Toy Review Beast Hunters Ultimate Optimus Prime

[griffin]

(Please post photos, comments or even a fully comprehensive review - these are just brief details to get you started)

Series - Transformers Prime
Sub-line - Beast Hunters
Size/class - Ultimate
New/remould/redeco - new
Wave - 1
Released here - May 2013 (not yet globally)
Approximate Retail Price - $79
Approximate Size - (25cm)
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - all-terrain truck
Main Features/Gimmicks - Electronic, spinning ring & 5 launching projectiles
Main Colours - red, blue, black, grey, green
Main Accessories - Sword, shield, 5x missiles, (spinning ring)

http://www.toycollectors.com.au/tftoys/tfpbh15.jpg

[KalEl]

Video Review of Beast Hunters Ultimate Optimus Prime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Om9aG4PVI

He is one big super robot looking Optimus Prime! Anyone that loved Galaxy Convoy (cybertron Optimus prime) will love this guy! With the basic robot design blown up from the voyager mold, this optimus has a great base.
The 5 dragon head rotary missile gimmick has a great play pattern and can be a lot of fun. It would have been great if the gimmick was removable as it needs to plug in to work in robot mode anyway. But not a must. The gimmick makes the toy a little back heavy but once you play with it a bit, you will figure the best ways to pose.

The weapons are fun, the shield being a stylized dragon head is a very nice touch. The sword/giant clever is very cool also. Both have a great design but lack basic paint applications which is a real shame. Though a easy fix for anyone that can do basic painting and washes.

This Optimus is a fun figure with plenty of play value and great 'super robot' posing options for the collectors.
Pick it up if you get it for the right price.

Full Gallery Here: CLICK (http://kalelreviews.wordpress.com/2013/05/17/transformers-beast-hunters-ultimate-optimus-prime-video-review-and-gallery/)

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj621/KalElofKrypton87/Untitled-10_zps278be5f8.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/KalElofKrypton87/media/Untitled-10_zps278be5f8.jpg.html)

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj621/KalElofKrypton87/Untitled-5_zps2a3762d3.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/KalElofKrypton87/media/Untitled-5_zps2a3762d3.jpg.html)

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj621/KalElofKrypton87/Untitled-3_zps8b927d3a.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/KalElofKrypton87/media/Untitled-3_zps8b927d3a.jpg.html)

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj621/KalElofKrypton87/Untitled-1_zpsc6010f8d.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/KalElofKrypton87/media/Untitled-1_zpsc6010f8d.jpg.html)

[Omega Metro]

I don't think I would pay more than $10 for this ugly piece of garbage.

[jazz2405]

Hi kalel could you post a pic of the tales of the beast hunters chapter on ultimate primes instructions please.

Thanks

[KalEl]

Hi kalel could you post a pic of the tales of the beast hunters chapter on ultimate primes instructions please.

Thanks

http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/jj621/KalElofKrypton87/null_zpsa40eadd3.jpg (http://s1271.photobucket.com/user/KalElofKrypton87/media/null_zpsa40eadd3.jpg.html)

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

He is one big super robot looking Optimus Prime! Anyone that loved Galaxy Convoy (cybertron Optimus prime) will love this guy!
I love Galaxy Convoy and I don't like this toy ;)


With the basic robot design blown up from the voyager mold,
That'll be why.

Enlarging a toy up into a larger size doesn't usually make a good bigger figure. Just have a look at Supreme Starscream from Cybertron.

After having a feel for it in the shop the light weight, small head and overall fatness of this guy really puts me off. The weapon looks stupid and the cab of the truck mode looks ridiculous. Easy Pass.


Hi kalel could you post a pic of the tales of the beast hunters chapter on ultimate primes instructions please.

Thanks

6 posts all asking the same thing. We get the idea thanks. >.>

[GoktimusPrime]

^I totally agree with Tetsuwan Convoy. I also really like Cybertron Leader Class Optimus Prime, but I really don't like the look of this toy. The Voyager itself was disappointing, why would I want a blown up version of a disappointing toy? :confused:

The Ringaling thing really doesn't look nearly as fun as the Wingaling on the Voyager, and it still has the ugly snot greens from the Voyager. Going for the "Generation 2" aesthetic perhaps. And don't tell me the truck mode is as fail as the Voyager in just having the arms and legs fold back behind the body! The Voyager fails in the same regard, and last night in a conversation with Sinnertwin it dawned on me -- it's like a transforming Optimus Prime cosplay! :eek:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Conventions/SupaNova%202007/th_supanova08.jpg (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y227/goktimusprime/Conventions/SupaNova%202007/supanova08.jpg)
^Rotate torso, fold head down, fold arms and legs back. Basically describes the transformation scheme of Voyager BH OP and by the looks of things, perhaps the Ultimate version too.


Enlarging a toy up into a larger size doesn't usually make a good bigger figure. Just have a look at Supreme Starscream from Cybertron.
And that's why I totally skipped that toy too! :D


After having a feel for it in the shop the light weight, small head and overall fatness of this guy really puts me off.
Sinnertwin said that it felt really light weight too.

Honestly, I think the Commander Class figure is the best value for money out of all the BH OPs. It certainly is the most complex and clever transformation proportionate to size and price. Even though the arms kinda bug me, I do like how they help form part of the cab, and while the legs also fold back, they do open up and form a more proper trailer that looks like a car carrier or something. It looks like it could actually haul stuff like a truck should! We are meant to believe that the Voyager just has a poor excuse for a truck mode, and the Ultimate doesn't look much better. Watching the Voyager and Ultimate OPs trying to conceal their robot parts in truck mode and pass off their arms and legs as rear truck sections is like watching the Autobots trying to blend into Sam's house hoping that noone will notice (http://img.mylot.com/1696570.jpg). :p

Then there's the sword. Both the Commander and Voyager have swords that look like the Star Sabre. This looks like a cleaver you'd find in Simmons' mum's butchery. There's nothing inherently wrong with it per se, and I suppose they wanted to make this toy more distinct from the other classes, but I honestly would've preferred to see a big Star Sabre. And the abundance of Hasbro-Grey on it doesn't enthrall me either.

For $79 you're better off getting a DotM Jetwing Optimus Prime. Now that toy offers loads more value than the Voyager, and I suspect the Ultimate Class toy too. I don't remember how much JW OP is selling for atm, but I do remember seeing prices being significantly slashed since it's a fairly notorious shelfwarmer. I personally don't feel any compulsion to get Ultimate BH OP, and my recommendation to others who are considering it and aren't desperately impatient to have it right now might to wait until it's on sale.

Voyager BH OPs are still widely available, so there's a fair chance that the Ultimates may not fly off shelves too quickly either. 'Specially with the mid-year sales period coming up soon.

[KalEl]

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He is one big super robot looking Optimus Prime! Anyone that loved Galaxy Convoy (cybertron Optimus prime) will love this guy!

To clarify i'm not saying everyone will love it, just an opinion of why I and others i know love the design of the new version of optimus not so much the toy in all cases. I think the voyager is a better toy. But I also feel the new one is fun.
You don't have to agree :P

Just trying to show people the toy and let them decide :)

[SMHFConvoy]

I think the 8 year old me would've loved this toy in the same way I loved the G1 bricks :)

[GoktimusPrime]

If I were an 8 year old now, I don't think I'd "love" this toy. I most likely wouldn't even buy this toy myself - the only way I'd get it would be for someone to give this toy to me. Similar to what happened to me w/ Powermaster Optimus Prime. I could never justify saving up for that toy, I preferred to spend my money on other new-character toys; Pretenders, Targetmasters, Headmasters, Throttlebots etc. But a few years later one of my cousins gave me his PM Optimus Prime for free when he decided that he was "too old" to play with Transformers. If that hadn't happened, I probably would never have gotten PM Optimus Prime. So similarly if I were an 8 year old now, the only way I'd get this toy would be as a gift; I wouldn't actively seek it out. Actually... the same standard applies now! I'd happily keep this toy if someone gave it to me, but I don't see myself buying one (honestly, not all that much has changed since I collected Transformers as a child compared to how I collect them now; probably the main thing that's changed is that I have less time to play with them :( (but certainly not due to a lack of desire)).

And just as I used to compare PM OP with 1984 OP and considered the former to be inferior, if I were a kid now I'd probably look at Ultimate OP and compare it with say DotM Jetwing Optimus Prime and think about how the latter totally trumps the former.

On a more positive note, I'm glad to see that Hasbro remembered to give Optimus Prime an Autobot insignia this time. I can't believe TakTOM neglected to give one to TFG OP. How sad is it when something as simple as adding a logo on a large and more expensive boxed toy is considered to be a bonus point? It should just be a given. :( *sigh*

[SMHFConvoy]

I think the 8 year old me would've loved this toy in the same way I loved the G1 bricks :)

[liegeprime]

Ill wait for it to shelfwarm and be put on sale. I like the jetwing version of the Voyager due to the show but unfortunately it doesn't translate at all to the toy. The toy looks lame, so Id only get this if it were on sale.

[CBratron]

Not a fan of the rebuilt Optimus. Making it even bigger hasn't changed my mind.

[SkyWarp91]

If I were an 8 year old now, I don't think I'd "love" this toy. I most likely wouldn't even buy this toy myself - the only way I'd get it would be for someone to give this toy to me. Similar to what happened to me w/ Powermaster Optimus Prime. I could never justify saving up for that toy, I preferred to spend my money on other new-character toys; Pretenders, Targetmasters, Headmasters, Throttlebots etc. But a few years later one of my cousins gave me his PM Optimus Prime for free when he decided that he was "too old" to play with Transformers. If that hadn't happened, I probably would never have gotten PM Optimus Prime. So similarly if I were an 8 year old now, the only way I'd get this toy would be as a gift; I wouldn't actively seek it out. Actually... the same standard applies now! I'd happily keep this toy if someone gave it to me, but I don't see myself buying one (honestly, not all that much has changed since I collected Transformers as a child compared to how I collect them now; probably the main thing that's changed is that I have less time to play with them :( (but certainly not due to a lack of desire)).

And just as I used to compare PM OP with 1984 OP and considered the former to be inferior, if I were a kid now I'd probably look at Ultimate OP and compare it with say DotM Jetwing Optimus Prime and think about how the latter totally trumps the former.

On a more positive note, I'm glad to see that Hasbro remembered to give Optimus Prime an Autobot insignia this time. I can't believe TakTOM neglected to give one to TFG OP. How sad is it when something as simple as adding a logo on a large and more expensive boxed toy is considered to be a bonus point? It should just be a given. :( *sigh*

8 year old me would have loved any Transformer because I grew up in a frugal household and we had either second-hand figures missing all their accessories or mainly knockoff TFs.

Green kind of kills it for me with this figure, but maybe they dropped the Autobot insignia with TakTOM because everybody by now knows what Optimus Prime generally looks like and what faction he is assocaited with.

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

but maybe they dropped the Autobot insignia with TakTOM because everybody by now knows what Optimus Prime generally looks like and what faction he is assocaited with.
But the guy is the LEADER of his faction, sure we all know he's an Autobot, but Optimus should be the one who is guaranteed an insignia. He is supposed to be the one character who is the ideals of the Autobots personified.

just my 2cents.:D

[SkyWarp91]

But the guy is the LEADER of his faction, sure we all know he's an Autobot, but Optimus should be the one who is guaranteed an insignia. He is supposed to be the one character who is the ideals of the Autobots personified.

just my 2cents.:D

Hey man tell that to the factory workers for TakTom not some stranger on otca lol

[GoktimusPrime]

I had a look at griffin's Ultimate BH OP today. Also took a few comparison pics which I've posted here (http://otca.com.au/boards/showpost.php?p=355571&postcount=8).

Previously I'd only seen photos of the toy, and based on looks I thought this toy would be crap... how wrong I was. IRL it's actually much worse! :eek: The word "terrible" doesn't even begin to describe it.

First of all, the incredible light weight of it shocked me. When griffin handed the toy to me, I was holding the Voyager in my other hand and I could immediately feel that the Ultimate figure was lighter that the Voyager, despite being twice the size! :eek: Then I got time to sit down and have a fiddle with it.

Truck Mode
Worst Optimus Prime alt mode ever. It's amazingly even worse than Titanium Series War Within Optimus Prime, which is a really crap toy. And yes, it's even worse than Energon Optimus Prime's (aka "Fatimus Prime", "Power Ranger Prime") truck mode. At least Energon Prime's truck mode is fairly solid, and while the arms look kinda goofy tucked back, it does make a significantly better effort at concealing them than this toy. I thought the Voyager was bad -- well, it is bad -- but this toy makes the Voyager look _good_! :eek:

What's so bad about it? It looks pretty much nothing like a truck. Even _less_ so than the Voyager, which is also a horrible excuse for a truck mode. First of all, its got enough holes in it for the First Fleet to sail through. Secondly, just like the Voyager, the arms and legs just basically sit behind the chest/cab section; much like my old transforming CosPlay! As dirge pointed out, my costume wasn't developed by a Hasbro funded R&D budget (it was 90% cardboard :p). The Voyager at least uses its wingaling parts to try and form some semblance of a trailer -- a terrible semblance, but at least it tries. The Ultimate figure isn't even trying. It sticks the sword on one side, the Halloween Mask^shield on the other, and the handle^ringaling on the top! It looks NOTHING like a trailer! It's basically a robot sitting down with bits tacked on! :eek:

liegeprime was playing with it like a kettle and started pretending to serve everyone a cup of tea! I started using it like an iron and was pretending to iron some clothes! griffin then encouraged me to figure out how to use the missile launching gimmick, which proved to easily be the second most fun thing about the toy! (certainly more fun than the actual figure itself). The most fun thing? The missiles look like boogers (so I went around and allowed myself the immature pleasure of "sneezing" them). :D :p Yup... that was the most amount of fun I got from this toy! I would've shoved them up my nose if they were my missiles. ;) (or maybe I did while griffin wasn't looking -- you might wanna wash those babies with some Dettol, griff :p).

Transformation
To save time (and effort) I got griffin to transform the toy as ILikeSoundwave was transforming his Hasbro Voyager and I was transforming my TakTOM Voyager so I could take comparison pics of all three. So I can't say I had the dubious pleasure of transforming this toy myself... but it doesn't look that much more complicated than the Voyager. I did notice the front wheels tuck into the lower legs rather than the back, allowing the toy to form a more solid torso. This was probably also important to allow the chest house the LED gimmick. The inner legs look a bit weird with the red sections there, but considering that it's on the insides of the legs it's an acceptable compromise. Now I know why the Voyager has those faux-wheels on the inside of the legs, to emulate this part of the Ultimate figure's transformation. Of course, both Hasbro and TakTOM neglected to paint those wheels, so at least that does look better on the Ultimate figure.

Robot Mode
Okay, let's start with some positives - as I said, it is definitely a more solid robot mode than the Voyager. Also the face sculpt is loads better too. :) The LED gimmick is pretty funky if you're into seeing his eyes and chest windows glow. While the sword doesn't look like the Star Sabre, it is still an impressive looking eff-off size weapon, and it's well complimented with a shield, even if it's an extremely strange looking one. The Ringaling missile launchers allows the top launcher to fold down and face forward, which is a nice enough play feature. They've also put a variety of paint apps to give the toy a greater colour range, particularly with increased dark-grey accents. I personally don't like them, but that's just a taste thing, there's nothing inherently wrong with them and they do help break up the blues that would otherwise more dominate the figure (I just personally like Optimus to be more red and blue ;)). But the dark greys are well done for what they are. There is also an Autobot insignia on the left shoulder which both versions of the Voyager lack.

Right, now I'm done being nice. The colours are otherwise just garish and non-metallic like on the TakTOM Voyager figure. "Hasbro Grey" abounds, particularly on the weapons; and the size of it just throws it in your face! For a toy of this size and price point, I don't see why they couldn't have used a slightly darker/nicer shade of grey. This figure also shares one fundamental flaw as the Voyager - the shoulders don't lock in very firmly. It locks in firm enough for posing and mild to moderate toy play, but any remotely rigorous movement makes the shoulders prone to popping out. :( It's still a LOT better than say Masterpiece Lambor or First Edition Voyager Optimus Prime (both on the Voyager and Ultimate)... but still not quite adequate to withstand more dynamic toy play. People who carefully pose their toys may not notice this, but people who try to play with this toy (e.g. kids) more likely will. :( It's not hugely awful (again, loads better than MP Lambor), but it's a nuisance.

The stomach claws look weird and totally superfluous, like on the Voyager. But at least they do move (triggers the LED gimmick). The head IS rather small for this toy (only a bit bigger than the Voyager's) - but it doesn't look quite as bad IRL as it does in photos TBH.

Overall
Superficial. This toy is like a Michael Bay Transformers film. It's a big spectacle with cool looking gimmicks that will draw people in, but offer little substance to maintain long term or deep level interest. It's like the kind of toy that parents will want to buy for their child because it's so big and purdy... and the child will love it when they open it and play with it. But I can also imagine that child soon losing interest in this toy just as fast too. It just doesn't seem to have that enduring appeal that Transformers are more renowned for (and has allowed the toy franchise to survive continuously for 30 years now).

One could even argue that this toy is worse than Supreme Cheetor! How? At least Supreme Cheetor had a sold cheetah mode, and while the robot mode sucked, it was well coloured and sculpted. I honestly cannot say the same for Ultimate Optimus Prime. The main advaantage Ultimate OP may have over Supreme Cheetor is that he's $31 cheaper. But as we all know, the carded Deluxe version of BM Cheetor is the best version of that character; likewise the best version of BH Optimus Prime is the carded Commander Class version. Der Voyager ist scheisse, und der Ultimate Klasse ist zehr superscheisse (oh mein Gott in Himmel!!).

I don't see any reason to get this toy unless you're a completist or you just really want to have a massive sized BH Optimus Prime to tower over your other TFP Autobots (like he does in the cartoon). Even then, there's mid year sales coming up just round the corner, so I'd recommend waiting until you can find this toy on sale first. But unless you're a stickler for "show scale" or completism, I'd recommend giving this toy a wide berth.


Green kind of kills it for me with this figure, but maybe they dropped the Autobot insignia with TakTOM because everybody by now knows what Optimus Prime generally looks like and what faction he is assocaited with.
TFGo! Hunter Shockwave also has no faction logos. :( I'm getting the sinking feeling that TakTOM have decided to ditch insignias w/ TF Go!. :(

[Defcon]

I visited K mart yesterday to check these out. Picked up the box, and it was as light as a feather. Don't know this is an indicator of cheap materials. The size of the toy itself will make this a great childrens toy. However I'm not sure about play value, but maybe it has legends class simplicity :p
Its very expensive at around $70, the size can't justify this price. I recommend avoiding it. I don't plan on a purchase as its not really my thing.

[Bidoofdude]

Also to note that OP's alt mode is not exactly a "truck" in the show.


It's actually some sort of military armoured vehicle, which is kind of accurate... (Spoiler in white) :D

Just thought I'd clarify, but it's still pretty unimaginative. :(

[Sinnertwin]

I wouldn't even buy it on clearance.

[liegeprime]

It looked like a Kettle to me actually, a stylized TF kettle or tea pot for TF collectors in his supposedly "truck mode". It even has that convenient handle to pick it up and rotating nozzles for various teas - earl grey, black, green, chamomile, oolong and milk infused tea heheheh

[Sinnertwin]

It looked like a Kettle to me actually, a stylized TF kettle or tea pot for TF collectors in his supposedly "truck mode". It even has that convenient handle to pick it up and rotating nozzles for various teas - earl grey, black, green, chamomile, oolong and milk infused tea heheheh

Thanks, LP, now i have i'm a little truckpot, short & stout stuck in my head :p

[Tetsuwan Convoy]

. It even has that convenient handle to pick it up and rotating nozzles for various teas - earl grey, black, green, chamomile, oolong and milk infused tea heheheh

NOW I am tempted to get one!!

They should put that on the box!! :p

[Raptormesh]

DAT SPOUT.

[Kazza]

So I was able to look at this first hand, and to me the plastic coloring on Optimus looks drab/cheap similar to something you would expect on a cheap McDonald toy. I don't like how the emphasis is on the gadgets and gimmicks over the actual robot itself. Definitely not worth the asking price of $79.00, and probably refuse to get it, if it ends up in a bargain bin.

[crankcase76]

Not a fan at all, the green is just not working for OP and the gimmick of 5 firing weapons is not a big deal breaker for me. So i will be skipping on this OP as Hasbro could have made him a lot more appealing with the wings and like the JP version have a blue windscreen.

[Mythirax]

Reviving an old thread here, but didn't see the point in making a new one. I wasn't a fan of this figure at all, then I decided to put a hammer to it. Now it looks pretty cool in my opinion.

http://i.imgur.com/iJP4ngU.jpg

I knocked the pin out of his teapot parts, and can now sit the shield on his back, decently tight too. So I'm quite wrapped with how he turned out. I removed his head and tried to fit a few different Optimus ones on, but none of them matched perfectly. So keeping the same old head.

Thoughts? Seeming as this figure was pretty cruddy.

[Deonasis]

Thoughts? Seeming as this figure was pretty cruddy.
Yours looks a lot better.

[Penetrator]

chrome up the plastic grey and maybe its worth while...

[Mythirax]

chrome up the plastic grey and maybe its worth while...

I think that'd look quite out of place, unless you did the same sort of thing to the red somewhere maybe.

[Penetrator]

I think that'd look quite out of place, unless you did the same sort of thing to the red somewhere maybe.

Maybe just give the whole thing a better paint job so it doesnt look like cheap plastic

[Deonasis]

Give him an easy-to-do wrist swivel mod.. http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radicons-customs/969953-ultimate-bh-optimus-wrist-mod.html

[Mythirax]

Give him an easy-to-do wrist swivel mod.. http://www.tfw2005.com/boards/radicons-customs/969953-ultimate-bh-optimus-wrist-mod.html
Thanks for that, that's fantastic!