Masterpiece Optimus Prime is definitely a Transformer with a design that started in robot mode. He looks as close to his generation 1 design as possible while still retaining the ability to turn into a vehicle at all. The only majors spots that differ between this toy and his cartoon model are the wheels at the back of his legs and a few other finer details that aren't present in the simpler animation model. This is a perfect looking toy in robot mode, no matter where you're looking from or how he's posed. He exudes style thanks to the simple design that's so familiar to the eye. That doesn't mean he's devoid of any sculpted intricacies, because he actually has a lot of small touches all across his body that give him a sense of texture, making him look a bit more "real". I can't possibly describe it all, so I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, but know that all of the detailing is extremely crisp, shaped exactly as it should be, and nothing detracts from his overall appearance. There is a lot of attention paid to this toy's short smokestacks, but they hardly bother me, and look okay as they are. Optimus is a perfect blend of complexity and simplicity that must be hard to dislike, even for those who aren't fans of the character. His proportions all look great, with a balanced height, large feet that can hold his weight, and wide shoulders to reveal his hidden strength.
     His hands are sculpted with slight curves at the finger to fit around his weapons, and his "face" is the one we all know and love, each cut and line as crisp as possible. The accessories aren't quite as stunning as the figure itself, and yet they're still top notch. His stand is made with a textured metalic looking base with a sculpted matrix of leadership imprint, a cleanly shaped Autobot emblem on the front, and many other industrial details. His blaster rifle is on model with the one seen in the cartoon, has multiple details itself, and is just a little soft around some edges, and difficult to fit into his hands, though still above average. There is also an in-scale matrix of leadership and and a soft-plastic axe which both fit into his body in the appropriate places, and each looks accurate and finely sculpted. he also includes a trasformed Megatron in gun mode, that while difficult (and nonsensical) for Optimus to use it still looks good, though feels a little flimsy.
     As amazing as his robot mode is, some sacrifices had to be made for vehicle mode. Although the transformation is similar to classic versions (with a lot of added complexities, but the basic idea is the same), because of a lot of interesting elements in robot mode, the vehicle mode just looks a bit off. Particularly the bed of the truck has some strange looking elements, and there are a number of gaps in the truck mode that come off ugly. It's also just a style of semi-truck that's rarely seen, and for good reason, because it is pretty ugly on its own, although that's not the fault of this classics-honoring toy. I feel like there is a proportional disconnect too, as if the bed is just an inch or so too long for the cab of the truck to look natural together. None of the accessories can be stored in this mode either, and the stand is useless if you want to keep Optimus (or a spare) on the stand alongside the robot version. There is an actual suspension system for the vehicle mode, but because of this, my Optimus sags in the middle of vehicle mode under his own weight, which isn't too nice looking, though not a deal breaker. It's almost impossible to make two transformers modes that each look perfect, and I'm glad that the sculptors erred on the vehicle side of the equation, because the kibble-free robot mode more than makes up for the weaker vehicle form.

Sculpt Score: 9 / 10

      Even given the high-priced nature of this figure, things are actually rather sparse when it comes to paint applications. He's mostly just cast in the appropriate colors, with only small details being painted on, and the colors he is cast in are splendid. Some people have criticized the red seen here as too light, but I think it captures his animation colors perfectly, and looks great to the naked eye anyway. There are some spots painted red, specifically the metal panels on his chest, and these match the rest of his body quite well, which is a relief as that's not an easy thing to do. The blue and gray sections are equally well done; both are just the right shade. Although things are cast in the basic matte gray instead of chromed (like in the Takara releases), I think this offers a much better picture of cartoon accuracy, but certainly doesn't look as high-end as the other option. These colors all come together to paint the portrait of Optimus Prime as he's looked for 25+ years, and he does look great. There are black and dark gray sections, particularly around points of articulation that don't look like they belong, though they aren't prolific and they're minimally distracting. The few paint applications there are are well executed; he has clean cut lines between colors and straight edges when necessary. There are a couple places color match issues with the white at his biceps and yellow at his hips that they couldn't keep as similar as the red mentioned previously. His accessories are a bit hit and miss. The matrix of leadership and his stand both look absolutely amazing, but his gun comes off cheap because of some sloppy lines and ineffective coverage. His face is very much the opposite, instead finishing off the amazing sculpt with crisp paint-work, in total capturing the visage of Optimus Prime wonderfully well.

Paint Score: 9 / 10

      Optimus Prime has an unbelievable amount of articulation for a Transformer. Not only does he have all the joints I consider essential, but quite a few extra on top of that as a bonus. There are very few poses you can't achieve with this fellow thanks to this extensive joint model. Whether sitting down, running, standing proudly, or poised for battle, you can do it all while adding personality and life to the figure. There may occasionally be balance issues because of his enormous weight, yet the articulation is tight enough to accomplish a lot of these otherwise impossible poses. Only his right hand is loose on my figure, which is actually a pain because it's hard to hold up his gun; it just falls down to a resting position all the time. There is a little problem with his left ankle ball in that it keeps detaching, but it's an easy fix every time and doesn't hinder posing him once it's back on. All the other joints are problem free and have the full range of motion as they were designed. His neck joint is especially nice because you can adjust it in very subtle ways to bring out just a little bit more personality in pictures, play, or on your shelf.
     Another bonus is that this articulation all looks great on him. There are simulated hydraulic cylinders at each of his major joints, and while they aren't present on the original toy or animation this toy is playing tribute to, they still look favulous and instead of hiding his articulation, they functionally show it off, which is a nice change. There is a "skirt", for lack of a better term, at his hips that does a great job of hiding his joints while still retaining the look that he's had in the past. Only the front of his knees look the least bit bothersome, and even those aren't bad. His truck mode doesn't have any opening doors or angling wheels, but there is a working suspension system that is fun to mess around with while driving him around. All of the wheels spin freely and work great since they're composed of actual rubber instead of plastic. The joints necessary for his transformation work well too, although it can be intimidating snapping parts in to place or moving some pieces around as certain spots feel flimsy. Rest assured though, as most everything is made to detach and reassemble with ease or constructed out of metal if extremely vital. That doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful, just that it's not a deficit of the toy. All in all, the options available to Optimus in robot form make this a near-perfect articulation model that's both fun and functional.

Articulation Score: 10 / 10

 

Fun Score: 10 / 10

     This is not a cheap every-day toy, it's a high-end collectable for those willing to drop cash on a toy they've always dreamed for. Given this version's cheaper price than the Japanese releases and the fact that it hasn't jumped in after-market prices, Masterpiece Prime is still a strong value. At roughly $80 then and now (if he hasn't spiked due to a recent movie release) you're getting an extremely well made 12 inch action figure. That's not a bad price for an average 12 inch figure these days, especially not one with this much attention to detail and this many accessories included. If you're willing to pay for this type of figure, then he's without a doubt worth every penny. It's a surprisingly heavy toy, so it feels like you're getting your money's worth in plastic/metal. There aren't any quality control issues and his sculpt and paint are of the highest standards in production values. It's obvious that a lot of time was spent developing and manufacturing this guy, so paying the extra price for it isn't an absurd idea. He includes accessories that aren't throw-away pieces, has a practical and enjoyable stand, and sort of includes his arch nemesis too in the form of Megatron as a gun. The most important thing is how much fun you're going to have with him, and whether you're 9 years old, or 90 years old, he's going to give you hours of fun for every dollar spent, even if he's just sitting on your shelf for an appreciative glare once a day as you pass by.

 

Value Score: 10 / 10  

Summary

9 - A near perfect physical representation in robot mode is hindered by an average vehicle mode. 

9 - There are a few application issues that limit an otherwise beautiful color scheme.

10 - There are a massive number of joints that work well and look good.

10 - Possibly the most enjoyable toy of all time because of included accessories,  action features, and the ability to transform, all in a classic character.

10 - A large, well-made toy that's available at a fair price for the quality being offered.

P.S. This could be the figure I'm giving away this month, just leave a comment for a chance to win (if it's the one). Comments on this review also earn you a chance to win a toy at battlegrip.com, but need to be received by midnight on June 27th to be eligible.