Review: #132
Name: Optimus Prime
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Prime - Beast Hunters
Year of Release: 2013
Size Class: Voyager (Wave 1)
Variations: the Japanese version has some color changes (notably the transparent green changed to transparent blue)
VEHICLE MODE:
Optimus transforms into a short-nosed truck (unlike his previous model) that for some reason, reminds me of Star Convoy (it's the cab).
I'm going to make this clear right off the bat, this is a TERRIBLE truck mode. It's basically the robot lying down with minimal effort done to hide the legs (that's his feet at the back and there's no attempt to make it even look like a proper truck's back). The only dedicated truck parts here are the wheels and cab, everything else is folded up robot pieces (that doesn't even do a great job at hiding).
What's more, Optimus is really short. He's the length of a Deluxe figure, although he is taller, that just makes him feel stumpy. Plus, he's fairly light for the supposed bulk.
Optimus has got a 'visible head' syndrome. When I first transformed him, I thought I did something wrong since you can still quite obviously see his head, but nup, that's the way it's supposed to be. It really puzzles me since there's nothing in the cab that's preventing the designer from letting his head flip further in.
His fists are also visible at the back, with only the Star Saber to slightly detract you from it (and it's not as if the Star Saber is realistic there either).
Optimus is quite armed in this mode, with a missile launcher on either side of the truck. The yellow painted side windows look tacky (actually, most of the yellow paint applications are tacky).
If you take off the missiles and sword, you're left with a truck that looks even worse. The robot wings form the sides with a cage like structure on the top. All six wheels roll though.
A fairly disappointing truck mode (especially when compared to the First Edition or even the RiD mold), this is pretty much a folded up robot.
TRANSFORMATION:
Extremely simple. It all boils down to flip down the legs and flip around the arms. While it may be disappointing from an engineering's perspective, the simple transformation does allow for some quick conversion between molds, such that you may find yourself transforming Optimus more than you'd expect. The way the wheels form his back is neat, although it may be tricky at first to find the correct way as it's not entirely clear how it is supposed to go (if you do it wrong, then the wing-pack won't sit flush).
ROBOT MODE:
This is where Optimus shines through and makes up for the disappointing truck mode and transformation. He's big and bulky here, his design being completely revamped. He's very imposing and the sculpting is good.
He sports integrated wings, so you can expect that he can fly. There aren't too much kibble, only the wheels that are on his back (since there aren't many truck-specific parts to begin with).
The head sculpt is interesting, it's faceplate-less. If they painted the two sides of his face silver then I think it would have made it much better. The eyes are lightpiped with that ugly transparent green, and it works fairly well. The head is on a swivel joint but he can still look up thanks to a transformation joint.
While compact in vehicle mode, the transformation unfolds a lot. He's the regular height for a Voyager classed figure. Personally, I think he bears next-to-zero resemblance to the original Prime design, Beast Hunters Prime looks more like a completely new Optimus character from another continuity.
In terms of weapons, he has both his missile launchers, the sides of which can fold out to form a bow-type weapon. He also has the Star Saber, sadly, it's in green, I would have preferred blue like the Japanese version or even just silver like in the show.
His wheels have holes in them to plug in the missile launchers to look like jetpacks. I haven't taken any photos of this since it's a tight fit and there has been too many reports of this configuration leaving stress marks.
Obviously, Optimus can hold his missile launchers on either hand, and they look pretty good there.
Same can also be said for the Star Saber, it's not as big as how it was depicted in the show, but it's still a considerable size. There's a peg on right side of the hilt so that may change your preference on whether Optimus wields the sword left or right handed.
If you don't want him to hold his weapons, or you don't want the launchers at jetpacks, then you can place them on the wingpack, they just plug in the same places as in truck mode.
Optimus has the ability to hold all his weapons at once, you'll just have to place two launchers in one hand, it looks okay.
The large feet allows Optimus to be stable in a variety of poses, yet they can be limited since the feet can't fold forward (only backwards which has limited uses).
Despite his bulky look, cost-cutting is evident here. Wherever possible, the pieces are hollow, but what makes this more acceptable is the fact that they've covered the hollow parts up. Instead of being glaringly obvious, the hollow pieces are fully covered (instead of previously where you can see the hollowness when viewing from the back).
If you don't like his wings you can always fold it down his back and get it out of the way.
This guy has a surprising number of ratcheting joints, his shoulders and knees. Articulation is pretty good, except for the fact that his wings will get in the way of his large shoulder pads when you're trying to pose his arms.
Paint apps are decent, with silver detailing on a few areas. The transparent green for his windshield seems tacky here. This shade of green is not a good choice.
He's a lot of fun to play around and pose. The legs are particularly well sculpted. The plastic doesn't feel too cheap and he doesn't feel fragile.
A fun robot mode that displays well and isn't ruined by forced gimmicks.
OVERALL:
An extremely weak truck mode is balanced by a strong robot mode. The design will still take some getting used to but this is one of the most intimidating Optimus toy in a while. He's stable in both modes and the lack of any balljoints mean that he won't become a floppy mess in the future. Recommended if you like the robot design.
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Many other Transformers reviews can be found on this page.
His fists are also visible at the back, with only the Star Saber to slightly detract you from it (and it's not as if the Star Saber is realistic there either).
Optimus is quite armed in this mode, with a missile launcher on either side of the truck. The yellow painted side windows look tacky (actually, most of the yellow paint applications are tacky).
If you take off the missiles and sword, you're left with a truck that looks even worse. The robot wings form the sides with a cage like structure on the top. All six wheels roll though.
A fairly disappointing truck mode (especially when compared to the First Edition or even the RiD mold), this is pretty much a folded up robot.
TRANSFORMATION:
Extremely simple. It all boils down to flip down the legs and flip around the arms. While it may be disappointing from an engineering's perspective, the simple transformation does allow for some quick conversion between molds, such that you may find yourself transforming Optimus more than you'd expect. The way the wheels form his back is neat, although it may be tricky at first to find the correct way as it's not entirely clear how it is supposed to go (if you do it wrong, then the wing-pack won't sit flush).
ROBOT MODE:
This is where Optimus shines through and makes up for the disappointing truck mode and transformation. He's big and bulky here, his design being completely revamped. He's very imposing and the sculpting is good.
He sports integrated wings, so you can expect that he can fly. There aren't too much kibble, only the wheels that are on his back (since there aren't many truck-specific parts to begin with).
The head sculpt is interesting, it's faceplate-less. If they painted the two sides of his face silver then I think it would have made it much better. The eyes are lightpiped with that ugly transparent green, and it works fairly well. The head is on a swivel joint but he can still look up thanks to a transformation joint.
While compact in vehicle mode, the transformation unfolds a lot. He's the regular height for a Voyager classed figure. Personally, I think he bears next-to-zero resemblance to the original Prime design, Beast Hunters Prime looks more like a completely new Optimus character from another continuity.
In terms of weapons, he has both his missile launchers, the sides of which can fold out to form a bow-type weapon. He also has the Star Saber, sadly, it's in green, I would have preferred blue like the Japanese version or even just silver like in the show.
His wheels have holes in them to plug in the missile launchers to look like jetpacks. I haven't taken any photos of this since it's a tight fit and there has been too many reports of this configuration leaving stress marks.
Obviously, Optimus can hold his missile launchers on either hand, and they look pretty good there.
Same can also be said for the Star Saber, it's not as big as how it was depicted in the show, but it's still a considerable size. There's a peg on right side of the hilt so that may change your preference on whether Optimus wields the sword left or right handed.
If you don't want him to hold his weapons, or you don't want the launchers at jetpacks, then you can place them on the wingpack, they just plug in the same places as in truck mode.
Optimus has the ability to hold all his weapons at once, you'll just have to place two launchers in one hand, it looks okay.
The large feet allows Optimus to be stable in a variety of poses, yet they can be limited since the feet can't fold forward (only backwards which has limited uses).
Despite his bulky look, cost-cutting is evident here. Wherever possible, the pieces are hollow, but what makes this more acceptable is the fact that they've covered the hollow parts up. Instead of being glaringly obvious, the hollow pieces are fully covered (instead of previously where you can see the hollowness when viewing from the back).
If you don't like his wings you can always fold it down his back and get it out of the way.
This guy has a surprising number of ratcheting joints, his shoulders and knees. Articulation is pretty good, except for the fact that his wings will get in the way of his large shoulder pads when you're trying to pose his arms.
Paint apps are decent, with silver detailing on a few areas. The transparent green for his windshield seems tacky here. This shade of green is not a good choice.
He's a lot of fun to play around and pose. The legs are particularly well sculpted. The plastic doesn't feel too cheap and he doesn't feel fragile.
A fun robot mode that displays well and isn't ruined by forced gimmicks.
OVERALL:
An extremely weak truck mode is balanced by a strong robot mode. The design will still take some getting used to but this is one of the most intimidating Optimus toy in a while. He's stable in both modes and the lack of any balljoints mean that he won't become a floppy mess in the future. Recommended if you like the robot design.
----------------------------
Many other Transformers reviews can be found on this page.