The yoyo that lived up to the hype for me was the Batsquatch. It’s a crazy good organic bimetal.
The one that surpassed my expectations was the Overdrive Draupnir. That one is definitely more yoyo than I was ready for.
The Hummingbird left me feeling unimpressed. It’s a fine throw, but, for me, it’s not the super awesome competition bimetal that the hype around launch dictated.
Lived up to the hype:
TiVayder - best yo-yo ever, plays way beyond its price point so much it’ll probably never be matched in that respect.
Out played the hype: Batsquatch
Let me down: Duncan Big Fun - supposed to be “tunable” That’s malarkey also to me the worst playing plastic ever. But what let me down the hardest was Duncan’s customer service. The plastic bent when trying to adjust the vibe out. I emailed twice, no response (I know who to email) I went back to the Duncan booth for help, 1 guy tried his best but it was still damaged (Mongu Edition) while the other guy said “Person X will reach out to make this right.” Never happened. I was a huge Duncan fan before this and since then I’m way less interested in supporting them.
Waiiiit @smileypants707 said the response on the alleycat was good! Are you referring to the OG or the 650b?
I hope lots of people got their first awesome titanium yo-yo this way… still some available at the website, too, but not many!
Honestly the OG Banshee is the best one, still. Just MHO.
That’s because real H shape is the bomb, yo! 
Sad but true… pour one out for the many forgotten YYF releases that were quite good (Alta anyone)?
Same thing happened to me with the big fun, having it be two plastic halves with a metal insert bearing seat that has an o-ring to creat friction to the plastic parts is just insane. Luckily the retailer I bought it from just sent a replacement when I complained about it’s terribleness and the second one was great.
Poor design is poor but it’s still a fun weird yoyo. I doubt it’ll be produced for long because of its failure rate. Granted a better version of it is the fools gold yeti 2.0 that is silly cheap.
My biggest disappointment was the one. Just a heavy tiny rock that wants to turn constantly. The magicyoyo V3
Thanks man! Yeah I’d check out the Nobubaga for sure. Surprisingly good. I’d say it’s 95% as good as a draupnir in the same areas.
I was out in the boonies and only half my comment got saved. Weird 2g internet.
My biggest disappointment that didn’t live up to the hype. The one as stated previously. I have no idea why I keep seeing recommendations for this throw. I’m guessing people haven’t actually thrown it. And are only looking at the package of having an extra bearing and pads and being dirt cheap. Magicyoyo V3 is mildly disappointing too. Very smooth on string, lowest spin time out of the box of anything I’ve tried even old school fixed axles. There was so much grease on that bearing. Also super painful when it rockets into your knuckles.
Biggest surprise was the whip. That is a great yoyo and even cheaper than the one. It’s like a good stable one. I don’t know why the one is produced when the whip exists. I wish that came with the extra bearing and they still hard the Ann Connolly colors around.
Lived up to the hype: recess first base. I don’t think I will ever abandon this throw. I bought another because mine has stress cracks near the bearing seat and I’m going to be very sad when it goes to yoyo Valhalla to meet it’s battle brother the replay pro that was my first loss. I love that it turns on me only if I’m doing tricks sloppily. It just feels like the perfect yoyo to practice on. And it can take a beating. When I throw my edge after it, it feels like I entered the Konami code and don’t even have to think about what I’m doing.
Does the YYF One really get recommended a lot? I can’t remember seeing any strong recommendations for it in the 1.5 years I’ve been on these forums.
I see it more over on reddit r/throwers.
Yeah I bought one early on at the recommendation of r/throwers and instantly regretted it. Ended up giving it away along with a Velocity to some kid who got his Velocity stolen at school.
Did you try the Joyride? It’s a metal first base!
Did not know this, thank you! Also, still throwing the b grade Vayder daily, thank you again! It lived up to the hype and surpassed.
I can’t even imagine what a misshapen lump of metal it would look like if it took the hits I’ve given the first base. Maybe once I get good enough to not be randomly banging the yoyo into furniture or my head, I’ll get one.
I’ve been on the prowl for a dinged one but they haven’t come up. I think I’m just looking for a mmc and c3 railgun (I have no V’s) right now.
Og, for whatever reason I haven’t been able to respond the way it did out of the box,
Side note my dad is a programmer and he loved your blog! And the ti vayder is incredible
Thanks!! Yeah the OG had some issues that the 650b definitely fixed!
Must…Resist…the…FOMO! 
FOMO is real, the struggle is real.
#firstworldproblems 
F’realsies
Yes, another yoyo site had it for a while as a starter pack and I recommended it for my friend, it really isn’t a great yoyo though. Way too light when you put a full c bearing in, and just doesn’t have the size to be fun as an advanced players yoyo. Literally any other plastic yoyo on the market will outperform it in spin time and trick-learning potential.
I love my OG after you add the pink pads from the 650.
Literally any Banshee. I cannot even describe how perfect they each play for me in their own way and how great they feel in my hand.
I might have to name a few. I was unsure about the new Firedevil but I got one recently and just love it.
ThrowCafe Espresso. I wasnt expecting it to be so great and I literally sold every other small throw I had once I got an Espresso.
MK1 Umbra. @MarkD made something so special recently. I was not comfortable trying something so wide but I trusted his design and the Umbra is a keeper.
I haven’t really been very DISAPPOINTED with anything yet but there was an expectation that I would’ve enjoyed the BiND in play more bases purely off of recommendations, but I didnt enjoy the weight. It felt heavier than other yoyos I tried at the same ballpark of weight but for me personally it was uncomfortable.
