Here it is in its vehicle mode. Its alt mode kind of sucks. The cab doesn't look awful in some angles, but the arms are noticeable from the back. The truck cab is at least not too bad at this angle, but it gets worse in other images. As for the trailer itself, there is a big slab of red that doesn't help disguise the thing itself for a more cohesive look, and the hinges from the front disrupt the pattern for the stickers. Also, why bring back stickers? I know this is part of an Evolution gimmick that Leader Class figures had for this line, but it could have been better in some areas.
It's not a perfect look overall, but to its credit, it is neat to see Optimus have a complete truck and trailer at this price point. You don't see trailers very often for Optimus Primes, and it's a feature that makes G1 Prime feel naked without it. Other Primes are fine without them, but the trailer completes the otherwise boxy truck.
As mentioned, the original cab isn't too hot, and it hurts this version of Optimus because this design's one of the more simple to work with. The last time a G1 Prime had an awful truck mode was the Classics Deluxe, and I think this might be second-worse.
The front looks especially off; you can see how "fat" it looks from this angle, and the Matrix is exposed. The hinges don't add to the look, though the paint apps are appreciative.
The arms are exposed as mentioned along with the head (even when its upside down); yeah, it's not too great.
It's also a fairly small cab, too. Here it is next to Bumblebee from Titans Return. While there might be some smaller Legends, it does make this version of Optimus feel more like a Deluxe in terms of scale.
Here it is with G1 Prime. See what I mean? BTW, my Optimus has the shortened smokestacks.
Here are their trailers together. It's nice to have another Optimus that comes with a trailer, but it's sad how a figure from 1984 has better stickers than the 2018 figure (setting aside my G1 Prime being a reissue).
Transforming Optimus into his robot mode is funny. It's a version of G1 Prime, alright, though there are parts of it that make him look like he's made from truck parts than be in a more exact shape of a robot. The robot mode itself looks like a failed version of the G1 toy. Though the head is bigger and at least the hands don't come off. Still, why does he look like he's crouching weirdly? Next to Bumblebee, he's not as big as I anticipated.
Here it is with G1 Prime. It's crazy to see Hasbro attempt to be this slavish to Geewun. Like, damn, it's so close.
I'm only kidding. The cab's transformation feels like it's a reversed version of G1 Prime's transformation. It's almost like a parody of how the figure transforms, in a way. The resulting robot, however, is Orion Pax, the younger form of Optimus Prime. I've personally never liked the G1 incarnation of Orion Pax since it made the character feel worthless compared to some of the other takes on the character, like the 2005 IDW version or the Aligned version. Either way, this could be seen as the first cartoon-accurate Orion Pax, which does seem cool at first, though the figure kind of sucks visually. The front does look like Orion, alright, but then you look at the back and witness the blatant carryovers of the truck mode. Just, wow. As for stickers, this guy thankfully doesn't have as many as the trailer, with the only ones being on the shins and the tiny Autobot insignia, and there are some good paint apps to make you feel slightly less annoyed with the stickers existing.
The head sculpt looks pretty faithful to the show design, though with lips that are nowhere near as luscious as that of the cartoon.
Articulation is pretty good for what it is. Head is on a ball joint, shoulders move front and back, in and out, the biceps swivel, and the elbows bend at two joints. The wrists can point downward if it counts, though. Hips move front and back (with the hip pieces moving in unison), in and out, and the thighs swivel while the knees bend. There is no useful foot articulation. The figure can use two guns in this configuration, though one looks decent while the other looks dumb.
Oh, Megatron's gonna kill him. Gotta get him in his Prime mode...
...which is pretty neat, if we're being honest. I kind of like seeing the panels fold to better shape Optimus while Orion folds up into a cuboid form to make Prime's chest. The best part is how the cube locks in with a satisfying clip, thanks to the lock from behind the robot frame.
The full Optimus Prime mode is pretty solid overall. While it's not perfect thanks to the massive amount of gray left over from the trailer, and the parts that are painted red aren't the best, it's a decent job at being a larger-scale Optimus Prime. I do wish the kegs weren't so annoying to pose, because it's ankle hinges are kind of loose while the soft ratchets of the hips can be annoying to make him stand straight. Speaking of legs, Orion's legs being exposed from the back doesn't bother me. They make for a decent jet pack in a way.
Headsculpt is the best part of this figure. It's as good as MP-10, and also beats the new MP Prime for not looking bad. The blue eyes complement the look, too.
Articulation for this mode is slightly different. Head is on a ball joint, shoulders move front and back, in and out (though the joints are slightly tighter than normal), the biceps swivel, and the elbows bend at a single joint. The wrists cannot swivel, though. Hips move front and back as well as in and out, and the thighs swivel while the knees bend. The feet can pivot front and back as well as side to side, thankfully.
One accessory he has is pretty neat is the Matrix of Leadership. It opens (albeit without a piece for covering it like with the MP guys).
This Matrix up close is decently detailed, though obviously not as shiny as some versions. The core can be removed to accommodate other Prime Masters or Enigmas, which was a feature of the line. Sadly, this Optimus lacks finger articulation, meaning he can't hold the Matrix either by opening it or by holding it in the palm of one hand. It's nonsensical, especially given how this could work as an affordable stand-in for a Masterpiece.
The Ion Blaster is pretty good in his hand, though the second handle is present. And while this Optimus isn't the most poseable in the world, he can pull off some decent poses with it.
Here are some size comparisons with Titans Return Bumblebee and Combiner Wars Megatron. They look alright, though Bumblebee should be slightly taller. As with Megatron, he's pretty good to have next to him, which makes me pretty content with having an Optimus Prime and a Megatron in the same size. I've gotten a similar collection mindset with Siege and Classics, though I do want to have a G1 Megatron to go with G1 Prime someday.
These two are not too bad. They're both flawed figures that make them feel a lot less appealing due to their newer figures from Siege taking the spotlight as well as the best versions of the characters (and ones that scale better) while also being neglected by richer fans that take advantage of the Masterpiece and 3rd Party lines. The best aspects of them do make them worth keeping in my opinion. Megatron's tank mode and silver paint make him worth owning, while the gimmicks and inclusion of an Orion Pax make this Optimus Prime worth owning.
Final Ranking: ⭐⭐⭐ out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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