Review: #521
Name: Optimus Prime
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Bumblebee
Year of Release: 2018
Size Class: Speed Series (Wave 1)
Mold Status: new
TRUCK MODE:
Despite being in the movie universe, as the film itself was set in the 1980s, Optimus transforms into the more familiar red cab-over truck.
As the figure has a simplified transformation at such a small size, there are heaps of robot kibble such as the exposed robot shoulders that stick out and the robot feet as the bed.
Speed Series is equivalent to the Legion size class and so he's pretty small.
At this size, this is a pretty decent vehicle mode.
TRANSFORMATION:
Getting to robot mode is really easy as the legs just fold down from the back. You rotate the waist around to reveal the thinner torso. Fold the arms from out of the cab. The head flips up as part of the panel which is slightly annoying.
ROBOT MODE:
Optimus tries to replicate the complicated movie design at this size with a simple transformation and it's no wonder that there are compromises everywhere.
There's plenty of kibble such as the wheels under the arms and the truck grill on his back.
The headsculpt is indistinct and since the head is attached to the panel, it doesn't look good at all.
Optimus gains a lot of height in this mode, he is taller than most other Legion figures.
Unfortunately, articulation is pretty bad. He only has balljointed hips and elbows. The shoulders are swivels which means he cannot lift his arms out.
You cannot believe how limited poseability is without the ability to lift the arms out to the sides and this is his biggest flaw.
An average robot mode, too compromised even at this size.
OVERALL:
For a cheap figure, Optimus prime is okay. He's not the best in the size class, it is neat that he doesn't have the peghole for the vehicle launching gimmick at an awkward place like the rest of the line (the hole ends up at the bottom of his feet). The restrictive articulation is the killer and the blandness of the color scheme makes him slightly hard to recommend.
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