Toy Review - Generations FOC Optimus Prime

[GoktimusPrime]

The scale itself doesn't bother me. Transformer toys have never really been scaled well with each other - and to be fair, at 13cm this toy is the size of a small Deluxe like RtS DLX Optimus Prime. It's marginally (but noticeably) shorter than most other Deluxes, but significantly taller than a Scout.

What bothers me more is a simplicity and plainness of the toy. While RtS Optimus Prime is small, it has a reasonably decent design for a Deluxe (not great, but okay), and the sword-weapon becoming the trailer hitch is cool, and the backward compatibility with the original 1995 G2 Laser Optimus Prime was an unexpected but neat touch. RtS Optimus Prime is well articulated and able to strike an array of dynamic poses with his sword, with both single and double handed grips. FoC Optimus Prime on the other hand is not only short, but it just doesn't give you much for a Deluxe. It's incredibly light and the design and articulation are mediocre at best. And I swear this toy looks pink. Not bright Barbie-pink, but like a reddish rose-pink... like the pink they used on that Hasbro G1 Optimus Prime reissue w/ the comic book ("Pinkimus Prime").

Deluxe isn't really about size, it's a price point. And for what you pay, compared to what the average Deluxe toy gives you, you just don't get that much out of it. It's like Hasbro's given us this smaller and simpler toy, but selling it at the same price point as previous Deluxes which gave us more bang for our buck. I can forgive the smallness if it compensated in other ways like articulation, design/transformation, accessories or something like that. But it doesn't.

Doesn't the current Soundwave have a chest that stores his weapons? I'm pretty sure I saw some figures on shapeways that also fit into his chest. Thuggers or something like that.

He does have a cavity in his chest that fits his weapons. But the weapons are pretty small, you wouldn't be able to fit a Legion Class Transformer in there.

I'm disappointed because it ruins any chance of displaying WFC with FOC without having weird sizing. And yeah I'm disappointed that any future classics figures are going to be out of size too.

Eehhh... maybe. With Optimus Prime it bothers me, but for Jazz and Shockwave (which I don't have but assuming they're similarly sized), not so much. The original G1 Jazz was much shorter than Optimus Prime. Shockwave towered over others, but there's no reason why he can't be shorter than Megatron. Having Starscream being shorter than Megatron is fine too. It's the lack of anything else that bugs me more. I mean, a big stupid toy sucks just as much as a small stupid toy... I think most fans just like good toys, whether they be big or small.

I'm surprised Has/Tak hasn't gone into making figures that collectors want, besides the MP line that is. When people are willing to pay between 50-100 per (roughly) deluxe figure from a 3rd party then they should really look at making a line like this for collectors. Rant rant rant. LOL

FoC Optimus Prime is a toy that collectors would want, since he'll appear in the upcoming game. So I'm glad they made the toy... I just wish they did a better job of it. But yeah, there were SO many characters from War For Cybertron that never got toys -- including my beloved Warpath, KA-POW!! Every WFC & FOC TF needs to be made into toys, damnit. Aaargh, just another reason why I dislike TF series where the Transformers are designed as media characters first and toys second.

[SuspectimusPrime]

From the reviews and everybody's feedback, it appears to be a tiny bit taller than a DOTM HA Basic, however unlike HA Basics, has a very simple transformation. The bang for my buck is really in a fig's ingenuity (if not for its nostalgia). I was considering holding out for the TakTomy release, but it going to have to be a damn fine paint job & plastic quality (I'm thinking United Wreck-gar level of sweetness) if its going to cost upwards of $40 shipped if I'm lucky (assuming I can get the set together with Jazz and Shockwave). I've seen FOC OP self-warming a bit lately so not too worried about missing out at this point.

[GoktimusPrime]

See the link in my earlier post for FoC Optimus Prime comparison pics. The toy is definitely taller than a Scout, which IIRC is the same scale as the HA Basics. If you like I can also do a comparison pic with a HA Basic and add it to that thread.

If ingenuity is something you're looking for, then this toy will disappoint you. And there's no amount of superior colour apps or plastic quality that can compensate for the utterly ordinary standard of this toy's design. If you want this toy, get it for $25 or less, I do NOT recommend paying full $30 RRP for it, let alone paying above RRP! Honestly, if you end up missing out on this toy, you're really not missing out on much.

[SuspectimusPrime]

See the link in my earlier post for FoC Optimus Prime comparison pics. The toy is definitely taller than a Scout, which IIRC is the same scale as the HA Basics. If you like I can also do a comparison pic with a HA Basic and add it to that thread.

If ingenuity is something you're looking for, then this toy will disappoint you. And there's no amount of superior colour apps or plastic quality that can compensate for the utterly ordinary standard of this toy's design. If you want this toy, get it for $25 or less, I do NOT recommend paying full $30 RRP for it, let alone paying above RRP! Honestly, if you end up missing out on this toy, you're really not missing out on much.

I'll take your word for it

If it shelf-warms, then I'll pick it up during a sale.

[Decepticon]

But he looks sooooooo cute! How can anyone resist those cute bunny ears!

[GoktimusPrime]

I've posted a comparison pic between FoC OP and HA Backfire (my only HA Basic toy) on the comparison thread. As I predicted, Backfire comes up the same as a Scout and is significantly shorter than FoC OP.

So it's fair to say that FoC OP is definitely taller than a Scout -- but short for a Deluxe.

[griffin]

From the reviews and everybody's feedback, it appears to be a tiny bit taller than a DOTM HA Basic, however unlike HA Basics, has a very simple transformation. The bang for my buck is really in a fig's ingenuity (if not for its nostalgia). I was considering holding out for the TakTomy release, but it going to have to be a damn fine paint job & plastic quality (I'm thinking United Wreck-gar level of sweetness) if its going to cost upwards of $40 shipped if I'm lucky (assuming I can get the set together with Jazz and Shockwave). I've seen FOC OP self-warming a bit lately so not too worried about missing out at this point.

Toys are meant to be fun, playable things, which is why most of us prefer not leave them sealed in packaging. During the Movie Era, and the WFC Optimus & Bumblebee, one of the reasons they didn't do too well was because the engineering/conversion was too complex/complicated for them to be "fun" or "playable" to kids (the target demographic). Adult collectors complain about TFs being too simplistic, but then complained quite a bit about the less fun complicated figures... so in the end it comes down to if you value complexity, or playability (like kids playing with them among themselves).
For those of us who were around for Gen1, it was their simplicity (the speed at which we could convert them) that made them so popular and fun to play with among friends, or by ourselves. Something Hasbro didn't keep in mind with the Movie toys... which were more often a puzzle, for older minds to enjoy. Minds that don't play with their toys any more.
(I'd love to be able to play with mine, but lack of time and more complicated "puzzles" in recent years, makes it difficult to "play" if you have to spend 10-30 minutes just to convert each toy in the battle)

Because of that, I think the FOC Optimus is a more "fun" toy, because it isn't as annoying to transform as the WFC one. It is just disappointing how much smaller it is, as well as having poor shoulder articulation.
Other adult collectors will see it as "simpler" as if it is a bad thing, but it was the simple Gen1 engineering that us older collectors loved.

Over time, toys like all things, will get more expensive by volume, so paying more for less is just something we have to (grudgingly) accept. And it is only a problem for long-time collectors, as those are the ones who are around long enough to see price-rises or size-reductions.

My point is, most toys you'll decide straight away if you want to buy or not... but if one is line-ball, try to get a test-play with someone else's first (like at a meet), to help you decide. As you'll be able to see for yourself if it meets your own preference on difficulty.

[Decepticon]

Totally agree Griffin. I personally hate the transformation of the WFC Bee and Op.....both are ugly too! This FOC Op, despite it's size, is a nice all round figure.

[Autocon]

I've posted a comparison pic between FoC OP and HA Backfire (my only HA Basic toy) on the comparison thread. As I predicted, Backfire comes up the same as a Scout and is significantly shorter than FoC OP.

So it's fair to say that FoC OP is definitely taller than a Scout -- but short for a Deluxe.

interested to see foc prime next to scouts along with dlx movie toys

[5FDP]

For those of us who were around for Gen1, it was their simplicity (the speed at which we could convert them) that made them so popular and fun to play with among friends, or by ourselves.

Couldn't agree with you more. Being able to transform most of the toys in under a minute was key to playing out scenes from the cartoon. It would be impossible to do the same with any of the movie toys.