I will review Optimus Prime in three categories:
- Sculpt (Form and Color)
- Articulation(Movable Parts and how can it be moved)
- Fun Factor (How did I enjoy it)

[Sculpt]

Alternate Mode:

Optimus Prime as you may already know is a truck when transformed. His truck mode, as shown in the movie previews, is a long nosed truck that resembles more of Optimus Prime of Generation 2 than Optimus Prime of Generation 1. The truck is painted blue with a flame effect painted from the front part trailing to the mid part of the truck. The flame starts with a black flame and the turns to bright yellow color flowing to an orange flame finally ending in a red orange licks, contrasting quite nicely against the bright dark blue color of the truck.

The windshield is a translucent blue piece of plastic. The wheels are real rubber which adds a great addition to the toy. The smokestacks are made off plastic but it’s long.

Robot Mode:

Robot mode stands at 8 inches and its 5.3 inches wide.

Robot form looks alright, like the movie incarnation it follows the blue, red and silver coloring. The flame licks that details the truck mode appears on his neck area. A lot of more of the truck appears in the toy compared to the movie. Unlike the movie version, the toy appears more bulky.

Another interesting point of the toy is it possess a good amount of diecast, Its chest which forms the cab part of the truck is made of DIECAST. Making it quite heavy and causes the toy to lean more to the front. However, it won’t really bother you that much because of the size of his chest. He looks massive.

Unlike other Prime toys, it doesn’t have light-pipped eyes which is major let down… But there’s a reason for that. Read more to know why.

[Articulation]

Leaderclass toys are best of the lot and Hasbro doesn’t disappoint with the amount of atriculation it possess. The toys is articulated in the knees, hips, feet, shoulder, wrists, neck, fingers and elbow. One place its not articulated is the waist since a knob connected to the upper body attaches to the waist area to lock it in place, this prevents it from having a waist joint.

Rohml’s Kick Test By this time you already know what the kick-test does, if not, then the kick test gauges a toys ability to do a pose plus the toy’s ability to hold that pose plus that toy’s ability to keep it self balance without the external help.

Even with the massiveness of the chest and it’s diecast content, it can still do a good kick pose. Go Optimus Prime!

[Fun Factor]

The leader class Optimus Prime has what is called “Automorph Technology”, it means using a button you can easily complete Optimus Prime’s transformation. To access Prime’s Automorph function, a button on the grill part of the truck needs to be pushed and if you do, Optimus Prime’s robot head pops off the body and his chest and eyes light up.

Optimus Prime also has a blaster but its attached to the toy itself, the weapon is attached via hinge joint which enables you to set aside the gun and display the other hand.

[Overall]

Massive Size, Die Cast, And with Electronics… what’s not to like?

However, be warned. TFs that require Automorph should not be forced when transforming, instead when using the automorph feature allow the transformation to take place and do not hinder nor block any parts that will pop up. Also if a part automorphs, do not attempt to transform it in any other way.

RATING: A+

3 Comments to “Toy Review: The TF Movie Leader Class Optimus Prime”

1. Dennis — June 5, 2007 @ 1:03 am
   

   Hi Rohml.

   I have just read your review of Movie Leader Optimus Prime.
   You wrote that your figure contains Diecast.

   As far as I know the USA Release does not contain any diecast and it seems that even the Japanese release does not contain any diecast (although it was announced).

   Is your toy by Takara or by Hasbro?

   Please check again, if there are actually diecast parts or if the parts are just painted with special metallic colour.
   If so please let me know the average price in the Phillipines and where I can order one figure.

   I look forward to hear from you soon.

   Dennis

   GERMANY

   email: Knorkx@gmx.net

2. zman — June 29, 2007 @ 12:28 am
   

   Hello. A few reviewers from Singapore, Japan, etc have mentioned that their Leader class Prime has no diecast content but did mention that it looked like diecast (which is good). Did you overlook this part or do you have a “special” unit there

   Thanks,
   zman

3. Don Meier — November 7, 2007 @ 12:51 pm
   

   My Grandson insist I buy an Optimus Prime for him. Where can I buy them - in what mall in SM etc?

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