"Generations" Legacy United Vector Prime Toy Review

09/15/24

General Information
Release Date: July 2024
Price Point: $34.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Cyber Key, Rhisling Sword

Official images and text in italics are from Amazon.com:

• CYBERTRON UNIVERSE VECTOR PRIME ACTION FIGURE: This 7-inch (17.5 cm) Cybertron Universe Vector Prime toy features deco and detail inspiration from the animated series, Transformers: Cybertron
• 2-IN-1 CONVERTING TRANSFORMERS TOY: Transformers action figure converts from robot toy to spacecraft toy in 22 steps
• AWESOME ACCESSORIES: This Cybertron Universe Vector Prime Transformers figure comes with sword and Cyber-Key accessories. Accessories attach to the figure in both modes
• ARTICULATED FOR PLAY AND DISPLAY: Transformers figures feature articulated heads, arms, and legs for action poses
• CELEBRATE THE LEGACY: Transformers Legacy United honors 40 years of Transformers animated history! Collect other Legacy: United figures to unite your collection (each sold separately, subject to availability)
• GIFT TRANSFORMERS COLLECTIBLES: This Cybertron Universe Vector Prime action figure toy makes a great collectible figure gift for any Transformers fan

Unite your favorite characters from across the world of Transformers robots into your collection with the Transformers Legacy United Voyager Class Cybertron Universe Vector Prime action figure! This 7-inch Cybertron Universe Vector Prime action figure converts between robot and spacecraft modes in 22 steps. Gear up for battle with the included sword and Cyber-Key accessories that attach in both modes. The Cybertron Universe Vector Prime figure is inspired by the character from the animated series, Transformers: Cybertron, and features articulated head, arms, and legs for awesome action poses. Celebrate the last 40 years of Transformers history with Transformers Legacy action figures. Transformers Legacy opens the portal to a whole new universe of -- More Than Meets the Eye -- bringing together every Transformers generation like you’ve never seen before. Collect and combine different characters to create your ideal Legacy lineup. TRANSFORMERS and HASBRO and all related trademarks and logos are trademarks of Hasbro, Inc. © 2024 Hasbro.

Background:
In 2005 Hasbro launched a new Transformers toy line known as Cybertron. This was the third series in a trilogy that began with Armada where Vector Prime featured prominently in the show and toy line. Almost two decades later the character has appeared again in the toy line as a Voyager Class figure in Generations. This figure is a redeco and retool of the Legacy Jhiaxus figure so you'll want to check that review out too.

Packaging:
Vector Prime is packaged in a box with the standard Legacy box design. The box is roughly rectangular with an angle on the top and side. The front features an open window and there is a cardboard hook on top. The graphics are very similar to previous years of Legacy boxes with blue and purple tones. The tray Optimus sits in features yellow and orange colors, offering nice contrast to the darker outer box. On the left side is a box referencing the "Cybertron Universe" with Vector Prime's name under it. The Legacy United logo is under artwork of Vector Prime in vehicle form. The left side of the box (if you are facing it) features the robot mode art.

The back of the box shows Vector Prime in both modes calling out an 22 step transformation. Off to the side is a box demonstrating his Cyber Key attaching to his chest. Under all that is the new 40th Anniversary Transformers logo. One thing of note with this box: the cardboard is of significantly better quality than the previous two years of Legacy figures. This cardboard feels solid and firm which hopefully means damaged boxes on store shelves and right out of the case will be less likely. This has been the case for a while now but it still surprises me when I pick up a "Legacy United" box and feel how solid it is!

Accessories:
Vector Prime includes two accessories:

• Cyber Key: The main gimmick for the Cybertron toy line was the use of "Cyber Keys" which were round shaped pieces with a tab on one side. Inserting this tab into a slot on the figure would activate an action feature such as firing something or unlocking a part of the figure. Vector Prime had one of the most unique keys in the line which was designed to look like a cog with smaller cogs inside of it. This figure includes a Cyber Key with the same design. Of course, this key does not actually activate anything. However, you can tab it into a slot for storage in vehicle mode and in robot mode it has two tabs you can use to attach to slots in his chest. This piece is made of translucent blue plastic with no paint applications.
• Rhisling Sword: Vector Prime's melee weapon in Cybertron was a very classic looking sword, adding to his mystique as an ancient Cybertronian. Even better, this sword (known as 'Rhisling') was what allowed Vector Prime to teleport. The design of this sword is a bit of a condensed version of the original with the hilt especially being shrunk down. Still, it has the "classic" feel of an ancient sword. The handle is brown plastic while the hilt and blade are translucent blue (with sparkles inside) with no paint applications. More than the Cyber Key, this sword accessory really shows off the translucent, sparkling blue plastic beautifully. The handle is a 5mm peg allowing Vector Prime to hold it in his hands.

You may note that the one thing I am not listing here is a Mini-Con. The original Vector Prime included a Mini-Con named Safeguard who transformed from a robot to a jet/weapon. It was a fun addition to the figure and gave the character one more weapon. Of course, Mini-Cons have been excluded from other Armada Trilogy releases like Hot Shot so this is not a shock, but it is a darn shame in my book.

Robot Mode:
As mentioned above, Vector Prime is an extensive retool and redeco of Jhiaxus. Here are the major parts that were changed:

• Head: The head is a new sculpt, featuring Vector Prime's distinctive head design that is based on the Autobot symbol. The design is intricate and beautiful, featuring a lot of tiny details that give him an ancient appearance which is appropriate for the character.
• Shoulders: The shoulders have been changed from the blocky cube shaped shoulders on Jhiaxus to curved, wide pauldrons. Like the head, they have lots of line details and tiny details on them that resemble wires and mechanical details. The rest of the arms however are the same parts as Jhiaxus.
• Chest: The chest piece is a new one based on the design of Vector Prime's chest from Cybertron. It features a large circle in the middle and curved designs around it that look like armor pieces from medieval armor. That said, the pieces of the torso that directly flank the chest section are the same as those on Jhiaxus.
• Waist/Hips: The are around the waist and hips features some newly sculpted pieces that are much more intricate in design than those found on Jhiaxus. The shape is different too, featuring a "point" in the middle instead of the same area on Jhiaxus being more squared off and angular.
• Back: The entire back panel has been reworked so that they are support pylons mounted to the back panel with his solar panels(?) attached. If you position the panels a particular way, they look almost like a cape hanging off his back. Unfortunately, the translucent blue panels on my copy of this figure have a tendency to pop off whenever I manipulate them, especially the one on the right. It pops right back on, but it's a bit annoying.

Of course, being a retool many parts remain the same including his arms, legs and feet. I found myself disappointed that the lower legs and feet were not redone. Jhiaxus had very distinctive lower legs, featuring an open section in front with wires running up and down the leg inside. The Hasbro designers felt this looked "ancient" and fit with the character. That part I do not have a lot of issues with (however inaccurate to the character's design it may be) but what bothers me are...hinges.

Yes, that's right. On Jhiaxus, the sides of the lower legs had hinges which had parts of the vehicle mode attached. However, Vector Prime does not have these parts, but they left the hinges sitting there with nothing attached. I have seen fans get confused by this, thinking that something was left out of their figure at the manufacturing leve. They did not, but if you see these hinge details here it is not hard to think that. I really wish these had been removed during the retool process. Left as is, the figure feels like it was not assembled correctly at the factory level and that pieces are missing.

Another disappointment are the feet (no, really). This figure uses the same feet as Jhiaxus, but the original Vector Prime had small blasters connected to the front of his feet. Since Jhiaxus did not have those details, they are missing here. I always felt those were among Vector Prime's more distinctive details so I feel their absence pretty strongly.

Vector Prime is made up of grey, brown and translucent blue plastic (with sparkles). These colors all call back to the look of the character in the Cybertron cartoon. Paint colors include metallic brown, metallic light blue and gold. I love the metallic brown colors. It's very unusual for a Transformers figure to have this color and it looks great. The deco is very intricate on certain parts of this figure such as the armor on the shoulders, chest and waist area. However, other parts are left unpainted like most of the lower legs and forearms, so in contrast those sections look very plain. I think if the wires in the lower legs had been given some type of wash the figure would have looked a lot better.

Including the wings, there are thirty points of articulation on this figure. This includes six in each arm and leg. That said, the wing articulation presents another weird issue. The wings are mounted on hinged pieces. The brown piece has a tab on the side that looks like it is meant to fit into a notch on the grey hinged piece so you can have the wings/cape swung up to look nice and tidy. Unfortunately, the tab is too big and doesn't fit into the slot so instead his wings/cape pieces just hang a bit lower than I would prefer. Add to that the tendency of the right wing's translucent blue piece to fall off and the wings are frustrating to work with on this figure. This figure has seven 5mm ports to attach accessories including the feet, lower legs, forearms and one on the back for storage. I am very glad he has the forearm ports as this allows you to attach the Safeguard Mini-Con if you own him. The Cyber Key can attach to his chest using the small tabs. Overall, the play value and articulation of the core figure is cool, but it definitely has issues.

Transformation to Vehicle Mode:

1. Detach the Cyber Key and Sword and set them aside for now.
2. Straighten out the arms and legs.
3. Swing out the inner panel of each forearm, swing the fists in, then push the panel back into place.
4. Push the shoulder armor down.
5. Swing the arms out to the sides (each arm is on a brown hinged piece, swing these out).
6. Swing the back panel out.
7. Push the robot head down.
8. Swing the chest panel up, then rotate it around.
9. Push the back panel back into place.
10. Rotate the lower body around.
11. Swing the wings forward on the grey hinged pieces.
12. On the inside of each lower leg swing the angled panels back.
13. Lift up the grey armor on the lower legs and point the feet down.
14. Swing the wing section back.
15. Swing the lower leg armor over the thighs. Connect the feet to the tabs on the thrusters. The knee armor should go over the tabs on the back panel connected to the hinged wing pieces.
16. Push the lower leg armor sections together.
17. Swing the arm pieces down and connect the tabs on the forearms to the slots on the thighs.
18. Rotate the translucent blue wings so they face out to the sides.
19. The brown hinge pieces connected to the wings should rest on the tabs on the sides of the lower leg's grey panels.
20. The Cyber Key can be fit into the slot in the middle of the vehicle.
21. The Sword can be stored under the wings or on the bottom of the vehicle.

Vehicle Mode:
Vector Prime's vehicle mode is a spaceship intended to look like something out of an ancient Cybertronian era. To achieve this the designers altered many pieces on this figure to give it a look inspired by the original Cybertron Vector Prime figure. A lot of this work comes in the form of the front end and "wings" of the vehicle. All these sections are new parts and I have to say I do love the way you rotate the chest panel around to form the front of the vehicle.

So how successful was this retool? I would say "mostly successful". If you're familiar with Vector Prime as a character then you will look at this vehicle and instantly recognize it as the ancient Cybertronian. He has a long and (kind of) flat front end with windows for a cockpit (or maybe a Bridge?) in the middle. This leads to a wider rear section with the vertically set wings on the back. He has a lot of details from the original Vector Prime figure as well including a sword detail on the front end and lots of cogs and ancient machinery layered under armor. From a design standpoint, it's a beautiful design. Where the original Vector Prime wins is looking a bit more sleek thanks to a much longer front end. This does not look bad mind you, but when you look at this vehicle side by side with its Cybertron counterpart the original wins out from an aesthetic point of view.

The deco in this mode is mostly carried over from the robot mode except for the front end. The front section is the most intricate and ornate part of this mode. It features the very detailed sculpt mentioned above, and then on toip of that is a combination of metallic blue, gold and brown colors that really make it look rich and textured. I wish that they had carried over these types of paint details to the rear section of the vehicle which looks relatively unpainted in comparison.

This mode features three 5mm pegs, one on each vertical wing and one in the middle on top of the vehicle. In a smart bit of design these pegs are shaped like those used to connect Mini-Cons from the Armada era of toys. In this case Safeguard can attach to any of these points. There are also four 5mm ports on the vehicle with one on each wing and two on the bottom (via the forearms). The rear thrusters are designed to fit Blast Effects which is always a welcome feature.

Final Thoughts:
I won't lie. It is sobering putting this figure side by side with the original Cybertron Vector Prime, not just because of the size difference but also because both figures are technically the same size class: Voyager. Yet in the past the figure was larger, heavier, featured an action feature and a Mini-Cons. I understand the economy has changed (and the original Vector Prime would easily be considered a Leader Class by today's standards) but I cannot help but feel like this Vector Prime is missing something (and not just a Mini-Con). The hinges on the legs, the right wing popping off constantly, the odd tab on the back hinge all just add up to design choices that I wish were done differently. I don't think this is a bad toy and if you had no idea there ever was an "original" Vector Prime toy none of this may matter to you. If you have the original Vector Prime, I'd hang on to it. If not and you don't want to pay ebay prices for it, this is an acceptable stand in.  In that sense this is only mildly recommended.

Pros:

• Some very nicely retooled parts including the chest, head sculpt, shoulder armor and the front of the vehicle mode. These feature intricate patterns and in some cases are beautifully painted.
• Excellent articulation.
• Cool accessories (I really appreciate the Cyber Key being included).
• Intuitive transformation that has some significant differences from the base Jhiaxus sculpt.

Cons:

• The right wing popping off constantly is very unfortunate.
• I would have liked the legs to be redone more extensively. The wires being there look odd unpainted and the hinge pieces on the sides really make the figure look like it is missing pieces out of the box.
• I wish the feet had been retooled as well.