Review: #260
Name: Optimus Prime
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Robots in Disguise (2015)
Year of Release: 2015
Size Class: Legion (Wave 1)
Variations: repainted as Ultra Magnus
TRUCK MODE:
Naturally, Optimus Prime transforms into a truck, however, this time, he comes with his trailer (in red and blue).
The sculpting on the back is a bit disappointing. It would have been nicer if they sculpted tail lights and a bumper since it is the bottom of the robot mode feet after all. Would have made the truck a bit more realistic.
While he is thinner than other Legions, he makes up for this by being of a bigger height. That said, he still feels quite small in your hands.
A quick comparison with his Warrior counterpart, understandably, the proportions are not as nice and he lacks two pairs of wheels. That said, the six wheels that he does have all roll, which is a nice touch.
Perhaps the most distracting thing is the slit of blue plastic that clashes horribly with the red hood. It houses the robot head so to spare the extra expense of casting it in red plastic and then painting it blue, they opted to just cast it in blue plastic instead. Oh well. Otherwise, this is a solid vehicle mode even though the trailer is somewhat weak.
TRANSFORMATION:
The designers are being more and more creative with this smaller Legion figures. Optimus Prime has one or two neat tricks up his sleeve, the main one being how awesome folding the truck cab onto his back and then folding his head out to snap it into place. It was satisfying while the rest of the transformation is quite standard (the arms and legs unfold from the trailer).
ROBOT MODE:
Optimus's robot mode clearly makes some compromises at this small size, most noticeably his torso is fairly messy with the visible hinges from transformation.
He wears the truck cab as kibble, it could be worse but at least it doesn't affect his heroic silhouette from the front.
The head is tiny and it is fixed, you cannot turn his head at all. Despite that, they've managed to pack quite a bit of detail into it, with a silver face plate to boot.
Size-wise, he is about as big as you would expect. No complaints here although he has hollow legs.
Now, once again, a comparison against his bigger version. Naturally, the bigger version has a better defined torso but all in all, Optimus is a reasonable depiction of the character.
Articulation is quite limited, while he has poseable shoulders that can lift up, forward and to the side, the straightened arms is awkward to pose.
The lack of knee joints hurt too due to the big legs. Optimus is best left standing upright acting all heroic.
Despite all the flaws of visible transformation hinges and a small range of possible poses, Optimus looks good here.
OVERALL:
Optimus Prime is not the best Legion toy out there, nor is he the worse. He is above average and you can tell compromises has been made in both modes in order to make him work. Optimus looks decent in robot mode as long as you don't try to pose him, so if it is an inexpensive Robots in Disguise Optimus you want, then look no further than this Legion figure.
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