Article Number

RV0026

Author

Gerry

Toy Line

Transformers

Manufacturer

Takara

While this toy has been out for several months now, and I am really late with this review, it is perhaps the most well-made quality toy that really has the Transformer and die cast robot toy collector in mind. I'm not talking about the American version that was released several months ago either. Hasbro, in my opinion, has a tendency to cut corners to keep costs down and the quality of their version and packaging is reflected as such. I don't know if it's because of the mentality of the US consumer to buy little Johnny such an expensive toy or if it's due to the strict safety controls put in place by the US government but the fact still remains, if you want a better quality version of this toy, stick with the Japanese version. There are many US online retailers who import these items on a regular basis and this item can still be had for around $90.00. After all why buy Hasbro coal when you can have Takara diamonds!

This review isn't going to be a debate on which toy is better, the Japanese or US version, but rather will focus on the many features and gimmicks which can be found in both versions of the Masterpiece Prime with the exception of course, the packaging. Afer all, I spent a little extra to get the Japanese version and I don't have the US version in front of me.

The Packaging

When I first received this item in the mail, I was very excited to discover the weightiness of the box. The box with the toy inside it weighs over three and a half pounds and is over 13 inches in height (C-01). This said to me right off the bat that there is perhaps a significant amount of die cast in this toy that is what I have been hearing from everybody. I was impressed with the graphics on the front and back of the box that shows a picture of Masterpiece Prime and all the gimmicks (C-02).

Another thing that I was impressed with was actual foil lettering on the front and two side panels of the box (C-03). This also said to me that there was a real thought process that went into this large 20th Anniversary Prime and Takara seemed to spare no expense in getting the quality just right. The box is made of a substantially thick corrugated cardboard and seems like the box could withstand a substantial amount of weight before being crushed.

Upon opening the box, Masterpiece Prime is bound as all toys these days are bound with wire ties which takes a long time to undo to release the toy from is plastic bubble-like cocoon. The toy is nestled inside a cardboard insert which later folds into a sort of card board trailer (C-04). I heard somewhere that there will be an actual trailer that can be purchased and is only available in Hong Kong.

The accessories that come with Prime are also packaged in a bubble tray cocoon which contains a Prime scale version of Megatron, Prime's Energon axe and the standard beam rifle (C-05). Note: I was somewhat disappointed with the color of the beam rifle as it is gray as opposed to being black. This may be corrected with later releases of the toy. The two little black divots seen in the photo (C-05) are actually mounting pieces to mount the cardboard trailer to Prime in vehicle mode (C-06).

Robot Mode

Obviously Masterpiece Prime comes in Robot mode (C-07). After I was able to remove him from he packaging I was very impressed with the heftiness of this toy. The lower blue portions of Prime's legs are die cast as well as the upper chest area that later transforms into the cab in vehicle mode.

As you can see from the pictures this toy has many points of articulation which allow you to pose Prime in a myriad of different positions (C-08 - C-10). Please note the smoke stacks on Prime's shoulders. The US version of this toy has extremely short versions that almost make the smoke stacks look like they are broken. The reason for the US versions having shortened smoke stacks is due to US safety rules. After all, we wouldn't want little Johnny to poke his eye out now would we?

Robot Mode Gimmicks

Prime's legs have this interesting little gimmick of "louvers" which can be opened and closed as indicated in (C-11 - C-12). This is a very nice little extra which goes to the quality and craftsmanship of this toy.

Turning the toy around and looking at the legs from behind you can see around the rear ankle area little hydraulic pistons which move in and out when moving Prime from front to back while standing (C-13). In addition, the same piston gimmick is also at the elbows. Move Prime's arm 90 degrees from straight and the pistons extend (C-14). Move Prime's arm straight and the pistons retract (C-15).

Prime has articulated fingers just above the palm and each figure can move independent of each other. At Prime's waist, there is 6 panels that are hinged which allow for Prime to move in various positions (C-16). This is obviously designed to all for ease of movement when positioning Prime in different poses. The panels can all open and extend away from the waist area on their hinges (C-17).

Prime's smoke stacks are spring-loaded (C-18). This is due to the fact that the smoke stacks may have a tendency to be snapped off should they take a hard knock. By having the smoke stacks spring loaded, they are designed to give in the event the stacks are bumped hard, thus preventing the stacks from just snapping clean off. I'm not sure if the US version has this feature due to the fact that the smoke stacks have been extremely shortened.

While in robot mode, Prime's chest opens up to display the Matrix of Leadership (C-19). Press a button on primes left shoulder and the Matrix actually lights up with an iridescent blue light that's quite bright (C-20). Yes, your Masterpiece Prime comes with battery included.

The method used in the toy's design actually follows how I remember access to the Matrix of Leadership is achieved from the Transformers cartoon. The chest opens up, lift up the inner panel and pull out the Matrix. But Takara didn't stop there, Prime can actually hold the Matrix in his hands (C-21) and the Matrix can actually pull apart just like in the Transformers anime (C-22).

On each of Prime's arms are communication panel monitors that flip up while in robot mode. On one monitor is Bumblebee and the other is Megatron (C-23 & C-24).

The Accessories

As mentioned previously, Masterpiece Prime comes with three different accessories. First is the Megatron Gun (C-25). This item is very cool because it can actually disassemble into it's three major sub-components, the scope, long barrel and the handle can come off the main pistol (C-26). The pistol grip can actually "stretch" to accommodate Prime's hand and allows him to grip Megatron quite easily (C-27 & C-28).

Prime also comes with the Energon Axe (C-29). The energon axe is designed to fit into the recess created by sliding Prime's fist into it's arm via a lever on the side of both arms. Finally Prime comes with his standard beam rifle as mentioned above. Note that the color is gray and there is a little piece of plastic at the barrel end that actually reflects light so that it seems to be about to fire off a plasma blast (C-30). Prime's eyes are also made of this same reflective type material which really seems to make Prime look like he's actually alive and powered up with Energon just like in the anime. I found this gimmick particularly fascinating.

On the back of Prime's head is a button that when pressed in, you can make Prime's mouth plate move up and down as if he were actually talking (C-31 & C-32).

Vehicle Mode

Vehicle mode is just as cool as robot mode. In vehicle mode, Prime has real rubber tires and the same hydralic action mentioned above in robot mode acts as front and rear shocks in vehicle mode.

The transformation from Robot mode to vehicle mode is surprisingly complex. I had to use the included instructions to help in transformation. However, most of the gimmicks have been reserved for robot mode and not much other than the shock absorbers and of course the card board trailer which can be attached with those rubber connector pieces mentioned earlier are about the only gimmicks available for robot mode.

Conclusions What else is there to say? I have found absolutely nothing wrong with this toy. It has the right amount of metal, is a sturdy toy that seems to be built tough for play. But I like to display this item in robot mode and it is definitely worth my robot collection. If you purchase one toy this year than the Masterpiece Optimus Prime from Takara has got to be that toy.

Gerry