Review: #529
Name: Galaxy Upgrade Optimus Prime
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Generations - War for Cybertron: Siege
Year of Release: 2019
Size Class: Leader (Wave 2)
Mold Status: remold of Siege Ultra Magnus
FIRE TRUCK MODE:
Galaxy Upgrade Optimus Prime (henceforth referred to as Optimus) is heavily inspired by the Cybertron version and thus transforms into a twin-cannon fire truck.
The truck has a lot of mechanical sculpting, so much that it can be too busy. The back is very obviously the robot legs.
Optimus is a decent size, although a bit hollow. Above is a comparison against The Last Knight Optimus.
The two cannons are on a hinge and swivel joint, allowing them a wide range of motion.
The molded red wheel-like sculpting may put you off and feels as if Hasbro skimped out on painting it, but if you compare it to the original toy, there was never supposed to be wheels there anyway.
There's a lot of remolding compared to Ultra Magnus, which is really impressive. Nearly everything is completely different, only the guns and back remain unchanged. Unfortunately, the front wheels are still situated too far forward to look good.
A great vehicle mode that feels solid and has a bit of play value thanks to the two large cannons.
TRANSFORMATION (TO CAB MODE):
Getting Optimus into cab mode is really easy since you unfold the two sides and then unpeg the various points to remove the fire truck attachments.
CAB MODE:
The cab by itself doesn't look too bad from the front. The large distinctive grill is a nice homage but the front wheels are situated too far forward and pulls your attention to those exposed robot hip joints.
Cab mode is where the laziness or cost-cutting hits the hardest with exposed robot arms and hands, as well as the unchanged robot legs as the bed.
In this mode, Optimus is roughly the size of a Voyager. Above is a comparison against Studio Series Deluxe Lockdown and Titans Return Voyager Optimus.
For a bonus mode it's easier to overlook the flaws, it's best to keep it in fire truck mode though.
TRANSFORMATION (TO CORE ROBOT):
There are no changes to transformation compared to Ultra Magnus. The head flips up from the chest, the arms from the back and then you fold down the legs.
CORE ROBOT MODE:
The smaller robot mode formed from the cab looks good but still suffers slightly from an overly large torso.
The kibble isn't too bad, it's only the truck's lower grill.
The headsculpt is classic Optimus and is on a balljoint.
Optimus is quite bulky and is on par with other Voyagers in terms of height. Above is a comparison against Siege Deluxe Sideswipe and Siege Voyager Soundwave.
Articulation is really good since the line focuses so much of poseability.
Optimus has got waist swivels, wrist swivels and ankle tilts to help keep him dynamic.
There are plenty of weapons too, with two large black guns and a smaller silver gun.
Optimus can hold the weapon in either hand.
There are small splotches of the silver battle damage on his wrists, which is little considering how much other figures in the line had been swamped with.
There are a few 5mm holes on the figure and you can peg in various weapons into it for storage or just a different way of wielding the weapons.
As the figure forms the core of a larger robot, this is the basis for the odd proportions (big torso but thin limbs).
Even though this is not the main show, it is still a decent robot mode.
TRANSFORMATION (TO COMBINED ROBOT):
The backpack splits into multiple pieces, yes, Optimus is a partsformer. You get legs, shoulder guards and a new upper torso with wings.
Everything pegs on securely. You just need to fold the core robot's head in and the heelspurs and everything will just peg on. The truck's lower grill splits into two pieces which can peg onto the forearms which is a really neat touch.
COMBINED ROBOT MODE:
The combined robot mode is where it is at. It is immediately recognizable as Cybertron Optimus's super mode.
He had a big backpack but since it is hollow it doesn't get in the way at all. You fold the two cannons on his back if you don't feel like using them.
The headsculpt is also great. Unlike the original which is the same head with extra bits flipped out, this is a separate head to the core robot's.
Since this is basically a Voyager figure with armor, he does not reach the heights of a typical Leader. He is still much heftier than a standard Voyager and you don't feel ripped off because of that.
Optimus doesn't lose any of the poseability he had which is awesome. However, with the addition of the wings and guns, the range may be a little bit more limited.
He has gigantic heel spurs so there is no danger of him every losing his balance and falling over backwards.
The two black guns normally peg onto the outside of his legs but he can hold them in this mode as well.
However, his main weapons are the two cannons. The flip down and underneath his wings to form hip cannons which looks great.
There are pegs for Optimus to hold in this mode. The way the joints work for the guns make them a bit more fiddly and flimsy as you need to move them in a specific way to not get it caught up among other pieces.
A fantastic combined mode with great weaponry and an athletic look.
OVERALL:
This is a nice update to the original Cybertron toy, giving him a sportier look. While the figure is not perfect since the cab is pretty disappointing, the combined robot mode is pretty epic. Galaxy Upgrade Optimus Prime is worth the asking price of a Leader.
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