"Beast Wars": The Original Maximals Quiz

Answer: Optimus Primal

Optimus is a gorilla whilst in beast mode. More specifically, he is a silverback, representing his dominance and leadership of the Maximals. Optimus is a strong leader, and is often seen putting other Maximals in their place. For example, Rattrap after challenging Optimus' orders, Cheetor for his many mistakes, and Dinobot for challenging Optimus for leadership of the Maximals.

Optimus is noted for possessing the ability to fly. However, as he is a gorilla, he cannot fly whilst in beast mode. Instead, it is his jet pack which allows him to fly whilst in his usual robot form. The only other original transformers with the ability of flight were Waspinator and Terrorsaur (both Predacons).

Answer: Maximise!

At the beginning of the series, the Maximals would say "maximise!" in order to transform into their robot form, and "beast mode" to transform into their animal form. However, as the series progressed, they seemed to be able to transform without any exclamations. The Predacons say "terrorize!" in place of "maximise!" in order to transform.

The Maximals scanned the local wildlife in order to find hosts for their robot forms. The animals they scanned were a rhino (Rhinox), a cheetah (Cheetor), a rat (Rattrap), and a gorilla (Optimus).

Answer: The Axalon

The Maximals used the Axalon to pursue the Predacon's ship, the Darksyde, after the Preds stole the Golden Disk (a much treasured artefact). After being shot down, the Axalon served as a base for the Maximals.

The ship also held many stasis pods. Each pod could potentially create a new transformer. Many of these pods crash landed on the unknown planet after being lost from the ship. The first animal it scanned after landing was to be the beast form for the robot, and its status was Maximal, unless intercepted by the Predacons, which was often the case.

Answer: Dinobot

After leaving the Predacons, Dinobot directly challenged Optimus to a fight to the death, declaring that the winner would gain the leadership of the Maximals. Optimus accepted the challenge, and the two fought on a narrow stone bridge. This was seen by the Predacons, and seizing their opportunity, they fired at both Dinobot and Optimus. Seeing this, Optimus saved himself and his foe, Dinobot.

However, this left them hanging from the bridge. In the face of heavy Predacon fire, the two managed to escape alive, with a new found respect for each other.

Although many were suspicious of Dinobot (in particular, Rattrap), he proved to be a loyal Maximal over the next few episodes.

Answer: Cheetor

Cheetor always tried to prove himself by volunteering for missions. This often led to him having to be saved by his fellow Maximals. An example of this was during an early skirmish with the Predacons, where Cheetor was shot after failing to see Scorponok's incoming missile. Also, in an ambitious attempt to stop Scorponok retrieving a powerful cannon in another episode, Cheetor failed to see Tarantulus sneak up behind him.

This left Cheetor in need of repair and allowed for the escape of the Predacons with their cannon.

Answer: Rhinox

Rhinox was constantly coming up with new gadgets to test out. His long range com-link device in the early 1st series resulted in Cheetor's capture by Tarantulus whilst testing the device out. In the end, Rattrap was able to find Tarantulus' lair and saved Cheetor from the spider's web, which gradually drained energy from the big cat. This display by Taratulus is a clear demonstration of how he can be compared to Rhinox in terms of technological skill.

Scorponok makes several references to him being the "second in command." Although this may be the case, he rarely showed signs of great leadership. He was, rather, more of a thug of Megatrons, carrying out his dirty work and using his incredible firepower to deal with those not favoured by Megatron.

Answer: Chopperface

From the beginning, Rattrap challenged Optimus in his decisions, such as the leader's acceptance of Dinobot into the Maximal faction. Rattrap also ridiculed his team mates, such as Cheetor for his stupidity (as Rattrap sees it), and Dinobot due to his suspicions over the ex-Pred.

Despite all of this, Rattrap became one of the most loyal Maximals, playing a crucial role in many key points on the series (e.g. when he infiltrated the Predacon base to find out how they had been able to break the Maximal communication codes).

He even grew to like Dinobot (his rival from the beginning), developing a friendly rivalry with him. Rattrap was seen to be the most affected by Dinobot's death much later in the show's run.

Answer: Rhinox

The usually docile Rhinox experienced a complete turnaround in this episode. Being one of the few Maximals to never so much as to hint treachery towards Optimus, this change of character was a major problem for the Maximals. However, as it turned out, it was to be an even bigger problem for the Predacons. Rhinox's conversion to a Predacon was not done correctly and he grew an insatiable thirst for destruction.

He set about attacking Terrorsaur, Waspinator, Scorponok, and even Megatron. The Predacon status of Rhinox could be identified by the fact that his chest was silver instead of gold, and his "beast" eyes became red. Rhinox was eventually saved following a full scale Maximal attack on the Predacon base.

Answer: Rhinox

The standard hand cannon was possessed by most of the Maximals. As well as this, some of the original transformers were equipped with more advanced firepower. Examples of these include:
- Rattrap - he was a demolition expert and carried explosives which could stick to whatever they landed on. These got him out of many sticky situations (e.g. when he was trapped by a river of lava, and was able to propel himself away using an explosive).
- Optimus - he possessed two long blades, two powerful cannons mounted on his shoulders, and a double-barrel cannon mounted on his wrist.
- Dinobot - he possessed a set of spinning blades, a silver sword, and was able to fire laser beams from his eyes.

Answer: Rhinox

Instead, Rhinox remains in his original form throughout the three series and 52 episodes of Beast Wars.

Other transmetal versions of the original members include Optimus and his hover-board, Cheetor and his jet-packs, and Rattrap and his wheels and motor.

Rattrap and Cheetor, alongside Predacon's Megatron and Tarantulus were the victims of the quantum surge following the explosion which claimed the life of Optimus. Optimus was later revived by Rhinox, and along with those listed above, assumed his new transmetal form.

As well as mobility (flight or speed), the transmetal form was beneficial as the transformers could remain in their robot form without being negatively affected by the excess amounts of energon.