Review: #535
Name: Optimus Prime
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Generations - Studio Series
Year of Release: 2019
Size Class: Voyager (Wave 5)
Mold Status: remold of the first Studio Series Optimus Prime
VEHICLE MODE:
As expected, Studio Series Optimus transforms into a Peterbilt long-nosed truck. Based upon the movie, he features flames as decals.
The back is a little bit messy with the exposed robot feet (even though they are upside, they are really obvious) and the lack of a solid back.
This is a remold of the first Studio Series Optimus although the truck mode suffers. The sides of the vehicle are gone, meaning there are no toolboxes and a bunch of robotic parts are now exposed.
Above is a comparison against Titans Return Optimus. This is a slim truck, as Voyagers are these days.
The weapon can peg onto the side of the cab. It looks out of place but is good that there is somewhere to store it in vehicle mode.
At first glance, this is a solid vehicle mode. Upon closer inspection, you can tell that there are a few flaws.
TRANSFORMATION:
For the most part, it is the same as the original mold. However, to accommodate the improvements to movie accuracy in robot mode, there are some minor changes such as how the chest and hips form. This is a complicated transformation but is very interesting. The back forms the legs while the front forms the arms. However, there are a bunch of kibble that folds upon each other that tucks out of sight in robot mode.
ROBOT MODE:
While Optimus may look the same, there are a lot of minor changes that makes this a much more accurate figure. The chest and torso is completely reworked and looks a lot more natural, while there are sculpting changes to his arms and lower legs.
There are various panels folded upon each other on his back. The panels with the fuel tanks don't peg solidly though so it likes to move around while you're posing him.
The headsculpt remains great and it can swivel from side to side.
Above is a size comparison against Studio Series Bumblebee Optimus and you can see that the mold is slightly shorter than what you're used to.
As part of the Studio Series line, he comes with a cardboard stand depicting the bridge in which Optimus battled against Bonecrusher.
The robot mode fits perfectly on the standard. Despited being branded as "Transformers", based on his weapon, it feels more suitable for "Revenge of the Fallen".
The poseability is excellent, he even has wrist swivels.
Optimus has hinged shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, hips, knees and ankles.
He comes with a gun/cannon attachment.
The weapon can be held in either hand but due to the way it it sculpted, it looks better in his right.
The paint scheme is fine, there is a lot of unpainted plastic but there are enough colors, and the grey plastic used is dark enough, that it doesn't feel bland at all.
A great robot mode. The small touches made to update the robot mode helps in creating a more natural, and more show accurate, looking robot.
OVERALL:
To be honest, while the updates are nice, they really should have been done from the get go. This version is also designed to combine with Studio Series Jetfire, so assuming that some degree of planning must have gone into the line, it feels like a cash grabbing move to have essentially two figures of the same Optimus design, but force you to buy the second version if you want to be able to form Jet Powered Optimus. Thus, if you have skipped the original, then this is a good pickup, otherwise, only buy if you want to combine him with Jetfire.
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