6. Perceptor
Transformers is essentially a boys toy franchise. What do boys like? Trucks? Check! Guns? Check! Microscopes? What? Autobot Perceptor has possibly the least exciting alternate mode as microscope. It is fair to say a lot of the Transformers demographic will be interested in science and scientific research. It is said Perceptor is based on a cross between Star Wars' C3PO and Q from the James Bond universe, which proved handy for the writers of the show with regards to the 'gadget' aspects. Multiple times, Perceptor makes it clear he isn't a fighter, he's a scientist, which takes away the 'action hero' aspect from the character. In his defense, the toy will also change into a 'tank' style vehicle. Plus, it makes more sense with the whole 'Robots In Disguise' idea as in some of the Bay films we see Frenzy turn into a ghetto blaster and laptop. Soundwave transforms in to a cassette player, too, so I would think a microscope would be more useful in an intergalactic war. The movie series would suffer if they included a transformer who turns into a microscope and tank, but there was a scientist style character in Dark of The Moon called 'Que,' marking this is a missed opportunity more than anything else. Perceptor is a cult favourite for hardcore Transformers fans, so it would of made more sense to at least use the name, even if the character ends up being fundamentally different.