Hunt for the Decepticons: "Battle Blades" Optimus Prime!

07.24.2011 - Optimus Prime. The Autobot Commander a prominent character in the Transfomers franchise. Prime has been almost in all reiteration of the series either in comics, animation, movie or video game. For every TransFan there’s one or two Optimus Prime in his/her collection. He was voiced by well known actors, but the most familiar for everyone to remember was Peter Cullen. He provided a father figure-esque personality in this 18-wheeler truck. He was the voice of the live action movie version inspiring the youth and any Sam Witwicky-wannabe.

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It won’t be Transformer without Optimus Prime, and if you happen to be a Transfan you’ll be wondering how many versions has been out.

We tend to lose count how many of the live action film version since we first saw one roll out in 2007. There where variations, countless repaints, and exclusives that has been put out there. For more of that you can refer to TF Wiki search all versions.

For now we provide you one that has been on clearance, and probably had got sold out several times. We present you the Hunt for the Decepticons “Battle Blades” Optimus Prime under the Voyage Class assortment. HFTD is the extension of the “Revenge of The Fallen” toy line that was released in 2010. So far in all iterations of Optimus Prime under the Voyager Class assortment this one is close accurate to its big screen version.

Probably the only movie version that carries the “Matrix of Leadership” which has been one of the plot device revealed in the sequel.

The HTFD “Battle Blades” Optimus Prime is packaged in robot mode in a window type box wrap in rattan wires. The past years we see packaging shrink to accommodate shelf space. The box is compact and much better than the past packaging where Hasbro spent a lot of space for such a tiny action figure.

Taking out the figure from the inner clear plastic container took a lot of time due to that the soft rattan wires where tied in knots unlike the twisty wires that are easily removed. The rattan wires are far better choice to replace it as it’s easily removed.

Directly giving you a first look of the robot mode clearly shows the design has improved based on its character CGI model. It’s a huge turn around and appearance wise was far closer to its big screen counterpart. Articulation has been superb no need to give you details and the robot head has light piping translucent blue eyes.

The only bothersome about the figure is the “Battle Blades” which hinder his forearms if you fold it, though it’s removable if you just want to keep him without the blades.

Not shown in this review is both gas tanks that converts as his blasters which can be attached at both sides of the side panels that converts as part of the truck mode.

Comparing it to the 2007 Voyager Class version the HFTD “Battle Blades” Optimus Prime is smaller, but more compact and well detailed. The figure doesn’t have a waist movement, but entirely this figure is way better from the previous versions. When the RoTF toy line was released they just repainted the 2007 version with Cybertronian hieroglyphics.

So far this figure would represent the RoTF toy lines’ Voyager Class assortment, and could have been a late addition or was delayed when they released it.

The transformation will take you several steps to fold some parts and kibble. If you’re impatient you might lose your temper and forget that you bought this. The skill level is rate at four and the manual is as big as a road map back to back. Usually some hardcore Transfans don’t rely on the manual, which most of the time is inaccurate.

If you want to be experimental and taking up the challenge try transforming a newly opened toy without taking reference to the instruction manual. It helps you familiarize with the product, and the manual would be a good base of reference if you missed something there.

The vehicle mode is what the Peterbilt from the movie is down to its rim and tires. The way it was in the real world the semi-truck was captured in toy form with flame decals and fuel tanks. Most of the pointed parts like the blades in robot mode and smoke stacks are made of soft rubber plastic to keep up with the child safety laws.

A side by side comparison with the vehicle mode to the 2007 Edition clearly shows this is way better looking. Hasbro has made good on this version only smaller than its previous predecessor.

Trying out the Parallax trailer a third party product it’s rather off scale in size to haul one. But this gives us a point of view that this figure deserves a trailer. The Dark of the Moon version has one that was released exclusively by Takara Tomy, but the figure was not better looking compared to this exquisite version.

So far if you round up the versions from all three films under the Voyager Class toy line the HFTD “Battle Blades” Optimus Prime was the most improved counter part of its CGI character model. Even though they have redesigned the current release this figure would still be the best of the pack.

Overall rating for this figure is 4.5/5 robot points for the design aesthetics and down to its detailed appearance that matches its CGI character model. The plus side of it in all the movie versions this is the only one that carries the Matrix of Leadership.

If you can still get one for PhP 600.00 pesos ($12.00 USD) better grab this figure. Currently being the one sought after in the HFTD toy line that you should not pass up.