General Information:
Release Date: April 2023
Price Point: $34.99 (depending on retailer)
Retailer: General Release (Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Entertainment Earth, Target, Walmart etc.)
Accessories: Arm cannon, Axe (2 handle pieces, 1 blade), Matrix of Leadership
Official images and product description in italics below are from Amazon:
- TRANSFORMERS STUDIO SERIES GAMER EDITION: Transformers Studio Series is expanding into the video game universe! These collectible action figures are designed with details from Transformers video games
- 6.5-INCH SCALE OPTIMUS PRIME: Transformers Studio Series 03 Gamer Edition Optimus Prime action figure for boys and girls is highly articulated for posability and features video game-inspired deco and details
- 2 ICONIC MODES: This Voyager Class Transformers toy for 8 year old boys and girls features classic conversion between robot and Cybertronian truck modes in 22 steps
- AWESOME ACCESSORIES: Transformers figure comes with axe, 2 axe handle pieces, blaster, and Matrix of Leadership accessories. Swap out the figure’s hand and attach weapons as arm attachments
- REMOVABLE BACKDROP: Removable backdrop displays Optimus Prime figure in the Kaon Prison Break scene. Fans can use the backdrop and pose their figures in the scene with their own style
Bring your favorite action-packed moments from the Transformers video games into your collection with the Transformers Studio Series Voyager Class Gamer Edition Optimus Prime action figure! Optimus Prime enacts a plan to be captured by the Decepticons in an effort to save Zeta Prime. Transformers Studio Series Gamer Edition toys are collectible action figures for 8 year old boys and girls that feature video game-inspired details and accessories. Convert the action figure from robot to Cybertronian truck mode in 22 steps and pose the Optimus Prime toy in the included Kaon Prison Break removable backdrop scene. Transformers action figures for boys and girls make great gifts! Transformers and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro. Hasbro and all related terms are trademarks of Hasbro.
Background:
In 2010, the major multimedia push for Transformers was a video game titled "War for Cybertron" created by High Moon Studios. This game featured the Autobots versus Decepticons during the events of the Cybertronian wars, before they would leave their homeworld for Earth. This game was very popular among fans and the figures based on the game were part of the initial batch of Generations toy sub-line that continues to run over a decade later.
In an effort to expand the scope of the Studio Series line beyond live action movie and 1986 movie toys, the Gamer Series of Studio Series figures was revealed in early March 2023. It may not seem so at first, but this is a natural fit as it was High Moon Studios that created the films and most game companies of larger games are generally considered "studios" nowadays. One of the first figures in this Studio Series sub-line is a Voyager Class Optimus Prime.
Packaging:
Optimus Prime is packaged in a standard rectangular Studio Series box. Most of the graphics are very similar to previous Studio Series boxes but there are some variations here and there. The Studio Series logo is not on a blue background. Instead it is on a metallic looking background. Optimus Prime's artwork has the gritty feel of the War for Cybertron game and the War for Cybertron logo is at the top above the window (and on the actual top flap). Above the Studio Series logo is a "D-Pad" graphic next to the number "03" ("War for Cybertron" Bumblebee and Barricade are "01" and "02" respectively). The figure sits inside the box with an open window, following Hasbro's "no plastic packaging" rule. The artwork covers up most of the figure in an attempt to prevent theft.
The back of the box looks like a very standard Studio Series box with a red background and images of the figure in both modes calling out a 22 step transformation. He is described as "Gamer Edition Optimus Prime" and "Kaon Prison Break" (referencing the game). Oddly, he is described in the upper left corner as "Big Screen Inspired" (other languages outright say he was in a movie) when he wasn't. I'm guessing this is just standard copy on a template someone carried over. Perhaps "AAA Game Inspired" or "Hit Game Inspired" may have been better? Either way the packaging is a nice variation on the Studio Series packaging we have seen for years now.
Inside the box Optimus comes with a background you can use to display the figure. This features (presumably) Kaon using the dark, gritty art style of the game.
Accessories:
Optimus includes three accessories, one of which can break up into three pieces:
Blaster:
In the War for Cybertron game, character designs took a cue from both G1 and the live action movies when it came to weapons. Instead of holding weapons in their hands, some characters would transform their forearms into weapons. Optimus Prime was one of these characters. The blaster included with this figure looks more like a cannon with a design based on Optimus Prime's G1 rifle. The front has a long barrel leading to a more blocky center area. The back leads to a vertical section that looks like the back of G1 Optimus Prime's rifle. The barrel tip has a point to fit Blast Effects. The weapon is made of gunmetal grey plastic with no paint applications. It's a neat design but there is one glaring flaw.
First, let's talk about how it works. You detach Optimus Prime's right forearm and attach it to...well, his posterior for storage. No, really. There's an image of this in my gallery below. Anyhow, you replace it using the port on the blaster and fitting it into the peg that held the right forearm in. The result is the illusion that his arm has transformed into his weapon, like in the game! The weapon even has two tabs on the bottom to attach to the vehicle mode.
So what's the issue? Well, it has no pegs. That sounds simple, but what if you want Optimus (or any other figure) to hold the weapon? There's simply no way to do it. I toyed with the weapon and his arms for a bit, trying to see if perhaps there was an undocumented way of attaching the blaster but no dice. You either take the arm off or nothing. This was disappointing to say the least, but it also means there's nowhere to store the weapon in robot mode. Being able to store away weapons is pretty standard among Transformers toys nowadays so this was quite disappointing.
Axe:
Optimus' melee weapon in the game is a giant axe that is a callback to the axe weapon built into his forearm in G1. The weapon is split up into three pieces. Two make up the handle and feature 5mm pegs on the bottom and ports on the top. This allows you to vary how the weapon looks. One of the handle pieces also has a 5mm peg on the side (which I use in my gallery below to plug in the Matrix). The axe blade itself has a 5mm peg at the base for you to attach the handle. Meanwhile the top has a peg that fits Blast Effects. Each of the handle pieces can fit through Optimus Prime's fist holes so you can attach the other end of the handle to it. Sadly, due to the way the figure is built, you cannot really do the overhead "gripping the axe with both hands" pose from the game trailers, but you can have him hold it across his body with both hands (reference my pic in the gallery below).
This weapon is made up of silver plastic and the edges of the axe blade feature orange colors that look as if the edges of the blades were super heated to better slice through enemies!
The Matrix of Leadership:
Optimus also includes a Matrix of Leadership! Sure there have been many Optimus figures with a Matrix in the past twenty years, but once upon a time it was a rarity so seeing it still makes me happy. This attaches to a peg in his chest and features the classic Matrix design with a ball shaped center and handles on the sides. This piece is grey plastic with gold and light blue paint on the center sphere. Due to its tiny size, Optimus cannot really hold it in his hands but you can attach it to a peg on the side of his axe weapon which is kind of fun!
Robot Mode:
If you are thinking to yourself "Didn't this design already get a figure years ago?" you'd be correct! "Cybertronian Optimus Prime" was released in June 2010 as a Deluxe Class figure. This figure was given a few different decos over time including the most recent "Tribute" version (pictured alongside this figure in the gallery below). This figure is not an "upscale" of that tooling. It is a completely new design even though it represents the same version of Optimus Prime as the 2010 figure.
The 2010 version of this design was a Deluxe Class figure, so there were limits to just how big and imposing it could look. It did great for the scale, but putting this figure at the Voyager scale was definitely the way to go. This figure is chunky looking. He has a very wide chest and huge shoulders leading to big, beefy looking forearms. His mid-body is relatively narrow but then it widens out at the hips and thighs leading to chonky looking legs. This Optimus looks like a character that doesn't just show up at a battle, he stomps into battle!
Of course, this figure is based on a media portrayal, so let's run down some of the key features this figure carries over from the game:
- Head: The War for Cybertron Optimus Prime head design featured his iconic central crest, antennae and mouthplate, but everything was elongated and stretched a bit vertically. This contrasted with his bulky body and gave him a distinctly exaggerated appearance that looked cool. This sculpt reflects that design.
- Two of the wheels from the vehicle mode wind up on the back of this figure.
- The chest features a "V" shaped angle to the center with distinct designs that pay homage to his "windshield windows chest" design (but they're not windows).
- The mid-body area features a grille like design calling back to the G1 Optimus design.
- The arms each feature a curve at the shoulders (though they are bit more angled here than in the game).
- The waist area features small sections with hex-like patterns inside.
- The lower legs feature the vent like details in front and the exhaust pipes from the vehicle mode on the sides. His rear wheels wind up on the back of his legs.
Overall, this figure does a fantastic job of replicating details from the video game. Sure it isn't perfect. The shoulders should be a bit more curved and there are a couple sections which should flank his head that aren't there but overall he is instantly recognizable as the version of Optimus from the War for Cybertron game.
Optimus Prime is made up of red, silver, blue and black plastic. The red makes up a lot of the top half of the body with smaller parts in silver and blue. Silver makes up most of the mid-body, waist and thighs. Blue makes up most of the lower legs. Silver, bright red and light blue are used to paint in details. Overall he looks really good, especially the bright red Autobot symbols on his shoulders which look like they are glowing. This replicates a visual effect from the game and I love it. That said, I would one day love a "Premium" version of this figure with the gritty, battle worn and battle damaged appearance of the character in the game.
There are twenty four points of articulation on this figure including five in each arm and six in each leg. There is one caveat however: the legs cannot move back very far. This is due to the legs actually moving with the waist pieces to go forward and back. Unfortunately, the way the figure is constructed if you try to move the legs back they only go a little bit before hitting the lower sections of the back. This is a real shame and I wish they had done the articulation differently to allow for a wider range of motion with the legs.
Confession: I am a sucker for Matrix chambers on "Prime" or "Convoy" figures and this figure has an amazing one. Open up the panels the form his chest and you'll reveal his Matrix chamber filled with mechanical detailing and the Matrix of Leadership itself! The Matrix can be pulled right out of the chest and you'll see plenty of sculpted detail underneath where it was. This is one of my favorite aspects of this figure.
Transformation to Vehicle Mode:
- Detach the accessories and reattach the right forearm if you had it separated.
- Straighten out the arms and legs.
- Swing the arms out to the sides.
- Pull the shoulder sections with the wheels out to the sides.
- Turn the figure around and swing the panel on the back down, then rotate it around.
- Rotate the arms around at the base sections with the wheels so the inside of the fists face upward.
- Swing the robot chest and head section back.
- Swing the back panel forward over the chest piece.
- Push the lower legs together.
- Rotate the lower body around.
- Push the exhaust pipes on the legs up so the are at a slight angle.
- Swing the panels with the exhaust pipes half way down.
- Swing out the rear wheels on each leg.
- Swing the robot arms in and connect the forearms together using the tab and corresponding slot.
- Swing the panel that forms the front of the lower legs down.
- Push the robot feet into the empty slots where the lower leg panels were in the previous step.
- Push the front sections with the wheels in, connecting them to the tabs on the back pieces.
- Swing the rear half of the vehicle down over the robot arms.
- Push the top blue piece down.
- Swing the panels with the exhaust pipes in to form the sides of the vehicle.
- The blaster fits in the slots on the back of the vehicle. Swing the panel on the axe blade over and you can attach the axe weapon to the top of the blaster.
Vehicle Mode:
The creators behind the War for Cybertron game definitely had their work cut out for them with the character designs. Not only did they have to create robot modes that evoked the G1 versions of the characters, but then they had to do it again for the vehicle mode! This vehicle mode is clearly meant to call back to Optimus Prime's G1 truck form. Over the years many artists have tried to come up with Cybertronian modes for Optimus, but this is probably the one that appeared longest in any piece of Transformers media so he really had to make an impression. And boy did they pull it off! This truck form is sleek, yet bulky and powerful looking all at the same time. Like the model from the game it features a "V" shaped front bumper leading to a grille and curved "nose" section flanked by curved panels on the sides. The two exhaust pipes stick out at an angle in the middle and the back of the truck looks like a closed off truck bed. It's a fantastic looking "scifi" truck and this figure really manages to pull off the look from the game.
Most of the red parts of the figure wind up in the front with the blue parts in the back. The grille and bumper section are painted silver. The back section is mostly unpainted so it looks rather plain. Seriously, a "battle damaged/worn" version of this figure would be amazing, especially in this mode. The sides have some red paint to create an angled area near the exhaust pipes. One of my favorite details are the bright red circles on each wheel. They give the vehicle a "scifi" appearance and look great.
Optimus rolls on six wheels. On either side of the vehicle there is a 5mm port for you to attach his axe weapon or weapons from other figures. Sadly, there is one missed opportunity: if the top of the exhaust pipes had been left open, you could have fit Blast Effects in there!
Final Thoughts:
I really dig this figure, but at the same time it frustrates me. The figure comes so close to being an excellent, highly recommended figure but because of some strange design choices it gets "knocked down" (I'm using the term loosely) to a "Really Great" figure that is recommended.
Pros:
- Excellent sculpt and detail.
- Matrix Chamber!
- The arm/blaster play mechanic is fun.
- Axe weapon looks big and imposing.
- Intuitive and fun transformation.
- Vibrant deco.
Cons:
- The blaster does not have a 5mm peg.
- Legs cannot swing all the way backward.
- No way to store the blaster in robot mode unless it is attached as a weapon.
