Toy Review - Hasbro Masterpiece Optimus Prime (MP-10 version)

[GoktimusPrime]

Pictures are here.

Colours
+ TakTOM's MP10's colours are superior to this toy's colours, hands down.
+ It looks better IRL than in photos - photos make him look a bit brighter than he really is. Having said that, the colours are undeniably light.
+ The outside of the trailer is silver, but the inside abounds with "Hasblo Grey"

Robot Mode
+ About 25cm tall.
+ The sculpt is very nice. Looks a lot like the G1 cartoon model and overall feels more "tight" compared to MP01.
+ Nice to see that Hasbro didn't shorten the smoke stacks or smudge try-hard battle damage or strip off any chrome like they've did with their versions of MP01.
+ The tanks on the lower legs don't sit in as flush as with MP01.
+ I really like how the hips allow a wide range of motion without needing to have panels like on MP01.
+ The toes and heel spurs are actually die cast metal.
+ The feet are less articulated than MP01. No toe articulation and smaller range of movement in the ankles. Also, no shock absorbers/suspension on the ankles.
+ Fingers: the index finger is well articulated, but suffers from a similar problem as MP Starscream in that it can easily pop out. The middle, ring and pinky fingers are all a single piece, so the finger articulation is kinda similar to a Binaltech's, only with a better articulated index finger. This allows for a superior gun grip, but not so good at gripping other things, like the Matrix.
+ No hydraulic pistons on the ankles, elbows or wrists. No flip up communicator panels on the arms. No articulated face plate.
+ The shin panels don't move. They're permanently sculpted as being half open.
+ The Matrix has die-cast metal handles. But it cannot open/close. It's nicely painted.
+ The rifle can fold up and be stored inside the back, but when it's out it doesn't "lock out" and remains floppy. Fine for display purposes, but I can foresee that this may get annoying during play.
+ On the plus side, this Optimus Prime can hold his rifle a _lot_ better than MP01
s notoriously loose grip.
+ The transformation is still fairly complex, but relatively simpler for a Masterpiece. More like Binaltech level of transformation. For the most part it's fairly intuitive. There's one joint that's painted red and gets easily scratched during transformation - although you only ever see it with you transform the toy and it cannot be seen from either robot or truck modes.
+ QC: For some reason, the right chest panel doesn't sit it completely flush on mine.
+ The Energon Axe accessory is disappointing. Firstly, it doesn't assemble very tightly -- mine is VERY prone to falling apart. If you don't touch it, it can stay together... this makes it USELESS as a melee weapon during play. Also, it just fits over the fist rather than having the fist retract and clipping onto the arm directly like on MP01. MP01's axe looks and works better.

Truck Mode
+ No shock absorbers/suspension on any of the wheels.
+ It's a nice tight truck mode that isn't reliant on panels as MP01. Overall a more clever transformation, and the end result looks better than MP01's truck mode. At least, it would if the right panel on mine would lock in all the way!
+ The legs that form the rear portion of the truck is VERY chunky. Too chunky IMO. MP01's truck mode is superior in this regard.

Trailer/Combat Deck
+ The trailer hitches onto the cab very nicely.
+ Hasbro QC: the paint apps on one of the Autobot logos on the trailer is a little bit sloppy.
+ The rear doors swing outwards like a real truck. There's an access ramp that slides out and down for Roller.
+ There's a lot of nice sculpting on the combat deck. Sadly the Hasbro Grey obscures this (it's more immediately noticeable on the TakTOM version).
+ Has storage compartments for the rifle and axe.
+ There are two small panels that can open and allow the battle tower to pop out for the vehicular attack mode.

Roller
+ I like how this one's blue, cos as a kid I only ever saw purple-blue Rollers (only ever saw the silver one in catalogues, never IRL until the reissue).
+ The strobe light is a neat touch, also makes Roller more like the cartoon.
+ Rear section is able to transform to allow Roller to hold the rifle, and transform again to be hitched to the trailer.
+ Unfortunately Roller doesn't seem to "lock" into place in the trailer (unless I haven't worked it out yet ) and there doesn't appear to be a launcher mechanism.

Overall
A nice figure. Overall the engineering is better than MP01's, but MP01 still has a lot of cool features/gimmicks that this mould lacks. Colours aren't as nice as TakTOM's, but the RRP is considerably cheaper.
Score: 7/10
Recommendation level:
+ Recommended if you don't have any other MP Optimus Prime/Convoy and you aren't willing to pay for the TakTOM version.
+ Somewhat recommended if you don't have MP01 but don't have MP04 (like me )
...otherwise you'll probably want to pass.