Toy Review - BH Voyager Predaking 2.0 ("upscaled" version)

[Zommael]

where did you get him?

A UK-based eBay seller. My Nan won some UK-money on the lottery and gave it to me so I bought it from there. In Australian money it was overpriced, but about right for the UK.

[griffin]

BBTS were selling them as well, a couple months ago. Mine arrived earlier this week, and the two Voyagers are indeed very huge... almost twice the size of the previous Voyager Optimus and Predaking toys. Unfortunately, they were over-simplified. They are not upsized CMDR class figures (which was assumed before they were released, after seeing the DLX figures being just upsized Legions), but they were just as simplified as the CMDR figures.

[Zommael]

BBTS were selling them as well, a couple months ago. Mine arrived earlier this week, and the two Voyagers are indeed very huge... almost twice the size of the previous Voyager Optimus and Predaking toys. Unfortunately, they were over-simplified. They are not upsized CMDR class figures (which was assumed before they were released, after seeing the DLX figures being just upsized Legions), but they were just as simplified as the CMDR figures.

In what way do you feel they were over-simplified Griffin? I don't think it can be articulation, because from what I've seen of Optimus and having this one, the articulation is good. The sculpt-work is also top-notch on Predaking (but most of the prior versions also had good detail work), so is it the transformation you felt let down by? Personally I'm not convinced complex transformations are necessarily a good thing, so that might be why I'm more satisfied with this toy than you are.

[griffin]

Yes, the transformation is what I was referring to. Each size up should be more complex/challenging than the previous size... but these felt like I was just transforming KO Legends toys.
I agree that complex transformations are not necessarily a good thing, as I'd been advocating simpler transformations for a few years now. But within a whole series, the size-classes should roughly equate to their difficulty level.... these two make it look like a whole new size-class and design, which makes them stand out a bit from the rest of the BH toyline.

[Zommael]

Yes, the transformation is what I was referring to. Each size up should be more complex/challenging than the previous size... but these felt like I was just transforming KO Legends toys.
I agree that complex transformations are not necessarily a good thing, as I'd been advocating simpler transformations for a few years now. But within a whole series, the size-classes should roughly equate to their difficulty level.... these two make it look like a whole new size-class and design, which makes them stand out a bit from the rest of the BH toyline.

I'm not so sure if that's true. Certainly Hasbro have always encouraged the idea that the larger toys were more complex, like with Energon Omega Supreme being labelled as "advanced", but that always seemed more to me like a marketing move. It's always seemed to me that the most complex toys have been spread across the size classes, and often they're deluxes. Possibly a side effect of trying to cram a lot of functionality into a small toy.

Anyway, if you want to offload that Optimus Prime give me a shout!

[christalcase]

After fiddling with both the upscaled Voyagers, I didn't find Predaking to be too bad. Considering that the first Voyager wasn't that complex to begin with, I thought the simplicity was okay. The sculpting was detailed enough to make him look good in both modes and he retains all the standard articulation that you would expect. I just find the overuse of transparent plastic to be odd. Also, while they are huge, everything is hollow so it isn't as impressive on hand.

Optimus on the other hand is horrible. Once again, he is really hollow but the thing that ruins him is that so many parts are in neon/puke green. The shoulder articulation is restricted. The worst thing is that the simple sculpting makes Optimus seem like one of those oversized knock offs.

[Zommael]

If anyone has an Optimus 2.0 they don't want, feel free to PM me or let me know. I've enjoyed Predaking so much I've been persuaded to get it and it seems like the majority of people who have them aren't such big fans!