Toy Review - RtS G2 Optimus Prime

[GoktimusPrime]

The thing with "Classicsverse" is that they're meant to give us updated and improved incarnations of older Transformers using current toy engineering and technology. I really don't like it when this doesn't happen, cos then it kinda defeats the whole point of making them in the first place. That's why I didn't like Universe/Henkei Cheetor and Dinobot, IMO neither of them were substantial improvements over their originals.

Looking at pics of this toy and reading Vector Prime's comments, I wonder if RtS G2 Optimus Prime really is a substantial improvement over Laser Optimus Prime? Laser Optimus Prime is just a brilliant figure and just blew my socks off in 1995. I was so impressed I actually bought two of them! (I've since sold my spare off years ago) And it wasn't until 2007 and 2009 with Leader Class Movie and ROTF OP that we even saw another Optimus Prime toy that could be considered as comparatively well designed as Laser Optimus Prime (by the standards of the day).

Laser Optimus Prime = exceedingly outstanding by 1995 standards.
RtS G2 Optimus Prime = ...by 2011 standards... ???

Vector Prime: Could you bring your RtS G2 Prime to the next Syd meet? If so I might bring my Laser Prime so we can make a comparison and take some pics (unless you have Laser Prime and wanna just do the comparison yourself)

[Vector Prime]

I really like the mold.

+ The transformation is fun and clever
+ Great update/homage to G2 laser prime
+ Robot mode is very cool
+ Would definately look AWESOME repainted as Scourge, Nemesis Prime in all black with red translucent windows, red sword and different head
+Great for posing, awesome articulation, tight joints, can hold sword in 2 hands

- G2 laser prime colours, wish alt mode was just prime colours
- Side windows painted orange, could've been translucent
- Sword sux. Should've just been separate and clip under the truck
- Could've been voyager size

Really this mold has a lot of potential. A resculpted head, a new paint job and a big kick ass sword that doesn't transform is ALL this mold needs. Bring on the nemesis

8/10

Wow!

Were we looking at the same toy?

I suppose everyone has different expectations and tastes - many people are fine with Universe Silverbolt for example whereas I hate it and think it's one of the worst Classicverse toys.

The thing with "Classicsverse" is that they're meant to give us updated and improved incarnations of older Transformers using current toy engineering and technology. I really don't like it when this doesn't happen, cos then it kinda defeats the whole point of making them in the first place. That's why I didn't like Universe/Henkei Cheetor and Dinobot, IMO neither of them were substantial improvements over their originals.

Looking at pics of this toy and reading Vector Prime's comments, I wonder if RtS G2 Optimus Prime really is a substantial improvement over Laser Optimus Prime? Laser Optimus Prime is just a brilliant figure and just blew my socks off in 1995. I was so impressed I actually bought two of them! (I've since sold my spare off years ago) And it wasn't until 2007 and 2009 with Leader Class Movie and ROTF OP that we even saw another Optimus Prime toy that could be considered as comparatively well designed as Laser Optimus Prime (by the standards of the day).

Laser Optimus Prime = exceedingly outstanding by 1995 standards.
RtS G2 Optimus Prime = ...by 2011 standards... ???

Vector Prime: Could you bring your RtS G2 Prime to the next Syd meet? If so I might bring my Laser Prime so we can make a comparison and take some pics (unless you have Laser Prime and wanna just do the comparison yourself)

Whilst I've never played with or owned an original Laser Prime (so a definite no to doing a comparison myself), I totally agree with what you're saying Gok.

I think the thing that disappoints me most about this guy is that by 2011 standards, he's very ordinary and he just doesn't look or feel the part of a toy that's only just been released.

There have been a few G2 homages in recent times, however even though most of them (all?) have been redecos of existing molds, they've stacked up well against current stuff since they're relatively fresh in design and transformation complexity.

The disappointing thing is that this guy was a whole new mold and was designed from the ground up but they've managed to do a crap half-hearted job on it (which is disappointing since it's a representation of the iconic Optimus Prime).

Anyways, everyone has an opinion and they're entitled to it - I'm sure he will sell like hotcakes anyway, purely because it's Prime, so my comments may have no relevance.

As for bringing him to the Parra Fair, I won't be there for long ~ half hr to an hr max, so I won't be attending the post-fair food court meet.

[GoktimusPrime]

As for bringing him to the Parra Fair, I won't be there for long ~ half hr to an hr max, so I won't be attending the post-fair food court meet.

Ooh, then please remind me to have a look at your RtS Prime and compare it with Laser Prime at the Fair itself, cos otherwise I'll probably think, "I'll wait till the food court." There's a quiet spot near the entrance where we can makehang out.

[UltraMarginal]

Here's another review that has a fairly different take on the figure:
http://www.shortpacked.com/2011/blog/laser-prime-3-0/

personally I'm probalby still going to pass. I have my masterpiece prime.

[SharkyMcShark]

Got this on an impulse today. Couldn't disagree more with the OP - I absolutely love it. I'm really looking forward to any repaint

[SharkyMcShark]

To be honest the only real criticism I can level at it is the lack of a gun - I wish it had come with the double barreled laser gun that the G2 version had.

[Tallestblue]

When I get this guy he's getting my spare Classics Deluxe Optimus gun. Just makes sense. But it may just tempt me to buy the original G2 Laser Optimus Prime.

...Or Rather the Japanese Battle Convoy re-release.

[GoktimusPrime]

Conclusion:
I'm by no means an "Optimus collector", but I do buy most Optimus figures that have an interesting design. This figure happens to be one and despite the minor issues I quite like it, and it can replace the RtS figure to be my modern Laser Optimus.

I personally feel that the original G2 Laser Optimus Prime has yet to be suitably surpassed by a modern version, and that's due to that figure really being such an incredibly well designed toy for the mid 1990s. I remember first seeing this toy and just picking my jaw up off the floor in terms of the massive leaps and bounds in engineer. Surely this would be the toy that would save the dying Transformers franchise! Alas, in spite of the toy's many flavours of awesome, it did not. And the original toy shelfwarmed badly for years. I remember seeing stacks of these toys still gathering dust at Toyworld (back when Sydney still had 'em) and TRU as late as 1998~99. But what an amazing toy it is - the articulation, light-piping, LED headlights and laser sword etc.; we may take these features for granted today, but by pre-Beast Wars standards, this was freaking amazing! IMHO HasTak didn't surpass the engineering poured into an Optimus Prime toy until 2007's Movie Leader Class Optimus Prime, which was later surpassed by RotF/DotM Leader Optimus Prime. But 1995's G2 Laser Optimus Prime really stands apart as one of the great kilometrestones of Transformers toy engineering, as well as one of the greatest Optimus Prime toys ever made. It's a jolly high standard which is hard for any modern toy to match.

For this reason I was personally not that enthralled by Reveal the Shield Optimus Prime (which I got on sale, thankfully). That's not to say that it's a bad toy though, bear in mind that RtS Deluxe Prime is $25~30 at retail, whereas I paid about $100 for my G2 Laser Primes (yeah, I bought two because it was so common (I've since traded off my spare back in 2000 )), and that's not accounting for inflation. So relative to price, I think that RtS Optimus Prime isn't a bad toy, and I'm sure that this Voyager isn't bad either for what it is. A triple-changer Optimus Prime personally doesn't interest me though. And I'll probably skip this mould when it's eventually redecoed as Tall Tankor as I already have Henkei Octane. Although I do hope that Hasbro actually uses the name "Tall Tankor" to differentiate him from Generations Tankor, and also to continue playing along with IDW's running joke of Fat Tankor and Tall Tankor. Or maybe Hasbro might try to regain the Octane trademark (they've actually been getting a lot better at that).

P.S.: One pleasant and unexpected surprise from RtS Optimus Prime was his ability to connect with G2 Laser Prime's trailer, and he connects with it better than the original toy! Backward compatibility FTW.

[FatalityPitt]

Problem I have with RtS Laser Prime is that it's too small for an Optimus Prime toy. As a stand-alone, he's great! But when you stand him next to something like Generations Blurr... :/

[GoktimusPrime]

That's no where near as bad as standing Machine Wars Megatron next to MW Soundwave or Starscream. Whoa... this year is the 20th anniversary of MW.