Review: #947
Name: Optimus Prime
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Generations - Studio Series
Year of Release: 2026
Size Class: Leader
Mold Status: retool of Studio Series Commander Optimus Prime
PACKAGING:
A quick shot for the packaging since it looks quite nice with the artwork on the front.
VEHICLE MODE:
This version of Optimus is based upon his battle damaged self from the 1986 movie. It's a retool from the earlier Commander figure, but without all the accessories, allowing this to slot into the Leader size class.
This is a really good truck mode, one of the best that we've had. It's very clean overall.
He is not too big though, size-wise, he is a little bit bigger than a typical Voyager. However, he is hefty, and he feels very worth the Leader class money used to buy him. He feels like quality in your hand.
In vehicle mode, most of the new battle damaged panels are the cracks in the bright blue windshield, and the grill.
In terms of weapon storage, the gun pegs on the back, and the new metal shard pegs onto the front grill.
The interesting thing is that the designer didn't bother going the lazy route with the robot legs. It has quite an involved transformation to make it look clean and flat, whilst hiding the robot shin details.
Looking from underneath, you can see how packed the figure it. Nearly all of the empty space is used.
The only other play value in this mode is that he can roll on a flat surface.
This is a brilliant vehicle mode, on par with what you would expect from a Masterpiece figure.
TRANSFORMATION:
This is where the figure betrays its Commander routes. It is a complicated and very well designed transformation, much more than any other contemporary Leader classed figure. It is surprising that it managed to fit into the Leader size class as it feels a lot more involved than what the budget would allow. Nevertheless, at its core, Optimus transforms like every other Optimus, the back is the legs, the arms from the side, and the rest of the cab become the torso. What makes this a fantastic transformation are the many extra steps that hides away all the kibble. It doesn't get to the point of fiddling with small pieces, but are chunky pieces that move in a clever way.
ROBOT MODE:
As good as the vehicle mode is, the robot mode is even better and wow, even with the battle damage, this is a great Optimus Prime figure.
He does have quite a bit of kibble on his back as a backpack, but that's the price you pay for a really slimmed down Optimus from the front that takes on the cartoon proportions.
One of the main retooled pieces is the head, which is fully battle damaged.
He is slightly taller than a Voyager, but again, he feels a lot heftier and a lot more solid that even Leader class figures.
Articulation is amazing as you'd expect, he has joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, waist, hips, knees and ankles.
Despite the smaller size, his fingers are jointed (index separately to the rest).
In terms of accessories, he keeps the gun from the original release, but there is a new metal shard piece.
He can hold the gun in either hand.
New battle damaged areas that come out are the shoulders and part of his abdomen.
The grill has a hold for the metal shard to peg in.
This simulates the piece that stabbed Optimus in the movie. It's really cool... in a dark humor kind of way.
You can pull off some really good poses for Optimus using both accessories, making him seem even more heroic, continuing to battle even though he's fatally wounded.
The gun can store in his back, while the shard cannot be stored at all, which is a shame. You can kind of make do by pegging it onto the guns barrel but it's not perfect.
The other gimmick here is that his chest opens up to reveal the Matrix of Leadership, which he can hold with both hands (this is where the finger articulation becomes handy).
The brighter shade of red and blue makes the figure pop a lot more than previous versions of the character.
Thanks to the lack of kibble, the range of articulation is wide, and he can pull off some very dynamic poses.
While only having his gun is enough, it can feel like it'll be even cooler if he managed to keep some other accessories like his Energon axe.
Optimus feels higher quality and more premium than your typical mainline release. His joints are mostly swivels which feels nice to use. The figure itself is nice and sturdy.
The battle damage is an acquired taste but if you missed the original Commander release, this is still a good alternative.
A fantastic robot mode, and pretty much near perfect.
OVERALL:
The mold itself is amazing, and it is one of the best figures we've had in the Studio Series line. It is a marvel of engineering without being overly complicated. The figure feels higher quality, and for the first time in a long time, feels like it is worth more than what you would normally pay for a Leader class figure. If you don't already have this mold, then this is an easy recommendation. Although if you already have the original Commander release, it's a much harder sell since the battle damage isn't too much of a drawcard.
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