Review: #349
Name: Optimus Prime
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Optimus Prime featuring Original PlayStation
Year of Release: 2015
Size Class: N/A
Mold Status: new
PACKAGING AND CONTENTS:
Optimus Prime comes in a big fancy box with the artwork showing off Optimus in robot mode inside a matrix-like shape.
The back of the box as per usual shows off the contents and the detailing on the figure.
The box has a flap that can open to showcase the figure, for the MISB collectors this is perfect. Overall, it is a nice package although the box is a tad bit too big for the figure itself.
PLAYSTATION MODE:
This Optimus Prime is unique and transforms into the original PlayStation. This is the first generation version and not the redesigned slimmer PSone.
It is very faithful to the original model with all the ports and sculpting that you remember on the figure. That said, there are a lot of transformation panel lines that doesn't quite sit flush even when transformed properly.
This is a significantly scaled down replica of the PlayStation. Above is Voyager ROTF Bludgeon and you can see that Optimus is significantly smaller, seemingly even smaller since it is effectively a rectangular prism.
This figure was not designed by the usual Transformers team at TakaraTomy but another team which you can tell as it doesn't hold together very well. Handling the figure you can easily accidentally detach some panel here or a peg there.
Obviously, this is a non-function console. The replication of all the detailing is brilliant though, from the text on the back, to the ports and even the paint for the video cable ports. It's fantastic.
The figure also comes with a few accessories. The first of which are two replica PlayStation discs, one is a demo disk (PrePre Vol. 1) and the other is Everybody's Golf.
The discs are made of flexible plastic (but don't fold them, think of them as laminated paper in terms of quality), and the back is black just like the real PlayStation discs.
The disc cover can open which is awesome although you can see some robot parts peeking through.
Naturally, you can place the discs inside although it doesn't spin.
The disc cover is a bit thicker than you'd expect but nothing that ruins the look. The power, reset and open buttons cannot be pressed down though, which is a shame.
The other accessory is a memory card, again, faithfully recreated.
And lastly, you have of course the original controller. This is the one that came when the PlayStation was original released, so it's not a DualShock, lacking the analogue sticks.
A cool thing is that all the buttons on the controller can be pressed.
You can attach the controller and memory card to the slots but the slots are quite tight, so you have to be careful wedging them in otherwise you run the risk of breaking the plastic divider between the two slots. This mode is passable as it does have some stability issues but the attention to detail and nostalgic factors makes up for it.
TRANSFORMATION:
Optimus Prime has a complex and finnicky transformation that's heavily reliant on panels. It isn't that intuitive and is evident that the designer isn't as familiar with Transformers. The plastic quality doesn't help so it feels at times that you're warping the plastic. Furthermore, there are some odd decisions to not include additional tabs to lock pieces into place. The concept of the transformation is simple as you just unfold the sides to form the legs and arms but somehow, it still ends up being an unnecessarily complicated affair.
ROBOT MODE:
Optimus's robot mode isn't as good as the PlayStation mode. The traditional colors of red and blue are revealed here though although grey is still the predominant color.
He doesn't actually have much kibble which is neat, although since he just transforms into a rectangular block, you'd be more surprised if he did have kibble.
The headsculpt is what cements the figure as Optimus Primes, since there's no other defining Optimus feature here.
He unfolds massively here, now becoming as tall and wide as a Voyager figure. That said, this is mainly achieved through the extension of his long legs, which are mostly hollow due to transformation.
Poseability is okay although joints are tight and the softer plastic quality prevents it from being an action figure.
His only weapons, and this is a stretch, are mini-guns that flip out from the controller's shoulder buttons. The controller breaks into two halves to attach underneath each arm.
The cord can be attached to the port on the back of his legs which gives off a Shockwave feel.
There is a severe design flaw here which is that the whole chest assembly does not peg in anywhere. It is a big flopping mess, and it looks like there might have been tabs but they don't correspond to any slot. This means when you pick him up, the red chest piece will flap around like there's no tomorrow as the hinge is so loose, and then the whole chest assembly will start to lift over his head. It's annoying and should have been picked up from the prototype stage.
He has small balljointed feet which is okay in most scenarios but Optimus can be hard to balance especially if the swivels for his feet start to give way, he'll keel over backwards.
This is an okay robot mode, the proportions are off and apart from the colors and head, nothing that really screams out Optimus.
OVERALL:
Optimus Prime featuring Original PlayStation is really only recommended for the novelty factor. The PlayStation mode is excellent although it can be difficult to keep it held together but the robot mode has a significant design flaw that ruins it. The robot mode isn't that great with odd proportions and a floppy mess of a torso. The engineering is flawed, plastic quality and bad tolerances makes it feel like the figure will easily break. This figure cannot be wholeheartedly recommended especially since he is overpriced ranging at around US$100 when he was first released.
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