Transformers Prime: Optimus Prime First Edition Voyager Review

"Every sentient being deserves an opportunity for redemption"

Updated 03/24/2012 with head fix!

Leader of the heroic Autobots, Optimus Primes fights for the freedom of all. He values the life of humans and worries about the safety of them.  With the loss of Cybertron, the Autobots have made Earth their home.  His strength is only matched by the evil Decepticon leader, Megatron.

After a whole season of Transformers Prime without any toy line, Hasbro finally releases voyager wave one with Optimus Prime and Bulkhead.

Box Front and Back:

The new plastic voyager packaging gives a great view of the bot mode and some awesome box art.

Truck Front:

A really good looking semi.  Unfortunately there's no chrome and the headlights are blue not yellow in the cartoon.  He's also missing the side mirrors.  The Robots in Disguise (RiD) version has side mirrors and yellow headlights.

Truck Left Side:

The rear legs don't lock in place in truck mode.  The wheel well is missing blue.

Truck Right Side:

The sides of First Edition has a nicer side with deep red unlike the grey around the windows in the Robots in Disguise version.

Truck Rear:

Not much paint here and really neat how the feet fold into the cab.

Truck Top:


Truck Bottom:

A very tight undercarriage.  The legs give him away though.

Paint color differences:

The difference in paint used on the cab roof is quite evident. Luckily it becomes the heel in bot mode and un-noticible.

The trailer hitch:

A standard 5mm peg hole so you plug in a weapon or a custom trailer

Transformation:

Transformers Prime transforms unlike any prime you've ever had. It's not as easy as most Optimus Primes but definitely easier than ROTF Leader Optimus Prime.

Inside Optimus Prime's chest

Sadly, there's no matrix inside but a well detailed truck interior as seen on Darkness Rising.

Front:

The false windshields fold into place on his chest.  Optimus Prime's body is slightly wider than the cartoon but looks really close to the cartoon.  All the dark grey should be silver and the upper leg should be the same as his lower chest.  The wheels end up on the shoulders which isn't accurate to the show which ends up on his upper back like the RiD version but the First Edition properly aligns the smokestack outward near his head while the RiD version shoot upward from behind his arm - the First Edition is way better.  Moreover, the RiD version has blue translucent lower arms and grey pieces at the top tip of his shoulder pieces which is not on the First Edition and not in the cartoon.  The Takara First Edition version has a darker grey color for the leg, smokestack, and upper chest.

Right Side:

A thin side profile highlights the lack of back pack kibble.

Left Side:

The bottom front piece of the foot pushes into a tab but it doesn't hold well so that's why I have a gap in his leg.

Back:

The back kibble folds tight to the body.  The smokestacks are made from soft PVC so they won't poke out an eye.  The Robots in Disguise (RiD) version has double the size back kibble and looks really bad.

Top:


Bottom:

A large foot and heel make Optimus Prime was stable.

Gun:

Although his hands transformers into a gun in the cartoon, here, his gun covers up his hands.

Blade:

Just like Prime's gun, his energy blade covers his hands.

Bendable blade:

Very bendable material reduce the chances someone pokes out an eye.

Articulation:

Swivels knees/elbows and ball joints wrists, foot, and legs give Prime good posability.  His good weight balance helps too. 

Transformers Prime Voyager First Edition:

Optimus Prime is a tad smaller than he should be compared to voyager Bulkhead.

Transformers Prime First Edition:

Optimus Prime is a tad too small and Arcee is much too big.  But they look awesome together.

Transformers Prime First Edition Toy Scale:

All the released Transformers Prime First Edition toys from shortest to tallest.

Optimus Prime with RiD Megatron:


Henkei/Classics Optimus Prime, Transformers Prime Optimus Prime, Transformers Animated Optimus Prime

Transformers Prime Optimus Prime looks like a cross between movie Prime and Animated Prime.

Although I have a few complaints with Transformers Prime Optimus Prime such as pieces not snapping well together and paint color differences, Optimus Prime is lovely to pose and looks very show accurate. The transformation is impressive to give you a great toy in both modes. I wasn't a fan of the Transformers Prime show but the toy line definitely has me hooked. It's a great toy and one of the best looking Optimus Prime toys.  I recommend any Transformers fan should pick up.  If you're thinking about the Robots in Disguise (RiD) version, don't.  This verion is much better with proper red arms and smaller back kibble not too visible from the front.



Eric Toy Score: 4.5 out of 5

Publisher: Hasbro
Year: November 2011
Price: $29.99

Note: Hasbro has announced the cancellation of the First Edition line of Transformers Prime toys for the US (source).  Prices for Optimus Prime on the secondary market have soared to $40 or more.

Updated 03/24/2012: New fix for head!  Optimus Prime's head is not properly snapped to the ball joint from the factory.  This fix gives him back the ability to look upward and his chin is now further from his neck:



Here's the fix:

• Unscrew the back of the head
• Separate the front and back halves of the head. Notice the back of the head is on the ball joint, but is not "snapped" on properly.
• Snap the back of the head onto the ball joint. You will need to use a little pressure.
• Reattach the front half of the face.
• Screw the head back together

Popping the head back onto the joint takes a little pressure:


Here's how it looks from the front popped in properly:


Optimus Prime looking up, finally!

The head fix gives Optimus Prime better head movement and he looks better too!

*Originally Posted 01/20/2012*