Optimus Prime

Transformers Optimus Prime 20th Anniversary Figure
$64.99

This Optimus Prime Toy figure is amazing! The details are incredible and for the price they are worth it. I bought a few different toys through a store I found on google called [...] that linked me to this page. The Robot mode of this Optimus is amazing, the articulation is very good. The hinges in his ankles and elbows are hidden with fake "hyrdraulics" which move as you move the joints. His front wheels are hidden when in Robot mode (unlike the original toy) to make him look even more like the G1 Cartoon Prime. The detailing and construction of this toy are nearly top-notch. A lot of diecast parts and the more moveable parts are from plastic.

Anyways it is a great product and I would reccommend buying it. A+ to Amazon once again!

Transformers Movie 2 Mega Power Bots - Jet Power Optimus Prime
$39.99
I have been looking for an Optimus Prime that talks frequently - this Prime does that and more - he does transform in the fact that when you push his gold emblem down in the middle, his wings will flip out to the side (thanks Jetfire, awww ^_^), and light up, follwed by Jet sounds, and he'll talk as well. His eyes light up too, as well as his cannon. He also continues to talk as you fly him around - Kids will love this, for the fact that he makes air jet sounds, and talks - he even has a handle that you can hold him with while he flies around the room, and will continue to talk until you land him. And when he lands he also talks. When you want to 'deploy' or push in his wings, he also alerts you by making a transforming sound. Optimus is very alert. Love this figure. Peter does his voice for this figure too, it's super cute! Found it at Wally World for a Roll-back price ^_^. He fits in perfectly with my Autobot collection! I'm 28 years old, and find myself flying this toy around like I'm a little kid again.

Transformers Universe Optimus Prime Anniversary Pack
$69.99
WHAT A GREAT TOY OPTIMUS PRIME IN PRIME CONDITION,FORGET ENERGON FORGET CYBERTRON THIS IS CLASSIC G1.
THIS WAS BOUGHT FOR MY SIX YEAR OLD SON AND HE LOVES IT,EASY TO TRANSFORM AND GREAT TO PLAY WITH IN VEHICLE AND ROBOT MODES. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY ON THE LIVE ACTION MOVIE TRANSFORMERS THEY ARE MADE TO BREAK AT EVERY JOINT.HOPEFULLY HASBRO/TAKARA WILL CONTINUE THIS LINE FOR YEARS TO COME.

Transformers Universe Deluxe Special Edition Boxed Optimus Prime SE-01
$25.50
I'm a sucker for Optimus Prime, Generation 1. I've collected about 10 different incarnations of the G1 personna, including Masterpiece, Classics Henkei, Smallest Transformers, New Year 2002 G1, RobotMasters, Transformer Jr., even Binaltech. If you notice, they are all TAKARA japanese versions (now TAKARA TOMY)... This is my foray into the Hasbro Universe line.

ABOUT THE SPECIAL EDITION:
This is a special edition of the toy that was previously released in three different incarnations as a two-pack. It has been sold together with Megatron G2 as the "Ultimate Battle" two-pack in both the Classics and Universe lines, and also together with a Fast-Action-Battler movie version of Prime in the "Optimus Prime, Leader for the Ages" two-pack.

So far, there's 4 Special Edition toys or characters (of which I only own Optimus and Megatron). What's "special" is that they all come individually packaged in a gorgeous, window-flapped, satin-black and gloss-white painted box that looks really stunning. Also, the toys are painted to resemble the Generation 1 toy/cartoon. Based on pictures, this edition seems to be molded in a darker blue plastic than the two-pack version, and the paint application on its legs is also more G1 than the two-pack.

NOW ON TO THE TOY ITSELF:
The toy is aproximately the same size as the original G1 version.
- Truck mode isn't very accurate, proportionate or cleverly designed. It feels very loose because the truck's cab (Prime's torso) and the chassis (Prime's legs) are held together by one very simple joint.
- Transformation is quite simple, but a bit tricky around the torso area, which has a cool "automorph" function. Some people report snapping the toy in two by the hip, but it can be joined again.
- Robot mode looks much better and is very poseable. The robot feels solid and is better built than the truck. There's an "action feature": Pressing a lever on the back makes the upper torso spin, to simulate Optimus "punching" a foe... but it spins the torso all the way around... and around. The upper torso will spin FREELY unless you PULL OUT the lever that spins the torso. You have to pull it until it clicks, but this isn't clear in the instructions.
This gimmick led me to believe that the toy was broken, until I investigated this on the net.
- Articulation of the robot if fairly good, thanks to the swivel joints below the hip and shoulder ball-joint articulations. Sadly, because of the gimmick and the transformation design, it can't swivel its torso at the hip, but midways at the torso (just above the gray plastic piece that you see in the pictures). Also, some swivel or ball-joints may get loose quickly.

Two things dissapointed me most:
1- The toy DOES NOT REFLECT THE PICTURES IN THE BOX. The back cover shows pictures of a toy with the autobot insignia on Optimus's left shoulder and lots of silver painted all over its body. Truthful to the G1 Deco.
But when you open the box, you see that grey plastic parts are NOT painted and the insignia is placed below the elbow, presumably making this toy EXACTLY the same as the two-pack versions. (Whereas Megatron special edition at least is molded in different colors!)
2- Lackluster plastic. The toy is molded in a rather dull plastic. And it shows especially when standing next to the other Optimuses (Optimi?) in my collection. If you are able to compare a true japanese version of a toy with its Hasbro counterpart, you will notice the difference in plastic quality and overall build. Usually, the japanese plastic is shinier, sturdier and more rigid (less dull, rubbery and bendy). Also, japanese transformers may feature chrome painted parts, more paint applications or die cast, which the Hasbro versions lack.

These two things led me to believe that the toy that I got was a mistake by Hasbro: that they had packed a regular Universe Optimus from the two-pack inside the Special Edition box... but the pictures and reviews on the web have proven me wrong:
I did get the Special Edition. Sadly, it doesn't feel so special!


MY FINAL RECOMMENDATION:
If you absolutely want this G1 incarnation, please compare prices with the two-pack versions and see if you can get it directly from Hasbro, you may get a decent price for it. It's not cheap, but it is the cheapest G1 type Optimus that I've found.

However, please consider instead saving some more cash to score either:
-a true G1 version: the boxy one with die-cast, the best truck mode of all, but little poseability in robot mode. Reissues make it fairly available; or
-a Takara RobotMasters: The metallic version is AWESOME. It's designed to look just as the Masterpiece, only smaller. It's an import and not easily available, so it may fetch 3 times the price of this one; or
-a THS hybrid style: super poseable, die-cast, transformable and tons of accessories. But not the greatest truck mode and it's expensive (even I don't have one of these... yet, but it's being reissued!).