Predaking's looking good, Optimus, not so much
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Predaking's looking good, Optimus, not so much
im getting him, i shall review too :PQuote:
Originally Posted by griffin
I picked PredaKing up today while I was on my lunch break from Kmart for $69
Some pics of Beast Fire Predaking with Voyager comparison and light up feature...
http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...7.jpg~original
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http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...7.jpg~original
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http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...a.jpg~original
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http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...c.jpg~original
http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...0.jpg~original
http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...8.jpg~original
http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...a.jpg~original
http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...8.jpg~original
no Sign of Predaking or Optimus at Melton or Airport West
and keilor downs only had optimus, will keep looking around over the next few days
Ok, for the life of me I can't figure out how to upload the pics directly that aren't gonna give everyone eye strain, so instead of throwing my pc across the room, here is the link for the album
http://s1315.photobucket.com/user/Co...eward/library/
I hope you don't mind, but I've taken the liberty of adding your pics on the Transformers Prime Comparisons thread. LMK if you want me to alter or delete this post.
I've also made a post on how to link images from Photobucket to the board here. I know the new format can be pretty confusing. Frustrated the hell out of me at first! ;)
Hey it's all good. Thanks for the tips too...
Thanks to the user who posted Ultimate Predaking's chapter. Anyone got ultimate Optimus's tales of the beast hunters chapter. Be much appreciated to read it.
Thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bulkhead
Cheers muchly, but I'm all good myself. I was thinking more about the majority of posters here - Hasbro Australia really doesn't look after Aussies very well.:(Quote:
Originally Posted by lololol
I live in Osaka, Japan so I'm covered by TakaraTomy Classicsverse-wise.:)
Also, before anyone asks, my contract doesn't allow me to 'earn income' on the side so I can't score any Japanese TFs and do the reimbursement thing or I risk losing my job. Many apologies - I'd love to have a little side business/hobby selling JP TFs but them's the rules.:(
Rest of my images as promised. I tried not to double up with anyone else's.
For those wanting the barcode of this one it's 6-53569-84949-0
Packaging...
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a622.jpg
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http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a623.jpg
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http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a624.jpg
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Still in the insert. Legs are not transformed into beast mode. There are two joints in the knee, and they just left the legs in robot mode and just bent them at the knee.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a625.jpg
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This is the beast mode with the legs properly transformed as beast legs. It's not noticeably different (I wouldn't even have noticed if I didn't see the extra hinge and tabs when transforming it), so it can work either way in Beast mode, if you were lazy and wanted to skip a step of the transformation.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a626.jpg
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All the bits that come off. I was surprised that the wings just slip right off... often while just transforming it. They sit over the battery covers, so probably was unavoidable, although it makes it another gimmick that ends up sabotaging the playability of the toy (because it is frustrating how easily they come off).
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a627.jpg
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The transformation is as simple as most of the Deluxe Beasts in this series, in that it pretty much just stands up and folds out the legs and head. The wrists are ball-socket joints, which have very little strength for the heavy "sword". If you pose it with the sword on an angle, the hand will flop down from the weight of it. It seems ironic that the bio says no one else can wield the mighty infernum sword, but the design of this toy makes it difficult for Predaking to hold it as well.
With the fist holes going all the way through the hands, it makes it possible to have the two missile launchers on one hand if it is holding the sword in the other, or stick them in the post-holes on the outsides of each forearm like on the packaging.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a628.jpg
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Bit disappointed that the sword/tail isn't painted part-orange like on the box. But I guess it was one of the cost elements to be cut between prototype and production.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a629.jpg
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Another shot of all three size classes of Predaking.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a630.jpg
Now to find Optimus...
Got my Predaking tonight and to be honest I am a little disappointed. Unfortunately I felt every good point was balanced by a bad point and as a result feels like a figure derived of compromise.
That being said, first I will summarise the good, his colours are fantastic, vibrant contrasting black and orange looks amazing. Strong ratchet joints in the elbows, shoulders and knees are fantastic. Ball jointed wrists (though a little weak) and ankles are welcome additions allowing for good poseability. His dragon head gimmick is fun and the simultaneous illumination looks great.
Onto the bad, transformation, for a figure at this price point I was expecting the transformation to take more than 30 seconds. His wings though articulated aren't amazingly poseable and as Griffin stated have a tendency to fall off. Robot mode head looks odd, his chin needs more depth (like the voyager). Both modes feel compromised to allow for the other mode, with neither really pulling off a solid look.
In summary I still like this piece and I glad I bought it, but is it worth $69? No, unfortunately it is not, wait for a sale.
Thanks for the pics and reviews!
Seems a little disappointing. It's frustrating to see this level of engineering on a large-scaled figure. The Voyager version's transformation, while simple, has that neat lower body bit..
Is there $69 worth of value in Predaking? i could walk into a Kmart store today and purchase 3 FoC Deluxes ($19 each), 2 Prime Legends ($5 each) and still have $2 left over for a kit kat. I like the look, but i'll consider him when/if they go on clearance pricing.
The other main gimmick that ends up stunting the poseability of this toy is the "biting head" gimmick.
You push on a leaver at the base of the neck, and the head moves forward as if biting (the jaw opens as the head moves forward). As such, there is no articulation to the neck outside of the gimmick's range of forward and back motion.
Based on the size though, in Australia this is a better value toy than the Voyager class. Because we pay $45-50 for Voyagers, while this Ultimate is $69 - it is only about 50% more expensive, and only needs to impress a little more to be worth it. But in America the Voyager class is about AU$20 (plus tax), which means that if this Ultimate version is indeed AU$60 (plus tax), that's a 200% difference... making it need to impress Americans a lot more to be worth the extra expense of this one over the Voyager version.
ill pay aussie prices and desperate american prices lol. who wants my money
I've got mine on layby at the moment but Hasbro has stated that they are trying to move away from overly complicated transformations.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bumbleb33
If this guy is a breeze to change I'll take that as a positive because I look at BW TM2 Megatron and I'm hesitant to transform him to dragon mode. Or even worse, BM Nightscream (horrible!)
So this is going to retail in the USA at $60 bucks for Predaking, but really doubt once there is wind of how average it is the price is going to plummet. Sorry if others disagree, maybe I would like it more if I had watched series 3 TF Prime, but I am currently thinking if it will be a drama returning mine with the twisty ties removed, might wait until someone dry brushes him up with some silver or gold before i decide...was really excited for this guy.
anyone got a pic of ultimate optimus's tales of the beast hunters chapter?
Just got back from Chermside in Brisbane and Kmart had 5 Primes and 3 Predakings if anyone is interested. I didn't get either as they really didn't impress me.:(
i've done a review, video and pictures of the ultimate optimus if anyone is interested. In the review section: http://www.otca.com.au/boards/showth...ewpost&t=16133
I've also uploaded a little gallery with some comparison pics. http://s924.photobucket.com/user/LMi...?sort=3&page=1
Need a pic of ultimate primes chapter 17 of tales of the beast hunters if someone has it please
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...psa40eadd3.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by jazz2405
Thankyou kalel
you are welcomeQuote:
Originally Posted by jazz2405
Nice work, Kal :)Quote:
Originally Posted by KalEl
Such a shame that nobody in America, or anywhere else has one to review yet ;)
not a shame at all :P mind you it would be good if the big sites noticed lolQuote:
Originally Posted by Sinnertwin
Passed Predaking at Kmart Sanctuary Lakes today. Looks pretty impressive. Too bad I didn't have the cash right now. :(
Inserting images for those unable or unwilling to go to other sites. Looks like some of these have been posted already, but I took all these before logging on tonight.
(I'm not at home at the moment so can't do a comparison of all three Optimus toys)
Barcode - 6-53569-84985-8
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The accessories. It also had in the box separate, the handle that you have to plug into the back for you to hold and turn. (the toy was probably too fat to fit in the packaging with it already attached)
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a655.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a656.jpg
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Light up feature by pushing down the front panel.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a658.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a659.jpg
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http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a661.jpg
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a662.jpg
Transformation was fairly simple too, but I guess that's probably necessary now... it might feel "too simple", but I think we wouldn't feel this way if it weren't for all those years of over-complicated movie designs.
Basically, the arms fold back behind the torso, the legs spin around at the waist and then fold back to latch onto the arms. Then a set of wheels fold out and forward from within the legs to be the front wheels of the truck and bumper. Fold down the head and the 'ring of doom', plug in the sword and shield to the sides, and you have a completed, very-gappy truck.
The gimmick is probably a bit of fun for the kiddies, but makes both modes look really stupid. And I can't stop thinking of a bubble-blower from the missile that has the hoop on the end.
One negative to note for those who love to pose their toys - no foot joint/articulation, while the head only slightly moves to each side due to the back of the skull hitting the hinge behind it.
But like Predaking, if this toy is only $9 more here than in America, it is going to be more worth it compared to the Voyager size for us because this one is at least twice the size, but less than double the price here.
Have to agree dude, the transformation seem extra simple due to a recent over saturation of complicated movie transformers and even some of the classics/generations. The value is not bad considering the size and compare to the size and cost of the voyager. The ankles definitely are a small let down in a bot that size, really have to take time to balance him out in dynamic poses (moving one ratchet click at a time :P ) but the dynamic poses are still possible :)Quote:
Originally Posted by griffin
http://i1271.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4bdb23a5.jpg
The toy actually only has a massive packaging, Hasbro has a knack for putting toys into even larger boxes. If you think about it we are buying air half of the time. The only thing making the toy look massive really are the wings. it's the same size as Cybertron Scourge in beast mode but not as solid.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bidoofdude
Last two pictures of these, now that I have both Ultimates together...
Size comparison of Optimus. The Voyager looks so tiny in comparison, so for about 75% dearer, you certainly get a fair bit for your money here. In America though, it is not as good value, as Voyagers there are $20, and the Ultimate is supposed to be $70.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a663.jpg
And size comparison of the two Ultimates.
http://www.toycollectors.com.au/blog/a664.jpg
Optimus looks like he'll make an entree out of Preds
Why is Optimuses head so small?
Does Ultimate Optimus have a moving faceplate feature?
From what Ive seen at the fair, he doesn't have any.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallestblue
noQuote:
Originally Posted by Tallestblue
I was just thinking about that the other day when I was watching the latest ep... they should've given this toy a moving faceplate. Voyager Animated OP had one after all. :rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallestblue
That would've blown the design budget out of the water, GP :pQuote:
Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime