Hot off the heels of the best Transformers movie we've had the pleasure of getting, Hasbro has slowly been releasing wave after wave of figures based on Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. Having seen the movie, there's only one character I wanted out of it: the noble Optimus Prime, now sporting a sleek and updated look that skews closer to the Generation 1 look than ever before.
As luck would have it, Hasbro has released an Optimus in its Studio Series line, where they do their best to produce screen-accurate versions of the Transformers in toy form. You bet your bottom Energon I scooped one up, which I'll be reviewing today! Is it as Prime as we're led to believe? Read on and find out!
I'm loving the detail on this figure. Every inch of his heroic personage is sculpted well, right down to his iconic faceplate. It also has better proportions than its predecessor. However, the candy red and dull grey plastic used is a tad too toy-like for my tastes, and paint is minimal. Inflation, everyone! But hey, at least mine has no paint and plastic-related QC issues, so God bless.
The articulation is a highlight for Rise of the Beasts Optimus Prime. Posing is easy, the joints aren't loose (some a tad too tight, in fact), and not a lot gets in the way of him posing how you want him to. Not a lot of Transformers can crouch or do high kicks like this!
The budget probably went all into the figure, because the only accessories we get are a blade and an arm cannon attachment. The blade is painted gunmetal grey, while the arm cannon is just cast in dull grey plastic. Thankfully, there's a lot of detail in these things to justify their existence.
The blade has pegs to allow Optimus to either hold it like an actual sword or pegged into his arm just like in the movie. I wish there was more paint to it to match the blade Optimus used in the movie, which glowed like a fire was burning inside it. Beggars can't be choosers, I know. But I had high hopes for a 40USD figure.
The arm cannon bit can be attached to the end of either of Optimus' arms. It's not very convincing, and it looks a lot bigger and meaner in the movie. As it is, it just looks like Optimus got his hand stuck in his favorite mug and is asking someone, anyone, to help him take it off.
It feels really good to transform convert Rise of the Beasts Optimus Prime, with a conversion sequence reminiscent of the G1 Optimus to really hammer home the resemblance! Everything clicks and pegs satisfyingly into place, and in the end, you're left with a convincing Freightliner truck that rolls on surfaces well. It's not exactly screen-accurate, though, but at this point I'll take any wins I get with Transformers!
It wouldn't be a Studio Series figure without a cardboard backdrop and stage. This time, the Rise of the Beasts Optimus Prime comes with a shot of the streets of Peru where the Autobots and Terrorcons gave chase in the movie. Not really my thing, but if this adds value to your figure, more power to you!
We Transformers fans have it good these days. We got an awesome Transformers movie AND awesome toys to go with it. The Studio Series Rise of the Beasts Optimus Prime is a gorgeous figure and a welcome update to a fan-favorite iteration of our favorite Autobot leader. Now THAT's just Prime!
I got mine from Hobby Korner, but it's being seen in the toy aisles recently, so if you're in the market for an Optimus Prime figure, it would be in your best interest to get this one. Thanks for reading!
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