Toy Review: Transformers Generations Studio Series Devastation Optimus Prime (Deluxe)

Review:  #856

Name:  Devastation Optimus Prime

Brand:  Transformers

Allegiance:  Autobot

Line:  Generations - Studio Series

Year of Release:  2025

Size Class:  Deluxe (A-Level)

Mold Status:  new

VEHICLE MODE:

This Optimus is based upon his appearance in the Devastation game, which was a surprise.  As a result, the shades of red and blue are slightly more vibrant, and the windshield is painted in such a way to emulate the cel-shaded graphics of the game.

This is far from a perfect truck mode, the front and sides are gappy, and the back has the robot feet obviously folded and sticking out like a sore thumb.

His is very compact as well, the general downsizing of Deluxes continues.

The robot weapon, which is his energon axe, slots into the back.

To be fair, the the windshield effect to emulate the cel-shaded graphics works really well here.

A good truck mode at first glance, until you see some of the flaws.

TRANSFORMATION:

The thing is, this isn't a complicated transformation, and so it makes it all the more bewildering why there are so many compromises in truck mode.  The back splits and forms the legs like any other Optimus.  The cab transforms very similarly to previous toys as well, with the arms folding out, and rotating him at the waist to get rid of the bumper.  At least the grill is real.

ROBOT MODE:

Optimus robot mode is decent, he has a stylized G1 aesthetic and it works really well.

Some of the gappiness in vehicle mode kind of makes sense here, like the side fuel tanks that fold onto the outside of his legs are not not gappy anymore (as the other side is showing).  It's neat how the front wheels fold into his torso, even though they're visible from the back.

The head sculpt is decent, and is clearly Optimus and very cartoon looking.

He's a typical Deluxe size here as well, trading some width for a little bit more height.

Articulation is good with joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips, knees and ankles.

His chest can open up to reveal the Matrix of Leadership, which can then be detached and slot into some grooves of his fists to make it seem as if he is holding it.

His sole weapon is an energon axe, painted in bright orange (maybe transparent orange plastic would make it look cooler, although not as striking).  It slots over his hand.

The weapon pegs onto his back when not in use.

One of the most impressive thing with this figure is its balance.  It can easily balance on one foot, while striking a kicking pose.

One thing that is weird is how the fists rotate out from the front of the cab with a very obvious painted red strip (on blue plastic).  It's just an odd design that feels unnecessary as other Optimus toys don't have this.

Either way, this ends up being a better robot mode than you'd expect.

OVERALL:

The small size and truck mode might disappoint, although the robot mode helps make up for it.  He is surprisingly charming in his own way, as the cel-shaded / cartoony look helps make him pop amongst other Transformers.  He has more play value than expected too, although missing a ranged weapon isn't too great.

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Deca-Dence (2020)

Deca-Dence is an original anime, with the season being 12 episodes long. We get a quick background of Natsume, who lives in a mobile fortress called Deca-Dence. There are monsters known as Gadoll that prowl the landscape, and the fortress has dedicated teams that fight the Gadoll, as well as harvest their meat for sustenance. There’s a hierarchy, and Natsume wants to become part of the team that heads outside to fight the Gadoll.

The true nature of Deca-Dence is quickly revealed, although maybe not with as much clarity as it could have given. There’s a dual purpose to Deca-Dence and it gives it a weird dynamic between the population within Deca-Dence, and the population outside of it, which also seems to have a significant influence. Although at the end of the day, the anime is still about Natsume, and her experience in first learning to fight, and then actually becoming part of the team to head outside.

The unique thing about Natsume is that she lost her left arm early as a kid, and in its place is a mechanical one. However, that is more of a liability for her. She meets Kaburagi, who is an amazing fighter, but Kaburagi harbors a big secret about himself. He’s part of the other civilization in the background of Deca-Dence. To be honest, this connection between the two populations is somewhat weird and not sure how it works out since at the end of it, it is all one big illusion.

Once the concept and premise of the world becomes clear, and how it works, it soon loses its uniqueness. It’s not that unique at all. Yes, maybe the roles are reversed but the events of the anime has stock standard development. Kaburagi is the true protagonist, and he gets a change of heart in the way he views the world, and who he wants to help. He builds a connection with Natsume and in wanting to protect her, he basically wants to destroy the Gadoll, and with them, the current world order.

Even though the events become more predictable and generic, a development and decision by Kaburagi in the second half of the season increases the pacing. It helps to overcome the staleness of the plot, and while it isn’t anything new or revolutionary, it helps kick things into gear and there is more meaningful action as the characters have proper objectives. It also lightly touches on the more philosophical aspects of its plot, albeit nowhere near its full potential.

Unfortunately, the anime falls flat in its finale. Yes, there is a big enemy that the characters have to fight. Yes, everyone that they’ve met joins together in a display of camaraderie to fight against the threat. And yes, there is a big battle where the good guys win and there is a wonderful ending. However, it does this in the most predictable of ways.

Overall, Deca-Dence is a very average anime. It has a slightly unique premise, where it is the reversal of the normal scenario in isekai anime. It then promptly reverts to a predictable formula with a story that falls flat. The characters are bland, the concept doesn’t quite gel together, and there is a lack of ingenuity and excitement.

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Toy Review: Transformers Generations Studio Series B-127 / Bumblebee (Deluxe)

Review:  #855

Name:  B-127 / Bumblebee

Brand:  Transformers

Allegiance:  Autobot

Line:  Generations - Studio Series

Year of Release:  2025

Size Class:  Deluxe (A-Level)

Mold Status:  new

VEHICLE MODE:

B-127, otherwise known as Bumblebee, is based upon his appearance in Transformers One and transforms into a Cybertronian race car.

It's a sleek flatter vehicle, so can look somewhat weird, especially with the two fin pieces sticking out the back.

He's roughly Deluxe sized, just a tad bit tinier than ones from the past.

The robot weapons peg onto the vehicle mode.  The blades don't look too bad though.

The unpainted yellow wheels is definitely a downer, since the plastic doesn't have any metallic sheen to it, the overall figure looks much duller than the movie.

The vehicle mode feels a bit squished / slim, but is not a bad vehicle.

TRANSFORMATION:

Nothing too amazing or surprising here.  The back forms the legs and requires a few flips.  The front actually forms the robot torso which is great to see given so much faux kibble being used nowadays.  The arms unfold from the bottom.

ROBOT MODE:

B-127 has a decent robot mode but lacks some of the "3D" effect from the movie.  He feels a bit flat and "smooth", maybe there isn't enough sculpted detailing, it's mainly his chest which appears too flat.

He doesn't have much kibble though, the roof sits on his back.

The head sculpt is good, and contains a neutral expression which doesn't reflect his more cheery and childish personality from the movie, maybe a smile would have been better in this case.

He is short though, which is disappointing since nothing else makes up for it.

The shins appear flat... because they are, due to transformation.  It makes his legs look awkward.

Articulation is good with the usual joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, waist, hips, knees and ankles.

He comes with a gun and a pair of blades.

The gun is long, and can be held in either hand.  While the blades peg on top of his hands so it looks like they morphed into them.

Everything can plug onto his back when not in use.

Despite the articulation and amount of accessories, there's just something that feels missing with the figure.  Like, there's not horribly wrong with it, but can feel generic.

The blades are sculpted to double up as blasters as well, you have to have both though.

An okay robot mode but it doesn't feel like too similar to the movie model.

OVERALL:

B-127 feels like everything that's wrong with the Studio Series in terms of losing its focus on accurate but fun and interesting toys.  B-127 inherently doesn't have much wrong with him, but he seems off somehow and a bit generic.  Or maybe he's just uninspiring.  Still, if you like the movie, the design and the character, then he is worth it.

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