Toy Review - Generations FOC Optimus Prime

[kup]

There is nothing wrong with simple engineering as long as it's effective. Previous Classics and Universe toys have simple but effective engineering, you can transform them quickly and both modes are satisfying for the most part. Most Movie scouts also had simple but satisfying engineering.

By the sounds of it, it seems that FOC Optimus is not only simplistic but has overall an unsatisfying design making it disappointing.

Simplicity does not make a toy disappointing but ineffective and lazy design does.

[GoktimusPrime]

I'm not fond of over complex counter intuitive transformations, but overtly simplistic and uninteresting transformations don't interest me either -- there needs to be some kind of balance, and even kids can appreciate that. If we think back to our childhoods, some of the less popular toys were those with lacklustre engineering, like the Firecons. I personally found Doubledealer to be a far more satisfying double-spy toy than Punch Counterpunch -- even with a non-humanoid Decepticon robot mode, I really liked how the Autobot and Decepticon modes were substantially different... instead of say Counterpunch who'd have to keep his back against a wall at the Decepticon base at all times (or always walk at the back of a group and ensure nobody stood behind him. ). One kid in my year 8 class transformed FOC Optimus Prime pretty quickly and easily -- as opposed to say one of my friends at uni (an engineering student) who had trouble transforming RiD Side Burn!

So even looking at it from a kid's POV I find FOC OP to be a fairly mediocre toy. Not terrible per se, but nothing special. The lighter colours, particularly the pinkish red, doesn't do the mould any justice. And yeah, having a smaller and simpler toy for the same price point bugs me as a long time collector. Newer collectors may not notice it (ignorance is bliss I suppose), but I sure do.

[kup]

So even looking at it from a kid's POV I find FOC OP to be a fairly mediocre toy. Not terrible per se, but nothing special. The lighter colours, particularly the pinkish red, doesn't do the mould any justice. And yeah, having a smaller and simpler toy for the same price point bugs me as a long time collector. Newer collectors may not notice it (ignorance is bliss I suppose), but I sure do.

I measure Hasbro against their own previous work and the latest stuff I have seen from them feels more like regression than progression. These newer toys are lesser than what the Classics/Henkei toys were and they are charging as much or more for them. Even toys that are over 10 years old are better like RID. It's a shame but I guess a lot of it comes down to pleasing Walmart and the bottom line over the end costumer.

[GoktimusPrime]

By the sounds of it, it seems that FOC Optimus is not only simplistic but has overall an unsatisfying design making it disappointing.

Simplicity does not make a toy disappointing but ineffective and lazy design does.

That's a good way of putting it, and I would agree. I'll bring FOC OP along to this Sunday's meet so people can judge for themselves first hand.

[SuspectimusPrime]

Seems like the TakaraTomy release will include chrome parts. Keen to see their version of FOC Shockwave.

Too bad I won't have a chance to see Goki's this weekend. I can see myself getting the Hasbro version of FOC OP for the right price, but since I was a kid, the bang for my buck was in how interesting/unique a robot could transform (this was even before I had a concept of money). Simpler transformers had the feel of generic underlings (say Throttlebots) and were used as cannon fodder during play. As I kid I subliminally attributed low intelligence/skill/rank to simpler toys as well.

[Sutton]

We should be referring to this guy as Gimli Prime.

[GoktimusPrime]

At least the Throttlebots had a fun pull-back motor gimmick! Plus they were cheap (you could buy them with pocket change)!

[kup]

I saw Gok's FOC Prime at the fair. I will admit this for fairness, it does look a lot better in person than it does in photos. The photos makes it look like that horrible Hasbro pink and although the red is still not very good, it is no where near as pink in real life.

The sculpt also does not seem as bad in person and looks worse in photos. This must be the least photogenic toy ever!

However the toy still remain sub-par for a deluxe, the truck mode is a little on the mediocre as Gok mentioned and his midget size is pretty discouraging. However the robot is fairly good and his head sculpt is fairly nice.

Overall, still not worth it for a deluxe but it isn't as bad as the promo and other photos we have seen online. I am still waiting to see what Tomy does and if the paint job is good enough, I may bite but otherwise, nope.

[5FDP]

Seems like the TakaraTomy release will include chrome parts. Keen to see their version of FOC Shockwave.

Ah, good ol' TakTom - adding chrome just for the hell of it Shockwave with chrome just wouldn't look right.

[GoktimusPrime]

Heh, yeah... adding chrome looks great on some toys (e.g. Henkei Sunstreaker), on other toys it looks neither good nor bad (e.g. Henkei Astrotrain), and on others it actually looks detractive (e.g. the upcoming Sixshot reissue). <---JMHO But with Optimus Prime having chrome on the grill and pipes could very well improve the look of the mould (as it did with Henkei Convoy)... but whether it's enough to "salvage" this ordinary mould... I don't know. No amount of improved colours can hide the toy's underwhelming design/engineering.