Review: #773
Name: Armada Optimus Prime
Brand: Transformers
Allegiance: Autobot
Line: Generations - Legacy: Evolution
Year of Release: 2023
Size Class: Commander
Mold Status: new
PACKAGING:
Armada Optimus Prime is (apart from the Titan class figure) the flagship of the 2023 line, being the Commander figure.
It comes in a box with very nice artwork on the front, although the packaging itself is not too big. The back shows the usual stock photos depicting the various modes and gimmicks.
TRUCK MODE:
Based upon his Armada version, we are due on an update given the original figure was so flaws. Optimus transforms into a read and blue long-nosed truck.
While seemingly accurate to the original design from Armada, the truck looks very flat and squished. The rear section also feels too long, so something feels a bit off.
In terms of size, he is approximately Voyager size, although he is slightly bigger than a typical one in vehicle mode.
The back of the truck is obviously the robot's legs. There are no gimmicks with just the cab apart from the size rolling wheels. The twin smokestacks on either side looks great though.
Also accurate to the original toy, there are some gaps between the nose and the smokestacks, which can look weird.
A good, if not spectacular, vehicle mode. It's something that you'll accept once you see the robot modes, given that this mode had to be the sacrifice.
TRUCK MODE WITH TRAILER:
Naturally, Optimus comes with his trailer, and the trailer is a unique one, not like the multitude of drab great boxes.
With the trailer, the amount of mass exceeds a typical Leader figure, and Leader figures of the past, so he gives considerable heft justifying the Commander price point.
The trailer has two pieces that flip down so that it can stand on its own.
The trailer itself is a design that we haven't seen before, and haven't seen since. It has treads instead of wheels, and it's a big thing that has a wider width than the cab.
It's a compact dense box too, as it is not hollow inside. There are no gaps here, and most of the robot pieces are hidden quite well.
The trailer doesn't click or attach to the cab, but rather just rests on the hitch.
There is some spacing so that the truck can turn with the trailer attached.
Finally, the robot gun can attach onto the roof, so that every piece can be stored in this mode.
With the trailer, the flaws of the cab itself is more easily forgiven as it looks fantastic together.
TRANSFORMATION (CAB):
Despite his size, and the Commander price point, the transformation is actually quite simple in both cab and super mode. It's an update to the original's transformation scheme. The back of the truck splits into two to form the legs (you only need to flip the feet out, and unpeg the waist skirts). The two sides of the hood detaches and folds down to form the arms (which are the blue pieces with the smokestacks), and then you finish off with folding down the grill to form the robot chest.
ROBOT MODE (CAB):
This is also a very nice update to the original figure, and he looks really good here, retaining the stocky build of the original.
Despite having a super mode, he doesn't have that much kibble, only the waist skirts which double up as armor anyway, and part of the cab on his back.
The head sculp is fine, it looks like your typical Optimus head, but with a slightly different aesthetic.
In robot mode, he's much more similar to the height of a Voyager, but he is definitely heftier and more solid (in part thanks to the simpler transformation).
The first gimmick that he has is that his chest can flip down to reveal the Matrix of Leadership, which can also detach.
The smokestacks, which are now on his forearms, double as cannons and look really good as a result.
Otherwise, he has a black blaster that he can hold in either of his hand.
Uniquely, in order to store the blaster, you remove the Autobot insignia from his back, which goes onto his shoulder, so that you can then plug the blaster on his back.
Naturally, he is extremely poseable, with joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees and ankles.
Unfortunately, due to transformation, he doesn't get a waist swivel. The shoulders have two joints, and the secondary one tends to move and detach more than the primary one.
The two smokestacks can be removed and plugged onto the tip of the gun to form a larger blaster. The gun itself isn't bad but it's just too big for him in this mode.
TRANSFORMATION (BASE):
The trailer can transform into a base, and while it's not as simple as the original where you're basically unfolding it, it's not that hard here either. There are multiple panels you need to rearrange and adjust but ultimately, you do split the trailer by opening it up.
BASE MODE:
The original figure's base mode looked good and had tons of gimmick. This updated version is an afterthought as the focus was more on the super mode instead.
As a result, it looks okay with the gun turret up front, but the lack of any multiple levels of platforms and other weaponry, as well as the lack of a Mini-con in this version, does hurt the playability by a lot.
The base mode is still bigger than a Voyager, as you'd expect.
This mode clearly only existed because it existed in the original and you wanted the trailer to have another function in additional to being a trailer and a super mode component.
TRANSFORMATION (ROBOT SUPER MODE):
Surprisingly, getting to super mode isn't hard. The core robot has the legs split into two halfway up the torso (hence the lack of a waist swivel) as they form the super mode's arms. The robot modes then rotates up along with the upper torso, so that you can reveal the head and leave a gap for the trailer to attach.
Meanwhile the trailer's two sides in base mode are the legs, and there are surprisingly only a few panels to unfold to form the legs. The treads and the gun turret form a backpack. It then combines with the cab, connecting and being secured in two places, at the waist, and at the back.
ROBOT SUPER MODE:
Ever since Robots in Disguise did it, the super mode of Optimus is always something awesome, and the Armada version is no different. This is definitely the one mode where it is vastly improved over the original toy.
The downside is that he has a lot of kibble on his back, the bigger pieces being the treads from the trailer, as well as the gun platform.
The head sculpt is good and the interesting thing about this version of Optimus is how it adds in yellow as the third color, which is a unique blend to the traditional red and blue.
While the treads on his back isn't so bad as it sits relatively close and snug to the main body, the gun platform sticks out quite significantly behind the waist. What makes this more perplexing is how it didn't have to be. The panel is only for base mode, because it is tucked away in trailer mode and isn't required at all for the trailer, so it can just feel like this kibble was a compromise for nothing.
In terms of size, you can see that Optimus towers over both Leader and Voyager figures. He is worthy of the Commander moniker.
And also, a comparison against last year's Commander, Motormaster. While Motormaster (in Menasor mode) is taller than Optimus, without the rest of the Stunticons, Motormaster was a hollow skeleton, whereas Optimus is such a solid and hefty feeling figure.
Even at this big size, Optimus is very poseable. He had joints for his head, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, hips, knees and ankles.
His primary weapon is the same black gun, but whereas it was too big for the smaller robot, it looks too small for the bigger one.
The gun can peg onto the back if you don't want Optimus to hold it.
Apart from that, there are no other gimmicks in this mode. However, the sheer presence and look of the figure is more than enough.
You can also tell that this was where the focus of the design was, and for good reason. It is vastly improved over the original's flawed execution, as well as being the most impressive mode.
Despite his heft and the big backpack, Optimus can easily handle it and he never feels like he is about to topple over from his own weight.
Interestingly, while you may have expected ratchet joints for the hips, they are actually tight swivels instead, so they don't provide the same satisfying click when you pose him. Hopefully this joint doesn't weaken over time.
A fabulous super mode that does almost everything right.
OVERALL:
Armada Optimus Prime is one awesome figure, and is what an update to previous toys should aspire to. It stays true to the aesthetics of the original, and focuses on making a good Transformer. There are no obtrusive gimmicks, and while the truck mode and base mode both have their flaws, the robot mode and super mode more than makes up for it. The super mode in particular is everything you would have wanted after watching the cartoon as a kid (barring the missing mini-con).
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