Scathing Review for Hasbro 25th prime

[GoktimusPrime]

ahh come on..how can you pass on prime! *hehe*

I agree that every G1 TF collector ought to have some version of the original 1984 Optimus Prime - but I've never been impressed with any of the Hasbro reissues of this mould. Especially when they cost more than the Takara reissues too. The first TRU Hasbro reissue of Prime was basically the same price as Takara's 2000 reissue - despite the fact that the value of the Australian Dollar was even weaker than it is right now!

The newtered smoke-stacks and oversized missiles alone made me and many other fans spit chips... but it seems like the 25th Prime is just adding insult to injury. They've actually succeeded in taking a gelato reissue and making it more gelato!

[kup]

After this its very hard to argue that Hasbro takes pride in its releases. However what I don't understand is the obsession which bright fluro type colors. Why does Hasbro Prime need to be always that Pinkish red? The DVD MP Prime had that color too. I can't believe that this color would be any cheaper than the traditional red so its just a stupid decision.

[GoktimusPrime]

The comparative shots between 25th Prime and Encore Convoy are remarkable...

Left: Encore, Right: 25th


Left: 25th, Right: Encore


...and the paint apps. on the head looks sloppy (and gives a "KO" appearance). Here's Seibertron's close-up of 25th Prime's head, note the yellow 'bleeding' outside the eyes


Here's a pic I took of my 2000 Takara reissue Convoy - cleaner paint app (I imagine Encore Convoy's would be of similar quality)

[dirge]

Hmmm. 25th Prime appears vermilion. Even reissue Tackle wasn't vermilion!

The colour of Roller needs to be taken in context - many Prime toys down the years have come with a blue Roller toy. But the vermilion shade is... difficult to defend.

[Tallestblue]

Weren't they going to start using the Anime accurate head from iPodimus? Or do we just haveta buy that version and Encore convoy for the accurate trailer AND 25th anniversary Optimus for the lighty flashy Autobot symbol thingy if we want a decent 25th Anniversary toy?

Oh wait. That's the scam isn't it?

[Kyle]

Weren't they going to start using the Anime accurate head from iPodimus? Or do we just haveta buy that version and Encore convoy for the accurate trailer AND 25th anniversary Optimus for the lighty flashy Autobot symbol thingy if we want a decent 25th Anniversary toy?

Oh wait. That's the scam isn't it?

iPodimus is beautiful~!



(Megatron gun is from TF Collection Starscream. Matrix is from Reissue Galvatron.)



(Also please ignore the dust.)

[loophole]

They put too much white tinter in Primes' red!! it looks soo washed out and yuck

[griffin]

Region codes, USA being NTSC, Australian being PAL et etc.
Not that it matters much, so many DVD players play multi-regions and the like.

Since it is both those factors (NTSC vs PAL, Region 1 vs Region 4), distributors in this country can't take the risk of upsetting kids or parents who haven't got a NTSC compatible TV AND Region free DVD player. Even though this reissue is aimed at adult collectors, retailers see it as just a toy, and would have demanded it be 'kid-friendly' with safety and DVD compatability - because it would be the retailers who would most likely get the complaints or do the refunds if there are any problems.

After this its very hard to argue that Hasbro takes pride in its releases. However what I don't understand is the obsession which bright fluro type colors. Why does Hasbro Prime need to be always that Pinkish red? The DVD MP Prime had that color too. I can't believe that this color would be any cheaper than the traditional red so its just a stupid decision.

For plastic colouring it is cheaper. Working in the plastic industry for a number of years, plastic dyes are expensive enough to have it being cut back as one of their recent cost-cutting measures. It's just a balancing measure to see how far they can cut back, without going too pale.
But that would only explain the pale grey trailer, even though I'd think it would be a rather negligable cost difference.
I can't comment on the pinkish paint on the metal cab front, but it's possible it has the same issue, with the dye costing more than the base white paint. It would also be negligable, but, when you think that these toys are produced in the hundreds of thousands of units, requiring thousands of kilos of plastic and paint, it might be enough of a margin to make the toys more profitable to do.

[1orion2many]

It's only more profitable if they sell them, if they sit on the shelves then it's just dead money and if they have to drastically reduce the price later to get them off the shelves then they may only break even on that particular item. I haven't seen the new reissue but surely they could have got a close colour match between the plastic and the paint work without cutting into their profits, they may have had someone that was colour blind trying to match the colours(you just never know).

[SilverDragon]

After this its very hard to argue that Hasbro takes pride in its releases. However what I don't understand is the obsession which bright fluro type colors. Why does Hasbro Prime need to be always that Pinkish red? The DVD MP Prime had that color too. I can't believe that this color would be any cheaper than the traditional red so its just a stupid decision.

Simple: Bright colours attract kids. Kids are who Hasbro usually wants for customers.

But that logic isn't really applicable to this, which is very much aimed at adult collectors rather than the younger audience.