Post by cybernaut on May 9, 2007 23:03:37 GMT 8
Foreword
Ok, I admit. Ever since I fell in love with Transformers again (I have 20th Anniv. Prime to thank for that...), my logic has been screwed lately.
Case in point: I bought a Deluxe-sized Fast Action Battler Movie Optimus Prime... for twice the price of a standard Deluxe. Go figure.
Packaging
Prime comes carded in standard plastic bubble packaging, in the movie design theme. Aside from the figure, there's also a simple instruction sheet and catalog.
I know its aimed a kids' toy, but I feel that the packaging's waaay too "kiddy", especially the Prime artwork. Too many colors and cartoony fonts, I suppose. IMO, the Unicron Trilogy toys had better packaging than this.
Robot Mode
Since Prime comes packged in robot mode, I'll start here...
He stands about 16cm tall, has 9 points of articulation (head, shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees...), a translucent blue firing projectile, and lots of spring-loaded parts.
Prime's detailed enough like his bigscreen counterpart for a deluxe, with the visible pistons, grills and jumbled truck parts. What I really love about this is that it stil looks like good 'ol Optimus Prime, albeit in movie aesthetics. There's the signature mouthplate and antennae, chest windows and grill abs, plus the red and blue motif. Just wish the head was smaller, since it would've made him look better.
Some kibble is present due to the auto-transforming gimmick, but doesn't look that bad, really. Prime's windshield parts obstruct the arm articulation but all other joints are nice and tight, and move freely enough. I wish there were rotators on the biceps and above the knees, but otherwise, I'm impressed with the amount of articulation here, with all the auto-transform parts around.
Just to have size comparison, here he is with the Cybertron Deluxe Primes
Prime does not come with handheld weapons nor do his hands appear to be designed to hold any existing ones from previous lines (I may be wrong...). He has, however, this...
The projectile is fired from a spring launcher built into his left arm. It's shaped like a hook (hence he's called Power Hook Optimus Prime on the card...) attached by a string to a loop on his backpack (which is essentially a large chunk of truck...). The hook is practically useless, since you can't significantly "hook" anything with it. As a projectile, it's a hit or miss thing, since it doesn't fly very far thanks to the string, and the recoil makes the thinh bounce back to Prime...(thankfully, you can remove the string...). At least, the missile won't get lost easily.
Prime has one other gimmick that I don't know how to capture on photograph. Basically, it involves you twisting the upper torso at the waist with his right (or left) arm outstretched. When you let go, the spring loaded waist snaps back simulating a "robo punch"... Not very impressive, but it's a lot more fun than Supercon Prime's "shoulder shuffling" 1-2 punch gimmick.
Truck Mode
As everyone already knows, Movie Prime transfoms into a long-nosed Peterbuilt tractor, similar to his G2 form. Due to the auto-transform gimmick, essentially, this is Movie Prime doing calisthenics, folded over and touching his toes. Most of the silver and gunmetal grey robot parts are now hidden, covered by the red and blue panels.
I like the moulding on the wheels, especially the mags. Too bad the rear end of the cab has very low ground clearance. 2 things destroy the illusion of this truck, namely the hole on the front grill where the projectile launcher is, and the hook missile itself, which stores on a slot under the rear portion of the cab. Note that the only Autobot insignia to be found on Prime is on the emblem on the grill. Robot in disguise, indeed.
Here again, beside Cybertron Deluxe Prime... Who turns into a long-nosed tractor BTW...
While the truck mode is a little deformed, it actually looks nice, sort of like a HotWheels muscle truck, especially with the flame deco. While the moulding is good for a deluxe-size Transformer, a lot of the details remain unpainted such as the windshield and bumpers, small details which woud've made a nice truck mode into an awesome one.
Conclusion
All things considered, this Optimus Prime is a cool toy. It goes above and beyond your standard deluxe-class TFs. While the auto-transform gimmick could've been better, this toy benefits from not just revolving around the spring-loaded transformation but also from its articulation and high playability and other gimmicks. IMO, its the best all F.A.B.'s I've seen.
My Score
![]()
i112.photobucket.com/albums/n182/smartalecblog/forum%
20smilies/optimus.gif[/img]
Five Optimus Prime heads out of Five!
Afterword
Honestly, I admit, at the time of this writing, this thing is waaaay too pricey. Veery expensive, really, at twice the price of a standard deluxe. But, as with all the movie toys available right now, they're all priced double...
Being a sucker for all things Prime, I gave in. Good thing the toy doesn't disappoint... Still, waiting for the official release would be wiser, especially since the most of the movie designs are an acquired taste.
Jya na!
Ok, I admit. Ever since I fell in love with Transformers again (I have 20th Anniv. Prime to thank for that...), my logic has been screwed lately.
Case in point: I bought a Deluxe-sized Fast Action Battler Movie Optimus Prime... for twice the price of a standard Deluxe. Go figure.
Packaging
Prime comes carded in standard plastic bubble packaging, in the movie design theme. Aside from the figure, there's also a simple instruction sheet and catalog.
I know its aimed a kids' toy, but I feel that the packaging's waaay too "kiddy", especially the Prime artwork. Too many colors and cartoony fonts, I suppose. IMO, the Unicron Trilogy toys had better packaging than this.
Robot Mode
Since Prime comes packged in robot mode, I'll start here...
He stands about 16cm tall, has 9 points of articulation (head, shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees...), a translucent blue firing projectile, and lots of spring-loaded parts.
Prime's detailed enough like his bigscreen counterpart for a deluxe, with the visible pistons, grills and jumbled truck parts. What I really love about this is that it stil looks like good 'ol Optimus Prime, albeit in movie aesthetics. There's the signature mouthplate and antennae, chest windows and grill abs, plus the red and blue motif. Just wish the head was smaller, since it would've made him look better.
Some kibble is present due to the auto-transforming gimmick, but doesn't look that bad, really. Prime's windshield parts obstruct the arm articulation but all other joints are nice and tight, and move freely enough. I wish there were rotators on the biceps and above the knees, but otherwise, I'm impressed with the amount of articulation here, with all the auto-transform parts around.
Just to have size comparison, here he is with the Cybertron Deluxe Primes
Prime does not come with handheld weapons nor do his hands appear to be designed to hold any existing ones from previous lines (I may be wrong...). He has, however, this...
The projectile is fired from a spring launcher built into his left arm. It's shaped like a hook (hence he's called Power Hook Optimus Prime on the card...) attached by a string to a loop on his backpack (which is essentially a large chunk of truck...). The hook is practically useless, since you can't significantly "hook" anything with it. As a projectile, it's a hit or miss thing, since it doesn't fly very far thanks to the string, and the recoil makes the thinh bounce back to Prime...(thankfully, you can remove the string...). At least, the missile won't get lost easily.
Prime has one other gimmick that I don't know how to capture on photograph. Basically, it involves you twisting the upper torso at the waist with his right (or left) arm outstretched. When you let go, the spring loaded waist snaps back simulating a "robo punch"... Not very impressive, but it's a lot more fun than Supercon Prime's "shoulder shuffling" 1-2 punch gimmick.
Truck Mode
As everyone already knows, Movie Prime transfoms into a long-nosed Peterbuilt tractor, similar to his G2 form. Due to the auto-transform gimmick, essentially, this is Movie Prime doing calisthenics, folded over and touching his toes. Most of the silver and gunmetal grey robot parts are now hidden, covered by the red and blue panels.
I like the moulding on the wheels, especially the mags. Too bad the rear end of the cab has very low ground clearance. 2 things destroy the illusion of this truck, namely the hole on the front grill where the projectile launcher is, and the hook missile itself, which stores on a slot under the rear portion of the cab. Note that the only Autobot insignia to be found on Prime is on the emblem on the grill. Robot in disguise, indeed.
Here again, beside Cybertron Deluxe Prime... Who turns into a long-nosed tractor BTW...
While the truck mode is a little deformed, it actually looks nice, sort of like a HotWheels muscle truck, especially with the flame deco. While the moulding is good for a deluxe-size Transformer, a lot of the details remain unpainted such as the windshield and bumpers, small details which woud've made a nice truck mode into an awesome one.
Conclusion
All things considered, this Optimus Prime is a cool toy. It goes above and beyond your standard deluxe-class TFs. While the auto-transform gimmick could've been better, this toy benefits from not just revolving around the spring-loaded transformation but also from its articulation and high playability and other gimmicks. IMO, its the best all F.A.B.'s I've seen.
My Score
i112.photobucket.com/albums/n182/smartalecblog/forum%
20smilies/optimus.gif[/img]
Five Optimus Prime heads out of Five!
Afterword
Honestly, I admit, at the time of this writing, this thing is waaaay too pricey. Veery expensive, really, at twice the price of a standard deluxe. But, as with all the movie toys available right now, they're all priced double...
Being a sucker for all things Prime, I gave in. Good thing the toy doesn't disappoint... Still, waiting for the official release would be wiser, especially since the most of the movie designs are an acquired taste.
Jya na!
keeping the site active as a place to dump info for easier backtracking. 