General Information
Release Date: July 2024
Price Point: $19.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Blasters x 2, Shoulder Cannons x 2, Shield
Official images and text in italics are from Amazon:
- MOVIE-INSPIRED 2-IN-1 CONVERTING TRANSFORMERS TOY: Inspired by the Transformers One movie, this Sentinal Prime Transformers action figure converts from robot to Cybertronian jet mode for awesome 2-in-1 play
- 2 ICONIC MODES: This Transformers figure can change from a robot toy into a Cybertronian jet toy in 16 steps
- 5-INCH ROBOT ACTION FIGURE: In robot mode, Sentinal Prime action figure is 5 inches (12.5 cm) tall. Stage battles from the movie with other Transformers toys like this one! (Each sold separately, subject to availability)
- CYBERTRONIAN JET MODE: Imagine epic battle scenes with this Transformers figure in Cybertronian jet mode! Great for kids who love toy cars, toy trucks, and other vehicle toys
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: Includes a battle saw and 2 vehicle blaster accessories
- TRANSFORMERS ACTION FIGURES FOR BOYS AND GIRLS 6 AND UP: Transformers movie figures make a great gift for boys and girls who love robot toys
- ICONIC TRANSFORMERS MOVIE CHARACTERS: Transformers One is the untold origin story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, once friends bonded like brothers, who changed the fate of Cybertron forever. Look for more Transformers toys (each sold separately, subject to availability) to build your collection
Welcome to the incredible world of Transformers robots. It is a world of high technology, ancient history, and a battle that has spanned the entire galaxy and millions of years. Optimus Prime, leader of the heroic Autobots, battles the tyrant Megatron and his evil Decepticons for the fate of freedom across the universe. There's a Transformers figure for every kid or collector. From big converting action figures to miniature battling robots to figures that change between modes in 1 step, you can team up with Transformers toys to create your own incredible adventures. Whether you're defending Earth with the Autobots, or conquering space with the Decepticons, the action is up to you. Transformers is a world-famous entertainment brand with 30 years of history, blockbuster movies, hit television shows and countless novels and comic books. With Transformers robot toys, you can create your own chapters in this epic, ongoing story. Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. This copy is intended as placeholder text only and is not representative of individual items in the line. Hasbro and all related terms are trademarks of Hasbro.
Background:
Transformers One is an animated theatrical film due to be released on September 20, 2024. The film features a core group of characters having an adventure before the beginning of the Great War during Cybertron's Golden Age. In the trailer we briefly see Sentinel Prime in the grasp of a Quintesson. Check out the trailer below:
The "Prime Changer" figures are a sub-line of Transformers One toys that are akin to Generations Deluxe Class toys but simplified. This type of figure has been done before. The Cyberverse line had the "Warrior Class" figures such as Optimus Prime and Hammerbyte who definitely would appeal to Generations collectors more than the typical gimmick-centric figures elsewhere in the line. That said, this figure is a bit smaller than the average Deluxe, measuring about 5 inches (about 12.7 centimeters) tall. One of the first Prime Changers released in this line is Sentinel Prime.
Packaging:
Sentinel Prime's packaging is very reminiscent of the Warrior Class packaging from Cyberverse. The figures are in cardboard boxes (made of the robust cardboard seen on recent Legacy figures) featuring a blue and purple Cybertronian city as the backdrop. The front has an open window allowing you to see the figure inside. On the front is the vertical Transformers logo on the right and the Transformers One logo on the bottom. Above that is Sentinel Prime in his alt mode mouth which looks like a riff on the classic "Tetra Jet" from G1!
The left side of the box shows Sentinel Prime's head and part of his neck and torso with another (different) render of his vehicle mode in front. The other side features the core four heroes from the film: Orion Pax, B-127, D-16 and Elita-1. The back of the box features the figure in both modes calling out a 16 step transformation. Thanks in part to the beautiful movie-based graphics, the box is gorgeous and I almost felt bad recycling it!
Accessories:
Sentinel Prime includes five accessories:
- Blasters x 2: The smaller blasters included with this figure feature a flat base piece and two weapon barrels each. One is extended out further than the other. These are made out of gold plastic with silver paint on the barrels. Each features a 5mm peg.
- Shoulder Cannons x 2: Sentinel has two larger shoulder cannons, each measuring about 1.75" long. These are one solid piece with a rectangular base and round barrels. Each piece is gld plastic with the barrels painted silver. The base on each features a 5mm port while the ends of the barrels can fit Blast Effects.
- Shield: This piece looks like a combination weapon and shield. It is roughly "V" shaped but the point at the bottom features two extensions that look like they could be used as blade weapons. This piece is gold plastic with pink paint on it which I interpret as representing "energy" flowing through the edges of the shield.
Robot Mode:
At first glance, Sentinel Prime appears to be a rather generic looking robot. He has a lot of rectangular and square shaped sections with some curves on the lower legs. However, upon closer examination it really looks like he is based on some iteration of the classic Decepticon Seeker design! I could just be seeing things, but some of the details I noticed include:
- On either side behind the head are two small panels that seem like tiny versions of the pylons that generally flank the robot head on Seekers.
- The chest features angled sections that have an opening that seems to call back to the "air intakes" on the chest of Seekers.
- Sentinel features wings on his back in roughly the same place Seekers have their wings.
Granted, these are very loose connections, but given his Cybertronian jet alt-mode I'm willing to stand by them.
Meanwhile there are some unique features on this figure. The head sculpt features a high crest with a helmet section that wraps tightly around the face. There are some elements that almost suggest the Autobot symbol (including the parts of the helmet on the cheeks, the crest and his eyes). He also has legs with curved armor that give a sense of sleekness to his design. Based on the quick flash of the character in the trailer these details appear pretty accurate to what we will see on screen.
This figure is made up of metallic blue, gold and black plastic. Blue and gold make up most of the figure with black making up smaller parts like the knees and the vertical panel on the torso. Paint colors include silver, gold and black. These all match up with the colors seen on the character in the trailer. That said, there are some really nicely sculpted details on the legs that I think some more paint would have brought out.
There are twenty points of articulation. This includes five in each arm and four in each leg. If you want to count his wings that adds four more. The shoulder cannons attach to the top of the shoulders. The smaller blasters can fit in his fists or store on his wings. The shield attaches to his left forearm (the right forearm does not have a port for it). I was surprised that he has an ankle tilt. I appreciate that figures outside the regular Generations style figures are getting them.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the accessories and set them aside for now.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- On each forearm, swing the black pieces forward, snapping them into the fists.
- Lift the back plate and swing it back.
- Lift the middle panel on the torso and swing it up to swing the robot head into the back.
- Rotate each arm at the shoulders.
- Swing the arms together.
- Rotate the forearms and push them together to form the cockpit and nosecone.
- Swing the wings up (you'll need them out of the way).
- Attach the smaller blasters to the wings.
- On each leg, swing the black piece on the back of the lower legs out, then swing the feet back.
- Rotate the lower legs and swing them up so they form the sides of the vehicle and go over the thighs. Connect the black pieces together.
- Swing the back piece forward and push it down.
- Swing the wings down, then swing the ends out to the sides.
- Attach the shoulder cannosn to the pegs on the sides at the base of the cockpit section.
- Attach the shield to the port on top of the vehicle at the back.
Vehicle Mode:
I am making a big assumption that the artwork we see on the toy packaging are actually the CG models used in the film (and not brand new art commissioned by Hasbro). In the case of Sentinel Prime the vehicle mode pictures on the box seem to show a figure inspired by the "Tetra Jet" Seekers of G1 Not only does the vehicle have a very sleek and "scifi" looking nosecone, but there are sections that stuck up on the top and bottom of the vehicle. That said, the actual toy itself does not feature extensions on the top and bottom so either the toy is more screen accurate or there were changes made during the production process (which happens all the time with movies). Just recognize that the jet you get in the box does not 100% match the picture in front.
All that said, the jet looks very cool. In some ways it reminds me of Cyclonus with his pointed nosecone section and wings that sweep forward. I love the way he is bristling with weaponry in this mode and the way the robot parts bunch up in the back of the vehicle gives it a powerful appearance. Whether it is totally screen accurate or not, I love the look of this vehicle.
This mode shows off all the same colors as the robot mode with some blue paint details on the wings and silver on the cockpit. I like the way the blue and gold are broken up by the black and silver details. He looks very cool.
Final Thoughts:
It is important to keep in mind that the Prime Changer figures are not Deluxe Class figures from Generations. If you keep your expectations more along the lines of Warrior Class figures then these are pretty great, and Sentinel is no exception. I'm not sure if we're going to get a Studio Series version of this character so this is a good stand in on your display shelves. Recommended!
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt in both modes (even if the vehicle mode does not totally match the CG model on the box).
- Fun accessories and I love that you can use Blast Effects with his shoulder cannons.
- Intuitive and fun transformation.
- Nice, bright deco.
Cons:
- Assuming the vehicle pictured on the box is the actual CG model I would have liked a more "movie accurate" vehicle mode.
