Toy Review - OPTIMUS PRIMAL (Kingdom)

OPTIMUS PRIMAL
Series - Generations
Sub-line - War For Cybertron
Sub-sub-line - Kingdom Come
Size/class - Mega
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - 1
Released here - January 2021
Approximate Retail Price - $50
Approximate Size - 150,000μm
Allegiance - Maximal
Alt-mode - gorilla
Main Features/Gimmicks - Pop out shoulder & forearm cannons
Main Colours - Greys, white, red, blue
Main Accessories - x2 swords

https://i.ibb.co/8dxzxB9/kingdom-optimusprimal01.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/wN8gFCc/kingdom-optimusprimal02.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/NZZBypR/kingdom-optimusprimal03.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/LvXx7Gy/kingdom-optimusprimal04.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/HD7xwWb/kingdom-optimusprimal05.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/cXf5SmF/kingdom-optimusprimal06.jpg

https://i.ibb.co/Rv0yz1G/kingdom-optimusprimal07.jpg

where's the review?

I'll have a go, having picked this up last night

SUMMARY
Tiny but characterful. It wasn't on my list of figures to get, but I'm glad that I did. It's well made and fun.


PROS
- Loads of character in both modes (especially ape mode!).
- Abundant play features. I was going to say accessories, but really the only accessories are the swords. There are otherwise popout arm blasters and shoulder cannons. No jetpack though :(
- QC and plastic on mine are rock solid.
- Great poseability, in both modes.

CONS
- I swear that this is the size that deluxes used to be about 15 years ago. I know its gauche to complain about size, and yes I know its a price class not a size class, but this thing is really quite small. It makes up for it by feeling dense.
- The way that the robot legs collapse for ape mode and then sort of hide under a bum skirt isn't particularly satisfying.
- The way the chest transforms is kind of... iffy? It's not particularly satisfying, the shoulders don't lock (which on the one hand gives the butterfly-joint action, but on the other hand leaves them subject to the whims of friction), and the robot mode chest doesn't lock or sit flush with the collar.

DEPRESSING CONFESSION
- Im not one of those old skool TRUKK NOT MUNKY guys, but I've always found this design really boring. It's just an ape that stands up. Notwithstanding that, I'm glad I got this figure.

Thanks, that's pretty good.

Is the bumb skirt as obvious in reallife as I think it is in photos? (I mean, like, VERY obvious)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tetsuwan Convoy

Thanks, that's pretty good.

Is the bumb skirt as obvious in reallife as I think it is in photos? (I mean, like, VERY obvious)

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When the gorilla mode is posed on all fours (like in the first photo Gok posted above - sorry, at work with no figure to hand), it's not noticeable at all and flows completely in line with the figure.

When the gorilla mode is standing on its two hind legs (second photo Gok posted), it's noticeable, but not offensively so.

I've never been a big beast wars fan, but this mini MP Gorilla is alot of fun.

https://dm2305files.storage.live.com...&cropmode=none

The thing that I hate about the bum skirt is... there's no reason for it. MP Arcee's look is hampered by an oversized collar, but that collar houses a large hinge used for transformation. Could it have been improved? Sure, but either way there's a practical reason for it. But this panel serves no other purpose other than to form the gorilla's crotch and abs. It just gets tucked away in robot mode. There is no reason why this panel couldn't have been sculpted to resemble the gorilla's crotch and abs.

So as such, Kingdom Optimus Primal is forced to transform into a gorilla with his bottom on backwards.

https://i.ibb.co/C8yNkvS/temp.jpg
"Why didn't anyone tell me my Astrotrain was so big?"

All of the Deluxe class plus BW characters in Kingdom Wave 1 have already had MP treatment. Even though sticking close to the source material has been a thing for Generations WfC, knowing TakTom, they would want to do something different. And for me personally, they've just got the right amount of difference.

Packaging:
I don't normally keep packaging but this time around I have to make an exception. Whoever was responsible for the packaging design deserves a lot of credit. These will definitely pop on the shelf. And the box arts.. are just plain gorgeous across the board for all of these Kingdom figures. The need for box art of both modes because of the less window space certainly helps imo. If they ever sell these arts on t-shirts or in prints, I might have to buy them all too.

https://i.imgur.com/MIWbSOZh.jpg
Source TFW2005

Beast Mode:
I love the beast mode. The slightly stylized realism works great here. The sculpted fur details look great in person. And the head sculpt is absolutely fantastic.

When on all fours, the backpack piece covers the exposed robot bits quite nicely. And you can tell here the robot thighs are supposed to form part of the gorilla body, and the gorilla legs actually starts from the robot knees down.

https://i.imgur.com/let47A2h.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/czjYj9gl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/t13eSy4l.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/VZqWVhwh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/CboNyYFh.jpg

The upright configuration works best when the gorilla legs are slightly bent forward imo, and the legs do differentiate themselves enough from robot mode.
https://i.imgur.com/mB08f9uh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/rSxETSol.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/I5TaPl5l.jpg

What I love most about gorilla mode is the articulation. The head is on a three-axis joint that can rotate on two plains for either crouched down or upright position. The dedicated shoulder butterfly joints offer the extra range you need for a more natural knuckle walking or chest-beating pose. The lower legs have a limited outward rotation which also helps to get Primal into a more natural-looking stand. It's subtle, but it definitely helps. The up and down range in the head and the waist rotation even has the MP figure beat. He's just full of personality in various poses here in gorilla mode.
https://i.imgur.com/2P1aa8Ph.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/lFbsAgsh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/ABxKGsdh.jpg

He looks great with the Maximals and Megatron.
https://i.imgur.com/mzPCveqh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/T7YbFfTh.jpg

Transformation:
Nothing surprising here. Follows pretty much the same logic as all the previous Primal figures that turned into a gorilla. But the simple engineering is executed quite well here.

'Bot mode:
I quite dig the aesthetics here that hopefully sets the tone for all CHUG style BW figures going forward: more mechanical details are added but the overall look isn't too far from the source material.
https://i.imgur.com/KCYYZ96h.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/p3rbA7Pl.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/mOFI0xel.jpg

Articulation is still pretty great in 'bot mode. The foot piston mechanism works almost as well as it did on the MP figure, although a bit more limited. The head could use a bit of side to side tilt for more attitude and the he can't look up quite far. The sculpt on the upper thigh limits side to side rotation a bit, and it has slight paint scraping issue. But overall still decent for a main line Voyager figure. The integrated cannons are great, and effect parts would no doubt make him look awesome with weapons deployed.
https://i.imgur.com/o32wegth.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/jFWDDWGh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/t1VJQtwh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7K1egQlh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1hf0mLUh.jpg

Although Rattrap looks a bit on the small side, the Kingdom BW figures look great together.
https://i.imgur.com/trASdTph.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/w2jfk7ch.jpg

Overall:
A great CHUG style update to the character. The expressiveness in both mode makes it such a fun figure. Kingdom took all that has been great from Siege and ER and fed it through the beast filter, and we've landed at possibly one of the best times of main line Transformers in the variety and quality on offer.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by doublespy

Overall:
A great CHUG style update to the character. The expressiveness in both mode makes it such a fun figure. Kingdom took all that has been great from Siege and ER and fed it through the beast filter, and we've landed at possibly one of the best times of main line Transformers in the variety and quality on offer.

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Great review of a great figure - this was enough to convince me to pick this guy up on sight, and then Primal was good enough in hand to make me go back and get the rest of the Beast Wars Kingdoms figures...

The mutant mask can be wedged on by the shoulder cannons

https://i.imgur.com/tMLbpDc.jpg

Back in the BW years I couldn't see the fuss in something with two arms and two legs transforming into something with two arms and two legs. I still can't today but at least I can say I now have an OP that can turn into an ape.

Although a Primal that's a triple-changer (eg. POTP) holds considerable interest.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by shockNwave

Back in the BW years I couldn't see the fuss in something with two arms and two legs transforming into something with two arms and two legs. I still can't today but at least I can say I now have an OP that can turn into an ape.

Although a Primal that's a triple-changer (eg. POTP) holds considerable interest.

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I've never been a big beast wars fan either, but he is a great figure and I'm glad to have him in the collection.

Now that you mention the POTP Optimus Primal, I know I'll see a photo of them together and it will make me want to hunt one down hahaha.

Honestly I find this one to be a little... underwhelming.

Its not a bad toy. I find the bot mode looks and proportions to be quite good. I'm not fussed on the alt mode. No prime jets or sword storage is a let down. And I absolutely hate how the missile launcher/should guns are deployed/stored.

So for me this is not better than the original 'black jack' mould. In fact, my TM-SP DX Primal is still my quintessential representation of this character. (I am no fan of the transmetal or optimal optimus figures! Season 1 is where its at!)