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Quick review: HFTD Voyager Battle Blades Optimus Prime
I apologize in advance for the bad pictures, there's just too much light in the room right now, I'll try to post a better set of pictures later.
TRUCK MODE
-Almost as long as the Movie 1 version but sleeker, better proportioned.
-Much closer to the Leader version in appearance.
-Big Deluxe or small Voyager? You decide!
-Obviously missing some paint apps, but overall, it still screams ROTF Optimus Prime.
TRANSFORMATION
-As intricate as the Leader version, if not more (for example, the fists are hidden in the forearms on the Voyager while they stay exposed on the Leader). Transformation is similar but with a few new twists (lower leg transformation, sliding arm covers, etc.).
-It's a bit hard to move the head without dislodging the matrix, the fit is pretty tight inside the chest.
-The upper torso is a bit tricky to put together as it's a combination of several parts tabbed together (neck plate, shoulders, lower torso and chest windows) but once it's done, it's pretty solid.
-Previous pictures and reviews didn't show it, but you can pull on the lower front grill halves to form heels, much like on the Leader version, making the robot mode much more stable.
ROBOT MODE
-Very nice representation of the character... sleeker than the already outstanding Leader version, making him even closer to the proportions he had in the movie.
-Backpack is slightly bigger in proportion compared to the Leader version but the designers did a very good job at making it decently compact.
-Rubber swords aren't spring-loaded, they need to be deployed manually (although they kinda rotate automatically when you rotate the fists out of the forearms since they're on the same pivot).
-Guns can easily be detached from the backpack and transformed (you only need to swing up the gun tip from under, the handle is already in place) to be put in Prime's hands.
-Other than the head who's a bit limited by the chest windows and the fists that can't rotate, articulation is pretty awesome, especially in the leg department: ankle front-rear + side-to-side, knee front-rear + in-out, upper leg swivel (you have to disconnect the bottom of the rear wheel assembly to take advantage of it though), hip front+rear + in-out)... even the grey bits on the chest windows and the knee pads can be posed like on the Leader version... Arm articulation is a bit restricted when the blades aren't deployed though, they get in the way, especially if you peg them properly on the forearms like it should... Otherwise, you kinda have to bend them to get decent pose. Luckily, the blades can easily be detached, but that leaves you with insighty blue knobs on the forearms.
-Some fake Mechalive gimmick going on in the upper arms (small window let you see the inner piece rotate).
Overall a very good toy, almost as good as the Leader version. The only cons I can find are:
1. Missing paint apps.
2. Restricted arm articulation when the blades aren't deployed.
3. Matrix is a bit tricky to access and gets in the way of head transformation.
4. Guns aren't movie-accurate.
But to be honest, only #2 bugs me, the rest I can easily live with.
Btw, do not fear GPS, the plastic used is not gold at all, it's more like butterscotch in color and isn't any different than the plastic used elsewhere on the toy.
Last edited by Pascal; 06-16-2010 at 11:42 AM.
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