foe.

image source: Gaming Nexus

Of all the Michael Bay “Transformer” films, the second instalment, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” is the sloppiest and most annoying. The jive talking, little robots could be one of the most disgusting characters in recent cinema history. Who could watch that and think it wasn’t in poor taste and tone deaf? I’ve never thought that the film was a total waste like some. I think John Turturro is very funny in the movie, and some of the action scenes are impressive, if you can tell who’s fighting who. So much work went into the visual effects, too bad it didn’t have a better screenplay and story. Michael Bay is a talented filmmaker. The “Bad Boy” films and “Pain & Gain” are entertaining films, I just wish he could have made one exceptional “Transformer’s” film. The first one is fun, but it’s not a great film. With a franchise as global as “Transformers,” Bay had a lot of toys in the toybox to work and create from. Perhaps, he still has a great Transformers film in him, but I think he’s handed the franchise off to younger directors. Paramount, who owns the rights to the Transformers franchise, will never stop making films about Autobots and Decepticons.

“Fallen” is one of the best third-person shooter games I’ve ever played. There are villains I didn’t think I was capable of defeating, and I like that in a game.

LEGOformers: Retro Consoles And Handhelds In Disguise

March 29, 2015 By Ms. ausretrogamer

NYC-based LEGO master craftsman and graphic designer Baron Julius von Brunk (pictured above) has crammed so much awesome into these LEGO retrogaming transformers, they will blow your mind! But don’t just look at the pictures, make sure you click the links and read about how Julius designed and built each of these fantastic creations.

Game Boy Advance Transformer – ‘Vantage’

Nintendo 64 Transformers‘Ultra Hexacon’ and ‘Tetragon’ the transforming Nintendo 64 and controller, and their transforming game pak minions ‘Hot-Shot’, and ‘Mecha Kong’

NES Zapper Pistol – ‘Plasmashock’

Evil Segacon LEGOformers ‘Gearhead’, ‘Supersonic’ & ‘Knucklepunch’

Nintendo Game Boy & Tetris Transformers ‘Domaster’ & ‘Tetrawing’

And be sure to check out Julius’ other amazing work including this Giant fully-operational NES controller and Nintendo world mosaic.

Source: Julius von Brunk via Bit Rebels

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ms. ausretrogamer
Editor and Researcher at ausretrogamer – The Australian Retro Gamer E-Zine. Lover of science fiction, fashion, books, movies and TV. Player of games, old and new.

Follow Ms. ausretrogamer on Twitter

Mega Drive Megatron and Optimus Prime Playstation

September 10, 2014 By ausretrogamer

Let’s all start with a collective sigh of disappointment. Why the disappointment? Well, after getting quite excited over the announcement that Takara Tomy A.R.T.S. would release special console Transformers to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the robots in disguise, there has been another delay in their availability.

The Mega Drive Megatron was originally slated for a September release, but that has now been pushed out to October. Optimus Prime (featuring original Playstation) won’t see the light of day till 2015 (no exact date known). On the positive side, the delay should give you extra time to save – these Transformers won’t be cheap (~$103AUD).

For now, you can drool over the photos of these awesome console Transformers!

The sleek Megatron!