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4[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/transformersmasterforce01.jpg]]
5[[caption-width-right:350:We believe tomorrow.]]
6
7''Transform! God On!''
8
9''Transformers: Super-God Masterforce'' (1988) is the third or fourth (depending on how the third season of ''[[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers G1]]'' is viewed) incarnation of ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' produced. Divisive even by ''Transformers'' [[BrokenBase standards]], it tells the story of a battle between Transformers who become humans, and humans who become Transformers.
10
11Millennia ago, a group of Transformers gained the ability to disguise themselves as organic beings. Calling themselves Pretenders, they came to live on Earth, where the Autobots disguised themselves as humans. The Decepticons disguised themselves as demons and terrorized humanity until they were sealed away in the Egyptian pyramids, {{Atlantis}}, and the Nazca Lines of Peru. Much later, the Decepticon Pretenders reawaken and, led by the mysterious Devil Z, begin an assault on humanity.
12
13A short time into the show, both factions recruited the Headmaster Juniors. These were a group of human children bonded to inanimate Transformer bodies known as Transtectors, of which they became the heads. They thus represented a medium between the American and Japanese incarnations of the Headmaster toys, while also being closest thing ''Transformers'' has had to HumongousMecha. The Autobot Headmaster Juniors transformed into emergency vehicles, while their Decepticon counterparts transformed into animals.
14
15Later, the Godmasters (whose toys were known as Powermasters in English-speaking territories) were introduced. Godmasters were similar to Headmaster Juniors, but instead of forming their Transtectors' heads, they formed the engines. They added ''jinchokon'', the LifeEnergy of humanity, to the ''tenchokon'' (heavenly energy) and ''chichokon'' (Earth energy) of the Transformers, thus forming the ultimate lifeform -- the Super-Gods of the title.
16
17In terms of {{continuity}}, ''Masterforce'' is canonically set after ''[[Anime/TransformersHeadmasters Headmasters]]''; however, while ''Headmasters'' was clearly set TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture (although it was later on revealed to take in 2020 in the Generation Selects manga) ''Masterforce'' used contemporary technology and fashions. However, aside from a few brief instances, ''Masterforce'' is pretty much self-contained, and so knowledge of ''Headmasters'' is (fortunately) not necessary to follow or understand it.
18
19''Masterforce'' was the first ''Transformers'' series to have an ongoing plot and CharacterDevelopment. The theme of personal transformation, rather clumsily attempted in ''Headmasters'', is skillfully (for a kids' show) shown here as the human characters are shown to initially be quite naïve and to gradually evolve into powerful warriors and protectors. The final result is a rather [[BitterSweetEnding sad but satisfying ending]].
20
21The toyline was largely the same as the American ''G1'' toyline for 1989, but with a few additions, such as the Ginrai toy (Optimus Prime in Hasbro territories) coming with the Godbomber; this would not be released outside Japan until 2003 with the 15th anniversary reissue of Powermaster Optimus Prime, where it was known as Apex Armor.
22
23The Pretenders were rather simple toys with basic transformations and forgettable alt modes, which came with human- or demon-shaped posable outer shells. The Headmaster Junior toys were the same as the regular Headmaster toys -- a large robot whose head transforms into a smaller robot and whose body becomes a vehicle or animal. The Godmasters also had two components; one was a small human in PoweredArmor that transforms into an engine which plugs into a slot in the larger vehicle. The vehicle cannot transform into robot mode unless the engine is plugged in.[[note]]At least in the fiction. The toys could easily be transformed by simply pressing the button in with your finger if you lacked the Powermaster accessory.[[/note]]
24
25The cartoon received the same hilariously bad dub treatment as ''Anime/TransformersHeadmasters''. The dub was first broadcast in Malaysia on RTM-1 in 1988, and later in Singapore on [=StarTV=]. UsefulNotes/{{DVD}}s containing both the dub and subtitled Japanese episodes were released in the UK in 2006 (sub only) and Australia in 2008; both were also shown in the UK on Anime Central in 2007.
26
27The entire series is now released on DVD, but you'll won't be able to find the extras post-series like you would on Website/YouTube, since they were not included.
28
29Followed by ''Anime/TransformersVictory''
30
31----
32!!The show provides examples of:
33
34* ActionGirl: Minerva doesn't like to fight, but usually comports herself well when she has to.
35** DarkActionGirl: Mega. She is a Godmaster too, after all.
36* ADayInTheLimelight: Lightfoot, who at best fits a [[FlatCharacter typical generic Autobot role with flat personality]], is the focus in a {{Filler}} episode where his father gets kidnapped. It isn't 100% filler though, because the overarching plot of the arms race between the Autobots and Decepticons is highlighted in a separate scene.
37* AGodAmI: Giga, Mega, Hydra and Buster take great pride in the fact that they are Godmasters, believing themselves to have ascended to a lifeform above both conventional Transformers and humanity.
38* AllThereInTheManual: A lot of plot points aren't explained during the show's run.
39** Just what the heck the deal is with Devil Z. A clip show explained he was an evil alien. Decades later, Ask Vector Prime said he was the child of a Light God, partner and sibling to the original Godmaster, who became corrupted on entering Earth's atmosphere. And also a space alien, since that reality had become more strange after Zarak blew up Cybertron. The Japanese exclusive ''Legends'' comic comes up with an even ''more'' complicated explanation involving Primus and the Quintessons.
40** As to why [=BlackZarak=] has gone from the BigBad to a slightly tougher-than-average goon for Devil Z... he's brainwashed.
41** [=BlackZarak=] gets his head knocked off by Ginrai in their tussle on the moon, but it doesn't slow him down. This goes ''completely'' unexplained in the show, but supplementary materials revealed the true Zarak is actually wired into the body's torso.
42* AnachronicOrder: According to the ''Transformers Wiki'', when the series was aired in Russia, this series was the first to be shown, then to Victory, then to Headmasters.
43* AnimeHair: Mostly averted, though Clouder plays this one to the hilt.
44* ArrogantKungFuGuy: Sixknight, also Cancer is literally one.
45* ArtisticLicensePhysics: In "Crisis! The Day Of Human Extinction" the writers make the assumption that the loss of ozone leads to the planet warming up. It does not, it just has more solar radiation hit the Earth.
46* AMechByAnyOtherName: Though part of the "Transformers" meta-family, Masterforce also makes use of lifeless mech bodies called 'Transtectors' that a human being can merge with, effectively ''becoming'' a giant robot as opposed to merely piloting one.
47* ANaziByAnyOtherName: While the Decepticons have been portrayed as this before, and after this show, Devil Z explicitly comes to resemble this, especially in the second half of the show.
48* AntiVillain: Cancer clearly has the most sympathetic backstory, is outright disgusted at some of the more serious schemes, and when Devil Z goes completely off the rails, he turns on the Decepticons.
49* ArchEnemy: Every Decepticon treat Ginrai as their most powerful and dangerous enemy, treating the other Autobot Godmasters as if they don't matter.
50* AsskickingLeadsToLeadership: Ginrai quickly becomes the Autobot leader after merely demonstrating a sense of responsibility and duty along with showing that he's the most powerful of them all. On the Decepticons' side, initially it looks like a subversion of this trope with the leaders Giga and Mega issuing commands but never actually fighting in person. Turns out that it's only a case of OrcusOnHisThrone: In the middle of the series, Giga and Mega make their Godmaster debut as Overlord and easily defeat Super Ginrai, who was previously defeating every other Decepticon with relative ease.
51* AsYouKnow: Blood has an unusually appropriate reaction to this trope being used on him: "Shut up! I don't need you to tell me that!"
52* BattleCouple: Mega and Giga.
53* BeenThereShapedHistory: The Autobot Pretenders inspired the ancient myths of heroes fighting monsters... by fighting the Decepticon Pretenders while in their human guises in those old times.
54* BilingualBonus: InUniverse. Cancer is Chinese and he refers to his old friend Chang as dachi. Browning promptly asks what it means and Cancer tells him it is Chinese for friend.
55* BicepPolishingGesture: Minerva, of all people—when she's talking about how good she is at making salad. This is apparently common in Japan.
56* BigBad: The series has you convinced that Overlord is the greatest threat for the longest time. Turns out it's Devil Z.
57* BigDamnHeroes:
58** Ginrai saves Road King from Black Zarak in one episode.
59** Cancer rescues Shuta from King Poseidon.
60** Sixknight saves Minerva and Cab from the Hydra brothers. In the second to last episode, he reappears to save God Ginrai from Devil Z.
61* BittersweetEnding: The Autobots saved Earth from Devil Z's omnicidal plan, marking the end of the Masterforce War. However, the Autobots and Decepticons continued their never-ending war in space. The humans who served as Autobots and Decepticons [[BroughtDownToNormal permanently lost their powers]], but what was truly bittersweet was that the character development underwent by Overlord and the Decepticons vanished since their human halves had been forcibly purged out, leaving only the robotic part that remained wholly loyal to the Decepticon cause (Formerly Devil Z's).
62* BloodKnight: Sixknight wanders the galaxy in search of of a WorthyOpponent. Of course, Ginrai proves to be that worthy opponent.
63* {{Bowdlerise}}: Anytime a character sound like they're about to swear, "Scrap" is used in its place in the region 1 release. Ginrai briefly "swears" until later episodes replace any instance of swearing as "scrap" as all the others. Sometimes out of place.
64* BrainWashed: Black Zarak is the ''Headmasters'' villain Mega Zarak/Scorponok in a new body. Prior to the start of the ''Masterforce'' series, Devil Z made him his mind-controlled bitch.
65* BreakTheCutie: Shuta losing his father does this to him.
66* BreakingTheFourthWall:
67** The preview of the next episode does this.
68** At one point, Overlord winks to the audience and says to the audience that him getting beat up is part of the plan.
69* BroadStrokes: ''Masterforce'' is both a clean break from and a continuation of ''Headmasters'' -- something that tends to frustrate ''Transformers'' fans. The creators wanted to try something new with this series, and it has a dramatically different feel compared to any ''Transformers'' media that precedes it. But it also canonically follows ''Headmasters'', which is casually established in the show by featuring cameos of characters from Transformers Headmasters.
70* BroughtDownToNormal: Every human Godmaster and Headmaster Junior is rendered powerless by the end of the series. Clouder and the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors have their respective Godmaster and Headmaster abilities forcibly removed and their robotic halves remain loyal to Devil Z. Hydra and Buster are the only two Godmasters who willingly gave up their human halves to become fully robotic. Giga and Mega turn against Devil Z, and as punishment they are forcibly ejected from Overlord. This results in a fully robotic and evil Overlord loyal to Devil Z, with Giga and Mega dying before they could settle their rivalry with Ginrai. After Devil Z's demise, the Autobot Godmasters and Headmaster Juniors become fully human again, their robotic halves suddenly gaining sentience.
71* ButNotTooForeign: Minerva is half-Japanese.
72* ButtMonkey:
73** The Decepticon Pretenders are a considerable threat in the first couple of episodes. Afterwards, [[VillainDecay they are just sort of there to be trounced]] by Godmasters.
74** King Poseideon has the same issue. He's the only Decepticon combiner in this series and is a considerable threat. After Ginrai becomes both Super and God, his threat level is practically non-existent, but only to him. Others such as Headmaster Jrs., he's still a threat to.
75* ByThePowerOfGreyskull: Lots of variations: "Suit On!", "Pretender!!", "Masterforce!", "Head On!" and "God On!".
76** The Hydra brothers also yell "Wing Cross!" when combining, while Ginrai gets "Double On!" and "Chojin Gattai!" for his increasingly more powerful transformations.
77* CallingYourAttacks: Anything more flashy than your standard gunshot gets a fancy name. Even if it's just a whip.
78* TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive: Ginrai was a truck driver who had the Godmaster powers forced onto him. Initially, he doesn't like to be tied down with responsibilities and is dismissive of joining the Autobots. When Hydra and Buster start killing other truck drivers in their attempt to kill Ginrai, he's outraged and only joins up with the Autobots to seek revenge on the Decepticons for killing his friends. Eventually he grows more self-conscious of what it means to be an Autobot, and embraces his new role with the encouragement from his sympathetic former boss, who is injured during one of Ginrai's scuffles with the Decepticons.
79* TheCameo / ContinuityNod: Chromedome makes a brief appearance in an early episode, linking this series with ''Headmasters''.
80* CerebusSyndrome: While the first half of the series has some dark moments and gut-wrenching scenes, it has plenty of comedy, most of the Decepticons schemes are relatively straightforward and easily beaten, and things frequently end with everyone laughing or happy. The second half has fights that leave innumerable humans dead even if off screen, the comedy takes a vicious nose dive and ultimately leaves altogether, and Devil Z decides to adopt a FinalSolution.
81* ChangingOfTheGuard: The Autobot Pretenders are the focus of the series for the first 9 episodes. TheProtagonist Ginrai only appears in the 10th episode, and the series revolves around him almost instantly. Metalhawk who was then the Autobot leader eventually passes on his leadership role to Ginrai, and just fades into the background.
82* CharacterDevelopment: This is the first ''Transformers'' show where characters effectively change and grow as people. Perhaps to emphasize the idea that HumansAreSpecial, only the humans are subjected to character development while the Transformers are largely static characters which is thematically consistent with the idea that machines do not change while humans do.
83** This is noticeable with Ginrai. At first, he's a young and brash truck driver who doesn't like to be tied down with responsibilities and definitely didn't want anything to do with the Cybertronian wars. [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive Circumstances force him]] to become a permanent member of the Autobots. While fighting [=BlackZarak=] and Overlord on the moon, he realizes how beautiful the Earth is, and refuses to let it become a dead world like the moon. However, the remaining episodes completely loses focus on Ginrai's characterization in favour of plot and action, upon which [[{{Flanderization}} Ginrai seemed to "devolve" into the personality of previous Autobot leaders]]. The human Decepticons themselves actually pick up the slack for this trope (See below points).
84** Cancer's central conflict is when he knows that Minerva is being nice to him. After that, his sense of right and wrong plagues him, until he realizes the lengths the Decepticons are willing to go to destroy humanity. He ultimately defects to the Autobots, and helps them find the Decepticons' hideout.
85** As the series progresses, Giga and Mega grow increasingly uneasy with Devil Z's hatred of humanity, which makes perfect sense since Giga and Mega previously expressed great pride in their own humanity. Cancer's betrayal only gives them further doubts about their loyalty to Devil Z. As Overlord, they finally turn against Devil Z when he starts beating Hydra and Buster for their failures. Giga and Mega start out as generic villainous co-leaders of a Decepticon cult, but by the end of the show they shown some aspects of being a NobleDemon and died regretting that they couldn't settle their rivalry with Ginrai.
86* CharacterMagneticTeam: The Autobot ranks swell over the course of the series, while the Decepticons never get any new permanent additions outside of Hydra and Buster.
87* CharacterizationMarchesOn: The inversion of Ginrai's {{Flanderization}} was ironically that of his archenemies Giga and Mega, and by extension Overlord. Giga and Mega start out as generic villainous co-leaders of the Decepticons, expressing little personality other than a [[AGodAmI God Complex]] and passing out commands to their subordinates. Late in the series, as Devil Z's plans become more unhinged over time and showed little care for his subordinates, Overlord begins to show internal conflicts between his loyalty to Devil Z, his pride in his own power as a Godmaster, and his concern for his subordinates.
88* ChildSoldier: At least some of the Autobots and Decepticons ranks are kids to teenagers. The Autobots has two adult Godmasters, with Lightfoot being the youngest. The youngest Godmaster in the Decepticons is ''probably'' Clouder.
89* ChivalrousPervert: As part of comic relief in the first half of the show, Roadking and Ginrai in their human forms have very brief moments of this but this isn't their defining characteristic. There are at least one or two times when Ginrai is seen ogling at pretty women (No, Minerva is NOT included). When Roadking sees the female nurses in a hospital that Ginrai is in he jokingly asks if he can take Ginrai's place.
90* CombiningMecha: The dread King Poseidon. However, since he's made up of the Seacons, he's not much of a threat.
91* ComplexityAddiction: Hydra, Hydra, '''HYDRA'''. The guy's never happy with the idea of just killing his opponents with guns, he's always got to create an overly elaborate scheme first. But his best example of this would be his plan in Ep 21. To whit; kidnap every doctor on Earth, to make people realise how short life is, to make them lose the will to live. Somehow.
92* ContinuitySnarl:
93** The fact that Masterforce was intended to be a sequel to Headmasters makes viewers wonder things like "if this show is set post-2020, why is its setting indistinguishable from the late 1980s?" or "considering that the Autobots previously had a public presence on Earth, why don't humans recognize Transformers anymore?" Don't expect the show to address these questions.
94** Metalhawk claims that Chromedome supplied the Transtectors for the Headmaster Juniors, but the ending of Masterforce put this into question because BOTH Headmasters and Godmasters loses their powers after Devil Z's death.
95* CrutchCharacter: The Autobots treat Ginrai as their only hope, as he is the strongest among his other three fellow Godmasters (and plus with Godbomber, which makes him the strongest Autobot in general). The Decepticons' feeling is mutual as they treat him as their greatest threat.
96* CulturalCrossReference: One episode makes a direct reference to Superman.
97* CurbStompBattle: As par for the course for most mecha anime, most of it naturally revolving around Ginrai.
98** Averted for Ginrai's first battle. Unlike most traditional super robot anime's first mecha appearance, Ginrai actually struggles to drive off Hydra and Buster.
99** Ginrai's 2nd battle on the other hand has him easily defeating all 3 Decepticon Headmaster Juniors despite being relatively inexperienced, and even manages to kidnap Cancer for interrogation. This is justified as the Godmasters are portrayed as naturally far more powerful than the Headmaster Juniors.
100** King Poseidon is the first Decepticon to completely overwhelm Ginrai... Not for long, because Ginrai quickly learns how to [[SuperMode combine with his trailer to become Super Ginrai]] and deliver the stomping on King Poseidon instead. King Poseidon subsequently becomes far less threatening, with Ginrai in his SuperMode easily overcoming him each time.
101** Overlord in his first appearance is predictably the first Decepticon to defeat Super Ginrai with ease. In fact, he nearly ''kills'' Ginrai.
102** Averted again for God Ginrai's first battle. Again unlike most traditional super robot anime scenes, God Ginrai's first appearance grants him neither instant nor easy victory, and he needs help from Grand Maximus to defeat Overlord and Black Zarak. In most of the later episodes however, God Ginrai easily defeats any Decepticon not named Black Zarak or Overlord, and sometimes even them.
103* DamselInDistress: Minerva, on occasion.
104* DarkerAndEdgier: This is the darkest series in the G1 Transformers era. Humans are routinely killed either onscreen or through frequent [[GoryDiscretionShot gory discretion shots]]. The BigBad is an outright [[OmnicidalManiac omnicidal monster]], and the brutal themes of war, the loss of innocence, and the meaning of evil are shown regularly.
105* DebutQueue: First, the Headmaster Juniors (at least for the Autobot side. Wilder and Bullhorn just show up). Then, later the Godmasters, with one episode off to introduce... Ginrai's trailer.
106* DefectorFromDecadence: A number of Decepticons abandon Devil Z's Decepticon cult after they have enough abuse from their masters. They don't join the Autobots, but share the same objective momentarily.
107** Wilder and Bullhorn were among their loyal members, and being abandoned to die in their own Decepticon base was the last straw for the two and they walk out on the Decepticons. They only help the Autobots so that they can have their revenge at the Decepticons for mistreating them.
108** Giga and Mega gradually grow uneasy about Devil Z's hatred of humanity and how little he values his subordinates, berate Hydra and Buster for voluntarily giving up their own humanity, and decide to engage God Ginrai in pure physical combat to demonstrate their pride in their own flesh. Overlord turns on Devil Z when he thought the latter killed Hydra and Buster, but has to be rescued by God Ginrai. After the rescue, he decides to repay his debt to God Ginrai by attacking Devil Z again.
109* {{Determinator}}: Ginrai on so many levels. The Decepticons outright note this, and actually plan that he might survive whatever they do.
110* DemonicPossession: Towards the end of the series, Devil Z takes full possession of Black Zarak's body.
111* DefeatMeansFriendship: Sixknight bows to this.
112* {{Delinquents}}: The Decepticon Headmaster Jrs., especially Bullhorn and Wilder.
113* DespairEventHorizon: Buster and Hydra hatch an utterly [[ComplexityAddiction ridiculous plan]] to do this with their hostages so they'll lose their will to live. This involves kidnapping ''every'' doctor in the entire world. They make Megatron or Galvatron look like geniuses.
114* DoingInTheWizard: The Shout Factory subtitles make a valiant attempt at proclaiming the various Chokon powers to be "Energon", but... it's magic super-powers.
115* TheDrifter: Ginrai wanted to be this. Until Buster and Hydra attacked his co-workers, prompting him to permanently join the Autobots.
116* {{Dubtitle}}: As with ''Anime/TransformersHeadmasters'', the region 1 DVD release changes the name of several characters to match their American counterparts from their Japanese. However, "Godmaster" was never changed to "Powermaster" despite the two being similar (except that transectors are non-sentient compared the already sentient Powermaster robots).
117** Plus, the name of the girl's little dog Pis is renamed to "Peace" in the subtitles. For obvious reasons. However, the grave for the dog has its name kept as is.
118* TheDragon: Overlord serves as this to Devil Z.
119* DragonInChief: Thanks to Devil Z being a pulsating globe, Overlord leads the Decepticons into battle.
120* EasilyForgiven: Sixknight's HeelFaceTurn results in him being depicted as a noble and friendly person, and while he does get an ultimate redemption when he dies, his debut episode had him kill plenty of humans at bare minimum.
121* EliteMook: King Poseidon, essentially.
122** The Sparkdash grunts may also qualify. They seem to function as Devil Z's equivalent to the Seacons.
123* EarlyBirdCameo: The intro of the series shows major characters 15-20 episodes before they are introduced in some cases. For instance, Ginrai first appears in episode 9, but he features prominently in the opening from the very start. The ending is no better either, showing all six Headmaster Jrs before the majority of them turn up in an episode.
124* EmpathicWeapon: The Godbomber upgrade for Ginrai. It can't talk, but it does communicate.
125* EnergyBeing: Devil Z. Though any further information on his motivations/origins are not divulged.
126* EstablishingSeriesMoment: The first few minutes consist of the Decepticon Pretenders attacking a cruise ship and murder everyone on board to draw out the Autobot Pretenders. It sets the tone for a series that is not shy about showing the consequences of war.
127* EvilSoundsDeep: Devil Z and Overlord. Black Zarak also has this before Devil Z possesses him.
128* EvenEvilHasStandards: With the exception of Hydra and Buster, all the Decepticons with human components turn against Devil Z in the end, [[RedemptionEqualsDeath without]] [[BroughtDownToNormal much success]].
129** Cancer begins to question the Decepticons because he wanted to be stronger, and while he does show a willingness to fight dirty if he has to, he quickly draws the line at murder, let alone mass murder. Once Devil Z goes full OmnicidalManiac, Cancer immediately defects.
130** Clouder chose to join the Decepticons merely because evil sounds cool, and became a DoubleAgent for both sides. After relaying critical information to the Decepticons, he's imprisoned by the Autobots. With the information provided, the Decepticons attack the base but abandon Clouder to his fate, leaving the Autobots to rescue him before the base blows up. Given this turn of events, Clouder [[HeelFaceTurn turns against the Decepticons]].
131** Wilder is one of the most vicious humans on the side of the Decepticons, but during a particular mission he abandons Hydra and Buster in a fit of disgust after they put him in harm's way while he's fighting Ginrai. Towards the end, he and Bullhorn desert the Decepticons when they were abandoned to die in their own headquarters.
132** Devil Z's view of humanity immediately clashes with Giga and Mega, and by extension Overlord too. Overlord has been his most loyal soldier, but there are lines he will not cross. While Overlord will usually berate his subordinates, he never physically attacks them. Finally it takes a vicious beating dealt out to Hydra and Buster for Overlord to turn on his master.
133* {{Expy}}: Ginrai's Transtector looks essentially identical to Optimus Prime, the [[MerchandiseDriven toy]] having been designed as a new version of the character.
134* EveryoneHasStandards: Shuta might have a crush on Minerva, but he immediately tries to drag Cab away from the swimming pool when Cab tries to spy on Minerva in a swimming competition.
135* EyeBeams: Black Zarak after Devil Z possesses him uses these to torture Hydra and Buster and subdue Overlord.
136* EyesAlwaysShut: Subverted. Ranger has his eyes open quite a few times in the show.
137* FantasticRacism: Devil Z's Decepticon cult shows traces of this between the humans and the Pretenders. Giga and Mega express the idea that being human makes them superior to normal Transformers. The Decepticon Pretenders on their end don't really have much to say beyond grumbling. Devil Z eventually grows to fear and hate the human race and plans to eliminate it.
138* FinalSolution: Devil Z decides to do this to humanity when he sees how powerful and determined God Ginrai is.
139* {{Flanderization}}: The character of Ginrai was severely hit with this trope soon after he gained his God Ginrai SuperMode. In the first half of the show, Ginrai is a relatively fleshed-out character with a personality. Initially starting out as a free-spirited young man trying to live the life he wanted, Ginrai shows that he is not above making mistakes and CharacterDevelopment sets in over the course of a few episodes. Shortly after his first battle as God Ginrai, his character becomes like the generic and flat characterization of the Autobot commanders of the past series.
140* FourIsDeath: Sixknight appears in four episodes through the series. The final time has him reduced to a smoking crater by Devil Z.
141* FreudianExcuse: In "God Ginrai -- Save Cancer!?", Cancer turns out to have joined the Decepticons because he wanted to help his former master to give the dojo its reputation. In "God Ginrai -- Showdown at the Decepticon's Base", he also explains that he wanted to join them to become stronger. In parallels to his action at the start of the series where he, alongside Bullhorn and Wilder, cause mayhem.
142* FrontLineGeneral: Ginrai when he becomes Autobot leader, and Overlord.
143* GoodIsNotSoft: Unlike older Transformers series where [[VillainsActHeroesReact the Autobots merely react to Decepticons]], the Autobots in this series are relatively proactive and actually take the initiative to invade the Decepticon base after locating it. While the Autobots do not unnecessarily kill, they do brutalize their Decepticon foes on multiple occasions, punching off their enemies' body parts (After all, [[GoodThingYouCanHeal Transformers can heal]]). Additionally, Ginrai in his early appearances is not above kidnapping his enemies for interrogation, although he quickly toned down as part of his CharacterDevelopment.
144* GoodThingYouCanHeal: This is touted as one of the Godmasters' abilities. Transformers in general are capable of healing from even the most debilitating injuries, but Godmasters appear to heal at a faster rate. The healing rate is portrayed rather inconsistently though. Sometimes they are presented as being able to heal from minor injuries almost instantly, allowing them to attack relentlessly without fear of getting debilitating injuries (Hydra, Buster, and God Ginrai's initial appearance) and at other times they need to waste time dodging enemy fire (Every other moment).
145* GoryDiscretionShot: Used very frequently to show humans getting killed without having to show it happen onscreen.
146* GrandFinale: Devil Z the BigBad is killed off by God Ginrai and the Autobot Headmaster Juniors, demonstrating the true potential of humanity. With Devil Z's demise, the remaining humans lose their Godmaster and Headmaster powers, while their robotic components gain sentience and leave Earth for other places to continue their war.
147* GratuitousEnglish: [[AnimeThemeSong ''You are hero!'']] and ''We Believe Tomorrow''.
148* GroinAttack: One of the Decepticon Pretenders actually gets punched in the crotch at one point. Despite being an alien robot and not having anything there to punch.
149* HandsomeLech: Lander, who apparently is struck with a critical case of MarsNeedsWomen.
150* HeelFaceDoorSlam: After Cancer talks Wilder and Bullhorn into siding with the Autobots, they rush to their transtectors, ready to join the fight, and ZAP! Devil Z separates them and brings their mecha to life on their own, all loyal to the Decepticons.
151* HeelFaceTurn: Sixknight, Clouder and Cancer eventually abandon their original cause and choose to help the Autobots. Although the rest of the human Decepticons sans Hydra and Buster also end up turning against Devil Z, they did not do so because of this trope but rather [[DefectorFromDecadence they find their prior master detestable]].
152** Sixknight wanted to prove to the Decepticons he is the strongest by defeating Super Ginrai. When he is defeated by Super Ginrai instead, he's shocked to learned that Ginrai is human. He begins to change his perspective of humans and occasionally drops by to help the Autobots.
153** Clouder helps the Decepticons to locate and attack the Autobot base, but is left to die soon after, and the ones who rescue him are the Autobots. He regrets his actions and aligns himself with the Autobots from then onwards.
154** Cancer is the most sympathetic of the Decepticon Headmaster Juniors, and over time begins to question whether he is on the wrong side. When Black Zarak attacks his home country, he tries to rescue his hometown but ends up getting buried in rubble, requiring the Autobots to save him. In the next encounter with the Autobots, when he sees that the Decepticons are about to kill his rescuers, he snaps and defects to the Autobots immediately.
155* HenshinHero: ''Masterforce'' is unique among Transformers series in that human beings play very active roles as both the central protagonists and the main antagonists.
156** The Autobot Pretenders are a unique case of this — unlike the Godmasters and Headmaster Juniors, who all are humans who become Transformers, Autobot Pretenders are Transformers who adopt a human guise to live among mankind as normal civilians. For them, going from "human" to robot is simply abandoning their human guise to retake on their own original Cybertronian appearance.
157* HeroicSacrifice: Sixknight. Overlord also has a try, but doesn't fare too well.
158** Lightfoot's also a bit ''too'' eager to give up his life for the sake of the mission.
159* HonourBeforeReason:
160** Sixknight may be an arrogant jerk who's secure in his superiority, but he'll beat you fair and square to show ''you'' his superiority.
161** As the series progresses, Giga and Mega grow increasingly uneasy with Devil Z's hatred of humanity. So much so that towards the end, Giga and Mega in the form of Overlord confront a weakened God Ginrai but insist on fighting him without using his weapons in order to prove 'the power of flesh' to Devil Z. He's willing to die in the process, if need be.
162* HoistByHisOwnPetard: In the episode "Life? Death? A Desperate Lightfoot!", Hydra threatens to cut his arms off if he doesn't join them. During the battle, Lightfoot punches Buster's arm clean off.
163* HotBlooded: Ginrai. Though he can also be mighty laid back, too.
164* HowDoIShotWeb: Early on, Ginrai and Ranger have no idea how to become a Transformer (Ginrai's first transformation happened while he was knocked out) and have to be informed of the "morphing instructions".
165* HumansAreSpecial: This is the series' overarching theme.
166** The belief that humans are special is why Metalhawk and the other Autobot Pretenders have adopted human disguises — to live among mankind.
167** Jinchokon (meaning "The Power of Man" essentially) is unique to humans. It allows the Godmasters to attain their full power by combining the three primal energies of life: the other two on their own are nowhere near as potent without Jinchokon. [[BigBad Devil Z]] plans to collect this energy by bonding Transformer bodies with humans, kicking off the series.
168** Ginrai regularly extols and demonstrates the indomitable will of humanity to his non-human opponents.
169** This belief is also held by Giga and Mega, although less obvious early in the series due to them emphasizing the [[AGodAmI superiority of Godmasters]]. In contrast, Hydra and Buster (but especially Hydra) despise their own human selves. The difference becomes clear when Hydra and Buster willingly give up their humanity in order to become fully machine, while Overlord decides to express his pride in his own humanity by physically engaging God Ginrai without weapons.
170* HumongousMecha [[FurryConfusion Real ones too.]]
171* IAmYourOpponent: Practically Ginrai's CatchPhrase.
172* IdiotBall:
173** Ginrai decidedly chooses to bring all of the other Godmasters instead of just him and one other to handle Buster and Hydra, leaving the exposed Autobot base to be raided by Decepticons. Furthermore, all prior instances had him take the Headmaster Juniors for rescue operations, whereas here, he has two of the Godmasters do rescue operations. Hydra and Buster have been downgraded into sublevel threats, especially when it comes to Ginrai, so they really aren't that much of an issue. The only reason he brings everyone is to give Overlord a chance to attack the Autobot base without interference.
174** When Blood takes Minerva hostage, Cab decides to try to attack Blood while still a human, which led to Blood foolishly not taking advantage of the fact he had two hostages in his hand.
175* TheIdiotFromOsaka: Browning.
176* ImageSong: "Don't Cry".
177* ImprobableAge: Clouder is (''probably'') a U.S government agent, despite looking somewhere in his early twenties at the most.
178* InnocentlyInsensitive: In one episode, Shuta says that the Karin Islands will become civilized. Given that Shuta is an innocent boy, he is completely unaware of how offensive that is and he quickly takes back the comment when Cab calls him out on it.
179* InsaneTrollLogic: Devil Z severely beats Hydra and Buster for failure. Afterwards, Hydra declares they deserved it for being "weak".
180* InTheNameOfTheMoon: There few a few instances the Autobot Headmasters Junuors and later on Autobot Godmasters did say their intentions of stopping the Decepticons and ironically some of the cast members would later work on Sailor Moon with one episode where the Headmasters Juniors said it to a stewardress turned into a Destriod as it would be the actor to go play Sailor Venus.
181* JumpedAtTheCall:
182** The Autobot Headmaster Jrs. Lightfoot, Ranger and Road King all seem pretty fine with having to fight evil alien robots, too.
183** Clouder as well. It's just that he decided to join the Decepticons first.
184* KickTheDog: Wilder literally kicks and ''kills'' a little girl's puppy simply because it was annoying him. As if he hadn't been shown to be an utter delinquent already...
185* KillAllHumans: After bearing witness to the feats of the Godmasters throughout the series, Devil Z panics at the power of human potential and decides it'd be a wise move to exterminate the lot of them.
186* KnightOfCerebus: Devil Z significantly ups the darkness in the series. When he takes over in the final arc, there is absolutely no comedy whatsoever.
187* LandmarkingTheHiddenBase: The Autobot's initial base is by the foot of Mt. Fuji.
188* LaserGuidedKarma: Anyone who learns that Black Zarak is actually Scorponok from Headmasters will find the fact that he was brainwashed a very fitting punishment given that all of his actions in the prior series were motivated by a desire for power and treachery.
189* LegFocus: In "Panic! Protect the Wild Animals!!," Minerva dons an outfit that shows off her legs (and midriffs to boot). Shuta and Cab immediately start [[EatingTheEyeCandy ogling her]].
190* LensmanArmsRace: Both factions race to locate the leftover Godmasters. When that comes to a close they focus on giving their respective factions powerful upgrades.
191* MadeOfExplodium: The Seacons. Later, the Sparkdashers join them.
192* MagicCountdown: In "Crisis! The Day of Human Extinction", during Black Zarak's second countdown, approximately 27 seconds pass between "five" and "two" when God Ginrai and Overload gets into a fight and Overload tries to prevent Ginrai from stopping Devil Z's weapon from completely destroying the stratosphere.
193* MeaningfulName: Cancer's name is another word for "crab". And thus, fitting for his transtector that looks like a GiantEnemyCrab.
194* MechanicalLifeform: The Transformers themselves.
195* {{Misblamed}}: After Minerva catches Shuta trying to pull a spying Cab away from the fence when they were doing their swimming competition, she calls both of them out, ignoring that Shuta was trying to stop Cab.
196* TheMedic: Minerva. Her transtector turns into an ambulance, after all.
197** All three of the Autobot Headmaster Jrs are primarily assigned to rescue duties before engaging in combat.
198* MetaphoricallyTrue: A villainous example – as revealed by [[WordOfGod Ask Vector Prime]], the Godmasters being parts of a divine being, the complete Godmaster, and Godmessenger being it's sibling, as told by Devil Z, are true, with the exception of the fact Godmaster wasn't a Decepticon God – he/she and it's sibling Godmessenger – Devil Z, are children of a Light God – member of Primus' pantheon of light, and kin to Primus and Unicron. It's more complicated though, as the origin of them eight Transtectors from the G Nebula stolen by Devil Z is also true, due to a Cosmic Paradox that created a UsefulNotes/SchrodingersCat situation.
199* MidseasonUpgrade: Ginrai becomes Super Ginrai, then he becomes God Ginrai.
200* MistreatmentInducedBetrayal:
201** Clouder initially decides to join the Decepticons, because he thinks they're cooler. Then they leave him to die in the exploding Autobot base.
202** Mega and Giga become increasingly disgruntled by Devil Z's crappy treatment of his troops, until they turn on him. Sadly, RedemptionEqualsDeath.
203* MonumentalDamage: The Arc D' Triomph gets blown up ''twice''.
204* MoreSeniorSubordinate: At the beginning of the series, the Pretender Metalhawk is the highest ranking Autobot on the planet. However, after Ginrai joins the cast, Metalhawk passes the role of field commander to him and spends most of the remaining episodes acting as MissionControl, despite Metalhawk being a veteran warrior millions of years old and Ginrai being a 19-year old Japanese truck driver. His reasoning is simple: as a Godmaster Ginrai is vastly more powerful than Metalhawk is, and his strong battlefield presence and leadership just needs proper guidance Metalhawk can best offer as MissionControl.
205* MundaneMadeAwesome: Starting a trend with this series, both Autobot and Decepticon factions started having flashier {{transformation sequence}}s. Later shows, including American shows, began to do the same thing, and ''Anime/TransformersVictory'' overdoes it with a ''minute'' sequence.
206* MultinationalTeam: The Headmaster Juniors and Godmasters on both sides are from all over the world.
207* MySpeciesDothProtestTooMuch: Unlike the rest of the human Decepticons, Hydra and Buster loath their humanity and willingly ask Devil Z to remove their human components in an effort to become stronger.
208* MysteriousPast: Devil Z spends most of the series looking like a pulsating energy ball. Then, when he fuses with Black Zarak, he states he is revealing his true form. We get a brief glimpse of some creepy looking foetus, and that's it. A later clip show hurriedly explained he was an energy being from space. And as further revealed by [[WordOfGod Ask Vector Prime]], Devil Z is the Godmessenger from the origins of the Godmasters he described. Godmessenger (Devil Z) and Godmaster, were originally children of a Light God, but when they entered Earth's atmosphere, Godmaster got [[PiecesOfGod shattered into the 8 Godmasters]], and [[FallenAngel Godmessenger got corrupted into Devil Z]].
209** And then there’s the ''Legends'' Manga, which reveals he is actually information that was placed into the Matrix of Leadership by the Quintessons when they controlled Cybertron and subsequently expelled into space when they were.
210* MsFanservice: Downplayed with Mega and Minerva (The only prominent female characters in the show), who are in fact quite modest when compared to other Japanese anime female characters.
211** Shuta and Cab find Minerva attractive but there's only a few irregular references of that dropped throughout the show. The most risque (If that term is even applicable) shown of Minerva is her in a modest swimsuit, which is only brief shots and happened once or twice.
212** Mega wasn't drawn to be overtly attractive and is actually more of a mother figure to Headmaster Junior Cancer.
213* NoExportForYou: Inverted. ''Shout! Factory'' released the entire series on DVD in North America. The only thing they did not include was the clipshows and an extra where Shuta and Grand Maximus explaining every detail about the entire story. However, it may due the fact that Creator/ToeiAnimation refuses to release the clipshows and only for the episodes, as they initially refused to send ''Scramble City'' and the 'Manga/TransformersZone'' OVA.
214* NiceJobFixingItVillain:
215** Hydra and Buster's relentless harassment of Ginrai is what convinces the young man to fully join the Autobots, whereas beforehand, Ginrai was on the fence.
216** Overlord using Shuta as a shield to defeat God Ginrai is the last straw for the wavering Cancer's faith in the Decepticons, who immediately defects, rescues the Autobots, and proceeds to tell them about the Decepticon base and Devil Z.
217* OmnicidalManiac: Devil Z's endgame is to KillAllHumans on Earth so the Decepticons can rule Earth. The problem is, some of his Godmasters and Headmaster Jrs. are humans, and some even defect from his side when he ''means'' it. It was such a problem that Cancer and Clouder even defected to put an end to Devil Z's genocide.
218* OnTheNextEpisodeOfCatchphrase: "Now, you too use the Masterforce to transform!"
219* OrcusOnHisThrone: For a time, one might think Giga and Mega are just leaders without any Godmaster abilities of their own. They eventually became the FrontlineGeneral Overlord.
220* OvershadowedByAwesome: Sixknight is not only a rare Six Changer but he's also mastered one of the three forms of Chokon energy. In any previous series he would possibly be one of the strongest Transformers in existence. Unfortunately for him by the time he shows up most of the regulars have all three forms of Chokon energy and he routinely gets kicked to the curb as a result.
221* ParentalSubstitute:
222** Hawk effectively becomes Shuta's adopted father after Shuta's real father dies.
223** Mega actually seems to see Cancer as a son.
224* ParrotExposition: Quite commonly, one character will say something, and another character will repeat it in an awed or shocked tone.
225-->'''Devil Z''': It is a powerup for Super Ginrai.
226-->'''Giga''': A powerup for Super Ginrai?
227* PapaWolf: Several of the Autobots have this towards the Headmaster Juniors. When Overlord uses Shuta as a hostage, Ginrai inflicts a very strong NoHoldsBarredBeatdown out of fury. Mega forces Overlord to stop fighting when she discovers that Cancer is buried under the rubble.
228* PetTheDog:
229** Wilder and Bullhorn genuinely care for Cancer, abandoning the Decepticons to save him.
230** Giga and Mega, despite being willing to berate their subordinates, never physically abuse them or see them as expendable, and turn on Devil Z when they see how evil he is.
231** The one saving grace Hydra and Buster have is that they deeply care for each other.
232* ProudWarriorRaceGuy: Sixknight, of the Six Clan.
233* PutOnABus:
234** The Autobot Pretenders are quickly pushed out of the limelight to make way for the super-cool Godmasters. The title sequence even changes halfway through the series to reflect this.
235** Phoenix is put on a bus almost immediately, getting virtually no screentime.
236* QuirkyMinibossSquad: The Decepticon Headmaster Juniors. After the Godmasters started taking center stage, the Decepticon Pretenders became this too.
237* RasputinianDeath: Devil Z (Merged with Black Zarak) is appropriately the toughest antagonist to kill. God Ginrai tears pieces off him and destroys his head, but Devil Z keeps moving. God Ginrai summons the Autobot Headmaster Juniors into the Godbomber Armor to boost his "Jinchokon" power and succeeds in destroying Black Zarak's remaining body, but Devil Z's spirit form remains intact. It takes a final "God Fire Guts" from the combined "Jinchokon" of Ginrai and the Autobot Headmaster Juniors to completely obliterate Devil Z.
238* RedemptionEqualsDeath: Overlord and Sixknight get this. For Overlord's case it was the human Giga and Mega that was killed off while the machine part of Overlord remain alive and loyal to Devil Z.
239* RefusalOfTheCall: Ginrai resists becoming a permanent member of the Autobot crew for a while, eventually deciding to join when the Decepticons show they won't stop making his life hell even when he's not on the battlefield.
240* RedOniBlueOni: Minerva and Shuta Goh to an extent, particularly in the first half of the show. Oddly enough levelheaded Minerva had a red color scheme whereas hotheaded Shuta has a blue color scheme.
241* RocketPunch: Ginrai's Godbomber upgrade allows him to do this. Fortunately, his fists return on their own.
242* RookieRedRanger: Once Ginrai becomes the first Autobot Godmaster, he automatically becomes the leader despite no leadership skills. Once he gains enough character development, Ginrai is able to send and give orders with no problem.
243* RuleOfFunny: In one episode, Gilmer and Blood begin to argue over who should hold the captive Minerva and begin to try to rip her from the other's hand. Minerva starts screaming in pain due to being pulled by two much larger lifeforms. If it weren't for the fact the whole thing is played for comedy, as well as possibly her Masterforce armor, Minerva probably would have been killed instantly.
244%%* {{Sentai}}
245* ShownTheirWork: Ginrai's decision to shoot the base to let some of the oxygen out and delaying the explosion is an actual strategy that is used to lessen fires and explosions in real life.
246* SiblingTeam: Hydra & Buster.
247* SoLastSeason:
248** Happens early in the series with the introduction of the Godmasters. When Hydra and Buster appear, the Autobot Pretenders and Headmaster Juniors can barely hold them off. A Godmaster Transformer is capable of healing from minor injuries almost instantly, making it more durable and seemingly proportionately stronger and faster as a result. Godmasters are also capable of manipulating a mystical force known as Chokon Power.
249** When Ginrai appears, the Godmasters' involvement gradually became "business as usual", so much so that combiners and combiner-sized robots are introduced, allowing them to overwhelm the regular-sized Godmasters by their sheer size and power.
250** As a response to combiner-sized robots, Ginrai gets a SuperMode in the form of Super Ginrai and a further SuperMode in the form of God Ginrai, becoming a Godmaster that towers over his fellow Autobot Godmasters in both stature and power. Similarly, Giga and Mega become Overlord, and shortly after Black Zarak (A mindwiped Scorponok) shows up, who is a combiner-sized Transformer with no Godmaster abilities but is so powerful that he can actually contend with God Ginrai in combat.
251* SneakingOutAtNight: The accompanying manga reveals that when the Decepticons get up to anything at night, Shuta has to go pick up Minerva since of the three Headmaster Juniors she's the only one who doesn't live in or around the Autobot base [[note]] the third member of their trio Cab lives in a treehouse in the forest that surrounds said base, while Shuta himself lives in the base [[/note]]. The problem is Minerva lives in the dorm of the international school they attend, meaning Shuta has to sneak in, get Minerva, sneak her out, and then somehow sneak her back in afterwards. One can only imagine what kind of trouble they'd get into if a teacher ever discovered a boy sneaking into the girls' dorm at night.
252* SortingAlgorithmOfEvil: Masterforce has the most prominent use of this trope among the Japanese Transformers G1 series.
253** The series starts off with Pretenders and Headmaster Juniors sub-groups in both Autobot and Decepticon factions trying to defeat their counterpart.
254** The Autobot Pretenders and Headmaster Juniors are outclassed by Hydra and Buster in any one-on-one-fights, but Ginrai soon shows up to even the odds.
255** Ginrai in his regular form cannot beat the combiner King Poseidon, and has to combine with his trailer to become Super Ginrai in order to even the odds.
256** Super Ginrai is easily overwhelmed by Overlord and had to one-up the Decepticons with God Ginrai. Black Zarak quickly comes into the picture to aid Overlord while Grand Maximus does the same for God Ginrai.
257** In the finale, God Ginrai cannot beat the Devil Z-possessed Black Zarak on his own and therefore is given additional Jinchokon power-up from the Autobot Headmaster Juniors to destroy Devil Z once and for all.
258* SpeaksFluentAnimal: Cab can converse with animals. He even keeps a bird and armadillo.
259* StoryArc: While Masterforce does have quite a few standalone episodes, it's best appreciated in a back-to-back format. Certainly executed much better than ''Headmasters'' and ''Victory''.
260* SuperGullible: This appears to be one of Ginrai's more noticeable characteristics as the series progresses. He invites Sixknight to join the Autobots but Sixknight declines, even remarking that Ginrai shouldn't be so trusting. Ginrai later accepts Clouder into the ranks of the Autobots, a mistake that costs the Autobots their base. Even after the betrayal, Ginrai accepts (verbally at least) a reformed Clouder's declaration that he wants to work for the Autobots. Finally Ginrai readily saves his archenemy Overlord from Devil Z just because Overlord is human like he is. Luckily for Ginrai, Clouder's reformation is genuine and Overlord repays Ginrai's rescue by turning against Devil Z.
261* SupportingProtagonist: Shuta plays this role in the first few episodes, where the Pretenders hold pivotal roles in the series but the story is largely seen from Shuta's perspective. TheProtagonist Ginrai debut in episode 10, and after the show shifts its entire focus onto him while the Autobot Headmaster Juniors play a supporting roles despite their prominent feature in the opening and closing of each episode.
262* TalkingIsAFreeAction: One instance has Ginrai explaining the finer points to transforming and being a Godmaster to new guy Ranger while Ranger is falling off a cliff.
263* TeamMom: Mega is a rare villainous version. She genuinely seems to care about Cancer.
264* TeamPet: Cab's parrot and armadillo, as well as Browning.
265* TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive: Hydra and Buster attack Ginrai during his day job on a few occasions. They also take the opportunity to murder some of his friends.
266* ThemeMusicPowerup: Several themes of Masterforce are good indicators that you're about to get the snot beaten out of you.
267** Ironically, one such song that was specifically about Ginrai was played while the suped-up Hydra brothers were badly beating him.
268* ThisIsUnforgivable: Most of the things the Decepticons do is usually called this by the Autobots, as per the course, but what really crosses this is when Devil Z starts killing his own minions.
269* TitleSequenceReplacement: About halfway through the series, the original multi-character title sequence is replaced by one that focuses largely on Ginrai fighting Overlord.
270* TransformingMecha: Obviously.
271* TravellingAtTheSpeedOfPlot: With the Decepticons, it makes sense that they can get anywhere they need to because they all have some capacity of flight. The Autobots by stark contrast can move across continents whenever needed, even though they have no such capability. An excellent example of this is after their base is destroyed in Japan, the Autobots new headquarters is in the Alps. The opposite also happens, in that characters will move as slowly as the episode's plot requires. Case in point, although God Ginrai has been shown to be able to fly fast enough to get to a destination, his flight from the Sea of Japan to southern Europe is slow enough to ensure that when Black Zarak attacks China, he is able to make a speedy change of course and arrives in short order.
272* TrueCompanions: Both good and evil.
273* TooDumbToLive: As the [[Website/TFWikiDotNet Transformers Wiki]] says, "Shuta comes up with the worst plan ever for dealing with a combiner". Which involves jumping on King Poseideon's arm to break it off. What?
274* UnusuallyUninterestingSight: No-one ever comments in the series that Ginrai's transtector is a dead-ringer for a certain famous Autobot. One of the clip shows explained that he was meant to be a new body for Optimus, until Devil Z got involved.
275* UnwantedHarem ([[InvertedTrope Gender-flipped]] and G-rated). Minerva has Shuta and Cab crushing on her, and Cancer becomes deeply conflicted over her.
276* UnwillingRoboticisation: Played with but mostly and clearly subverted with this entire show's premise of humans becoming Transformers. All the recruited human Autobots and Decepticons are clearly fine with becoming robots -- The resemblance to this trope is that most of them are not keen on losing their humanity either (The transformation is originally not supposed to be permanent).
277** Played Straight: In some way, that is Giga and Mega's fate in the series' finale and Ginrai nearly suffers it as well. Overlord loses the human components of Giga and Mega, becoming a true robot (And also becoming fully loyal to Devil Z). Another perspective is of Giga and Mega losing their powers while Overlord became sentient.
278** Inverted: By the end of the show, every Headmaster Junior and Godmaster who are still alive (In the human sense) are forcibly depowered while their robotic forms gained sentience.
279* VillainDecay: The poor Decepticon Pretenders suffer from this. They go from being monstrously ruthless foes to the threat level of your average He-Man villain.
280** King Poseidon also stops being quite as threatening when Ginrai beats seven bells out of him every other day.
281** Hydra and Buster, while still threatening, quickly becomes a lot less of a danger in the second half of the show when there are more Autobot Godmasters, and when Overlord and Black Zarak take active roles in the field, in stark contrast to how they are portrayed in the first half of the season as the Autobots most dangerous enemies.
282* VillainousRescue: Towards the end of the series, the Autobot Headmaster Juniors and a reformed Cancer are in a pinch fighting the Seacons, and just when they are about to be overwhelmed, the disgruntled Decepticon Headmaster Juniors come in and help turn the tide of the battle.
283* VileVillainSaccharineShow: Hydra and Buster in the first half of the show. In stark contrast to the comedic Headmaster Juniors and Pretenders (though they have had their fair moments of being serious threats), Hydra and Buster are portrayed as utterly serious threats. This ends in the second half of the show, where their threat level minimized in comparison to Overlord and Black Zarak.
284* WalkingTheEarth: Sixknight after his humbling defeat by Ginrai.
285* WatchingTroyBurn: After the Decepticons successfully attempt AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs, they utterly demolish the Autobots' base.
286* WeHaveReserves:
287** The Seacons are droves of mindless drones who show up, fire a few lasers and then explode.
288** The Sparkdashers don't fare much better.
289* WhamEpisode: Several of them
290** "Super Warriors -- The Godmaster Brothers" brings in Hydra and Buster, which suddenly not only puts the Autobots in serious trouble, but changes the entire series.
291** " Eliminate the Godmaster Ginrai" brings in Devil Z, which completely changes the tone of the series.
292* WhoNamesTheirKidDude: Plenty. The region 1 DVD names several characters based on their American toy. It would be hard listing all of them.
293* WhyDontYaJustShootHim: One episode has Hydra pretty much refuse to use his guns at the proper moment: He has Ginrai cornered and outgunned, he walks menacingly towards him, smirks and... flips his guns over and uses them as clubs. Later on his brother has Ginrai in a chokehold, so Hydra once again moves to shoot the hero, only to discard his gun at the last moment and punch Ginrai in the gut. JUST SHOOT HIM ALREADY.
294* WorfHadTheFlu: Overlord is easily beaten in several episodes either because he is distracted, weakened, or is intentionally holding back. In the rest of his appearances, he is usually the most dangerous Decepticon and it takes an entire episode to beat him, unless Black Zarak is featured prominently in the episode.
295* WrestlerInAllOfUs: Given that most of the protagonists are humans, it is not a surprise that the humans know some advanced fighting skills. Ginrai grabs Sixknight's leg and twists it in a wrestling move, while Cancer has plenty of martial arts moves.
296* YouHaveFailedMe: As one might expect, big boss Devil Z starts to get mighty peeved at the constant failures of his underlings. So much so he almost batters Buster and Hydra to death in a fit of rage.
297* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Devil Z abandons Wilder and Bullhorn to their deaths in the Decepticon base, as he no longer has any need of them. This decision angers Overlord, who tries to persuade Devil Z to allow him to rescue them. Devil Z ignores it.

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