Finally, an Optimus Prime toy.
As you can probably tell by the frequency of video game jokes in Shortpacked!, (not that often!) I am way more into action figures than I am in video games. This is, after all, a comic strip about a toy store and not Penny Arcade. I will dutifully plow through any new Super Mario game when one makes itself available, but it is not a primary interest of mine. Regardless, sometimes these two interests intersect.
Because I get an email every other day from you guys letting me know, I think it’s safe to say that it is general public knowledge that a Big Transformers Game is coming out this month. War for Cybertron is a multiplatform third-person shooter that takes place on Cybertron before the Transformers leave for Earth. Optimus Prime isn’t leader yet, he’s just “Optimus,” sans “Prime.” Everyone is in crazy alien hovertank-like modes because Volkswagen Beetles and Freightliner trucks won’t exist for another few million years. And, as Hasbro tends to do, they have some action figures of the game’s character models.
He likes to drive crotch first.
This is Optimus Prime! He transforms into an “armored tank.” This is my… third? toy of a Cybertronian-mode Optimus? First there was the War Within Prime (another pre-Earth story), then I picked up Cybertron mode Optimus Prime from the Animated toyline, and now this. We have an extra housemate this summer, necessitating the packing up of my not-on-display toys in the attic, so I did not feel like digging out the entire attic closet to search through fifteen Rubbermaid containers for these two other dudes to photograph next to my new one. You will just have to imagine them!
He comes packaged in robot mode. I have to admit, this removes a lot of my incentive to do the inaugural transformation, especially since robot-to-vehicle is always much more of a chore than the reverse. With Cybertronian Optimus Prime, this is no exception. He’s a little too complicated, but I hate him waaaaaaaaaaay less after attempting the same on his wavemate Cybertronian Bumblebee. Really put things in perspective. Prime is a deceptively complicated toy. I don’t think there’s an uninterrupted square inch on him. But things peg together well enough in each mode, so no harm no foul. The only annoying part of him in robot mode is his shoulder kibble, which likes to flair up and about when you don’t want it to. A good portion of the vehicle mode roof folds onto his back, sorta shellformery, but it packs away out of site well enough.
Megatron's is still bigger.
The most intriguing part of him is his gun. It transforms as well, from robot mode rifle configuration to vehicle mode weapon-mount configuration. There’s little springs in it that keep it in one mode or the other – there’s no pegs. In weapon-mount configuration, it wraps around itself. In this compacted mode, it’s also intended to be mounted on his forearm. (You can see it in this configuration in some concept art.)
My favorite aspect, I think, is his pink highlights. Generally, Prime has yellow highlights, but I really like the pink. It accentuates him in a different way, and it sets him apart from other Primes. And, lord, that’s the kind of thing I need at this stage in my collecting days. I have a buttload of Primes.
There’s some rumblings that War for Cybertron is going to be the established canon for future Hasbro Transformers ventures. That would include this fall’s Transformers: Prime CGI cartoon. So if you want a head start on your TF: Prime collection, this is probably it.
Where’d you get it from? I wasn’t aware that BBTS or HTS had started receiving the new stuff. EE?
ToysRUs.com had them a few days ago, presumably early for a WfC release promotion, since Drift wasn’t included.
They’re out in Australia, too. Which is why I have Drift and no one else does
He’s Drifty
Don’t forget that you have Orion Pax, so this might actually count as your 4th pre-Earth Optimus.
D’oh! You’re right!
I hope we get the war for cybertron figures and all the other stuff due later this year in uk or i may have to go hunt down the fools at hasbro uk who decided they wouldnt sell and make them suffer!
I’ve had toys-in-tubs indexing success with photographing each layer of toys and then the tub (with an ID or number sticker attached), and keeping the photos on my PC. Even if I don’t get around to casually writing up a text file with the list of which toy is in what tub, I can always just flip through the photos quickly to find what I’m after.
It also helps, I find, to take a snap or two of the tubs themselves once they’re packed away. It can be useful to know that Tub #3 is the one behind #5 and it’s on the left side of the attic behind the time machine and the crazy aunt.
Photos on the ends of tubs have worked well for me, too. Just tape little pics of what’s in there on the end of the tub, and you can stack them high and wide and always know what’s in which.
What’s wrong with the Cybertronian Bumblebee’s transformation?
(But he has no wings….Cybertronian Bumblebee should have wings! Or, winglike protrusions where the running boards go, in any case.)
I honestly hope that there will be a Trypticon toy.
I REALLY FUCKING WANT THERE TO BE A WAR FOR CYBERTRON TRYPTICON TOY.
It would be a Deluxe. Still want it?
YOU’RE DAMN RIGHT I’D STILL WANT IT. IT’S FUCKING TRYPTICON.
Also, while we’re still on the subject of War for Cybertron, I just want to ask you permission here to post the cover art for the game. I only have a picture of the 360 version, and I saw it in the Gamestop commercial for it.
It looks like a warhammer 40k soldier. So maybe I’ll army build the primes…
If we all buy a few primes. Maybe then they can fit deluxe wfc ironhide and starscream into a later wave. Or even just keep generations rolling before TF3′s product line inevitably crushes it leaving only a few trailing repaints as store exclusives.
Though since we are getting darkmount. Impactor would be more vital than any wfc remake. Even deluxe trypticon.
Hasbro has said they plan for Generations to be ongoing, even through the movies.
Of course, they said that about Animated, too, so, uh.
I’ll never forgive them for lying about Animated like that. “Keep it going as long as its popular” my foot.
To be fair– Cartoon Network screwing them on Animated was kinda outside of their control.
You got the roof all the way down? I can’t get mine down because his ass is on the way! It boggles!