OPTIMUS PRIME
Series - Lego
Sub-line - Creator Expert
Size/class - N/A
New/remould/redeco - New
Wave - N/A
Released here - Online exclusive?
Approximate Retail Price - $260
Approximate Size - 35cm
Allegiance - Autobot
Alt-mode - Cab over engine tractor-trailer truck
Main Features/Gimmicks - 1,509 Lego pieces. Assembly required.
Main Colours - red, blue, grey
Main Accessories - rifle, Matrix, axe, placard, Energon cube, Sideswipe's rocket pack

I will confess that I am not a Lego collector, and as such, I'm likely seeing this toy from a different perspective compared to someone who is more of an actual fan of Lego. With 1.5k pieces, this sucker takes quite some time to assemble. Took me 12 hours in total; but more experienced Lego builders might be able to do it in less time. The pieces are packed in 10 marked plastic bags, and thankfully construction does go in bag number order. i.e. assemble parts from Bag 1, then Bag 2 etc.; this is so much better than some of those other Lego sets that get you to go back and forth between bags to build the set. So I am grateful that assembly went in bag order.

Once assembled, you will need to be reeeaaally careful in handling this toy, as it falls apart super easily. I recommend holding the robot from both legs with both hands. Even when super slowly and cautious transforming this toy, I've had it come apart with pieces falling off. Both during and after assembly there were times when half of the toy would come apart and it would shatter into itty bitty bricks on the floor, requiring me to painstakingly reassemble it. Perhaps total build time might have been 11 hours without reassembly. The knees can swivel side to side, but cannot bend. Otherwise I guess it has a reasonable range of articulation, but the lack of proper knee articulation and the sheer fragility of the toy really makes putting this toy in dynamic poses impractical. So it's basically... well... a brick. The truck mode has numerous gaps and the panels don't all sit flush; but considering that this is a Lego toy that can transform without reassembly, I think it's easily forgivable. Well, doesn't require reassembly in theory... in reality you will need to reassemble parts because it comes apart so damn easily. Unfortunately, the Matrix chamber inside the chest means that you can't put Lego people inside (though I suppose clever enough customisers could make it so).

















OVERALL

Not a terribly fun Lego toy to play with. It's really just a really expensive display piece. And I get that Lego is expensive, especially the high end collector stuff. This is the first adult collectable Lego thing I've ever owned, and it's very different from the more fun and playable Lego sets that I built as a kid or that I played with my daughter. Any toy that has lower play value will always have a lower rating to me, as the core purpose of a toy is to be fun to play with; and this Lego Optimus Prime just does not leg godt*.

Again, this is all in my opinion as someone who is admittedly just a casual enthusiast of Lego, and by no means a fanatic. As such, I would only recommend this toy for actual fans of Lego and Transformers who would enjoy the experience of building this set and not be put off by its fragility or lack of playability.

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*"leg godt" - Danish for "play well," and the meaning of the name "Lego."