Review: #314
Name: Optimus Prime
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Generation 1
Year of Release: 2002
Size Class: G1 and Action Master
Mold Status: repaint of G1 Optimus Prime and Action Master Optimus Prime
PACKAGING AND CONTENTS:
2002 New Year Special Convoy (henceforth "Optimus") was released exclusively in Japan to celebrate the 2002 new year (i.e. an excuse to reissue the G1 Optimus mold yet again).
Nevertheless, Optimus comes in fancy packaging showing the contents of the figure, and the back has a great piece of artwork.
This version of Optimus comes with a bunch of accessories, including all of his original accessories. That means you get both versions of his rifles, fuel pump and the connecting rubber piece, four missiles, a die-cast Matrix of Leadersheet and chain to loop the Matrix with.
You get a card which shows the original toy artwork on one side and his tech specs on the other.
A weird inclusion is the mouse pad with the Autobot logo. Not really something you'll want to use and wear out.
Of course, you will have all the stickers to put onto Optimus himself.
A bonus sticker sheet filled with different sizes of the Autobot insignia is included too.
VEHICLE MODE:
Covering Optimus' cab first, this is a boxy cab but looks fantastic. The only negative are the holes for headlights.
He's very clean looking from the back and it makes its more impressive considering that later Optimus Prime toys have so much junk in the hitch area.
There is a huge amount of chrome on this toy: the fuel tanks, fuel stacks, grill and headlights.
Despite being the Autobot commander, G1 Optimus isn't actually that big. He's about the size of a Deluxe. However, he does have a decent amount of die-cast metal meaning he'll be quite hefty in your hands.
Without a doubt, the vehicle mode is incomplete without his iconic grey trailer.
The rear of the trailer is a bit plain. With the smooth surface, you would have expected a sticker or two to give some detail but alas, it was not meant to be.
The trailer attaches to his hitch but it doesn't clip on securely, it just relies on gravity (i.e. lifting the trailer up does not lift the cab up).
With the trailer, he appears much bigger now.
The trailer has some nice sculpted details but the Autobot symbol and blue and white stripes on the sides look fantastic. All ten wheels have chromed hubcaps and rubber tires.
Opening the back up you can get roller out.
Roller is a blue little vehicle with six rolling wheels and looks like it can fit some Diaclone figures if you happen to have any.
Roller himself is actually hollow in the middle, being deceptively light when you lift him up.
Roller has a port on top to carry one of Optimus' accessories. The main one is that you can plug Optimus' rifle on top.
The other option is to attach the fuel pump. Note that the rubber connection piece actually deteriorates easily and becomes hard and easy to snap even when kept sealed.
Next, you can open up the trailer itself to reveal the Combat Deck, which is one of the neatest aspect of the figure.
The repair drone pod has three joints and a swivel, which gives it a lot of flexibility. There are also two spring-loaded missile launchers, with very powerful springs.
The cockpit of the drone pod can open up where you can put in a Diaclone driver.
Most of the sticker sheet goes into decorating the base, and it gives so much detail it's quite crazy. The various screens showing statuses and other stuff truly gives the feeling that this Combat Deck is manned and used to monitor the Decepticons.
Roller can also be launched (you can actually also launch him with the trailer closed up, since the trigger is on the outside). It's another powerful launcher and will fling Roller far across the table.
Officially part of the instructions, Optimus looks like he can make the Combat Deck mobile. Whether he will fit on any roads is another matter entirely...
The other more practical way is to stick the drone pod outside. It's still odd but gives the vehicle mode some fire power. Overall, Optimus' vehicle mode provides heaps and heaps of play value, he's a playset on his own!
TRANSFORMATION:
Being a figure that's over 30 years old now, Optimus has a simplistic transformation but clever and ingenious during its time of release. Optimus has the distinction of the robot mode being nearly fully incorporated into the vehicle. The only extra pieces you need to attach to complete the transformation are the fists. It's a short and simple transformation but fun and impressive.
ROBOT MODE:
The iconic Optimus Prime toy is a fair representation of his cartoon self. There are some concessions made such as the gappy torso and blocky look overall.
There are no kibble in this mode. This gives Optimus a clean robot mode.
The headsculpt is clearly Optimus albeit a bit squashed. The head is unfortunately fixed into place though.
Opening up the windshield, there is a gap. In vehicle mode, you can actually store the fists in here to not lose them (or you can put Diaclone drivers as was originally designed for). The Matrix included in this set is also designed to plug into this gap.
The Matrix has a tiny slot which holds it upright. You can just see the Matrix behind the blue-tinted windows, which is the main difference in this version of the toy. That and the blue eyes. The original has transparent windows and yellow eyes.
He's a bit taller than a Deluxe in robot mode. The die-cast is now situated in his feet and the windshield, so the weight distribution is steady.
Poseability at the time is decent, since he has shoulder, elbow, hips and knees joints.
That said, the knee joints are near useless since if you bend his knees, it's almost impossible to keep him standing.
Optimus can hold his gun, although the handle is just long enough for him to hold securely. An odd design.
The difference between the two guns is that one is thicker while the other is thinner and appears longer.
The cool thing with getting both guns in this set is that Optimus can dual-wield to blast some baddies.
Optimus himself can interact with the Combat Deck, though the repair bay function which involves standing the trailer up. It looks quite cool.
He appears much too big to man the Combat Deck itself though, it's really scaled for humans.
A great robot mode and one of the best in the G1 toyline. Fitting for the Autobot commander.
ACTION MASTER:
This set also comes with the Action Master figure, repainted to have a show-accurate color scheme.
Action Masters is a weird concept of the Transformers toyline, since they don't actually transform. They usually came with a transformation playset base accessory.
They are supposedly super poseable and maybe they were compared to the G1 figures but it's still very limiting. You only have joints for the head, shoulders and hips. The G1 Optimus figure has more points of articulation!
The headsculpt is excellent though, it's like a stylized cartoon head.
The Action Master is a small figure in terms of size. Probably around Scout sized.
It's hard to find a pose for the Action Master without him fall over or in a neutral pose. Quite disappointing as an action figure.
His small size means he can interact with the Combat Deck. The Combat Deck itself looks good filled with Legends and Legion figures too.
OVERALL:
G1 Optimus Prime is an amazing figure for its time and is a figure that lives up to being the flagship toy of the Transformers line. Optimus brings a lot of play value and the core robot is fantastically designed. The Action Master figure is underwhelming though. As a set, this presents great value with all the additional stuff that you get, however, it commands a hefty premium nowadays. Nevertheless, it is highly recommended that you get at least one version of the G1 Optimus figure because he is such a great toy.
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