700th review - Yolopark Transformers The Last Knight AMK Pro Optimus Prime review

I recently took a look at the Blokees offerings of Classics Optimus Prime and Megatron from the 2007 Transformers movie, and they were great figures that proved one way to make non-transforming figures. Model kits with light-up eyes and torsos that remain generally accurate despite being stylized made for a better purchase than something like Robot Enhanced Design. While Blokees may make for great desk toys, another model kit company, Yolopark, aims to provide screen accuracy to the next level. They did well with the Rise of the Beasts figures before exploring some obligatory G1 characters and the main 5 TF One cast members, I was greatly interested in their AMK Pro Series and its first entry, Optimus Prime as he was depicted in the last two Transformers movies directed by Michael Bay. I'd prefer the original trilogy design, but this is the next best thing for a figure that hadn't been on a comparable Studio Series scale and looks good. Sorry, AOE and TLK Voyagers and Leaders.

Here we have Optimus Prime in hand and completely assembled. This figure came disassembled in 4 pieces, and I was not sure I would get everything in frame. Not only that, but Optimus Prime also did not come in sprue trees, likely because of the inclusion of die-cast and the premium paint. Once fully assembled, this figure is breathtakingly gorgeous in addition to movie accurate. Without the need to transform into his truck mode, this one-of-a-kind design of Optimus Prime has no silhouette-compromising truck parts that hang off of him as showcased in the AOE First Edition and Leader molds and the somewhat better TLK Voyager. While the Studio Series Leader is going to at put much more effort in its engineering, it's best for certain collectors who will still complain about it to instead buy this figure and assemble him while still getting comparable quality and premium paintwork to the ThreeZero line. There is even a blackwash applied to accentuate the silver deco as well as intentional scratches on the paint to simulate the way Transformers look less pristine in bot mode than in vehicle mode. The assembly was thankfully not difficult, though the CG render instructions as well as the lack of comprehension you'd find in Lego instructions doesn't help. The only really odd thing about the figure would be how much higher the shoulder pads sit on Prime when they should be lower.

The head sculpt is beautifully recreated with a heavy dose of silver paint and blue accents to represent this design of Optimus Prime to be more in-line with the knight motif and how Optimus evolved from a blend of old and new in the classic Bay trilogy to his more unique appearance in the sequel duology. With his eyes lit up in the second photo, Optimus Prime's articulation consists of one ball joint for the head and another at the base of the neck, shoulder rotation, outward arm movement, bicep rotation (hindered somewhat due to certain parts attached), double jointed elbows with gap covers to hide them, ball jointed wrists, ball jointed thumbs, and finger articulation at two points with the index and middle fingers fused while the ring and pinky fingers are fused. There are butterfly joints, a diaphragm joint, a waist swivel, hips with a drop down system, in and out movement, thigh rotation, double jointed knees, and ankles that swivel, hinge, as well as pivot with the addition of toeticulation. For a model kit, this figure has just as much going for it as any import figure or Masterpiece Transformer.

The eyes light up simply by using a magnet to tap onto the head, allowing you to have the eyes light up normally, flicker rapidly, or slowly turn on and off. They deactivate after a while like with the Blokees. We also have a dedicated set of parts for the Nemesis Prime mode, with a middle head piece, a left antennae/cheek guard, and pair of eyes with thr red scar given by Quintessa. I'm also going to mention right away that an alternate exposed mouth is included for either mode. I kind of wish these eyes could be purple instead of blue, though they briefly remained blue until the brainwashing began. 

He has a one set if alternate hands meant for him to hold his Sword of Judgement, though swapping hands also means having to detach and reattach the hand guards. The sword is beautifully painted and sculpted, with a beautiful level of detail not like anything we've seen before from the mainline offerings. The intricacy is out of this world, and only ThreeZero could compare. We also get a left forearm blade that rarely gets made in the merch, but it requires the use of another gauntlet piece to attach it in place as Yolopark aims to prevent sculpt disruption.

There is also a tab meant for the Vector Shield so it can attach onto the arm without any clamps or 5mm ports. Said shield is just as beautiful in detail and sculptwork, though I should mention there is a rectangular port and a barrel that is underneath the cannon. I'm not sure if the shield was meant to be assembled or if there was a cannon mode meant to be implemented, but it appears to not be the case. 

Removing a backpiece reveals yet another hole for weapon storage, this time a double peg meant for the shield with a secondary peg meant for the sword should it stay on the shield. 

The shield

He also features alternate hands that allow for even more gestural poses than the articulated fingers normally provide, such as these relaxed hands be could use for monologuing or certain action poses where he'd have his hands closed like that. 

In addition, he has finger guns that can easily serve as him telling the Autobots to roll out or when he just wants to do the Bully Maguire pose. Maybe Nemesis Prime should have done that in London. 

As for a size comparison, here he is with Takara's Dual Model Kit from a decade ago! While there is a chance that Takara's version was made originally from outdated concept art, the 10 year difference showcases how much hindsight, experience, and better access to ILM's finalized models can make for a night and day contrast with a licensee's offering and an in-house item.

Lastly, the figure comes with a flight stand with with a detailed base comparable to those from Prime1Studio. The neck is articulated with a heavy duty bendy wire and a material covering it that should hopefully last a lifetime. You can pose Optimus in battle or flight poses, the latter especially helpful in recreating when he somehow had flight capabilities...okay while him wearing Jetfire's corpse and having dedicated Jetwing armor is logical, where did Optimus get those flight boots from, some anime-esque burning spirit?

Here he is next to the TLK Voyager, which I custom painted with Sharpie in a so so attempt. I never thought I'd have a CG-accurate version of this design until now, and I regret nothing. I'm still interested in the Studio Series version of the design.

And here is with my only other larger-scale model kit TF character, that being Flame Toys Windblade. While that figure was seen as controversial at first, the resulting kit we end up with looks better though I still wish it didn't have stickers while also utilizing paint apps for any golden areas. The quality difference between Flame Toys and Yolopark may not be 1:1, but the latter feels much sturdier and better quality overall by comparison. It's almost like Optimus is a smaller-scale ThreeZero figure!

For a more general size comparison, here is SS86 Optimus Prime next to his movie counterpart. Blah blah blah different designs, NGL this scale makes me wish that was the height of the Studio Series figure. 

And for a goofy one to see how well a model kit can recreate the pose of a statue, here he is next to Chi Chi from the DragonBall series of statues in her martial arts outfit. Say, Tamashii! I know you like her young but y'all went too young so make this version as a Figuart! Anyways, Optimus Prime can accurately recreate the pose of Goku's baddie with no issue, though the right hand should be an alternate hand to help better mimic her gesture. Overall, Yolopark have outdone themselves with this version of Optimus Prime. While I did want to get some of the ROTB designs, the Western Star look receiving a premium upgrade made for a great first offering in the AMK Pro line when it comes to paint, light up eyes, and diecast. I may have some minor gripes, but the pros greatly outweigh the cons. This is the cost of a Leader Class or Commander Class figure (some sites vary in this), yet it has the same quality of a ThreeZero figure. I highly recommend you get it ASAP.

Now then...how soon should I wait for these two to arrive?

Final ranking: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ and a half out of ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐