Toy Review - Age of Extinction Leader Class Optimus Prime

Optimus Prime
Series - Age of Extinction
Sub-line - Generations
Size/class - Leader
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 1
Released here - May, 2014
Approximate Retail Price - $99
Approximate Size - 22.5cm to top of head, 23.5cm to top of 'backpack'
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Western Star 4900SB
Main Features/Gimmicks - N/A
Main Colours - blue, red, grey
Main Accessories - sword, gun-shield

Note: This review will be making a lot of comparisons with First Edition Age of Extinction Optimus Prime (hereby referred to as FEOP)

PROS
+ Nicer use of chrome. Whereas FEOP concentrates chrome on the torso, shoulder and front grill/bumper, Generations Leader Optimus Prime (GLOP) distributes the chrome around more. There's less chrome on the robot mode but more on the truck mode which, IMO looks nicer.
+ While this toy still has a fair amount of panel-kibble, it's better distributed than on FEOP, with panels on the shoulders, hips and rump instead simply folding behind. This more spread out distribution helps to make the toy look more like a 'Transformer' in a traditional sense; i.e. a robot who's carrying his alt mode parts all over him... whereas FEOP is almost like a Pretender whose vehicular shell folds onto his back. :o
+ More paint apps on the arms, sword and gun-shield
+ A more "proper" transformation; i.e. is not nearly as much of a shell-former as FEOP.
+ Also a more solid toy in both robot and truck modes, whereas FEOP feels somewhat hollow. The rear of the truck mode looks a lot nicer too, without the 'empty' feel of the rear of FEOP's truck mode.
+ All windows are transparent.
+ Rubber tyres! :)
+ 22 points of articulation! :eek: Including articulated thumbs. ;)
+ Eyes are light piped yellow -- I prefer yellow eyes on Optimus Prime than blue because they better offset the colour of the blue helmet (wheres blue eyes tend to blend too much). Although sticklers for screen likeness may not like this.
+ The smaller shield works better and it also has a freakin' gun attached to it! :eek:
+ Autobot insignias are sculpted on the hubcaps! Noice.

CONS
- "You're rather short for a Stormtrooper." -- both robot and truck modes are notably small for a Leader Class toy, and smaller than FEOP.
- Larger shoulder panels are a bit cumbersome (although they are on double-swivel joints which allow them to be positioned on of the way).
- Hasbro Grey. :( (FEOP has a nicer looking darker grey) Although the grey hubcaps are a nice touch... chrome would've been better, but grey is better than just black. :o
- He's still carrying a silly backpack (which one would expect from a Voyager or Deluxe, but is still rather ordinary to see on a Leader), but it's a significantly reduced backpack and not as obtrusive as FEOP's backpack.
- The lower parts of the backpack kibble (where the fuel tanks are) still provide some obstruction to backward movement of the legs. I really wish that they could swing back up or something to get them out of the way.
- Why transparent yellow?? Eewww...

Other
* FEOP has two silver lines running along the helmet above the eyes, whereas GLOP has omitted this in favour of silver deco on the forehead crest. Both look nice in their own way, so it's really a matter of personal taste. The screen model appears to have silver on both of these helmet elements, so neither is really more or less screen-like than the other. I personally prefer the stripes on FEOP's helmet as it helps to break up the blues of the toy.

Overall
This toy is still disappointing for a Leader Class Optimus Prime toy, especially considering that the Leader Optimus toys from TF1, ROTF & DOTM were all outstanding toys; each improving over the last... this toy still feels like a step backwards when compared to other Movie Leader Optimus Primes -- having said that, it's not as much of a great leap backwards as FEOP. ;) GLOP is actually a rather nice toy... just not a great Leader class toy. It's like somewhere between an Ultra and a Leader, so I reckon about $80 is a reasonable price to pay for this toy, but certainly not $99. If you're considering getting a Leader Optimus Prime, then I would recommend this toy over FEOP, and if you can find it on sale (places like Kmart & Big W are currently selling this toy for under RRP :)).

IMAGES

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^L-R: Leader, GLOP, Ultra, Voyager

Ive pre-ordered the Takara version. I think it's about the same price (Kmart price) than this Hasbro version. And looks soooo much nicer.

Awesome review and Screenshots. I'll have to go out and get myself one. I think it looks a lot better than the First Edition.

I do want the mold, I think, but I don't want another toy that looks so similar to the First Edition. I'll wait and see if Hasbro manage a repaint of the figure (as opposed to a "Silver Knight" depaint) and then look at getting that version. Fingers crossed.

Stock images:
Hasbro version - photos on the official page is more accurate to the look of the actual toy
TakaraTOMY version <---looks to have nicer paint apps in robot mode, but still suffers from having yellow windows; RRP 7500JPY (approx. AU$80)

nice review gok didn't know it was a different mould.

I'm kind of tempted, actually - I like the fact that the truck's panels are arranged a bit more evenly around the figure, and that the shield has an integrated gun. It's a shame the backpack's bulk couldn't be compacted a bit more or the parts spread throughout the figure, but oh, well.

Maybe when it's on sale...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Magnus

I'm kind of tempted, actually - I like the fact that the truck's panels are arranged a bit more evenly around the figure, and that the shield has an integrated gun. It's a shame the backpack's bulk couldn't be compacted a bit more or the parts spread throughout the figure, but oh, well.

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IMHO it's cos the AoE screen models are far too streamlined, showing very little alt mode kibble. Look at Optimus Prime -- aside from the smoke stacks, there's very little alt mode parts visible on that robot. Where are the windows? Tyres? Grill? Wing mirrors? Fuel tanks? etc. :( If you look at Optimus Prime from the previous films, a lot of those alt mode parts are clearly visible, and thus it was easier to adapt it as toys, as we saw with the Leader Class Optimi from the last 3 films. In the Special Features part of the TF1 DVD, Aaron Archer explains that Transformers have to transform and that they don't morph -- meaning that there has to be definitively visible alt mode kibble like wheels and doors etc. hanging off the robots. According to this interview, Hasbro ensured that this was done w/ the movie designs in the first film. But for some reason, this directive seems to have been dropped for Age of Extinction. This throws a massive monkey wrench into the works when it comes to developing the screen models into products. Adapting the live action TFs as transformable action figures has always been a big challenge, but making the robots look like "Themed Cosplayers" compounds this challenge even more, and I think the result is evident in the decline in design quality of a lot of these AoE toys compared to those from the previous films' toylines.

In the case of Optimus Prime, a lot of the alt mode kibble which seems to disappear like G1 Prime's trailer, ends up having to be distributed somewhere. Arguably toys like Universe/Henkei Ironhide and Ratchet do a better job of this, but those toys don't have robot modes that have to stick to a pre-defined design (they just have to resemble the G1 cartoon model, but not be precise replicas of them (that's something that MPs strive to achieve)). So I think the back pack is a by-product of HasTak's engineers attempting to put all the alt mode kibble somewhere, but still try to make the robot look like the slick and streamlined screen model. I'm half frustrated at Michael Bay/Paramount for creating designs which are so counter-intuitive to toy designs, but I'm also frustrated at Hasbro for allowing this; especially when it was something that Hasbro previously would not have allowed. Have Hasbro become more liberal/lax in terms of not vetoing such decisions from Bay, or did Bay deliberately ignore requests from Hasbro to not do this?

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Anyway, here's pics of the toy transforming. ;)
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...ps22877684.jpg

wow. FE Prime looks huge. I'm being really cautious about AOE stuff. I want it but I think i can wait for sales.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by GoktimusPrime

IMHO it's cos the AoE screen models are far too streamlined, showing very little alt mode kibble. Look at Optimus Prime -- aside from the smoke stacks, there's very little alt mode parts visible on that robot. Where are the windows? Tyres? Grill? Wing mirrors? Fuel tanks? etc. :( If you look at Optimus Prime from the previous films, a lot of those alt mode parts are clearly visible, and thus it was easier to adapt it as toys, as we saw with the Leader Class Optimi from the last 3 films. In the Special Features part of the TF1 DVD, Aaron Archer explains that Transformers have to transform and that they don't morph -- meaning that there has to be definitively visible alt mode kibble like wheels and doors etc. hanging off the robots. According to this interview, Hasbro ensured that this was done w/ the movie designs in the first film. But for some reason, this directive seems to have been dropped for Age of Extinction. This throws a massive monkey wrench into the works when it comes to developing the screen models into products. Adapting the live action TFs as transformable action figures has always been a big challenge, but making the robots look like "Themed Cosplayers" compounds this challenge even more, and I think the result is evident in the decline in design quality of a lot of these AoE toys compared to those from the previous films' toylines.

In the case of Optimus Prime, a lot of the alt mode kibble which seems to disappear like G1 Prime's trailer, ends up having to be distributed somewhere. Arguably toys like Universe/Henkei Ironhide and Ratchet do a better job of this, but those toys don't have robot modes that have to stick to a pre-defined design (they just have to resemble the G1 cartoon model, but not be precise replicas of them (that's something that MPs strive to achieve)). So I think the back pack is a by-product of HasTak's engineers attempting to put all the alt mode kibble somewhere, but still try to make the robot look like the slick and streamlined screen model. I'm half frustrated at Michael Bay/Paramount for creating designs which are so counter-intuitive to toy designs, but I'm also frustrated at Hasbro for allowing this; especially when it was something that Hasbro previously would not have allowed. Have Hasbro become more liberal/lax in terms of not vetoing such decisions from Bay, or did Bay deliberately ignore requests from Hasbro to not do this?

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Anyway, here's pics of the toy transforming. ;)

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Looking at the pics of the toy transforming posted by you and others, and fiddling with my FE Optimus, I have to say I think it might be the case that the truck mode emerges from the movie model's back in a similar way to the toy, but with some liberties taken to make it more streamlined. It may well have been a compromise, and one that Hasbro were actually willing to go with to have a streamlined Prime to accompany their "streamlined" new take on the TF line.

Interesting points about the design. Based on the theatrical trailer, it seems to me that there's a lot of folding on the CGI model that simply can't be replicated on a toy of this size, especially without making it chunky. Then again, it's possible that this is a result of the designers not having access to the final CGI models and having to work from concept art.

I'm not sure how much say Michael Bay has in the design process - as the director, he ostensibly has 'final say' on designs, but it seems to me that he suggests design elements, and perhaps an overall look, and the production designer and concept artists do most of the actual design work.


Back to the figure: looking at those stock pics of the TakTom version, I'll admit it does look better, but I'm not sure whether or not it's worth the premium over the Hasbro version. Does anyone here have or is considering getting the TakTom version?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Magnus

Back to the figure: looking at those stock pics of the TakTom version, I'll admit it does look better, but I'm not sure whether or not it's worth the premium over the Hasbro version. Does anyone here have or is considering getting the TakTom version?

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TakTom version is $62.90US at Robotkingdom (sold out unfotunately). Hasbro is $89 at Kmart. If you get other stuff then it helps offset the shipping costs so you are not really paying all that much more for the better version. I'm getting the TakTom version.;)

I found that theres something about the AOE toys that make them look significantly better in person than photos. Had a look at this figure in the store. Lots of sculpted details make it look real good, but the engineering doesn't justify the price tag. Cost reduction really hit recent designs badly. It's like the designer had something planned for the backpack but was dropped for budget reason at last minute so he just plain gave up and left it as one chunk of truck on the back.
The new Optimus design has grown on me and I'd really like to see a leader figure that can be as definitive a toy version as we can say of the ROTF leader Prime mold. Maybe we'll have to wait until the 2nd movie of the new trilogy..

Gok, thanks for the review.
I was getting quite confused with these AOE toys and assumed that this was similar to the FE Prime I saw at Big W... seeing that it was classed in the Leader category.
I couldn't comprehend why I felt that this mould looked so much better than the FE and assumed that it was due to the new head sculpt that included the mouth shield (always preferred Prime with that).
How interesting to now find out that these are 2 totally different toys.
I quite like this one.
Leader class Grimlock was surprisingly good as well.
Paint and chrome all in the right places.

So I managed to get the Takara version of leader Optimus recently, and thought I'd post some pictures. I don't have a Hasbro version on hand to compare it to, but hopefully these pictures will show current Hasbro owners and prospective owners the differences between the two.

The robot mode has silver paint covering a lot of the grey plastic on the upper arms, thighs, feet, and torso. The head is also silver - in fact, silver is the dominant colour, with a few blue paint applications.

The Takara version actually has less chrome than the Hasbro version - the chest plate is painted silver instead of chrome, with red and blue paint on top. Note the different patterns of red and blue on the chest, and the flame deco absent from the Hasbro version.

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

http://i.imgur.com/0DqWYPW.jpg

The vehicle mode is pretty much the same, except for silver paint applications on the hitch and wheels. As the torso is painted silver, the sleeper cab guard is also silver.

http://i.imgur.com/vb3nw3d.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ZOpt1WV.jpg

On the mould itself: I find it's not instantly attractive, rather, it grows on you. I appreciate the effort to replicate the CGI model's slimmer, sleeker frame, the transformation isn't too hard, and the robot has a great range of movement. It's just a shame that the hitch couldn't be collapsed further or more integrated into the robot.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zommael

Looking at the pics of the toy transforming posted by you and others, and fiddling with my FE Optimus, I have to say I think it might be the case that the truck mode emerges from the movie model's back in a similar way to the toy, but with some liberties taken to make it more streamlined. It may well have been a compromise, and one that Hasbro were actually willing to go with to have a streamlined Prime to accompany their "streamlined" new take on the TF line.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Magnus

Interesting points about the design. Based on the theatrical trailer, it seems to me that there's a lot of folding on the CGI model that simply can't be replicated on a toy of this size, especially without making it chunky. Then again, it's possible that this is a result of the designers not having access to the final CGI models and having to work from concept art.

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Have a look at this video showing Optimus Prime transforming in Age of Extinction; a good portion of the rear section of the truck cab essentially gets swallowed up into his back! :eek:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...ps31e3cba1.jpg

This is obviously just impossible for HasTak to translate as a toy. Overall I think that HasTak have done a commendable job with Generations Leader Optimus Prime; the roof panels divide and form the shoulder pads as they do in the film, and they've managed to get a lot of the front part of the truck cab to fit inside the legs. Okay, the rear of the legs don't look screen accurate (aww, no Astroboy leg jets :p), but it's easily forgivable considering that these parts have to go somewhere on the robot! The unsightly backpack kibble appears to be an inevitable by product of this screen model which defies toy design. But these parts have ended up being carried on the back, rather than inside the back. I really hope that the TF designs for the next film end up being more toy friendly. The designs from the TF1, ROTF and DOTM were a lot more toy friendlier than AoE, as we can see from the previous Optimus Prime design and resultant Leader Class toys.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y22...ps66731087.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by doublespy

I found that theres something about the AOE toys that make them look significantly better in person than photos. Had a look at this figure in the store. Lots of sculpted details make it look real good, but the engineering doesn't justify the price tag. Cost reduction really hit recent designs badly. It's like the designer had something planned for the backpack but was dropped for budget reason at last minute so he just plain gave up and left it as one chunk of truck on the back.

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Yep, definitely not worth paying full price. We can see that the Generations Leader toy does do a better job of that than the First Edition Leader, but ultimately I think having some form of backpack kibble seems to be unavoidable due to non-toy-friendly nature of the screen designs. :(

https://plus.google.com/u/0/10532746...ts/S1bmLmJrb1E

Just wanted to revive this say I just got the Armour Knight version, which is awesome! Would not have purchased the original, but this guy's new weapons, paint apps, joints (shoulders and wrists) and changing faceplate negate the HUGE backpack (as long as you look at it from the front) :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dimi194

https://plus.google.com/u/0/10532746...ts/S1bmLmJrb1E

Just wanted to revive this say I just got the Armour Knight version, which is awesome! Would not have purchased the original, but this guy's new weapons, paint apps, joints (shoulders and wrists) and changing faceplate negate the HUGE backpack (as long as you look at it from the front) :p

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I agree i have the takara tomy armour knight optimus to and it what they should of sold ( if they could of done it that is ) in the first place :) now i want to get rid of my hasbro platnium 2pk prime and hasbro aoe prime

Obviously, the way to go if they really wanted to create as screen accurate as possible a version of the new Prime would be to have the backpack removable. But that would lead to cries of "partsforming" and for the same reason that Headmasters are a rarely-used concept these days Hasbro would probably be reluctant to go that route.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zommael

Obviously, the way to go if they really wanted to create as screen accurate as possible a version of the new Prime would be to have the backpack removable. But that would lead to cries of "partsforming" and for the same reason that Headmasters are a rarely-used concept these days Hasbro would probably be reluctant to go that route.

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Not intentioning to be rude here but you raise the interesting concept of Headmasters as partsformers. In a way I see what you mean but Headmasters as a legitimate gimmick just like combiners and triplechangers. Partsforming is seen as a (sometimes necessary) negative design element like fake parts and shellformers - these things are not a gimmick.